The 1996 Albany Firebirds season was the seventh season for the Albany Firebirds. They finished the 1996 Arena Football League season 10–4 and finished the season with a loss in the semifinals of the playoffs to the Iowa Barnstormers.[1]
Schedule
Regular season
Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Results
|
Game site (attendance)
|
Final score
|
Team record
|
1
|
Bye
|
2
|
May 4
|
Charlotte Rage
|
W 63–32
|
1–0
|
Knickerbocker Arena (13,029)
|
3
|
May 10
|
at San Jose SaberCats
|
L 40–69
|
1–1
|
San Jose Arena (15,561)
|
4
|
May 18
|
Minnesota Fighting Pike
|
W 85–30
|
2–1
|
Knickerbocker Arena (11,712)
|
5
|
May 24
|
at Connecticut Coyotes
|
W 58–26
|
3–1
|
Hartford Civic Center (7,539)
|
6
|
June 1
|
St. Louis Stampede
|
L 56–66
|
3–2
|
Knickerbocker Arena (12,015)
|
7
|
June 8
|
Memphis Pharaohs
|
W 67–21
|
4–2
|
Knickerbocker Arena (11,764)
|
8
|
June 15
|
at Iowa Barnstormers
|
L 46–55
|
4–3
|
Veterans Memorial Auditorium (11,411)
|
9
|
June 21
|
at Charlotte Rage
|
W 88–36
|
5–3
|
Charlotte Coliseum (6,898)
|
10
|
June 29
|
Connecticut Coyotes
|
W 59–45
|
6–3
|
Knickerbocker Arena (11,117)
|
11
|
July 6
|
Orlando Predators
|
W 53–41
|
7–3
|
Knickerbocker Arena (11,079)
|
12
|
July 12
|
at Tampa Bay Storm
|
L 52–65 (OT)
|
7–4
|
ThunderDome (13,202)
|
13
|
July 20
|
at Florida Bobcats
|
W 66–63
|
8–4
|
West Palm Beach Auditorium (3,601)
|
14
|
July 27
|
Texas Terror
|
W 86–24
|
9–4
|
Knickerbocker Arena (12,345)
|
15
|
August 2
|
at Milwaukee Mustangs
|
W 54–49
|
10–4
|
Bradley Center (16,411)
|
[2]
Playoffs
The Firebirds were awarded the No. 4 seed in the AFL playoffs.
Round
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Results
|
Game site (attendance)
|
Final score
|
Playoff record
|
Quarterfinals
|
August 10
|
(5) Milwaukee Mustangs
|
W 70–58
|
1–0
|
Knickerbocker Arena (11,613)
|
Semifinals
|
August 17
|
at (1) Iowa Barnstormers
|
L 55–62
|
1–1
|
Veterans Memorial Auditorium (11,411)
|
[2]
Standings
Team
|
Overall
|
Division
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Percentage
|
Wins
|
Losses
|
Percentage
|
National Conference
|
Eastern Division
|
|
10
|
4
|
0.714
|
4
|
0
|
1.000
|
Charlotte Rage
|
5
|
9
|
0.357
|
2
|
2
|
0.500
|
Connecticut Coyotes
|
2
|
12
|
0.143
|
0
|
4
|
0.000
|
Southern Division
|
Tampa Bay Storm
|
12
|
2
|
0.857
|
5
|
1
|
0.833
|
Orlando Predators
|
9
|
5
|
0.643
|
5
|
1
|
0.833
|
Florida Bobcats
|
6
|
8
|
0.429
|
2
|
4
|
0.333
|
Texas Terror
|
1
|
13
|
0.071
|
0
|
6
|
0.000
|
American Conference
|
Central Division
|
Iowa Barnstormers
|
12
|
2
|
0.857
|
4
|
2
|
0.667
|
Milwaukee Mustangs
|
10
|
4
|
0.714
|
5
|
1
|
0.833
|
St. Louis Stampede
|
8
|
6
|
0.571
|
3
|
3
|
0.500
|
Memphis Pharaohs
|
0
|
14
|
0.000
|
0
|
6
|
0.000
|
Western Division
|
Arizona Rattlers
|
11
|
3
|
0.786
|
3
|
2
|
0.600
|
Anaheim Piranhas
|
9
|
5
|
0.643
|
4
|
1
|
0.800
|
San Jose SaberCats
|
6
|
8
|
0.429
|
1
|
4
|
0.200
|
Minnesota Fighting Pike
|
4
|
10
|
0.286
|
1
|
2
|
0.333
|
- Green indicates clinched playoff berth
- Blue indicates division champion
- Grey indicates best regular season record
Awards
[1]
References
|
---|
American Conference | National Conference |
Central Division | Western Division |
- Iowa Barnstormers
- Memphis Pharaohs
- Milwaukee Mustangs
- St. Louis Stampede
| |
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Eastern Division | Southern Division | | |
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Franchise | |
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Arenas | |
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Head coaches | |
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Playoff appearances (11) | |
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Division championships (6) | |
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ArenaBowl appearances (1) | |
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Hall of Fame members | |
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