Houston Outlaws
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inHouston, Texas
StadiumPasadena Memorial Stadium
Head coachRay Woodard

The Houston Outlaws were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League. They played their home games at Pasadena Memorial Stadium in Pasadena, Texas, a suburb of Houston.[1][2]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[3] Although Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ernie Stautner was named head coach in February 1999,[4] there is no record of him acting in that capacity. For the team's lone season, former NFL defensive tackle Ray Woodard served as head coach.[5][1] Josh LaRocca, who had played college football for the Rice Owls, was the starting quarterback.[6]

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season, poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. In the shortened regular season, the Outlaws had a 6–2 record. In the postseason, the Outlaws were seeded second in the four-team playoff bracket. They defeated the Mississippi Pride in a home game, 27–3, to advance to the championship game against the top-seeded Mobile Admirals. In RFL Bowl I, played at the Admirals' home field, Ladd–Peebles Stadium, the Outlaws were edged by the Admirals, 14–12.[7] It was the third time the Admirals defeated the Outlaws, who did not lose to any other team. After the season, the team and league ceased operation.

1999 season schedule

Date Opponent Site W/L Score Attnd. Ref.
April 18 Ohio Cannon Away W 18–17 [8]
April 24 Mississippi Pride Away W 28–5 3,000 [9]
May 1 Mobile Admirals Away† L 7–10 10,432 [10]
May 8 Shreveport Knights Away W 17–14 2,000 [11][12]
May 15 Ohio Cannon Home W 27–3 [13]
May 22 New Orleans Thunder Home W 31–12 1,500 [6]
May 30 Shreveport Knights Home W 17–7 [14]
June 5 Mobile Admirals Away L 3–14 [15]
Playoffs
June 12 Mississippi Pride Home W 27–3 [16]
June 20 Mobile Admirals Away L 12–14 5,571 [7]

† May 1 game played in Mobile due to schedule conflict with Houston's stadium[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Richards, Joey D. (May 27, 1999). "Santa Fe's Wylie finds a football home with the Outlaws". The Daily News. Galveston, Texas. p. 17. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Professional Football in Texas" (PDF). texasalmanac.com. Texas State Historical Association. p. 5. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Google Sites.
  4. ^ "Transactions: Football". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pennsylvania. February 20, 1999. p. 20. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Goolsby, Henry (April 25, 1999). "Pride: Scores safety, field goal". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 36. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Richards, Joey D. (May 27, 1999). "Santa Fe's Wylie finds a football home with the Outlaws". The Daily News. Galveston, Texas. p. 22. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Roller coaster ride ends with championship for Admirals". Pensacola News Journal. June 21, 1999. p. 5D. Retrieved January 23, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ McCloskey, John (April 23, 1999). "RFL moving headquarters to Mobile, Ala". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 27. Retrieved January 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Goolsby, Henry (April 25, 1999). "Outlaws victimize error-prone Pride 28-5". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 35. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Vilona, Bill (May 2, 1999). "Late field goal lifts Admirals to 10-7 win". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 45. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ McCloskey, John (May 9, 1999). "Shreveport falls to Houston on late field goal". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 43. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ McCloskey, John (May 9, 1999). "Knights Report". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 45. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Weekly Results". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Knights fall to Houston". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. June 1, 1999. p. 13. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Interception return lifts Admirals past Outlaws". Pensacola News Journal. June 6, 1999. p. 7D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Goolsby, Henry (June 15, 1999). "Curry: Pay woes contributed to Pride's losses". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 23. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Game moved". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 25, 1999. p. 50. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.

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