1994 Shreveport Pirates season

The 1994 Shreveport Pirates season was the first season in the teams franchise history. They finished last place in the East division with a 3–15 record and failed to make the playoffs.

1994 Shreveport Pirates season
OwnerBernard Glieberman and Lonnie Glieberman
General managerJ. I. Albrecht
Head coachJohn Huard (released during training camp), Forrest Gregg
Home fieldIndependence Stadium
Results
Record3–15
Division place6th, East
Playoff finishdid not qualify
Uniform

Offseason

During the 1993 season, Bernie Glieberman was the owner of the Ottawa Rough Riders franchise. The city refused to renegotiate the terms of the lease for Frank Clair Stadium and Glieberman threatened to move the franchise. Instead, Glieberman sold the franchise to local businessman Bruce Firestone.[1] Glieberman was offered the opportunity to start a new franchise and the Shreveport Pirates were born.[1] His son Lonie was named team president and the Gliebermans were leased Independence Stadium at a 10-year lease for $2,500 a game.[2] Lonie Glieberman boasted that the Pirates would be the first US based CFL franchise to win the Grey Cup.[2]

Training camp

The Pirates first training camp was meant to be on the grounds at Louisiana State University. Instead, there was a scheduling error and the Pirates were forced to hold their training camp on the grounds of the Louisiana State Fair.[3] The players were housed in a large barracks style room that housed 12 to 18 players, and were on the second level, while animals were on the first level.[3] Pirates player Joe Mero would book a nearby hotel room at his own expense.[4] Head coach John Huard was the former football coach at the Maine Maritime Academy and he would be fired during training camp. An incident occurred where Huard berated a volunteer athletic therapist. The therapist left training camp and Huard was released from his coaching duties.[4] Huard was replaced by NFL Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Bengals and Toronto Argonauts head coach Forrest Gregg. Gregg convinced the Gliebermans to remove the Vice President of Operations and the General Manager.[5]

Preseason
Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Score Record
A Fri, June 24 Baltimore CFLers L 18–33 0–1 Independence Stadium 19,000
B Tue, June 28 at Toronto Argonauts L 1–24 0–2 Skydome 12,712

Regular season

Despite the losing, Shreveport averaged a respectable attendance of 17,871 fans per game.[6] The Pirates set a CFL record with the longest losing streak in history (14 consecutive losses).[5]

Schedule
Week Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance
Score Record
1 1 Wed, July 6 at Ottawa Rough Riders L 10–40 0–1 Frank Clair Stadium 18,134
2 2 Sat, July 16 Toronto Argonauts L 34–35 0–2 Independence Stadium 20,634
3 3 Sat, July 23 at Baltimore CFLers L 24–40 0–3 Memorial Stadium 31,172
4 4 Sat, July 30 Edmonton Eskimos L 10–24 0–4 Independence Stadium 17,434
5 5 Fri, Aug 5 at Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 15–38 0–5 Ivor Wynne Stadium 12,612
6 6 Sat, Aug 13 Las Vegas Posse L 13–49 0–6 Independence Stadium 18,011
7 7 Sat, Aug 20 Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 26–30 0–7 Independence Stadium 14,364
8 8 Sat, Aug 27 at BC Lions L 15–67 0–8 BC Place 20,398
9 9 Sat, Sept 3 Baltimore CFLers L 16–28 0–9 Independence Stadium 16,332
10 10 Sat, Sept 10 at Las Vegas Posse L 21–34 0–10 Sam Boyd Stadium 9467
11 11 Sat, Sept 17 at Sacramento Gold Miners L 3–56 0–11 Hornet Stadium 13,747
12 12 Sat, Sept 24 Saskatchewan Roughriders L 11–29 0–12 Independence Stadium 15,502
13 13 Sat, Oct 1 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 21–39 0–13 Winnipeg Stadium 20,426
14 14 Sat, Oct 8 Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 22–38 0–14 Independence Stadium 14,088
15 15 Sun, Oct 16 Sacramento Gold Miners W 24–12 1–14 Independence Stadium 12,465
16 16 Fri, Oct 21 at Calgary Stampeders L 8–52 1–15 McMahon Stadium 21,317
17 17 Fri, Oct 28 at Toronto Argonauts W 29–27 2–15 Skydome 20,328
18 18 Fri, Nov 4 Ottawa Rough Riders W 28–24 3–15 Independence Stadium 32,011

[6]

Awards and honors
  • Ben Williams, Defensive Tackle, CFL Eastern All-Star
  • Joe Fuller, Defensive Back, CFL Eastern All-Star

References
  1. Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.77, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  2. Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.78, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  3. Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.193, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  4. Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.194, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  5. Weird Facts about Canadian Football, p.195, Overtime Books, First Printing 2009, ISBN 978-1-897277-26-3
  6. "1994 Shreveport Pirates (CFL) - Pro Football Archives".
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