San_Antonio_Riders

San Antonio Riders

San Antonio Riders

American football franchise


The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles (72 km) northeast of San Antonio, for the 1992 season after the San Antonio Independent School District refused to allow the sale of beer at WLAF games or the display of beer advertising at Alamo Stadium. In return, Riders ownership scrapped plans to fund $235,000 in renovations to the Stadium. In June 1991, SAISD officials announced plans for a rent increase on the Riders for the 1992 season. The relationship would last for only one season.

Quick Facts Founded, Closed ...

The team was owned by Larry Benson, the brother of Tom Benson (owner of the New Orleans Saints of the NFL). The general managers were Tom Landry (Pro Football Hall of Fame coach) and Tom Landry, Jr. The head coach for both seasons was Mike Riley.

The team's record in 1991 was 4-6. San Antonio turned things around in 1992 with a mark of 7-3. The Riders were not able to compete in the highly competitive North American West Division during the 1992 season, and like the Frankfurt Galaxy of 1991, they did not make the playoffs despite a 7-3 record.

Former players include professional wrestler John "Bradshaw" Layfield, better known as JBL of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Jason Garrett who went on to play for and later serve as head coach for the Dallas Cowboys, and head coach Mike Riley, who went on to coach the San Diego Chargers of the NFL, as well as Oregon State and Nebraska at the collegiate level.

After the 1992 season saw the suspension of the WLAF (and ultimately the abandonment of North American teams), Benson applied to the Canadian Football League to have the Riders join that league instead for the 1993 season. The CFL accepted, and admitted the Riders and the Sacramento Surge/Gold Miners to the CFL. The Riders were to change names to the San Antonio Texans (there was already a Rough Riders and a Roughriders, both of whom were known as the "Riders" for short), but the team folded abruptly prior to the 1993 season. The San Antonio Texans name would later be used for the aforementioned Gold Miners when they moved to San Antonio in 1995.

Season-by-season

More information Season, League ...

1991 season

Quick Facts 1991 season, Owner ...

Personnel

Staff

1991 San Antonio Riders staff
Front office
  • Owner/president – Larry J. Benson
  • Vice president/general manager – John Peterson
  • Assistant director of football operations – Billy Schott
  • Business manager – Greg Korn

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Greg Newhouse
  • Defensive line/special teams – Don Wnek
  • Defensive backs – Bill Bradley


[2]

Roster

More information 1991 San Antonio Riders roster ...

[2] [3]

Schedule

More information Week, Date ...

[2] [4]

1992 season

Quick Facts 1992 season, Owner ...

Personnel

Staff

1992 San Antonio Riders staff
Front office
  • President/Managing Partner – Larry J. Benson
  • Limited partner – Tom Landry
  • Vice president/general manager – John Peterson
  • Business manager – Greg Korn
  • Assistant director of football operations – Billy Schott
  • Scouting assistant – Jeff Beathard

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Greg Newhouse
  • Defensive line/special teams – Don Wnek
  • Defensive backs – Bill Bradley


Roster

1992 San Antonio Riders roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Operation Discovery
  • Vacant


Rookies in italics

Results

Week 1: San Antonio 17, Montreal Machine 16
Week 2: Birmingham Fire 17, San Antonio 10
Week 3: San Antonio 9, New York/New Jersey Knights 3
Week 4: San Antonio 23, Sacramento Surge 20 (OT)
Week 5: San Antonio 17, Ohio Glory 0
Week 6: San Antonio 17, Birmingham Fire 14
Week 7: Orlando Thunder 39, San Antonio 21
Week 8: San Antonio 17, Barcelona Dragons 0
Week 9: San Antonio 43, Frankfurt Galaxy 14
Week 10: Sacramento Surge 27, San Antonio 21

References

  1. "Team Colors – WLAF". SSUR.org. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  2. The Official 1991 World League of American Football Media Guide.
  3. 1992 San Antonio Riders Media Guide.
  4. The Official 1992 World League Fact Book.

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