March 18, 2024

Howl of the Wolves

July 12, 2009
Howl of the
Wolves
Minor league football tackles TC
By Rick Coates 7/13/09

Ryan Brown walked off the football field six years ago realizing that he had played the last downs of his favorite sport. He considered himself one of the lucky ones; the Traverse City High School and Traverse City West standout was able to play four years of college football at Northwood.
“Football is the one sport you don’t get to play after high school for the most part. Every other sport has adult leagues; sure a few get to play college football and even fewer get to play professional,” said Ryan Brown. “At least with these other sports you get a chance to feed the hunger by playing them after you’re finished with school. Every year in the fall I start getting that hunger again and really miss suiting up and playing.”
For Brown and others, that “hunger” is now being fed with the formation of the TC Wolves, a new-semi professional football team in Traverse City. The team is part of the North America Football League (NAFL) and will kick off their 10-game schedule this weekend at Ypsilanti Yellow Jackets, the team’s home opener will be Saturday night July 25 at Traverse City Central against the Chicago Wolverines.

WHY NORTHERN MICHIGAN?
The TC Wolves is the brainchild of Daniel Skibbe, team owner and head coach. Skibbe, like Brown, played college ball and after his playing days couldn’t get football out of his system. An assistant coach at Elk Rapids, he eventually became an offensive coordinator in the NAFL and felt that an expansion team in Traverse City would work.
So what made Skibbe think football in the summertime in Northern Michigan would be able to work?
“One word: Football. Northern Michigan is a football town, a smaller version of Virginia or Texas when it comes down to its high school football,” said Skibbe. “Go to a football game anywhere up here and the whole town is out there watching. So that was the basis of my business plan.”
Skibbe is pleased with the response so far. The team’s opening game is almost sold out.
“Anytime you are doing something new there is skepticism, and we have had our fair share of it,” said Skibbe. “But for the most part the area has been very supportive. I understand those who want to stand on the sidelines and see how this first year goes and then get involved. We are confident that we will be putting forward a first class product and a team and an organization that Northern Michigan will be proud of.”
Ryan Brown was skeptical at first as well.
“After the first tryout I was worried about the quality of football we were going to be able to put out,” said Brown, who is the defensive co-captain. “That has since changed as they have filled in this team with some very skilled players. I am very confident that we are going to surprise people our first year.”
Skibbe agrees.
“Typically, expansion teams have trouble because good players want to take a wait-see approach,” said Skibbe. “But by the second tryouts we had some of the best players in the area coming out.”

SECOND CHANCE
Players range in the ages of 18 to 43, with most of the team under the age of 25. As for playing experience, about half the team played some college football. That range includes a player who was in the Arena Football League, Pete Boyles, a local attorney who at the age of 43 never played high school football, but always wanted to play and now has been given a chance.
“What people are going to see is a level of play above high school and similar to small college football,” said Skibbe. “This is not some charity league. We have players that go from this league to major college programs. We have 350 plays in our playbook, with a quarterback (Will Moran of Onaway) that has a rocket for an arm. We have some big lineman.”
The NAFL started 11 years ago and was originally a semi-pro league, but they dropped that status as players are not paid and the league puts on a combine for college scouts.
“It is a well-run league, it grew to 100 teams but they have scaled it back to 60 teams. We play 10 games through the middle of September and then the top teams go into the playoffs,” said Skibbe. “We play by NFL rules. All these players around the country have day jobs, practice two nights a week and play games on Saturday nights. We have been training year-round and we are ready.”
So was Ryan Brown excited to put the pads on again after a six-year hiatus?
“To be honest my first thoughts were what if I separate my shoulder or get hurt and I can’t work?” said Brown. “But as the drills started and we started popping pads it all came back to me. It is a great feeling to have this opportunity again. I am very fortunate to be a part of the TC Wolves as this is a first class operation.”

INJURY FACTOR
Skibbe says the injury factor is a big one that keeps many from stepping onto the field.
“We are one of the few teams that have taken out an insurance policy on the players so if they get hurt and can’t work we are able to help them,” said Skibbe. “Sure, the players are not getting paid but this is a business and we are trying to set a standard with our team.”
For Skibbe he saw the business opportunity with the TC Wolves as a good one.
“The first person I had to convince was my wife and I am fortunate that she listened to my plan and supports my passion,” said Skibbe. “We have assembled a great team behind the scenes to make things happen from a business perspective to creating that perfect game day experience for the fans.”
As with minor league baseball the “game day” experience is an important one for the fans.
“Quality of play is important, having a good product on the field is a must but so are the other factors such as halftime entertainment. We have a dance team and we are working on some other surprises,” said Skibbe. “This will be a real family environment. For our first season we are playing at the football field at Traverse City Central High School. We are working actively with the Fourth and Goal Program to help them raise money for Thirlby Field for the new turf so that next year we might be able to have our home games there.”
As for the quality of play both Brown and Skibbe believe fans will be pleasantly surprised with what they are going to see:
“This is not going to be ‘three yards and a cloud of dust,’ style of football,” said Skibbe. “We have a very complex offense that is going to keep things interesting on the field.”
Ryan Brown agrees.
“The best way to describe the TC Wolves is we are going to be a team of big hits and big plays,” said Brown. “What the coaches have done is taken a group of players who come from various experiences and raised our level of play. They have coached us to raise our game to the next level. For me personally after four years of college ball it is great to learn new techniques and raise my level of play.”

The TC Wolves will travel this weekend to Ypsilanti for their debut game. On Saturday July 25 they will have their home opener versus the Chicago Wolverines. Only a few tickets remain for their inaugural game. To purchase tickets, learn more about the team and read player bios check out tcwolves.com.

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