The Gulf Coast Riptide, formerly the Pensacola Power, is a women's American football full contact football team in the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) founded in 2001 as the Pensacola Power of the National Women's Football Association. The WFA, a 31- team league, plays under NFL rules with minor modifications such as ball size and kick off placement. Their home field is Escambia High School in West Pensacola. Their playing season runs April through July, with the 2009 season home opener on April 25.
websites: gulfcoastriptide.com, Women's Football Alliance: wfafootball.com, email: WFA_Riptide@yahoo.com
2001 Season:
The team's history started one cool Saturday morning in February 2001. That's when Catherine Masters (NWFA CEO & founder) held tryouts for the first women's football team in Pensacola. Ray Quinn (Head Coach & owner of the Alabama Renegades) and Tim Smart (Power Head Coach Candidate) were on hand to greet the first batch of football hopefuls. Over 120 women tried out for the team over the next three weekends but only 60 could make the squad. After a laborious selection process, 60 women were chosen and the team was ready to get started.
The Power had less than 2 months to select a team, get in shape, order equipment and learn the fundamentals of the game. Expectations for the first season were understandably moderate. With 4 games against teams from Nashville and Huntsville, (teams with 8 games under their belts) the Power was optimistically hoping for a 4-4 season.
The Power burst on the NWFA scene with a vengeance setting records for attendance ranging from a reported 2,500 to 5,000 fans per game. No one was disappointed. During the course of their first season the Power recorded the first ever undefeated regular season, earned the Southern Division Title with the 2nd ranked defense and the 2nd ranked offense in the league, had the leagues first and only 1,000 yard rusher (Jill Penderghest), the league leader in interceptions (Jodi Albright), the leagues’ best punter and field goal kicker (Emily Morgan) and earned a berth in the first ever National Women's Football Association National Championship game. While the Power lost the championship game to nerves and the overwhelming size and strength of the Philadelphia Liberty Belles, no one could have asked for a better start.
2002 Season:
The 2002 season began under a heavy cloud of doubt. After an awesome 8-1 inaugural season but after bad management, the Power was given a new life. Bolstered by new ownership and confidence, the Power prepared for the 2002 season. With about 25 returning veterans the Power had a solid core to build on. The NWFA had added another 10 teams to the league and had recreated itself into five conferences. The Power found itself in the new Gulf Coast Division with teams from Biloxi, Panama City and New Orleans. The Power was quick to use its experience and power to dominate divisional opponents and wrapped up its’ second consecutive undefeated season and divisional title. They outscored their opponents 421-19. They had the #1 rated offense and the #2 rated defense in the league. The Power defeated the Alabama Renegades 12-8 in the first round of the playoffs but fell to the eventual National Champion, the Detroit Danger by a score of 14-7. The Power has amassed a 17-2 (.894 winning percentage) record over the last two years.
Unlike the 2001 season the 2002 season was a success on and off the field. With new management and solid financial controls the Power ended the year with zero debt and the ability to start the 2003 season with a small balance in the bank.
2003 Season:
Head Coach Tim Smart - who is a retired Air Force Officer currently coaching the 2006 champions (the D.C. Divas) receives orders and is unable to complete the season. The Power warms up with a home pre-season game against the Nashville Dream, winning 37-12. Coach Smart takes the Power to a regular season 7-0 record before he has to pack up. Coach Mike Thomas (defensive coordinator) takes over as head coach and the transition is smooth. Coach Thomas' first official game as head coach is a victory and seals up an incredible record of 8-0 for the season outscoring opponents 480-10. The Power is now undefeated in regular season play for the third consecutive year.
Entering the playoffs with an official Bye and home field advantage, the Power is ranked No. 1. The first match-up was against the Alabama Renegades. With a victory of 32-12, the Power advanced to play Oklahoma City Lightning. Again, the Power was successful with a victory of 26-14 and went on to the Championship in Nashville TN. Although the Power played a head to head game at Vanderbilt against the Detroit Demolition, Detroit made wise use of the clock and went on to win the Championship Title with a score of 28-21. The Power holds a record of 10-1 for the 2003 Season and are the reigning Gulf Coast Division Champions and Southern Conference Champions. For the 2003 season, the Power were rated #1 Defense and #2 Offense in the NWFA according to Massy Ratings. The franchise record stands at 27-3 (.894), not including pre-season scrimmages. The National Title has so far managed to slip out of their grasp, but the Power has without a doubt established themselves as a national contender.
2004 Season:
With Coach Mike Thomas leading the way, the Power saw some new competition, as their favorite rival the Alabama Renegades were shifted into a different division. Although the games were tougher as the competition gets more experienced, the Power had their 4th consecutive 8-0 regular season. New playoff rules put into place made the scenario such that you must beat each opponent by more than 30 points to ultimately gain the home field advantage. Teams who were given forfeits automatically were credited with a 30 point spread win. Although 8-0 and outscoring their opponents 398-57, the Power lost the home field advantage, was seeded #3 and had to travel for 2 out of 3 playoff games. The Power breezed their way through the first round defeating the Ashville Assault 61-0. The team met the always competitive Chattanooga Locomotion in the next round. This was the first time the two teams had met again since the 2001 season. The game began slowly with both teams showing some strengths and weaknesses but the Power opened things up in the second half and defeated the Locomotion 35-20. The final playoff game and Southern Conference Championship was against the Lightning in Oklahoma City. The Power was disappointed as they weren't able to take the team to the final game with a loss to OKC. The franchise record after this season is 36-4 (.894) not including pre-season scrimmages.
2005 season:
This time, riding another 8-0 season, the Power beat OKC in overtime earning a third appearance at the Championships. They traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to play the Detroit Demolition for the NWFA Championship but they were literally out of their league as the were overpowered by a painful 74-0 loss.
2006 Season:
Limping home after their loss, the Power never quite recovered and suffered their first regular season loss in the francise history to the Austin Outlaws. They ended the 2006 season 6-2 but still captured their Southeast Division Title. The Power were beaten by the Columbus Comets in the 2nd round of playoffs to end their 2006 season.
2007 Season:
Despite capturing a 7-1 record and another Southeast Division Title, the Power were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Columbus Comets once again.
2008 Season: Once again, the Power finished 6-2 and won the Southeast Division championship. Likewise, the Power were eliminated in the first round, losing 6-0 to the Kentucky Karma.
2009 Season: For the 2009 season, the Power moved to the WFA and changed their name to the Gulf Coast Riptide because of naming issues with the former team owner Roy Jones, Jr. The team was placed in the American Conference Southeast Division along with Memphis, New Orleans, Emerald Coast and Jacksonville. Despite another well-played season and another 6-2 record, for the first time in franchise history, the Riptide missed the playoffs. This is because of the WFA's new playoff system which did not allow for any wildcards from the American Coference and because of the Riptide's two losses to the Jacksonville Dixie Blues.
The team finished fifth in the league with 38.3 points a game, and 12th in defense with 18.9 points allowed per game. Quarterback Ella Williams finished 11th in the league with 36 completions of 63 attempts, 516 yards and 14 TDs with only two interceptions. Running back Lakeisha Johnson ended the season fifth in th league with 1,023 yards on 108 carries, and 13 TDs. Dominique Jones landed 9th in the league in receiving with 17 receptions for 247 yards and 6 TDs with a 14.5 yards per catch. Audrey Kidd tied for 9th in sacks with four while Jamie Freeman tied for 4th in interceptions with four.
Season-By-Season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
Season W L T Finish Playoff results Pensacola Power (NWFA) 2001 8-0-0 1st Unknown Division Lost NWFA Championship (Philadelphia) 2002 8-0-0 1st Gulf Coast Won First Round (Alabama) Lost Semifinal (Detroit) 2003 8-0-0 1st South First-round bye Won Conference Semifinal (Alabama) Won Conference Championship (Oklahoma City) Lost NWFA Championship (Detroit) 2004 8-0-0 1st South Gulf Coast Won Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Asheville) Won Southern Conference Semifinal (Chattanooga) Lost Southern Conference Championship (Oklahoma City) 2005 8-0-0 T-1st South Won South Division Semifinal (Chattanooga) Won South Division Championship (Oklahoma City) Lost NWFA Championship (Detroit) 2006 6-2-0 1st South East First-round bye Lost NWFA Quarterfinal (Columbus) 2007 7-1-0 1st South South Lost Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Columbus) 2008 6-2-0 1st South Southeast Lost Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Kentucky) Gulf Coast Riptide (WFA) 2009 6-2-0 2nd American Conference Southeast Division Totals 72-15-0 (including playoffs) Pensacola Power (2001-2008)
2009 Season Schedule
Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 25 New Orleans Blaze Home Won 28-0
May 2 Emerald Coast Barracudas Away Won 66-8
May 9 New Orleans Blaze Away Won 20-10
May 16 Memphis Belles Home Won 55-8
May 30 Jacksonville Dixie Blues Home Lost 36-49
June 13 Memphis Belles Away Won 54-20
June 20 Emerald Coast Barracudas Home Won 6-0**
June 27 Jacksonville Dixie Blues Away Lost 14-37
- = Won by forfeit