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1980 AFA Timeline
 
May 1980
The league opens play with no designated commissioner this year. Instead, the league will be run by an eight member board made up from a representative from each team. Tiebreakers will be determined by the AFA's president, Bob Williams, who is also head coach of the Jacksonville Firebirds.
 

			1980                       American Football Association
xx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xx
	Austin Texans		Carolina Chargers		Fort Worth Wranglers		Jacksonville Firebirds		Kentucky Trackers
	San Antonio Charros		Shreveport Steamer		West Virginia Rockets

1980   American Football Association
Western Division	Eastern Division
Austin Texans	Carolina Chargers
Fort Worth Wranglers	Jacksonville Firebirds
San Antonio Charros	Kentucky Trackers
Shreveport Steamer	West Virginia Rockets

July 2, 1980
A group of six Louisville businessmen headed by Dyke Rawles have purchased the Kentucky Trackers from John Waits. Rawles said Waits "basically just signed over the franchise" to his group to get out from under the $75,000 debt the team had accumulated.

July 28, 1980
In a league meeting in Atlanta, the American Football Association announces they have revoked the Kentucky Trackers franchise. The league had considered asking each of the other Eastern Division teams to give the Trackers $10,000 per week to keep the franchise going.

AFA chairman Bob Williams said the Trackers had broken "virtually every rule in the book." The Trackers had allowed at least two players to participate under aliases, had failed to pay a $10,000 league fine for breaking other rules, and allowed players to participate that still had college eligibility remaining.

Also, the Trackers were operating under a phantom ownership where owner John W. Waits had turned the team over to Dyke Rawles at some point but the transfer papers had never made it to the league office.

The Trackers' remaining four games will be replacements with semi-pro teams from the Atlantic Coast League and the Dixie League. Those games will not count in AFA standings.

Game Results

Owner:		Lowell Libermann
Head coach:		Jim Davis
Stadium:		Nelson Field

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/31/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	33-18
06/07/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	2,000	W	10-6
06/14/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	39-14
06/21/1980	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	3-0
06/28/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	W	27-23
07/05/1980	at Fort Worth Wranglers	---	W	31-13
07/12/1980	San Antonio Charros	4,500	L	56-33
07/19/1980	Shreveport Steamer	2,100	L	21-16
07/26/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	1,000	W	29-14
08/02/1980	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	35-14
Final Season Results: 4-6

Owner:		???
Head coach:		George Sauer, Jr.
Stadium:		Memorial Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/24/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	26-21
Regular Season
05/31/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	44-38
06/07/1980	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	34-24
06/14/1980	Austin Texans	???	W	39-14
06/21/1980	at Kentucky Trackers	---	W	38-24
06/28/1980	West Virginia Rockets	???	W	26-22
07/05/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	W	21-14
07/12/1980	Kentucky Trackers	5,000	W	41-21
07/19/1980	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	30-13
07/26/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	27-16
08/02/1980	Triple Cities Jets     Atlantic Football Conference	4,810	W	42-15
08/09/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	19-18
08/16/1980	West Virginia Rockets	???	W	10-9
08/23/1980	James Island Hawks     Atlantic Football League	2,000	W	59-7
Regular Season Results: 8-3
First Round Playoffs
08/30/1980	San Antonio Charros	4,500	W	36-20
American Bowl
09/07/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	42-18
Post Season Results: 1-1
Final Season Results: 9-4

Fort Worth Wranglers
Owners:		Tony Martin and Pat Noonan
Head coach:		John Holland
Stadium:		Elk Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/31/1980	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	32-6
06/07/1980	at Austin Texans	---	L	10-6
06/14/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	56-6
06/21/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	28-18
06/28/1980	San Antonio Charros	???	L	19-6
07/05/1980	Austin Texans	???	L	31-13
07/12/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	56-0
07/19/1980	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	29-7
07/26/1980	at Austin Texans	---	L	29-14
08/02/1980	Shreveport Steamer	???	L	20-9
Final Season Results: 0-10

Owner:		???
Head coach:		Bob Williams
Stadium:		Gator Bowl (71,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/24/1980	Carolina Chargers	???	W	26-21
Regular Season
05/31/1980	Kentucky Trackers	8,000	W	21-20
06/07/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	34-24
06/14/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	5,000	W	56-6
06/21/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	39-10
06/28/1980	Kentucky Trackers	1,500	W	49-29
07/05/1980	Carolina Chargers	???	L	21-14
07/12/1980	West Virginia Rockets	???	W	28-17
07/19/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	30-13
07/26/1980	Kentucky Trackers	???	W	45-6
08/02/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	16-7
08/09/1980	Carolina Chargers	???	W	19-18
08/16/1980	Mobile Generals     Dixie Football League	???	W	66-6
08/23/1980	West Virginia Rockets	???	W	19-7
Final Season Results: 7-5

Owner:		John Waits
Head coaches:		Harry Lander (games 1-6) Billy Mitchell (games 7-9)
Stadiums:		Fairgrounds Stadium (36,000) * Ballard High School

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/24/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	35-14
Regular Season
05/31/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	21-20
06/07/1980	West Virginia Rockets     Postponed due to tornado warnings       and does not count	600	PPD	Losing 13-3 in 3rd
06/14/1980	Shreveport Steamer	300	L	14-7
06/21/1980	Carolina Chargers *	350	L	38-24
06/28/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	49-29
07/05/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	26-6
07/12/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	41-21
07/19/1980	West Virginia Rockets	200	L	29-20
07/26/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	45-6
The Kentucky Trackers are forced out of the league

Owners:		B. J. "Red" McCombs, Tommy Turner, Sr., and Jim Dement
Head coach:		George Pasterchick
Stadium:		Alamo Stadium (24,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/31/1980	at Fort Worth Wranglers	4,500	W	32-6
06/07/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	31-20
06/14/1980	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	43-0
06/21/1980	Austin Texans	2,000	W	3-0
06/28/1980	at Fort Worth Wranglers	---	W	19-6
07/05/1980	Shreveport Steamer	1,000	L	19-14
07/12/1980	at Austin Texans	---	W	56-33
07/19/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	???	W	29-7
07/26/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	20-16
08/02/1980	Austin Texans	???	W	35-14
Regular Season Results: 6-4
First Round Playoffs
08/30/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	36-20
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 6-5

Owner:		Ed Powell
Head coach:		Jim Williams
Stadium:		State Fair Stadium (52,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/31/1980	Austin Texans	5,023	W	33-18
06/07/1980	San Antonio Charros	???	W	31-20
06/14/1980	at Kentucky Trackers	---	W	14-7
06/21/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	???	W	28-18
06/28/1980	Austin Texans	???	L	27-23
07/05/1980	at San Antonio Charros	---	W	19-14
07/12/1980	Fort Worth Wranglers	2,000	W	56-0
07/19/1980	at Austin Texans	---	W	21-16
07/26/1980	San Antonio Charros	2,500	W	20-16
08/02/1980	at Fort Worth Wranglers	---	W	20-9
Regular Season Results: 9-1
First Round Playoffs
08/30/1980	West Virginia Rockets	???	L	21-17
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 9-2

Owner:		???
Head coach:		Perry Moss
Stadium:		Laidley Field (21,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/24/1980	Kentucky Trackers	7,600	W	35-14
Regular Season
05/31/1980	Carolina Chargers	8,100	W	44-38
06/07/1980	at Kentucky Trackers     Postponed due to tornado warnings       and does not count	---	PPD	Losing 13-3 in 3rd
06/14/1980	San Antonio Charros	???	W	43-0
06/21/1980	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	39-10
06/28/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	26-22
07/05/1980	Kentucky Trackers	5,500	W	26-6
07/12/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	28-17
07/19/1980	at Kentucky Trackers	---	W	29-20
07/26/1980	Carolina Chargers	???	W	27-16
08/02/1980	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	16-7
08/09/1980	Baltimore Eagles     Atlantic Coast League	???	W	27-19
08/16/1980	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	10-9
08/23/1980	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	19-7
Regular Season Results: 7-4
First Round Playoffs
08/30/1980	at Shreveport Steamer	---	W	21-17
American Bowl
09/07/1980	Carolina Chargers	14,000	W	42-18
Post Season Results: 2-0
Final Season Results: 9-4
1980 American Football Association champions

 

Photographs and Articles

Regular Season

05/31/1980 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Larry Hearon (30), Gerald Saveie (83), Sam Coaxum (61), Derrick Battle (42)

05/31/1980 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Ardis McCann (55)

05/31/1980 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Arry Moody (35)

05/31/1980 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: James Mosley (??)

© The Austin American-Statesman

© The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

05/31/1980 Carolina Chargers at West Virginia Rockets West Virginia: Carl Clemens (73), Mike Horton (22), Larry Mayer (18)

05/31/1980 Carolina Chargers at West Virginia Rockets West Virginia: Buddy White (86)

© The Charlotte News

06/07/1980 San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: James Mosley (11), Arry Moody (35)

06/07/1980 San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Ken Smith (12) San Antonio: Ron Pierson (74), Willie Jernigan (88)

06/07/1980 San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Arry Moody (35)

© The Shreveport Times

06/07/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Kentucky Trackers Kentucky: Walter Hines (??) West Virginia: Leon Jenkins (??) Game did not complete because of tornado warnings

06/07/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Kentucky Trackers Kentucky: Ron Colter (??), Lawrence Ray Carr (??) West Virginia: Larry McGee (48) Game did not complete because of tornado warnings

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

06/07/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15)

06/07/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Terry Bellamy (??), Joe Crosby (52), Tony Byrum (??)

© The Charlotte Observer

© The Austin American-Statesman

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

06/14/1980 Austin Texans at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15)

06/14/1980 Austin Texans at Carolina Chargers Austin: Ben Dial (??)

06/14/1980 Austin Texans at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Bo Darden (??)

© The Charlotte Observer

© The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

© The Shreveport Times

© The Austin American-Statesman

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

06/21/1980 Fort Worth at Shreveport Steamer

06/21/1980 Fort Worth at Shreveport Steamer

© The Shreveport Times

06/28/1980 Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer Austin: Mike Washington (??)

© The Shreveport Times

06/28/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers West Virginia: Larry McGee

© The Charlotte Observer

© The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

© The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

© The Shreveport Times

© The Charlotte Observer

07/12/1980 San Antonio Charros at Austin Texans Austin: Mike Washington (15)

© The Austin American-Statesman

07/12/1980 Fort Worth Wranglers at Shreveport Steamer

07/12/1980 Fort Worth Wranglers at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Vernon Wells (18) Fort Worth: Randy Baldwin (35)

© The Shreveport Times

07/12/1980 Carolina Chargers at Kentucky Trackers Carolina: Glenn Holland (??)

07/12/1980 Carolina Chargers at Kentucky Trackers Carolina: Harold Rudolph (45)

© The Charlotte Observer

07/19/1980 Shreveport Steamer at Austin Texans Shreveport: Walter Chapman (69)

© The Austin American-Statesman

07/19/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Carlos Stroman (83) Jacksonville: Vernon James (35), Marty Hammock (31)

07/19/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers Jacksonville: Cleo House (33) Carolina: Tony Suber (86)

© The Charlotte Observer

07/19/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Kentucky Trackers Kentucky: Chris Hill (??)

07/19/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Kentucky Trackers Kentucky: Buddy White (??)

07/19/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Kentucky Trackers Kentucky: Chris Hill (??) West Virginia: Leon Jenkins (??)

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

© The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

© The Austin American-Statesman

07/26/1980 Carolina Chargers at West Virginia Rockets Carolina: Tony Byrum (??) West Virginia: Buddy White (86)

© The Charlotte Observer

07/26/1980 San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Clarence Odum (??) San Antonio: Dudley Keller (20), Tally Neal (50)

© The Shreveport Times

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

© The Louisville Courier-Journal

© The Austin American-Statesman

08/02/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Football Conference's Triple Cities Jets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15)

08/02/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Football Conference's Triple Cities Jets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15)

08/02/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Football Conference's Triple Cities Jets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (??)

© The Charlotte Observer

08/09/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Coast League's Baltimore Eagles at West Virginia Rockets West Virginia: David Riley (33)

08/09/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Coast League's Baltimore Eagles at West Virginia Rockets West Virginia: Larry Mayer (18) courtesy of Jeff Creamer

08/09/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Coast League's Baltimore Eagles at West Virginia Rockets West Virginia: Larry Mayer (18) courtesy of Jeff Creamer

© The Shreveport Times

© The Charlotte Observer

08/16/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Alan Overton (35) West Virginia: Bart Batten (1)

08/16/1980 West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15), Doug Banks (32)

© The Charlotte Observer

08/02/1980 - EXHIBITION Atlantic Football League's James Island Hawks at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Jerome Simmons (??)

© The Charlotte Observer

Playoffs

08/30/1980 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF West Virginia Rockets at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Ken Smith (12)

08/30/1980 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF West Virginia Rockets at Shreveport Steamer Shreveport: Rod Foppe (14) West Virginia: Mike Siganos (24)

© The Shreveport Times

08/30/1980 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF San Antonio Charros at Carolina Chargers

© The Charlotte Observer

American Bowl

09/07/1980 - AMERICAN BOWL West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15) West Virginia: Calvin Parker (??)

© The Charlotte Observer

Schedules

Jacksonville Firebirds West Virginia Rockets

Tickets

06/07/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers

Programs

06/07/1980 Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers 06/14/1980 San Antonio Charros at West Virginia Rockets     08/16/1980 EXHIBITION Mobile Generals (Dixie League) at Jacksonville Firebirds 1980 DATE UNKNOWN Opponent unknown at San Antonio Charros courtesy of Jeff Creamer     DATE UNKNOWN (05/31/1980 or 07/26/1980) Carolina Chargers at West Virginia Rockets 09/07/1980 AMERICAN BOWL Carolina Chargers at West Virginia Rockets

Miscellaneous

Jacksonville Firebirds Flyer

Fort Worth Wranglers cheerleaders

San Antonio Charros cheerleaders

Shreveport Steamer cheerleaders

West Virginia Rockets car tag

West Virginia Rockets belt buckle

Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: July 23, 2024