The Carolina Rhinos were one of the original 15 teams to join the inaugural 2000 AF2 season. They started off in the American Conference, before switching divisions in every year of their existence (2001-Northeast & 2002-Eastern). In their first year, they won 7 of their first 9 games, en route to the playoffs, before losing to the Augusta Stallions. In 2001, again, they won 7 of their first 9 games, and for the first time ever, they won a playoff game, beating the Tulsa Talons, before losing to the eventual champion, Quad City Steamwheelers. In 2002, everyone expected Carolina to not only go to the playoffs, but to do something great. Unfortunately, the Rhinos choked going 5-11, and ultimately missed the playoffs. To add insult to injury, the Rhinos folded after their post season-less year, and left Arena Football to the Carolina Cobras, which fittingly, folded 2 years after the Rhinos said good-bye to the BI-LO Center.