Birmingham Barracudas

The Birmingham Barracudas were Birmingham's franchise in the Canadian Football League, in an attempt to establish American teams in the all Canadian league. The team played its home games in Legion Field and compiled an 11-7 during its lone season in 1995, and playing before an average home crowd of over 16,843 fans. The team was owned by Art Williams and coached by Jack Pardee.

History

Birmingham was announced as a CFL expansion franchise at a press conference on January 11, 1995. Owned by Art Williams, its president was announced as Larry Lemak and the general manager would be Roy Shivers. Williams chose Birmingham over both San Antonio and Orlando as locations for the franchise. On January 28, the CFL Board of Governors officially approved Birmingham's application for an expansion team unanimously.

On March 13, it was announced that the teams name would be the Barracudas. Also simply called the 'Cudas, the name was chosen from list of more than 400 different nicknames. Other seriously considered names included Cougars, Bearcats, Bandits, Steel and Magicians. The team colors were also announced at the press conference: black, white, teal and blue.

Roster

• Junior Thurman, #2, defensive back
• Fernando Thomas, #3, defensive back
• Andre Strode, #4, defensive back
• Mac Cody, #5, wide receiver
• Marcus Grant, #6, wide receiver
• Anthony Drawborn, #7, defensive back
• Reggie Slack, #10, quarterback (traded to Winnipeg on July 10 for Fred Childress)
• Franco Grilla, #11, place kicker
• Scott Player, #12, punter
• Jimmy Klingler, #15, quarterback
• Matt Dunigan, #16, quarterback
• Willie McClendon, #18, running back
• Donald Moffett, #19, running back
• Will Gilmore, #21, defensive back
• Tommy Oates, #23, linebacker
• Eddie Davis, #29, defensive back
• Kyle Faulkner, #45, linebacker
• John Motton, #42, linebacker
• Jimmy Reed, #43, linebacker
• Kyle Faulkner, #45, linebacker
• Reggie Marable, #47, linebacker
• Mike James, #48, linebacker
• Donovan Gans, #49, defensive line
• Chris Rodahaffer, #51, offensive line
• Chris Dyko, #53, offensive line
• Thomas Rayam, #55, offensive line
• Shonte Peoples, #56, linebacker
• York Kurinsky, #59, offensive line
• Jeff Neal, #60, offensive line
• Craig Gibson, #61, offensive line
• Roosevelt Patterson, #68, offensive line
• Akaba Delaney, #76, defensive line
• Jason Phillips, #82, wide receiver
• Derrick Crawford, #83, wide receiver
• Delius Morris, #85, wide receiver
• Ted Long, #86, wide receiver
• Angelo Snipes, #91, linebacker
• Steve Anderson, #92, defensive line
• Mark Ledbetter, #94, defensive line
• Fred Childress, #__, offensive line

1995 record (11-7-0)

Preseason

• June 16: Lost 31-28 at Shreveport Pirates. On a steamy June afternoon, 17 penalties cost the visiting 'Cudas victory in their first exhibition. Reggie Slack would start at quarterback and complete 10 of 18 passes for 108 with a pair of touchdowns. Jimmy Klingler would relieve Slack, and was 8 of 14 for 172 yards including a 32 yard touchdown pass to Marcus Grant. However a lost fumble and interception would prove costly in the loss in combination with 17 penalties would cost the 'Cudas victory.
• June 24: Lost 37-0 vs. Baltimore Stallions (at Miami). In a charity game played before 13,000 in Miami's Orange Bowl Stadium, the 'Cudas were shutout by 1994 Grey Cup runner-up 37-0. Birmingham's only scoring opportunity of the afternoon came at the end of the second when Franco Grilla missed a 46 yard field goal attempt.

Regular season

• July 4: Won 38-10 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In their first regular season game, the 'Cudas would dominate Winnipeg in a 38-10 victory. The scoring would begin in the first with Andre Strode returning an interception 31 yards back for a score. Later in the first, Jimmy Klingler would hit for a 96 yard touchdown score Jason Phillips. After another Birmingham score in the second on a 3 yard Willie McClendon run, Junior Thurman would return another interception for a touchdown in giving the visitors a 28-0 halftime lead. For the game, Birmingham would gain 354 yards on offense with a stingy defense limiting the Bombers to only 242 yards and six turnovers.
• July 8: Lost 31-10 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats. After an impressive opening victory, the visiting 'Cudas looked like an expansion team in a 31-10 defeat at Hamilton. After a trio of Tiger-Cat turnovers resulting in only a 49 yard Franco Grilla field goal, Birmingham would find the end zone for the only time of the day on an 86 yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Klingler to Marcus Grant. Grant would have a memorable afternoon in an otherwise forgettable game in gaining 182 yards on seven catches.
• July 15: Won 51-28 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In their home opener, the 'Cudas dominated Hamilton in taking a 51-28 victory in front if a season high 31,185 fans in Legion Field. In the first, Matt Dunigan would hit Delius Morris for a one yard touchdown pass and would run one in from one yard out giving the home team a 14-3 victory after one. In the second, Dunigan would hit Marcus Grant for a pair of touchdowns of 39 and 72 yards. In the third, Fernando Thomas would return an interception 41 yards for a score to ice the contest for the 'Cudas.
• July 22: Won 24-14 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders. After an emotional opening win at home, the Cudas looked flat in front of 25,321 home fans in a 24-14 win against winless Saskatchewan. After being down 10-3 in the first, Matt Dunigan hit Jason Phillips for a six yard touchdown late in the first. Birmingham would then take a 17-13 halftime lead after Dunigan hit Phillips for a 23 yard touchdown as the first half concluded.
• July 29: Lost 36-8 vs. Baltimore Stallions.
• August 3: Lost 30-23 at British Columbia Lions.
• August 12: Won 50-24 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• August 18: Won 30-28 at Calgary Stampeders.
• August 26: Lost 37-14 vs. Calgary Stampeders.
• September 1: Won 56-46 at Ottawa Rough Riders.
• September 9: Lost 28-20 at Baltimore Stallions.
• September 17: Won 40-9 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders.
• September 24: Lost 28-19 at Memphis Mad Dogs.
• October 1: Won 34-20 vs. Shreveport Pirates.
• October 8: Won 38-28 vs. San Antonio Texans.
• October 13: Won 29-28 at Shreveport Pirates.
• October 19: Lost 45-18 vs. Edmonton Eskimos.
• October 29: Lost 48-42 at San Antonio Texans.
• November 5: Lost 52-9 at San Antonio Texans. (playoff round 1)

References

• Bryan, Jimmy (January 12, 1995) "An enthusiastic beginning, Art Williams promises CFL will be exciting." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (January 28, 1995) "Now it's official: City gets CFL team." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (March 14, 1995) "Call 'em the 'Cudas, CFL team makes Barracudas official." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (June 18, 1995) "Cudas see room for improvement in exhibition loss." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (June 25, 1995) "Cudas no match for Baltimore." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (June 26, 1995) "Patterson finds home with Cudas; Cuts roster by 18." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (July 5, 1995) "What a night! Bombers feeling blue after Barracudas smashing debut." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (July 9, 1995) "Tiger-Cats hammer Barracudas." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (July 16, 1995) "It's home sweet home for Cudas." Birmingham News.
• Segrest, Doug (July 23, 1995) "Sluggish Cudas manage victory." Birmingham News.

External links

• Birmingham Barracudas at BirminghamProSports.com
• The CFL in America at oursportscentral.com/cflinamerica/birm.php