Birmingham Fire
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham Fire was a professional American football
team based in Birmingham, Alabama
that played in the World League of American Football
in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Legion Field
, and it made the playoffs in both seasons.
Gavin Maloof was the primary owner of the Fire. He had previously owned the Houston Rockets
of the NBA. He hired long time NFL assistant Chan Gailey
as head coach. The Fire also had one of the first African-American general managers in pro football, United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue
. Ronn Hollis was the Director of Communications.
|1991 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 1st North American West || Lost Semifinals (Dragons
)
|-
|1992 || 7 || 2 || 1 || 2nd North American West || Lost Semifinals (Thunder
)
|-
!Totals || 12 || 9 || 1
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
10-3. The team was led on the field by former Houtson Oilers back up quarterback Breant Pease. He shared duties with back up Eric Jones. However, Jones was ineffective, and Pease took oveer starting duties full time. The Fire managed to make the play offs, where they lost to Barcelona 10-3.
Five players were named to the All-WLAF Team:
. While in London, the Monarchs and Fire played to the only tie in league history. Birmingham finished up in second place in the division, but would once again lose in the playoffs, this time to Orlando.
John Brantley and John Miller repeated as All-WLAF members.
After the World Bowl
, the league ceased operations in North America, and resurfaced years later as NFL Europe
.
Week 2: Birmingham 17, San Antonio Riders 10
Week 3: Birmingham 17, Frankfurt Galaxy 7
Week 4: Birmingham 17, London Monarchs 17 (OT)
Week 5: Birmingham 28, Sacramento Surge 14
Week 6: San Antonio Riders 17, Birmingham 14
Week 7: Birmingham 19, Barcelona Dragons 17
Week 8: Birmingham 23, Montreal Machine 16 (OT)
Week 9: Birmingham 24, Orlando Thunder 23
Week 10: Birmingham 27, Ohio Glory 24
Semifinals: Orlando Thunder 45, Birmingham 7
. When he left to re-enter the NFL, he was replaced by Fire offensive line coach Pete Hurt. Gailey went on to become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys
, Georgia Tech, and the Buffalo Bills
.
Gavin Maloof would join his brother in becoming owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings
.
In 1995, the Fire nickname was resurrected in Düsseldorf
, Germany
as the Rhein Fire
of NFL Europe
.
Michael Huyghue
worked in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars
. As of November 2009, he is the Commissioner of the United Football League.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team based in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
that played in the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
in 1991 and 1992. The team played at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
, and it made the playoffs in both seasons.
Gavin Maloof was the primary owner of the Fire. He had previously owned the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
of the NBA. He hired long time NFL assistant Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
as head coach. The Fire also had one of the first African-American general managers in pro football, United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue
Michael Huyghue
Michael L. Huyghue is a sports lawyer and businessman who is the current commissioner of the new United Football League, having served in that capacity since the league's founding in 2007. He was previously a member of the legal department of the NFL Players Association before joining the NFL...
. Ronn Hollis was the Director of Communications.
Season-by-season
|-|1991 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 1st North American West || Lost Semifinals (Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
)
|-
|1992 || 7 || 2 || 1 || 2nd North American West || Lost Semifinals (Thunder
Orlando Thunder
The Orlando Thunder was a member of the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992 . The team played their games in the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl, and was coached by Don Matthews in 1991 and Galen Hall in 1992...
)
|-
!Totals || 12 || 9 || 1
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
1991 season
The first game at Legion Field featured an attendance of over 53,000. The Fire lost to Montreal 20-5. Their second game, a 17-10 win against Sacramento, only drew 16,000. The game featured a 99 yard interception return for a touchdown, by free safety John Miller. The Fire got off to a 1-4 start, but clinched the North American West Division with a 5-5 record. They would lose in the playoffs to the Barcelona DragonsBarcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
10-3. The team was led on the field by former Houtson Oilers back up quarterback Breant Pease. He shared duties with back up Eric Jones. However, Jones was ineffective, and Pease took oveer starting duties full time. The Fire managed to make the play offs, where they lost to Barcelona 10-3.
Five players were named to the All-WLAF Team:
- John Brantley, LB, 1st Team
- John Miller, FS, 1st Team
- Darrell Phillips, NT, 2nd Team
- John Holland, CB, 2nd Team
- Kirk Maggio, P, 2nd Team
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Results | Game site | Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | ||||||
| 1 | Saturday, March 23 | 7:00 p.m. | Montreal Machine Montreal Machine The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the World League of American Football, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three European teams and six U.S.-based teams... |
L 5–20 | 0–1 | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
52,942 |
| 2 | Saturday, March 30 | 7:00 p.m. | Sacramento Surge Sacramento Surge The Sacramento Surge was a professional American football team that played in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. The team played its first season at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, and the second season in Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus. It was owned... |
W 17–10 | 1–1 | Legion Field | 16,432 |
| 3 | Monday, April 8 | 8:00 p.m. | at Montreal Machine Montreal Machine The Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the World League of American Football, a springtime developmental professional league set up by the National Football League that played in 1991 and 1992. There were also three European teams and six U.S.-based teams... |
L 10–23 | 1–2 | Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium (Montreal) The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics... |
27,766 |
| 4 | Monday, April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | London Monarchs 1991 London Monarchs season The 1991 London Monarchs season was the inaugural season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:... |
L 0–27 | 1–3 | Legion Field | 18,512 |
| 5 | Sunday, April 21 | 7:00 p.m. | at Orlando Thunder Orlando Thunder The Orlando Thunder was a member of the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992 . The team played their games in the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl, and was coached by Don Matthews in 1991 and Galen Hall in 1992... |
W 31–6 | 2–3 | Florida Citrus Bowl Citrus Bowl The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people.... |
21,249 |
| 6 | Monday, April 29 | 7:00 p.m. | San Antonio Riders San Antonio Riders The San Antonio Riders were a professional American football team that played in the WLAF in 1991 and 1992. The team played in the Alamo Stadium in 1991 and then were forced to move to Bobcat Stadium on the campus of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, 45 miles northeast of San... |
W 16–12 | 3–3 | Legion Field | 8,114 |
| 7 | Saturday, May 4 | 8:00 p.m. | at Barcelona Dragons 1991 Barcelona Dragons season The 1991 Barcelona Dragons season was the inaugural season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:... |
L 6–11 | 3–4 | Montjuic Stadium Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city , it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics... |
31,490 |
| 8 | Sunday, May 12 | 7:00 p.m. | at Frankfurt Galaxy 1991 Frankfurt Galaxy season The 1991 Frankfurt Galaxy season was the inaugural season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:-Honors:... |
L 3–10 | 3–5 | Waldstadion Commerzbank-Arena The Commerzbank-Arena is a sports stadium in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. Commonly known by its original name, Waldstadion , the stadium opened in 1925. The stadium has been upgraded several times since then; the most recent remodelling was its redevelopment as a football-only stadium in preparation... |
28,127 |
| 9 | Monday, May 20 | 8:00 p.m. | New York/New Jersey Knights New York/New Jersey Knights New York/New Jersey Knights was a franchise in the World League of American Football for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. They played in the North American East division, which they won in the 1991 season. They were coached by Mouse Davis, an architect of the Run & Shoot offense.After 1992 the NFL ... |
W 24–14 | 4–5 | Legion Field | 31,211 |
| 10 | Saturday, May 25 | 3:00 p.m. | at Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks | W 28–7 | 5–5 | Carter–Finley Stadium | 16,335 |
| Postseason | |||||||
| Semifinal | Sunday, June 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Barcelona Dragons Barcelona Dragons The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it... |
L 3–10 | 5–6 | Legion Field | 37,590 |
Staff
| 1991 Birmingham Fire staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
|
|||||
Roster
| 1991 Birmingham Fire roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends |
Offensive Linemen Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Operation Discovery
Rookies in italics |
|||||
1992 season
General Manager Michael Huyghue left to join the league's front office and was replaced by Rick Nichols. As for the team, the season started out the same way as the previous year. A loss to Sacramento on the road, followed by winning 4 of the next 6 games. Including a first ever road win in Europe, against the Frankfurt GalaxyFrankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. While in London, the Monarchs and Fire played to the only tie in league history. Birmingham finished up in second place in the division, but would once again lose in the playoffs, this time to Orlando.
John Brantley and John Miller repeated as All-WLAF members.
After the World Bowl
World Bowl
The World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
, the league ceased operations in North America, and resurfaced years later as NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
.
Results
Week 1: Sacramento Surge 20, Birmingham 6Week 2: Birmingham 17, San Antonio Riders 10
Week 3: Birmingham 17, Frankfurt Galaxy 7
Week 4: Birmingham 17, London Monarchs 17 (OT)
Week 5: Birmingham 28, Sacramento Surge 14
Week 6: San Antonio Riders 17, Birmingham 14
Week 7: Birmingham 19, Barcelona Dragons 17
Week 8: Birmingham 23, Montreal Machine 16 (OT)
Week 9: Birmingham 24, Orlando Thunder 23
Week 10: Birmingham 27, Ohio Glory 24
Semifinals: Orlando Thunder 45, Birmingham 7
Staff
| 1992 Birmingham Fire staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Support Staff
|
|||||
1992 Roster
- Bill Anderson Center
- Rick Apolskis Guard
- Steve Avery Fullback
- Carl Bax Guard
- Jim Bell Running Back
- Willie Bouyer Wide Receiver
- Tony Bowick Defensive Tackle
- John Brantley Linebacker
- Eddie Britton wide Receiver
- Simmie Carter Defensive Back
- Tony Delorenzo Tackle
- Phillip Doyle Kicker
- Fred Foggie Defensive Back
- Antinio Gibson Defensive Back
- Anthony Green Wide receiver
- Elroy Harris Running Back
- James Henry Defensive Back
- Anthony Henton Linebacker
- J.R. Holland Defensive Back
- Mark Hopkins Tight End
- Craig Hudson Tight End
- Arthur Hunter Defensive Back
- Junio Jackson Linebacker
- Kirk Kirkpatrick Tight end
- Kirk Maggio Punter
- Pellom McDaniels Defensive End
- Paul McGowan Linebacker
- John Miller Free Safety
- Otis Moore Defensive Tackle
- Shawn Moore Quarterback
- Andreas Motzkus Wide receiver
- Mike Norseth Quarterback
- Craig Ogletree linebacker
- Maurice Oliver Linebacker
- Darrell Phillips Defensive/Nose Tackle
- Caesar Rentie Tackle
- Phil Ross Tight End
- Eugene Rowell Wide Receiver
- Tracy Sanders Defensive Back
- Rich Schonewolf Tackle
- Joe Valerio Center
- John Wyche Defensive Back
Life after the WLAF
Chan Gailey became the head coach at Samford UniversitySamford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
. When he left to re-enter the NFL, he was replaced by Fire offensive line coach Pete Hurt. Gailey went on to become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Georgia Tech, and the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Gavin Maloof would join his brother in becoming owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
.
In 1995, the Fire nickname was resurrected in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
of NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
.
Michael Huyghue
Michael Huyghue
Michael L. Huyghue is a sports lawyer and businessman who is the current commissioner of the new United Football League, having served in that capacity since the league's founding in 2007. He was previously a member of the legal department of the NFL Players Association before joining the NFL...
worked in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As of November 2009, he is the Commissioner of the United Football League.
Trivia
- Birmingham only had 3 players from the state of Alabama on the team. Kicker Wyn Lyle from Auburn, on the 1991 team. Auburn's Craig Ogletree and Alabama's Phillip Doyle on the 92 team.
- The Fire went through four General Managers in its two year history.
- Wayne RogersWayne RogersWilliam Wayne McMillan Rogers III is an American film and television actor, best known for playing the role of 'Trapper John' McIntyre in the U.S...
, who acted in the hit television series M*A*S*H, was rumored as a potential owner.