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 and played its home games at the Pensacola Civic Center.
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 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
The AF2 expanded to 28 teams and changed the Pacific Conference to the National Conference. Two divisions were formed in each conference. The Barracudas were placed in the American Conference Southeast Division along with Tallahassee, Macon, Jacksonville, Augusta, Columbus and Florida, whose home city was Estero near Ft. Myers, FL. While the team went 5-11-0 and missed the playoffs, attendance nosedived to 3,742 fans for eight home games. The Quad City Steamwheelers would repeat as league champion defeating the Richmond 55-51. The quarterbacking duties would be split between John Knust and Johnny Johnson. Knust would go 127 completions on 234 attempts with 5 interceptions and 19 TDs with an 82.73 rating. Johnson played in six games to go 78 completions in 169 attempts with two interceptions and 21 TDs for a 91.8 rating. Wide receiver and defensive back Robert Stromas had 23 TDs for 148 points.
2002 Season
The league expanded again to 34 teams with Attendance was 2,737 fans per game, third worst in the league.