1988 New York Knights season

The 1988 New York Knights season was the first and only season for the Arena Football League franchise.

1988 New York Knights season
OwnerRussell Berry
Head coachJim Valek
Home fieldMadison Square Garden
Results
Record2–10
Division place6th
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The Knights became an expansion team of the Arena Football League in 1988.[1] The team announced Jim Valek as the first coach in franchise history.[1] The team featured a couple of players from the 1987 New York Giants replacement team, including starting quarterback Jim Crocicchia and his primary receiver Edwin Lovelady, but its desire to fans was questioned before the team began playing games.[2] The Knights won their first game in franchise history, 60–52 over the Los Angeles Cobras.[1] During the Knights home opener, fight erumped in the stands, and items were thrown on the field.[3] After winning the season opener, the Knights lost 4 straight games before returning home to a smaller crowd, losing 22–36 to the Cobras.[4] The Knights would lose 8 straight games before they defeated the Cobras 40–30 in Los Angeles.[5] The team folded after a disappointing 2–8 season.[6][7]

Regular season

Schedule
WeekDateOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1 April 30 at Los Angeles Cobras W 60–52 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
2 May 9 Detroit Drive L 48–54 1–1 Madison Square Garden
3 May 14 at Chicago Bruisers L 7–30 1–2 Rosemont Horizon
4 May 21 at New England Steamrollers L 13–24 1–3 Providence Civic Center
5 May 27 at Pittsburgh Gladiators L 36–46 1–4 Civic Arena
6 June 6 Los Angeles Cobras L 22–36 1–5 Madison Square Garden
7 June 13 Chicago Bruisers L 34–64 1–6 Madison Square Garden
8 June 18 New England Steamrollers L 28–33 1–7 Madison Square Garden
9 June 23 Detroit Drive L 9–49 1–8 Madison Square Garden
10 July 2 at Los Angeles Cobras W 40–30 2–8 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11 July 11 Pittsburgh Gladiators L 28–44 2–9 Madison Square Garden
12 July 15 at Detroit Drive L 17–48 2–10 Joe Louis Arena

Standings
1988 Arena Football League standings
Team W L T PCT PF PA PF (Avg.) PA (Avg.) STK
xy-Chicago Bruisers1011.87552637443.831.2T 1
x-Detroit Drive930.75047231039.325.8W 7
x-Pittsburgh Gladiators660.50050749142.340.9L 1
x-Los Angeles Cobras561.45846344938.637.4T 1
New England Steamrollers390.25033551127.942.6W 1
New York Knights2100.16734251028.542.5L 2

y – clinched regular-season title

x – clinched playoff spot

Roster
1988 New York Knights roster
Quarterbacks

Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs

  • -- Lewis Bennett
  • 25 Greg Best
  • -- Vince Courville
  • -- Elbert Gray
  • -- Stan Hunter
  • -- Edwin Lovelady
  • -- Jim Mauro
  • -- Pat Morrison
  • -- Rex Motes
  • -- Peter Raeford
  • -- Ken Sanders
  • -- Al Washington
 Fullbacks/Linebackers

Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen

 Wide Receivers/Linebackers
  • -- Mark Streeter

Kickers

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 27, 2013
29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

Awards
Position Player Award All-Arena team
Offensive/Defensive LinemanQuinton Knightnone1st
Wide Receiver/Defensive BackVince Courvillenone2nd

References
  1. William N. Wallace (May 9, 1988). "Improvisation Lies at the Heart of Arena Football". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  2. Damian Becker (May 10, 1988). "Any arena football fans here?". The Evening News. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  3. "In New York, arena football mirrors NHL". Record-Journal. May 12, 1988. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  4. William N. Wallace (June 7, 1988). "Knights Lose, 36–22; Slip to Last Place". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  5. Lonnie White (July 3, 1988). "Arena Football League Knights Follow Bouncing Ball to Victory Over Cobras". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  6. Tarik El-Bashir (April 7, 1997). "Arena Team Is Returning to the Garden". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  7. "Arena Football may be sacked". The Bulletin. December 9, 1988. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
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