Houston Outlaws (RFL team)

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Houston Outlaws
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inHouston, Texas
StadiumPasadena Memorial Stadium
Head coachRay Woodard

The Houston Outlaws were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League. They played their home games at Pasadena Memorial Stadium in Pasadena, Texas, a suburb of Houston.[1][2]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[3] Although Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ernie Stautner was named head coach in February 1999,[4] there is no record of him acting in that capacity. For the team's lone season, former NFL defensive tackle Ray Woodard served as head coach.[5][1] Josh LaRocca, who had played college football for the Rice Owls, was the starting quarterback.[6]

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season, poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. In the shortened regular season, the Outlaws had a 6–2 record. In the postseason, the Outlaws were seeded second in the four-team playoff bracket. They defeated the Mississippi Pride in a home game, 27–3, to advance to the championship game against the top-seeded Mobile Admirals. In RFL Bowl I, played at the Admirals' home field, Ladd–Peebles Stadium, the Outlaws were edged by the Admirals, 14–12.[7] It was the third time the Admirals defeated the Outlaws, who did not lose to any other team. After the season, the team and league ceased operation.

1999 season schedule[edit]

Date Opponent Site W/L Score Attnd. Ref.
April 18 Ohio Cannon Away W 18–17 [8]
April 24 Mississippi Pride Away W 28–5 3,000 [9]
May 1 Mobile Admirals Away† L 7–10 10,432 [10]
May 8 Shreveport Knights Away W 17–14 2,000 [11][12]
May 15 Ohio Cannon Home W 27–3 [13]
May 22 New Orleans Thunder Home W 31–12 1,500 [6]
May 30 Shreveport Knights Home W 17–7 [14]
June 5 Mobile Admirals Away L 3–14 [15]
Playoffs
June 12 Mississippi Pride Home W 27–3 [16]
June 20 Mobile Admirals Away L 12–14 5,571 [7]

† May 1 game played in Mobile due to schedule conflict with Houston's stadium[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Richards, Joey D. (May 27, 1999). "Santa Fe's Wylie finds a football home with the Outlaws". The Daily News. Galveston, Texas. p. 17. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Professional Football in Texas" (PDF). texasalmanac.com. Texas State Historical Association. p. 5. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Google Sites.
  4. ^ "Transactions: Football". The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pennsylvania. February 20, 1999. p. 20. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Goolsby, Henry (April 25, 1999). "Pride: Scores safety, field goal". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 36. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Richards, Joey D. (May 27, 1999). "Santa Fe's Wylie finds a football home with the Outlaws". The Daily News. Galveston, Texas. p. 22. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Roller coaster ride ends with championship for Admirals". Pensacola News Journal. June 21, 1999. p. 5D. Retrieved January 23, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ McCloskey, John (April 23, 1999). "RFL moving headquarters to Mobile, Ala". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 27. Retrieved January 27, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Goolsby, Henry (April 25, 1999). "Outlaws victimize error-prone Pride 28-5". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 35. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ McCloskey, John (May 9, 1999). "Shreveport falls to Houston on late field goal". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 43. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ McCloskey, John (May 9, 1999). "Knights Report". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 45. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Weekly Results". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Knights fall to Houston". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. June 1, 1999. p. 13. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Interception return lifts Admirals past Outlaws". Pensacola News Journal. June 6, 1999. p. 7D. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Goolsby, Henry (June 15, 1999). "Curry: Pay woes contributed to Pride's losses". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 23. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Game moved". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 25, 1999. p. 50. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.

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