Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks

World League of American Football team

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Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks

Founded| 1991
Closed| 1991
Based in| Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Home field| Carter–Finley Stadium
League| World League of American Football (NFL Europe)
Colors| Red, Kelly Green, Black, White[1]

Franchise record| Regular Season: 0–10

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 N.C. State alumnus Roman Gabriel.

The team had a 0–10 record in the 1991 season and averaged 12,066 spectators per game due in part to the lack of beer sales, which were not allowed at (technically) on-campus Carter–Finley Stadium. During the 1991 season, the three Europe-based teams dominated the franchises in North America. In mid season, the Skyhawks came close to beating the Frankfurt Galaxy in Germany, but lost 30-28 to a team that was coached by Jack Elway and finished the season 7-3, considered by some as the league's second best. The Skyhawks 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. After a two year hiatus, the league resumed in 1995 with new focus as NFL Europe.

The Skyhawks' lack of success did not sour the NFL on the whole state, as in 1995, Charlotte welcomed the expansion Carolina Panthers franchise. Professional sports would return to the Triangle area eight years later when the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL moved there from Greensboro, North Carolina to play ice hockey in their newly constructed arena.

## Season-by-season

[edit]

Season  | League  | Regular season  | Postseason

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Won  | Lost  | Ties  | Win %  | Finish  | Won  | Lost  | Win %  | Result
1991 | WLAF | 0  | 10  | 0  | .000  | 4th (North American East) | –  | –  | —  | —
Total  | 0  | 10  | 0  | .000  |  | –  | –  | —  |

## Personnel

[edit]

### Staff

[edit]

1991 Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks staff

| Front office

* Owner – George Shinn
* Vice President/Administration – Wayne Thompson
* Director of Player Personnel – Ernie Driscoll

Head coaches

* Head Coach/Director of Football Operations – Roman Gabriel

Offensive coaches

* Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs – Johnnie Walton
* Receivers/Special Teams – Jim Popp
* Offensive Line – Buck Fowler

|  |  | Defensive coaches

* Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Doug Kay
* Defensive Line – Claude Humphrey
* Mascot – Craig Lloyd
* Secondary/Special Teams – Charlie Harbison

[2]

### Roster

[edit]

1991 Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks roster

| Quarterbacks

* 14 Mark Maye

* 11 Bobby McAllister

* 6 Joe Pizzo

Running Backs

* 28 Sean Doctor

* 21 John Burch

* 30 Bren Lowery

* 20 Darryl McGill

Wide Receivers

* 80 Marvin Hargrove

* 84 Clarkston Hines

* 89 Andre Johnson

* 82 Clarence Seay

Tight Ends

* 81 Joe Meerten

* 85 Kevin Sprinkles

|  | Offensive Linemen

* 64 Terry Gray G

* 72 Kelly John-Lewis T

* 60 Jason Kuipers G

* 51 Wood Myers T

* 68 Ruffin Rodrigue G/T

* 53 Paul Wulff C

* 76 Chuck Whelpley G

Defensive Linemen

* 73 David Ammons DE

* 97 Webbie Burnett NT

* 94 Anthony Butts NT

* 75 Jon Carter DE

* 95 Tony Gunn DE

* 77 Erwin Grabisna DE

|  | Linebackers

* 52 Ezekial Gadson

* 61 Steve Glasson

* 96 Troy Stedman

* 98 Rafe Wilkinson

* 59 Shawn Woodson

Defensive Backs

* 24 Chris Barber CB

* 47 Ray Jackson S

* 29 Gerald Mack CB

* 26 Pat McGuirk CB

* 23 Brian McPhatter S

* 31 Peda Samuel CB

* 41 Richard Smith S

Special Teams

* 7 Troy Faunce P

* 3 Wilson Hoyle K

|  | Operation Discovery

* 22 Nicolay Aslaksen RB

* 1 Peter Bush P

* 55 Vladimir Gerogiev LB

* 92 Oleg Sapego DL

Rookies in italics

## Schedule

[edit]

Week  | Date  | Kickoff  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Venue  | Attendance

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1  | March 23 | 4:00 p.m.  | at Sacramento Surge | L 3–9  | 0–1  | Hughes Stadium | 15,126
2  | March 30 | 8:00 p.m.  | at Orlando Thunder | L 20–58  | 0–2  | Florida Citrus Bowl | 20,811
3  | April 6 | 8:00 p.m.  | Barcelona Dragons | L 14–26  | 0–3  | Carter–Finley Stadium | 17,900
4  | April 15 | 8:00 p.m.  | San Antonio Riders | L 15–37  | 0–4  | Carter–Finley Stadium  | 11,818
5  | April 20 | 8:00 p.m.  | at Frankfurt Galaxy | L 28–30  | 0–5  | Waldstadion | 21,065
6  | April 28  | 6:00 p.m.  | at London Monarchs | L 10–35  | 0–6  | Wembley Stadium | 33,997
7  | May 5  | 1:00 p.m.  | New York/New Jersey Knights | L 6–42  | 0–7  | Carter–Finley Stadium  | 10,069
8  | May 13 | 8:00 p.m.  | at Montreal Machine | L 6–15  | 0–8  | Olympic Stadium | 20,123
9  | May 20 | 8:00 p.m.  | Orlando Thunder | L 14–20  | 0–9  | Carter–Finley Stadium  | 4,207
10  | May 25 | 3:00 p.m.  | Birmingham Fire | L 7–28  | 0–10  | Carter–Finley Stadium  | 16,335

[2] [3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Team Colors – WLAF". SSUR.org. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
2. ^ a b The Official 1991 World League of American Football Media Guide.
3. ^ The Official 1992 World League Fact Book.

## External links

[edit]

* Team results @ the Football Database

* v
* t
* e

World League of American Football / NFL Europe / NFL Europa

Teams|

* Amsterdam Admirals (1995–2007)
* Barcelona Dragons (1991–1992, 1995–2003)
* Berlin Thunder (1999–2007)
* Birmingham Fire (1991–1992)
* Cologne Centurions (2004–2007)
* Frankfurt Galaxy (1991–1992, 1995–2007)
* Hamburg Sea Devils (2005–2007)
* London/England Monarchs (1991–1992, 1995–1997, 1998)
* Montreal Machine (1991–1992)
* New York/New Jersey Knights (1991–1992)
* Ohio Glory (1992)
* Orlando Thunder (1991–1992)
* Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks (1991)
* Rhein Fire (1995–2007)
* Sacramento Surge (1991–1992)
* San Antonio Riders (1991–1992)
* Scottish Claymores (1995–2004)

Seasons|

* 1991
* 1992
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007

See also|

* World Bowl
* Intercontinental Football League
* European League of Football

*[G]: Offensive guard
*[T]: Offensive tackle
*[G/T]: Offensive guard / tackle
*[C]: Center
*[DE]: Defensive end
*[NT]: Nose tackle
*[CB]: Cornerback
*[S]: Safety
*[P]: Punter
*[K]: Kicker
*[RB]: Running back
*[LB]: Linebacker
*[DL]: Defensive lineman
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template