Saginaw Sting
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| Founded | 2008 |
|---|---|
| League |
CIFL (2008) IFL 2009 UIFL (2011) CIFL (2012–2014) AIF (2015) |
| Conference | Atlantic (2008) United (2009) |
| Division | West (2008) Atlantic (2009) North (2014) |
| Team history | Saginaw Sting (2008–2009, 2011–2016) |
| Based in | Saginaw, Michigan |
| Arena | Dow Event Center |
| Colors | Green, Orange |
| Owner(s) |
Stuart Schweigert, Rob Licht & Tom O'Brien |
| Head coach | Stuart Schweigert |
| General manager | Rob Licht |
| Championships | 3: (CIFL:2008, 2012 UIFL:2011) |
| Conference titles | 1: (CIFL Atlantic: 2008) |
| Division titles | 1: (CIFL North: 2014) |
| Playoff berths | 6: (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) |
| Dancers | Stingers |
| Mascot | Stanley Stinger |
| Broadcasters | Donald Mathews John Wunderle |
| Local media | MRSN SportsRadio |
The Saginaw Sting was a professional Indoor Football team based in Saginaw, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of American Indoor Football (AIF). They began play in 2008 as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League and then moved to the Indoor Football League for the 2009 season. They suspended operations for the 2010 season before becoming an inaugural member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The following season they were suspended by the UIFL and re-joined the CIFL under new ownership. The team has since moved to the AIF. The owners of the Sting were Stuart Schweigert, Rob Licht and Jim O'Brien. The Sting played their home games at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan.
They are one of only a few teams to ever win a championship in multiple leagues (CIFL in 2008, the UIFL in 2011 and the CIFL again in 2012).
The team began play in 2008 as an expansion team in the CIFL. The original team owners were Mike Johnson, Mike Trumbull, and Esteban Rivera, who also owned the Kalamazoo Xplosion. The team was led by former Michigan State quarterback Damon Dowdell, who led the league in passing yards (2,190), touchdowns (54) and completion percentage (62%). Nick Body was Dowdell's favorite target, leading the league in receptions (78), yards (1,005) and touchdowns (31). Despite their offensive numbers, neither player won Offensive Player of the Year or the CIFL MVP. The duo led the Sting to a 10–2 regular season and a playoff berth. On June 29, 2008, the Sting defeated the Xplosion 41–37 to win the CIFL Championship Game.
A number of Sting and Xplosion players indicated at the end of the 2008 season that wages were in arrears from the owners. This led to an investigation of Johnson in his role as Sting General Manager. Trumbull, owner of Triple Threat Sports in Battle Creek, and Rivera, a Battle Creek police officer, have offered a deal to split ownership of the two teams, with Trumbell and Rivera owning the Sting, and Johnson receiving the Xplosion. Trumbull and Rivera have indicated that they plan for the Sting to move to the new Indoor Football League. The Sting looked to have put together a promising team with the re-signing of QB Damon Dowdell, and signing 2007 CIFL MVP, WR/RB Robert Height, but the team fared poorly on the field in the IFL.
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