ABOUT THE 2010 GAINESVILLE GLADIATORS

ABOUT THE 2010 GAINESVILLE GLADIATORS

The Gainesville Gladiators is an Adult Full Contact Football Organization.  Back in 2006, Coach Nate Stephens began his coaching journey after 5 seasons of Adult Full Contact Football, as Offensive Coordinator for the Georgia Panthers.  That season the Panthers went 14-1 and won the SFL Championship after dominating the league competition.  In 2007, Coach Stephens joined up with Neal Bennett and formed the Georgia Pride.  The Pride ran for 2 years, the first year in the SFL and the second year in the USFL.  The Pride made the playoffs both seasons. 

After the 2008 season, Coach Stephens moved back home to Gainesville and decided to form the Gladiators, which he did so with the help of Co-Owner and his brother Coach Matt Dyer.  The Gladiators went through 2009 with a record of 6-6 and failed to make the playoffs based on a technicality.  For the 2010 season, the Gladiators have revamped the roster with fresh, young, hungry talent.  2010 also brings about a league change, to the DSFL.  The DSFL is a winter/spring league, while the Gladiators organization has been use to playing in a summer league.

The purpose of the Gladiators is to give young men an opportunity to continue their playing careers after their high school days are over.  The vast majority of players don't get the opportunity to move on to the collegiate level.  The most influential years in a young man's life falls between the 18-26 year range.  These are the years that mold them into the men they become.  We strive to not only continue their education on the football field, but to also continue a positive influence on their everyday life, by encouraging them to pursue their dreams. 

These guys are not the only people that make up our organization.  The rest are a variety of different ages and skill levels that make up our team.  From guys that have never played the game before to guys that have played one or more seasons at the collegiate level.  Ultimately our goals depend on the players goals.  If they want to pursue a chance at playing at the collegiate level, the Gladiators will assist them.  If they want to pursue playing professional football, the Gladiators can do that too. 

Over the past 4 years the Gladiators have had a variety of different situations come about for players. such as players get into school playing collegiate football at places like Clarke Atlanta and Valdosta State. The Gladiators also have helped place players in Europe, most recently in 2007 with the Cologne Falcons.   Also a variety of players have came upon opportunities for Arena 2 and Indoor Football teams. 

The ultimate goal is a collective agreement between player and team.   The Gladiators will do as much as possible to help our players obtain their goals and the players must push themselves to reach those goals.

The Gladiators do not hold true tryouts.  The '"tryouts" that are held are more or less an evaluation of talent.  The organization feels that anyone willing to put the time and effort into this great sport and adhere to the rules of the team can then call themself a Gladiator. 

As the team pushes forward into the next decade, the organization will look for continued growth and also look for new ways to establish ourselves and become an asset to the community.  For more information, please refer to the Questions and Answers page or call 678-410-0818.