1988 New England Steamrollers season

1988 New England Steamrollers season
Head coach	Babe Parilli
Home stadium	Providence Civic Center
Results
Record	3–9
Division place	5th
Playoffs	Did not qualify
← N/A New England Steamrollers N/A →

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 view talk edit
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 22 Matt Heidman  8 Harold Smith  7 Paul Williams Wide receivers/Defensive backs 30 Brian Allen 23 Frank Bianchini  9 Brian Gardner 27 Russell Hairston 46David Hendley 85 Jim Hockaday --Jason Oliver 22Jim Pratt 28 Jim Rafferty 27 Tony Slaton 45 Alvin Williams	Running backs/Linebackers 29 Chris Brewer 44Cletis Jones Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen 68 Sylvester Bembery 98Joe Felton 63 Kim Johnson 54 Kevin Murphy 67 Mike Nease 51Steve O'Malley 89 Jeff Oliver 67 Donald Thompson 88 Joe Williams 56 ‘’Bill Birnbaum’’	Wide receivers/Linebackers 29Maurice Gravely 31 Larry Friday Kickers  3 David Jacobs  3 Bernie Ruoff 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. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. 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 season at arenafan.com