Hartford Colonials

New York Sentinels logo

Hartford Colonials logo

The New York Sentinels and Hartford Colonials are a currently inactive professional American football team that played in the United Football League in its 2009 and 2010 seasons. A charter member of the UFL, the Sentinels began play in 2009 nominally representing New York City but playing its home games in three stadiums, none of which were in the city proper: Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut; Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York (on Long Island); and the now-demolished Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (The Sentinels had scheduled a game for Citi Field in Queens but relocated that game to Long Island.) As the Colonials, the team played all of its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, representing the adjacent city of Hartford. League-wide financial problems and the high rate of rent at "The Rent" led to the league suspending the Colonials' operations in August 2011, a month before it would have begun play in its third season. The league has stated that the Colonials could be brought back for the 2012 UFL season, if played.

The Colonials and Sentinels were historically the worst of the UFL's five teams, having a combined record of 3–11 (.214) and finishing in last place in both seasons. They hold the dubious distinction of accumulating the league's only winless record in 2009.

The team had three head coaches in its history. Ted Cottrell coached the Sentinels in 2009 and was fired after that season. Chris Palmer coached the 2010 season, before he was hired by the Tennessee Titans as their offensive coordinator in 2011. Former NFL head coach Jerry Glanville was named as his replacement for 2011 but the team folded before he coached a game.^[1]

Franchise history

New York Sentinels (2009)

Main article: 2009 New York Sentinels season

See also: 2009 UFL season

Both New York and Hartford were among the six inaugural teams originally announced for the 2009 season, along with Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Francisco. When the league contracted to four teams prior to the start of that season, Hartford's and New York's teams were merged into one, maintaining the New York name.

The team began play as the New York Sentinels in October 2009, with home games split between Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York, and Rentschler Field (one home game in each venue). The league had planned to play at least one game in New York City proper (at Citi Field), but this never materialized, and the proposed game was moved to Shuart Stadium.^[2]

Former NFL assistant Ted Cottrell was hired as the team's head coach. The Sentinels posted a 0–6 record and Cottrell was fired following the season.

Hartford Colonials (2010)

Main article: 2010 Hartford Colonials season

See also: 2010 UFL season

In February 2010, the team moved to Hartford, Connecticut for the 2010 season, a move initially opposed by team owner Bill Mayer.^[3] Through an online vote, fans were asked to select one of four names (Hartford Knights, Hartford Guardians, Hartford Travelers or Connecticut Yankees) to become the new team name, or to suggest a name not listed.^[4] The new name was announced as being the Hartford Colonials on March 14, 2010.^[5] "Colonials" was not one of the four names voters could choose from, but was said to become an "overwhelming favorite" among the fan suggested names.^[6] The team's logo and colors were revealed May 24, 2010 to have a blue and metallic gold scheme, the first of the UFL teams to have broken from the league's standardized color scheme.

Northland AEG, L.L.C., the operators of Rentschler Field,^[7] purchased a stake in the franchise upon the team's arrival in Hartford, though exactly what size share the company owns is unknown.^[8]

The team also hired former Cleveland Browns head coach Chris Palmer to be their head coach and general manager.

The Colonials became the first UFL team to agree to broadcast their games on radio; games will aired WPOP. They were also the first to sign a deal with a regional sports network, with two of the Colonials' games carried on New England Sports Network.

Suspension

See also: 2011 UFL season

Palmer departed after the 2010 season to take the role of offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. In March 2011, the league named Jerry Glanville as the Colonials' head coach for the 2011 season. An agreement had not yet been secured for the team to return to Rentschler Field until June 2011;^[9] unpaid debts and a change in stadium management held up negotiations. The Colonials reached a deal with Rentschler Field in late June 2011.^[10]

Weeks after rumors surfaced that the team could be in danger of being contracted,^[11] the league suspended operations of the Colonials on August 10, 2011 and offered Glanville a position as a consultant with the league.^[12] Team owner Bill Mayer was transferred to the Virginia Destroyers.^[11]

Season-by-season records

Team	Season	W	L	T	Avg.	Finish	Post Season	Awards
New York Sentinels	2009	0	6	0	.000	4th
Hartford Colonials	2010	3	5	0	.375	4th
Totals		3	11	0	.214	-	-	-

Records vs. teams

This includes postseason games.

Team	Record	Percent
Las Vegas Locomotives	1-3	.250
Florida Tuskers	0-4	.000
Omaha Nighthawks	0-2	.000
Sacramento Mountain Lions	2-2	.500

Home, away, and neutral records

Location	Record	Percent
Home	2-5	.400
Away	1-6	.142
Neutral	0-0	.000

References

1. ^ Glanville, Jerry (2011-03-21). "Jerry Glanville Named Hartford Colonials Head Coach and General Manager". United Football League. http://www.ufl-football.com/news/jerry-glanville-named-hartford-colonials-head-coach-and-general-manager. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
2. ^ "UFL Team Will Play at Citi Field". New York Post. Associated Press. August 14, 2009. http://www.nypost.com/seven/08132009/sports/mets/ufl_team_will_play_at_citi_field_184398.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-03. 
3. ^ Stuchbury, Fran (2009-12-02). "Fran Stuchbury Interviews New York Sentinels Owner William Mayer". UFLAccess.com. http://uflaccess.com/uflaccess/fran-stucbury-interviews-new-york-sentinels-owner-william-mayer/. Retrieved 2009-12-06. 
4. ^ "UFL wants you the fans to pick name for Hartford franchise". The Middletown Press. February 23, 2010. http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/02/23/sports/doc4b8457398b58c693171080.txt. Retrieved March 14, 2010. 
5. ^ "Hartford UFL Team Now Has A Name". The Hartford Courant. March 14, 2010. http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-ufl-hartford-team-name314.artmar14,0,4606213.story. Retrieved March 14, 2010. 
6. ^ "Welcome the Hartford Colonials to the United Football League". United Football League. March 14, 2010. http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2010/03/14/welcome_the_hartford_colonials_to_the_united_football_league. Retrieved March 14, 2010. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Doyle, Paul (2009-11-13). "http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-uflgame1113.artnov13,0,7593252.story". The Hartford Courant. http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-uflgame1113.artnov13,0,7593252.story. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 
8. ^ "Hartford UFL team now has a name". The Hartford Courant. 2010-03-14. http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-ufl-hartford-team-name314.artmar14,0,4606213.story. Retrieved 2010-03-16. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Doyle, Paul (2011-03-04). UFL, Colonials Dealing With Debts. Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
10. ^ Doyle, Paul. Hartford Colonials Calling Rentschler Home Again. Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
11. ^ ^{a b} UFL Won't Admit Hartford Colonials Ship Has Sunk ... Yet. Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
12. ^ "Omaha And Sacramento To Host Opening Games Of Four-Team 2011 United Football League Season In September" (Press release). UFL Press. August 10, 2011. http://www.ufl-football.com/news/omaha-and-sacramento-host-opening-games-four-team-2011-united-football-league-season-september. Retrieved August 21, 2011. "The UFL has suspended operations in Hartford, Connecticut, where the Hartford Colonials played the 2010 season at the city’s Rentschler Field stadium. Colonials players will join the other four UFL teams through an allocation draft to be held on Monday, August 15, while head coach Jerry Glanville will assume a new role as a consultant to the league."