Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Encyclopedia
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. 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 2 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 that have gone on to both the Canadian Football League
and the Arena Football League
.
In 2010, the Battle Wings played in the revived Arena Football League.
The team moved to New Orleans
, Louisiana
for the 2011 AFL season and became a reincarnated version of the New Orleans VooDoo
.
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 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.
and received his Master's degree at Adams State College in Alamosa CO. 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.
as an Offensive Coordinator. Lyles also played for in the AF2 for the Shreveport-Bossier Battle Wings in 2001.
Mascots include Mojo, and the skeleton man Bones.
Bossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
. They played at the CenturyTel Center
CenturyTel Center
The CenturyLink Center is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena, in Bossier City, Louisiana...
in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport. Playing in the defunct af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
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
2002 af2 season
The 2002 AF2 season was the third season of the AF2. The league champions were the Peoria Pirates, who defeated the Florida Firecats in ArenaCup III. This is also the first time that both conferences have the same division name...
, 2007
2007 af2 season
The 2007 AF2 season was the eighth season of the AF2. The regular season began on Friday, March 30 and ended on July 28. The league champions were the Tulsa Talons, who defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in ArenaCup VIII.-Standings:...
, 2008
2008 af2 season
The 2008 AF2 season was the ninth season of the AF2. The regular season began on Friday, March 28 and ended on Saturday, July 26. The league champions were the Tennessee Valley Vipers, who beat the Spokane Shock in ArenaCup IX.-Standings:...
, and 2009
2009 af2 season
The 2009 AF2 season was the AF2's 10th and final season. The regular season began on Friday, March 20 and finished on Saturday, July 25. The league champion was the Spokane Shock, who defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 74-27 in ArenaCup X.-Standings:...
having clinched division titles in the latter 2 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
Arkansas Twisters
The Allen Wranglers are a professional indoor football team based in Allen, Texas play in the Indoor Football League. The Wranglers play their home games at the Allen Event Center.-History:...
and Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Rio Grande Valley Dorados
The Rio Grande Valley Dorados were a professional arena football team. They began play in 2004 as an expansion member of af2, the minor league to the Arena Football League...
before being beaten by the eventual Arena Cup champion Tulsa Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
. Despite having little success in their earlier days, the Battle Wings turned out some players that have gone on to both the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and the Arena Football League
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...
.
In 2010, the Battle Wings played in the revived Arena Football League.
The team moved to New Orleans
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...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
for the 2011 AFL season and became a reincarnated version of the New Orleans VooDoo
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
.
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 SchoolC. E. Byrd High School
C. E. Byrd High School is a science and mathematics magnet and a Blue Ribbon School. In continuous operation since 1925, Byrd is the largest high school in Shreveport, Louisiana and has the largest alumni association of any U.S. high school....
in 1971. While Attending Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
, 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 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
AF2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
Board of Directors Executive Committee, the AF2 Broadcast Committee, and the AF2 Insurance Committee.
Butch Bellah
Butch Bellah was the current General Manager of the Battle Wings from 2007-2009 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 Butch is now Vice President of Operations for Church Point Wholesale and resides in Lafayette, LA.Jon Norris
Jon Norris was born in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and received his Master's degree at Adams State College in Alamosa CO. He also received a Bachelor's degree from American International College
American International College
American International College is a private, co-educational liberal-arts college located in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:...
. He is the current Head Coach of the Battle Wings. Norris has much experience in the football community, playing for the NFL Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the NFL New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, the Arena Football League's Denver Dynamite
Denver Dynamite (arena football)
This article is about the former Arena Football League franchise. For the Professional Arena Soccer League soccer club, see Denver Dynamite ....
. After retiring from Football, Jon Norris began his coaching career. He was Head Coach for the AF2 Tulsa Talons
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
, 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
Oklahoma Wranglers
The Oklahoma Wranglers was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League that had previously played as the Memphis Pharaohs and Portland Forest Dragons...
, 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.
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 LeagueIntense Football League
The Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
as an Offensive Coordinator. Lyles also played for in the AF2 for the Shreveport-Bossier Battle Wings in 2001.
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.Becoming The Voodoo
On September 14, 2010, it was announced that the Bossier City-Shreveport Battlewings would move to New Orleans and be reborn as the New Orleans Voodoo, taking over all of their stats, records, and mascots.Mascots include Mojo, and the skeleton man Bones.