Omaha Nighthawks

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Omaha Nighthawks
OmahaNighthawkshelmet.PNG
OmahaNighthawks.PNG
Founded2010
Folded2012
Based in Omaha, Nebraska
Home stadium
General manager Matt Boockmeier [1]
Owner(s) Zach Nelson
ColorsMetallic Silver, Omaha Black, Omaha Slate
   

The Omaha Nighthawks were a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which played in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. During their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD Ameritrade Park Omaha for 2011 and beyond. Zach Nelson, CEO of Internet software provider NetSuite, was announced as lead owner in August 2010. [2]

Contents

Franchise history

2010 season

On April 15, 2010, Omaha was granted an expansion team in the UFL, with former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski being named the team's head coach. [3] [4] The team allowed fans to name the new team by either writing in a name or choosing from a preselected list (Mustangs, Spirit, Navigators or Stags). [5] The Nighthawks name was officially unveiled on May 5, 2010, and won based on a strong write-in campaign. It was partially derived from the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the retired stealth fighter used in the United States Air Force. [6]

On September 21, the Tuesday before the team's first ever game, it was announced that a sellout crowd of 24,000 tickets were sold for the first time in UFL history, to watch the Nighthawks take on the Colonials in the franchise's first ever game. [7] Omaha defeated the Colonials, 27–26.

On November 19, the Omaha Nighthawks played Florida in the UFL's first alternate uniform: a camouflage jersey was worn in honor of the Armed Forces. [8]

On January 3, 2011, Jagodzinski was fired by the Nighthawks. Omaha chose to not renew his contract for the 2011 season as he led the Nighthawks to four straight losses to close out the season at 3–5, tied for last place in the league for 2010. [9] Just nine days later, Joe Moglia was named team president and head coach. [10] He was previously announced as the head coach for the expansion Virginia Destroyers.

Schedule

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultsGame siteAttendanceTV
Final scoreTeam record
1 Bye
2Friday, September 247:00 p.m. CT Hartford Colonials W 27–261–0 Rosenblatt Stadium 23,067 HDNet
3Saturday, October 27:30 p.m. CT Sacramento Mountain Lions W 20–172–0Rosenblatt Stadium23,416HDNet
4Friday, October 89:00 p.m. CTat Las Vegas Locomotives L 10–222–1 Sam Boyd Stadium 9,767HDNet
5Saturday, October 162:00 p.m. CTat Hartford ColonialsW 19–143–1 Rentschler Field 14,056 NESN
6Bye
7Thursday, October 287:00 p.m. CTLas Vegas LocomotivesL 10–243–2Rosenblatt Stadium23,554HDNet
8Friday, November 57:00 p.m. CTat Florida Tuskers L 14–313–3 Citrus Bowl 9,203HDNet
9Saturday, November 1310:00 p.m. CTat Sacramento Mountain LionsL 3–413–4 Hornet Stadium 20,000 Versus
10Friday, November 197:30 p.m. CTFlorida TuskersL 10–273–5Rosenblatt Stadium21,106HDNet

2011 season

Schedule

WeekDateKickoff *OpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1Thursday, September 157:00 p.m. Virginia Destroyers L 13–230–1 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
2 Bye
3Saturday, October 16:00 p.m.at Sacramento Mountain Lions W 33–301–1 Hornet Stadium
4Saturday, October 87:00 p.m.at Las Vegas Locomotives L 10–301–2 Sam Boyd Stadium
5Saturday, October 157:00 p.m.Las Vegas LocomotivesL 6–131–3TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
6Friday, October 21 †7:00 p.m.Sacramento Mountain LionsL 19–251–4TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
* All times are Central Time. † Postseason Consolation Game.

2012 season

Moglia departed the head coaching position with the Nighthawks in December 2011 to take the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina University, taking much of his staff with him. [11] General manager Rick Mueller departed for the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2012. [12]

Bart Andrus, former head coach of the NFL Europe Amsterdam Admirals, longtime NFL assistant and Moglia's offensive coordinator during the 2011 season, assumed the title of head coach and general manager on August 9, 2012.

For the 2012 season, all UFL games were slated to be broadcast by CBS Sports Network.

On October 20, 2012, the United Football League announced it would suspend all operations and intended on resuming the canceled schedule some time in spring 2013, with those games counting toward the 2012 season standings. The league never resumed in spring of 2013. In March 2013, 78 players filed suit against the league. [13]

Schedule

WeekDateKickoff *OpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1Friday, September 2810:00 p.m.at Sacramento Mountain Lions W 24–201–0 Raley Field
2Wednesday, October 38:00 p.m.at Las Vegas Locomotives L 6–411–1 Sam Boyd Stadium
3Friday, October 126:00 p.m. Virginia Destroyers W 38–102–1TD Ameritrade Park
4Wednesday, October 178:00 p.m.Las Vegas LocomotivesL 26–382-2TD Ameritrade Park
5Tuesday, October 238:00 p.m.Sacramento Mountain LionsTD Ameritrade Park
6Wednesday, October 318:00 p.m.at Las Vegas LocomotivesSam Boyd Stadium
7Friday, November 98:30 p.m.at Virginia Destroyers Virginia Beach Sportsplex
8Friday, November 166:00 p.m.vs. Virginia DestroyersTD Ameritrade Park
* All times are Central Time.

Season-by-season records

SeasonWLTPct.FinishPost SeasonAwards
2010 350.3755th
2011 130.2503rdLost Consolation Game (Sacramento Mountain Lions) 25-19 (OT)
2012 220.5002ndSeason cancelled
Totals6100.375---

Records vs. teams

This includes postseason games.

TeamRecordPercent
Las Vegas Locomotives 0-6.000
Hartford Colonials 2-01.000
Sacramento Mountain Lions 3-1.667
Florida Tuskers/Virginia Destroyers 1-3.250

Home, away and neutral records

LocationRecordPercent
Home3-6.333
Away3-6.333
Neutral0-0.000

References

  1. ↑ http://www.omaha.com/article/20120906/SPORTS/709069774 [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ Jordan, Steve (August 7, 2010). "Nighthawks investor returns to his Nebraska roots". Omaha World-Herald . Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Robb, Jeffrey (March 31, 2010). "New sport for new stadium?". Omaha World Herald. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  4. ↑ Livingston, Thad (April 13, 2010). "UFL plans announcement". Omaha World Herald . Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  5. ↑ Robb, Jeffrey (April 15, 2010). "UFL kicks off in Omaha". Omaha World Herald . Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Omaha Welcomes the Nighthawks". United Football League . May 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 9, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Nighthawks announce first ever sellout in UFL history home opener". United Football League . September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
  8. ↑ http://www.ufl-football.com/news/nighthawks-honor-armed-forces-camouflage-jerseys-auction%5B%5D
  9. ↑ Black Monday in the UFL, Too, USA Today, published January 3, 2011, retrieved January 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Joe Moglia Named President and Head Coach of the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League | UFL". Archived from the original on January 17, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Former UFL coach gets Coastal Carolina football job". thestate. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles - All News". Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. ↑ Heitner, Darren. "Seventy-Eight Football Players File Lawsuit Against United Football League". Forbes.
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