Huntsville Rockets
| Established | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1967 |
| Based in | Huntsville, Alabama |
| Home stadium | Goldsmith–Schiffman Field |
| League | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
|
| Division | Southern |
The Huntsville Rockets were a professional American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama, from 1962 through 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The team struggled on the field and at the gate.[10] With 5 games left in the 1966 season, the Rockets' NAFL franchise was revoked in October 1966 for failure to pay money owed to the league.[10][11]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
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