Mobile Admirals

Mobile Admirals
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inMobile, Alabama
StadiumLadd–Peebles Stadium
OwnerBilly Cox & Jay Graddick[1]
Head coachTom Walsh
Championships1999

The Mobile Admirals were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League; the Admirals were the league champions. They played their home games at Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.[2]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[3] For their lone season, former Los Angeles Raiders offensive coordinator Tom Walsh served as head coach.[4]

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season,[5] poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. In the shortened regular season, the Admirals had a 6–2 record, then were the top seed in the four-team playoff bracket. After defeating the Mississippi Pride in the semi-finals, the Admirals defeated the Houston Outlaws in the championship game, RFL Bowl I. The team was quarterbacked by Frank Costa and Thad Busby,[6] and running back Sherman Williams was the league MVP.[7] After the season, the league ceased operation.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mutiny was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Beginning of the Knights' Reign". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Google Sites.
  4. ^ Vilona, Bill (February 12, 1999). "Busby takes next step to NFL". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. p. 39. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Mobile Admirals 1999 Schedule". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. April 10, 1999. p. 30. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Admirals start playoffs today against Toledo". Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola, Florida. June 12, 1999. p. 45. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sherman still shakin' it up". June 23, 1995. Retrieved February 19, 2017 – via Google News.