Jacksonville Express

For the earlier Jacksonville WFL team, see Jacksonville Sharks (WFL).

Jacksonville Express
General information
FoundedJanuary 1975
FoldedOctober 1975
StadiumGator Bowl Stadium
HeadquarteredJacksonville, Florida
ColoursBlack, red and gold      
Personnel
OwnersEarl Knabb, Bill DeCarlis
Head coachCharlie Tate
League / conference affiliations
World Football League
Eastern Division

The Jacksonville Express were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida which competed in the World Football League (WFL) in 1975. They were preceded in 1974 by the WFL's Jacksonville Sharks, though the two teams had separate ownership and identities. The Express folded when the league ceased operations during the 1975 season.

History

The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida which competed in the 1974 WFL season. The Sharks folded during that season due to financial difficulties. The WFL returned to Jacksonville the following season with the Jacksonville Express. While head coach Charlie Tate and a few players returned from the Sharks, the Express had new owners (local businessman Earl Knabb along with several minor partners) and a mostly new front office staff. The team's biggest player acquisitions were quarterback George Mira, who had been co-MVP of the 1974 WFL championship game with Birmingham and had been a college All-American with the in-state Miami Hurricanes, and Tommy Reamon, who had led the WFL in rushing in 1974 with the Florida Blazers.[1][2] Paul Orndorff, later a famed professional wrestler, was briefly on the Express roster.[3]

The new ownership group sought to be much more frugal than the free-spending Sharks had been. One notable example of this was that while the Sharks' headquarters had been located in a large suite atop a skyscraper in downtown Jacksonville, the offices of the Express were located in a mall in the basement of a hotel.[4] Accordingly, the franchise was able to meet its financial obligations throughout its short existence. However, the WFL had lost their television contract right before the 1975 season, putting the entire league in serious financial difficulty. The Express had compiled a 6–5 record when the WFL folded in October 1975, 11 games into a planned 20-game schedule.

Schedule and results

Key: Win Loss Bye

1975 regular season

Source:[5]

Week Day Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Source
1 Sunday August 2, 1975 at Memphis Grizzlies L 26–27 Memphis Memorial Stadium 25,166 [6]
2 Sunday August 16, 1975 Birmingham Vulcans W 22–11 Gator Bowl Stadium 16,049 [7]
3 Sunday August 23, 1975 San Antonio Wings W 26–19 Gator Bowl Stadium 16,133 [8]
4 Sunday August 30, 1975 Charlotte Hornets L 14–33 Gator Bowl Stadium 16,428 [9]
5 Saturday September 6, 1975 at Shreveport Steamer W 22–15 State Fair Stadium 13,638 [10]
6 Sunday September 14, 1975 at Hawaiians L 15–33 Aloha Stadium 18,479 [11]
7 Saturday September 20, 1975 Philadelphia Bell W 16–10 Gator Bowl Stadium 10,296 [12]
8 Saturday September 27, 1975 Birmingham Vulcans W 26–18 Gator Bowl Stadium 10,881 [13]
9 Saturday October 4, 1975 Portland Thunder W 32–29 Gator Bowl Stadium 8,119 [14]
10 Sunday October 12, 1975 at Charlotte Hornets L 15–22 American Legion Memorial Stadium 7,750 [15]
11 Sunday October 19, 1975 at Portland Thunder L 13–30 Civic Stadium 8,713 [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jacksonville Sharks news.google.com
  2. ^ "Gadsden Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "Express Signs Paul Orndorff". The Tampa Tribune. June 14, 1975. p. 4-C. Retrieved July 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Greene, Jerry (August 3, 1975). "Southmen escape with 27–26 win". The Pensacola News-Journal. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Bryan, Jimmy (August 17, 1975). "No magic, Vulcans lose one". The Birmingham News. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Jax Express clips Wings in OT, 26–19". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Associated Press. August 24, 1975. p. 2B. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Charlotte Hornets rip Jacksonville Express". The Daily Times-News. Associated Press. August 31, 1975. p. 3B. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Haywood carries load for Express". Fort Myers News-Press. Associated Press. September 7, 1975. p. 4C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Express toppled by Hawaii 33–15". Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press. September 15, 1975. p. 18. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Express comeback rings Bell". The Miami Herald. Associated Press. September 21, 1975. p. 6C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Mira passes Jacksonville past Vulcans". San Antonio Express. Associated Press. September 28, 1975. p. 4-S. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Johnson, Bill (October 5, 1975). "8,119 watch Express win". The Florida Times-Union. p. I1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Polkowski, Chris (October 13, 1975). "McGriff stars for Hornets in win over Express". Sentinel Star. p. 7C. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Nolen, John (October 20, 1975). "8,712 see Thinder rumble". Oregon Journal. p. 17. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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