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1978 AFA Timeline
 
February 1978
The American Football Association enters an agreement for a loose affiliation with the California Football League.

The AFA will be considered the "Southern Division" while the CFL will be considered the "Western Division".

The two leagues will play their normal schedules inside their own division. At the end of the season, the champions of each league will also play to determine the overall champion.

This season, the CFL teams are Fairfield Flyers, Long Beach Mustangs, Los Angeles Norsemen, Sacramento Buffaloes, San Gabriel Saints, San Jose Tigers, Southern California Rhinos, and the Twin City Cougars.

June 1978

			1978                       American Football Association
xx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xx
	Austin Texans		Houston Titans		Oklahoma Stampede		San Antonio Charros		Shreveport Steamer
	Wichita Falls Roughnecks

June 24, 1978
While only one week into the season has passed, the Austin Texans have major issues.

As the Texans' team bus departed for their game tonight in Oklahoma City, none of the coaching staff was on board, including head coach Jim Davis.

According to reports, there was a huge dispute that erupted on the practice field on Thursday, causing 10 to 12 players to walk off. Several of those players said they would not make the trip on Saturday. However, when the coaches decided not to go, all players boarded the bus.

Texans president Roger Gill tried to get everyone together. "I tried to encourage Jim (Davis) to make the trip, but he felt like it was in the best interest of the team if he didn't go. Several key players wouldn't have gone, and Jim decided it would be best for him to stay home. The players think they can do a better job of coaching themselves. If they win (tonight), they may give their philosophy some credence. If the lose, everybody needs to do a little introspection."

Gill said offensive lineman Bob Daigle and defensive back Richard Black would be joined by one of the team owners, Buck Stienke, as coaches for the game.

Apparently, several team members were unhappy with the play selection in last week's 30-25 loss to San Antonio. Also, there was some complaints about the paychecks, roughly $100 per player. Everything came to a head when Davis asked running back Leonard Brantley to join the kickoff team. Brantley refused, saying he would quit the team. Davis told him to turn in his uniform, and that's when the other players walked off, too.

At a player's meeting on Friday, the biggest problems seemed to be lack of communication between the coaching staff and the players, and concern about their insurance coverage.

Gill said he has a 'wait and see' attitude about the situation. "I'll make a decision on the coaching situation after Saturday's game. This is a weekend trial. We're going to let the players go up there and do their thing."

Game Results

Owner:		Roger Gill
Head coaches:		Jim Davis (game 1) Two players and a co-owner (game 2) Ray Jackson (games 3-10)
Stadium:		Nelson Field (12,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
06/17/1978	San Antonio Charros	5,000	L	30-25
06/24/1978	at Oklahoma Stampede	---	L	32-20
07/01/1978	Shreveport Steamer	???	L	21-13
07/08/1978	at Wichita Falls Roughnecks	---	W	20-16
07/15/1978	Houston Titans	500	L	21-19
07/22/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	42-14
07/29/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	???	L	33-29
08/05/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	31-12
08/12/1978	Wichita Falls Roughnecks	???	L	20-0
08/19/1978	at Houston Titans	---	L	57-6
Final Season Results: 1-9

Owner:		Fred Pierce
Head coach:		John Douglas
Stadium:		Butler Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
06/17/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	???	W	31-7
06/24/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	W	29-28
07/01/1978	Wichita Falls Roughnecks	???	W	15-6
07/08/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	31-27
07/15/1978	at Austin Texans	---	W	21-19
07/22/1978	at Oklahoma Stampede	---	L	32-14
07/29/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	50-0
08/05/1978	at Wichita Falls Roughnecks	---	L	11-9
08/12/1978	San Antonio Charros	???	W	22-7
08/19/1978	Austin Texans	???	W	57-6
Regular Season Results: 6-4
First Round Playoffs
08/26/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	25-7
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 6-5

Owner:		League owned
Head coach:		Ben Hart
Stadium:		Taft Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
06/10/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	33-6
Regular Season
06/17/1978	at Houston Titans	---	L	31-7
06/24/1978	Austin Texans	400	W	32-20
07/01/1978	San Antonio Charros	400	W	11-10
07/08/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	42-27
07/15/1978	Wichita Falls Roughnecks	762	W	51-0
07/22/1978	Houston Titans	650	W	32-14
07/29/1978	at Austin Texans	---	W	33-29
08/05/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	15-14
08/12/1978	Shreveport Steamer	???	L	35-33
08/19/1978	at Wichita Falls Roughnecks	---	W	14-7
Regular Season Results: 6-4
First Round Playoffs
09/02/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	14-0
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 6-5

Owner:		???
Head coach:		George Pasterchick
Stadium:		Harlandale Memorial Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
06/17/1978	at Austin Texans	---	W	30-25
06/24/1978	Wichita Falls Roughnecks	???	W	28-0
07/01/1978	at Oklahoma Stampede	---	L	11-10
07/08/1978	Houston Titans	???	W	31-27
07/15/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	38-25
07/22/1978	Austin Texans	???	W	42-14
07/29/1978	at Wichita Falls Roughnecks	---	W	48-21
08/05/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	???	W	15-14
08/12/1978	at Houston Titans	---	L	22-7
08/19/1978	Shreveport Steamer	2,000	L	8-6
Regular Season Results: 6-4
First Round Playoffs
08/26/1978	Houston Titans	???	W	25-7
American Football Association Championship
09/16/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L (OT)	17-14
Post Season Results: 1-1
Final Season Results: 7-5

Owner:		Harry Lander
Head coach:		Harry Lander
Stadium:		State Fair Stadium (52,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
06/10/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	5,688	W	33-6
Regular Season
06/17/1978	at Wichita Falls Roughnecks	---	W	32-16
06/24/1978	Houston Titans	7,286	L	29-28
07/01/1978	at Austin Texans	---	W	21-13
07/08/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	6,800	W	42-27
07/15/1978	San Antonio Charros	8,643	W	38-25
07/22/1978	Wichita Falls Roughnecks	8,874	W	90-0
07/29/1978	Houston Titans	13,884	W	50-0
08/05/1978	Austin Texans	11,051	W	31-12
08/12/1978	at Oklahoma Stampede	---	W	35-33
08/19/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	W	8-6
Regular Season Results: 9-1
First Round Playoffs
09/02/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	10,211	W	14-0
American Football Association Championship
09/16/1978	Shreveport Steamer	8,000	W (OT)	17-14
1978 American Football Association champions
American Football Association vs California Football League   Championship "King Kong Bowl"
09/30/1978	San Jose Tigers	16,500	L	32-6
Post Season Results: 2-1
Final Season Results: 11-2

Owner:		???
Head coaches:		James Reed Ray McGowan
Stadium:		???

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
06/17/1978	Shreveport Steamer	???	L	32-16
06/24/1978	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	28-0
07/01/1978	at Houston Titans	---	L	15-6
07/08/1978	Austin Texans	???	L	20-16
07/15/1978	at Oklahoma Stampede	---	L	51-0
07/22/1978	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	90-0
07/29/1978	San Antonio Charros	???	L	48-21
08/05/1978	Houston Titans	???	W	11-9
08/12/1978	at Austin Texans	---	W	20-0
08/19/1978	Oklahoma Stampede	???	L	14-7
Final Season Results: 2-8

Photographs and Articles

Preseason

06/10/1978 - PRESEASON Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer

06/10/1978 - PRESEASON Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer Oklahoma: Jo Jo Stanfield (22)

Regular Season

06/17/1978 San Antonio Charros at Austin Texans San Antonio: David Wehmeyer (35)

© Austin American-Statesman

© The Shreveport Times

06/24/1978 Austin Texans at Oklahoma Stampede Oklahoma: George Palmer (35) Austin: David Terrazas (75)

© The Daily Oklahoman

06/24/1978 Wichita Falls Roughnecks at San Antonio Charros San Antonio: Surcie Thompson (74), Scott DeShay (??) Wichita Falls: Glen Ray (12)

© The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

06/24/1978 Houston Titans at Shreveport Steamer Houston: Garland Montgomery (??)

07/01/1978 San Antonio Charros at Oklahoma Stampede San Antonio: Joe Gross (9) Oklahoma: Jim Stone (40)

© The Daily Oklahoman

07/01/1978 Shreveport Steamer at Austin Texans Shreveport: Mike Morrison (9)

© Austin American-Statesman

07/08/1978 Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Ernest Williams (20), Andrew Jackson (??) Oklahoma: Milt Kirven (15), Royce Howard (45)

© The Shreveport Journal

© Austin American-Statesman

© The Shreveport Journal

07/15/1978 Houston Titans at Austin Texans Houston: Jessie Dumas (??)

© Austin American-Statesman

07/15/1978 San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Ron Johnson (89)

© The Shreveport Times

© The Daily Oklahoman

07/22/1978 Wichita Falls Roughnecks at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Clyde Walker (8)

07/22/1978 Wichita Falls Roughnecks at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Randy Fry (44)

07/22/1978 Wichita Falls Roughnecks at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: RB Rudy Thomas (36), Edwin Scott (15)

© The Shreveport Times

© Austin American-Statesman

07/22/1978 Houston Titans at Oklahoma Stampede Houston: Garland Montgomery (10) Oklahoma: Jim Stone (??)

© The Daily Oklahoman

07/29/1978 Houston Titans at Shreveport Steamer Houston: Al Barrett (45)

07/29/1978 Houston Titans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Derrick Battle (42), Keith Alexander (47), A. T. Banks (40)

© The Shreveport Times

07/29/1978 Oklahoma Stampede at Austin Texans Oklahoma: John Eastep (??)

© Austin American-Statesman

08/05/1978 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Austin: Leonard Brantley (??) Shreveport: Derrick Battle (??)

08/05/1978 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Rudy Thomas (36)

08/05/1978 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Rudy Thomas (36)

© Austin American-Statesman

© The Daily Oklahoman

© Austin American-Statesman

© The Daily Oklahoman

08/19/1978 Shreveport Steamer at San Antonio Charros Shreveport: Marty Smith (54), Hugh Stanley (51) San Antonio: Tom Whither (81)

© The Shreveport Times

© Austin American-Statesman

© The Daily Oklahoman

Playoffs

© The Shreveport Times

09/02/1978 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Rudy Thomas (36)

09/02/1978 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer

09/02/1978 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Hugh Stanley (??) Oklahoma: Mike Mitchell (42)

09/02/1978 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer

09/02/1978 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer

© The Shreveport Times

© The Daily Oklahoman

Championship Game

09/16/1978 - AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Earnest Williams (20)

09/16/1978 - AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer

© The Shreveport Times

American Football Association vs California Football League Championship Game      (also referred to as the "King Kong Bowl")

09/30/1978 - AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION VS CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP San Jose Tigers at Shreveport Steamer San Jose Tigers: Pat Kohlman (44)

09/30/1978 - AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION VS CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP San Jose Tigers at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Rudy Thomas (36)

09/30/1978 - AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION VS CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP San Jose Tigers at Shreveport Steamer San Jose Tigers: Craig Kimball (17)

© The Shreveport Times

Programs

07/01/1977 San Antonio Charros at Oklahoma Stampede courtesy of Jordan Morgan	07/08/1978 Oklahoma Stampede at Shreveport Steamer
07/08/1978 Houston Titans at San Antonio Charros	07/15/1978 Houston Titans at Austin Texans courtesy of Richard Paulk
07/22/1978 Houston Titans at Oklahoma Stampede courtesy of Jordan Morgan	08/05/1978 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer

Miscellaneous

Oklahoma Stampede jersey courtesy of Jordan Morgan

Cartoon featured in the Shreveport Journal on the day of the AFA Championship game

Shreveport Steamer cheerleaders (l to r) Linda Effinger, Wanda Pickering, Cindy Rowe, Iris Stephens, Terri Pollard

Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: February 19, 2024