Mobile Admirals
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inMobile, Alabama
StadiumLadd–Peebles Stadium
OwnerBilly Cox & Jay Graddick[1]
Head coachTom Walsh
Championships1999

The Mobile Admirals were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League; the Admirals were the league champions. They played their home games at Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.[2]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[3] For their lone season, former Los Angeles Raiders offensive coordinator Tom Walsh served as head coach.[4]

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season,[5] poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. In the shortened regular season, the Admirals had a 6–2 record, then were the top seed in the four-team playoff bracket. After defeating the Mississippi Pride in the semi-finals, the Admirals defeated the Houston Outlaws in the championship game, RFL Bowl I. The team was quarterbacked by Frank Costa and Thad Busby,[6] and running back Sherman Williams was the league MVP.[7] After the season, the league ceased operation.

1999 season schedule

DateOpponentSiteW/LScoreAttnd.Ref.
April 18New Orleans ThunderAwayW42–14500[8][9]
April 24Shreveport KnightsHomeW15–713,256[10]
May 1Houston OutlawsHomeW10–710,432[11]
May 8New Orleans ThunderHomeW23–610,146[12]
May 15Mississippi PrideHomeW36–13[13]
May 22Ohio CannonAwayL17–20[14]
May 29Mississippi PrideAwayL20–286,500[15]
June 5Houston OutlawsHomeW14–3[16]
Playoffs
June 12Ohio CannonHomeW35–142,873[17][1]
June 20Houston OutlawsHomeW14–125,571[18]

May 1 game played in Mobile due to schedule conflict with Houston's stadium[19]
May 22 game played in Charleston, West Virginia

References

  1. 1 2 Cleveland, Rick (June 15, 1999). "Player mutiny almost torpedoed 1 RFL semifinal". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 23. Retrieved January 27, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  2. "Beginning of the Knights' Reign". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  3. "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 via Google Sites.
  4. Vilona, Bill (February 12, 1999). "Busby takes next step to NFL". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 39. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  5. "Mobile Admirals 1999 Schedule". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 10, 1999. p. 30. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  6. "Admirals start playoffs today against Toledo". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. June 12, 1999. p. 45. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  7. "Sherman still shakin' it up". June 23, 1995. Retrieved February 19, 2017 via Google News.
  8. "Admirals silence Thunder". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 19, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved January 25, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  9. McCloskey, John (April 28, 1999). "New Orleans replaces coach with former Saints running back". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 28. Retrieved January 25, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  10. Vilona, Bill (April 25, 1999). "Mobile wins 1st at home". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 45. Retrieved January 24, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  11. Vilona, Bill (May 2, 1999). "Late field goal lifts Admirals to 10-7 win". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 45. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  12. Dominitz, Nathan (May 9, 1999). "Admirals run past Thunder". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 44. Retrieved January 25, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  13. "Interception helps Admirals stay afloat against Price 36-13". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. May 16, 1999. p. 33. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  14. "On the field: Admirals Beaten". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. May 23, 1999. p. 41. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  15. Goolsby, Henry (May 30, 1999). "Pride uses Patridge's pinpoint passing to sink Admirals". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 2D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  16. "Interception return lifts Admirals past Outlaws". Pensacola News Journal. June 6, 1999. p. 7D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  17. Haller, Doug (June 13, 1999). "Admirals start slowly, zoom to finals". Pensacola News Journal. p. 1D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  18. "Roller coaster ride ends with championship for Admirals". Pensacola News Journal. June 21, 1999. p. 5D. Retrieved January 23, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  19. "Game moved". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 25, 1999. p. 50. Retrieved January 26, 2019 via newspapers.com.
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