Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Conference | National |
|---|---|
| Division | Southwest |
| Year founded | 2001 |
| Home arena | CenturyTel Center |
| City, State | Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Indoor football championships | none |
Based in Bossier City, Louisiana, the Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings play in the af2 league of indoor football. They play at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represent both Bossier City and Shreveport. Called the Bossier City Battle Wings from 2001-2003, the team had it's best two seasons in 2002 and 2007. The 2002 and 2007 seasons were also the only seasons in which the team had more wins than losses. In 2007, the Battle Wings clinched their first ever playoff berth but were defeated by eventual Arena Cup champion Tulsa Talons. Despite having little success, the Battle Wings have turned out some players that have gone on to the Canadian Football League, and Arena Football League.
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[edit] Front Office
[edit] Dan Newman
Dan Newman bought the Battle Wings from previous owner Michael Plaman at the end of the 2003 Season. Newman has lived in the Shreveport-Bossier City area since 1970 and graduated from C. E. Byrd High School in 1971. While Attending Louisiana Tech University, Dan met his future wife of 31 years, Mary Ann. Dan started his career at Louisiana Tech as a sports Journalist. For ten years, Dan served as a a Play-by-Play analyst for the Louisiana Tech University Football Network. Dan also worked as an analyst for ESPN, doing the Play-by-Play for College Basketball games. Dan retired his Journalism career when he bought the Battle Wings. Dan currently serves on the AF2 Board of Directors Executive Committee, the AF2 Broadcast Committee, and the AF2 Insurance Committee. [1]
[edit] Butch Bellah
Butch Bellah is the current General Manager of the Battle Wings. Butch has expertise and 20 years of experience in Advertising, Sales, and Marketing. Before joining the Battle wings in 2006, Butch served as Executive Vice President of Harrison Company. Butch currently lives in Bossier City. [2]
[edit] Coaching Staff
[edit] Jon Norris
Jon Norris was born in Wales and received his Master's degree at Adam's University. He also received a Bachelor's degree from American International College. He is the current Head Coach of the Battle Wings. Norris has much experience in the football community, playing for the NFL Chicago Bears, the NFL New England Patriots, the Arena Football League's Denver Dynamite. After retiring from Football, Jon Norris began his coaching career. He was Head Coach for the AF2 Tulsa Talons, leading them all the way to the playoffs in their inaugural season. Norris later became a Defensive Line Coach in the AFL, but after his first season with the Oklahoma Wranglers, the team collapsed. After having minor coaching roles with two other AFL teams, Jon Norris signed with the Shreveport-Bossier Battle Wings as Head Coach. In 2007 Jon guided the Battle Wings to their first playoff berth in team history. [4]
[edit] Jon Lyles
Jon Lyles is the current Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach of the Battle Wings. Lyles, who is from Eastern Texas, recently lead the Dusters to a Championship in the Intense Football League as an Offensive Coordinator. Lyles also played for in the AF2 for the Shreveport-Bossier Battle Wings in 2001. [5]
[edit] Other Coaches
John Lewis serves as an assistant for the Battle Wings. He serves as an offensive assistant and Special Teams coach. He has spent six seasons with Battle Wings. Martino Theus coaches the Defensive Backs. [6] [7]
[edit] Notable Players
- Gary Cooper - QB
- Steve Panella - QB
- Jason Schule - Nicknamed "Schule the Mule."
[edit] Current Roster
[edit] Season-By-Season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th NC South Central | -- |
| 2002 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3rd NC Central | -- |
| 2003 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4th NC Central | -- |
| 2004 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3rd AC Mid-South | -- |
| 2005 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 5th NC Midwest | -- |
| 2006 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 6th NC Midwest | -- |
| 2007 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2nd NC Southwest | Won Round 1 (Arkansas) Won AC Semifinals (Rio Grande Valley) Lost NC Championship (Tulsa) |
| *2008 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1st NC Southwest | -- |
| Totals | 47 | 77 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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| American Conference | Eastern Division | Albany Conquest · Mahoning Valley Thunder · Manchester Wolves · Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers |
| Midwestern Division | Green Bay Blizzard · Iowa Barnstormers · Lexington Horsemen · Louisville Fire · Quad City Steamwheelers · Peoria Pirates | |
| Southern Division | Daytona Beach ThunderBirds · Florida Firecats · South Georgia Wildcats · Tennessee Valley Vipers | |
| National Conference | Central Division | Amarillo Dusters · Arkansas Twisters · Lubbock Renegades · Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz · Tulsa Talons |
| Southwestern Division | Austin Wranglers · Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings · Corpus Christi Sharks · Rio Grande Valley Dorados · Texas Copperheads | |
| Western Division | Boise Burn · Central Valley Coyotes · Spokane Shock · Stockton Lightning · Tri-Cities Fever | |
| Related articles: Arena Football League · af2 · Arena football · Indoor football | ||
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