Green Bay Blizzard

Green Bay Blizzard
Current season
Established 2003 Play in Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin GreenBayBlizzard.com
Helmet Logo
League/conference affiliations
af2 (2003-2009) Indoor Football League (2010–present) af2 National Conference (2003–2004) af2 American Conference (2005–2009) IFL United Conference (2010–present) * af2 Midwestern (2003–2004) af2 Eastern (2005–2006) af2 Midwest (2007–2009) IFL Central North (2010) IFL Great Lakes (2011)
Team colors	Forest Green, White, Silver
Mascot	Bruiser the Yeti, Blizz and Bling - Bruiser's Yeti Cousins
Personnel
Owner(s)	Larry & Kathy Treankler
Head coach	Chris Williams
Team history
Green Bay Blizzard (2010–present)
Championships
League championships (0) 0
Conference championships (1) 2006
Division championships (4) af2 Eastern: 2006, af2 Midwest 2008, IFL Central North: 2010, IFL Great Lakes: 2011
Playoff appearances (8)
af2: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 IFL: 2010, 2011, 2012
Home arena(s)
Resch Center (2003–present)

The Green Bay Blizzard are a professional indoor football team, founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, the now-defunct minor league of the Arena Football League. The Blizzard play in the United Conference. They play their home games at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. The team's logo represents Bruiser, the team mascot.

The team was formerly owned by a group headed by former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble; in October 2009 it was announced that a group of local businessmen formed Titletown Football Group, LLC and had purchased the team. In September 2013, it was announced that Matt Umentum, Tom Burgess, John Meyer, and Bob Weyers sold their ownership shares to Larry and Kathy Treankler.

History

2003, a year of miserable beginnings

The Blizzard started out as an af2 expansion team in 2003 with Jose Jefferson as the team's head coach. The team finished an abysmal 2-14 good for last in the National Conference Midwest Division. They only averaged 2,957 fans a game.

2004, a new direction

In an attempt to jump start things the Blizzard replaced Jose Jefferson with former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble. The team did make some improvements during the 2004 season, however the Blizzard finished the season 6-10 and once again failed to get out of the Midwest Division cellar.

2005, the Landsee Era begins

Blizzard logo (2003–2014)

2005 was to be a different story. For the start of the 2005 season the team changed from the National Conference to the American Conference. The Blizzard became a member of the American Conference's East division. The team also replaced Noble with AFL veteran coach Bob Landsee. The switch to the American Conference was the change the Blizzard needed. The team continued their trend of improvement in 2005 finishing 9-7, good for 3rd in the East Division, and reaching the postseason for the first time. They fell in the first round to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

2006, under new ownership

In 2006 Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee became the first coach in team history to return for their second season. The Blizzard also came under new ownership as former Blizzard Head Coach Brian Noble lead an investment group that purchased the team. Noble became the new President of the four-year-old franchise and began a complete revitalization of the organization. The team drastically lowered ticket prices which help the Blizzard to really boost their average game attendance. The team set a new single game attendance record of 7,184 in the season finale against Louisville. The team experienced an improvement on the field as well. The Blizzard went into the final game of the 2006 regular season tied with the Louisville Fire for first in the East Division at 9-6. This set up a showdown between the two teams at the Resch Center for the East Division title. The Blizzard did not disappoint a record crowd of 7,184 knocking off the Fire in a 54-53 thriller. The 2006 season got even better as the postseason began. The Blizzard earned a first round bye and enjoyed a week off to await their second round opponent. The Blizzard drew the 2005 ArenaCup Champion Memphis Xplorers for the franchise's first ever home playoff game. The Blizzard continued in their winning ways knocking off the defending champs 67-50. The team's first playoff victory sent them on to the American Conference Championship Game vs the Florida Firecats. Once again the Blizzard proved that they were for real winning the conference championship 60-47 sending the Blizzard on to ArenaCup VII.

ArenaCup VII

The Green Bay Blizzard as American Conference Champions would face the National Conference Champion, Spokane Shock, a 2006 expansion team. The neutral site for the game was Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. But the Blizzard's luck had finally run out as the Shock handed the Blizzard a 57-34 loss. The Blizzard's 2006 season was one for the ages, but the Blizzard faithful now knew that their team had come to stay.

2007, a year of unexpected changes

Coach Bob Landsee had difficulties resulting from surgery and was forced to take the 2007 off from coaching. He was replaced by Defensive Coordinator Doug Lytle. The Blizzard endured a roller coaster season going undefeated at the Resch Center during the regular season while going a miserable 1-7 on the road. (Only road win came at Cincinnati) The Blizzard did succeed at making the playoffs for the third consecutive year and surprised division rival and (Midwest) Division Champion, Quad City Steamwheelers 39-34 in the first round game. When another division rival, Louisville Fire knocked off Spokane the Blizzard earned the right to host a second round playoff game against the Fire. The Blizzard carried over their success at home from the regular season by knocking off Louisville 37-27 and advancing to take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in their second consecutive American Conference Championship Game. However this Cinderella story went no further as the Blizzard lost a close one to the Pioneers 46-43, ending the Blizzard's 2007 campaign.^[1]

2008, Landsee returns

Coach Bob Landsee returned to the helm in 2008 and the Blizzard continued on their winning ways amassing an 11-5 record and capturing the Midwest Division crown. The Blizzard set a single game record in attendance vs Lexington with 7,258 and had the largest average attendance in team history with an average of 6,125 fans per game. In the first round of the playoffs the Blizzard really redeemed themselves by knocking off Lexington 65-37 who had beaten the Blizzard twice in the regular season in nail-biters. (49-48 in Green Bay with a last second score and two-point conversion and 55-54 in Overtime in Lexington.) The Blizzard then hosted Manchester in a second round game after the Wolves knocked off South Georgia. In what must have seemed like Deja Vu for the Blizzard, the Wolves scored in the final seconds and took the lead and the game 55-54 with a two-point conversion, ending the Blizzard's season.

2009, a year of missed opportunities

The Blizzard started the season off with a bang at the Resch Center knocking off the defending ArenaCup Champion, Tennessee Valley Vipers 53-40.^[2] The Blizzard were then solidly beaten the next week by Manchester by the score of 53-28 at the Resch Center. The Blizzard then hit the road for the first time of the season and defeated the Quad City Steamwheelers 65-52 to improve to 2-1 on the season. The Blizzard then returned home to the Resch Center to face the Arkansas Twisters. Arkansas jumped out to an early 21-0 lead which the Blizzard could not overcome, eventually falling 62-47.^[3] The Blizzard then began a new rivalry the next week when they traveled to Milwaukee to take on the Milwaukee Iron. The Blizzard handled the Iron fairly easily knocking them off 56-28. After this the Blizzard returned home for a two-game home stand. In the first game the Blizzard missed an opportunity to take the Midwest Division lead by falling to Iowa 46-41 and falling to 3-3 a half game behind the 4-3 Barnstormers. The Blizzard then continued the roller coaster type season by defeating the Peoria Pirates 55-34 to tie Iowa, who was idle, at the top of the Midwest Division at 4-3. That was short lived however as the Blizzard traveled to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania the next week and were hammered by Pioneers 69-19. This pushed the Blizzard a game back in the division standings and dropped their record to 4-4 on the year. The Blizzard then returned home to the Resch Center and knocked off Quad City in overtime 52-49.^[4] and improved to 5-4. The Blizzard improved to 6-4 the following week by escaping Peoria with a 49-47 win over the Pirates.^[2] The Blizzard then continued on their winning ways by heading into Des Moines and knocking off the Barnstormers 71-65 in overtime to pull into a tie for the Midwest Division lead.^[5] This tie however was once again short lived as the Barnstormers knocked off Amarillo the next week 55-54 and the Blizzard missed many opportunities to beat the Tulsa Talons falling 66-54.^[6] The Blizzard rebounded the next week by thumping the Milwaukee Iron 86-42 remaining one game back in the division standings at 8-5. The following week the Blizzard's division title hopes took a major hit as they fell to the Quad City Steamwheelers 62-44 and fell to two games back of the Barnstormers. The Blizzard then finished off the 3 game season series sweep of Milwaukee with a 60-20 victory at the Resch Center yet Iowa defeated Quad City to clinch the Midwest Division crown.^[7] The Blizzard then finished the regular season on the road knocking off the Mahoning Valley Thunder 63-43 to finish the season at 10-6 and earning the # 6 seed in the 2009 af2 Playoffs.

2009 af2 Playoffs

The # 6 seeded Blizzard opened the American Conference playoffs with a game at the # 3 seeded South Division Champion Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Blizzard knocked off the Vipers 60-56^[8] and advanced to the American Conference Semi-Finals to take on the # 2 seeded Iowa Barnstormers The Blizzard blew into Des Moines and defeated the Barnstormers 51-46^[9] to advance to their third American Conference Championship game to take on the # 1 seeded Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. The game was much closer than the regular season meeting however the Blizzard fell to the Pioneers 72-67^[10] thus ending the Blizzard's 2009 campaign.

2010, new league, new rivals

Financial troubles and new ownership

In October 2009 the team announced that unless the team found additional investors that they would be forced to cease operations. The Blizzard found new investors in an ownership group headed up by Greeen Bay Bullfrogs (Summer Collegiate Northwoods League) Founder, Majority Owner and President Jeff Royle that included a couple of local businessmen and in late October it was announced that Titletown Football Group, LLC had purchased the Blizzard.^[11]

League and coaching change

In November 2009, the team announced that they would play the 2010 season in the Indoor Football League^[12] At a team open house on November 17, 2009 the Blizzard announced their new head coach would be Rik Richards.^[13]

Possible name change

On December 5, 2009, the Blizzard announced the "Name the Team" contest.^[14] The Blizzard name and intellectual property was held by the defunct Arena Football League, which was the parent of the Blizzard's former league, af2. The assets of the former Arena Football League were purchased by the newly formed Arena Football 1.^[15] The team ownership group is still attempting to purchase the rights to the Blizzard name. The team has decided to continue with the name the team contest in case the Blizzard name is not able to be purchased.^[14]

However, on January 13, 2010, it was announced that the ownership group had purchased the name and intellectual property, meaning the team will remain the Green Bay Blizzard.^[16]

2010 season

On December 15, 2009 the IFL announced the divisional alignment and schedule for the 2010 season. The Blizzard competed in the United Conference Central North Division with the La Crosse Spartans, Chicago Slaughter and Bloomington Extreme.^[17] The Blizzard won the Central North Division, but lost their First Round playoff game against the Chicago Slaughter.

2011 season

For the 2011 season, the Blizzard competed in the United Conference Great Lakes Division; however, the divisional setup was unchanged from its Central North Division alignment (the Spartans, Slaughter and Extreme remaining the Blizzard's division rivals). Also unchanged was the Blizzard winning the division title; however, what changed was the Blizzard's record had improved to 11-3 and they defeated the Reading Express in their first-round playoff game. A United Bowl was not in the cards, however, as the Blizzard lost the United Conference Championship game to the eventual champions the Sioux Falls Storm.

2012 season

Because of various teams leaving the IFL, either to join other leagues or cease operations altogether, the league played the 2012 season format in two conferences with no divisions. While the Spartans had ceased operations, the Blizzard's divisional rivals the Slaughter and the newly renamed Bloomington Edge joined in the single-table United Conference along with the Reading Express, Sioux Falls Storm, Cedar Rapids Titans, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Omaha Beef. In this new format, the Blizzard finished 11-3 again, though this time in second place and three games behind the undefeated Storm. While the Blizzard defeated the Edge in the first round, they would again lose to the Storm for the United Conference Championship.

2013 season

With the Edge and Steelhawks leaving the IFL for other leagues and the Beef and Express suspending operations, the United Conference was reduced to five teams for the 2013 season, with the Blizzard, Slaughter, Titans, and Storm all returning and the newly renamed Texas Revolution (formerly the Allen Wranglers) moving from the Intense Conference.^[18] Junior Aumavae, a nose tackle who spent the 2012 season playing for the Blizzard, was signed by the New York Jets in late March 2013.^[19][20] After compiling a 1–5 record in the season's first six games, head coach Robert Fuller was replaced by defensive coordinator Chad Baldwin.

2014 season

After the 2013 season, the Chicago Slaughter moved to the Continental Indoor Football League. The United Conference continues to have 5 teams thanks to a new expansion team, the Bemidji Axemen. In September 2013, Titletown Football Group, LLC sold their majority ownership stake in the team to Larry and Kathy Treankler.^[21] The Blizzard began the 2014 season under head coach Chad Baldwin.^[22] After the team began the season 0–6, Baldwin was replaced by offensive coordinator Tommie Williams for the remainder of the season.^[23]

2015 season

Tommie Williams had his interim tag removed and was named the head coach of the Blizzard. The Blizzard brought back veteran quarterback Donovan Porterie and traded for Carl Sims. The Blizzard won as many games as they had the previous two seasons combined, but their 6-8 record wasn't good enough to qualify for the playoffs.

2016 season

On November 3, 2015, Williams and the Blizzard agreed to part ways.^[24] On December 7, 2015, Chris Williams was hired as the head coach of the Blizzard.^[25]

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Season-by-season average attendance

Overall records^[26]

Players of note

Current roster

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Blizzard players who have won league Awards

Coaches of note

Head Coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2016 Indoor Football League season.

Current staff

References

External links

• Official website
• FrostBite - Weekly Podcast

Sports teams based in Wisconsin
Baseball	MLB Milwaukee Brewers MWL Beloit Snappers Wisconsin Timber Rattlers NWL Eau Claire Express Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Green Bay Bullfrogs Kenosha Kingfish La Crosse Loggers Lakeshore Chinooks Madison Mallards Wisconsin Woodchucks Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Basketball	NBA Milwaukee Bucks IBA Kenosha Ballers
Football	NFL Green Bay Packers IFL Green Bay Blizzard IWFL Madison Blaze Wisconsin Warriors MSFL Racine Raiders GFL Brew City Bulldogs Madison Wolves Waukesha Raiders Wisconsin Wolfpack
Hockey	AHL Milwaukee Admirals USHL Green Bay Gamblers Madison Capitols NAHL Coulee Region Chill Janesville Jets NA3HL La Crosse Freeze Wisconsin Whalers
Soccer	MASL Milwaukee Wave PLA Croatian Eagles SC Aris SC Milwaukee Bavarians Madison 56ers
Australian rules football	MAAFL Milwaukee Bombers
Ultimate	AUDL Madison Radicals
Roller derby	WFTDA Brewcity Bruisers Fox Cities Roller Derby Mad Rollin' Dolls Mid-State Sisters of Skate MRDA Green Bay Smackers Milwaukee Blitzdkrieg USARS Root River Rollers
College athletics	NCAA Div. I Green Bay Phoenix Marquette Golden Eagles Milwaukee Panthers Wisconsin Badgers Div. II Wisconsin–Parkside Rangers Div. III Alverno Inferno Beloit Buccaneers Carroll Pioneers Carthage Red Men Concordia Falcons Edgewood Eagles Lakeland Muskies Lawrence Vikings Maranatha Baptist Crusaders Marian Sabres MSOE Raiders Northland LumberJacks Ripon Red Hawks St. Norbert Green Knights Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds Wisconsin– La Crosse Eagles Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers Wisconsin–Stout Blue Devils Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors NAIA Cardinal Stritch Wolves Viterbo V-Hawks
Category:Sports teams in Wisconsin