Huntsville Rockets

The Huntsville Rockets were a professional American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama, from 1962 to 1966. They played their home games at Goldsmith–Schiffman Field.[1]

Huntsville Rockets
Established1962
Folded1967
Based inHuntsville, Alabama
Home stadiumGoldsmith–Schiffman Field
Head coachTommy Lewis
League
  • Dixie Professional Football League
  • Southern Professional Football League
  • North American Football League
DivisionSouthern

History

The Rockets were founded as members of the Dixie Professional Football League in 1962.[2][3][4] The team played under the direction of head coach Tommy Lewis and line coach Dave Sington.[2][5] They earned a 17–1 record in their debut season.[6]

In 1963, the team moved to the new Southern Professional Football League, and Al "Monk" Romine took over as head coach.[7][8] The SPFL faltered in 1965, and the Rockets moved to the North American Football League (NAFL).[9] The Rockets played in the NAFL Southern Division from 1965 to 1966.[5] The other NAFL teams in 1965 were: Pennsylvania Mustangs, Annapolis Sailors, Wilmington Comets, Baltimore Broncos, Florida Brahmans, Mobile Tarpons, and Dayton Colts. The team struggled on the field, and at the gate.[10] With five games left in the 1966 season, the Rockets' NAFL franchise was revoked in October 1966 for failure to pay money owed to the league.[10][11]

Legacy

The NAFL became the Professional Football League of America (PFLA) in 1967.[12] What remained of the defunct Huntsville Rockets team formed the foundation for the formation of a new PFLA franchise, the Huntsville Hawks, for the 1967 season.[13][14][15] The PFLA merged with the larger Continental Football League in February 1968, and the team continued as the Alabama Hawks.[16][17]

In 2012, a semi-professional Gridiron Developmental Football League team took their name as an homage to the original Huntsville Rockets.[18]

References
  1. "Rockets And Daytona To Vie In Rematch Saturday". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. December 11, 1962. p. II-3. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  2. Halbrooks, Hap (April 24, 1962). "Test Begins Tonight For Bucs To Show Strength". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. II-5. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  3. Halbrooks, Hap (August 1, 1962). "Rockets Open Campaign Against Birmingham 11". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. VIII-2. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  4. Halbrooks, Hap (August 23, 1962). "Rockets Game Could Be Preview Of Shoals Club". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. II-4. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  5. Halbrooks, Hap (June 4, 1964). "Rockets Open Grid Drills In Huntsville". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 16. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  6. Halbrooks, Hap (July 28, 1963). "Rockets Must Improve To Rate With Elite This Campaign". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 8. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  7. "Southern Pro Grid League Starts Tonight". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, FL. United Press International. August 3, 1963. p. 1-C. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  8. "'Test Tube' For League: Rockets, Cherokees To Give All-Out Effort". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. July 22, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  9. Halbrooks, Hap (June 9, 1965). "Draft Threw Honors To Alabama". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 13. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  10. Chick, Bob (October 18, 1966). "Huntsville's Dead, Buried". St. Petersburg Independent. St. Petersburg, FL. p. 14-A. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  11. Chick, Bob (October 12, 1966). "Huntsville, Mobile Headed Out Of NAFL". St. Petersburg Independent. St. Petersburg, FL. p. 16-A. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  12. Markus, Robert (August 31, 1967). "The Strange Life of a Gal Football Head". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. p. 3-3. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  13. "Minor Pro Football Loops Are Merging". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota, FL. Associated Press. February 17, 1966. p. 33. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  14. Thomas, Ronnie (March 24, 1967). "Will Huntsville Back Professional Football?". TimesDaily. Florence, AL. p. 10. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  15. "A Roundup Of The Sports Information Of The Week". Sports Illustrated. August 11, 1969. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  16. "Continental, Professional Leagues Join". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, IL. United Press International. February 5, 1968. pp. 2–3.
  17. "Charter Oaks in Merged Pro Grid Loop". The Hartford Courant. Associated Press. February 5, 1968. p. 21.
  18. McCarter, Mark (August 1, 2012). "Huntsville Rockets hosting national semi-pro football title game Saturday". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
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