Columbus Destroyers

The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in 1999 as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in 2004. They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of ten seasons of play. The Destroyers played their home games in Columbus' Nationwide Arena. Their last coach was Pat Sperduto.

History

Buffalo Destroyers (1999-2003)

The Buffalo Destroyers began play during the 1999 AFL season, playing their home games at HSBC Arena (now known as First Niagara Center), and were owned by Buffalo-area businessman Mark Hamister. The team was founded, in part, because of fears that a lease expiration could have led to the demise or relocation of the NFL's Buffalo Bills, the city's largest sports franchise. Those fears were unfounded as a multiyear lease deal to keep the Bills in Western New York was signed shortly thereafter and remains in effect long after the Destroyers left Buffalo. The name "Destroyers" came from a naming contest and alluded to the naval ship of the same name, one of which sits outside the HSBC Arena in the nearby Buffalo Naval and Serviceman's Park.

The Destroyers initially attracted high attendance levels, but a lack of winning early on caused attendance to decline, something from which the team never recovered. The first head coach, Dave Whinham, was fired in the middle of the Destroyers' second season after an abysmal 1-17 record.^[1] Former Buffalo Bills player Ray Bentley was selected as his replacement; however, he couldn't lead the Destroyers to a winning season. The closest he came was in 2001, when his team started 6-3 but would end the season on an 0-5 skid to just barely miss the playoffs. The team had another 6-8 season, this time enough to make the playoffs but lost in the first round, in 2002. Bentley abruptly resigned after that season to take a job in broadcasting, and Ron Selesky, a respected personnel man was hired to replace him. Selesky's record in 2003 was a lackluster 5-11. Jerry Crafts, former Bills offensive lineman, played for the Destroyers in 2001 and served most notably as nose tackle, anchoring one of the league's better defenses.

After the 2003 season concluded, talks of a re-location began, as the Destroyers had lost $5 million over five years, went nearly unnoticed by the media (NBC had blacked out all of their games in 2003), and suffered from a lack of local support reflected in low attendance levels. At the time, Destroyers owner Hamister was also in the running, along with partner Todd Berman, to buy the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, but a deal for a state incentive package fell through and the team was instead sold to Rochester-area entrepreneur and politician B. Thomas Golisano. Shortly after the Sabres deal fell through, in September 2003, Hamister announced that he was relocating the Destroyers to Columbus, Ohio for the 2004 season.

On May 24, 2008 the Arena Football League announced that it was returning to Buffalo with a new franchise to be owned by Bills alumni Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas along with Rochester Raiders owner Bob Bartosiewicz. That team will play in the AFL's minor league system, af2. The team was originally scheduled to begin play in 2009, but did not materialize in time for that season, and with the dissolution of the AFL as well as af2, the proposal appears to be dead, since the current version of the league has shown no interest in the Buffalo market, and the Raiders have since folded.

Columbus Destroyers (2004 - 2008)

The Buffalo Destroyers moved to Columbus after the 2003 Arena Football League season. They played their home games in downtown's Nationwide Arena, which they shared with the National Hockey League's Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Destroyers were sold to John H. McConnell, founder of Worthington Industries and majority owner of the Blue Jackets, and accountant Jim Renacci. Also owning a stake in the team is NFL wide receiver and former Ohio State football standout Joey Galloway. Mark Hamister, who owned the team during the Buffalo tenure, initially stayed on as a minority owner, but would eventually sell his share.

The Columbus Destroyers, over their first two years, would often market people with the team who are also associated with The Ohio State University football program, rather than the team itself. In the 2004 season, it relied heavily on head coach, former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, and front office worker Chris Spielman. In the 2005 season, Spielman became head coach of the team and much of the Destroyers merchandise bore his name. However, as the 2006 season approached, the team appeared to have dropped marketing Ohio State personalities, instead promoting the Destroyers playing "Fast-forward football". Since then, the Destroyers have enjoyed more success, finishing 7-9 in 2006 and making a run all the way to ArenaBowl XXI in 2007.

Despite high hopes the 2008 Destroyers weren't able to capitalize on the previous two years success and finished with a 3-13 record. It was announced at the end of the season that Destroyers ownership and Doug Kay had reached a decision that he would not return as head coach.

The Destroyers mascot's name was Bruiser.

The Destroyers had been better received in Columbus than they were in Buffalo, as their attendance levels were some of the highest in the AFL, and they were regularly covered in the media. Home games were televised locally on Columbus Sports Network, but this coverage ceased after the network folded. All games were broadcast on their radio partner Wink 107.1 FM.

The rights to the "Columbus Destroyers" and "Buffalo Destroyers" brands are currently held, along with the rest of the league, with Arena Football League. So far, there have been no discussions to place an AFL team in Columbus or Buffalo despite Buffalo receiving the af2 bid for 2010.

Memorable Destroyers Moments

First Game

• On April 30, 1999 Columbus played their first game as the Buffalo Destroyers. They lost to the New England Sea Wolves 59-26 in Marine Midland Arena in front of 13,214 fans. They finished with a 1-13 record that year, thus failing to qualify for the playoffs in their inaugural season.

First Playoff Game

• It took their second season to post a playoff position, with their only five wins coming as a five game winning streak before dropping their season finale in San Jose. Their playoff game against the Arizona Rattlers took place on July 27, 2000 with a crowd of 9,471 at the US Airways Center (then named America West Arena, dubbed "the Snake Pit")in Phoenix. The Rattlers trumped the Destroyers with a 41-34 decision and knocking Buffalo out of the playoffs.

Last Game in Buffalo

• The team hosted the New York Dragons on May 11, 2003 in front of 6,116 strong at HSBC Arena. The Destroyers lost the game 49-30 as they headed to Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Last Game as Buffalo

• In front of 9,701 fans at the Thomas and Mack Center, the team lost to the then Las Vegas Gladiators by a score of 55-38 on May 15, 2003

Move to Columbus

• The team moved to Columbus after the 2003 season. They played their first home game against the Carolina Cobras and lost 54-53 in front of a team record 17,171 fans.

Road to Arena Bowl XXI

• On July 7, 2007 they upset the heavily favored Dallas Desperados who had a regular season record of 15-1. ESPN ranked it as one of history's top upsets.

• One week later on July 14th, 2007 The Destroyers reached their first Arena Bowl after defeating the heavily favored 14-2 Georgia Force 66-56.
• The playoff run ended on July 29 when they played the San Jose Sabercats in ArenaBowl XXI. After the Destroyers played great football during the first half, they seemed to lose some momentum during the second half. In the end they lost to the Cats 55-33 in front of a sellout New Orleans Arena crowd.

Season-by-season

Coaches

Notable players

• Cecil Doggette - DS
• Matt Nagy - QB
• Derek Lee - WR

Notes

External links

• Official Website
• Buffalo Destroyers at ArenaFan
• Columbus Destroyers at ArenaFan