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team struggled on the field, and at the gate.[10] With five games left in the 1966 season, the Rockets' NAFL franchise was revoked in October 1966 for failure to pay money owed to the league.[10][11]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