Billings Wolves

The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL).[1] The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL. The Wolves were owned by Ron Benzel and coached by Chris Dixon. The Wolves played their home games at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.[2][3]

Billings Wolves
Established 2014 Folded 2016 Played in Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Montana BiilingsWolves.com
Billings Wolves logo
League/conference affiliations
Indoor Football League (2015–2016) Intense Conference (2015–2016)
Team colors	Black, red, white
Cheerleaders	Shewolves
Personnel
Owner(s)	Ron Benzel
General manager	Marc Burr
Head coach	Chris Dixon
Team history
Billings Wolves (2015–2016)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
2016
Home arena(s)
Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark (2015–2016)

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.[4] 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.[5][6]

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.[3] Season tickets went on sale April 7, 2014.[7] 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.[4][8][9]

The Wolves played their first ever game on February 28, 2015, losing 30–17 to the Tri-Cities Fever.[10] The Wolves struggled to win early on, beginning the season on a 4 game losing streak.[11] On April 18, 2015, the Wolves picked up their first ever victory, 56–37 over the Green Bay Blizzard.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

Players of note

Final roster

Billings Wolves roster
Quarterbacks -- Kyle Cool 10 Cory Murphy Running backs  6 Jeff Scott Wide receivers 26 Willie Downs  9 Mark Henderson  1 Alexander McCray 19 Joe Morrow  7 Chip Reeves		Offensive linemen 54 Nick Chartain 55 Kameron Neal 51 Nathaniel Ryan 56 Charles Stevens Defensive linemen 17 B. J. Butler 99 Jesse Dickson 44 Brandon Harold 15 Marquaveus Jackson 42 Chris Martin -- Cory Richardson 13 Christopher Turner		Linebackers 22 Max Davis Defensive backs 31 Michael Green  2 Travonti Johnson  5 Demetruce McNeal 24 Vincent Taylor  3 Norris Wrenn III Special teams 11 Cody Barber		Reserve lists  8 Cartel Brooks RB (IR) 11 Avonte Jones WR (IR) -- Davon Key DB (Did Not Report)  5 Julian Laing RB (Did Not Report) 11 LaSteven McKinney WR (Did Not Report) -- Zaquoya Parham WR (IR) -- Ike Williams DB (Did Not Report) Rookies in italics 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

Season	Player	Position	Award
2015	Michael Green	Defensive Back	Defensive Rookie of the Year[21]

Head coaches

Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Chris Dixon	2015–2016	13	17	0	.433	0	1

Season-by-season results

League Champions

Conference Champions

Division Champions

Wild Card Berth

League Leader

Season	Team	League	Conference	Regular season				Postseason results
				Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties
2015	2015	IFL	Intense	4th	5	9	0
2016	2016	IFL	Intense	2nd	8	8	0	Lost Intense Conference Wild Card 52-64 vs. Nebraska
Totals					13	17	0	All-time regular season record (2015–2016)
					0	1	-	All-time postseason record (2015–2016)
					13	18	0	All-time regular season and postseason record (2015–2016)

References

1. "Indoor football to return to Billings in 2015". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
2. Breen, Scott (January 6, 2014). "Billings close to deal with Indoor Football League". Missoula, MT: KPAX-TV. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
3. Zimmer, Mike (April 1, 2014). "Wolves sign 2-year deal with Metra". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
4. Zimmer, Mike (February 19, 2014). "Billings Wolves to bring indoor football back to Billings in 2015". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
5. Crisp, David (January 9, 2014). "Indoor football returns". The Billings Outpost. Billings, MT. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
6. Krieger, Dan (January 13, 2014). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
7. "Season tickets on sale for Wolves". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
8. "Billings Wolves name Chris Dixon head coach". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. July 31, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
9. Welsch, Jeff (July 31, 2014). "Dixon ready to take IFL by storm as coach". Billings Gazette. Billings, MT. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
10. Ryan Minch (March 1, 2015). "Wolves drop season opener". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
11. Ryan Minch (April 3, 2015). "Former coach O'Neal turns tables on Wolves at Metra". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
12. "Wolves pick up 1st-ever win". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
13. "Britt helps Wolves end 1st year on high note". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
14. "2015 Individual Awards Announced". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
15. Jeff Welch (March 26, 2016). "Wolves' new QB limps into, and away from, his IFL debut". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
16. "Wolves fall on road to Nebraska Danger, 45-31". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. April 2, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
17. http://goifl.com/aotw/Espinosa_Mason
18. Jeff Bersch (May 21, 2016). "Cory Murphy steps in at QB, rushes for 6 TDs in Billings Wolves' win over Colorado Crush". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
19. Ryan Minch (July 9, 2016). "Danger makes Billings Wolves' stay in playoffs a short one". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
20. "Billings Wolves suspend operations; team could return in 2018". MontanaSports.com. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
21. "Billings Wolves DB Michael Green honored". www.billingsgazette.com. Billings Gazette. December 29, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2015.

External links

• Billings Wolves official website