| Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks | |||||
| |||||
| Year Founded | 1991 | ||||
| Year Retired | 1991 | ||||
| Home Field | Carter-Finley Stadium | ||||
| City | Raleigh, North Carolina | ||||
| Team Colors | Red, Kelly Green, Black, White[1] | ||||
| Franchise W-L-T Record | Regular Season: 0–10 | ||||
| Championships | |||||
| World Bowls (0)
| |||||
The Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks were an American football team headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina that played for one season in 1991 in the World League of American Football (WLAF). The name was inspired by the Wright brothers' flights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The three jet-trails and three planes in flight, as well as the triangle design in the logo, represented the three points of the Research Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill). The team's cheerleaders were known as the "Kittyhawks."
The name was chosen by Raleigh citizens, the choices being the Skyhawks, Daredevils, or Rogues as published in the News and Observer.
The Skyhawks' home field was N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Then-Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn owned the franchise, and the head coach was former NFL player and State alumnus Roman Gabriel.
The team posted a perfectly dismal 0-10 record in the 1991 season and averaged 12,066 spectators per game due in part by the lack of beer sales at Carter-Finley Stadium. The team folded after their lone season of 1991. To replace them for the 1992 season, the WLAF established a new franchise in Columbus, Ohio, naming it the Ohio Glory.
The Skyhawks' lack of success did not sour the NFL on the whole state, as in 1995, Charlotte welcomed the expansion Carolina Panthers franchise.
Season-by-season[]
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4th North American East | -- |
Schedule[]
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Game site | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | ||||||
| 1 | Saturday, March 23 | 4:00 p.m. | at Sacramento Surge | L 3–9 | 0–1 | Hughes Stadium | 15,126 |
| 2 | Saturday, March 30 | 8:00 p.m. | at Orlando Thunder | L 20–58 | 0–2 | Florida Citrus Bowl | 20,811 |
| 3 | Saturday, April 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Barcelona Dragons | L 14–26 | 0–3 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 17,900 |
| 4 | Monday, April 15 | 8:00 p.m. | San Antonio Riders | L 15–37 | 0–4 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 11,818 |
| 5 | Saturday, April 20 | 8:00 p.m. | at Frankfurt Galaxy | L 28–30 | 0–5 | Waldstadion | 21,065 |
| 6 | Sunday, April 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at London Monarchs | L 10–35 | 0–6 | Wembley Stadium | 33,997 |
| 7 | Sunday, May 5 | 1:00 p.m. | New York/New Jersey Knights | L 6–42 | 0–7 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 10,069 |
| 8 | Monday, May 13 | 8:00 p.m. | at Montreal Machine | L 6–15 | 0–8 | Olympic Stadium | 20,123 |
| 9 | Monday, May 20 | 8:00 p.m. | Orlando Thunder | L 14–20 | 0–9 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 4,207 |
| 10 | Saturday, May 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Birmingham Fire | L 7–28 | 0–10 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 16,335 |
Staff[]
| 1991 Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Support Staff
| |||||
Roster[]
| 1991 Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Operation Discovery
Rookies in italics | |||
References[]
- ↑ "Team Colors – WLAF". SSUR.org. http://www.ssur.org/research/TeamColors/Football_Outdoor/WorldLeagueOfAmericanFootball/WorldLeagueOfAmericanFootball.htm. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Official 1991 World League of American Football Media Guide.
- ↑ The Official 1992 World League Fact Book.