San Antonio Riders

Last updated
San Antonio Riders
SARiders.png
Founded1991
Closed1992
Based in San Antonio, Texas, U.S. (1991)
San Marcos, Texas, U.S. (1992)
Home field Alamo Stadium (1991)
Bobcat Stadium (1992)
Head coach Mike Riley
League World League of American Football (NFL Europe)
ColorsBrown, Metallic Gold, Burnt Orange, White, Scarlet, Blue, Vegas Gold [1]
       
Franchise recordRegular Season: 11–9

The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles (72 km) northeast of San Antonio, for the 1992 season after the San Antonio Independent School District refused to allow the sale of beer at WLAF games or the display of beer advertising at Alamo Stadium. In return, Riders ownership scrapped plans to fund $235,000 in renovations to the Stadium. In June 1991, SAISD officials announced plans for a rent increase on the Riders for the 1992 season. The relationship would last for only one season.

Contents

The team was owned by Larry Benson, the brother of Tom Benson (owner of the New Orleans Saints of the NFL). The general managers were Tom Landry (Pro Football Hall of Fame coach) and Tom Landry, Jr. The head coach for both seasons was Mike Riley.

The team's record in 1991 was 4-6. San Antonio turned things around in 1992 with a mark of 7-3. The Riders were not able to compete in the highly competitive North American West Division during the 1992 season, and like the Frankfurt Galaxy of 1991, they did not make the playoffs despite a 7-3 record.

Former players include professional wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield, better known as JBL of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Jason Garrett who went on to play for and later serve as head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, and head coach Mike Riley, who went on to coach the San Diego Chargers of the NFL, as well as Oregon State and Nebraska at the collegiate level.

After the 1992 season saw the suspension of the WLAF (and ultimately the abandonment of North American teams), Benson applied to the Canadian Football League to have the Riders join that league instead for the 1993 season. The CFL accepted, and admitted the Riders and the Sacramento Surge/Gold Miners to the CFL. The Riders were to change names to the San Antonio Texans (there was already a Rough Riders and a Roughriders, both of whom were known as the "Riders" for short), but the team folded abruptly prior to the 1993 season. The San Antonio Texans name would later be used for the aforementioned Gold Miners when they moved to San Antonio in 1995.

Season-by-season

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
1991 WLAF 460.4002nd (North American West)
1992 WLAF 730.7003rd (North American West)
Total1190.550

1991 season

1991 San Antonio Riders season
OwnerLarry Benson
General manager John Peterson
Head coach Mike Riley
Home field Alamo Stadium
Results
Record4–6
Division place3rd
Playoff finishdid not qualify

Personnel

Staff

1991 San Antonio Riders staff
Front office
  • Owner/president – Larry J. Benson
  • Vice president/general manager – John Peterson
  • Assistant director of football operations – Billy Schott
  • Business manager – Greg Korn

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Greg Newhouse
  • Defensive line/special teams – Don Wnek
  • Defensive backs – Bill Bradley


[2]

Roster

1991 San Antonio Riders roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

  • 93 David Bailey DE
  • 97 John Fletcher DE
  • 96 Donnie Gardner DE
  • 99 Greg Ross NT

Linebackers

  • 50 Terrence Cooks OLB
  • 55 Greg Gilbert ILB
  • 94 Mark Ledbetter OLB
  • 53 Derrick Little
  • 58 Roderick Manning OLB
  • 51 Eric Snelson
  • 57 Tim Walton ILB

Defensive backs

  • 28 Anthony Cooney S
  • 40 Carlo Cheattom S
  • 22 Sean Dykes CB
  • 29 Greg Lee S
  • 25 Calvin Nicholson CB
  • 44 Gary Richard CB
  • 26 Rickey Royal CB
  • 24 Ken Watson CB
  • 46 Kennedy Wilson S

Special teams

Operation Discovery
  • 72Stefan Bjorkman OL Flag of Sweden.svg
  • 41John Hyllienmark DB Flag of Sweden.svg
  • 78Stefan Ohrvall DL Flag of Sweden.svg
  •  5Marco Rueda K Flag of Mexico.svg

rookies in italics

[2] [3]

Schedule

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1March 258:00 p.m.at Orlando Thunder L 34–350–1 Florida Citrus Bowl 21,714
2April 17:00 p.m. Frankfurt Galaxy L 3–100–2 Alamo Stadium 18,432
3April 712:00 p.m. Sacramento Surge W 10–31–2Alamo Stadium6,772
4April 158:00 p.m.at Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks W 37–152–2 Carter–Finley Stadium 11,818
5April 207:00 p.m. Barcelona Dragons W 22–143–2Alamo Stadium16,500
6April 297:00 p.m.at Birmingham Fire L 12–163–3 Legion Field 8,114
7May 67:00 p.m. London Monarchs L 15–383–4Alamo Stadium12,328
8May 118:00 p.m.at Barcelona Dragons L 7–173–5 Montjuic Stadium 23,670
9May 1911:30 a.m. Montreal Machine W 27–104–5Alamo Stadium20,234
10May 258:00 p.m.at New York/New Jersey Knights L 9–384–6 Giants Stadium 32,857

[2] [4]

1992 season

1992 San Antonio Riders season
OwnerLarry Benson
General manager John Peterson
Head coach Mike Riley
Home field Alamo Stadium
Local radio WOAI
Results
Record7–3

Personnel

Staff

1992 San Antonio Riders staff
Front office
  • President/Managing Partner – Larry J. Benson
  • Limited partner – Tom Landry
  • Vice president/general manager – John Peterson
  • Business manager – Greg Korn
  • Assistant director of football operations – Billy Schott
  • Scouting assistant – Jeff Beathard

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Greg Newhouse
  • Defensive line/special teams – Don Wnek
  • Defensive backs – Bill Bradley


Roster

1992 San Antonio Riders roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Operation Discovery
  • Vacant


Rookies in italics

Results

Week 1: San Antonio 17, Montreal Machine 16
Week 2: Birmingham Fire 17, San Antonio 10
Week 3: San Antonio 9, New York/New Jersey Knights 3
Week 4: San Antonio 23, Sacramento Surge 20 (OT)
Week 5: San Antonio 17, Ohio Glory 0
Week 6: San Antonio 17, Birmingham Fire 14
Week 7: Orlando Thunder 39, San Antonio 21
Week 8: San Antonio 17, Barcelona Dragons 0
Week 9: San Antonio 43, Frankfurt Galaxy 14
Week 10: Sacramento Surge 27, San Antonio 21

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References

  1. "Team Colors – WLAF". SSUR.org. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 The Official 1991 World League of American Football Media Guide.
  3. 1992 San Antonio Riders Media Guide.
  4. The Official 1992 World League Fact Book.