Post by 50yardfan on Dec 30, 2010 13:11:31 GMT -5
The Wisconsin Wolfpack indoor and outdoor football franchises thank their fans for their support of the teams since 2008. Unfortunately, the Wolfpack indoor franchise will not be fielding a team in 2011 while the outdoor franchise will be merging operations with the Racine Raiders of the Elite Mid-Continental Football League following its appearance in the 2011 United States Football Association Championship Game in Orlando, Fla. on January 16, 2011.
"With the indoor team, we just feel the current economic environment just isn't conducive to success," said Jordan Kopac, who was recently named as head coach of the Racine Raiders after being the head coach for both the indoor and outdoor Wolfpack. "We tried to run things as efficiently as possible last year, but even that wasn't enough and we failed to meet expectations in a number of ways. From the business side, this is what we have to do."
The indoor and outdoor Wolfpack, while sharing many resources, staff members and players, had seperate ownership groups and were technically seperate entities. Kopac had been part of both ownership groups in addition to his duties as head coach. The indoor team's ownership included Lowe Entertainment, which also operated the Rock River Raptors of the Continental Indoor Football League, while the outdoor team's ownership originally included individuals involved with the merged Wisconsin Bulldogs and Franklin Outlaws of the North American Football League, which the outdoor Wolfpack played in during its inagural season.
Kopac noted the Wolfpack brand is not necessarily dead. The Wolfpack equipment inventory has not been liquidated and, should economic conditions improve, there is a possibility of the indoor team returning. However, no timetable has been set for a return and it is not currently a priority.
"I just want to coach and am ready to bring championship football back to Racine after we finish up the run in Florida," Kopac said.
The indoor Wolfpack finished its two-year run in Madison, Wis. with a record of 16-9, including playoffs. The Wolfpack had its most successful season last year, beating the Fort Wayne FireHawks, 25-24, in its lone home playoff game to reach the 2010 CIFL Championship Game, only to fall to the Cincinnati Commandos at the Cincinnati Gardens, 54-40.
The outdoor Wolfpack qualified for the 2011 USFA Championship Game by winning the 2010 Mid-States Tournament with victories over the Chicago Falcons and Michigan Gators in Kenosha, Wis. The opponent is as yet unknown.
Kopac was named head coach of the Raiders on Wednesday, December 8. This marks the third time Kopac has taken the helm for the Raiders, having led the team to its last national championship in 2001. Kopac's induction into both the American Football Association Minor League Football Hall of Fame and the Minor League Football News Hall of Fame came for his previous work with the Raiders.
The Wolfpack and Raiders met twice when both teams were in the NAFL in 2008, with each team winning on the other's home field.
The Raiders have a storied history, having won seven national championships since the team's creation in 1953. The non-profit organization fields upwards of 100 volunteers and often draws as many as 3,000 fans per game at historic Horlick Field in Racine.
"With the indoor team, we just feel the current economic environment just isn't conducive to success," said Jordan Kopac, who was recently named as head coach of the Racine Raiders after being the head coach for both the indoor and outdoor Wolfpack. "We tried to run things as efficiently as possible last year, but even that wasn't enough and we failed to meet expectations in a number of ways. From the business side, this is what we have to do."
The indoor and outdoor Wolfpack, while sharing many resources, staff members and players, had seperate ownership groups and were technically seperate entities. Kopac had been part of both ownership groups in addition to his duties as head coach. The indoor team's ownership included Lowe Entertainment, which also operated the Rock River Raptors of the Continental Indoor Football League, while the outdoor team's ownership originally included individuals involved with the merged Wisconsin Bulldogs and Franklin Outlaws of the North American Football League, which the outdoor Wolfpack played in during its inagural season.
Kopac noted the Wolfpack brand is not necessarily dead. The Wolfpack equipment inventory has not been liquidated and, should economic conditions improve, there is a possibility of the indoor team returning. However, no timetable has been set for a return and it is not currently a priority.
"I just want to coach and am ready to bring championship football back to Racine after we finish up the run in Florida," Kopac said.
The indoor Wolfpack finished its two-year run in Madison, Wis. with a record of 16-9, including playoffs. The Wolfpack had its most successful season last year, beating the Fort Wayne FireHawks, 25-24, in its lone home playoff game to reach the 2010 CIFL Championship Game, only to fall to the Cincinnati Commandos at the Cincinnati Gardens, 54-40.
The outdoor Wolfpack qualified for the 2011 USFA Championship Game by winning the 2010 Mid-States Tournament with victories over the Chicago Falcons and Michigan Gators in Kenosha, Wis. The opponent is as yet unknown.
Kopac was named head coach of the Raiders on Wednesday, December 8. This marks the third time Kopac has taken the helm for the Raiders, having led the team to its last national championship in 2001. Kopac's induction into both the American Football Association Minor League Football Hall of Fame and the Minor League Football News Hall of Fame came for his previous work with the Raiders.
The Wolfpack and Raiders met twice when both teams were in the NAFL in 2008, with each team winning on the other's home field.
The Raiders have a storied history, having won seven national championships since the team's creation in 1953. The non-profit organization fields upwards of 100 volunteers and often draws as many as 3,000 fans per game at historic Horlick Field in Racine.