The Wyoming Cavalry were an American professional indoor football team based in Casper, Wyoming. They were most recently members of the Intense Conference in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Cavalry began play in 2000 as an expansion member of the original Indoor Football League as the Casper Cavalry. The Cavalry became a charter member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2001 following the original IFL's purchase by the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators. The move in 2001 also brought a franchise name change to the current Wyoming Cavalry. The team then joined the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) in 2008 after the NIFL's demise. With the AIFA's presence in the Western United States dwindling, the Cavalry joined the IFL in 2011. In September, 2014, majority owner Mitch Zimmerman announced that the team would cease operations.[1]
| Wyoming Cavalry | |
|---|---|
| Established 2000 Folded 2014 Played in Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming WyomingCavalry.com | |
 | |
| League/conference affiliations | |
Indoor Football League (2000)
National Indoor Football League (2001–2007)
American Indoor Football Association (2008–2010)
Indoor Football League (2011–2014)
| |
Current uniform | |
| Team colors | Navy Blue, Las Vegas Gold |
| Mascot | Custer the Coyote |
| Cheerleaders | Xzude Dance Team |
| Personnel | |
| Owner(s) | Mitch Zimmerman |
| President | Mike and Argeri Layton |
| General manager | Mike Layton |
| Head coach | Ryan Lingenfelder |
| Team history | |
| |
| Championships | |
| League championships (0) 0 | |
| Conference championships (1) 2008 | |
| Division championships (0) 0 | |
| Playoff appearances (9) | |
| 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | |
| Home arena(s) | |
| |
The Cavalry played their home games at the Casper Events Center.
History
edit
The team began play in 2000 as an expansion member of the original Indoor Football League as the Casper Cavalry. Despite a successful inaugural season, they fell in the playoffs to the Black Hills Machine. When the original IFL folded, the Cavalry moved to the newly formed National Indoor Football League[2] as the "Wyoming Cavalry" and became a charter member. The team also saw front office changes, as they were purchased by a local ownership group, headed by Mike Argeri Layton.[3] The team was decently successful, making the playoffs in four of their seven overall seasons, as well as making it to the inaugural Indoor Bowl, losing to the Mississippi Fire Dogs.
On August 18, 2007, the Cavalry officially announced they would join the American Indoor Football Association as a flagship team of the league's new Western Division.[4] On July 26, 2009, the Cavalry hosted the Reading Express in AIFA Bowl III and were defeated 65–42. On July 25, 2010, the Cavalry traveled to Baltimore to take on the Mariners in AIFA Bowl IV and would go on to lose 57–42. As of the end of the 2010 season, the Cavalry are 0–5 in championship games.
On September 1, 2010, the Cavalry announced they would be joining the Indoor Football League as an expansion member for the 2011 season.[5]
For the 2013 season, its third in the IFL, the Cavalry hired rookie head coach Ryan Lingenfelder to replace longtime head coach Dan "Majic" Maciejczak.[6] Lingenfelder, a former AFL player, served as defensive coordinator of the Tri-Cities Fever for the previous three seasons.[7] Shortly before the 2013 season began, the owner of the Cheyenne Warriors died and the IFL revised its schedule to accommodate the now 9-team league.[8] The Cavalry had been scheduled to play two games against the projected in-state rival.[9] Barney O'Donnell III joined the team as the new starting quarterback.[10] After compiling a 2–24 record in 2 seasons, Lingenfelder was relieved of his coaching duties.[11]
Season-by-season
edit| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper Cavalry (IFL) | |||||
| 2000 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 3rd WC Northern | Lost Round 1 (Black Hills) |
| Wyoming Cavalry (NIFL) | |||||
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2nd Pacific Central | Won Round 1 (Utah) Won Round 2 (Sioux Falls) Lost Indoor Bowl I (Mississippi) |
| 2002 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 5th Pacific West | -- |
| 2003 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 6th Pacific West | -- |
| 2004 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3rd Pacific West | -- |
| 2005 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2nd Pacific West | Lost Round 1 (Tri-Cities) |
| 2006 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2nd Pacific West | Lost Round 1 (Tri-Cities) |
| 2007 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1st Pacific | |
| Wyoming Cavalry (AIFA) | |||||
| 2008 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1st WC West | Won WCW Round 1 (Arizona) Won Divisional (Mississippi) Lost AIFA Championship Bowl II (Florence) |
| 2009 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1st West | Won Divisional (Utah Valley) Lost AIFA Championship Bowl III (Reading) |
| 2010 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1st West | Won Divisional (San Jose) Lost AIFA Championship Bowl IV (Baltimore) |
| Wyoming Cavalry (IFL) | |||||
| 2011 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2nd Mountain West | Lost Round 1 (Allen) |
| 2012 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 7th Intense | |
| 2013 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 4th Intense | -- |
| 2014 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 4th Intense | -- |
| Totals | 105 | 109 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
Notable players
editFinal roster
edit| Wyoming Cavalry roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers |
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers |
Injured reserve
Exempt List
Refused to report
→ More rosters | |||
Awards and honors
editThe following is a list of all Cavalry players who have won league Awards
| Season | Player | Position | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jasonus Tillary | WR | Offensive Rookie of the Year |
All-IFL players
editThe following Cavalry players have been named to All-IFL Teams:
- WR Jasonus Tillary (1), Troy Evans (1), Samuel Charles (1)
- K Travis Atter (1)
All-NIFL players
editThe following Cavalry players have been named to All-NIFL Teams:
- QB Matt Strand (2)
- RB James Jones (1)
- WR Dante Dudley (2)
- DL Marcus Jones (1)
- DB Brandon Everage (1)
- DB Brian Guthrie (1)
- DL Tyrone Saterfield (1)
- LB Jeff Main (3)
Head coaches
editNote: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2014 Indoor Football League season.
| Name | Term | Regular Season | Playoffs | Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | Win% | W | L | |||
| Chris Stein | 2000, 2004 | 14 | 13 | 0 | .519 | 0 | 1 | |
| Scott Hafley | 2001 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 2 | 1 | |
| Tyrone Fittje | 2002–2003 | 7 | 21 | 0 | .250 | 0 | 0 | |
| Shannon Moore | 2005–2006 | 18 | 8 | 0 | .692 | 0 | 2 | |
| Dan Maciejczak | 2007–2012 | 52 | 18 | 0 | .743 | 4 | 4 | |
| Ryan Lingenfelder | 2013–2014 | 2 | 24 | 0 | .077 | 0 | 0 | |
References
edit- ^ Jack Nowlin (September 25, 2014). "Wyoming Cavalry cease operations". www.trib.com. Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
- ^ "Casper Cavalry returns under NIFL". www.billingsgazette.com. The Billings Gazette. January 27, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ Jack Nowlin (October 25, 2011). "Wyoming Cavalry owners promise to stay in Casper". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
- ^ "Wyoming Cavalry join AIFA". Our Sports Central. August 18, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
- ^ Jack Nowlin (September 2, 2010). "Cavalry break with AIFA, joins IFL". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ Nowlin, Jack (September 26, 2012). "Wyoming Cavalry hire former AFL player as new head coach". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "Cavs' open IFL season on the road". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "Wyoming Cavalry release 2013 schedule". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ Bonner, Michael (March 8, 2013). "Former Warrior star O'Donnell returns to CR as QB1". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ Jeff Kirshman (June 7, 2014). "Lingenfelder's tenure as Wyoming Cavalry coach ends after two seasons". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
External links
edit- Official website
- [1] The NIFL schedule page taken May 13, 2007.
- Cavalry's 2008 Stats
- Cavalry's 2009 Stats
- Cavalry's 2010 Stats