New Orleans VooDoo
Encyclopedia
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League
(AFL) team based in New Orleans, Louisiana
. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena
.
The original New Orleans VooDoo played in the AFL from 2004–2008, at which point the league suspended operations. During that time they were owned in part by Tom Benson
, who also owned the National Football League
's New Orleans Saints
. In 2010 it was announced that a franchise would be joining the restructured AFL and carrying on the New Orleans VooDoo name and history. On September 14, 2010 it was announced that the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
were relocating to New Orleans, and would take up the VooDoo name, logo, colors, and history.
An AFL expansion team, the VooDoo played its inaugural game on the road against the Philadelphia Soul
on February 8, 2004. The game marked the return of the AFL to New Orleans, where the New Orleans Night
franchise had played two seasons in 1991-1992. The VooDoo logo consists of a human skull
wearing a top hat
and sunglasses
.
In their first year, they drew big crowds to their home games as they became the second team other than the Orlando Predators
or Tampa Bay Storm
to win the AFL's Southern Division. The team's average attendance of 15,240 ranked fifth in the league and was a major factor in the VooDoo's 7-1 regular season home record.
In 2005, the team started strong, but later found itself on the wrong end of some close, hard-fought games. With a national television audience and sold-out T.D. Waterhouse Centre looking on, the VooDoo ended their second regular season against Orlando with both needing a win to reach the playoffs. A second half rally featuring a fumble return for a touchdown by Thabiti Davis
brought the VooDoo back into the game briefly, but the VooDoo's backs were broken when a Jay Taylor
kickoff hit the iron surrounding the nets and was recovered by the Predators, which, after another touchdown to bring the lead up to 15, effectively sealed the game and ensured the VooDoo would watch the playoffs from home. The final score was 51-40, ending the VooDoo's season at 9-7, a disappointing result for a team widely expected to challenge for the ArenaBowl
championship.
Despite the underachievement, the VooDoo proved to be hits with New Orleans for the second consecutive year, with an average attendance of 15,338, good for third in the 17-team AFL, and again had the New Orleans market lead the nation in television ratings for Sunday AFL broadcasts on NBC
.
The VooDoo's success and popularity led the AFL to consider placing the ArenaBowl in New Orleans. Although it had already signed a deal with Las Vegas
to have the ArenaBowl in that city for 2005, 2006 and 2007, the league had considered terminating that deal. Had the bidding for ArenaBowl XX begun, New Orleans would have been an early favorite, along with Orlando
and Arizona
.
The VooDoo's official mascots were known as Bones and Mojo. Their cheerleaders were known as the VooDoo Dolls.
to the New Orleans Arena, the VooDoo would suspend operations for the 2006 season. Fifteen of the players under contract with the VooDoo were moved to the expansion Kansas City Brigade
for the 2006 season. The team returned in 2007 with Neu as the head coach. The New Orleans Arena
hosted ArenaBowl XXI
and ArenaBowl XXII
.
.
The VooDoo started 4-3, before a 7 game losing streak dropped them to 4-10 and eliminated them from the playoff race.
The final record of 5-11 included the first ever victory by the VooDoo over the Orlando Predators
, a dominating 67-54 victory over the eventual ArenaBowl XXI
champion San Jose Sabercats
, a 78-34 nationally televised defeat at the Philadelphia Soul that ranks as the worst loss in franchise history, a 69-63 nationally televised loss to the New York Dragons
where the VooDoo used some curious strategy to run the clock down before going for the winning score on fourth down, and a narrow 80-79 defeat at the Dallas Desperados
, in which the VooDoo missed a two-point conversion to try to win the game after regulation time expired.
Despite the terrible record, several players were revelations for the VooDoo. Steve Bellisari
, a former Ohio State quarterback, took over the starting job from AFL veteran Andy Kelly
and showed no signs of giving it back anytime soon as the VooDoo offense became more efficient later in the season. Johnathan Ruffin, a New Orleans native and former Lou Groza
award winner, took over kicking duties late in the season and was far more efficient than his predecessor Eric Houle. James Lynch was named to the all-Rookie team at fullback
.
The VooDoo then suffered a collapse, losing six of their last seven games, and missed the Arena Football playoffs for the third consecutive season, finishing 8-8. Speculation ensued about Mike Neu's job as head coach, as the VooDoo suffered four second-half-of-the-season collapses in their four years as a franchise, but early indications were that he would continue to be the coach in 2009.
The New Orleans VooDoo received the Arena Football League's Best Support Staff Award during the ArenaBall Awards Ceremony held in New Orleans on Friday, July 25, 2008.
announced that they will revive the New Orleans VooDoo for the 2010 season before folding themselves.
On September 14, 2010, Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the Shreveport-Bossier franchise will move their operation to the city of New Orleans. Jason Coffel, who will serve as the vice president of operations for the VooDoo, said owner Dan Newman will cease operations of the Battle Wings in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and immediately become the New Orleans VooDoo.
The rebirth of the franchise and its renewal will not be affiliated with previous owner of the Voodoo, Tom Benson, or the New Orleans Saints.
"The reason this is happening is the Arena Football League recognizes how passionate the New Orleans market is about football, " Coffel said. "Proof of that is the success of the Saints and the success of the VooDoo when they were around."
On June 26, 2011, after a home loss to the Spokane Shock
, the VooDoo fired head coach Derek Stingley. He was replaced by General Manager Jon Norris. At the end of a 3-15 season, Jon Norris went back to being the General Manager. Later on August 8, 2011, he hired Pat O'Hara as the VooDoo's third head coach.
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
(AFL) team based in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Arena is an indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in the city's Central Business District, adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome....
.
The original New Orleans VooDoo played in the AFL from 2004–2008, at which point the league suspended operations. During that time they were owned in part by Tom Benson
Tom Benson
See also Tom Benson and Tom Benson for the Northern Ireland Unionist.Tom Benson is the owner of the New Orleans Saints. He is currently the owner of several automobile dealerships in the Greater New Orleans and San Antonio areas...
, who also owned the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. In 2010 it was announced that a franchise would be joining the restructured AFL and carrying on the New Orleans VooDoo name and history. On September 14, 2010 it was announced that the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
were relocating to New Orleans, and would take up the VooDoo name, logo, colors, and history.
History
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
on February 8, 2004. The game marked the return of the AFL to New Orleans, where the New Orleans Night
New Orleans Night
The New Orleans Night was an Arena Football League team that competed in the 1991 and 1992 AFL seasons and were based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team was officially announced at a press conference on March 18, 1991...
franchise had played two seasons in 1991-1992. The VooDoo logo consists of a human skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
wearing a top hat
Top hat
A top hat, beaver hat, high hat silk hat, cylinder hat, chimney pot hat or stove pipe hat is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, predominantly worn from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century...
and sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...
.
In their first year, they drew big crowds to their home games as they became the second team other than the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
or Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
to win the AFL's Southern Division. The team's average attendance of 15,240 ranked fifth in the league and was a major factor in the VooDoo's 7-1 regular season home record.
In 2005, the team started strong, but later found itself on the wrong end of some close, hard-fought games. With a national television audience and sold-out T.D. Waterhouse Centre looking on, the VooDoo ended their second regular season against Orlando with both needing a win to reach the playoffs. A second half rally featuring a fumble return for a touchdown by Thabiti Davis
Thabiti Davis
Thabiti Davis Thabiti Davis Thabiti Davis (born March 24, 1975 in Charlotte, North Carolina is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 1999...
brought the VooDoo back into the game briefly, but the VooDoo's backs were broken when a Jay Taylor
Jay Taylor
James "Jay" Taylor is an American professional football kicker for the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. He played collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers.-High school years:...
kickoff hit the iron surrounding the nets and was recovered by the Predators, which, after another touchdown to bring the lead up to 15, effectively sealed the game and ensured the VooDoo would watch the playoffs from home. The final score was 51-40, ending the VooDoo's season at 9-7, a disappointing result for a team widely expected to challenge for the ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
championship.
Despite the underachievement, the VooDoo proved to be hits with New Orleans for the second consecutive year, with an average attendance of 15,338, good for third in the 17-team AFL, and again had the New Orleans market lead the nation in television ratings for Sunday AFL broadcasts on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
The VooDoo's success and popularity led the AFL to consider placing the ArenaBowl in New Orleans. Although it had already signed a deal with Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
to have the ArenaBowl in that city for 2005, 2006 and 2007, the league had considered terminating that deal. Had the bidding for ArenaBowl XX begun, New Orleans would have been an early favorite, along with Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
and Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
The VooDoo's official mascots were known as Bones and Mojo. Their cheerleaders were known as the VooDoo Dolls.
Hurricane Katrina
On August 28, 2005, it was announced that due to the extensive damage suffered by Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
to the New Orleans Arena, the VooDoo would suspend operations for the 2006 season. Fifteen of the players under contract with the VooDoo were moved to the expansion Kansas City Brigade
Kansas City Brigade
The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...
for the 2006 season. The team returned in 2007 with Neu as the head coach. The New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Arena is an indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in the city's Central Business District, adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome....
hosted ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI was the 2007 championship game of the Arena Football League and was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, July 29, 2007. It was the third-ever neutral site title game in league's history and the first held in the state of Louisiana...
and ArenaBowl XXII
ArenaBowl XXII
ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana . It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana...
.
Return in 2007
In 2007, the VooDoo set an AFL season ticket record, selling over 13,000 season tickets. This led to the VooDoo leading in announced attendance as well, drawing 16,645 to their 8 home games, 800 more than the second-place Philadelphia SoulPhiladelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
.
The VooDoo started 4-3, before a 7 game losing streak dropped them to 4-10 and eliminated them from the playoff race.
The final record of 5-11 included the first ever victory by the VooDoo over the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
, a dominating 67-54 victory over the eventual ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI was the 2007 championship game of the Arena Football League and was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, July 29, 2007. It was the third-ever neutral site title game in league's history and the first held in the state of Louisiana...
champion San Jose Sabercats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
, a 78-34 nationally televised defeat at the Philadelphia Soul that ranks as the worst loss in franchise history, a 69-63 nationally televised loss to the New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
where the VooDoo used some curious strategy to run the clock down before going for the winning score on fourth down, and a narrow 80-79 defeat at the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
, in which the VooDoo missed a two-point conversion to try to win the game after regulation time expired.
Despite the terrible record, several players were revelations for the VooDoo. Steve Bellisari
Steve 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 former Ohio State quarterback, took over the starting job from AFL veteran Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played in the AFL for fifteen seasons. He also played for two seasons for the Rhein Fire of the former World League of American Football....
and showed no signs of giving it back anytime soon as the VooDoo offense became more efficient later in the season. Johnathan Ruffin, a New Orleans native and former Lou Groza
Lou Groza
Louis Roy Groza was an American football placekicker and offensive tackle who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns....
award winner, took over kicking duties late in the season and was far more efficient than his predecessor Eric Houle. James Lynch was named to the all-Rookie team at fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
.
2008
The VooDoo were picked by prognosticators to bring up the rear of the AFL after free agent WR Derrick Lewis was injured in training camp. By losing the 1st game in Los Angeles, and having starting Quarterback Steve Bellisari get hurt, things started to look bleak for the VooDoo. Backup Quarterback Danny Wimprine, from the New Orleans area, took over, and led by a defense that threatened to shatter the AFL record for interceptions in a season, the VooDoo won seven of their next eight games and threatened to run away with the Southern Division.The VooDoo then suffered a collapse, losing six of their last seven games, and missed the Arena Football playoffs for the third consecutive season, finishing 8-8. Speculation ensued about Mike Neu's job as head coach, as the VooDoo suffered four second-half-of-the-season collapses in their four years as a franchise, but early indications were that he would continue to be the coach in 2009.
The New Orleans VooDoo received the Arena Football League's Best Support Staff Award during the ArenaBall Awards Ceremony held in New Orleans on Friday, July 25, 2008.
Folding & rebirth Of the Voodoo
On October 13, 2008, owner Tom Benson announced the New Orleans VooDoo would not be continuing operations in New Orleans. Reasons given were "circumstances affecting the league and the team." The Arena Football LeagueArena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
announced that they will revive the New Orleans VooDoo for the 2010 season before folding themselves.
On September 14, 2010, Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the Shreveport-Bossier franchise will move their operation to the city of New Orleans. Jason Coffel, who will serve as the vice president of operations for the VooDoo, said owner Dan Newman will cease operations of the Battle Wings in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and immediately become the New Orleans VooDoo.
The rebirth of the franchise and its renewal will not be affiliated with previous owner of the Voodoo, Tom Benson, or the New Orleans Saints.
"The reason this is happening is the Arena Football League recognizes how passionate the New Orleans market is about football, " Coffel said. "Proof of that is the success of the Saints and the success of the VooDoo when they were around."
On June 26, 2011, after a home loss to the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
, the VooDoo fired head coach Derek Stingley. He was replaced by General Manager Jon Norris. At the end of a 3-15 season, Jon Norris went back to being the General Manager. Later on August 8, 2011, he hired Pat O'Hara as the VooDoo's third head coach.
Head coaches
- 2004–2008: Mike NeuMike NeuMike Neu is a former head coach in the Arena Football League for the New Orleans VooDoo. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and attend high school at Perry Meridian High School...
, 33–32 (including 0–1 playoffs) - 2011: Derek Stingley, 2–12 (including playoffs)
- 2011: Jon Norris (interim), 1-3 (including playoffs)
- 2012: Pat O'Hara, 0-0
Notable players
- 2004; Aaron Bailey
- 2004; John Fitzgerald
- 2004, 2007: Dan CurranDan Curranis an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Nashville Kats as a street free agent in 2001...
- 2004–2005: Monty Montgomery
- 2005, 2007: Andy KellyAndy KellyAndy Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played in the AFL for fifteen seasons. He also played for two seasons for the Rhein Fire of the former World League of American Football....
- 2004–2005; B.J. Cohen
- 2007: Henry Taylor
- 2007–2008: Tyronne JonesTyronne JonesTyronne Jones is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans VooDoo in the Arena Football League. He previously played for the Nashville Kats, the Philadelphia Soul, and the Georgia Force.-College years:...
- 2007–2008; Henry Bryant
- 2007–2008; James Lynch
- 2008; Umar Muhammed
- 2008-2011; Jonathan RuffinJonathan RuffinJonathan Ruffin is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
- 2008; Michale Spicer
- 2008-2011; Danny WimprineDanny WimprineDaniel Wimprine is an American football quarterback who is currently a Free Agent of the Arena Football League.-Early life:...
- 2008: Norman LeJeuneNorman LeJeuneNorman LeJeune, Jr. is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
- 2008: Lin-J Shell
- 2004–2005, 2008: Calvin Spears
- 2011; P.J. Berry (Superman)
- 2011; Skyler GreenSkyler GreenSkyler Green is a professional gridiron football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently playing for the AFL New Orleans VooDoo. He most recently played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL...
- 2011; Hutch Gonzales
- 2011; James Jordon
- 2012; Kurt Rocco