San Antonio Commanders

Last updated

San Antonio Commanders
SanAntonioCommanders.png
Established2018
Folded2019
Based in San Antonio, Texas
Home stadium Alamodome
Head coach Mike Riley
General manager Daryl Johnston
Team presidentVic Gregovits
League Alliance of American Football
DivisionWestern Conference (2019)
ColorsMaroon, red, silver & white
    

The San Antonio Commanders were a professional American football franchise based in San Antonio, Texas, and one of the eight members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). [1] The league began play in February 2019. The team played their home games at the Alamodome. [1] [2] The team was led by head coach Mike Riley.

Contents

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended, [3] [4] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams. [5] The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019. [6] The league left debts of over $1.4 million to three local hotels and $200,000 to a catering business. [7]

History

The Alliance San Antonio charter team of the Alliance of American Football spring league was announced on June 21, 2018. Also, the league announced former San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley as head coach and former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston as General Manager of the team. [8] [9] The western four teams' names and logos were revealed on September 25 with San Antonio as the Commanders. [10] The name is a tribute to San Antonio's military history, with maroon and silver representing the city and the small swords carried by military officers, respectively. [11] [12]

The final 52-man roster was set on January 30, 2019. [13] The team's first game was a 15–6 win at home against the San Diego Fleet on Saturday, February 9, 2019. [14]

The Commanders, who drew an average of approximately 27,720 fans to each home game, were by far the best-attended team in the AAF. [7]

The league was suspended on April 2, 2019, with about 20 minutes left in the Commanders' practice. "It ended in the blink of an eye. Like that," Riley said later. [15]

The next year, the XFL began discussions about relocating one of its eight teams to San Antonio; [16] this would eventually bear fruit with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023. [17]

Final roster

2019 San Antonio Commanders final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 31 Bryce Jones DB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • -- Ashaad Mabry NT (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 29 Darryl Morris CB (IR) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 11 Riley Smith WR (IR) Injury icon 2.svg

Rights list


51 Active, 6 Inactive

Allocation pool

The team's assigned area, which designated player rights, included the following: [18]

Staff

San Antonio commanders staff
Front office
Head coach
Offensive coaches
 
Defensive coaches

2019 season

2019 San Antonio Commanders season
General manager Daryl Johnston
Head coach Mike Riley
Home field Alamodome
Results
Record5–3
League place1st (tie), Western Conference

Final standings

Eastern Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
(x)Orlando Apollos 7–1.8755–0236136100.406.375W2
(x)Birmingham Iron 5–3.6253–216513332.406.300W1
(e)Memphis Express 2–6.2501–4152194-42.578.500L1
(e)Atlanta Legends 2–6.2501–488213-125.609.438L3
Western Conference
ClubW–LPCTCONFPFPADIFFSOSSOVSTK
San Antonio Commanders 5–3.6253–21581544.516.450L1
Arizona Hotshots 5–3.6253–218614442.469.500W3
San Diego Fleet 3–5.3752–3158161-3.469.417L3
Salt Lake Stallions 3–5.3752–3135143-8.547.417W1
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Schedule

Preseason

WeekDayDateOpponentResultsLocation
ScoreRecord
MondayJanuary 28 Atlanta Legends W 37–11 Alamodome

Regular season

All times Central

WeekDayDateKickoffTVOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
ScoreRecord
1SaturdayFebruary 97:00 p.m. CBS San Diego Fleet W 15–61–0 Alamodome 27,857
2SundayFebruary 173:00 p.m. CBSSN Orlando Apollos L 29–371–1Alamodome29,176
3SundayFebruary 247:00 p.m. NFLN at San Diego Fleet L 11–311–2 SDCCU Stadium 14,789
4SundayMarch 33:00 p.m.CBSSNat Birmingham Iron W 12–112–2 Legion Field 6,539
5SundayMarch 107:00 p.m.NFLNat Arizona Hotshots W 29–253–2 Sun Devil Stadium 9,351
6SundayMarch 173:00 p.m.CBSSNat Atlanta Legends W 37–64–2 Georgia State Stadium 10,619
7SaturdayMarch 237:00 p.m.NFLN Salt Lake Stallions W 19–155–2Alamodome30,345
8SundayMarch 317:00 p.m.NFLN Arizona Hotshots L 6–235–3Alamodome23,504
9SaturdayApril 611:00 a.m.CBS
KMYS
Memphis Express Not playedAlamodome 
10FridayApril 127:00 p.m.B/R Live
KMYS
at Salt Lake Stallions Rice–Eccles Stadium

Changed from original time and network. [19]
[20]

Game summaries

Week 1: San Diego

Week One: San Diego Fleet at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Fleet06006
Commanders060915

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

With the win, the Commanders started 1–0.

Week 2: Orlando

Week Two: Orlando Apollos at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Apollos01731737
Commanders12611029

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

First loss in Commanders history. San Antonio fell to 1-1.

Week 3: at San Diego

Week Three: San Antonio Commanders at San Diego Fleet – Game summary
Period1234Total
Commanders803011
Fleet6166331

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego California

Game information

First time in Commanders history with consecutive losses. Commanders drop to 1-2.

Week 4: at Birmingham

Week Four: San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron – Game summary
Period1234Total
Commanders306312
Iron030811

at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Game information

First road win in Commanders history. Commanders improve to 2-2.

Week 5: at Arizona

Week Five: San Antonio Commanders at Arizona Hotshots – Game summary
Period1234Total
Commanders14120329
Hotshots0081725

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Game information

First time in Commanders history with consecutive wins. Commanders improve to 3-2.

Week 6: at Atlanta

Week Six: San Antonio Commanders at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period1234Total
Commanders6203837
Legends06006

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Commanders improve to 4-2.

Week 7: Salt Lake

Week Seven: Salt Lake Stallions at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Stallions333615
Commanders6301019

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Commanders improve to 5-2. Also, this game marks the first time in league history that single game attendance was above 30,000.

Week 8: Arizona

Week Eight: Arizona Hotshots at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Hotshots690823
Commanders03306

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Media

In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Commanders' games were also broadcast on local radio by KZDC, an ESPN Radio affiliate. [30] The team also had a television agreement with local station KMYS of the Sinclair Broadcast Group to carry all Commanders' games that were not broadcast nationally. [31]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alamodome</span> Multi-purpose domed stadium in San Antonio, Texas, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance of American Football</span> Former professional American football league

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References

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  31. "San Antonio Commanders Announce Sinclair Broadcast Group as Television Partner". oursportscentral.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.

Further reading