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{{wikipedia}}{{Football team | color1 = white| color2 = #10274c| logo = GCRiptide.PNG| pixels = 200px| founded = [[2001]]| league = [[Wikipedia:Women's Football Alliance|Women's Football Alliance]]| history = Pensacola Power ([[National Women's Football Association|NWFA]]) 2001-2008<br /> Gulf Coast Riptide([[Women's Football Alliance|WFA]]) 2009-Present| arena = [[Escambia High School]]| colors = Navy, white| president = | coach = Mike Thomas| championships = 0| titles = 8 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)| dancers = Riptide Cheerleaders| mascot = }}The '''Gulf Coast Riptide''', formerly the Pensacola Power, is a women's American football full contact football team in the [[Wikipedia:Women's Football Alliance (WFA) |Women's Football Alliance]] founded in 2001 as the '''Pensacola Power ''' of the [[Wikipedia:National Women's Football Association|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.
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.
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 [[Wikipedia: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.
==2004 Season==
With Coach [[Mike Thomas]] leading the way, the Power saw some new competition, as their favorite rival the [[Wikipedia:Alabama Renegades|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 [[Wikipedia:Ashville Assault|Ashville Assault]] 61-0. The team met the always competitive [[Wikipedia:Chattanooga Locomotion|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.
==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 [[Wikipedia:Austin Outlaws|Austin Outlaws]]. They ended the 2006 season 6-2 but still captured their Southeast Division Title. The Power were beaten by the [[Wikipedia:Columbus Comets|Columbus Comets]] in the 2nd round of playoffs to end their 2006 season.
==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 [[Wikipedia:Kentucky Karma|Kentucky Karma]].
<gallery>
Image:Helmet logo.jpg|Pensacola Power (2001-2008)
Image:GulfCoastRiptide.PNG|Preliminary Gulf Coast Riptide logo (pre-2009)
Image:GCRiptide.PNG|Gulf Coast Riptide (2009-present)
</gallery>
==2009 SeasonSchedule=={| class="wikitable"|-By!Date!Opponent!Home/Away!Result|-SeasonNote|April 25|[[Wikipedia:New Orleans Blaze|New Orleans Blaze]]|Home|Won 28-0|-|May 2|[[Wikipedia:Emerald Coast Barracudas|Emerald Coast Barracudas]]|Away|Won 66-8|-|May 9|New Orleans Blaze|Away|Won 20-10|-|May 16|[[Wikipedia:Memphis Belles|Memphis Belles]]|Home|Won 55-8|-|May 30|[[Wikipedia: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = TiesJacksonville Dixie Blues|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|}