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 took their name from the metropolitan area that consists of Bossier City and neighboring city Shreveport in the Ark-La-Tex corridor. Playing in the defunct af2 from their inception in 2001 until the league's folding in 2009 (and called the Bossier City Battle Wings from 2001–2003), the team had its best seasons in 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2009 having clinched division titles in the latter two years. They 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, beating the Arkansas Twisters and Rio Grande Valley Dorados before being beaten by the eventual Arena Cup champion Tulsa Talons. Despite having little success in their earlier days, the Battle Wings turned out some players who went on to appear in both the Canadian Football League and for other teams the Arena Football League, in which the team itself played for a single season after the AFL emerged from bankruptcy and resumed operations. Following the 2010 season, the team moved to New Orleans, Louisiana for the 2011 AFL season and became a successor to the New Orleans VooDoo.
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. Newman started his career at Louisiana Tech as a sports journalist. For ten years, he served as a play-by-play analyst for the Louisiana Tech University Football Network. Newman also worked as an announcer for ESPN, doing the play-by-play for college basketball games. He retired from his journalism career when he bought the Battle Wings. While in ownership, Newman served on the AF2 Board of Directors Executive Committee, the AF2 Broadcast Committee, and the AF2 Insurance Committee.[1]
Butch Bellah
Butch Bellah was the general manager of the Battle Wings from 2007 to 2009, leading the team to their most successful seasons off the field. Butch brought 20 years of experience in advertising, sales, and marketing to the team. Before joining the Battle Wings in January 2007, Butch served as Executive Vice President of Harrison Company. Butch Bellah resigned on November 17, 2009[2][3]
Coaching staff
Jon Norris
Jon Norris was born in Wales Norris received a bachelor's degree from American International College and graduated from Stratford High School in Connecticut. He received his master's degree at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Norris had experience in the football community, playing for the NFLChicago Bears, the NFL New England Patriots, the Arena Football League's Denver Dynamite. After retiring from football, Norris began his coaching career. He was the head coach for the AF2 Tulsa Talons, leading the Talons 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]
Jon Lyles
Jon Lyles was the final offensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Battle Wings. Lyles, who is from Eastern Texas, led the Amarillo Dusters to a championship in the Intense Football League as an offensive coordinator. Lyles also played for in the AF2 for the Bossier City Battle Wings in 2001.[5]
Other coaches
John Lewis served as an assistant for the Battle Wings. He served as an offensive assistant and special teams coach. He spent six seasons with Battle Wings. Martino Theus coached the defensive backs.[6][7]
On September 14, 2010, it was announced that the Bossier City-Shreveport Battlewings would move to New Orleans and be re-established as the New Orleans VooDoo, taking over all of their stats, records, and mascots.
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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 took their name from the metropolitan area that consists of Bossier City and neighboring city Shreveport in the Ark La Tex corridor Playing in the defunct af2 from their inception in 2001 until the league s folding in 2009 and called the Bossier City Battle Wings from 2001 2003 the team had its best seasons in 2002 2007 2008 and 2009 having clinched division titles in the latter two years They 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 beating the Arkansas Twisters and Rio Grande Valley Dorados before being beaten by the eventual Arena Cup champion Tulsa Talons Despite having little success in their earlier days the Battle Wings turned out some players who went on to appear in both the Canadian Football League and for other teams the Arena Football League in which the team itself played for a single season after the AFL emerged from bankruptcy and resumed operations Following the 2010 season the team moved to New Orleans Louisiana for the 2011 AFL season and became a successor to the New Orleans VooDoo Bossier Shreveport Battle WingsEstablished 2001Folded 2010Played in CenturyTel Centerin Bossier City LouisianaLeague conference affiliationsaf2 2001 2009 National Conference 2001 2003 South Central Division 2001 Central Division 2002 Southern Division 2003 American Conference 2004 Midsouthern Division 2004 National Conference 2005 2009 Midwestern Division 2005 2006 Southwest Division 2007 2009 Arena Football League 2010 American Conference 2010 Eastern Division 2010 Team colorsBlack silver teal white PersonnelOwner s Dan NewmanPresidentDan NewmanHead coachJon MorrisTeam historyBossier City Battle Wings 2001 2003 Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings 2004 2010 New Orleans VooDoo 2011 2015 ChampionshipsLeague championships 0 Conference championships 0 Division championships 2 Southwest 2008 2009Playoff appearances 2 2008 2009Home arena s CenturyTel Center 2001 2010 Contents 1 Front office 1 1 Dan Newman 1 2 Butch Bellah 2 Coaching staff 2 1 Jon Norris 2 2 Jon Lyles 2 3 Other coaches 3 Final roster 4 Season by season 5 Arena 6 Becoming the Voodoo 7 References 8 External linksFront office EditDan Newman Edit 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 Newman started his career at Louisiana Tech as a sports journalist For ten years he served as a play by play analyst for the Louisiana Tech University Football Network Newman also worked as an announcer for ESPN doing the play by play for college basketball games He retired from his journalism career when he bought the Battle Wings While in ownership Newman served on the AF2 Board of Directors Executive Committee the AF2 Broadcast Committee and the AF2 Insurance Committee 1 Butch Bellah Edit Butch Bellah was the general manager of the Battle Wings from 2007 to 2009 leading the team to their most successful seasons off the field Butch brought 20 years of experience in advertising sales and marketing to the team Before joining the Battle Wings in January 2007 Butch served as Executive Vice President of Harrison Company Butch Bellah resigned on November 17 2009 2 3 Coaching staff EditJon Norris Edit Jon Norris was born in Wales Norris received a bachelor s degree from American International College and graduated from Stratford High School in Connecticut He received his master s degree at Adams State College in Alamosa Colorado Norris had 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 Norris began his coaching career He was the head coach for the AF2 Tulsa Talons leading the Talons 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 Jon Lyles Edit Jon Lyles was the final offensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Battle Wings Lyles who is from Eastern Texas led the Amarillo Dusters to a championship in the Intense Football League as an offensive coordinator Lyles also played for in the AF2 for the Bossier City Battle Wings in 2001 5 Other coaches Edit John Lewis served as an assistant for the Battle Wings He served as an offensive assistant and special teams coach He spent six seasons with Battle Wings Martino Theus coached the defensive backs 6 7 Final roster EditThis section is transcluded from 2010 Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings season edit history Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings rosterQuarterbacks 10 Gary Cooper 7 Kinsmon Lancaster 6 James Welker IIIFullbacks 32 Jason SchuleWide receivers 8 P J Berry 12 Randy Hymes 5 James Jordan 15 Christian Wise Offensive linemen 54 Kimani Jones C 98 Moqut Ruffins G TE 99 Kenyon Scott G TEDefensive linemen 33 Henry Bryant LB FB 94 Marvin Byrdsong FB 92 McKinner Dixon 75 Xavier Kennedy 91 Elex Reed Linebackers 3 Willis Marshall KR WR 16 Gus Tyson FBDefensive backs 1 Roland Cola 22 Phillip Geiggar 24 Chad Johnson 31 Akili Schuba Baruti 28 Jerron WishomKickers 2 Nick Gatto Injured reserve 9 Ahmad Brown DB Johnnie Butler WR LB PUP 78 Aaron Gibson G 4 Raymond Philyaw QB 20 Nick Ward DBExempt list Currently vacantSuspended list 84 Manwell Talbert WR LBRookies in italics Roster updated June 30 2010 24 Active 6 InactiveSeason by season EditMain article List of Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings seasonsArena EditThe team played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City Louisiana when it was known as the Bossier City Battle Wings 2001 2003 and Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings 2004 2010 in the af2 Becoming the Voodoo EditOn September 14 2010 it was announced that the Bossier City Shreveport Battlewings would move to New Orleans and be re established as the New Orleans VooDoo taking over all of their stats records and mascots References Edit Owner Dan Newman Archived from the original on 2008 06 23 Butch Bellah Archived from the original on 2008 06 22 List of Staff Archived from the original on 2008 06 16 Head Coach John Norris Archived from the original on 2008 10 25 John Lyles Archived from the original on 2008 10 25 John Lewis Archived from the original on 2008 10 25 Martino Theus Archived from the original on 2008 10 25 External links EditOfficial website Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings at ArenaFan VooDoo Report Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings amp oldid 999086937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
