Omaha Nighthawks
Team helmet
Team logo
Founded2010
Folded2012
Based inOmaha, Nebraska
Home stadium
General managerMatt 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]

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

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site Attendance TV
Final score Team record
1 Bye
2 Friday, September 24 7:00 p.m. CT Hartford Colonials W 27–26 1–0 Rosenblatt Stadium 23,067 HDNet
3 Saturday, October 2 7:30 p.m. CT Sacramento Mountain Lions W 20–17 2–0 Rosenblatt Stadium 23,416 HDNet
4 Friday, October 8 9:00 p.m. CT at Las Vegas Locomotives L 10–22 2–1 Sam Boyd Stadium 9,767 HDNet
5 Saturday, October 16 2:00 p.m. CT at Hartford Colonials W 19–14 3–1 Rentschler Field 14,056 NESN
6 Bye
7 Thursday, October 28 7:00 p.m. CT Las Vegas Locomotives L 10–24 3–2 Rosenblatt Stadium 23,554 HDNet
8 Friday, November 5 7:00 p.m. CT at Florida Tuskers L 14–31 3–3 Citrus Bowl 9,203 HDNet
9 Saturday, November 13 10:00 p.m. CT at Sacramento Mountain Lions L 3–41 3–4 Hornet Stadium 20,000 Versus
10 Friday, November 19 7:30 p.m. CT Florida Tuskers L 10–27 3–5 Rosenblatt Stadium 21,106 HDNet

2011 season

Schedule

Week Date Kickoff * Opponent Results Game site
Final score Team record
1 Thursday, September 15 7:00 p.m. Virginia Destroyers L 13–23 0–1 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
2 Bye
3 Saturday, October 1 6:00 p.m. at Sacramento Mountain Lions W 33–30 1–1 Hornet Stadium
4 Saturday, October 8 7:00 p.m. at Las Vegas Locomotives L 10–30 1–2 Sam Boyd Stadium
5 Saturday, October 15 7:00 p.m. Las Vegas Locomotives L 6–13 1–3 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha
6 Friday, October 21 † 7:00 p.m. Sacramento Mountain Lions L 19–25 1–4 TD 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

Week Date Kickoff * Opponent Results Game site
Final score Team record
1 Friday, September 28 10:00 p.m. at Sacramento Mountain Lions W 24–20 1–0 Raley Field
2 Wednesday, October 3 8:00 p.m. at Las Vegas Locomotives L 6–41 1–1 Sam Boyd Stadium
3 Friday, October 12 6:00 p.m. Virginia Destroyers W 38–10 2–1 TD Ameritrade Park
4 Wednesday, October 17 8:00 p.m. Las Vegas Locomotives L 26–38 2-2 TD Ameritrade Park
5 Tuesday, October 23 8:00 p.m. Sacramento Mountain Lions TD Ameritrade Park
6 Wednesday, October 31 8:00 p.m. at Las Vegas Locomotives Sam Boyd Stadium
7 Friday, November 9 8:30 p.m. at Virginia Destroyers Virginia Beach Sportsplex
8 Friday, November 16 6:00 p.m. vs. Virginia Destroyers TD Ameritrade Park
* All times are Central Time.

Season-by-season records

SeasonWLTPct.FinishPost SeasonAwards
2010350.3755th
2011130.2503rdLost Consolation Game (Sacramento Mountain Lions) 25-19 (OT)
2012220.5002ndSeason cancelled
Totals6100.375---

Records vs. teams

This includes postseason games.

Team Record Percent
Las Vegas Locomotives0-4.000
Hartford Colonials2-01.000
Sacramento Mountain Lions3-1.667
Florida Tuskers/Virginia Destroyers1-3.250

Home, away and neutral records

Location Record Percent
Home3-6.333
Away3-6.333
Neutral0-0.000

References

  1. ↑ http://www.omaha.com/article/20120906/SPORTS/709069774
  2. ↑ Jordan, Steve (2010-08-07). "Nighthawks investor returns to his Nebraska roots". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  3. ↑ Robb, Jeffrey (2010-03-31). "New sport for new stadium?". Omaha World Herald. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  4. ↑ Livingston, Thad (2010-04-13). "UFL plans announcement". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  5. ↑ Robb, Jeffrey (2010-04-15). "UFL kicks off in Omaha". Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  6. ↑ "Omaha Welcomes the Nighthawks". United Football League. 2010-05-05. Archived from the original on 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  7. ↑ "Nighthawks announce first ever sellout in UFL history home opener". United Football League. 2010-09-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  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 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  11. ↑ "Former UFL coach gets Coastal Carolina football job". thestate. Retrieved 2 May 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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