Huntington Hammer

Last updated
Huntington Hammer
Established 2010
Folded 2012
Played in Huntington, West Virginia
at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena
HuntingtonHammer.PNG
League/conference affiliations
Ultimate Indoor Football League (2011-2012)
Current uniform
Team colorsBlue, Orange, and White
   
MascotThoran
Personnel
Owner(s)Cecil Van Dyke
Bill Nichols
Rick Kranz
Daniel Fisher
Head coachMichael Owens
Team history
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
2011
Home arena(s)

The Huntington Hammer were a professional indoor football team that began play as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) for its inaugural 2011 season. The Hammer were based in Huntington, West Virginia, with home games played at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Contents

The Hammer were the third indoor football team to play in Huntington, succeeding the National Indoor Football League's River Cities LocoMotives (2001) and the American Indoor Football Association's Huntington Heroes (2006-2008). A team called the West Virginia Wild was set to play in the Continental Indoor Football League for 2009, but the franchise was revoked prior to the team's inaugural season.

History

2011

The team was owned by principal owner, Cecil Vandyke, along with co-owners Bill Nichols and Rick Kranz. [1] On January 6, 2011, Josh Resignalo was named the first head coach in Hammer history. [2] Resignalo was relieved on his coaching duties following an April 9 loss to the Saginaw Sting. Defensive coordinator, Michael Owens, was named the interim head coach. The Hammer experienced and up and down season, but managed to earn a 7–7 record, earning a playoff berth while winning the final game of the season. [3] However, the Hammer experienced a season-low point total for the season, scoring just four points in a Semifinal matchup with the Eastern Kentucky Drillers. [4]

2012

The Hammer were set to return to the UIFL in 2012, with the league expanding to 16 teams. [5] However, before the season started, the UIFL announced that 6 of the 16 teams announced for 2012 would be folding, this included the Hammer.

Notable players

Roster

Huntington Hammer roster
Quarterbacks
  • --Jermaine Davis
  • --Noel Johnson-Alexander

Running backs

  • --Romiell Dunlap

Wide receivers

  • -- Na Brown
  • --Alijah Evans
  • 80Hiram Moore
  • --Mark Littlejohn
  • --Jermaine Payton
  • 81Victor Smith
Offensive linemen
  • --John Burrows
  • --Jesse Carmon
  • --John Johnson
  • --Michael Jones
  • --Drew Robinson
  • --Nigil Wells

Defensive linemen

Linebackers
  • --Taurean Charles
  • --Courtney Dailey
  • --Phillip Gamble
  • --Martino Montague Jr.
  •  9Andre Portis
  • --Kaleb Slaughter

Defensive backs

Kickers

  • --Rob Avriett
  • --Merf Trout
Injured reserve
  • Currently vacant

Exempt list

  • Currently vacant

Practice squad

  • Currently vacant
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated October 3, 2011
  • 30 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

All-League selections

Head coaches

NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLTWin%WL
Josh Resignalo 2011 430.57100
Michael Owens 2011 340.42901

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsWild Card BerthLeague Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
2011 2011 UIFL 4th770Lost Semifinal 4–20 (Eastern Kentucky)
Totals770All-time regular season record (2011)
01-All-time postseason record (2011)
780All-time regular season and postseason record (2011)

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References

  1. "Nichols happy with first game". www.irontontribune.com. Ironton Tribune. February 21, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  2. "Hammer Announce Resignalo as Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 6, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  3. Kyle Austin (May 29, 2011). "Saginaw Sting finish regular season with 49-25 loss to Huntington Hammer". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  4. Ryan Walker (June 6, 2011). "Hammer falls to Drillers". www.irontontribune.com. Ironton Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  5. Jim Walker (September 30, 2011). "UIFL expansion leads to four divisions". www.irontontribune.com. Ironton Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2015.