The
New England Steamrollers were a former
Arena Football LeagueThe Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as an indoor American football by Jim Foster. It was played indoors on a smaller field than American football, resulting in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game...
team that played in the AFL's 1988 season. The Steamrollers were one of four teams to enter the AFL in 1988, and along with the
New York KnightsThe New York Knights were an arena football team which played in the Arena Football League during the 1988 season only. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations...
and
Los Angeles Cobras-History:The Los Angeles Cobras played in the 1988 Arena Football League season only. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
were folded following the season.
The Steamrollers were based out of
Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
and played their home games at the
Providence Civic CenterThe Dunkin' Donuts Center, also known as The Dunk, is an indoor arena located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Built in 1972 and originally known as the Civic Center, the arena was built as a place for the emerging Providence College men's basketball program and the high demand for...
. They were the first professional football team of any kind to play in Providence since the
Providence Steam RollerThe Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931...
folded in 1933 and the first non-minor league professional sports franchise to play in the city since the NBA's
Providence SteamrollersThe Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.- Franchise history :...
folded in 1949.
3.
The
New England Steamrollers were a former
Arena Football LeagueThe Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as an indoor American football by Jim Foster. It was played indoors on a smaller field than American football, resulting in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game...
team that played in the AFL's 1988 season. The Steamrollers were one of four teams to enter the AFL in 1988, and along with the
New York KnightsThe New York Knights were an arena football team which played in the Arena Football League during the 1988 season only. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2-10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations...
and
Los Angeles Cobras-History:The Los Angeles Cobras played in the 1988 Arena Football League season only. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
were folded following the season.
The Steamrollers were based out of
Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
and played their home games at the
Providence Civic CenterThe Dunkin' Donuts Center, also known as The Dunk, is an indoor arena located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Built in 1972 and originally known as the Civic Center, the arena was built as a place for the emerging Providence College men's basketball program and the high demand for...
. They were the first professional football team of any kind to play in Providence since the
Providence Steam RollerThe Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931...
folded in 1933 and the first non-minor league professional sports franchise to play in the city since the NBA's
Providence SteamrollersThe Providence Steamrollers were a National Basketball Association team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The Steamrollers remain the last pro sports franchise from one of the Big Four leagues to be based in Rhode Island.- Franchise history :...
folded in 1949.
1988 STEAMROLLERS ROSTER
3. JACOBS, Dave (K)
3. RUOFF, Bernie (K)
7. WILLIAMS, Paul (QB)
8. SMITH, Harold (QB)
9. GARDNER, Brian (OS)
22. HEIDMAN, Matt (QB)
22. PRATT, Jim (WR/DB)
23. BIANCHINI, Frank (FB/LB)
27. SLATON, Tony (DS)
27. HAIRSTON, Russell (WR/LB)
28. RAFFERTY, Jim (WR/LB)
29. BREWER, Chris (FB/LB)
29. GRAVELY, Maurice (DS)
30. ALLEN, Brian (WR/DB)
31. FRIDAY, Larry (DS)
44. JONES, Cletis (FB/LB)
45. WILLIAMS, Alvin (WR/DB)
46. BONITATI, Bill (FB/LB)
46. HENDLEY, David (DS)
51. O'MALLEY, Steve (OL/DL)
54. MURPHY, Kevin (OL/DL)
63. JOHNSON, Kim (OL/DL)
67. NEASE, Mike (OL/DL)
67. THOMPSON, Donald (OL/DL)
68.
BEMBERY, SylvesterSylvester Bemery is a former American football lineman in the Arena Football League. Bemery, #78, was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1994-1999, and once again joined the Storm for the 2001 campaign....
(OL/DL)
85. HOCKADAY, Jim (WR/LB)
88. WILLIAMS, Joe (WR/LB)
89. OLIVER, Jeff (OL/DL)
98. FELTON, Joe (OL/DL)
COACH: Vito "Babe" Parilli
External links