Green Bay Blizzard

Afl2 team
name =Green Bay Blizzard
logo =GreenBayBlizzard.gif
conference =American
division =Midwest
founded =2003
arena =Resch Center
location =Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin
championships =none
owner =Brian Noble,
Dave Krieg

The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional arena football team, that plays in the af2, the minor league of the Arena Football League. They play their home games at US Cellular Field at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. They are currently in the Midwest Division of the American Conference. The team's logo represents Bruiser, the team mascot. The team's drumline is known as the Frostline. The team is owned by former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble and former NFL quarterback Dave Krieg.

Team History

Miserable Beginings

The Blizzard started out as an af2 expansion team in 2003 with Jose Jefferson as the teams 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. The Blizzard knew that they needed a new direction if the young franchise were to survive.

A New Direction

In an attempt to jump start things the Blizzard replaced Jefferson with former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brian Noble The team did improve somewhat during the 2004 season. However the Blizzard finished 6-10 and once again could not get out of the Midwest Division cellar. The team was better off than after the end of the 2003 season but the team's future was far from secure.

The Landsee Era Begins

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. Even though the Blizzard fell in the first round to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the Blizzard faithful knew that better things were yet to come.

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 began the postseason. The Blizzard earned a first round bye and enjoyed a week off to await their second round opponent. The Blizzard drew the 2005 Arena Cup 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 teams 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 Arena Cup 7.

Arena Cup 7

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.

A Year of Unexpected Changes

Overall Records

eason-by-season

-
2003 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 5th NC Midwest || --
-
2004 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 4th NC Midwest || --
-
2005 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 3rd AC East || Lost AC Round 1 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
-
2006 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 1st AC East || Won AC Semifinal (Memphis)
Won AC Championship (Florida)
Lost ArenaCup VII (Spokane)
-
2007 || 9 || 7 || 0 || 2nd AC Midwest || Won AC Round 1 (Quad City)
Won AC Semifinals (Louisville)
Lost AC Championship (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
-
2008 || 11 || 5 || 0 || 1st AC Midwest || Won AC Round 1 (Lexington)
Lost AC Semifinals (Manchester)
-!Totals || 52 || 53 || 0
colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Current roster

Blizzard Alumni

taff

* President - Brian Noble
* General Manager - Jim Kraft
* Director of Operations - Nick Olsen
* Ticket Director/Media Relations - Jeff Buehler
* Head Coach - Bob Landsee
* Vice President of Football Operations - Doug Lytle
* Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - Mark Stoute
* Defensive Coordinator - Sammy Walker
* Equipment Manager- Jason Derenne
* Assistant Equipment Manager -Jeremy Hawkins

Notes

External links

* [http://www.greenbayblizzard.com/ Official Web-Site]
* [http://frostbite.mypodcast.com/ FrostBite - Weekly Podcast]
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=clubhouse&team=101 Green Bay Blizzard at ArenaFan]
* [http://www.myspace.com/blizzard2003 Green Bay Blizzard] at Myspace