1981 American Football Association

	A Tribute to the American Football Association
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1981 AFA Timeline

February 9, 1981


	League commissioner Billy Kilmer

At a press conference, Billy Kilmer is introduced as commissioner of the American Football Association.

Kilmer will be the league's first full-time commissioner.

Having played quarterback in the National Football League with the San Francisco 49ers, and the New Orleans Saints, Kilmer is best known as the quarterback of the Washington Redskins.

Kilmer retired from football in 1978.

May 20, 1981
At an owner's meeting, the AFA is forced to cancel the tentative contract the league had with a national independent network, Mizlou.

The network had assured the AFA they could put together a package of weekly national telecasts. The league wasn't depending on the money from the deal, expected to average only $35,000 per team, but for the national exposure.

However, Mizlou found it difficult to attract sponsors and stations. In fact, the network still had no major sponsor and only 21 stations willing to commit to showing games.

A Mizlou game-of-the-month and playoff coverage is still a possibility, however.

Kilmer remains optimistic for the league's future on the small screen. "Television remains a big possibility. The doors aren't closed yet and I'm working on cable deals and other things."

May 1981

			1981 American Football Association
xx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xx

	Austin Texans		Carolina Chargers		Chicago Fire		Jacksonville Firebirds		Orlando Americans


	San Antonio Charros		Shreveport Steamer		Texas Wranglers		Virginia Hunters		West Virginia Rockets

1981 American Football Association
Western Division	Eastern Division
Austin Texans	Carolina Chargers
Chicago Fire	Jacksonville Firebirds
San Antonio Charros	Orlando Americans
Shreveport Steamer	Virginia Hunters
Texas Wranglers	West Virginia Rockets

June 13, 1981
Five key players of the Carolina Chargers have quit before the team departed for their game in Chicago. The players are Ed Thomas, Reid Squires, Dennis Matthews, Sam Cook, and Roger Harris.

Head coach Mike Faulkiner was surprised by their decision. "They never said anything about a problem with me. And I certainly don't have any hard feeling toward them. They weren't making any money, we were 0-2, and they had to make that 15-hour bus ride. This did draw us (the remaining team members) closer together. This is the kind of thing that could tear a team apart."

June 17, 1981
The Carolina Charger players issue an ultimatum to the city of Charlotte... if 8,000 or more paying fans don't attend this week's game they will quit the team, forcing the league to fold the franchise.

Their dissatisfaction lies with their pay, and want the team's ownership to guarantee a small salary that doesn't depend on the number of fans in the stands.

June 18, 1981
The Carolina Chargers head coach, Mike Faulkiner, resigns during evening practice. "I'm not running from anything. The frustration just got too great for me. I worry about how this will hurt my career. The NFL will look at me and see that I was a first year head coach and the team folded. They'll wonder if I can hold it together."

June 23, 1981
In a unanimous vote, Carolina Chargers players decide to suspend play for the remainder of this season.

Last week, the players issued an ultimatum to the fans in Charlotte... if 8,000 fans don't attend the next home game, the players would walk. Not even half that number of fans showed up for the game on Saturday, which then prompted the voting. Players claim they have made only $65 to this point in the season.

Regarding the team's management, reportedly the Chargers owe the IRS $10,000.

June 24, 1981
AFA commissioner Billy Kilmer meets with the Chargers players, staff, and management to iron out their issues.

Kilmer announces that the Chargers will play on Saturday in Shreveport.

June 26, 1981
A member of the Orlando Americans admits he impersonated former Georgia All-American guard Randy Johnson to make the team.

When he joined the team, it was obvious to everyone that his skills had deteriorated and that he was out of shape. A member of the staff noted, "nobody can go that far downhill that fast." The fake Johnson never cracked the starting lineup before being discovered.

The real Randy Johnson, a 3-year veteran of the NFL says he may sue the imposter.

June 27, 1981
After meeting with Kilmer, the Carolina Chargers players vote again to walk out on the team. This vote was so heated that many players had to be restrained from fighting each other.

Kilmer made it official when he announced, "Carolina is out of the AFA. They have no team. Completely, absolutely dead. As long as I stay as commissioner, there will never be a team in Charlotte again."

Since the next game was so close, the league gave Shreveport a forfeiture win in the standings.

July 4, 1981
AFA commissioner Billy Kilmer says he has been in negotiations with organizers of the proposed International Football League to merge the two leagues. "We have been talking to them for a long while. We are having an (AFA) owners meeting Monday. They (the IFL) are coming in with their people, and we will try to find an agreeable formula. Basically, they agree with our concept."

Kilmer gave no timetable for the merge.

July 8, 1981
At an owner's meeting in Dallas, the AFA decides not to merge with the International Football League.

The main concern is team budgets. The IFL plans to allow each team a $1 to $2 million budget, while existing AFA teams have budget between $200,000 to $400,000.

July 15, 1981
League officials decide that all games played against the Carolina Chargers will be counted as "no contest". The forfeit the league had given to Shreveport was removed.

Additionally, any individual player statistics from those games would be counted in determining league leaders, which could help players that had incentive clauses written into their contracts.

July 29, 1981
Shreveport Steamer players are unhappy with owner Ed Powell's decision to drop the team's eight player taxi squad. Cutting the taxi squad will save Powell $2,400 over the remaining three games. Team members vote to continue playing, but Powell said the final decision is his to make, "The damage has already been done and is too severe. I think the decision to continue this season is now up to me. I was very disappointed that some of the players saw fit to bring the issue into the press last night."

July 31, 1981
Powell said he will try to sell the Steamers franchise. "The ball club was for sale last year. The only thing that kept me from selling was nobody would buy it."

Powell said he lost $75,000 last year and has already lost $100,000 this season, with three games yet to play.

August 4, 1981
Ed Powell, owner of the Shreveport Steamer, announces that he will be folding the franchise immediately, which means the Steamer will not be playing their final two games.

Powell said the players have been playing with a lack of effort and were upset that he would stop paying the taxi squad players. This, in spite of Powell going against league rules of paying his players a set amount each week instead of the 1% they were supposed to be earning.

"Because of weeks of dissention among players about the coaches and me, I've come to the conclusion, especially after Saturday's game, that the players are not able to concentrate and give their best," Powell said.

August 14, 1981
Austin Texans owner Lowell Libermann announces to the media that tomorrow's game against the Texas Wranglers has been cancelled and that he is folding the Texans immediately.

"The problems associated with the total league's activities has made further participation for this season without merit" with Libermann referring to the player payments other teams have made in spite of league rules.

August 16, 1981
Billy Kilmer announces that he has resigned as commissioner of the AFA. Kilmer will be co-commissioner with current AFA president Roger Gill until the American Bowl. At that point, Gill will become the league's commissioner.

Game Results



Owner:		Lowell Libermann
Head coach:		Randy Johnson
Stadium:		Nelson Field

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/30/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	41-13
06/06/1981	Chicago Fire	4,000	L	27-15
06/13/1981	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	42-22
06/20/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	53-21
06/27/1981	San Antonio Charros	1,500	L	19-18
07/04/1981	at Texas Wranglers	---	W	20-7
07/11/1981	Shreveport Steamer	1,500	L	38-33
07/18/1981	West Virginia Rockets	1,500	L	17-12
07/25/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	30-6
08/03/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	55-25
08/15/1981	Texas Wranglers	---	L	Forfeit
The Austin Texans fold




Owner:		Earl Todd
Head coaches:		Mike Faulkiner (games 1-3) Gerald Hasty (game 4)
Stadium:		Memorial Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/16/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	4,031	L	25-22
05/22/1981	Virginia Hunters	2,116	W	14-10
Regular Season
05/30/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	19-13
06/06/1981	West Virginia Rockets	3,121	L	20-10
06/13/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	W	28-23
06/20/1981	San Antonio Charros	3,071	W	51-39
The Carolina Chargers fold




Owner:		???
Head coach:		Jim Morel
Stadium:		Soldier Field

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/23/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	12-7
Regular Season
05/30/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	23-20
06/06/1981	at Austin Texans	---	W	27-15
06/13/1981	Carolina Chargers	6,425	L *	28-23
06/20/1981	at Virginia Hunters	---	W	27-25
06/27/1981	Texas Wranglers	5,530	W	23-7
07/04/1981	Shreveport Steamer	6,900	W	24-15
07/13/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	26-23
07/18/1981	at Texas Wranglers	---	L	21-14
07/25/1981	San Antonio Charros	8,500	W	24-15
08/03/1981	Austin Texans	8,000	W	55-25
08/10/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	6,000	W	13-12
08/15/1981	at San Antonio Charros	---	W	38-14
Regular Season Results: 8-3 (8-4 on the field)
First Round Playoffs
08/23/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	5,000	W	24-17
American Bowl
08/30/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	29-21
Post Season Results: 1-1
Final Season Results: 9-4 (9-5 on the field)

* Game does not count due to Carolina franchise folding.




Owner:		???
Head coach:		Corky Rodgers
Stadium:		Gator Bowl

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/16/1981	at Carolina Chargers	---	W	25-22
05/24/1981	Orlando Americans	???	W	27-7
Regular Season
05/30/1981	Carolina Chargers	???	W *	19-13
06/06/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	L	36-17
06/13/1981	at Virginia Hunters	---	L	16-14
06/20/1981	Austin Texans	---	W	53-21
06/28/1981	Virginia Hunters	???	W	34-23
07/04/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	30-9
07/13/1981	Chicago Fire	???	W	26-23
07/26/1981	Orlando Americans	7,000	W	20-14
08/01/1981	West Virginia Rockets	???	W	20-7
08/10/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	13-12
08/15/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	Forfeit
08/15/1981	Marietta Thunderbolts Georgia Professional Football Association	???	W	68-0
Regular Season Results: 5-5 (6-5 on the field)
First Round Playoffs
08/23/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	24-17
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 5-6 (6-6 on the field)

* Game does not count due to Carolina franchise folding.




Owner:		Abe Fletcher
Head coach:		Bob Williams
Stadium:		Tangerine Bowl

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/24/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	27-7
Regular Season
05/30/1981	at Virginia Hunters	---	L	30-27
06/06/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	7,835	W	36-17
06/13/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	31-13
06/20/1981	Shreveport Steamer	4,784	W	33-13
06/27/1981	West Virginia Rockets	6,600	L	21-20
07/03/1981	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	24-17
07/18/1981	Virginia Hunters	4,100	L (OT)	15-9
07/26/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	20-14
08/01/1981	San Antonio Charros	2,500	L	26-23
08/08/1981	Texas Wranglers	1,100	W	32-3
Final Season Results: 3-7




Owner:		???
Head coach:		George Pasterchick
Stadium:		Harlandale Memorial Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/30/1981	at Texas Wranglers	---	L	27-7
06/06/1981	Shreveport Steamer	3,500	W	37-15
06/13/1981	Austin Texans	1,500	W	42-22
06/20/1981	at Carolina Chargers	---	L *	51-39
06/27/1981	at Austin Texans	---	W	19-18
07/03/1981	Orlando Americans	2,500	W	24-17
07/11/1981	Texas Wranglers	???	W	41-20
07/18/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	7-3
07/25/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	24-15
08/01/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	W	26-23
08/08/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	41-9
08/15/1981	Chicago Fire	???	L	38-14
Regular Season Results: 6-5 (6-6 on the field)
First Round Playoffs
08/23/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	41-12
Post Season Results: 0-1
Final Season Results: 6-6 (6-7 on the field)

* Game does not count due to Carolina franchise folding.




Owner:		Ed Powell
Head coach:		Jim Williams
Stadium:		State Fair Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/30/1981	Chicago Fire	4,425	W	23-20
06/06/1981	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	37-15
06/13/1981	Texas Wranglers	5,100	W	24-6
06/20/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	L	33-13
07/04/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	24-15
07/11/1981	at Austin Texans	---	W	38-33
07/18/1981	San Antonio Charros	3,000	W	7-3
07/25/1981	Austin Texans	4,000	W	30-6
08/01/1981	at Texas Wranglers	---	L	15-3
08/08/1981	Virginia Hunters	---	L	Forfeit
08/15/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	Forfeit
The Shreveport Steamer fold




Owner:		Pat Noonan, then Horace Ardinger
Head coaches:		Walter Johnson (games 1-6) Tommy Hudspeth (games 7-10)
Stadium:		???

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Regular Season
05/30/1981	San Antonio Charros	2,795	W	27-7
06/06/1981	Virginia Hunters	???	W	23-20
06/13/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	L	24-6
06/20/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	30-9
06/27/1981	at Chicago Fire	---	L	23-7
07/04/1981	Austin Texans	500	L	20-7
07/11/1981	at San Antonio Charros	---	L	41-20
07/18/1981	Chicago Fire	4,112	W	21-14
07/25/1981	at Virginia Hunters	---	L	23-9
08/01/1981	Shreveport Steamer	???	W	15-3
08/08/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	L	32-3
08/15/1981	at Austin Texans	---	W	Forfeit
Final Season Results: 5-7




Owner:		???
Head coach:		Eddie Joyce
Stadium:		Victory Stadium

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/16/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	???	L	44-31
05/22/1981	at Carolina Chargers	---	L	14-10
Regular Season
05/30/1981	Orlando Americans	7,500	W	30-27
06/06/1981	at Texas Wranglers	---	L	23-20
06/13/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	16-14
06/20/1981	Chicago Fire	???	L	27-25
06/28/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	34-23
07/11/1981	West Virginia Rockets	???	L	37-21
07/18/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	W (OT)	15-9
07/25/1981	Texas Wranglers	???	W	23-9
08/08/1981	at Shreveport Steamer	---	W	Forfeit
08/15/1981	at West Virginia Rockets	---	L	30-8
Final Season Results: 5-5




Owner:		???
Head coach:		Lonnie Warwick
Stadium:		Laidley Field (21,000)

Date	Opponent	Attendance	Result	Score
Preseason
05/16/1981	Virginia Hunters	???	W	44-31
05/23/1981	Chicago Fire	???	W	12-7
Regular Season
05/30/1981	Austin Texans	???	W	41-13
06/06/1981	at Carolina Chargers	---	W *	20-10
06/13/1981	Orlando Americans	5,000	W	31-13
06/20/1981	Texas Wranglers	11,037	W	30-9
06/27/1981	at Orlando Americans	---	W	21-20
07/04/1981	Jacksonville Firebirds	???	W	30-9
07/11/1981	at Virginia Hunters	---	W	37-21
07/18/1981	at Austin Texans	---	W	17-12
08/01/1981	at Jacksonville Firebirds	---	L	20-7
08/08/1981	San Antonio Charros	???	W	41-9
08/15/1981	Virginia Hunters	???	W	30-8
Regular Season Results: 9-1 (10-1 on the field)
First Round Playoffs
08/23/1981	San Antonio Charros	???	W	41-12
American Bowl
08/30/1981	Chicago Fire	???	W	29-21
Post Season Results: 2-0
Final Season Results: 11-1 (12-1 on the field)
1981 American Football Association champions

* Game does not count due to Carolina franchise folding.

Photographs and Articles

Preseason

05/16/1981 - PRESEASON
Jacksonville Firebirds at Carolina Chargers
Carolina: Dave Fritz (73), Randy Bolton (22)

05/22/1981 - PRESEASON
Virginia Hunters at Carolina Chargers
Carolina: Ellsworth Turner (15)
Virginia: Edward Jackson (88)

05/23/1981 - PRESEASON
Chicago Fire at West Virginia Rockets

Regular Season

05/30/1981
Orlando Americans at Virginia Hunters
Orlando: Randy Walker (??)

05/30/1981
Orlando Americans at Virginia Hunters
Orlando: Jerry Golsteyn (12)

05/30/1981
Chicago Fire at Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport: Ardis McCann (59), Curley White (51), Ron Johnson (89)
Chicago: Bill Marek (26)

05/30/1981
Chicago Fire at Shreveport Steamer

05/30/1981
Austin Texans at West Virginia Rockets

05/30/1981
San Antonio Charros at Texas Wranglers
Texas: Kevin Johnson (88)

06/06/1981
Chicago Fire at Austin Texans
Austin: Don Walker (20)
Chicago: John Flott (60)

06/06/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers
Carolina: Wayne Foster (81)
West Virginia: Tim Johnson (26), Curtis Walls (28)

06/06/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers
West Virginia: Rayfield Wright (93)
Carolina: Chris Cobb (32)

06/06/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers
West Virginia: James Coleman (84), Larry McGee (48), Greg Fairchild (75)

06/06/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Carolina Chargers
Carolina: Dexter Feaster (80)
West Virginia: Rich Fenton (44)

06/13/1981
Carolina Chargers at Chicago Fire
Chicago: David Smilo (32)

06/13/1981
Texas Wranglers at Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport: Eddie Bishop (43)
Texas: Maurice Mitchell (??)

06/27/1981
San Antonio Charros at Austin Texans
Austin: Kim Watts (33)

06/27/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Orlando Americans
Orlando: Earl Inmon (??)
West Virginia: Joey Smith (18)

06/27/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Orlando Americans
Orlando: Rick Valerio (??)
West Virginia: Mike Horton (??)

07/04/1981
Shreveport Steamer at Chicago Fire
Chicago: ??? (26)
Shreveport: ??? (47), ??? (59)

07/04/1981
Shreveport Steamer at Chicago Fire
Chicago: ??? (50)
Shreveport: ??? (6), ??? (73), ??? (76)

07/04/1981
Shreveport Steamer at Chicago Fire
Chicago: Steve Fuller (31)

07/11/1981
Shreveport Steamer at Austin Texans
Austin: Mike Washington (10)
Shreveport: Ardis McCann (??)

07/18/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Austin Texans
West Virginia: John Sturdivant (81), Jerome Tate (88), Curtis Walls (28)
Austin: Larry Carter (81)

07/18/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Austin Texans
West Virginia: Mark Brown (53)

07/18/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Austin Texans
West Virginia: Mark Brown (53), Earl Monroe (50)
Austin: Art Shambliss (76)

07/18/1981
West Virginia Rockets at Austin Texans
Austin: Ken Sessions (??)
West Virginia: Jerome Tate (88)

07/18/1981
San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport: Gator Cherry (35)

07/18/1981
San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer

07/18/1981
San Antonio Charros at Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport: Clint Longley (19)

07/18/1981
Virginia Hunters at Orlando Americans
Virginia: Don Jones (42)

07/25/1981
Austin Texans at Shreveport Steamer
Shreveport: Gator Cherry (31), Rich Suchanuk (83)

07/25/1981
San Antonio Charros at Chicago Fire
Chicago: Billy Marek (??)

07/25/1981
San Antonio Charros at Chicago Fire
San Antonio: Phil Hahn (77)
Chicago: Billy Marek (26)

07/25/1981
San Antonio Charros at Chicago Fire
San Antonio: Mark Cahill (12)
Chicago: Dave Novosel (41)

08/01/1981
San Antonio Charros at Orlando Americans
San Antonio: Mark Cahill (12)
Orlando: Anthony Clay (??)

Playoffs

08/23/1981 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF
Jacksonville Firebirds at Chicago Fire
Jacksonville: ??? Faulk (61)

08/23/1981 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF
Jacksonville Firebirds at Chicago Fire

08/23/1981 - FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF
Jacksonville Firebirds at Chicago Fire
Chicago: Eric Rouse (82)

American Bowl

08/30/1981 - AMERICAN BOWL
Chicago Fire at West Virginia Rockets
West Virginia: Dwaine Ball (32), Carl Clements (73)
Chicago: Karl Butts (32)

Schedules


Jacksonville Firebirds	Chicago Fire


Orlando Americans courtesy of Richard Paulk


Tickets


06/06/1981 Shreveport Steamer at San Antonio Charros	06/13/1981 Carolina Chargers at Chicago Fire


06/28/1981 Virginia Hunters at Jacksonville Firebirds	07/04/1981 Shreveport Steamer at Chicago Fire


07/11/1981 Orlando Americans at Carolina Chargers courtesy of Jon Maloney	Carolina Chargers Season ticket book courtesy of Jon Maloney

Programs


05/30/1981 Austin Texans at West Virginia Rockets	05/30/1981 Carolina Chargers at Jacksonville Firebirds


06/06/1981 Jacksonville Firebirds at Orlando Americans


06/13/1981 Orlando Americans at West Virginia Rockets	06/13/1981 Carolina Chargers at Chicago Fire (ticket attached to cover)


06/20/1981 Texas Wranglers at West Virginia Rockets	06/27/1981 West Virginia Rockets at Orlando Americans


06/27/1981 Texas Wranglers at Chicago Fire	07/04/1981 Shreveport Steamer at Chicago Fire


07/11/1981 Texas Wranglers at San Antonio Charros	07/18/1981 West Virginia Rockets at Austin Texans courtesy of Jeff Creamer


07/25/1981 San Antonio Charros at Chicago Fire	07/26/1981 Orlando Americans at Jacksonville Firebirds


08/03/1981 Austin Texans at Chicago Fire	08/08/1981 Texas Wranglers at Orlando Americans courtesy of Richard Paulk


08/10/1981 Jacksonville Firebirds at Chicago Fire courtesy of Richard Paulk	08/15/1981 Virginia Hunters at West Virginia Rockets


Miscellaneous


Chicago Fire pennant


Orlando Americans pennant