New Orleans VooDoo

For the Voodoo tradition in New Orleans, see Louisiana Voodoo.

New Orleans VooDoo
Founded	2002
League	Arena Football League (2004–present)
Conference	American
Division	South
Team history	Original franchise: New Orleans VooDoo (2004–2005, 2007–2008) New franchise: Bossier City Battle Wings (2001–2003) Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings (2004–2010) New Orleans VooDoo (2011–present)
Arena	New Orleans Arena 2004–2005 2007–2008 2011–present Mercedes-Benz Superdome 2013
Based in	New Orleans, Louisiana
Team colors	Purple, Red, Black, Tan, White
President	Dan Newman
Head coach	Pat O'Hara
Championships	0
Division titles	1: 2004
Mascot	Bones & Mojo
Website	http://www.aflvoodoo.com/

The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena.

The original New Orleans VooDoo played in the AFL from 2004–2008, at which point the league suspended operations. During that time they were owned in part by Tom Benson, who also owned the National Football League's New Orleans Saints. In 2010 it was announced that a franchise would be joining the restructured AFL and carrying on the New Orleans VooDoo name and history. On September 14, 2010 it was announced that the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings were relocating to New Orleans, and would take up the VooDoo name, logo, colors, and history.

History

New Orleans VooDoo uniforms.

An AFL expansion team, the VooDoo played its inaugural game on the road against the Philadelphia Soul on February 8, 2004. The game marked the return of the AFL to New Orleans, where the New Orleans Night franchise had played two seasons in 1991–1992. The VooDoo logo consists of a human skull wearing a top hat and sunglasses.

In their first year, they drew big crowds to their home games as they became the second team other than the Orlando Predators or Tampa Bay Storm to win the AFL's Southern Division. The team's average attendance of 15,240 ranked fifth in the league and was a major factor in the VooDoo's 7–1 regular season home record.

In 2005, the team started strong, but later found itself on the wrong end of some close, hard-fought games. With a national television audience and sold-out TD Waterhouse Centre looking on, the VooDoo ended their second regular season against Orlando with both needing a win to reach the playoffs. A second half rally featuring a fumble return for a touchdown by Thabiti Davis brought the VooDoo back into the game briefly, but the VooDoo's backs were broken when a Jay Taylor kickoff hit the iron surrounding the nets and was recovered by the Predators, which, after another touchdown to bring the lead up to 15, effectively sealed the game and ensured the VooDoo would watch the playoffs from home. The final score was 51–40, ending the VooDoo's season at 9–7, a disappointing result for a team widely expected to challenge for the ArenaBowl championship.

Despite the underachievement, the VooDoo proved to be hits with New Orleans for the second consecutive year, with an average attendance of 15,338, good for third in the 17-team AFL, and again had the New Orleans market lead the nation in television ratings for Sunday AFL broadcasts on NBC.

The VooDoo's success and popularity led the AFL to consider placing the ArenaBowl in New Orleans. Although it had already signed a deal with Las Vegas to have the ArenaBowl there for 2005, 2006 and 2007, the league had considered terminating that deal. Had the bidding for ArenaBowl XX begun, New Orleans would have been an early favorite, along with Orlando and Arizona.

The VooDoo's official mascots were known as Bones and Mojo. Their cheerleaders were known as the VooDoo Dolls.

Hurricane Katrina

On August 28, 2005, it was announced that due to the extensive damage suffered by Hurricane Katrina to the New Orleans Arena, the VooDoo would suspend operations for the 2006 season. Fifteen of the players under contract with the VooDoo were moved to the expansion Kansas City Brigade for the 2006 season. The team returned in 2007 with Neu as the head coach. The New Orleans Arena hosted ArenaBowl XXI and ArenaBowl XXII.

Return in 2007

In 2007, the VooDoo set an AFL season ticket record, selling over 13,000 season tickets. This led to the VooDoo leading in announced attendance as well, drawing 16,645 to their 8 home games, 800 more than the second-place Philadelphia Soul.

The VooDoo started 4–3, before a seven game losing streak dropped them to 4–10 and eliminated them from the playoff race.

The final record of 5–11 included the first ever victory by the VooDoo over the Orlando Predators, a dominating 67–54 victory over the eventual ArenaBowl XXI champion San Jose Sabercats, a 78–34 nationally televised defeat at the Philadelphia Soul that ranks as the worst loss in franchise history, a 69–63 nationally televised loss to the New York Dragons where the VooDoo used some curious strategy to run the clock down before going for the winning score on fourth down, and a narrow 80–79 defeat at the Dallas Desperados, in which the VooDoo missed a two-point conversion to try to win the game after regulation time expired.

Despite the terrible record, several players were revelations for the VooDoo. Steve Bellisari, a former Ohio State quarterback, took over the starting job from AFL veteran Andy Kelly and showed no signs of giving it back anytime soon as the VooDoo offense became more efficient later in the season. Johnathan Ruffin, a New Orleans native and former Lou Groza award winner, took over kicking duties late in the season and was far more efficient than his predecessor Eric Houle. James Lynch was named to the all-Rookie team at fullback.

2008

The VooDoo were picked by prognosticators to bring up the rear of the AFL after free agent WR Derrick Lewis was injured in training camp. By losing the first game in Los Angeles, and having starting Quarterback Steve Bellisari get hurt, things started to look bleak for the VooDoo. Backup Quarterback Danny Wimprine, from the New Orleans area, took over, and led by a defense that threatened to shatter the AFL record for interceptions in a season, the VooDoo won seven of their next eight games and threatened to run away with the Southern Division.

The VooDoo then suffered a collapse, losing six of their last seven games, and missed the Arena Football playoffs for the third consecutive season, finishing 8–8. Speculation ensued about Mike Neu's job as head coach, as the VooDoo suffered four second-half-of-the-season collapses in their four years as a franchise, but early indications were that he would continue to be the coach in 2009.

The New Orleans VooDoo received the Arena Football League's Best Support Staff Award during the ArenaBall Awards Ceremony held in New Orleans on Friday, July 25, 2008.

Folding & rebirth Of the VooDoo

On October 13, 2008, owner Tom Benson announced the New Orleans VooDoo would not be continuing operations in New Orleans. Reasons given were "circumstances affecting the league and the team." The Arena Football League announced that they will revive the New Orleans VooDoo for the 2010 season before folding themselves.

On September 14, 2010, Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that the Shreveport–Bossier franchise would move their operation to the city of New Orleans. Jason Coffel, who would serve as the vice president of operations for the VooDoo, said owner Dan Newman would cease operations of the Battle Wings in the Shreveport–Bossier City area and immediately become the New Orleans VooDoo.

The rebirth of the franchise and its renewal would not be affiliated with previous owner of the Voodoo, Tom Benson, or the New Orleans Saints.

"The reason this is happening is the Arena Football League recognizes how passionate the New Orleans market is about football," Coffel said. "Proof of that is the success of the Saints and the success of the VooDoo when they were around."

On June 26, 2011, after a home loss to the Spokane Shock, the VooDoo fired head coach Derek Stingley. He was replaced by General Manager Jon Norris. At the end of a 3–15 season, Jon Norris went back to being the General Manager. Later on August 8, 2011, he hired Pat O'Hara as the VooDoo's third head coach.

Resurrection

The VooDoo started the 2012 season losing their first two games at home, to the Philadelphia Soul and Milwaukee Mustangs. This brought their home losing streak to 12, dating back to 2008, and concerned fans who did not want a possible AFL record set for futility. However, the VooDoo recovered, and gave fans starved for a winner something to hope for. Aided by a Southern Division where no team pulled away, a three game winning streak, including an emotional victory over the Jacksonville Sharks put the VooDoo in first place heading into the final month of the regular season. Unfortunately, the VooDoo dropped their last three games including an overtime lost to the Tampa Bay Storm 78–77. Luckily, the team backed into the playoffs with the Tampa Bay Storm losing to the Spokane Shock in the final week. The VooDoo however, fell the following week in the conference semifinals to the Philadelphia Soul, 66–53.

Notable players

Current Roster

New Orleans VooDoo roster
Quarterbacks  3 Chris Dixon 14 Kurt Rocco 13 Bill Stull Fullbacks  5 Bruce Figgins 88 Jeramie Richardson Wide receivers 28 L. J. Castile 25 Derek Lee  2 Donovan Morgan 15 Quorey Payne -- Antonio Robinson  6 Courtney Smith		Offensive linemen 77 Nyere Aumaitre 55 Lorenzo Breland 40 Bryce Tennison Defensive linemen 96 Xavier Brown 99 Marlon Favorite  9 Michael Janac Linebackers  4 James Bryant		Defensive backs 11 Chris Brown 17 Cameron McGlenn 24 Dwight McLean  1 Demarcus Robinson Kickers 22 Gary Cismesia		Refused to report -- Samora Goodson WR Other league exempt 24 Delvin Breaux DB 71 Thaddeus Coleman OL -- Shay Hodge WR -- Daniel Hrapmann K Injury reserve 25 Larry Beavers WR 17 Chris Duvalt WR  5 Derandus Frye DL  8 Leslie Majors DB  7 Efe Osawemwenze LB League suspension 11 Derrick Boyd DB 20 Ramon Broadway DB 75 Ernest McCoy OL 70 Zhamal Thomas OL 88 Akia Williams WR Inactive reserve 21 Eddie Moten DB Recallable reassignment Currently vacant Rookies in italics Roster updated June 18, 2013 23 Active, 16 Inactive → More rosters

Past players

• 2004; Aaron Bailey
• 2004; John Fitzgerald
• 2004, 2007: Dan Curran
• 2004–2005: Monty Montgomery
• 2005, 2007: Andy Kelly
• 2004–2005; B. J. Cohen
• 2007: Henry Taylor
• 2007–2008: Tyronne Jones
• 2007–2008; Henry Bryant
• 2007–2008; James Lynch
• 2008; Umar Muhammed
• 2008–2011; Jonathan Ruffin
• 2008; Michale Spicer
• 2008–2011; Danny Wimprine
• 2008: Norman LeJeune
• 2008: Lin-J Shell
• 2004–2005, 2008: Calvin Spears
• 2011; P.J. Berry (Superman)
• 2011; Skyler Green
• 2011; Hutch Gonzales
• 2011; James Jordon
• 2012; Kurt Rocco
• 2011–2012; Alvin Ray Jackson
• 2012; Josh Bush
• 2012; Jeremy Kellem

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of Week 9 the 2013 Arena Football League season.

Name	Term	Regular Season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Mike Neu	2004-2008	33	31	0	.516	0	1
Derek Stingley	2011	1	11	0	.083	0	0
Jon Norris	2011	1	3	0	.250	0	0
Pat O'Hara	2012-present	9	17	0	.346	0	1

Staff

New Orleans VooDoo staff
	Front Office Football Operations/Business Development - Cherry Blackwell Vice President of Ticketing and Operations - Jason Coffel Group Sales - Fred Jones Director of Media Relations - Hayley Asaro Football Operations Assistant - Jareth LaBode Season Ticket Sales - Kasey Gore Sales - Kelsey Boudreaux Activation Specialist & Game Day Operations - Kimberly Olivarez VooDoo Doll Director - Jasmine Martijn			Head Coach Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator - Pat O'Hara Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Nick Ward Special Teams Coaches Special Teams Coordinator – Doug Miller Support Staff Athletic Trainer - Patrick Maloney Assistant Athletic Trainer - Kellie Abendschoen Equipment Manager - Jake Bywater

Season-by-season

Main article: List of New Orleans VooDoo seasons

External links

• New Orleans VooDoo official web-site
• New Orleans VooDoo at ArenaFan
• New Orleans Voodoo at FunWhileItLasted.net
• VooDoo Report
• Voodoo back in play in the AFL (New Orleans Source)
• Battlewings Moving to New Orleans (Shreveport Source)