Pensacola Barracudas
In 1999, the Arena Football League (AFL) began a minor-level league called the AF2. The Pensacola Barracudas were one of the 15 original teams to join the inaugural 2000 AF2 season.
The AF2 was developed for extra players to compete and keep their pro football dreams alive, to develop football players, and also to help players adapt to the style and pace of arena football. AF2 plays its season from April to July. The AF2 is similar to other minor leagues because teams are located in smaller cities whereas the AFL competes in cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Memphis and Los Angeles, to name a few. The AF2 expanded to 28 teams in 2001 and finally 34 in 2002.
The AF2 currently is divided into two conferences: National and American. The conferences are further subdivided into three divisions each. Each division represents a region of the country in which teams play to keep travel expenses to a minimum and to develop regional rivals. Originally, the Barracudas were placed in the Pacific Conference.
The ArenaCup is the AF2's championship game, held annually in August and held at the home arena of the higher-seeded remaining team.
Prior to the 2001 season, they jumped to the American Conference, and went 5-11, missing the playoffs. In 2002 (when the Barracudas went back to the National Conference), they went .500, but failed to make the playoffs. The Barracudas folded after the 2002 season.
2000 Season
For the first-ever AF2 season, the league is separated into two conferences: Pacific (7 teams) and American (8 teams) with Pensacola placed in the Pacific. There are no divisions within the conferences. The Barracudas would win their first 5 games, but then lose 7 of 9 games. The final record was 8-8-0 for the season. The team would make the playoffs seeded eighth out of eight teams. In the first round, they lost to the number one seed and eventual undefeated champion Quad City Steamwheelers 55-19. Barracudas quarterback Bobby Clayton would go 254 completions on 517 attempts for 3,223 yards with 50 TDs and a 76.25 rating. Rodney Woodham caught 85 passes for 1,074 yards and 45 TDs. Attendance for the year was 7,294 fans per game via eight home games.
2001 Season
Attendance nosedived to 3,742 fans per eight home games.
2002 Season
Attendance was 2,737 fans per game, third worst in the league.
