Baton Rouge Bombers

The Baton Rouge Bombers were an American professional indoor soccer team based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Bombers played in the Eastern Indoor Soccer League during both of the league's seasons from 1997 to 1998.[3] They played their home games in the Baton Rouge River Center Arena.[4] The team shut down after the EISL collapsed in late December 1998.[5]

Baton Rouge Bombers
Baton Rouge Bombers Logo
Full nameBaton Rouge Bombers
Founded1997
Dissolved1998
GroundBaton Rouge River Center Arena
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Capacity8,900
OwnersThomas Galloway
Wayne Elmore
PresidentSteve Carter[1]
Head CoachRob Ryerson[2]
LeagueEastern Indoor Soccer League

During their existence, the Bombers played a total of 52 regular season games, winning 32, one via shootout, and losing 20, one via shootout. They scored a total of 689 goals and allowed a total of 566 goals and amassed 96 total standings points out of a possible 156 points. (The EISL awarded 3 standings points for a win, 2 for a shootout win, 1 for a shootout loss, and 0 for a loss in regulation.) The Bombers made the playoffs both years of their existence and played for the league championship in 1997.[6][7]

Connected to the Bombers by proximity, common ownership, and Interstate 10, the Lafayette SwampCats were the chief rivals of the Baton Rouge Bombers throughout the league's short history.[8] More than half of Baton Rouge's regular season losses were to Lafayette and both of the Bombers' playoff losses were to the SwampCats.[9][10][11]

History

1997 season

The team's artificial turf did not arrive until one week before the team's inaugural home opener because the manufacturer, Tech Turf of Georgia, accidentally destroyed the turf they originally manufactured for the Bombers.[12] The regular season ran from June through August 1997 with the playoffs taking place in early September.

The Bombers finished second overall in the seven-team league. They finished the season with a record of 16 wins and 8 losses (including 1 shootout loss) for a total of 49 standings points.[13] (The EISL awarded 3 points for a win, 2 for a shootout win, 1 for a shootout loss, and 0 for a loss in regulation.)

The team reached the playoffs where they beat the Tallahassee Scorpions 23–16 in the semi-finals.[14] The Bombers lost to the Lafayette SwampCats 12–9 in the inaugural EISL championship game.[6][9] Head coach Rob Ryerson was named the EISL Coach of the Year for the 1997 season.[15][16] Irad Young was selected as the Bombers' Most Valuable Player and named to the 1997 EISL All-League Second Team.[17]

1998 season

In May 1998, head coach Rob Ryerson signed his younger (by 11 months) brother Rich Ryerson as a defender for the upcoming season.[18][19] The 1998 regular season ran from late May through mid August 1998 with the playoffs taking place in late August.[15][10] The team averaged 3,004 fans per game over their 14 home games in the 1998 regular season, third-best in the league.[20]

On the field, the Bombers finished fourth overall in the seven-team league. They finished the season with a record of 16 wins (including 1 shootout win) and 12 losses for a total of 47 standings points. The Bombers made the playoffs, losing to the Lafayette SwampCats 2 games to 0 in the semi-final round.[6][11][10]

Rich Ryerson was named EISL Defensive Player of the Year for the 1998 season.[21] Baton Rouge Bombers players named to the 1998 EISL All-League Second Team included defender Rich Ryerson and midfielder Olivier Grava. Players named to the EISL All-League Third Team included goalkeeper Dave Tenney. Players receiving All-League Honorable Mentions included midfielders Doug Smith and Irad Young plus forward Renato Sampaio.[22]

Head coach Rob Ryerson announced he was leaving the Bombers due to "philosophical differences over business decisions" just days after the team's exit from the playoffs,[7][23] a move later made moot when the league shut down in late December.[5]

Former players

References
  1. "Bombers president to speak at luncheon". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. July 20, 1997. p. 4B.
  2. Moormann, Dave (June 26, 1997). "Off the wall; Bombers getting on the job training". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 2E.
  3. Gremillion, Scott (May 29, 1997). "Bombers ready to get season started". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 5E.
  4. Crossley, Andy (September 27, 2013). "1997–1998 Baton Rouge Bombers". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  5. Rabalais, Scott (December 24, 1998). "EISL decides to call it quits; Future of Baton Rouge, Lafayette teams in serious doubt". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 7D.
  6. Litterer, David. "Eastern Indoor Soccer League". USA Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  7. Gremillion, Scott (August 28, 1998). "Ryerson leaving Bombers". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 6D.
  8. Rabalais, Scott (June 19, 1998). "Intensity feeds EISL's I-10 rivalry". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 2D.
  9. Gremillion, Scott (May 29, 1998). "BR Bombers have high expectations". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 2D.
  10. "1998 EISL Championship beginning this weekend". The Daily Iberian. New Iberia, LA: Wick Communications. August 25, 1998. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  11. Schiefelbein, Joseph (August 21, 1998). "Bombers have two days for playoff solution". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 3D.
  12. "New Bombers' artificial turf finally arrives in BR". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. June 7, 1997. p. 10D.
  13. Morris, George (September 3, 1997). "Bombers set sights on playoffs; Scorpions invade BR for semifinals tonight". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 1D.
  14. Morris, George (September 4, 1997). "Defense-minded Bombers romp". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 1C.
  15. "Bombers' season tickets go on sale Monday". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. October 31, 1997. p. 11E.
  16. "Rob Ryerson – ASL Player ID Director". Atlantic Soccer League. January 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  17. Gremillion, Scott (July 17, 1998). "Young's long-running lark benefits Bombers". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 5D.
  18. Fambrough, Robin (May 28, 1998). "Bombers coach signs his brother". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 5E.
  19. Gremillion, Scott (July 9, 1998). "Ryersons making a good team". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 2E.
  20. "Daily Report Through Games of 08/16/98". Eastern Indoor Soccer League. August 24, 1998. Archived from the original on October 6, 1999. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  21. "Bombers' Defender Rich Ryerson Named 1998 Defensive Player of the Year". Tallahassee, FL: Eastern Indoor Soccer League. August 19, 1998. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  22. "EISL Names All-League Team". Tallahassee, FL: Eastern Indoor Soccer League. August 19, 1998. Archived from the original on February 20, 1999. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  23. Gremillion, Scott (August 29, 1998). "Bombers GM: Ryerson left over "business" differences". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. p. 5D.
  24. Howard High standout Haskins first to join Maryland Mania
  25. "Ryerson defensive player of week". The Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA: John Georges. July 23, 1998. p. 8E.
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