Shreveport Knights

Shreveport Knights
Founded1998
Folded1999
LeagueRegional Football League
Based inShreveport, Louisiana
StadiumIndependence Stadium
ColorsPurple, Green & Gold
OwnerJay Graddick[1]
Head coachFred Akers

The Shreveport Knights were a professional American football team that played during the 1999 season as part of the Regional Football League.[2] They played their home games at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.[3]

The team was announced as one of the league's charter members on November 12, 1998.[4] The team was initially named the "Shreveport-Bossier City Southern Knights", however this was too long and the name was shortened.[5] For their lone season, Fred Akers served as head coach, and Jason Martin, who had played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, was the starting quarterback.[6] The team's colors were purple, green, and gold.

Although the team was scheduled to play a 12-game regular season,[7] poor attendance and sagging revenues would prove too much for the new league. After playing to a 3–4 record, the Knights were unable to use their home stadium, for financial reasons.[8] For the eighth game of the season, adjustment by the league resulted in Shreveport being rescheduled to play on the road, but when the Knights did not travel to the game, they were assessed a forfeit.[9] Shortly thereafter, the league ended the regular season, and the Knights did not qualify for the playoffs with their 3–5 record. After the season, the team and the league ceased operation.

  1. ^ McCloskey, John (April 11, 1999). "Knights Report". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 51. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Knights Fact Sheet". Remember the RFL. Retrieved 2015-03-23 – via Google Sites.
  3. ^ "Beginning of the Knights' Reign". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "League". Remember the RFL. Retrieved January 25, 2019 – via Google Sites.
  5. ^ "Knights Notes". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference blowout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "1999 Schedule". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. April 17, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Pugh, Jason (June 4, 1999). "Knights cancel Saturday home finale". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 17. Retrieved January 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference forfeit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).