Shreveport Steamer

"Shreveport Steamers" redirects here. For the 1979–81 team, see American Football Association (1978–83).

Houston Texans
General information
Founded1974
FoldedSeptember 18, 1974
StadiumAstrodome
HeadquarteredHouston, Texas, U.S.
ColorsGreen and gold    
Personnel
Head coachMarshall Taylor
League / conference affiliations
World Football League
Western Division
Shreveport Steamer
General information
FoundedSeptember 1974
FoldedOctober 1975
StadiumState Fair Stadium
HeadquarteredShreveport, Louisiana
ColorsGreen and gold    
Personnel
Head coachJim Garrett
Nickname
The Boats
League / conference affiliations
World Football League
Western Division

The Shreveport Steamer were a professional American football team in the World Football League. The franchise began the 1974 season in Houston, Texas, as the Houston Texans (no connection to the current NFL team of the same name), playing their home games at the Houston Astrodome.[1] Toward the end of the season, the team relocated to Shreveport, Louisiana, and became the Shreveport Steamer. They played at the 30,000-seat State Fair Stadium, now named Independence Stadium.[2] Larry King, of future CNN fame, was one of their broadcasters.

The Steamer showcased a number of veterans and a few rookies. Among them were ambidextrous quarterback and former University of Houston star D. C. Nobles and several American Football League veterans: quarterbacks Mike Taliaferro and Don Trull, fullback Jim Nance, wide receivers Don Maynard and Rick Eber, tight end Willie Frazier, former Houston Oiler and All-AFL tackle Glen Ray Hines, linebacker Garland Boyette, defensive end Al Dotson, defensive backs Daryl Johnson, Richmond Flowers, Jr., John Mallory, and Art McMahon, and rookie linebacker John Villapiano, brother of Oakland Raiders defender Phil Villapiano.

History

1974 season

The Texans played in Houston for 11 games, going 3–7–1. The team relocated to Shreveport on September 18, 1974. On September 23, 1974, they were rechristened the Shreveport Steamer. The franchise, according to the WFL, was operated on a "play now, pay later" basis. The team was coached by Marshall Taylor, a former star player at Tennessee Tech. The Steamer made their home debut on September 25 against the Memphis Southmen. They played in front of just over 21,000 fans, and lost 17–3. They had a 4–5 record after the move, finishing 7–12–1 overall in 1974.

In 1974, under federal court order, Sheriff James M. Goslin seized equipment of the Charlotte Hornets, who were in Shreveport playing at Independence Stadium for the WFL against the Shreveport Steamer. Goslin was complying with a suit seeking more than $26,000 in accumulated debts that had been filed against the Hornets by plaintiffs in New York, where the team had been domiciled during the first half of 1974. However, Goslin allowed the Hornets to play the Steamer before the impounding of the equipment.[3]

1975 season

The Steamer returned for the 1975 WFL season with a different coaching staff. Right from the start, both the "Boats" and the resurrected league struggled. (The second Chicago franchise, the Chicago Winds, unrelated except by venue to the previous year's Chicago team, the Chicago Fire, ceased operations on September 2, after five games.) After a mediocre 5–7 record and with the franchise almost out of money, the Steamer and the WFL sank permanently on October 22, 1975. The second WFL ceased operations little more than halfway through the planned 1975 season.

An unrelated "Shreveport Steamer", also known as the plural "Steamers", played in the American Football Association from 1979 to 1981. (All copyrights and trademarks for the WFL's teams were allowed to lapse after the league's shutdown.) This team renamed itself the "Steamers-Americans" after merging with the Orlando Americans in 1982. Billy Kilmer served as the team's coach in its first season.

Schedule and results

Key: Win Loss Bye

1974 regular season

Source:[4]

Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
1 Wednesday July 10, 1974 at Chicago Fire L 0–17 Soldier Field 42,000 [5]
2 Wednesday July 17, 1974 Philadelphia Bell W 11–0 Houston Astrodome 26,227 [6]
3 Wednesday July 24, 1974 at Florida Blazers L 3–15 Florida Citrus Bowl 15,729 [7]
4 Wednesday July 31, 1974 Florida Blazers W 7–6 Houston Astrodome 16,268 [8]
5 Wednesday August 7, 1974 at Portland Storm T 15–15 Civic Stadium 15,686 [9]
6 Thursday August 15, 1974 Southern California Sun L 7–18 Houston Astrodome 31,227 [10]
7 Wednesday August 21, 1974 at New York Stars L 10–43 Downing Stadium 12,042 [11]
8 Wednesday August 28, 1974 New York Stars W 14–11 Houston Astrodome 10,126 [12]
9 Sunday September 1, 1974 at Hawaiians L 15–33 Honolulu Stadium 10,248 [13]
10 Saturday September 7, 1974 at Memphis Southmen L 0–45 Memphis Memorial Stadium 15,291 [14]
11 Wednesday September 11, 1974 Hawaiians L 17–24 Houston Astrodome 9,061 [15]
12 Thursday September 19, 1974† at Birmingham Americans L 14–42 Legion Field 33,619 [16]
13 Wednesday September 25, 1974‡ Memphis Southmen L 3–17 State Fair Stadium 21,357 [17]
14 Wednesday October 2, 1974 Detroit Wheels W 14–11 State Fair Stadium 22,012 [18]
15 Thursday October 10, 1974 at Southern California Sun L 23–25 Anaheim Stadium 24,223 [19]
16 Wednesday October 16, 1974 at Philadelphia Bell W 30–25 John F. Kennedy Stadium 750 [20]
17 Wednesday October 23, 1974 Birmingham Americans W 31–0 State Fair Stadium 24,617 [21]
18 Thursday October 31, 1974 Portland Storm L 0–14 State Fair Stadium 20,402 [22]
19 Wednesday November 6, 1974 Charlotte Hornets W 19–14 State Fair Stadium 10,697 [23]
20 Wednesday November 13, 1974 at Birmingham Americans L 7–40 Legion Field 14,794 [24]
† first game after announcing move to Shreveport
‡ first home game in Shreveport

1975 regular season

Source:[25]

Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
1 Sunday August 2, 1975 at San Antonio Wings L 3–19 Alamo Stadium 10,411 [26]
2 Sunday August 9, 1975 Chicago Winds W 38–18 State Fair Stadium 10,611 [27]
3 Sunday August 16, 1975 Philadelphia Bell W 10–3 State Fair Stadium 12,016 [28]
4 Sunday August 23, 1975 at Portland Thunder L 24–33 Civic Stadium 6,576 [29]
5 Sunday August 30, 1975 at Birmingham Vulcans L 8–21 Legion Field 18,700 [30]
6 Saturday September 6, 1975 Jacksonville Express L 15–22 State Fair Stadium 13,638 [31]
7 Sunday September 14, 1975 at Memphis Grizzlies L 23–34 Memphis Memorial Stadium 18,003 [32]
8 Saturday September 20, 1975 Southern California Sun W 38–29 State Fair Stadium 18,777 [33]
9 Sunday September 28, 1975 Hawaiians W 32–25 State Fair Stadium 21,349 [34]
10 Sunday October 5, 1975 Charlotte Hornets L 14–39 State Fair Stadium 20,407 [35]
11 Sunday October 12, 1975 at Southern California Sun L 30–39 Anaheim Stadium 10,505 [36]
12 Sunday October 19, 1975 San Antonio Wings W 41–31 State Fair Stadium 8,500 [37]

See also

Sources

  • Houston Texans 1974 WFL Media Guide
  • Shreveport Steamer 1975 WFL Media Guide

References

  1. ^ Sachare, Alex (September 20, 1974). "Texans, Wheels could be moving". The Free Lance–Star. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  2. ^ "WFL's Houston Texans shifted to Shreveport". Columbia Missourian. United Press International. September 19, 1974. p. 7. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  3. ^ Richard Sink (November 7, 1974). "Louisiana Sheriff Seizes Hornets Gear". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "1974 World Football League Game Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  5. ^ Zainea, Leo (July 11, 1974). "No sparks, but Fire sizzles 17–0". Chicago Tribune. p. 3-1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Robinson, Barry (July 18, 1974). "Texans ring Bell by 11–0". San Antonio Express. p. 2F. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Texans fumble too much in loss". The Baytown Sun. Associated Press. July 25, 1974. p. 2-1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Houston wins one!". The Corpus Christi Caller. Associated Press. August 1, 1974. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Texans tumble in WFL action". San Angelo Standard-Times. Associated Press. August 8, 1974. p. 22. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Don Trull goat in Texans' loss". El Paso Herald-Post. UPI. August 16, 1974. p. C4. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Brooks, Art (August 22, 1974). "WFL Stars whip Texans". The Standard-Star. p. 34. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Taliaferro's passing stops Stars, 14–11". Newsday. Associated Press. August 29, 1974. p. 142. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Hawaii sinks Texans, 33–15". The Houston Chronicle. September 2, 1974. p. 4-1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Southmen air bomb Texans". The Austin American-Statesman. Associated Press. September 8, 1974. p. C5. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Hawaiians win 24–17". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Associated Press. September 12, 1974. p. 2D. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Robertson, Dale (September 20, 1974). "Birmingham blasts Texans, uh, Shreveport". The Houston Post. p. 4F. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Covin, John (September 26, 1974). "Memphis stop Steamer in Shreveport debut, 17–7". The Marshall News Messenger. p. 1B. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Robicheaux, Gerry (October 3, 1974). "The Steamer is whistling, 14–11". The Shreveport Times. p. E1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Adams aerials save the Sun". Birmingham Post-Herald. Associated Press. October 11, 1974. p. A10. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "750 soaked JFK spectators watch Bell get steam bath". Woodbury Daily Times. Associated Press. October 17, 1974. p. 15. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Steamer drops Birmingham 31–0". The Selma Times-Journal. Associated Press. October 24, 1974. p. 6. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Defense nets Storm win". The Oregon Statesman. Associated Press. November 1, 1974. p. 41. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Robicheaux, Gerry (November 7, 1974). "Steamer rallies in home finale". The Shreveport Times. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Ams rout Steamer, 40–7 behind Capone, Edwards". The Mobile Register. Associated Press. November 14, 1974. p. 7E. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  26. ^ "Wings win another". The Houston Post. August 3, 1975. p. 2D. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Robichaux, Gerry (August 10, 1975). "Steamer overcomes Winds, gets back on course". The Shreveport Times. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Robichaux, Gerry (August 17, 1975). "Steamer defense cracks the Bell in 10–3 victory". The Shreveport Times. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Richard, Terry (August 24, 1975). "Horn's 3 TD tosses give Thunder win". The Sunday Oregonian. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Mayes, Bob (August 31, 1975). "Birmingham Vulcans win, but still lose". The Huntsville Times. p. 66. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Haywood carries load for Express". Fort Myers News-Press. Associated Press. September 7, 1975. p. 4C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "White leads Southmen, 34–23". The Los Angeles Times. UPI. September 15, 1975. p. III-4. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Davis gains 104 yards but Sun loses, 38–29". The Sun-Telegram. Associated Press. September 21, 1975. p. E2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Woodson, Rick (September 29, 1975). "Offense wins, eh, Steamer?". The Shreveport Journal. p. 1C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Whitesell, Phil (October 6, 1975). "Hornet outburse sinks Steamer". The Charlotte News. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Davis (who else?) leads Sun to win". Ventura County Star-Free Press. UPI. October 13, 1975. p. B2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Ostrum, Bob (October 20, 1975). "Tough drills await Wings". San Antonio Light. p. 1C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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