1988 New York Knights season

Last updated
1988 New York Knights season
Owner Russell Berry
Head coach Jim Valek
Home field Madison Square Garden
Results
Record2–10
Division place6th
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1988 New York Knights season was the first and only season for the Arena Football League franchise.

Contents

The Knights became an expansion team of the Arena Football League in 1988. [1] The team announced Jim Valek as the first coach in franchise history. [1] The team featured a couple of players from the 1987 New York Giants replacement team, including starting quarterback Jim Crocicchia and his primary receiver Edwin Lovelady, but its desire to fans was questioned before the team began playing games. [2] The Knights won their first game in franchise history, 60–52 over the Los Angeles Cobras. [1] During the Knights home opener, fight erumped in the stands, and items were thrown on the field. [3] After winning the season opener, the Knights lost 4 straight games before returning home to a smaller crowd, losing 22–36 to the Cobras. [4] The Knights would lose 8 straight games before they defeated the Cobras 40–30 in Los Angeles. [5] The team folded after a disappointing 2–8 season. [6] [7]

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1April 30at Los Angeles Cobras W 60–521–0 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
2May 9 Detroit Drive L 48–541–1 Madison Square Garden
3May 14at Chicago Bruisers L 7–301–2 Rosemont Horizon
4May 21at New England Steamrollers L 13–241–3 Providence Civic Center
5May 27at Pittsburgh Gladiators L 36–461–4 Civic Arena
6June 6 Los Angeles Cobras L 22–361–5 Madison Square Garden
7June 13 Chicago Bruisers L 34–641–6 Madison Square Garden
8June 18 New England Steamrollers L 28–331–7 Madison Square Garden
9June 23 Detroit Drive L 9–491–8 Madison Square Garden
10July 2at Los Angeles Cobras W 40–302–8 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11July 11 Pittsburgh Gladiators L 28–442–9 Madison Square Garden
12July 15at Detroit Drive L 17–482–10 Joe Louis Arena

Standings

TeamWLTPCTPFPAPF (Avg.)PA (Avg.)STK
xy-Chicago Bruisers 1011.87552637443.831.2T 1
x-Detroit Drive 930.75047231039.325.8W 7
x-Pittsburgh Gladiators 660.50050749142.340.9L 1
x-Los Angeles Cobras 561.45846344938.637.4T 1
New England Steamrollers 390.25033551127.942.6W 1
New York Knights 2100.16734251028.542.5L 2

y – clinched regular-season title

x – clinched playoff spot

Roster

1988 New York Knights roster
Quarterbacks

Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs

Fullbacks/Linebackers

Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen

Wide Receivers/Linebackers

Kickers

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 27, 2013

29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

Awards

PositionPlayerAwardAll-Arena team
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Quinton Knight none1st
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Vince Courville none2nd

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References

  1. 1 2 3 William N. Wallace (May 9, 1988). "Improvisation Lies at the Heart of Arena Football". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  2. Damian Becker (May 10, 1988). "Any arena football fans here?". The Evening News. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  3. "In New York, arena football mirrors NHL". Record-Journal. May 12, 1988. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  4. William N. Wallace (June 7, 1988). "Knights Lose, 36–22; Slip to Last Place". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  5. Lonnie White (July 3, 1988). "Arena Football League Knights Follow Bouncing Ball to Victory Over Cobras". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  6. Tarik El-Bashir (April 7, 1997). "Arena Team Is Returning to the Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  7. "Arena Football may be sacked". The Bulletin. December 9, 1988. Retrieved March 27, 2013.