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{{Short description|Professional American football league (1965–1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
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|folded=1969
|folded=1969
|teams=22
|teams=22
|countries=United States<br>Canada<br>Mexico
|countries=United States<br />Canada<br />Mexico
|champion = [[Indianapolis Capitols]]
|champion = [[Indianapolis Capitols]]
|most_champs = [[Orlando Panthers]] (2)
|most_champs = [[Orlando Panthers]] (2)
| related_comps = [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]], [[North Pacific Football League]], [[Professional Football League of America]], [[Texas Football League]], [[Trans-American Football League]]
}}
}}


The '''Continental Football League''' ('''COFL''') was a professional [[American football]] league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]], and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[American Football League]] (AFL). It owed its name, at least in part, to the [[Continental League]], a proposed third [[Major League Baseball]] organization that influenced MLB significantly, despite the fact they never played a game.
The '''Continental Football League''' ('''COFL''') was a professional [[American football]] [[Minor league football (gridiron)|minor league]] that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]], and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[American Football League]] (AFL). It owed its name, at least in part, to the [[Continental League]], a proposed third [[Major League Baseball]] organization that influenced MLB significantly, although they never played a game.


Four Continental Football League contributors are in the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], the most of any league not considered a major league: [[coach (sport)|coach]] [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], quarterback [[Ken Stabler]], [[Doak Walker]] and [[Steve Van Buren]] (the last two of whom were inducted as players but were coaches in this league). [[Sam Wyche]], [[Bob Kuechenberg]], [[Garo Yepremian]] and [[Otis Sistrunk]] were among the other players and coaches who would later gain fame in the NFL, while a few others, such as [[Don Jonas]] and [[Tom Wilkinson]], would emerge as stars in the [[Canadian Football League]].
Four Continental Football League contributors are in the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], the most of any league not considered a major league: [[coach (sport)|coach]] [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], quarterback [[Ken Stabler]], [[Doak Walker]] and [[Steve Van Buren]] (the last two of whom were inducted as players but were coaches in this league). [[Sam Wyche]], [[Bob Kuechenberg]], [[Garo Yepremian]] and [[Otis Sistrunk]] were among the other players and coaches who would later gain fame in the NFL, while a few others, such as [[Don Jonas]] and [[Tom Wilkinson (Canadian football)|Tom Wilkinson]], would emerge as stars in the [[Canadian Football League]].


==History==
==History==
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{{main|1965 Continental Football League season}}
{{main|1965 Continental Football League season}}


The formation of the Continental Football League (COFL) was announced on February 6, 1965. The league was primarily formed by minor-league teams that had played in the [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]] and [[Atlantic Coast Football League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1965/02/07/page/46/article/2-leagues-merge-for-new-season|title=2 Leagues merge for new season|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|date=February 7, 1965|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>
The formation of the Continental Football League (COFL) was announced on February 6, 1965. The league was primarily formed by minor-league teams that had played in the [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]] and [[Atlantic Coast Football League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1965/02/07/page/46/article/2-leagues-merge-for-new-season|title=2 Leagues merge for new season|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|date=February 7, 1965|access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref>


[[Happy Chandler|A. B. "Happy" Chandler]], former [[Kentucky]] governor and senator and retired [[Major League Baseball]] commissioner, was named COFL commissioner on March 17, 1965.
[[Happy Chandler|A. B. "Happy" Chandler]], former [[Kentucky]] [[List of governors of Kentucky|governor]], [[List of United States senators from Kentucky|U.S. senator]], and retired [[Major League Baseball]] [[Commissioner of Baseball|commissioner]], was named COFL commissioner on March&nbsp;17,&nbsp;1965.<ref name=ngldrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XwBWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4183%2C4009749 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=New grid leader named |date=March 18, 1965 |page=1D}}</ref>


The league originally adopted a "professional" appearance. Teams were sorted into two divisions and each team had a 36-man roster with a five-man [[practice squad|"taxi" squad]]. The rules were primarily those of the NFL except that a [[Sudden death (sports)|"sudden death"]] overtime period was employed to break ties, which was not part of the NFL during the regular season at that time.
The league originally adopted a "professional" appearance. Teams were sorted into two divisions and each team had a 36-man roster with a five-man [[practice squad|"taxi" squad]]. The rules were primarily those of the NFL except that a [[Sudden death (sports)|"sudden death"]] overtime period was employed to break ties, which was not part of the NFL during the regular season at that time.
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===1966 season===
===1966 season===
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Eastern Division
* [[Brooklyn Dodgers (Continental Football League)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]
* [[Brooklyn Dodgers (Continental Football League)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]
* [[Charleston Rockets]] (W. Va)
* [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
* [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
* [[Montreal Beavers]]
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Philadelphia Bulldogs (American football)|Philadelphia Bulldogs]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]
* [[Philadelphia Bulldogs (football team)|Philadelphia Bulldogs]]
* [[Richmond Rebels (Continental Football League)|Richmond Rebels]] (Virginia)
* [[Toronto Rifles]]
* [[Toronto Rifles]]

Western Division
* [[Charleston Rockets]]
* [[Montreal Beavers]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]
* [[Richmond Rebels (Continental Football League)|Richmond Rebels]]
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]]
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]]


In 1966, the league began abandoning the "league autonomy" posture by striving to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL clubs. Commissioner Chandler, charging that the league was altering the terms under which he had accepted the position, resigned on January 20, 1966. He was replaced by COFL Secretary Sol Rosen, owner of the Newark Bears. Rosen sold the Bears to Tom Granatell, who promptly moved the team to Orlando.
In 1966, the league began abandoning the "league autonomy" posture by striving to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL clubs. Commissioner Chandler, charging that the league was altering the terms under which he had accepted the position, resigned on January 20, 1966. He was replaced by COFL Secretary Sol Rosen, owner of the Newark Bears. Rosen sold the Bears to Tom Granatell, who promptly moved the team to Orlando.


The league engaged in some unsuccessful preseason negotiations with the Empire Sports Network to obtain a television broadcasting agreement. However, it was able to get [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] to broadcast the championship game on the ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]''; ABC paid the league $500 for the rights to the game.<ref name="boosterclub">{{cite web|url=http://www.boosterclubcfl.com/news_article.php?news_id=88|title=Booster Club of the Continental Football League|accessdate=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225174225/http://www.boosterclubcfl.com/news_article.php?news_id=88|archive-date=February 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The league engaged in some unsuccessful preseason negotiations with the Empire Sports Network to obtain a television broadcasting agreement. However, it was able to get [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] to broadcast the championship game on the ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]''; ABC paid the league $500 for the rights to the game.<ref name="boosterclub">{{cite web|url=http://www.boosterclubcfl.com/news_article.php?news_id=88|title=Booster Club of the Continental Football League|access-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225174225/http://www.boosterclubcfl.com/news_article.php?news_id=88|archive-date=February 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The Brooklyn Dodgers, although under the general managership of baseball [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] player [[Jackie Robinson]],<ref name="si660509">{{cite news |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |title=A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078525/2/index.htm |date=May 9, 1966 |accessdate=January 8, 2011 |quote=HIRED: JACKIE ROBINSON, 47, former Brooklyn Dodger baseball star, as general manager of the new Brooklyn Dodger professional football team of the Continental League.}}</ref> failed to attract at the gate. Part of the problem was that they were playing nowhere near Brooklyn: their home games were at [[Downing Stadium]] on [[Randall's Island]].
The Brooklyn Dodgers, although under the general managership of baseball [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] player [[Jackie Robinson]],<ref name="si660509">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |title=A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1078525/2/index.htm |date=May 9, 1966 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |quote=HIRED: JACKIE ROBINSON, 47, former Brooklyn Dodger baseball star, as general manager of the new Brooklyn Dodger professional football team of the Continental League.}}</ref> failed to attract at the gate. Part of the problem was that they were playing nowhere near Brooklyn: their home games were at [[Downing Stadium]] on [[Randall's Island]].


Evidently, the Dodgers had trouble securing home dates at Downing; a season-ticket application showed only five home games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boosterclubcfl.com/gallery_photo.php?gallery=1965_1966_Season_Ticket_Application_Photos&img=ASBRK66.jpg|title=Booster Club of the Continental Football League|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref> in a fourteen-game schedule. In any event, small crowds (only 29,500 combined for four games, including 12,000 for an exhibition contest) caused the franchise to become a league-operated "road club" in October; one home game against Hartford was moved to Connecticut, and their final "home" contest was shifted to Memorial Stadium in [[Mount Vernon, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luckyshow.org/football/DodgersCFL.htm|title=Brooklyn Dodgers football (CFL)|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
Evidently, the Dodgers had trouble securing home dates at Downing; a season-ticket application showed only five home games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boosterclubcfl.com/gallery_photo.php?gallery=1965_1966_Season_Ticket_Application_Photos&img=ASBRK66.jpg|title=Booster Club of the Continental Football League|access-date=December 21, 2014|archive-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302201500/http://boosterclubcfl.com/gallery_photo.php?gallery=1965_1966_Season_Ticket_Application_Photos&img=ASBRK66.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> in a fourteen-game schedule. In any event, small crowds (only 29,500 combined for four games, including 12,000 for an exhibition contest) caused the franchise to become a league-operated "road club" in October; one home game against Hartford was moved to Connecticut, and their final "home" contest was shifted to Memorial Stadium in [[Mount Vernon, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luckyshow.org/football/DodgersCFL.htm|title=Brooklyn Dodgers football (CFL)|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>


Charleston's [[Coy Bacon]], 1966 COFL All-Star end, went on to play for the NFL's [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[San Diego Chargers]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Washington Redskins]].
Charleston's [[Coy Bacon]], 1966 COFL All-Star end, went on to play for the NFL's [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[San Diego Chargers]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]] and [[Washington Redskins]].


The league also established [[farm team]] relationships with semi-pro clubs (for instance, the Dodgers affiliated with the Liberty Football Conference's Long Island Jets in 1966).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luckyshow.org/football/LIJets.htm|title=Long Island Jets football|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
The league also established [[farm team]] relationships with semi-pro clubs (for instance, the Dodgers affiliated with the Liberty Football Conference's Long Island Jets in 1966).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luckyshow.org/football/LIJets.htm|title=Long Island Jets football|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>


''{{Color box|#ccffcc|x|border=darkgray}} = Division Champion''
''{{Color box|#ccffcc|y|border=darkgray}} = Clinched playoff berth''

<div>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| '''Eastern Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Toronto Rifles|xy-Toronto Rifles]]
|9||5||0||.643||344||280
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Philadelphia Bulldogs (American football)|y-Philadelphia Bulldogs]]
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|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
|8||6||0||.571||297||294
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
|6||8||0||.429||293||353
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Brooklyn Dodgers (Continental Football League)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]
|5||9||0||.357||296||359
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''Western Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Orlando Panthers|xy-Orlando Panthers]]
|12||2||0||.857||485||227
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Charleston Rockets|y-Charleston Rockets]]
|10||4||0||.714||357||267
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Montreal Beavers]]
|7||7||0||.500||317||331
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Richmond Rebels (Continental Football League)|Richmond Rebels]]
|4||10||0||.286||229||367
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Wheeling Ironmen]]
|0||14||0||.000||205||400
|}
</div>
''Home team in CAPITALS''

'''Semifinals'''
* Philadelphia 31, TORONTO 14
* ORLANDO 31, Charleston 24

'''League Championship''' (December 4, 1966)
* PHILADELPHIA 20, Orlando 17 (OT)


===1967 season===
===1967 season===
{{CSS crop
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|Location=right
* [[Akron Vulcans]]
|Description=[[Image:Blue pog.svg|10px]] Atlantic North Division [[Image:Red pog.svg|10px]] Atlantic South Division [[Image:Black pog.svg|10px]] Western Division
* [[Charleston Rockets]] (W. Virginia)
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| label = '''[[Norfolk Neptunes|Neptunes]]'''}}

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Atlantic North Division
* [[Brooklyn Dodgers (Continental Football League)|Akron Vulcans]]
* [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
* [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
* [[Montreal Beavers]]
* [[Montreal Beavers]]
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Philadelphia Bulldogs (football team)|Philadelphia Bulldogs]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]
* [[Richmond Rebels (Continental Football League)|Richmond Rebels]]
* Philadelphia Bulldogs
* [[Richmond Rebels (Continental Football League)|Richmond Rebels]] (Virginia)
* [[Toronto Rifles]]
* [[Toronto Rifles]]

Atlantic South Division
* [[Charleston Rockets]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]]
* [[Wheeling Ironmen]]


Western Division
WESTERN DIVISION
* [[Eugene Bombers]]
* [[Eugene Bombers]]
* [[Long Beach Admirals]]
* [[Long Beach Admirals]]
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* [[Spokane Shockers|Victoria Steelers]]
* [[Spokane Shockers|Victoria Steelers]]


The COFL added a Western Division for the 1967 season. The division comprised established minor-league teams in [[British Columbia]], [[California]], [[Oregon]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. But four small western franchises, in [[Eugene, Oregon]], [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] and [[San Jose, California]] and [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria, B.C.]], left the league after the season. The Toronto Rifles actually folded ''midseason'', under unusual circumstances: the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] raided the Rifles roster and signed away the Rifles head coach, starting quarterback and starting running back, leaving the team unable to continue.
The COFL added a Pacific Division for the 1967 season, adding three teams from the [[Pacific Football League]] to its ranks - Eugene Bombers ([[Oregon]]), Seattle Rangers ([[Washington (state)|Washington]]) and Victoria Steelers ([[British Columbia]]), while the rest of the division comprised from four minor-league teams in [[California]]. The Pacific Division was basically a league-within-a-league and played exclusively against other Pacific Division opponents. The remaining teams in the league split into an Atlantic North Division and an Atlantic South Division.

Two of the small western franchises, in [[Eugene, Oregon]], and [[San Jose, California]], left the league after the season, while the franchise in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] only played one game before folding. The Toronto Rifles actually folded ''mid-season'', under unusual circumstances: the [[Toronto Argonauts]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] raided the Rifles roster and signed away the Rifles head coach, starting quarterback and starting running back, leaving the team unable to continue.


The remnants of the Brooklyn Dodgers were sold to Frank Hurn, who moved the team to [[Akron, Ohio]] as the Akron Vulcans. Hurn used only $2,000 of his own money and $50,000 of [[Chicago Outfit]] funding to buy the team and swindled numerous businessmen into providing lavish benefits for his team for which he would never pay. Under Hurn, the team lost $100,000 after just three weeks of play, forcing his big-budget head coaches, [[Doak Walker]] and [[Lou Rymkus]], to front their own money to keep the team afloat; Hurn never paid the either the coaches or players for their services, and the Wheeling Ironmen ended up paying the Vulcans' salaries for what would be the Vulcans' fourth and final game in order to avoid a [[Strike action|strike]]. Hurn would later amass a long track record of criminal activity after his time in Akron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/a-false-start-1.109305|title=A false start|author=Bill Lilley|work=www.ohio.com|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
The remnants of the Brooklyn Dodgers were sold to Frank Hurn, who moved the team to [[Akron, Ohio]] as the Akron Vulcans. Hurn used only $2,000 of his own money and $50,000 of [[Chicago Outfit]] funding to buy the team and swindled numerous businessmen into providing lavish benefits for his team for which he would never pay. Under Hurn, the team lost $100,000 after just three weeks of play, forcing his big-budget head coaches, [[Doak Walker]] and [[Lou Rymkus]], to front their own money to keep the team afloat; Hurn never paid the either the coaches or players for their services, and the Wheeling Ironmen ended up paying the Vulcans' salaries for what would be the Vulcans' fourth and final game in order to avoid a [[Strike action|strike]]. Hurn would later amass a long record of criminal activity after his time in Akron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.com/news/a-false-start-1.109305|title=A false start|author=Bill Lilley|work=www.ohio.com|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>


Such instability marked the season for the COFL, particularly because the league could not improve upon its overall "semi-pro" public image. Inability to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL teams was a contributing factor. The league's breakthrough television contract with the upstart [[Overmyer Network|United Network]] was another: the network ended up folding prior to the 1967 season it was supposed to broadcast, leaving the COFL without a television partner yet again.<ref name="boosterclub"/><ref name="si660815">{{cite news |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |title=The Fourth Steps Forth |url=https://www.si.com/vault/issue/42912/9 |date=August 15, 1966 |accessdate=January 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="fb661123">{{cite news |title=New TV Chain Gets Continental League |work=[[Fresno Bee]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 23, 1966}}</ref>
Such instability marked the season for the COFL, particularly because the league could not improve upon its overall "semi-pro" public image. Inability to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL teams was a contributing factor. The league's breakthrough television contract with the upstart [[Overmyer Network|United Network]] was another: the network ended up folding prior to the 1967 season it was supposed to broadcast, leaving the COFL without a television partner yet again.<ref name="boosterclub"/><ref name="si660815">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |title=The Fourth Steps Forth |url=https://www.si.com/vault/issue/42912/9 |date=August 15, 1966 |access-date=January 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="fb661123">{{cite news |title=New TV Chain Gets Continental League |work=[[Fresno Bee]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 23, 1966}}</ref>
The San Jose Apaches in 1967 were coached by [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], who later achieved great success as the three-time [[Super Bowl]]-winning coach of the NFL's [[San Francisco 49ers]].
The San Jose Apaches in 1967 were coached by [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], who later achieved great success as the three-time [[Super Bowl]]-winning coach of the NFL's [[San Francisco 49ers]].

''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against''

''{{Color box|#ccffcc|x|border=darkgray}} = Division Champion''

<div>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| '''Atlantic North Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Norfolk Neptunes|x-Norfolk Neptunes]]
|11||3||0||.786||422||289
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Hartford Charter Oaks]]
|5||7||0||.417||211||260
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Montreal Beavers]]
|4||8||0||.333||175||278
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Toronto Rifles]]
|1||4||0||.250||39||52
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Brooklyn Dodgers (Continental Football League)|Akron Vulcans]]
|1||3||0||.250||59||84
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''Atlantic South Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Orlando Panthers|x-Orlando Panthers]]
|11||3||0||.786||422||290
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Charleston Rockets]]
|6||8||0||.429||292||224
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Wheeling Ironmen]]
|5||9||0||.357||252||395
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''Pacific Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Orange County Ramblers|x-Orange County Ramblers]]
|10||2||0||.833||394||104
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[San Jose Apaches]]
|8||4||0||.667||310||150
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Seattle Rangers]]
|7||6||0||.538||248||236
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Eugene Bombers]]
|6||6||0||.500||239||260
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Spokane Shockers|Victoria Steelers]]
|4||8||0||.333||120||268
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Sacramento Capitols|Sacramento Buccaneers]]
|2||10||0||.167||110||352
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Long Beach Admirals]]
|0||1||0||.000||13||37
|}
</div>
''Home team in CAPITALS''

'''Atlantic Playoff'''
* Orlando 21, NORFOLK 17

'''League Championship''' (December 10, 1967)
* Orlando 38, ORANGE COUNTY 14


===1968 season===
===1968 season===
{{CSS crop
* [[Alabama Hawks]] (Huntsville, Alabama)
|Location=right
* [[Arkansas Diamonds (American football)|Arkansas Diamonds]] (Little Rock, Arkansas)
|Description=[[Image:Blue pog.svg|10px]] Atlantic Division [[Image:Red pog.svg|10px]] Central Division [[Image:Black pog.svg|10px]] Pacific Division
* [[Charleston Rockets]] (West Virginia)
|bSize=800
|cWidth=500
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|oLeft=300
|oTop=10
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| label = '''[[Alabama Hawks|Hawks]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
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| lon_deg = -81.62
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| label = '''[[Charleston Rockets|Rockets]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
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| lon_deg = -83.14
| mark = Blue pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = top
| label = '''[[Tri-City Apollos|Arrows]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 36.89
| lon_deg = -76.30
| mark = Blue pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Norfolk Neptunes|Neptunes]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 40.06
| lon_deg = -80.73
| mark = Blue pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Wheeling Ironmen|Ironmen]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 28.54
| lon_deg = -81.40
| mark = Blue pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Orlando Panthers|Panthers]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 34.75
| lon_deg = -92.33
| mark = Red pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = bottom
| label = '''[[Arkansas Diamonds (American football team)|Diamonds]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 41.86
| lon_deg = -87.62
| mark = Red pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = left
| label = '''[[Chicago Owls|Owls]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 39.79
| lon_deg = -86.19
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| label_size = 80
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| label = '''[[Indianapolis Capitols|Capitols]]'''}}

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| lon_deg = -97.57
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| label = '''Plainsmen'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 41.26
| lon_deg = -95.94
| mark = Red pog.svg
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| position = top
| label = '''[[Omaha Mustangs|Mustangs]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
| lat_deg = 36.18
| lon_deg = -115.13
| mark = Red pog.svg
| label_size = 80
| position = right
| label = '''[[Las Vegas Cowboys|Cowboys]]'''}}

{{Location map~ | USA
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{{Location map~ | USA
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Atlantic Division
* [[Alabama Hawks]]
* [[Charleston Rockets]]
* [[Tri-City Apollos|Michigan Arrows]]
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Ohio Valley Ironmen]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]

Central Division
* [[Arkansas Diamonds (American football team)|Arkansas Diamonds]]
* [[Chicago Owls]]
* [[Chicago Owls]]
* [[Indianapolis Capitols]]
* [[Indianapolis Capitols]]
* Oklahoma City Plainsmen
* [[Michigan Arrows]] (Detroit)
* [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
* [[Ohio Valley Ironmen]] (Wheeling, West Virginia)
* [[Oklahoma City Plainsmen]]
* [[Omaha Mustangs]]
* [[Omaha Mustangs]]
* [[Orange County Ramblers]]
* [[Orlando Panthers]]
* [[Quad Cities Raiders]] / [[Las Vegas Cowboys]]
* [[Quad Cities Raiders]] / [[Las Vegas Cowboys]]

Pacific Division
* [[Orange County Ramblers]]
* [[Sacramento Capitols]]
* [[Sacramento Capitols]]
* [[Seattle Rangers]]
* [[Seattle Rangers]]
* [[Spokane Shockers]]
* [[Spokane Shockers]]


In February 1968, the COFL merged with the Professional Football League of America (PFLA), in order to expand into the midwestern United States.<ref name="chit680205">{{cite news |agency=[[United Press International]] |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |title=Continental, Professional Leagues Join |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/02/05/page/60/article/continental-professional-leagues-join |pages=2–3 |date=February 5, 1968}}</ref> The Quad Cities franchise moved to Las Vegas midway through the 1968 season.
In February 1968, the COFL merged with the [[Professional Football League of America]] (PFLA), in order to expand into the midwestern United States.<ref name="chit680205">{{cite news |agency=[[United Press International]] |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |title=Continental, Professional Leagues Join |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1968/02/05/page/60/article/continental-professional-leagues-join |pages=2–3 |date=February 5, 1968}}</ref> The [[Quad City Raiders]] franchise moved to become the [[Las Vegas Cowboys]] after losing their first two games.


Danny Hill succeeded Rosen as COFL commissioner. Hill established a weekly payroll ceiling of $200 per player and $5,000 per team.
Danny Hill succeeded Rosen as COFL commissioner. Hill established a weekly payroll ceiling of $200 per player and $5,000 per team.
Line 113: Line 642:


The Orange County Ramblers were featured in the 1968 film ''[[Skidoo (film)|Skidoo]]'', in a credited role as stand-ins for a nude [[Green Bay Packers]] team. The Ramblers offense is seen, from behind, wearing nothing but helmets, during a scene in which a security guard is hallucinating due to the effects of [[lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]].
The Orange County Ramblers were featured in the 1968 film ''[[Skidoo (film)|Skidoo]]'', in a credited role as stand-ins for a nude [[Green Bay Packers]] team. The Ramblers offense is seen, from behind, wearing nothing but helmets, during a scene in which a security guard is hallucinating due to the effects of [[lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]].


''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against''

''{{Color box|#ccffcc|x|border=darkgray}} = Division Champion''

<div>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| '''Atlantic Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Orlando Panthers|x-Orlando Panthers]]
|10||2||0||.833||378||160
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Ohio Valley Ironmen]]
|9||3||0||.750||388||257
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Charleston Rockets]]
|8||3||0||.727||287||180
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Norfolk Neptunes]]
|7||5||0||.583||361||222
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Alabama Hawks]]
|5||7||0||.417||264||233
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Tri-City Apollos|Michigan Arrows]]
|1||11||0||.083||130||418
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''Central Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Indianapolis Capitols|x-Indianapolis Capitols]]
|8||4||0||.667||300||169
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Omaha Mustangs]]
|7||5||0||.583||242||261
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Chicago Owls]]
|6||6||0||.500||284||241
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| Oklahoma City Plainsmen
|5||6||0||.455||199||265
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Arkansas Diamonds (American football team)|Arkansas Diamonds]]
|2||10||0||.167||177||425
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Quad City Raiders|Quad City]]/[[Las Vegas Cowboys|Las Vegas]]
|1||11||0||.083||120||409
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Quad Cities Raiders]]**
|0||2||0||.000||15||84
|- style="background:#ffcbcb;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"| '''Pacific Division'''
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"
|align="left"| [[Orange County Ramblers|x-Orange County Ramblers]]
|11||1||0||.917||331||146
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Seattle Rangers]]
|7||5||0||.583||302||206
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Sacramento Capitols]]
|5||7||0||.417||218||248
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align="left"| [[Spokane Shockers]]
|3||9||0||.250||163||302
|}
</div>
''Home team in CAPITALS''

'''Playoff'''
* ORLANDO 28, Indianapolis 14

'''League Championship''' (November 30, 1968)
* ORLANDO 30, Orange County 23


===1969 season===
===1969 season===
Line 121: Line 730:
The league expanded into [[Texas]] by absorbing the [[Texas Football League]], which also brought the first and, to date, only team from Mexico to play in a professional American football league, the [[Mexico Golden Aztecs]] (whose owner, [[Red McCombs]], would later buy the NFL's [[Minnesota Vikings]]). Midway through the season, the [[Hawaii]] franchise moved to [[Portland, Oregon]].
The league expanded into [[Texas]] by absorbing the [[Texas Football League]], which also brought the first and, to date, only team from Mexico to play in a professional American football league, the [[Mexico Golden Aztecs]] (whose owner, [[Red McCombs]], would later buy the NFL's [[Minnesota Vikings]]). Midway through the season, the [[Hawaii]] franchise moved to [[Portland, Oregon]].


The COFL entered the 1969 season with high hopes. That optimism was exemplified by the Orlando Panthers' bidding for the services of the 1968 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner, halfback [[O.J. Simpson]] of the [[University of Southern California]] (USC). The Panthers made an offer of $400,000 (nearly double the entire team's salary) for Simpson to play for the Panthers if his negotiations with the [[Buffalo Bills]] fell through; they did not, and Simpson signed with Buffalo for the 1969 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qukrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tgUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3093,6207410&dq=continental-football-league&hl=en|work=Kentucky New Era|via=Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
The COFL entered the 1969 season with high hopes. That optimism was exemplified by the Orlando Panthers' bidding for the services of the 1968 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner, halfback [[O. J. Simpson]] of the [[University of Southern California]] (USC). The Panthers made an offer of $400,000 (nearly double the entire team's salary) for Simpson to play for the Panthers if his negotiations with the [[Buffalo Bills]] fell through; they did not, and Simpson signed with Buffalo for the 1969 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qukrAAAAIBAJ&pg=3093,6207410&dq=continental-football-league&hl=en|work=Kentucky New Era|via=Google News Archive Search|access-date=December 21, 2014|title=Kentucky New Era - Google News Archive Search}}</ref>


But COFL attendance averaged approximately 5,700 spectators per game (the top attended team, Norfolk, had 13,000), insufficient to offset the lack of a TV contract. These economics contributed to the ultimate demise of the league after the 1969 season. Plans for an interleague exhibition between the COFL champion Capitols and the [[Canadian Football League]] champion [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] had been laid, but the Rough Riders backed out.
But COFL attendance averaged approximately 5,700 spectators per game (the top attended team, Norfolk, had 13,000), insufficient to offset the lack of a TV contract. These economics contributed to the ultimate demise of the league after the 1969 season. Plans for an interleague exhibition between the COFL champion Capitols and the [[Canadian Football League]] champion [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] had been laid, but the Rough Riders backed out.
Line 129: Line 738:
The Indianapolis Capitols featured a rookie quarterback named [[Johnnie Walton]] during the 1969 season. Walton would become a regular in second-tier professional football; after several failed attempts to get onto an NFL roster in the early 1970s, Walton got his break in the [[World Football League]], starting for the [[San Antonio Wings]] in 1975. Walton would spend the 1976–79 seasons as an NFL backup, then came out of retirement in 1983 to lead the [[Boston Breakers]] of the [[United States Football League]].
The Indianapolis Capitols featured a rookie quarterback named [[Johnnie Walton]] during the 1969 season. Walton would become a regular in second-tier professional football; after several failed attempts to get onto an NFL roster in the early 1970s, Walton got his break in the [[World Football League]], starting for the [[San Antonio Wings]] in 1975. Walton would spend the 1976–79 seasons as an NFL backup, then came out of retirement in 1983 to lead the [[Boston Breakers]] of the [[United States Football League]].


COFL's alum [[Don Jonas]] did not reach the NFL, but instead chose to play in Canada after the 1969 season. As Orlando Panthers quarterback, he played four seasons before joining the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). Jonas led Orlando to the 1967 and 1968 COFL championships, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player for each season. He also paced the Panthers to the 1966 championship game, which they lost to Philadelphia in overtime; and to the COFL semifinal game in 1969. Don was inducted into the [http://www.americanfootballassn.com/forms/2010HallofFameListing American Football Association's Semi Pro Hall of Fame in 1983].
COFL's alum [[Don Jonas]] did not reach the NFL, but instead chose to play in Canada after the 1969 season. As Orlando Panthers quarterback, he played four seasons before joining the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). Jonas led Orlando to the 1967 and 1968 COFL championships, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player for each season. He also paced the Panthers to the 1966 championship game, which they lost to Philadelphia in overtime; and to the COFL semifinal game in 1969. Don was inducted into the [http://www.americanfootballassn.com/forms/2010HallofFameListing American Football Association's Semi Pro Hall of Fame in 1983]. Many CFL teams used the COFL as a developmental league sending players that need time to improve their skills.


[[Obert Logan|Obert "Butch" Logan]], a receiver, defensive back and player-coach, played his penultimate season in professional football with the Continental league's San Antonio Toros. Logan is notable for being the last professional football player to wear the singular jersey number zero (two others, [[Ken Burrough]] and [[Jim Otto]], would wear a double zero, 00, into the 1970s).
[[Obert Logan|Obert "Butch" Logan]], a receiver, defensive back and player-coach, played his penultimate season in professional football with the Continental league's San Antonio Toros. Logan is notable for being the last professional football player to wear the singular jersey number zero (two others, [[Ken Burrough]] and [[Jim Otto]], would wear a double zero, 00, into the 1970s).
Line 142: Line 751:
* March 6, 1970: At the annual COFL owners meeting in Chicago, the defending champion Indianapolis Capitols and the Norfolk Neptunes announced their withdrawal from the league <ref>"Caps Withdraw From CFL", ''Kokomo (IN) Tribune'', March 9, 1970, p13</ref>
* March 6, 1970: At the annual COFL owners meeting in Chicago, the defending champion Indianapolis Capitols and the Norfolk Neptunes announced their withdrawal from the league <ref>"Caps Withdraw From CFL", ''Kokomo (IN) Tribune'', March 9, 1970, p13</ref>
* March 10, 1970, COFL commissioner James Dunn announced his resignation effective the end of that month.<ref>{{cite news|title=COFL Boss Resigns Post|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=March 11, 1970}}</ref> No replacement was ever found, and there was never any announcement of the league's cessation.
* March 10, 1970, COFL commissioner James Dunn announced his resignation effective the end of that month.<ref>{{cite news|title=COFL Boss Resigns Post|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=March 11, 1970}}</ref> No replacement was ever found, and there was never any announcement of the league's cessation.
* March 11, 1970: The San Antonio Toros announced the formation of the [[Texas Football League#1970|Trans-American Football League]], taking with them the Fort Worth Braves and Dallas Rockets. The TAFL initially planned to be a nationwide league with teams in various major markets;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dZxhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QVcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6451,2825814&dq=trans-american+football+league&hl=en|work=The Evening Independent|via=Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref> by the time it began play in fall 1970, this was not the case, and the Omaha Mustangs (the only TAFL team to play outside Texas) and Texarkana Titans had joined the league.
* March 11, 1970: The San Antonio Toros announced the formation of the [[Texas Football League#1970|Trans-American Football League]], taking with them the Fort Worth Braves and Dallas Rockets. The TAFL initially planned to be a nationwide league with teams in various major markets;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dZxhAAAAIBAJ&pg=6451,2825814&dq=trans-american+football+league&hl=en|work=The Evening Independent|via=Google News Archive Search|access-date=December 21, 2014|title=The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search}}</ref> by the time it began play in fall 1970, this was not the case, and the Omaha Mustangs (the only TAFL team to play outside Texas) and Texarkana Titans had joined the league.
* March 27, 1970: The Arkansas Diamonds folded.<ref>{{cite news |title=Diamonds Are Defunct |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=The El Dorado Times |page=8 |date=March 27, 1970 }}</ref>
* March 27, 1970: The Arkansas Diamonds folded.<ref>{{cite news |title=Diamonds Are Defunct |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=The El Dorado Times |page=8 |date=March 27, 1970 }}</ref>
* April 4, 1970: The Indianapolis Capitols, Norfolk Neptunes and Orlando Panthers (now under new ownership) were accepted for membership by the ACFL for 1970.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three COFL Teams Join Atlantic League |agency=United Press International |work=The Tipton (Indiana) Daily Tribune |page=4 |date=April 6, 1970 }}</ref>
* April 4, 1970: The Indianapolis Capitols, Norfolk Neptunes and Orlando Panthers (now under new ownership) were accepted for membership by the ACFL for 1970.<ref>{{cite news |title=Three COFL Teams Join Atlantic League |agency=United Press International |work=The Tipton (Indiana) Daily Tribune |page=4 |date=April 6, 1970 }}</ref>
* May 2, 1970: The ACFL held a [[dispersal draft]] of players from the Las Vegas Cowboys, Ohio Valley Ironmen, Arkansas Diamonds, Chicago Owls, Tri-City Apollos, and Alabama Hawks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Birds Draft 13; Complete Trade |work=The Pottstown Mercury |page=15 |date=May 4, 1970 }}</ref>
* May 2, 1970: The ACFL held a [[dispersal draft]] of players from the Las Vegas Cowboys, Ohio Valley Ironmen, Arkansas Diamonds, Chicago Owls, Tri-City Apollos, and Alabama Hawks.<ref>{{cite news |title=Birds Draft 13; Complete Trade |work=The Pottstown Mercury |page=15 |date=May 4, 1970 }}</ref>
* July 2, 1970: The Sacramento Capitols folded after selling less than half of the 3,000 season tickets needed to remain viable.<ref>{{cite news |title=Capitols Fold, Lack of Fans |work=The Fresno Bee |page=15 |date=July 3, 1970 |quote= }}</ref> By this point, only Spokane, Portland and Seattle remained in the league. Spokane was, according to secondhand reports, ready to play, but there would not be enough teams to do so; Portland's failure to answer phone calls marked the effective end of the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jQg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,488619&dq=continental-football-league&hl=en|title=Shockers Bosses Silent|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle|date=August 18, 1970 |via=Google News Archive Search|publisher=|accessdate=December 21, 2014}}</ref>
* July 2, 1970: The Sacramento Capitols folded after selling less than half of the 3,000 season tickets needed to remain viable.<ref>{{cite news |title=Capitols Fold, Lack of Fans |work=The Fresno Bee |page=15 |date=July 3, 1970 }}</ref> By this point, only Spokane, Portland and Seattle remained in the league. Spokane was, according to secondhand reports, ready to play, but there would not be enough teams to do so; Portland's failure to answer phone calls marked the effective end of the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jQg0AAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,488619&dq=continental-football-league&hl=en|title=Shockers Bosses Silent|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle|date=August 18, 1970 |via=Google News Archive Search|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>


==Championship games==
==Championship games==
{| class="wikitable"
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" class="unsortable"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
!Season
!Season
!Date
!Date
!Winning Team
!Winning team
!Score
!Score
!Losing Team
!Losing team
!MVP
!Venue
!Venue
!Attendance
!Attendance
Line 165: Line 773:
|24–7
|24–7
|[[Toronto Rifles]]
|[[Toronto Rifles]]
|n/a
|[[University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field|Laidley Field]]
|[[University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field|Laidley Field]]
|align=center|7,100
|align=center|7,100
Line 174: Line 781:
|10–3 (OT)
|10–3 (OT)
|[[Orlando Panthers]]
|[[Orlando Panthers]]
|n/a
|[[Temple Stadium]]
|[[Temple Stadium]]
|align=center|5,226
|align=center|5,226
Line 183: Line 789:
|38-14
|38-14
|[[Orange County Ramblers]]
|[[Orange County Ramblers]]
|n/a
|[[Anaheim Stadium]]
|[[Anaheim Stadium]]
|align=center|8,730
|align=center|8,730
Line 192: Line 797:
|51–10
|51–10
|Orange County Ramblers
|Orange County Ramblers
|n/a
|[[Tangerine Bowl (stadium)|Tangerine Bowl]]
|[[Tangerine Bowl (stadium)|Tangerine Bowl]]
|align=center|10,134
|align=center|10,134
Line 201: Line 805:
|44-38 (OT)
|44-38 (OT)
|[[San Antonio Toros]]
|[[San Antonio Toros]]
|n/a
|[[Bush Stadium]]
|[[Bush Stadium]]
|align=center|7,019
|align=center|7,019
Line 208: Line 811:


==Notable people and achievements==
==Notable people and achievements==
===Coach of the Year===
* '''1965''': [[Perry Moss]], Charleston Rockets
* '''1966''': [[Perry Moss]], Indianapolis Capitols
* '''1967''': [[Gary Glick]], Norfolk Neptunes & [[Homer Beatty]], Orange County Ramblers
* '''1968''': [[Lou Blumbling]], Ohio Valley Ironmen
* '''1969''': [[Ken Carpenter (gridiron football)|Ken Carpenter]], Indianapolis Capitols

===League MVP awards===
===League MVP awards===
* '''1965''': Bob Brodhead (QB, Philadelphia Bulldogs) & Joe Williams (FB, Toronto Rifles)<ref>{{cite news|title=Bulldogs Brodhead Given MVP Award|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Evening Journal|date=November 27, 1965}}</ref>
* '''1965''': [[Bob Brodhead]] (QB), Philadelphia Bulldogs & [[Joe Williams (fullback)|Joe Williams]] (FB), Toronto Rifles<ref>{{cite news|title=Bulldogs Brodhead Given MVP Award|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Evening Journal|date=November 27, 1965}}</ref>
* '''1968''': Don Jonas (QB, Orlando Panthers)
* '''1966''': [[Don Jonas]] (QB), Orlando Panthers
* '''1967''': [[Don Jonas]] (QB), Orlando Panthers & [[Bob Jackson (American football)|Bob Jackson]] (HB), Orange County Ramblers
* '''1969''': John Walton (QB, Indianapolis Capitols)
* '''1968''': [[Don Jonas]] (QB), Orlando Panthers
* '''1969''': [[John Walton (American football)|John Walton]] (QB), Indianapolis Capitols


===Coach of the Year===
===Rookie of the Year===
* '''1969''': Ken Carpenter, Indianapolis Capitols
* '''1966''': [[Tom Wilkinson]] (QB), Tom Wilkinson
* '''1967''': [[Fred Bristo]] (DB), Wheeling Ironmen
* '''1968''': [[Eugene Wren]] (HB), Indianapolis Capitols
* '''1969''': [[John Walton (American football)|John Walton]] (QB), Indianapolis Capitols

===Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni===
* [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], Coach, San Jose Apaches (1967)
* [[Ken Stabler]], QB, Spokane Shockers (1968)
* [[Doak Walker]]*, Coach, Akron Vulcans (1967)
* [[Steve Van Buren]]*, Coach, Newark Bear ''{{note label|MD|*}} Inducted as a player''


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/10-05-347.pdf "The Continental Football League: A Mini-tragedy in Five Acts"], by Sarge Kennedy, ''The Coffin Corner'', Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988).
*[http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/10-05-347.pdf "The Continental Football League: A Mini-tragedy in Five Acts"], by Sarge Kennedy, ''The Coffin Corner'', Vol. 10, No. 5 (1988).
*[http://boosterclubcfl.com/index.php Booster Club of the Continental Football League]


==See also==
==See also==
* [[United Football League (1961–1964)|United Football League]]
* [[List of leagues of American football]]
* [[North Pacific Football League]]
* [[Texas Football League]]


==References==
==References==
Line 228: Line 852:
{{Professional gridiron football leagues in North America}}
{{Professional gridiron football leagues in North America}}


[[Category:Continental Football League|*]]
[[Category:Continental Football League| ]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1965]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1965]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1969]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 1969]]
[[Category:ABC Sports]]
[[Category:ABC Sports]]
[[Category:Overmyer Network]]
[[Category:Defunct American football leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct American football leagues]]

Latest revision as of 11:06, 21 April 2024

Continental Football League
SportAmerican football
Founded1965
Ceased1969
No. of teams22
CountriesUnited States
Canada
Mexico
Last
champion(s)
Indianapolis Capitols
Most titlesOrlando Panthers (2)
Related
competitions
United Football League, North Pacific Football League, Professional Football League of America, Texas Football League, Trans-American Football League

The Continental Football League (COFL) was a professional American football minor league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). It owed its name, at least in part, to the Continental League, a proposed third Major League Baseball organization that influenced MLB significantly, although they never played a game.

Four Continental Football League contributors are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the most of any league not considered a major league: coach Bill Walsh, quarterback Ken Stabler, Doak Walker and Steve Van Buren (the last two of whom were inducted as players but were coaches in this league). Sam Wyche, Bob Kuechenberg, Garo Yepremian and Otis Sistrunk were among the other players and coaches who would later gain fame in the NFL, while a few others, such as Don Jonas and Tom Wilkinson, would emerge as stars in the Canadian Football League.

History[edit]

1965 season[edit]

The formation of the Continental Football League (COFL) was announced on February 6, 1965. The league was primarily formed by minor-league teams that had played in the United Football League and Atlantic Coast Football League.[1]

A. B. "Happy" Chandler, former Kentucky governor, U.S. senator, and retired Major League Baseball commissioner, was named COFL commissioner on March 17, 1965.[2]

The league originally adopted a "professional" appearance. Teams were sorted into two divisions and each team had a 36-man roster with a five-man "taxi" squad. The rules were primarily those of the NFL except that a "sudden death" overtime period was employed to break ties, which was not part of the NFL during the regular season at that time.

To reinforce an image of league autonomy, teams were restricted from loaning players to, or receiving optioned players from, the NFL or AFL.

The first COFL season opened with three games played on August 14, 1965. Before the season began, the Springfield, Massachusetts, franchise moved to Norfolk, Virginia. The Norfolk club went on to become the most successful team in the league at the box office and held several minor league attendance records throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

1966 season[edit]

Eastern Division Western Division

Eastern Division

Western Division

In 1966, the league began abandoning the "league autonomy" posture by striving to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL clubs. Commissioner Chandler, charging that the league was altering the terms under which he had accepted the position, resigned on January 20, 1966. He was replaced by COFL Secretary Sol Rosen, owner of the Newark Bears. Rosen sold the Bears to Tom Granatell, who promptly moved the team to Orlando.

The league engaged in some unsuccessful preseason negotiations with the Empire Sports Network to obtain a television broadcasting agreement. However, it was able to get ABC to broadcast the championship game on the Wide World of Sports; ABC paid the league $500 for the rights to the game.[3]

The Brooklyn Dodgers, although under the general managership of baseball Dodgers player Jackie Robinson,[4] failed to attract at the gate. Part of the problem was that they were playing nowhere near Brooklyn: their home games were at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island.

Evidently, the Dodgers had trouble securing home dates at Downing; a season-ticket application showed only five home games[5] in a fourteen-game schedule. In any event, small crowds (only 29,500 combined for four games, including 12,000 for an exhibition contest) caused the franchise to become a league-operated "road club" in October; one home game against Hartford was moved to Connecticut, and their final "home" contest was shifted to Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon, New York.[6]

Charleston's Coy Bacon, 1966 COFL All-Star end, went on to play for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins.

The league also established farm team relationships with semi-pro clubs (for instance, the Dodgers affiliated with the Liberty Football Conference's Long Island Jets in 1966).[7]


 x  = Division Champion  y  = Clinched playoff berth

Eastern Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
xy-Toronto Rifles 9 5 0 .643 344 280
y-Philadelphia Bulldogs 9 5 0 .643 410 355
Norfolk Neptunes 8 6 0 .571 297 294
Hartford Charter Oaks 6 8 0 .429 293 353
Brooklyn Dodgers 5 9 0 .357 296 359
Western Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
xy-Orlando Panthers 12 2 0 .857 485 227
y-Charleston Rockets 10 4 0 .714 357 267
Montreal Beavers 7 7 0 .500 317 331
Richmond Rebels 4 10 0 .286 229 367
Wheeling Ironmen 0 14 0 .000 205 400

Home team in CAPITALS

Semifinals

  • Philadelphia 31, TORONTO 14
  • ORLANDO 31, Charleston 24

League Championship (December 4, 1966)

  • PHILADELPHIA 20, Orlando 17 (OT)

1967 season[edit]

Atlantic North Division

Atlantic South Division

Western Division

The COFL added a Pacific Division for the 1967 season, adding three teams from the Pacific Football League to its ranks - Eugene Bombers (Oregon), Seattle Rangers (Washington) and Victoria Steelers (British Columbia), while the rest of the division comprised from four minor-league teams in California. The Pacific Division was basically a league-within-a-league and played exclusively against other Pacific Division opponents. The remaining teams in the league split into an Atlantic North Division and an Atlantic South Division.

Two of the small western franchises, in Eugene, Oregon, and San Jose, California, left the league after the season, while the franchise in Long Beach only played one game before folding. The Toronto Rifles actually folded mid-season, under unusual circumstances: the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League raided the Rifles roster and signed away the Rifles head coach, starting quarterback and starting running back, leaving the team unable to continue.

The remnants of the Brooklyn Dodgers were sold to Frank Hurn, who moved the team to Akron, Ohio as the Akron Vulcans. Hurn used only $2,000 of his own money and $50,000 of Chicago Outfit funding to buy the team and swindled numerous businessmen into providing lavish benefits for his team for which he would never pay. Under Hurn, the team lost $100,000 after just three weeks of play, forcing his big-budget head coaches, Doak Walker and Lou Rymkus, to front their own money to keep the team afloat; Hurn never paid the either the coaches or players for their services, and the Wheeling Ironmen ended up paying the Vulcans' salaries for what would be the Vulcans' fourth and final game in order to avoid a strike. Hurn would later amass a long record of criminal activity after his time in Akron.[8]

Such instability marked the season for the COFL, particularly because the league could not improve upon its overall "semi-pro" public image. Inability to establish working relationships with NFL and AFL teams was a contributing factor. The league's breakthrough television contract with the upstart United Network was another: the network ended up folding prior to the 1967 season it was supposed to broadcast, leaving the COFL without a television partner yet again.[3][9][10]

The San Jose Apaches in 1967 were coached by Bill Walsh, who later achieved great success as the three-time Super Bowl-winning coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 x  = Division Champion

Atlantic North Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Norfolk Neptunes 11 3 0 .786 422 289
Hartford Charter Oaks 5 7 0 .417 211 260
Montreal Beavers 4 8 0 .333 175 278
Toronto Rifles 1 4 0 .250 39 52
Akron Vulcans 1 3 0 .250 59 84
Atlantic South Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Orlando Panthers 11 3 0 .786 422 290
Charleston Rockets 6 8 0 .429 292 224
Wheeling Ironmen 5 9 0 .357 252 395
Pacific Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Orange County Ramblers 10 2 0 .833 394 104
San Jose Apaches 8 4 0 .667 310 150
Seattle Rangers 7 6 0 .538 248 236
Eugene Bombers 6 6 0 .500 239 260
Victoria Steelers 4 8 0 .333 120 268
Sacramento Buccaneers 2 10 0 .167 110 352
Long Beach Admirals 0 1 0 .000 13 37

Home team in CAPITALS

Atlantic Playoff

  • Orlando 21, NORFOLK 17

League Championship (December 10, 1967)

  • Orlando 38, ORANGE COUNTY 14

1968 season[edit]

Atlantic Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

In February 1968, the COFL merged with the Professional Football League of America (PFLA), in order to expand into the midwestern United States.[11] The Quad City Raiders franchise moved to become the Las Vegas Cowboys after losing their first two games.

Danny Hill succeeded Rosen as COFL commissioner. Hill established a weekly payroll ceiling of $200 per player and $5,000 per team.

Ken Stabler played two games for the Spokane Shockers in 1968. Stabler later became the Continental league's first Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee as a player through his work with the Oakland Raiders of the NFL.

The Michigan Arrows began their season with a soccer-style kicker named Garo Yepremian, who had played the previous season with the Detroit Lions but had found himself out of work because of military service. Yepremian later found Super Bowl fame in the NFL as a member of the Miami Dolphins.

On September 8, 1968, Glen Hepburn, a two-way player for the Omaha Mustangs, suffered an in-game injury from which he died four days later; it would be the only fatality in the league's history.

The Orange County Ramblers were featured in the 1968 film Skidoo, in a credited role as stand-ins for a nude Green Bay Packers team. The Ramblers offense is seen, from behind, wearing nothing but helmets, during a scene in which a security guard is hallucinating due to the effects of LSD.


W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 x  = Division Champion

Atlantic Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Orlando Panthers 10 2 0 .833 378 160
Ohio Valley Ironmen 9 3 0 .750 388 257
Charleston Rockets 8 3 0 .727 287 180
Norfolk Neptunes 7 5 0 .583 361 222
Alabama Hawks 5 7 0 .417 264 233
Michigan Arrows 1 11 0 .083 130 418
Central Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Indianapolis Capitols 8 4 0 .667 300 169
Omaha Mustangs 7 5 0 .583 242 261
Chicago Owls 6 6 0 .500 284 241
Oklahoma City Plainsmen 5 6 0 .455 199 265
Arkansas Diamonds 2 10 0 .167 177 425
Quad City/Las Vegas 1 11 0 .083 120 409
Quad Cities Raiders** 0 2 0 .000 15 84
Pacific Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA
x-Orange County Ramblers 11 1 0 .917 331 146
Seattle Rangers 7 5 0 .583 302 206
Sacramento Capitols 5 7 0 .417 218 248
Spokane Shockers 3 9 0 .250 163 302

Home team in CAPITALS

Playoff

  • ORLANDO 28, Indianapolis 14

League Championship (November 30, 1968)

  • ORLANDO 30, Orange County 23

1969 season[edit]

Jim Dunn replaced Hill as league commissioner for the 1969 season.

The league expanded into Texas by absorbing the Texas Football League, which also brought the first and, to date, only team from Mexico to play in a professional American football league, the Mexico Golden Aztecs (whose owner, Red McCombs, would later buy the NFL's Minnesota Vikings). Midway through the season, the Hawaii franchise moved to Portland, Oregon.

The COFL entered the 1969 season with high hopes. That optimism was exemplified by the Orlando Panthers' bidding for the services of the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner, halfback O. J. Simpson of the University of Southern California (USC). The Panthers made an offer of $400,000 (nearly double the entire team's salary) for Simpson to play for the Panthers if his negotiations with the Buffalo Bills fell through; they did not, and Simpson signed with Buffalo for the 1969 season.[12]

But COFL attendance averaged approximately 5,700 spectators per game (the top attended team, Norfolk, had 13,000), insufficient to offset the lack of a TV contract. These economics contributed to the ultimate demise of the league after the 1969 season. Plans for an interleague exhibition between the COFL champion Capitols and the Canadian Football League champion Ottawa Rough Riders had been laid, but the Rough Riders backed out.

The Alabama Hawks played a pre-season game against the NFL's Atlanta Falcons rookies, losing 55–0.

The Indianapolis Capitols featured a rookie quarterback named Johnnie Walton during the 1969 season. Walton would become a regular in second-tier professional football; after several failed attempts to get onto an NFL roster in the early 1970s, Walton got his break in the World Football League, starting for the San Antonio Wings in 1975. Walton would spend the 1976–79 seasons as an NFL backup, then came out of retirement in 1983 to lead the Boston Breakers of the United States Football League.

COFL's alum Don Jonas did not reach the NFL, but instead chose to play in Canada after the 1969 season. As Orlando Panthers quarterback, he played four seasons before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jonas led Orlando to the 1967 and 1968 COFL championships, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player for each season. He also paced the Panthers to the 1966 championship game, which they lost to Philadelphia in overtime; and to the COFL semifinal game in 1969. Don was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Hall of Fame in 1983. Many CFL teams used the COFL as a developmental league sending players that need time to improve their skills.

Obert "Butch" Logan, a receiver, defensive back and player-coach, played his penultimate season in professional football with the Continental league's San Antonio Toros. Logan is notable for being the last professional football player to wear the singular jersey number zero (two others, Ken Burrough and Jim Otto, would wear a double zero, 00, into the 1970s).

The end of the COFL[edit]

A number of franchises folded or defected during and after the conclusion of the 1969 season, making the end of the COFL all but inevitable.

  • September 21, 1969: The Mexico Golden Aztecs ceased operations and forfeited the remainder of their 1969 schedule.[13]
  • December 15, 1969: The COFL revoked the franchises of the Chicago Owls, Ohio Valley Ironmen, and Omaha Mustangs for failure to meet the league's financial obligations.[14]
  • February 18, 1970: The Jersey Jays moved to the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL).[15]
  • February 22, 1970: The defending champion Orlando Panthers announced their departure from the league and the establishment of the "Sunshine League," a Florida-based loop.[16] The Sunshine League never materialized.
  • March 6, 1970: At the annual COFL owners meeting in Chicago, the defending champion Indianapolis Capitols and the Norfolk Neptunes announced their withdrawal from the league [17]
  • March 10, 1970, COFL commissioner James Dunn announced his resignation effective the end of that month.[18] No replacement was ever found, and there was never any announcement of the league's cessation.
  • March 11, 1970: The San Antonio Toros announced the formation of the Trans-American Football League, taking with them the Fort Worth Braves and Dallas Rockets. The TAFL initially planned to be a nationwide league with teams in various major markets;[19] by the time it began play in fall 1970, this was not the case, and the Omaha Mustangs (the only TAFL team to play outside Texas) and Texarkana Titans had joined the league.
  • March 27, 1970: The Arkansas Diamonds folded.[20]
  • April 4, 1970: The Indianapolis Capitols, Norfolk Neptunes and Orlando Panthers (now under new ownership) were accepted for membership by the ACFL for 1970.[21]
  • May 2, 1970: The ACFL held a dispersal draft of players from the Las Vegas Cowboys, Ohio Valley Ironmen, Arkansas Diamonds, Chicago Owls, Tri-City Apollos, and Alabama Hawks.[22]
  • July 2, 1970: The Sacramento Capitols folded after selling less than half of the 3,000 season tickets needed to remain viable.[23] By this point, only Spokane, Portland and Seattle remained in the league. Spokane was, according to secondhand reports, ready to play, but there would not be enough teams to do so; Portland's failure to answer phone calls marked the effective end of the league.[24]

Championship games[edit]

Season Date Winning team Score Losing team Venue Attendance
1965 November 28, 1965 Charleston Rockets 24–7 Toronto Rifles Laidley Field 7,100
1966 December 4, 1966 Philadelphia Bulldogs 10–3 (OT) Orlando Panthers Temple Stadium 5,226
1967 December 10, 1967 Orlando Panthers 38-14 Orange County Ramblers Anaheim Stadium 8,730
1968 November 30, 1968 Orlando Panthers 51–10 Orange County Ramblers Tangerine Bowl 10,134
1969 December 13, 1969 Indianapolis Capitols 44-38 (OT) San Antonio Toros Bush Stadium 7,019

Notable people and achievements[edit]

Coach of the Year[edit]

League MVP awards[edit]

Rookie of the Year[edit]

Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni[edit]

  • Bill Walsh, Coach, San Jose Apaches (1967)
  • Ken Stabler, QB, Spokane Shockers (1968)
  • Doak Walker*, Coach, Akron Vulcans (1967)
  • Steve Van Buren*, Coach, Newark Bear * Inducted as a player

External links[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2 Leagues merge for new season". The Chicago Tribune. February 7, 1965. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. ^ "New grid leader named". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 18, 1965. p. 1D.
  3. ^ a b "Booster Club of the Continental Football League". Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week". Sports Illustrated. May 9, 1966. Retrieved January 8, 2011. HIRED: JACKIE ROBINSON, 47, former Brooklyn Dodger baseball star, as general manager of the new Brooklyn Dodger professional football team of the Continental League.
  5. ^ "Booster Club of the Continental Football League". Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  6. ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers football (CFL)". Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Long Island Jets football". Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  8. ^ Bill Lilley. "A false start". www.ohio.com. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  9. ^ "The Fourth Steps Forth". Sports Illustrated. August 15, 1966. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  10. ^ "New TV Chain Gets Continental League". Fresno Bee. Associated Press. November 23, 1966.
  11. ^ "Continental, Professional Leagues Join". Chicago Tribune. United Press International. February 5, 1968. pp. 2–3.
  12. ^ "Kentucky New Era - Google News Archive Search". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved December 21, 2014 – via Google News Archive Search.
  13. ^ Guys, Carl (September 23, 1969). "Inflation Deflates". Del Rio (Texas) News-Herald.
  14. ^ "Ironmen Franchise Revoked by CFL". Beckley Post-Herald. Associated Press. December 16, 1969. p. 2.
  15. ^ "Jersey Jays to Join Atlantic Coast Loop". The Bridgeport Post. Associated Press. February 19, 1970. p. 36.
  16. ^ Sargent, Bill (February 22, 1970). "Panthers Find Ray of Hope in Sunshine". Florida Today.
  17. ^ "Caps Withdraw From CFL", Kokomo (IN) Tribune, March 9, 1970, p13
  18. ^ "COFL Boss Resigns Post". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Associated Press. March 11, 1970.
  19. ^ "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search". The Evening Independent. Retrieved December 21, 2014 – via Google News Archive Search.
  20. ^ "Diamonds Are Defunct". The El Dorado Times. Associated Press. March 27, 1970. p. 8.
  21. ^ "Three COFL Teams Join Atlantic League". The Tipton (Indiana) Daily Tribune. United Press International. April 6, 1970. p. 4.
  22. ^ "Birds Draft 13; Complete Trade". The Pottstown Mercury. May 4, 1970. p. 15.
  23. ^ "Capitols Fold, Lack of Fans". The Fresno Bee. July 3, 1970. p. 15.
  24. ^ "Shockers Bosses Silent". Spokane Daily Chronicle. August 18, 1970. Retrieved December 21, 2014 – via Google News Archive Search.
  25. ^ "Bulldogs Brodhead Given MVP Award". Evening Journal. Associated Press. November 27, 1965.