Cleveland Thunderbolts

Arena Football League (1992-1994)

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Cleveland Thunderbolts
Logo T-Shirt

Cleveland’s first Arena Football team patrolled the carpets at the Richfield Coliseum during the early 90’s. The ‘Bolts sought to trade in college football nostalgia, starting Heisman Trophy finalist Major Harris at quarterback and hiring former Ohio State boss Earle Bruce to coach the team’s final season in 1994. 

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Background

The Cleveland Thunderbolts were a bottom-dwelling Arena Football League franchise that played for three seasons at the suburban Richfield Coliseum from 1992 to 1994.  The Thunderbolts originated an expansion team in Columbus, Ohio in 1991. After a winless (0-10) campaign playing in small agriculture fairgrounds arena in Columbus, the team was sold to Ohio insurance salesman John Kuczek in late 1991 and he moved the T-Bolts to Cleveland.

The T-Bolts were one of the weakest entries in the Arena League in the mid-1990’s, posting an 8-26 record during their three seasons in Cleveland, including back-to-back 2-10 campaigns in 1993 and 1994.  During their brief run, the team signed two big names from the world of college football. Quarterback Major Harris, a holdover from the 1991 Columbus team, played for the T-Bolts in 1992 and 1994. Harris was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist (1988 & 1989) at West Virginia. He never played in the NFL and his Arena Football career was not ultimately that distinguished.  He was one of the league’s premier rushers as a scrambling QB, but the ground attack was not a major factor in the indoor game.

The other big name, at least locally, was head coach Earle Bruce, formerly of Ohio State University.  Bruce was hired to turn around the team in 1994, but ultimately produced the same 2-10 last place finish as his predecessor Dave Whinham did in 1993.  Bruce resigned shortly after the 1994 season.

Death of Owner John Kuczek

The Thunderbolts were run as a family business. Team owner John Kuczek was an insurance broker from Boardman, Ohio.  His son Jeff was the team’s General Manager.  Early in the T-Bolts short existence in Cleveland, John Kuczek was implicated in a federal securities fraud case in Florida.  Prior to the team’s second season in 1993, the elder Kuczek divested himself of ownership in the club and placed it in a trust for his grandchildren.  Son Jeff continued as the front office leader of the organization. Kuczek was ultimately convicted on one count of the indictment.  The day before he was due to begin serving his sentence in February 1995, he took his own life in a Salem, Ohio hotel room.

The Cleveland Thunderbolts take the field for the 1995 season. Arena Football returned to Cleveland in 2008 with the arrival of the Cleveland Gladiators, a transplanted franchise from Las Vegas.

Cleveland Thunderbolts Shop

Downloads

1992 Cleveland Thunderbolts Season Ticket Brochure

1993 Cleveland Thunderbolts Season Ticket Brochure

5-28-1994 Thunderbolts @ Arizona Rattlers Roster

Links

Arena Football League Media Guides

Arena Football League Programs

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