Houston Outlaws (RFL team)

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.

  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference wylie22 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference roller was invoked but never defined (see the help page).