August 2, 2004: After a week of consideration, the name "Rhinos" is chosen for the expansion fantasy football team. The name is chosen to convey the image of the massively powerful and territorial horn-nosed beasts who possess brute strength, deceptional speed and fierce determination - a perfect image for a football team. Other names that had also been considered included Knights, Comets, Vultures, and Warriors.

 

August 4, 2004: The charging Rhino logo is created and adopted by team owner Chris Drew. Official team colors are gray, black, white and silver.

 

August 25, 2004: RB Edgerrin James is selected by the Rhinos as the 8th pick overall in the first round of the Brew Crew draft, making him the first Rhino player in team history.

 

September 14, 2004: The Rhinos play their first game ever and crush Dwayne Mack and his Mack Attack 70-36 before a sold-out crowd in Ruckusville.

 

October 25, 2004: The Rhinos announce plans to jump from the Brew Crew at the conclusion of the 2004 season to form a new league for the 2005 season.

 

November 2, 2004: The Rhinos hit the century mark for the first time ever, beating Mike Strunk and the Who Deys 103-72 in Ruckusville.

 

November 30, 2004: The Rhinos stomp Dwayne Mack and the Mack Attack, 108-59.

 

December 14, 2004: The Rhinos squeak into the postseason playoffs with a 7-7 regular season record as the #6 wildcard seed.

 

December 21, 2004: The Rhinos defeat the Brew Crew's White Divison champs, John Storer and the Revenge of the Nerds, 54-37. The Rhinos advance to playoff round two.

 

December 28, 2004: The Rhinos defeat the Brew Crew's Red Division champs, Chris Loechtenfeldt and the Panthers, 74-45. The Rhinos advance to the Fantasy Bowl.

 

January 4, 2005: To conclude their amazing inaugural season, the Rhinos defeat the Brew Crew's Blue Division champs, John Arrasmith and the Madhouse Maulers, 67-46 to capture their first Fantasy Bowl trophy. Rhinos QB Jake Plummer leads the team in the dramatic second half comeback victory and earns the Fantasy Bowl MVP award. Rhinos RB and first-round pick Edgerrin James finishes with 190 points scored for the season and claims the team's 2004 MVP award. The Rhinos also become the only Brew Crew team to play all 17 weeks of the 2004 season.

 

January 5, 2005: The Rhinos are welcomed back to a cold and cloudy Ruckusville with a huge victory parade. The parade route starts at the Ruckusville airport and ends with a rally at the Rhinos Stadium plaza where each of the conquering heroes speak and thank their fans. The Fantasy Bowl trophy is hoisted by the team to the delight of the cheering mob, and it's later placed on public display at the stadium for the remainder of the offseason.The 2004 Ruckusville Rhinos season is officially ended at the rally's conclusion, and the entire team is released to free agency.

 

January 7, 2005: The Ruckusville Rhinos franchise officially terminates relations with the Brew Crew.

 

March 13, 2005: A new Rhinos logo is proposed. The logo will feature the head profile of a charging rhino.

 

June 8, 2005: The new Rhinos logo is finalized and adopted for the upcoming 2005 season.

 

July 6, 2005: The All-American Fantasy Football League (AAFFL) is born. The Rhinos become the league's first franchise.

 

August 31, 2005: QB Peyton Manning is selected by the Rhinos as the 3rd pick overall in the first round of the AAFFL draft.

 

September 13, 2005: The Rhinos come from behind to win on a late TD catch from RB Brian Westbrook. The Rhinos defeat Andrew Braisted and his Pittsburgh Pirates in the first week of the new AAFFL, 50-44.

 

September 20, 2005: The Rhinos unveil their 2004 Campionship banner prior to the start of their first home game of the season, but the proud occasion is spoiled by a defeat to Chris Eckes and the Cincinnati Roseholes 52-71.