Barnstormers History
In February 1992, Jim Foster, Founder of the Arena Football League, met with a small group of local investors with the idea of bringing an expansion franchise to Des Moines, Iowa. In April of 1993, the Arena Football League played its first game in Iowa; a preseason match-up between the Arizona Rattlers and Cleveland Thunderbolts. The teams played in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,082. Following the success of that game, the AFL brought their All-Star Game to Des Moines that August and in April of 1994, Des Moines was awarded an expansion franchise for the 1995 season; the rest is history.
On February 6, 1995 the Iowa Barnstormers introduced John Gregory as their first ever head coach. The Barnstormers kicked off their inaugural season on the road May 12th against the Milwaukee Mustangs and returned home a week later on May 20th to take on the Miami Hooters. By the end of June the Barnstormers had sold out four straight games. Their good fortune continued through the summer as the team qualified for playoffs, scoring their first playoff win in August of 1995.
It only took until their second season for the Barnstormers to make it to their first league championship, ArenaBowl X in 1996. Unfortunately, the Barnstormers were unable to pull out a victory. However, a sold-out crowd in Veterans Memorial Auditorium along with a record TV audience tuned in to ESPN to see the boys play in “The Barn.” They made a repeat appearance to the ArenaBowl in 1997, but once again fell short of a victory.
In 1998 the Barnstormers saw one of their stars, and former Iowa native Kurt Warner, shine even brighter when the quarterback signed a contract to play for the NFL’s St. Louis Rams. Warner would later help the Rams win a SuperBowl title the following 1999 season, brought them back to the SuperBowl once again in 2001 and 10 years later brought the Arizona Cardinals to their first SuperBowl game in franchise history. However, the Barnstormers would not go for long without a great quarterback as newcomer Aaron Garcia grabbed the starting role after Warner’s exit. Garcia went on to break many of Warner’s records and spent four years with the Iowa franchise.
Under the leadership of Garcia, the Barnstormers returned to the playoffs in 1999 (improving from 5-9 in 1998 to 11-3 in 1999). The 2000 season sent them to the playoffs once again and was highlighted by the return of Kurt Warner to Iowa to see his #13 jersey become a retired number in the Barnstormers organization.
The 2000 season also saw the sale of the franchise to the NHL’s New York Islanders ownership group, led by Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar. They believed that the team needed a more modern venue and they were searching to place the team in a larger market. That fall, the AFL approved to move the team from Des Moines to Long Island, New York and renamed the team, the New York Dragons. However, this did not remove the team completely, because the Barnstormers were awarded an af2 franchise carrying the same name. The franchise played one season in af2 before ceasing operations.
The result was that Des Moines was left without their beloved Barnstormers for seven years, but they returned in the 2008 season back in the af2 and the fan support came back as though the team had never left. The Barnstormers may have ended their return season with a record of 6-10, but were second in the league in attendance averaging over 9,000 fans per game. The 2009 season proved that the Barnstormers could only continue to grow, they improved their record to 13-5 they made it to the second round of playoffs and pushed their attendance up to over 9,500 per game.
The 2010 Iowa Barnstormers took the next step forward as they became apart of the top tier of arena football once again. The 2010 and 2011 seasons provided the Barnstormers with some growing pains, as the franchise finished with 7-9 and 5-13 records. Following the 2011 season, the Barnstormers reached out to Mike Hohensee to become their next Head Coach. Hohensee brings with him a proven track record, including an ArenaBowl victory as Head Coach of the Chicago Rush in 2006. Looking ahead to 2012, things couldn't be brighter for the Iowa Barnstormers.
Fun Facts
Barnstormers Firsts:
-The Barnstormers played their first regular season game in the AFL on May 12, 1995 on the road against the Milwaukee Mustangs. The Barnstormers won the game 69-61 after both teams scored a combined 24 points in the final 40 seconds of the game.
-The Barnstormers made it to the playoffs in their first year as an AFL team. The game was held on August 13, 1995 on the road in Arizona. The Barnstormers won that game 56-52.
- August 26, 1996 saw the Barnstormers first ArenaBowl appearance held in “the Barn,” against Tampa Bay; unfortunately, the Barnstormers lost 38-42.
-March 29, 2008 saw the official return of the Barnstormers team from a seven year hiatius. They lost on the road to the Louisville Fire 38-58
- The Barnstormers played they first game in Wells Fargo Arena on April 14, 2008 against the Lexington Horsemen, but were unable to pull out a victory and lost 64-61.
-July 31, 2009 was the first playoff appearance for the Barnstormers in the af2 League. They defeated the Manchester Wolves 74-50, but were defeated by the Green Bay Blizzard in the second round of playoffs.
-April 2, 2010 was the first game for the Barnstormers in their return to the top level of arena football and was also their largest crowd with 12,184 fans in attendance.
Attendance:
The Barnstormers have been consistent in their attendance numbers ranking high in overall league attendance. During the years when the Barnstomers were in the AFL they averaged over 10,000 fans per game, peaking in 1996 with an average of 11,266 per game. The Barnstormers had multiple sell out games when they played in Vets reaching 11,411 fans per game.
When the team dropped down to af2 in 2001 so did the attendance averaging 4,916 fans per game, but when they returned to af2 in 2008 the attendance jumped to over 9,000 per game. The 2009 season saw the attendance continue to increase to over 9,500 fans per game. The largest crowd for the Barnstormers since their return was 12,184 on April 2, 2010. So far the Iowa Barnstormers have had well over half a million people attend come out and support the team in the ten seasons the team has been active.
Uniform:
The Barnstormers have had distinctive uniforms true to the aviation theme. The original uniforms included wings on the jerseys across the shoulders and a propeller on the sides of the pants. Since the Barnstormers return the uniforms have been modernized and those iconic pieces removed. One component of the uniform that the team held on to was the very unique helmets. The gold helmets with the aviator goggles have not changed since the original team and continue to be one of the most recognized helmets. In 2008 The Shutdown Corner ranked the helmet 8th as one of the coolest helmets of all time. The NFL Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, and Indianapolis Colts were also on the list in the Top 10.
Pilot Wheel and Prop Trophy
When the Barnstormers faced off against the rival Quad City Steamwheelers the two teams have made a trophy they pass back and forth to the winning team each time they are matched up. The trophy is know as the Pilot Wheel and Prop since it features a steamboat wheel and plane propeller. The series is tied at four a piece between the Steamwheelers and the Barnstormers with the Barnstormers being the last ones to win the trophy back. The trophy permanently resides in Des Moines as the last recipient as the Quad City Steamwheelers seized operations after the 2009 season. The Barnstormers hope to develop a similar rivalry with new division rivals in Kansas City and Chicago.
All time Results
April 12, 2001- Steamwheelers 45, Barnstormers 7
June 16, 2001- Steamwheelers 78, Barnstormers 35
April 19, 2008- Barnstormers 53, Steamwheelers 38
May 31, 2008- Steamwheelers 67, Barnstormers 64
July 12, 2008- Barnstormers 76, Steamwheelers 53
April 25, 2009- Steamwheelers 33, Barnstormers 29
June 6, 2009- Barnstormers 69, Steamwheelers 49
July 18, 2009- Barnstormers 57, Steamwheelers 49
Barnstormers Support Crew
Besides having the best fans in arena football to cheer on and support the team, the Barnstormers have a great support crew. Billy the Barnstormers is a very loyal component of the team since the beginning. He is seen at Barnstormer games enjoying the games in the crowd and flying Barnforce One across the field. Billy’s loyal companion Ace has recently become the teams second mascot and the friendly dog is a favorite among the kids.
In 2009 the Barnstormers launched the Lil’ Stormers Kids Club available to any child between the ages of 2-14. Kids got some great little perks to being apart of the Kids Club and become an honorary part of the team.
It wouldn’t be a football game without pretty girls down on the sidelines cheering on the team. The Barnstormers started out by having two cheering squads, one group, Flightline, focused on cheering for the team and leading the crowd on the sidelines, the Skyline danced and performed on the field during breaks from the game. Today there is only on group of girls down on the sidelines, the Storm Chasers. The Storm Chasers perform at the beginning of the game and during halftimes on the field and can be seen dancing on the sidelines as well during the game. The Storm Chasers were fortunate enough to have one of their members chosen to perform at the 2009 ArenaCup held in Las Vegas.
Blackout
Since the return of the Barnstormers in 2008 the team has been encouraging a new tradition to hold a Blackout game each season. Fans are encouraged to wear as much black as possible and come out in full force for these games to make Wells Fargo Arena turn into the declared “Hells” Fargo Arena. So far the Blackout has been done three times: July 12, 2008, July 25, 2009 and to kick off the Barnstormers first return to the playoffs since 2000 on July 31, 2009. So far each blackout game has had large crowd come out and help the Barnstormers to a victory.
Year-by-Year Results
Year League W L Playoffs
1995 AFL 7 5 1-1
1996 AFL 12 2 2-1 Lost in ArenaBowl X
1997 AFL 11 3 2-1 Lost in ArenaBowl XI
1998 AFL 5 9 ---
1999 AFL 11 3 1-1
2000 AFL 9 5 0-1
2001 af2 9 7 ---
2008 af2 6 10 ---
2009 af2 12 4 1-1
2010 AFL 7 9 ---
2011 AFL 5 13 ---
Overall Record: 101-72
Barnstormers All-Time Season Records
Name Year Total Name Year Total
Rushes Ryan Vena 2010 79 Receptions Jesse Schmidt 2011 178
Brad Banks 2011 70 Jesse Schmidt 2010 116
Aaron Garcia 2000 53 Errick McCown 2009 107
Rushing Yds Ryan Vena 2010 275 Receiving Yds. Jesse Schmidt 2011 2171
Brad Banks 2011 251 Mike Horacek 2000 1880
Willis Jaycox 1995 217 Jesse Schmidt 2010 1621
Rushing TDs Ryan Vena 2010 22 Recieving TDs Jesse Schmidt 2011 55
Brian Villanueva 2009 16 Mike Horacek 2000 46
Aaron Garcia 1999 15 Kevin Swayne 1999 32
Completion % Kurt Warner 1997 64.7 Pass Attps. Brad Banks 2011 515
Ryan Vena 2010 63.7 Ryan Vena 2010 499
Anthony Buich 2001 63.3 Kurt Warner 1997 498
Pass Ints. Ryan Vena 2010 22 Pass Comp. Kurt Warner 1997 322
Joe Brannen 2008 21 Brad Banks 2011 321
Brian Villanueva 2009 16 Ryan Vena 2010 318
Passing TDs Aaron Garcia 2000 92 Interceptions Cameron McGlenn 2011 9
Brad Banks 2011 82 Carlos James 2000 9
Kurt Warner 1997 79 Kevin Kaesuiharn 2000 9
Passing Yds. Kurt Warner 1997 4149
Aaron Garcia 2000 4026
Brad Banks 2011 3973 Int. Ret Yds. Cameron McGlenn 2011 109
Carlos James 2000 96
Kick Ret. Willis Jacox 1995 67 Tanner Varner 2010 96
Tim Dodge 2009 63
Leonard Conley 1999 59 Kick Ret TDs Willis Jacox 1996 3
Larry Kendrick 2010 59 Lamart Cooper 1997 3
Leonard Conley 1999 3
Kick Ret Yds. Tim Dodge 2009 1491
Willis Jacox 1995 1174
Willis Jacox 1996 1149 Fumble Rec Carlos James 1998 4
Leonard Conley 1998 4
FG Made Jeff Glas 2009 21 Cameron McGlenn 2011 4
Mike Black 1996 17
Mike Black 1995 16 Sacks Terrance Feeney 2008 9.5
Clay Rush 2000 16 Brent Curvey 2009 9.5
Charles Johnson 2009 8
FG Attempts Jeff Glas 2008 45
Mike Black 1996 39 Tackles Tanner Varner 2010 146
Jeff Glas 2009 39 Tanner Varner 2009 119.5
Kevin Kaesviharn 2000 91.5
FG % Clay Rush 1999 88.9
David Purnell 2001 66.7
Clay Rush 2000 57.1
Barnstormers All-Time Single Game Records
Rushes Brad Banks May 27, 2011 12
Rushing Yards John Motton May 17, 1997 51
Rushing TDs Ryan Vena May 8, 2010 4
Pass Attempts Aaron Garcia June 12, 1998 48
Pass Competions Brad Banks April 1, 2011 33
Passing Yards Brad Banks April 30, 2011 397
Passing TDs Brad Banks April 1, 2011 10
Receptions Mike Horacek July 15, 2000 15
Receiving Yards Mike Horacek July 15, 2000 285
Receiving TDs Jesse Schmidt April 15, 2011 7
Field Goals Clay Rush July 2, 1999 4
Tackles Tanner Varner June 5, 2010 16.5
Sacks Chance Talbert March 19, 2011 3
Interceptions Carlos James June 2, 2000 3
