Detroit Thunder

Last updated
Detroit Thunder
Established 2012
Folded 2014
Played in Fraser Hockeyland in Fraser, Michigan
DetroitThunder2014.png
League/conference affiliations
Continental Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
  • North Division (2014)
Current uniform
Team colorsPurple, Green, White
   
Personnel
Owner(s)Terrence and Lawrence Foster
General managerTerrence Foster
Head coachTerrence Foster
Team history
  • Detroit Thunder (2013–2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
  • Fraser Hockeyland (2014)

The Detroit Thunder was a professional indoor football team based in Fraser, Michigan. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Thunder were the third indoor football team to have called the Motor City home, following two Arena Football League teams: the four-time ArenaBowl champion Detroit Drive (1988–1993) and the Detroit Fury (2001–2004). In addition, a team called the Motor City Reapers was proposed for the 2007 CIFL season, but the team folded before ever playing a single game. The Thunder were owned by Terrence and Lawrence Foster.

Contents

Franchise history

2013

On November 1, 2012, the Thunder was officially announced as the CIFL's eleventh team for the 2013 season, but with the Cincinnati Commandos folding, the league was left with ten teams. The team was owned by David and Cynthia Kinsman, who also own the Port Huron Patriots in the same league. [1] [2] In addition, the Michigan Cup was announces as the trophy the Thunder, Patriots, and Saginaw Sting would compete for during the 2013 season. [1] On November 9, 2012, David Kinsman announced that the Thunder would be playing their home games at the Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor, Michigan for the 2013 season, with the hopes to move to a larger venue in 2014. [3] In the Thunder's first ever game, the team lost 28–41 to the Patriots. [4] Kinsman moved the Thunder home games to McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Michigan for the remainder of the season. On February 21, just two weeks into the season, Kinsman sold both the Patriots and the Thunder. [5] The Thunder were backed by the CIFL until a new owner was found. [5] Less than a week after the CIFL took over the operations, the Thunder were sold to coaches Terrence and Lawrence Foster. [6] Foster's move as head coach was moving the team back to the Taylor Sportsplex. [6]

2014

In June 2013, the Thunder agreed to terms with the CIFL to return for the 2014 season. [7] The Thunder opened up the 2014 season at the Patriots, who during the offseason signed former Thunder quarterback Mike Akwari. Akwari helped the Patriots defeat his old team by a score of 34-12. [8]

Turf problems at Fraser Hockeyland, the arena the team originally intended to use in 2014, disrupted the season. After moving their first home game to the Perani Arena and Event Center, the team attempted to return to Fraser Hockeyland for the remainder of its home schedule. The Erie Explosion, the first team that would have played the Thunder at Fraser Hockeyland, arrived at the arena only to find that the turf was unfit for play, forcing the Thunder to forfeit; the team ceased operations for the season after that incident.

Notable players

Final roster

Detroit Thunder roster
Quarterbacks
  •  4James King

Running backs

  • 25David Hill
  •  6Garrett Hoskins

Wide receivers

  •  3Reggie Eubanks
  •  1Daryl Frager
  •  9Nathan Frike
  • 11Tryone Gordon
Offensive linemen
  • 66Dion Howze

Defensive linemen

  • 55Michael Booker
  • 56Stephen Chester
  • 41Arnold Staton
  • 58Eric Summers
Linebackers
  • 40Josh Denault

'Defensive backs

  •  8Shaun Gaddis
  •  2James Harris

Kickers

  • 22Musa Odeh

Unknown

  • 51Keith Barbee
  • 19David Smith
Injured reserve
  • currently vacant

Exempt list

  • currently vacant

Practice squad

  • currently vacant
  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated February 20, 2014
  • 19 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Detroit Thunder players who won league awards

SeasonPlayerPositionAward
2013 Andre Thomas DL 1st Team All-CIFL
2013 Reggie Eubanks WR 2nd Team All-CIFL
2013 Richard Gedelian OL 2nd Team All-CIFL
2013 Doug Emery LB 2nd Team All-CIFL

Coaches of note

Head coaches

NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLTWin%WL
Terrence Foster 2013–2014 4140.22200

Coaching staff

Detroit Thunder staff
Front office
  • Co-owner/marketing and sales – Terrence Foster
  • Co-owner - Lawrence Foster
  • General manager – Mike Piasecki
 

Head coach

  • Head coach – Terry Foster

Offensive coaches

  • Co-offensive coordinator – Lawrence Foster
  • Co-offensive coordinator – Rob Hunt
  • Offensive line – Danny Foster

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator – Terrence Foster
  • Defensive line – Danny Foster

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsWild Card BerthLeague Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2013 2013 CIFL 5th460
2014 2014 CIFL North5th080
Totals4140All-time regular season record (2013-2014)
00-All-time postseason record (2013-2014)
4140All-time regular season and postseason record (2013-2014)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continental Indoor Football League</span> US indoor football league

The Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) was an indoor football league based along the Midwestern United States region that played nine seasons from 2006 to 2014. It began play in April 2006 as the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL). It was formed by Jeff Spitaleri, his brother Eric, and a third member, Cory Trapp, all from the Canton, Ohio, area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion Mayhem</span>

The Marion Mayhem were a professional indoor football team based in Marion, Ohio. The team was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL), later renamed the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL), joining in 2006 as an expansion team. The Mayhem were the first professional indoor football team to be based in Marion, but were the second pro football team to be based in the area since the NFL's Oorang Indians. The team folded during the 2010 season due to financial problems. The Owners of the Mayhem were Michael Burtch and Stanley Jackson. They played their home games at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Huron Pirates</span> American indoor football team

The Port Huron Pirates were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL) joining the league in 2006 as an expansion team. The Pirates were the first professional indoor football team to be based in Port Huron. They played their home games at McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Michigan ThunderHawks</span> Sports team

The West Michigan ThunderHawks were an indoor football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of the Indoor Football League. From their inception in 2007 until 2009, the ThunderHawks were known as the Muskegon Thunder and played at L.C. Walker Arena. In 2010, the team moved to Grand Rapids, MI. This is where the downfall of the team took place. The season started off hopeful with a 5–2 record. After week 7 the players were promised money at a later date as long as they played. Starting in 2010 the ThunderHawks played their home games at the DeltaPlex Arena, in nearby Walker, Michigan. The Thunderhawks did not field a team in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saginaw Sting</span> American indoor football team

The Saginaw Sting was a professional Indoor Football team based in Saginaw, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of American Indoor Football (AIF). They began play in 2008 as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League and then moved to the Indoor Football League for the 2009 season. They suspended operations for the 2010 season before becoming an inaugural member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The following season they were suspended by the UIFL and re-joined the CIFL under new ownership. The team has since moved to the AIF. The owners of the Sting were Stuart Schweigert, Rob Licht and Jim O'Brien. The Sting played their home games at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Huron Patriots</span> Defunct indoor football team in Michigan, USA

The Port Huron Patriots were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a member of the North Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The Patriots joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team. The Patriots were the third indoor football team to be based in Port Huron, the first being CIFL charter members and inaugural champions the Port Huron Pirates (2006–2007), and the other being the CIFL based Port Huron Predators. The Owners of the Patriots were Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura. The Patriots played their home games at the McMorran Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Kentucky River Monsters</span> Professional indoor football team based in Highland Heights, Kentucky

The Northern Kentucky River Monsters were a professional indoor football team based in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The River Monsters began play as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) for its inaugural 2011 season spending one season in the UIFL before reaching an agreement with league management to leave. After a two-year hiatus, the River Monsters returned in 2014 as a member of the South Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The River Monsters played their home games at The Bank of Kentucky Center. On June 6, 2011, it was announced that the UIFL and the River Monsters mutually agreed to part ways, leaving the team free to join another league. However, the UIFL had a lease agreement with the arena, which hampered the likelihood the River Monsters would play in Highland Heights in 2012. The team had been mentioned as a charter member Stadius Football Association in 2012, but that league never got off the ground. The team suspended operations on October 1, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owensboro Rage</span>

The Owensboro Rage, formerly the Evansville Rage, was a professional indoor football team based in Owensboro, Kentucky. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Rage joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team. The Rage were the first indoor football team to be based in Owensboro. The Rage were founded in 2011 by David Reed. Reed stepped down as President and General Manager in March 2012 due to lack of funds. In 2013 the owner of the Rage became Melissa Logsdon. The Rage played their home games at The Next Level Sports Facility.

The 2012 Continental Indoor Football League season was the Continental Indoor Football League's seventh overall season. The regular season started on Saturday March 10, with the expansion Port Huron Patriots defeating the expansion Chicago Vipers 52–49 at McMorran Arena, and ended with the 2012 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game, on June 2, 2012, at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan where the Saginaw Sting defeated the Dayton Silverbacks 35–7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Dayton Silverbacks season</span>

The 2012 Dayton Silverbacks season is the seventh season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Port Huron Patriots season</span>

The 2012 Port Huron Patriots season is the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise. After the disappointing end to the Port Huron Predators season in 2011, Dave and Cyndi Kinsman wanted to bring back a team to Port Huron in 2012 and the future. Kinsman stated, "We are aware of the history of teams in this city and the bottom line is that you have to win on and off the field to make this succeed. Other teams could win on the field, but couldn't win off the field meaning they didn't have the front office and leadership it takes to succeed. We are confident in the direction this franchise will head and we are thrilled to be in Port Huron." The team announced that they would be playing at McMorran Arena. In early September 2011, the Patriots signed former Pradators head coach John Forti, as well as re-signed local players who had played for the Predators. On December 24, 2011 the team announced its training camp roster.

The 2012 Evansville Rage season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Pythons</span>

The Chicago Pythons were a professional indoor football team based in Homer Glen, Illinois. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The Pythons joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team under the name "Chicago Vipers". They changed their name to the "Chicago Pythons" four weeks into the season. The Pythons were the third indoor football team based in the Chicago area. The Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League were based in Rosemont, and the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League are based in Hoffman Estates. The Pythons replaced the Chicago Knights, formerly the Chicago Cardinals, as the Illinois-based CIFL team, which replaced the Slaughter after they left for the Indoor Football League after a dispute with CIFL management. The Owner of the Pythons was Michael Duran. The Pythons were supposed to play their home games at The Megaplex in Homer Glen, Illinois, but the team never hosted a home game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Port Huron Patriots season</span>

The 2013 Port Huron Patriots season was the second season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise. The Patriots kicked off their exhibition schedule with a 62–2 victory over the Michigan Renegades, a semi-professional outdoor football team.

The 2013 Detroit Thunder season was the first season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2013 Continental Indoor Football League season will be the Continental Indoor Football League's eighth overall season. The regular season will start on Friday February 8, with the Marion Blue Racers visiting the Saginaw Sting at the Dow Event Center, and will end with the 2013 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game being held on, or around, May 18. The league approved the expansion of the playoff format from four teams to six teams.

The 2014 Continental Indoor Football League season was the Continental Indoor Football League's ninth overall season. The regular season started on Monday February 3, with the Northern Kentucky River Monsters visiting the Bluegrass Warhorses at the Alltech Arena, and ended with the 2014 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game held on May 18.

The 2014 Erie Explosion season is the eighth season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Port Huron Patriots season</span>

The 2014 Port Huron Patriots season was the third season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2014 Detroit Thunder season is the second season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

References

  1. 1 2 "Detroit Thunder Rolls Into CIFL". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  2. ↑ Joseph Hayes (November 13, 2012). "Joseph Hayes: Kinsmans add second CIFL franchise". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  3. ↑ Eric Lacy (November 9, 2012). "New Detroit Thunder owner promises exciting Continental Indoor Football League play for region". www.mlive.com. Michigan Live. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ Joseph Hayes (February 9, 2013). "Patriots drop Thunder, 41–28". The Times Herald. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Joseph Hayes (February 22, 2013). "Dave Kinsman sell Port Huron Patriots locally". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Under New Ownership, Thunder Head Back To Detroit". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 26, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ Cory Butzin (June 10, 2013). "Continental Indoor Football League agree to terms with five teams for next season". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ Joseph Hayes (February 8, 2014). "Patriots storm back to defeat Thunder, 34-12". www.thetimesherald.com. Gannett. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
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