Manchester Wolves
Encyclopedia
The Manchester Wolves were a professional arena football
team, based at the Verizon Wireless Arena
in Manchester, New Hampshire
, which folded at the end of the 2009 season along with the rest of the league. They played in the East Division of the American Conference of the af2
league, which was the minor league of the Arena Football League.
and Dr. Eric Margenau, President/Chief Executive Officer of United Sports Ventures, announced that the new Uncasville, Connecticut
expansion af2 franchise would be named the Mohegan Wolves. Margenau introduced Gary Porter
, as the head coach for the team that would first take the field April 5, 2002 at the Mohegan Sun Arena
against the Albany Conquest
. Gary Porter, previously led the expansion Peoria Pirates to a 7-9 record in 2001.
The team name was selected through a “Name the Team” contest sponsored by WCTY
, Mohegan Sun and X-Tra Mart. A Jewett City, Connecticut
resident, came up with the winning name. The winner won four season tickets for the 2002 Mohegan Wolves season, dinner for four on the night of the team’s first home game, and a team merchandise package.
af2 franchise.
For the 2003 season, AFL veteran head coach Mark Stoute led the Wolves and dramatically improved their record. The team finished with a 10-6 regular season record (which included a 7-1 home record) and won their first postseason game on August 2, 2003 against the Atlantic Division Champion Cape Fear Wildcats 50-47. The season ended the next week on August 8, 2003 with a 47-30 loss to the Tennessee Valley Vipers
.
and Chicago Bears
.
During the first season in Manchester, NH, the new head coach, Rik Richards, was first fired midway through the season and replaced by his coordinator Ron Hill. And assistant coaches Mark Page and Ryan Ray. The Wolves finished out the season with a 5-11 record.
. Bennett, a veteran coach and player with Arena Football and af2 transformed the Manchester team to a 12-4 regular season record and won the East Division. The regular season included a 10-game win streak. The season ended with a first round playoff loss at home on August 12, 2005 against the Louisville Fire
56-69.
. A failed defensive back in the NFL, Bellisari took over of the Wolves offense and led them to four straight victories which took the Wolves from the bottom of the division to making the playoffs and hosting a first round game.
Bellisari found his favorite target Steve Gonzalez and the Wolves had a defense with the tandem of William Haith and Allistair Sebastien as the Wolves got a 55-47 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
in front of 3,732 fans at Verizon Wireless Arena. The Wolves season would end one week later in Florida however as Steve Bellisari was driving the Wolves down the field late in the fourth quarter when he threw his last pass as a Wolf, a game-sealing interception to the Florida Firecats. The final score was Florida 40, Manchester 39.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Mohegan Wolves
|-
|2002 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 5th AC Northeast || --
|-
|2003 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 2nd AC Northeast || Won AC Round 1 (Cape Fear
50-47)
Lost AC Semifinal (Tennessee Valley
47-30)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Manchester Wolves
|-
|2004 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th AC Northeast || --
|-
|2005 || 12 || 4 || 0 || 1st AC East || Lost AC Semifinal (Louisville
69-56)
|-
|2006 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Won AC Round 1 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
55-47)
Lost AC Semifinal (Florida 40-39)
|-
|2007 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC Round 1 (Central Valley
42-41)
|-
|2008 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Won AC Round 1 (South Georgia
46-42)
Won AC Semifinal (Green Bay
55-54)
Lost AC Championship (Tennessee Valley
45-35)
|-
|2009 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC Round 1 (Iowa
70-53)
|-
!Totals || 65 || 61 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team, based at the Verizon Wireless Arena
Verizon Wireless Arena
The Verizon Wireless Arena is an indoor events arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, and seats 9,852 for ice hockey and just under 10,000 for basketball and some concerts.Verizon Wireless paid for the arena's naming rights...
in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, which folded at the end of the 2009 season along with the rest of the league. They played in the East Division of the American Conference of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
league, which was the minor league of the Arena Football League.
Inception
On December 12, 2001, Mohegan SunMohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
and Dr. Eric Margenau, President/Chief Executive Officer of United Sports Ventures, announced that the new Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
expansion af2 franchise would be named the Mohegan Wolves. Margenau introduced Gary Porter
Gary Porter
For the footballer see Gary Porter Gary Porter is a monster truck driver that races on the USHRA circuit. He is currently a member of the Grave Digger team.-History:...
, as the head coach for the team that would first take the field April 5, 2002 at the Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena
The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut located inside Mohegan Sun. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span...
against the Albany Conquest
Albany Conquest
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football team of the af2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play their home games at the Times Union Center...
. Gary Porter, previously led the expansion Peoria Pirates to a 7-9 record in 2001.
The team name was selected through a “Name the Team” contest sponsored by WCTY
WCTY
WCTY is a radio station with studios in Norwich, Connecticut. Its transmitter is located on Cook Drive in Montville, Connecticut. WCTY broadcasts a country music format, and is owned by WICH, Inc., a subsidiary of Hall Communications....
, Mohegan Sun and X-Tra Mart. A Jewett City, Connecticut
Jewett City, Connecticut
Jewett City is a borough in New London County, Connecticut, in the town of Griswold. The population was 3,053 people at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
resident, came up with the winning name. The winner won four season tickets for the 2002 Mohegan Wolves season, dinner for four on the night of the team’s first home game, and a team merchandise package.
New owners
On February 6, 2003, the af2 league office announced that Big Win Ventures LLC would now be the operator of the Mohegan Wolves. Dr. Margenau, the former principal operator of the Mohegan Wolves, assumed the role of President of Big Win and remained a substantial shareholder. Big Win, which is privately held, also announced the same day that it has assumed operations of the Albany ConquestAlbany Conquest
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football team of the af2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play their home games at the Times Union Center...
af2 franchise.
For the 2003 season, AFL veteran head coach Mark Stoute led the Wolves and dramatically improved their record. The team finished with a 10-6 regular season record (which included a 7-1 home record) and won their first postseason game on August 2, 2003 against the Atlantic Division Champion Cape Fear Wildcats 50-47. The season ended the next week on August 8, 2003 with a 47-30 loss to the Tennessee Valley Vipers
Tennessee Valley Vipers
The Alabama Vipers was a professional arena football team, that played in the Arena Football League. For most of their history, the Vipers played as the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the now-defunct af2, the minor league for the original AFL, where they won the 2008 ArenaCup championship. They play...
.
Relocation
On October 29, 2003, the league office approved the relocation of the Mohegan Wolves team to Manchester, NH. The Wolves’ move to Manchester was made possible through the efforts of a group of local businessmen and Dr. Margenau. The team of local investors was led by longtime area resident Steve Schubert, a former player for the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
During the first season in Manchester, NH, the new head coach, Rik Richards, was first fired midway through the season and replaced by his coordinator Ron Hill. And assistant coaches Mark Page and Ryan Ray. The Wolves finished out the season with a 5-11 record.
New coach/Turn around
Things turned around in 2005 with new head coach, Ben BennettBen Bennett
Ben Bennett is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984...
. Bennett, a veteran coach and player with Arena Football and af2 transformed the Manchester team to a 12-4 regular season record and won the East Division. The regular season included a 10-game win streak. The season ended with a first round playoff loss at home on August 12, 2005 against the Louisville Fire
Louisville Fire
The Louisville Fire was an arena football team that played its home games at the Brown-Forman Field in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. They were a 2001 expansion team of the af2. Their owner/operator was former Pro Bowl lineman and Louisville native Will Wolford. The team was somewhat...
56-69.
Quarterback problems
In 2006, the Wolves had loftier expectations because of many key players and Head Coach Ben Bennett returning. The team had issues at Quarterback however as D. Bryant and Kyle Rowley were ineffective while trying to fill the shoes of the 2005 starter and current Jake Eaton. With four games remaining in the season and the team sitting at 5-7, Coach Bennett turned to former Ohio State Quarterback Steve BellisariSteve Bellisari
Steve Bellisari is an Arena football quarterback who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. Bellisari is best known as an Ohio State University Buckeye from 1998 to 2001.-College career:...
. A failed defensive back in the NFL, Bellisari took over of the Wolves offense and led them to four straight victories which took the Wolves from the bottom of the division to making the playoffs and hosting a first round game.
Bellisari found his favorite target Steve Gonzalez and the Wolves had a defense with the tandem of William Haith and Allistair Sebastien as the Wolves got a 55-47 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team that played in the AF2. The team was part of the East Division in the American conference. The Pioneers were an expansion team for the league's 2002 season, and were the runner-ups in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X.-2001:The...
in front of 3,732 fans at Verizon Wireless Arena. The Wolves season would end one week later in Florida however as Steve Bellisari was driving the Wolves down the field late in the fourth quarter when he threw his last pass as a Wolf, a game-sealing interception to the Florida Firecats. The final score was Florida 40, Manchester 39.
Season-by-season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Mohegan Wolves
|-
|2002 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 5th AC Northeast || --
|-
|2003 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 2nd AC Northeast || Won AC Round 1 (Cape Fear
South Georgia Wildcats
The South Georgia Wildcats were a professional arena football team. They were a 2002 expansion member of af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League...
50-47)
Lost AC Semifinal (Tennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley Vipers
The Alabama Vipers was a professional arena football team, that played in the Arena Football League. For most of their history, the Vipers played as the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the now-defunct af2, the minor league for the original AFL, where they won the 2008 ArenaCup championship. They play...
47-30)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Manchester Wolves
|-
|2004 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th AC Northeast || --
|-
|2005 || 12 || 4 || 0 || 1st AC East || Lost AC Semifinal (Louisville
Louisville Fire
The Louisville Fire was an arena football team that played its home games at the Brown-Forman Field in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. They were a 2001 expansion team of the af2. Their owner/operator was former Pro Bowl lineman and Louisville native Will Wolford. The team was somewhat...
69-56)
|-
|2006 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Won AC Round 1 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team that played in the AF2. The team was part of the East Division in the American conference. The Pioneers were an expansion team for the league's 2002 season, and were the runner-ups in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X.-2001:The...
55-47)
Lost AC Semifinal (Florida 40-39)
|-
|2007 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC Round 1 (Central Valley
Central Valley Coyotes
The Central Valley Coyotes are a professional arena football team and were a charter member of Arena Football 1. The team currently is not in a league...
42-41)
|-
|2008 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Won AC Round 1 (South Georgia
South Georgia Wildcats
The South Georgia Wildcats were a professional arena football team. They were a 2002 expansion member of af2, the minor league for the Arena Football League...
46-42)
Won AC Semifinal (Green Bay
Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional indoor football team, which was founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, in the now defunct the minor league of the Arena Football League. The Blizzard play in...
55-54)
Lost AC Championship (Tennessee Valley
Tennessee Valley Vipers
The Alabama Vipers was a professional arena football team, that played in the Arena Football League. For most of their history, the Vipers played as the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the now-defunct af2, the minor league for the original AFL, where they won the 2008 ArenaCup championship. They play...
45-35)
|-
|2009 || 7 || 9 || 0 || 2nd AC East || Lost AC Round 1 (Iowa
Iowa Barnstormers
The Iowa Barnstormers are an arena football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 following the organization's restructuring...
70-53)
|-
!Totals || 65 || 61 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Notable players
- David Bailey - WR/S
- Steve BellisariSteve BellisariSteve Bellisari is an Arena football quarterback who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. Bellisari is best known as an Ohio State University Buckeye from 1998 to 2001.-College career:...
- QB/S - William Haith - DS
- James Pinkney - QB
- Dylan Pohlman - K
- Emery Sammons - WR
- Lamar Bryant - OL/DL
- Mike PottsMike Potts (American football)Mike Potts is an American football quarterback who is currently a Free Agent. He has most recently played for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was released by the Steelers later in 2008...
- QB - Kyle RowleyKyle RowleyKyle Rowley is an American quarterback from Brown University who has played in the af2 and the AFL. He is currently a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Power.-College:...
- QB - D. BryantD. BryantD. Bryant is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League.-Early life:Born the son of Marvin and Brenda Bryant, D. attended Cass Technical High School, in Detroit, Michigan. There he lettered in four sports; football, basketball, baseball and track...
- QB