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New England Steamrollers
Established 1988
Folded 1988
Played in Providence Civic Center
in Providence, Rhode Island
New England Steamrollers logo
League/conference affiliations
Arena Football League (1988)
Team colorsBlack, orange, white
              
Personnel
Owner(s)Frank J. Russo
Robert Andreoli
Head coachBabe Parilli
Team history
*New England Steamrollers (1988)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
*Providence Civic Center (1988)

The New England Steamrollers were a former Arena Football League based in Providence, Rhode Island. The team played in the AFL's 1988 season. The Steamrollers were one of four teams to enter the AFL in 1988, and along with the New York Knights and Los Angeles Cobras were folded following the season.

The Steamrollers were based out of Providence, Rhode Island and played their home games at the Providence Civic Center. They were the first professional football team of any kind to play in Providence since the Providence Steam Roller folded in 1933 and the first non-minor league professional sports franchise to play in the city since the NBA's Providence Steamrollers folded in 1949.

The coach of the Steamrollers was former Boston Patriots All-Pro quarterback Babe Parilli.

History[]

In 1988, Concert and fight promoter, Frank J. Russo, and jeweler, Robert Andreoli, purchased a limited partnership from the Arena Football League to own the rights to a Providence, Rhode Island team.[1] The team's first move was the hiring of Head Coach, Babe Parilli in March.[2][3] After a 3-9 season, the Steamrollers didn't achieve the dollar amount that Russo and Andreoli thought they would, and the franchise folded.[4]

Notable players[]

Roster[]

1988 New England Steamrollers roster
Quarterbacks

Wide receivers/Defensive backs

Running backs/Linebackers
  • 29 Chris Brewer
  • 44 Cletis Jones

Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen

Wide receivers/Linebackers

Kickers

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 12, 2013
29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Arena Football League Hall of Famers[]

New England Steamrollers Hall of Famers
No. Name Year inducted Position(s) Years w/ Steamrollers
68 Sylvester Bembery 2011 OL/DL 1988

All-Arena players[]

The following Steamrollers players were named to All-Arena Teams:

Head coaches[]

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Babe Parilli 1988 3 9 0 .250 0 0

Season-by-season[]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
1988 3 9 0 5th --

References[]

  1. Andy Crossley. "1988 New England Steamrollers". www.funwhileitlasted.net. Fun While it Lasted. http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/2012/02/17/92-new-england-steamrollers/. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  2. Paul Zimmerman (July 11, 1988). "Off-the-wall Ball". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067508/1/index.htm. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  3. "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. March 2, 1988. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-03-02/sports/sp-196_1_arena-football-league. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  4. Andy Crossley (April 27, 2012). "Rob Ekno Interview". www.box.com. Box. https://www.box.com/s/7528ae80edefa44f1e96. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

External links[]

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