1988 New England Steamrollers season
Head coachBabe Parilli
Home fieldProvidence Civic Center
Results
Record3–9
Division place5th
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1988 New England Steamrollers season was the first and only season for the Arena Football League franchise. Concert and fight promoter, Frank J. Russo, and jeweler, Robert Andreoli, purchased a limited partnership from the Arena Football League to own the rights to a Providence, Rhode Island team.[1] The team's first move was the hiring of Head Coach Babe Parilli in March.[2][3] After a 3–9 season, the Steamrollers didn't achieve the dollar amount that Russo and Andreoli thought they would, and the franchise folded.[4]

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Results Game site
Final score Team record
1 April 29 Chicago Bruisers L 35–60 0–1 Providence Civic Center
2 May 7 at Pittsburgh Gladiators L 26–82 0–2 Civic Arena
3 May 13 Detroit Drive L 24–29 0–3 Providence Civic Center
4 May 21 New York Knights W 24–13 1–3 Providence Civic Center
5 May 26 at Los Angeles Cobras L 20–27 1–4 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
6 June 3 Chicago Bruisers L 21–30 1–5 Providence Civic Center
7 June 11 Pittsburgh Gladiators L 39–45 1–6 Providence Civic Center
8 June 18 at New York Knights W 33–28 2–6 Madison Square Garden
9 June 25 Los Angeles Cobras L 34–49 2–7 Providence Civic Center
10 July 1 at Chicago Bruisers L 25–68 2–8 Rosemont Horizon
11 July 11 at Detroit Drive L 10–46 2–9 Joe Louis Arena
12 July 16 at Pittsburgh Gladiators W 44–34 3–9 Civic Arena

[5]

Standings

1988 Arena Football League standings
Team W L T PCT PF PA PF (Avg.) PA (Avg.) STK
xy-Chicago Bruisers 10 1 1 .875 526 374 43.8 31.2 T 1
x-Detroit Drive 9 3 0 .750 472 310 39.3 25.8 W 7
x-Pittsburgh Gladiators 6 6 0 .500 507 491 42.3 40.9 L 1
x-Los Angeles Cobras 5 6 1 .458 463 449 38.6 37.4 T 1
New England Steamrollers 3 9 0 .250 335 511 27.9 42.6 W 1
New York Knights 2 10 0 .167 342 510 28.5 42.5 L 2

y – clinched regular-season title

x – clinched playoff spot

Roster

1988 New England Steamrollers roster
Quarterbacks

Wide receivers/Defensive backs

  • 30 Brian Allen
  • 23 Frank Bianchini
  •  9 Brian Gardner
  • 27 Russell Hairston
  • 46 David Hendley
  • 85 Jim Hockaday
  • -- Jason Oliver
  • 22 Jim Pratt
  • 28 Jim Rafferty
  • 27 Tony Slaton
  • 45 Alvin Williams
 Running backs/Linebackers

Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen

Wide receivers/Linebackers

Kickers

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 12, 2013
29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Awards

Position Player Award All-Arena team
Wide receiver/Defensive back Jim Hockaday none 2nd
Offensive/Defensive lineman Kevin Murphy none 2nd
Offensive/Defensive lineman Sylvester Bembery none 2nd

References

  1. ^ Andy Crossley. "1988 New England Steamrollers". www.funwhileitlasted.net. Fun While it Lasted. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  2. ^ Paul Zimmerman (July 11, 1988). "Off-the-wall Ball". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  3. ^ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. March 2, 1988. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  4. ^ Andy Crossley (April 27, 2012). "Rob Ekno Interview". www.box.com. Box. Retrieved February 12, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "1988 New England Steamrollers season". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

External links


New England Steamrollers
1988 AFL season
Categories