Shreveport-Bossier Bombers

Shreveport-Bossier Bombers
Founded 2000
Arena Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
Based in Shreveport, Louisiana
Colors Blue and black
League Indoor Professional Football League
Head coach Edward Jenkins

The Shreveport-Bossier Bombers were an indoor football team of the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) in 2000. The Bombers, based out of Shreveport, LA/Bossier City, LA, were one of four IPFL expansion teams for that season. They played their games in the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport. The Bombers owner was Don Rafferty and Matt Ingram was the general manager of the team.

On August 21, 1999, the IPFL announced two new expansion teams in Omaha and Shreveport. November 9, 1999, Shreveport introduces the team name (Bombers) and the logo. And on February 10, 2000, the Bombers named 24-year-old Edward Jenkins as their head coach for their only season in the IPFL. Jenkins resigned as an assistant coach at Colby College, a Division III school in Waterville, Maine, to take over the helm of the Bombers. Later on, Dave Lockwoodand was named as the Bombers defensive coordinator.

Some notable Shreveport-Bossier Bombers were QB's Chris Milwee and Steve Fill, DB's Chris Samson and Anthony Montgomery, linemen Roman Blake, Willie McCray, and Alex "Monster" Mash, WR Carson Thomas and PK's Shane Thomas and Sam Corrigan. Even Head Coach Ed Jenkins, for the last home game of the season, was forced into the QB role after Chris Milwee's finger injury. †

The Bombers experienced the least success of the four expansion teams. The team averaged only 28 points per game and was frequently held to less than 15 points. The team enjoyed only one road victory, a 27-15 win over the Mobile Seagulls. An early six-game losing streak took them out of the playoff race, and their league-worst offense kept them out.

The State Fair of Louisiana filed a lawsuit in Caddo district court on August 31, 2000 regarding the final two years of the Bombers' three-year contract to play in Hirsch Memorial Coliseum. By all indications from Bombers' ownership, the State Fair of Louisiana doesn't expect the Bombers to be back for their second season. ‡

With the construction of a new arena, CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, LA, and its subsequent lease with the af2 Bossier City Battle Wings, the Bombers left the field for good after that season.