Mobile Admirals

Mobile Admirals
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inMobile, Alabama
StadiumLadd–Peebles Stadium
OwnerBilly Cox & Jay Graddick[1]
Head coachTom Walsh
Championships1999

The Mobile Admirals were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League; the Admirals were the league champions. They played their home games at Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.[2]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[3] For their lone season, former Los Angeles Raiders offensive coordinator Tom Walsh served as head coach.[4]

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season,[5] poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. In the shortened regular season, the Admirals had a 6–2 record, then were the top seed in the four-team playoff bracket. After defeating the Mississippi Pride in the semi-finals, the Admirals defeated the Houston Outlaws in the championship game, RFL Bowl I. The team was quarterbacked by Frank Costa and Thad Busby,[6] and running back Sherman Williams was the league MVP.[7] After the season, the league ceased operation.

1999 season schedule

Date Opponent Site W/L Score Attnd. Ref.
April 18 New Orleans Thunder Away W 42–14 500 [8][9]
April 24 Shreveport Knights Home W 15–7 13,256 [10]
May 1 Houston Outlaws Home† W 10–7 10,432 [11]
May 8 New Orleans Thunder Home W 23–6 10,146 [12]
May 15 Mississippi Pride Home W 36–13 [13]
May 22 Ohio Cannon Away‡ L 17–20 [14]
May 29 Mississippi Pride Away L 20–28 6,500 [15]
June 5 Houston Outlaws Home W 14–3 [16]
Playoffs
June 12 Ohio Cannon Home W 35–14 2,873 [17][1]
June 20 Houston Outlaws Home W 14–12 5,571 [18]

† May 1 game played in Mobile due to schedule conflict with Houston's stadium[19]
‡ May 22 game played in Charleston, West Virginia

References

  1. ^ a b Cleveland, Rick (June 15, 1999). "Player mutiny almost torpedoed 1 RFL semifinal". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 23. Retrieved January 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Beginning of the Knights' Reign". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Google Sites.
  4. ^ Vilona, Bill (February 12, 1999). "Busby takes next step to NFL". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 39. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Mobile Admirals 1999 Schedule". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 10, 1999. p. 30. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Admirals start playoffs today against Toledo". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. June 12, 1999. p. 45. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sherman still shakin' it up". June 23, 1995. Retrieved February 19, 2017 – via Google News.
  8. ^ "Admirals silence Thunder". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 19, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ McCloskey, John (April 28, 1999). "New Orleans replaces coach with former Saints running back". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 28. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Vilona, Bill (April 25, 1999). "Mobile wins 1st at home". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 45. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Dominitz, Nathan (May 9, 1999). "Admirals run past Thunder". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 44. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Interception helps Admirals stay afloat against Price 36-13". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. May 16, 1999. p. 33. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "On the field: Admirals Beaten". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. May 23, 1999. p. 41. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Goolsby, Henry (May 30, 1999). "Pride uses Patridge's pinpoint passing to sink Admirals". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 2D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Interception return lifts Admirals past Outlaws". Pensacola News Journal. June 6, 1999. p. 7D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Haller, Doug (June 13, 1999). "Admirals start slowly, zoom to finals". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Roller coaster ride ends with championship for Admirals". Pensacola News Journal. June 21, 1999. p. 5D. Retrieved January 23, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Game moved". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 25, 1999. p. 50. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.