1 team history
1.1 inception
1.2 new owners
1.3 relocation
1.4 new coach/turnaround
1.5 quarterback problems
1.6 sponsors
team history
inception
on july 19, 2001, uncasville, connecticut awarded af2 expansion team. on december 12, 2001, mohegan sun , dr. eric margenau, president/chief executive officer of united sports ventures, announced new expansion af2 franchise named mohegan wolves. margenau introduced gary porter, head coach team first take field april 5, 2002 @ mohegan sun arena against albany conquest. gary porter, led expansion peoria pirates 7-9 record in 2001.
the team name selected through “name team” contest sponsored wcty, mohegan sun , x-tra mart. jewett city, connecticut resident, came winning name. winner won 4 season tickets 2002 mohegan wolves season, dinner 4 on night of team’s first home game, , team merchandise package.
new owners
on february 6, 2003, af2 league office announced big win ventures llc operator of mohegan wolves. dr. margenau, former principal operator of mohegan wolves, assumed role of president of big win , remained substantial shareholder. big win, privately held, announced same day has assumed operations of albany conquest af2 franchise.
for 2003 season, afl veteran head coach mark stoute led wolves , dramatically improved record. team finished 10-6 regular season record (which included 7-1 home record) , won first postseason game on august 2, 2003 against atlantic division champion cape fear wildcats 50-47. season ended next week on august 8, 2003 47-30 loss tennessee valley vipers.
relocation
on october 29, 2003, league office approved relocation of mohegan wolves team manchester, nh. wolves’ move manchester made possible through efforts of group of local businessmen , dr. margenau. team of local investors led longtime area resident steve schubert, former player new england patriots , chicago bears.
during first season in manchester, nh, new head coach, rik richards, first fired midway through season , replaced coordinator ron hill. , assistant coaches mark page , ryan ray. wolves finished out season 5-11 record.
new coach/turnaround
things turned around in 2005 new head coach, ben bennett. bennett, veteran coach , player arena football , af2 transformed manchester team 12-4 regular season record , won east division. regular season included 10-game win streak. season ended first round playoff loss @ home on august 12, 2005 against louisville fire 56-69.
quarterback problems
in 2006, wolves had loftier expectations because of many key players , head coach ben bennett returning. team had issues @ quarterback d. bryant , kyle rowley ineffective while trying fill shoes of 2005 starter , current jake eaton. 4 games remaining in season , team sitting @ 5-7, coach bennett turned former ohio state quarterback steve bellisari. failed defensive in nfl, bellisari took on of wolves offense , led them 4 straight victories took wolves bottom of division making playoffs , hosting first round game.
bellisari found favorite target steve gonzalez , wolves had defense tandem of william haith , allistair sebastien wolves got 55-47 win against wilkes-barre/scranton pioneers in front of 3,732 fans @ verizon wireless arena. wolves season end 1 week later in florida steve bellisari driving wolves down field late in fourth quarter when threw last pass wolf, game-sealing interception florida firecats. final score florida 40, manchester 39.
sponsors
in 2007 havoc announced partnership wolves other afl teams.
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