Billings Wolves
{{Short description|Indoor football team in Montana, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Billings Wolves
| current =
| logo = Billings Wolves IFL logo.png
| helmet = Billings Wolves Helmet Logo 2016.png
| founded = 2014
| folded = 2016
| city = Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark
in Billings, Montana
| misc = [http://billingswolves.com/ BiilingsWolves.com]
| uniform =
| colors = Black, red, white
{{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#ED1B24}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| coach = Chris Dixon
Defensive Coordinator Daron Brooker
| owner = Ron Benzel
| chairman =
| president =
| general manager = Marc Burr
| mascot =
| cheerleaders = Shewolves
| nicknames =
| league =
Indoor Football League ({{IFL Year|2015}}–{{IFL Year|2016}})
- Intense Conference (2015–2016)
| team_history =
- Billings Wolves (2015–2016)
| no_league_champs = 0
| no_conf_champs = 0
| no_div_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| conf_champs =
| div_champs =
| playoff_appearances = {{IFL Year|2016}}
| no_playoff_appearances = 1
| arena_years =
- Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark (2015–2016)
}}
The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL) from 2015-2016. The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL and were owned by Ron Benzel and coached by Chris Dixon. The Wolves played their home games at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
History
After receiving unanimous approval by the IFL's existing 9 teams, the new Billings franchise was formally announced by IFL commissioner Mike Allshouse during a press conference on February 19, 2014. The city was previously home to the IFL's Billings Outlaws who folded in 2010 after the so-called Father's Day Tornado heavily damaged their home arena.
In April 2014, the team signed a two-year contract with the Yellowstone County Commission making the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark the team's home arena in 2015 and 2016. The lease cost the team $3,000 per game in 2015 and $3,500 per game in 2016, plus an "improvement fee" of $1.25 to $4.00, varying with the face value of the ticket. The contract waives the rental fee for the final home game of each season. Season tickets went on sale April 7, 2014. The team initially announced James Walton as head coach but on July 31, 2014, they signed just-retired former Billings Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon for the job.
{{main|2015 Billings Wolves season}}
The Wolves played their first ever game on February 28, 2015, losing 30–17 to the Tri-Cities Fever.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/wolves-drop-season-opener/article_6dd077d4-ed86-5cf6-aa44-86b3b6f21a8b.html |title=Wolves drop season opener |author=Ryan Minch |date=March 1, 2015 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=April 15, 2015}} The Wolves struggled to win early on, beginning the season on a 4 game losing streak.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/former-coach-o-neal-turns-tables-on-wolves-at-metra/article_94440f31-bcf1-52aa-a2d0-de1b32ea12e4.html |title=Former coach O'Neal turns tables on Wolves at Metra |author=Ryan Minch |date=April 3, 2015 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=April 15, 2015}} On April 18, 2015, the Wolves picked up their first ever victory, 56–37 over the Green Bay Blizzard.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/wolves-pick-up-st-ever-win/article_3dcc5e68-7e09-5b78-ad23-2c3549080dc0.html |title=Wolves pick up 1st-ever win |date=April 18, 2015 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=April 20, 2015}} The Wolves offense was being paced by rookie quarterback Dakaratalib Britt, who had thrown for 13 touchdowns in his first 3 games, but during the Wolves first victory, Britt suffered an injury that sidelined him for the next three games, where the Wolves would fail to win a game. Upon Britt's return to the team, the Wolves improved dramatically on offense and the Wolves won 4 of their last 5 games.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/britt-helps-wolves-end-st-year-on-high-note/article_b8489797-3eb7-50ee-a275-b2c20687152b.html |title=Britt helps Wolves end 1st year on high note |date=June 12, 2015 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=June 15, 2015}} The Wolves finished their first season 5–9, finishing fourth in the Intense Conference. At the conclusion of the season, defensive back Michael Green was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=5002444 |title=2015 Individual Awards Announced |date=July 2, 2015 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |accessdate=July 27, 2015}}
{{main|2016 Billings Wolves season}}
With the return of Britt for the 2016 season, the Wolves looked to be a playoff contender out of the gates. However after a 2–2 start, Britt injured his elbow forcing the Wolves to start rookie Jawad Yatim.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/wolves-new-qb-limps-into-and-away-from-his-ifl/article_2f68d739-dc93-527e-b6ce-9646ef0d8bc3.html |title=Wolves' new QB limps into, and away from, his IFL debut |author=Jeff Welch |date=March 26, 2016 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=March 20, 2017}} Yatim lost what ended up being his only start due to suffering an injury. The Wolves then signed Mason Espinosa away from the Columbus Lions.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/wolves-fall-on-road-to-nebraska-danger/article_eb435030-c870-5d9f-83f0-3e2a7b504a62.html |title=Wolves fall on road to Nebraska Danger, 45-31 |date=April 2, 2016 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=April 4, 2016}} Espinosa stepped in immediately, and put up passing numbers that made him the IFL Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week and Week 9 IFL Honorable Mention Player of the Week, tying a franchise record for TD passes in consecutive weeks.{{cite web| url = http://goifl.com/aotw/Espinosa_Mason| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171024190629/http://goifl.com/aotw/Espinosa_Mason| archive-date = 2017-10-24| title = Mason Espinosa, Billings Wolves, Offensive Player of the Week - Indoor Football League}} After Espinosa was sidelined due to injury, going 3–3 as the starter, the Wolves turned to another rookie, Cory Murphy, who ran for a franchise record 6 rushing touchdowns in a 49–39 victory over the Colorado Crush.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/cory-murphy-steps-in-at-qb-rushes-for-tds-in/article_43fba33f-041d-5336-8aca-2e60b6e4b01d.html |title=Cory Murphy steps in at QB, rushes for 6 TDs in Billings Wolves' win over Colorado Crush |author=Jeff Bersch |date=May 21, 2016 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=May 23, 2016}} The Wolves finished the season 8–8, earning the 2 seed in the Intense Conference, however they lost their first playoff game in franchise history 52–64 to the Nebraska Danger.{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/danger-makes-billings-wolves-stay-in-playoffs-a-short-one/article_baa6c35f-6ba3-5885-a225-d327f7838116.html |title=Danger makes Billings Wolves' stay in playoffs a short one |author=Ryan Minch |date=July 9, 2016 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=July 11, 2016}}
During the 2016 season, the Wolves' website was hacked, was never completely fixed, and was non-operational for months. Several former staff members claimed that the team had folded after the completion of the season. On October 24, 2016, the Wolves announced they had left the IFL because of state regulations and failing to find new ownership for the team.{{cite web |url=http://www.montanasports.com/2016/10/24/billings-wolves-suspend-operations-team-could-return-in-2018/ |title=Billings Wolves suspend operations; team could return in 2018 |publisher=MontanaSports.com |date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=October 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026001101/http://www.montanasports.com/2016/10/24/billings-wolves-suspend-operations-team-could-return-in-2018/ |archive-date=October 26, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Players of note
= Final roster =
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DD2323; color:white; border:2px solid black;" |Billings Wolves roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Kyle Cool|link=no}}
{{NFLplayer|10|Cory Murphy|link=no|rookie=y}} Running backs {{NFLplayer| 6|Jeff Scott|link=no}} Wide receivers {{NFLplayer|26|Willie Downs|link=no|rookie=y}} {{NFLplayer| 9|Mark Henderson|link=no}} {{NFLplayer| 1|Alexander McCray|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|19|Joe Morrow|link=no}} {{NFLplayer| 7|Chip Reeves|link=no}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen {{NFLplayer|54|Nick Chartain|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|55|Kameron Neal|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|51|Nathaniel Ryan|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|56|Charles Stevens|link=no}} Defensive linemen {{NFLplayer|17|B. J. Butler|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|99|Jesse Dickson|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|44|Brandon Harold|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|15|Marquaveus Jackson|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|42|Chris Martin|link=no}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Cory Richardson|link=no}}
{{NFLplayer|13|Christopher Turner|link=no}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers {{NFLplayer|22|Max Davis|link=no}} Defensive backs {{NFLplayer|31|Michael Green|link=no}} {{NFLplayer| 2|Travonti Johnson}} {{NFLplayer| 5|Demetruce McNeal|link=no}} {{NFLplayer|24|Vincent Taylor|link=no}} {{NFLplayer| 3|Norris Wrenn III|link=no}} Special teams {{NFLplayer|11|Cody Barber|link=no}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Reserve lists {{NFLplayer| 8|Cartel Brooks|link=no|rookie=y|RB|IR}} {{NFLplayer|11|Avonte Jones|link=no|WR|IR}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Davon Key|link=no|DB|DNR}}
{{NFLplayer| 5|Julian Laing|link=no|RB|DNR}} {{NFLplayer|11|LaSteven McKinney|link=no|rookie=y|WR|DNR}} {{NFLplayer |
| -|Zaquoya Parham|link=no|rookie=y|WR|IR}}
{{NFLplayer |
| -|Ike Williams|link=no|DB|DNR}}
{{ubl|Rookies in italics |[http://billingswolves.com/team-2/roster/ Roster] updated August 24, 2016 |26 Active, 7 Inactive }} |
=All-League selections=
- OL Nathaniel Ryan (1)
- DB Michael Green (2), Travonti Johnson (1)
=Awards and honors=
The following is a list of all Wolves' players who have won league Awards
| class="wikitable"
!Season!! Player!! Position!! Award | |||
| {{IFL Year|2015}} | Michael Green | Defensive back | Defensive Rookie of the Year{{cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/billings-wolves-db-michael-green-honored/article_92d1d06b-8924-5557-a4b0-40f958933c34.html |title=Billings Wolves DB Michael Green honored |date=December 29, 2015 |publisher=Billings Gazette |work=www.billingsgazette.com |accessdate=December 29, 2015}} |
Head coaches
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term ! colspan="4" | Regular season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs ! rowspan="2" | Awards |
|---|
| W
! L ! T ! Win% ! W ! L |
| style="text-align:center;" |Chris Dixon
| style="text-align:center;" |{{IFL Year|2015}}–{{IFL Year|2016}} | style="text-align:center;"|13 | style="text-align:center;"|17 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|13|17}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|1 | style="text-align:center;"| |
Season-by-season results
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:75%;" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;"|League Champions
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|Conference Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#d0e7ff;"|Division Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"|Wild Card Berth | style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"|League Leader |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | ||
| rowspan="2" | Season
!rowspan="2" | Team !rowspan="2" | League !rowspan="2" | Conference !colspan="4" | Regular season !rowspan="2" | Postseason results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Finish
!Wins !Losses !Ties | ||
| background:#fcc;"
! style="text-align:center;"| 2015 | style="text-align:center;"| 2015 | style="text-align:center;"| IFL | style="text-align:center;"| Intense | style="text-align:center;"| 4th | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016
| style="text-align:center;"| 2016 | style="text-align:center;"| IFL | style="text-align:center;"| Intense | style="text-align:center;background:#96cdcd;"| 2nd | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Lost Intense Conference Wild Card 52-64 vs. Nebraska | ||
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" colspan="5"|Totals
! style="text-align:center;"|13 ! style="text-align:center;"|17 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season record (2015–2016) | ||
| style="text-align:center;" | 0 | 1
| |
| colspan="3"|All-time postseason record (2015–2016) | ||
| style="text-align:center;"|13
! style="text-align:center;"|18 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season and postseason record (2015–2016) |
References
{{reflist|2|refs=
{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Breen |publisher=KPAX-TV |location=Missoula, MT |title=Billings close to deal with Indoor Football League |url=http://www.kpax.com/news/billings-close-to-deal-with-indoor-football-league/ |date=January 6, 2014 |accessdate=January 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116134115/http://www.kpax.com/news/billings-close-to-deal-with-indoor-football-league/ |archive-date=January 16, 2014 }}
{{cite news |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Indoor football to return to Billings in 2015 |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/more/indoor-football-to-return-to-billings-in/article_ccc17a1e-db11-55e3-a1a2-8b29085f6432.html |date=January 6, 2014 |accessdate=January 14, 2014}}
{{cite news |first=David |last=Crisp |newspaper=The Billings Outpost |location=Billings, MT |title=Indoor football returns |url=http://www.billingsnews.com/index.php/4821-indoor-football-returns |date=January 9, 2014 |accessdate=January 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115171627/http://www.billingsnews.com/index.php/4821-indoor-football-returns |archive-date=January 15, 2014 }}
{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Zimmer |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Billings Wolves to bring indoor football back to Billings in 2015 |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/billings-wolves-to-bring-indoor-football-back-to-billings-in/article_6c93ff4b-5c22-5eaa-a598-31e812527544.html |date=February 19, 2014 |accessdate=February 24, 2014}}
{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Zimmer |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Wolves sign 2-year deal with Metra |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/indoor-football-team-signs--year-deal-with-metra/article_5dcb5185-4815-5e6a-ba18-0568a7c116ba.html |date=April 1, 2014 |accessdate=April 2, 2014}}
{{cite news |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Season tickets on sale for Wolves |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/season-tickets-on-sale-for-wolves/article_8ed53fff-5ce3-5110-a6c4-66fd0d8bfccc.html |date=April 7, 2014 |accessdate=April 12, 2014}}
{{cite news |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Billings Wolves name Chris Dixon head coach |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/article_8e1cf172-8ea3-5603-9866-8a34ea6393cc.html |date=July 31, 2014 |accessdate=August 3, 2014}}
{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Welsch |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, MT |title=Dixon ready to take IFL by storm as coach |url=http://billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/dixon-ready-to-take-ifl-by-storm-as-coach/article_31a24330-a34b-5bac-8133-b42fdeba7cff.html |date=July 31, 2014 |accessdate=August 2, 2014}}
}}
External links
- [http://billingswolves.com/ Billings Wolves official website]
{{Billings Wolves seasons}}
Category:2014 establishments in Montana
Category:2016 disestablishments in Montana