San Antonio Commanders

The San Antonio Commanders were a professional American football franchise based in San Antonio, Texas, and one of the eight members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).[1] The league began play in February 2019. The team played their home games at the Alamodome.[1][2] The team was led by head coach Mike Riley.

San Antonio Commanders
Team logo
Established2018
Folded2019
Based inSan Antonio, Texas
Home stadiumAlamodome
Head coachMike Riley
General managerDaryl Johnston
Team presidentVic Gregovits
LeagueAlliance of American Football
DivisionWestern Conference (2019)
ColorsMaroon, red, silver & white
       

On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended,[3][4] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams.[5] The league filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 17, 2019.[6] The league left debts of over $1.4 million to three local hotels and $200,000 to a catering business.[7]

History

The Alliance San Antonio charter team of the Alliance of American Football spring league was announced on June 21, 2018. Also, the league announced former San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley as head coach and former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston serves as General Manager of the team.[8][9] The western four teams' names and logos were revealed on September 25 with San Antonio as the Commanders.[10] The name is a tribute to San Antonio's military history, with maroon and silver representing the city and the small swords carried by military officers, respectively.[11][12]

The final 52-man roster was set on January 30, 2019.[13] The team's first game was a 15–6 win at home against the San Diego Fleet on Saturday, February 9, 2019.[14]

The Commanders, who drew an average of approximately 27,720 fans to each home game, were by far the best-attended team in the AAF.[7]

The league was suspended on April 2, 2019, with about 20 minutes left in the Commanders' practice. "It ended in the blink of an eye. Like that," Riley said later.[15]

The next year, the XFL began discussions about relocating one of its eight teams to San Antonio;[16] this would eventually bear fruit with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2023.[17]

Final roster
2019 San Antonio Commanders final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 31 Bryce Jones DB (IR)
  • -- Ashaad Mabry NT (IR)
  • 29 Darryl Morris CB (IR)
  • 11 Riley Smith WR (IR)

Rights list


51 Active, 6 Inactive

Allocation pool

The team's assigned area, which designated player rights, included the following:[18]

Staff
San Antonio commanders staff
Front office
Head coach
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Matt Troxel
  • Running backs – Lyle Moevao
  • Wide Receivers – Keith Williams
  • Tight ends – Josh Oglesby
  • Offensive line/Run game coordinator – Jonathan Himebauch
  
Defensive coaches

2019 season
2019 San Antonio Commanders season
General managerDaryl Johnston
Head coachMike Riley
Home fieldAlamodome
Results
Record5–3
League place1st (tie), Western Conference

Final standings
2019 Alliance of American Football standings
Eastern Conference
Club W–L PCT CONF PF PA DIFF SOS SOV STK
(x) – Orlando Apollos 7–1 .875 5–0 236 136 100 .406 .375 W2
(x) – Birmingham Iron 5–3 .625 3–2 165 133 32 .406 .300 W1
(e) – Memphis Express 2–6 .250 1–4 152 194 -42 .578 .500 L1
(e) – Atlanta Legends 2–6 .250 1–4 88 213 -125 .609 .438 L3
Western Conference
Club W–L PCT CONF PF PA DIFF SOS SOV STK
San Antonio Commanders 5–3 .625 3–2 158 154 4 .516 .450 L1
Arizona Hotshots 5–3 .625 3–2 186 144 42 .469 .500 W3
San Diego Fleet 3–5 .375 2–3 158 161 -3 .469 .417 L3
Salt Lake Stallions 3–5 .375 2–3 135 143 -8 .547 .417 W1
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Preseason
Week Day Date Opponent Results Location
Score Record
–MondayJanuary 28Atlanta LegendsW 37–11Alamodome

Regular season

All times Central

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location Attendance
Score Record
1 Saturday February 9 7:00 p.m. CBS San Diego Fleet W 15–6 1–0 Alamodome 27,857
2 Sunday February 17 3:00 p.m. CBSSN Orlando Apollos L 29–37 1–1 Alamodome 29,176
3 Sunday February 24 7:00 p.m. NFLN at San Diego Fleet L 11–31 1–2 SDCCU Stadium 14,789
4 Sunday March 3 3:00 p.m. CBSSN at Birmingham Iron W 12–11 2–2 Legion Field 6,539
5 Sunday March 10 7:00 p.m. NFLN at Arizona Hotshots W 29–25 3–2 Sun Devil Stadium 9,351
6 Sunday March 17 3:00 p.m. CBSSN at Atlanta Legends W 37–6 4–2 Georgia State Stadium 10,619
7 Saturday March 23 7:00 p.m. NFLN Salt Lake Stallions W 19–15 5–2 Alamodome 30,345
8 Sunday March 31 7:00 p.m. NFLN Arizona Hotshots L 6–23 5–3 Alamodome 23,504
9 Saturday April 6 11:00 a.m. CBS†
KMYS		 Memphis Express Not played Alamodome  
10 Friday April 12 7:00 p.m. B/R Live
KMYS		 at Salt Lake Stallions Rice–Eccles Stadium

† Changed from original time and network.[19]
[20]

Week 1: San Diego
Week One: San Diego Fleet at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Fleet 0 6 006
Commanders 0 6 0915

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

With the win, the Commanders started 1–0.

Week 2: Orlando
Week Two: Orlando Apollos at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Apollos 0 17 31737
Commanders 12 6 11029

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

First loss in Commanders history. San Antonio fell to 1-1.

Week 3: at San Diego
Week Three: San Antonio Commanders at San Diego Fleet – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Commanders 8 0 3011
Fleet 6 16 6331

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego California

Game information

First time in Commanders history with consecutive losses. Commanders drop to 1-2.

Week 4: at Birmingham
Week Four: San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Commanders 3 0 6312
Iron 0 3 0811

at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

Game information

First road win in Commanders history. Commanders improve to 2-2.

Week 5: at Arizona
Week Five: San Antonio Commanders at Arizona Hotshots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Commanders 14 12 0329
Hotshots 0 0 81725

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Game information

First time in Commanders history with consecutive wins. Commanders improve to 3-2.

Week 6: at Atlanta
Week Six: San Antonio Commanders at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Commanders 6 20 3837
Legends 0 6 006

at Georgia State Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Commanders improve to 4-2.

Week 7: Salt Lake
Week Seven: Salt Lake Stallions at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Stallions 3 3 3615
Commanders 6 3 01019

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Commanders improve to 5-2. Also, this game marks the first time in league history that single game attendance was above 30,000.

Week 8: Arizona
Week Eight: Arizona Hotshots at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Hotshots 6 9 0823
Commanders 0 3 306

at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas

Game information

Media

In addition to league-wide television coverage through NFL Network, CBS Sports Network, TNT, and B/R Live, Commanders' games were also broadcast on local radio by KZDC, an ESPN Radio affiliate.[30] The team also had a television agreement with local station KMYS of the Sinclair Broadcast Group to carry all Commanders' games that were not broadcast nationally.[31]

References
  1. Bailey, W. Scott (June 20, 2018). "New pro football league to add San Antonio franchise". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. Marquez, RJ. "San Antonio's newest pro football team to be introduced on..." www.ksat.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  3. Kercheval, Ben (April 2, 2019). "AAF operations suspended, league's future in doubt after eight games of first season". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  4. "AAF to immediately suspend operations". ESPN. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. Schwartz, Nick (April 4, 2019). "AAF star Keith Reaser becomes first player to sign NFL deal after league shutdown". USA Today. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  6. "AAF files for bankruptcy, officially closes down", USA Today, AP, April 17, 2019, retrieved April 17, 2019
  7. Marquez, RJ (April 17, 2019). "San Antonio businesses at risk of losing big, AAF bankruptcy filings show". KSAT-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  8. "San Antonio is 8th AAF franchise; Riley to coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  9. "San Antonio set to get Alliance of American Football team, but history is stacked against them". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  10. Benjamin, Cody (September 25, 2018). "LOOK: Here's a full list of team names and logos from the Alliance of American Football". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  11. Blietz, Lena (September 26, 2018). "New pro football team honor's San Antonio's military legacy". Spectrum News San Antonio. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  12. Yasin, Kareem (November 27, 2018). "The Alliance of American Football Unveils its Inaugural Uniforms". Alliance of American Football. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  13. "San Antonio Commanders set final roster". Alliance of American Football. January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  14. "Alliance of American Football schedule released for Arizona Hotshots, other 7 teams". AZ Central. USA Today Network. October 16, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  15. Luca, Greg (April 12, 2020). "One year later, San Antonio Commanders' sudden departure remains a shock". ExpressNews.com. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  16. Miketniac, Chuck (April 13, 2020). "SOURCES: XFL called about relocating team to San Antonio days before suspending operations". WOAI-TV. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  17. Kerr, Jeff (July 25, 2022). "XFL announces eight host cities for relaunch in 2023; no New York, California teams for first time in league". CBS Sports.
  18. Inabinett, Mark (July 12, 2018). "Alabama, Auburn players to go on Birmingham AAF team's assignment list". AL.com. Alabama Media Group. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  19. "CBS SPORTS ELEVATES TWO ALLIANCE GAMES TO CBS TELEVISION NETWORK". Alliance of American Football. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  20. "2019 San Antonio Commanders Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  21. Filipe, Cameron (February 9, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 1, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  22. Filipe, Cameron (February 13, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 2, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  23. Filipe, Cameron (February 22, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 3, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  24. @NWSBirmingham (March 3, 2019). "SEVERE STORMS LIKELY for SE Central AL Counties" (Tweet). Retrieved March 3, 2019 – via Twitter.
  25. Filipe, Cameron (February 27, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 4, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  26. Filipe, Cameron (March 9, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 5, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  27. Filipe, Cameron (March 14, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 6, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  28. Filipe, Cameron (March 21, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 7, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  29. Filipe, Cameron (March 28, 2019). "Alliance of American Football: Week 8, 2019". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  30. "SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS ANNOUNCE ESPN SAN ANTONIO 1250 AM/94.5 FM AS OFFICIAL RADIO PARTNER". ESPN San Antonio. KZDC Radio. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  31. "San Antonio Commanders Announce Sinclair Broadcast Group as Television Partner". oursportscentral.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.

Further reading
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