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December 28, 2009

Top 10: TC Wolves savor campaign

Inaugural team earned playoff berth, several awards in its first year

BY JAMES COOK

Editor's Note: As we count down the top 10 sports stories of 2009, read them as they're published at record-eagle.com/top10sports.

TRAVERSE CITY -- A successful inaugural season was good, but not enough for Traverse City Wolves owner Daniel Skibbe.

The Wolves were 7-3 in their first season in the North American Football League, earned a home game in the playoffs and took a slew of awards after the campaign concluded.

"We still have a championship goal, but our first year kind of set the bar pretty high," Skibbe said. "For a first-year organization I thought we did very well, not only attendance-wise, but also on the field."

The Wolves hope to be playing their home games at Thirlby Field next season. An artificial turf is slated to be installed next July, in time for the fall prep season and perhaps in time for all or part of the NAFL slate.

Skibbe said nothing is finalized yet, but the team hopes to have a deal in place with TCAPS soon to play at Thirlby next season.

"The venue would be a distinct advantage for us," Skibbe said. "Thirlby Field is a lot more of a football facility. Nothing against TC Central, but that's more of a track field. The bigger venue gives us a chance at bigger attendance. I don't know that we'll sell the place out, but we're looking optimistically and maybe we can do it."

The franchise reaped a boatload of awards after its inaugural season, including best new NAFL team. Pablo Bacardo was selected the Northern Conference's best kicker after going a perfect 26-for-26 on extra points. Skibbe was tabbed Northern Conference owner/CEO of the year and the team also was picked for best media/PR department.

Ryan Brown led the league in tackles for loss with 30, Tim Ohlert paced the NAFL with three interception returns for touchdowns and Bacardo's 26 PATs were tops among all kickers, in addition to the six players selected to play in the league's All-Star game.

And a good share of the team will be back, as 31 of the team's 52 players from season's end have been invited back. The rest will be filled from tryouts.

"The advantage of having a core group that big coming back is they will be able to teach the new guys the ropes," Skibbe said. "They also know what the league is about."

Skibbe said he thinks there are a decent number of players who didn't come out for the team last year in order to see how the squad performed in its first year.

In addition to owning the team, Skibbe coached the Wolves last year out of necessity, but is looking at the possibility of someone else taking over that role this season.

"We have an opening; we are looking for a head coach," Skibbe said. "As an owner, that was part of the financial obligation that I had to fill. So we have opened it up, and if we find someone, that's great. If not, I'll do it again."

The team will be holding tryouts on Feb. 7 and 21.

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