Los Angeles Cobras
 |
|
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1988 |
| League | Arena Football League |
| Based in | Los Angeles, California |
| Arena | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena |
| Colors | Navy, Goldenrod, White |
| Head coach | Ray Willsey |
| General Manager | Mike Hope |
| Playoff berths | 1 (1988) |
The Los Angeles Cobras were a professional arena football team based in Los Angeles, California that played one season (1988) in the Arena Football League.
Contents
History
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On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey.[1] The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.
The team debuted April 30, 1988 against the New York Knights.[2] The Cobras started the season 0-3,[3] but finished the season 5-3-1, clinching a playoff spot.[4]
Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens[5] and future Arena Football Hall of Famer Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL.[4] The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29-16.[6] It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras (as well as the New York Knights and the New England Steamrollers) folded after the 1988 season, temporarily cutting the league down to just three teams.
The Arena Football League returned to Los Angeles in 2000 with the Los Angeles Avengers, who folded in 2009. In 2014, the Los Angeles KISS began play in Anaheim, California.
Notable players
Roster
| 1988 Los Angeles Cobras roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs
|
Running Backs/Linebackers
Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen
|
Wide Receivers/Linebackers
Kickers Rookies in italics |
||||
Arena Football League Hall of Famers
| Los Angeles Cobras Hall of Famers | ||||
| No. | Name | Year Inducted | Position(s) | Years w/ Cobras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Mullen | 1995 | WR/DB | 1988 |
All-Arena players
The following Cobras players have been named to All-Arena Teams:
- QB Matt Stevens
- WR/DB Gary Mullen
Notable coaches
Head Coaches
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 1988 Arena Football League season.
| Name | Term | Regular Season | Playoffs | Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | Win% | W | L | |||
| Ray Willsey | 1988 | 5 | 6 | 1 | .458 | 0 | 1 | |
Staff
- Head coach: Ray Willsey
- Assistant coach: Lew Erber
- Running back & special teams coach: Russ Steele
- Football operations coordinator: Larry Westbrook
- Trainer: Nick Ortenzo
- Equipment manager: Marty Hopkins
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 4th | Lost Week 1 (Chicago 29-16) |
| Totals | 5 | 7 | 1 | (including playoffs) | |
Media
- The Cobras are also featured in the film Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects starring Charles Bronson. One scene takes place during a Cobras/Bruisers game, presumably the final regular season contest played July 14, 1988 (this game also had the distinction of ending 37-37, making it the first tie game in arena football history). The film was released in early 1989.
- The Cobras were also featured as an unlockable team in EA Sports' Arena Football.
References
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