Austin Wranglers

Conference	National
Division	Southwest
Year founded	2004
Home arena	Frank Erwin Center
City, State	Austin, Texas
Indoor football championships	none

The Austin Wranglers are an American football team from Austin, Texas in the arenafootball2. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center — usually just The Erwin Center in common usage — is a multi-purpose Arena on the Campus of American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. They began play as a 2004 expansion team in the Arena Football League. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league.

History

The Wranglers began play in February of 2004, and play home games at the Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus, playing in the Southern Division of the National Conference. Events On January 28, International Olympic Committee Vice-President Kim Un-yong is arrested on charges of corruption in Seoul The Frank C Erwin Jr Special Events Center — usually just The Erwin Center in common usage — is a multi-purpose Arena on the Campus of The franchise is not to be confused with another Arena Football team called the Oklahoma Wranglers, who played the 2000 and 2001 seasons in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Wranglers was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in Memphis Tennessee, and Portland Oregon. Athletics For an extensive coverage see 2000 in athletics (track and field Marathon International Artistic gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champion Feng Jing, China

In 2004, the Wranglers accumulated an 8-8 record with such notables as quarterback John Kaleo, Charlie Davidson, and Darryl Hammond leading the Wrangler's respectable offensive campaign. John Kaleo (born February 5, 1971) is a retired American football Quarterback in the Arena Football League for the Albany Firebirds Darryl Hammond (born September 24, 1967 in Tappahannock, Virginia) is a retired Arena football Wide receiver / Defensive The Wranglers however were unable to qualify for the playoffs, after stumbling to 3 losses to close out the season.

The 2004 off-season was relatively quiet; signings included former All-Rookie teamer OL/DL Bryan Henderson, OS Ira Gooch, and QB John Fitzgerald. Departed was former starting quarterback John Kaleo, traded to the Los Avengers for cash and future considerations.

The training camp which ensued was headlined by the competition between free agent pick up John Fitzgerald, fresh off leading the expansion VooDoo to the playoffs, against 2004 back-up Bobby Pesavento. John Fitzgerald or John FitzGerald may refer to Athletes;American football John Fitzgerald (American football center, former Dallas Cowboys Pesavento would ultimately defeat Fitzgerald for the starting job though Fitzgerald would take over four games into the season.

John Fitzgerald remained one of the only bright spots on a depleted team, as the Wrangler's finished 2005 with a 6-10 record.

Realizing the past failures in 2004 and 2005, the Wranglers management had an active off-season. Team presidents Doug MacGregor and Glyn Milburn both made important re-signings and signings, including Sedrick Robinson, AFL all time leading tackler Damon Mason, Donvetis Franklin, Donovan Arp, Derrick Lewis, Chance Mock, and Marcus McKenzie. Chance Mock is a former American football Quarterback who played College football for the University of Texas and played professionally

On Wednesday, April 26, 2006, Deion Sanders, the multi-talented athlete who retired from playing in the NFL, became one of the franchise's owners[1]. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Deion Luwynn Sanders (born August 9, 1967 in Fort Myers Florida) is a former National Football League Cornerback, Major League The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league.

On May 7, 2006, the Wranglers clinched their first ever playoff berth with a win over the Grand Rapids Rampage. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Grand Rapids Rampage is an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team Unfortunately the Wranglers were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Philadelphia Soul in the first round of the wild card playoffs. For the American arena football team see Philadelphia Soul. Philadelphia (or Philly soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly

Shortly after the end of the Wranglers' season, team owner Doug MacGregor announced the firing of Skip Foster, after leading the Wranglers to a franchise best 10-6 season. This shocking move led to many to speculate what the Wrangler's intentions were for the future.

After a month full of searching for the future head coach of the Wranglers, Austin announced on June 29, 2006, former offensive coordinator of the Colorado Crush, Brian Partlow, would lead the Wranglers in 2007. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. During his three seasons as offensive coordinator with the Crush, Partlow established a respected offense in the AFL, in which managed to win one Arena Bowl. Along with this success, Partlow coached offensive specialist Damian Harrell to two consecutive offensive player of the year seasons, while establishing John Dutton, cover boy of EA Sport's Arena Football, as one of the most feared quarterbacks in the league.

On September 15, 2006, the Arena Football League sent shockwaves through its fanbase announcing the implementation of free-substitution, substantially eliminating any remains of the AFL's highly regarded reputation of Ironman football. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Previously teams were restricted one substitution per quarter, forcing wide receivers, defensive backs, offensive and defensive linemen to play both sides of the ball. It was highly believed teams would take advantage of this change, in increasing signings of former NFL and NFL Europe players rather than searching for existing talent already in the AFL. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. NFL Europa was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. A month later in October, the Wranglers quickly proved this theory.

After a relatively quiet opening to the free agency period with the signing of former Georgia Force defensive specialist Nate Coggins, the Wranglers took advantage of the AFL's free-substitution rule, signing of a rather large batch of rookies lacking experience in the arena game including former Texas Longhorn Mike Williams. Nate Coggins (born 1978-09-25) is a former Arena Football League Defensive specialist. Mike Williams may refer to Mike Williams (New Zealand, President of the New Zealand Labour Party Mike Williams (freelance writer, In addition, the Wranglers signed 2004 AFL Rookie of the Year and former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Adrian McPherson. Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee Florida. Adrian Jamal McPherson (born May 8, 1983 in) is a Canadian football Quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football

Following training camp 2007, the Wranglers roster was set as seven rookies made the cut (nearly a fourth of the team), while Adrian McPherson, Nate Coggins, Anthony Hines, and Chad Dukes were the lone AFL veteran free agent pick ups making the squad. Adrian Jamal McPherson (born May 8, 1983 in) is a Canadian football Quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football Nate Coggins (born 1978-09-25) is a former Arena Football League Defensive specialist. Chad Dukes may refer to Chad Dukes (football player Chad Dukes (radio personality The rest of the roster remained the core nucleus of the Wrangler's playoff run in 2006, including starting defensive specialist Damon Mason and stand out wide receiver Derrick Lewis. Derrick Lewis (born October 30, 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football Wide receiver that plays for

The 2007 season, which would send up being the Wrangler's last in the AFL, served largely as a disappointment. Highly touted free agent pick up Adrian McPherson failed to live up to high expectations and was cut midway through the season, while the defense was among the league's worst, ranking 18th and 17th in defensive passing and receiving respectively. Adrian Jamal McPherson (born May 8, 1983 in) is a Canadian football Quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football Fans speculate whether the loss of former defensive coordinator Jon Norris may have attributed to the Wrangler's defensive struggles in 2007.

On October 12, 2007, the team announced that they were moving from the AFL to the af2 after much speculation. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. ^[1] The ownership had made the decision due to financial difficulties, some rumoring the Wrangler's had lost over 4 million in 2007. In addition the decision was lubricated by the fact Doug MacGregor had purchased four expansion teams in the af2 in 2007, including the Corpus Christi Sharks and the Lubbock Renegades. The Corpus Christi Sharks are a 2007 expansion member of the Af2.

A new era of Wrangler's football began on October 22, 2007 with the signing of AFL Hall of Famer Ben Bennett as head coach of the Wranglers. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus In addition to an impressive resume as quarterback in college and the arena league, Bennett had coached the Florida Firecats to an ArenaCup title in 2004, and had accumulated a 56-33 record with the Manchester Wolves from 2005-2007. The Florida Firecats are a professional Arena football team They are a 2001 expansion member of the Af2. The ArenaCup is the Af2 's championship game For the league's first five years it was held at the arena of the higher seeded team The Manchester Wolves are a professional Arena football team based at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester New Hampshire.

The Wranglers are also considering playing in the under-construction Cedar Park Entertainment Center, though no formal deal has been reached. ^[2]

Season-by-season

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

* = Current Standing

Head coaches

• 2004-2006: Skip Foster, 24-25
• 2007: Brian Partlow, 4-10
• 2008: Ben Bennett, 3-5

Radio and television

The Wranglers flagship radio station is 1300 The Zone "The Longhorn's Station. For the American arena football team see Philadelphia Soul. Philadelphia (or Philly soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly Brian Partlow is the Offensive Coordinator of the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Ben Bennett (born May 5, 1963 in Sunnyvale California) is an American football coach most recently the Head coach of the "

As far as television, all Wrangler games may be seen on the af2's online television service af2TV.

Trivia

The original mascot for the Austin Wranglers was named Blaze, who was a horse, and in 2005 he was joined by a cowboy - Red Eye (whose eyes glowed red). Due to the expansion team in Utah, the Blaze, the Austin Wranglers changed the name of their mascot to avoid confusion, so the new mascot is now wilder than before and goes by the name Trigger.

References

External links

• Austin Wranglers Official Website
• af2's Official Website
• Austin Wranglers at ArenaFan.com
• ESPN's AFL Home Page
• Capital City Sports Report (covers the Austin Wranglers)