Stockton Lightning
Encyclopedia
The Stockton Lightning were a professional arena football
team. They were members of the Western Division of the National Conferenece of the arenafootball2
(af2).
The Lightning joined af2 2006 as an expansion team
. They played their home games at Stockton Arena
in Stockton, California
and were coached by Chad Carlson.
The Stockton Lightning were owned by Michael Reinsdorf.
The first-year team featured players that were local to the area, they included; James Newson, Josh Wallwork, Kenyatte Morgan, Joey Patino and Lyndell Hawkins. Morgan was the player who recorded the first touchdown in franchise history, a seven-yard pass from Quarterback
Josh Blankenship and then a fenomenal 73 yard run by Runningback Joey Patino, in a 41-40 loss to the eventul ArenaCup
winners, the Spokane Shock
. However, two weeks later, the Lightning recorded the first win in franchise history, when they beat the Quad City Steamwheelers
60-46.
The Lightning finished 5-11 in their first season, falling just short of playoffs. After the season they hired new head coach Doug Murray
, who was introduced to the media at a September 2006 press conference by his friend and rival head coach Fred Biletnikoff, Jr. who wore a Lightning hat.
The season started the way 2006 had, with a loss on the road in Spokane. But, things turned around mid-season as they began to win games, a total of six. However, the season ended with losses in the last four games, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
The Lightning didn't improve in as they had hoped and finished 5-11. Once again, missing the playoffs.
In the season, the Lightning did not improve much and finishied 6-10, but with this record the team finish in 3rd on NC West and made the playoffs for the first time in team history. On the playoffs, the team lost on NC Round 1 for (Spokane
).
On January 22, 2010 The Stockton Lightning suspended day-to-day operations for the 2010 season.
The Lightning will continue to research playing opportunities after the folding of the arenafootball2 league (af2) at the conclusion of the 2009 playing season. The largest indoor football league in the country, the Arena Football League (AFL), ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2008 season and recently the AFL and af2 have formed a new league for the 2010 season, Arena Football One.
Dan Chapman, president of the Stockton Lightning, released the following statement:
"It is with a great deal of disappointment that the Stockton Lightning have decided to suspend operations for the upcoming 2010 football season. With the transition of the AFL and af2 developing into the new "Arena Football One" league, the proposed "lower tier" that was initially outlined did not become a reality. Furthermore, we have determined that the business model for the "upper tier", which caters to larger markets, is not financially sustainable for our organization at this time. For these reasons, we feel as though we have no other viable options to play arena football this season"
|2006 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th NC West || --
|-
|2007 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 5th AC West || --
|-
|2008 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th NC West || --
|-
|2009 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 3rd NC West || Lost NC Round 1 (Spokane
62-21)
|-
!Totals || 22 || 43 || 0
|colspan="2"|
* = Current Standing
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team. They were members of the Western Division of the National Conferenece of the arenafootball2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
(af2).
The Lightning joined af2 2006 as an expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
. They played their home games at Stockton Arena
Stockton Arena
Stockton Arena is an indoor arena in Stockton, California. It opened in December 2005 and seats approximately 10,000 fans. The arena, at maximum capacity, can seat 11,800 people.It is primarily used for ice hockey, indoor soccer and arena football....
in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
and were coached by Chad Carlson.
The Stockton Lightning were owned by Michael Reinsdorf.
History
The Lightning were formed 2005 and joined af2 in 2006, led by President Dan Chapman and Operator Michael Reinsdorf. The team name was announced at a November 2005 press conference at Valley Brew Restaurant, after a "Name The Team" contest and revealing of the team's black, red, gray and white colors. Richard Davis was also announced as the first head coach in franchise history.The first-year team featured players that were local to the area, they included; James Newson, Josh Wallwork, Kenyatte Morgan, Joey Patino and Lyndell Hawkins. Morgan was the player who recorded the first touchdown in franchise history, a seven-yard pass from Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Josh Blankenship and then a fenomenal 73 yard run by Runningback Joey Patino, in a 41-40 loss to the eventul ArenaCup
ArenaCup
The ArenaCup is the af2's championship game. For the league's first five years, it was held at the arena of the higher seeded team. However, the 2005 ArenaCup was the first to be played at a neutral site in Bossier City, Louisiana. The 2006 ArenaCup was played in Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San...
winners, the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
. However, two weeks later, the Lightning recorded the first win in franchise history, when they beat the Quad City Steamwheelers
Quad City Steamwheelers
The Quad City Steamwheelers were a professional arena football team. They were a charter member of the af2. They play their home games at i wireless Center in Moline, Illinois....
60-46.
The Lightning finished 5-11 in their first season, falling just short of playoffs. After the season they hired new head coach Doug Murray
Doug Murray
Douglas Murray is a Swedish ice hockey player, currently playing defence for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL. He was drafted in the 8th round, 241st overall by the Sharks in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
, who was introduced to the media at a September 2006 press conference by his friend and rival head coach Fred Biletnikoff, Jr. who wore a Lightning hat.
The season started the way 2006 had, with a loss on the road in Spokane. But, things turned around mid-season as they began to win games, a total of six. However, the season ended with losses in the last four games, missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
The Lightning didn't improve in as they had hoped and finished 5-11. Once again, missing the playoffs.
In the season, the Lightning did not improve much and finishied 6-10, but with this record the team finish in 3rd on NC West and made the playoffs for the first time in team history. On the playoffs, the team lost on NC Round 1 for (Spokane
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
).
On January 22, 2010 The Stockton Lightning suspended day-to-day operations for the 2010 season.
The Lightning will continue to research playing opportunities after the folding of the arenafootball2 league (af2) at the conclusion of the 2009 playing season. The largest indoor football league in the country, the Arena Football League (AFL), ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2008 season and recently the AFL and af2 have formed a new league for the 2010 season, Arena Football One.
Dan Chapman, president of the Stockton Lightning, released the following statement:
"It is with a great deal of disappointment that the Stockton Lightning have decided to suspend operations for the upcoming 2010 football season. With the transition of the AFL and af2 developing into the new "Arena Football One" league, the proposed "lower tier" that was initially outlined did not become a reality. Furthermore, we have determined that the business model for the "upper tier", which caters to larger markets, is not financially sustainable for our organization at this time. For these reasons, we feel as though we have no other viable options to play arena football this season"
Season-by-season records
|-|2006 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th NC West || --
|-
|2007 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 5th AC West || --
|-
|2008 || 5 || 11 || 0 || 4th NC West || --
|-
|2009 || 6 || 10 || 0 || 3rd NC West || Lost NC Round 1 (Spokane
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
62-21)
|-
!Totals || 22 || 43 || 0
|colspan="2"|
Players of note
- Manuel WrightManuel WrightManuel "Manny" Wright is an Arena football Offensive lineman / Defensive lineman for the Stockton Lightning of af2. He was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2005 supplemental draft. He played college football at USC.Wright has also briefly been signed to the...
- DL - Clarence CunninghamClarence CunninghamClarence Cunningham , , is an American football player, currently playing free safety for the Italian Football League's Catania Elephants., and most notably playing for the Af2 Stockton Lightning, from the 2006 to 2009 af2 season where he was a Cutter's Catch of the Week Recipient, as well as an...
- WR, Cutter's Catch of the Week Recipient, All-Iron Man selection