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Minnesota Fighting Pike
The Minnesota Fighting Pike were an Arena football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They joined the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1996 as an expansion team. The Fighting Pike were the first ever attempt at an arena/indoor football team in the state of Minnesota. The owner of the Fighting Pike was Tom Scallen. The Fighting Pike played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team colors were green and gold. In a 2012 AFL Poll, the Fighting Pike were voted as the 8th greatest nickname in AFL history.[1] Franchise historyIn November 1995, the announced that they would be nicknamed the "Fighting Pike" and that Art Haege was named the team's head coach.[2] During the team's first tryout, Haege walked out, stating he was going "Back to Iowa." The next day, Haege faxed in his resignation to team owner Tom Scallen.[3][4] The Pike were 0-7 at home, and the average attendance for the seven home games was 8,894.[5] The roster was full of players who had played at the University of Minnesota or other Minnesota colleges and universities. Tony Levine, a former Golden Gopher, joined the team and received 8 passes for a total of 83 yards and 1 touchdown. Former Gopher Rickey Foggie was the quarterback and he struggled adapting to the Arena Football League after many years in the Canadian Football League. Once during the season he was benched in favor of Southwest State's Jeff Loots, who threw four interceptions in a game. Loots was playing on his third expansion team in three seasons. Another player from Southwest State was Alvin Ashley. The best-known ex-Pike is kicker Mike Vanderjagt, later a star in the CFL and NFL. Ray Jauch was the head coach. He was assisted by John Coatta Jr. on offense and Frank Haege on defense. The team's lack of exposure or advertising was the key reason for the team's folding at the end of the 1996 season.[citation needed] The team did not have a regional television deal to promote their games or have the games advertised in newspapers and other media. The Pike's final game of the season against the Memphis Pharaohs was played in Tupelo, Mississippi, because the Pharaohs had been evicted from their arena.[citation needed] The Pike's official mascot was a giant Pike named "Tackle." He was known to "dive" into a promotional hot tub at the arena. LegacyIn 2024, a revival of the Arena Football League brought it the Minnesota Myth, a team which played only two games (one at Target Center) before folding themselves. PlayersFinal roster
CoachesHead coaches
Coaching staff
1996 season results
StatisticsTeam leaders
OffensePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Touchdowns
Defense
Special teamsKick return
Kicking
1996 regular seasonWeek 1: vs Texas TerrorAttendance: 4,520 Week 2: vs Iowa Barnstormersat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 14,840 Week 3: vs St. Louis Stampedeat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,726 Week 4: vs Albany Firebirdsat the Times Union Center, Albany, New York Attendance: 11,712 Week 5: vs Tampa Bay Stormat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,781 Week 6: vs Anaheim Piranhasat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,117 Week 7: vs Arizona Rattlersat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,207 Week 8: vs Florida Bobcatsat the West Palm Beach Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Florida Attendance: 4,450 Week 10: vs Milwaukee Mustangsat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,207 Week 11: vs Connecticut Coyotesat the Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut Attendance: 9,249 Week 12: vs Orlando Predatorsat the Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida Attendance: 15,107 Week 13: vs Texas Terrorat the Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,380 Week 14: vs San Jose SaberCatsat the HP Pavilion, San Jose, California Attendance: 14,901 Week 15: vs Memphis Pharaohsat the BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo, Mississippi Attendance: 4,520
Other media
Notes
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