Shreveport Pirates
Encyclopedia
The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League
team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana
, USA, in 1994
and 1995
.
The Pirates were known to be one of the least successful of the CFL's American franchises
on and off the field, despite relatively strong fan support. It was created when Bernard Glieberman
and his son Lonnie, owners of the Ottawa Rough Riders
, made noises about moving the struggling franchise to the United States. The CFL rejected this move, but engineered a deal in which the Rough Riders were essentially split in two. The Gliebermans received an expansion franchise in Shreveport, while a new ownership group took over the Rough Riders name, colours and history.
General manager J. I. Albrecht
hired John Huard
as head coach, but the Gliebermans overruled him and installed Forrest Gregg
as coach before the team took its first snap. It took them until week 15 to record their first victory, a 24–12 victory over the Sacramento Gold Miners
After the historic victory, the team won two out of their last three games, but they still finished last in the CFL East Division with a 3–15 record. Albrecht resigned and sued Glieberman and the Pirates.
Top performers were wide receiver Charles Thompson
with 641 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns and running back Martin Patton was the team leading rusher with 659 yards and 8 touchdowns. Terrence Jones
had 1,046 yard passing with 4 touchdowns and with 9 interceptions and Mike Johnson, of the University of Akron
, passed for 1,259 yards and 4 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. The club averaged 17,871 fans per game (second highest of the American teams, behind only Baltimore
) with a high of 32,011 for their victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders
.
The problems continued off the field as the Gliebermans tried to relocate the team to Norfolk, Virginia
but the deal fell through. Notable about the move to Virginia was "the Great Tucker Caper" when the City of Shreveport tried to seize Bernard Glieberman's 1948 Tucker (which was on loan to a classic automobile museum in downtown Shreveport) for defaulting on debts related to the Pirates' lease at Independence Stadium. Glieberman's lawyer, Mark Gilliam, tried to escape with the car and hide the vintage auto, but he ran out of gas along the way. The police spotted him, and took the car back to the museum where it was being stored until the case could be settled. Norfolk wasn't interested in the team in any event due to the Gliebermans' poor business record. The soap opera saga led to the contraction of the team. It appeared that the Birmingham Barracudas
would move to Shreveport, but that proposal came to nothing when the CFL's American teams either moved (Baltimore to Montreal) or folded.
Some notable players were quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver
and kick returner Freeman Baysinger. Kicker Björn Nittmo
was also a fan favorite, both for making some very long field goals and for being friendly to the fans, often attending meetings of their Booster Club. Jon Heidenreich
played two seasons with the club, and later became popular as a wrestler (WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship
). Curiously, two players, Joe Montford
and Elfrid Payton
, would later go on to fame as winners of the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
(added to this pair is Greg Stumon
, who was a former winner of the same award). Uzooma Okeke
went on to become one of the best linemen in the history of the Montreal Alouettes
and won the 1999 CFL Most Outstanding Lineman award. He became a scout with the Alouettes in 2007.
Shreveport averaged more than 26 points per game in 1995, but gave up better than 28 en route to a 5–13 record. Billy Joe Tolliver
completed 252 of 429 passes for 3,440 yards and 14 touchdowns. His favorite target was fellow Texas Tech
product Wayne Walker
, who caught 51 passes for 790 yards. Curtis Mayfield led the team in receptions with 58 for 846 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. The team's leading rusher was former University of Miami
player Martin Patton, who ran for 1,040 yards, third in the league. Kicker Björn Nittmo
finished 46 of 53 in field goals and was sixth in the league in scoring.
The Pirates booster club was formed during the team's first season in order to support the team, and remained active long after the team became defunct, spearheading various later attempts to get another professional football team in the Shreveport area.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, USA, in 1994
1994 CFL season
The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
and 1995
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
.
The Pirates were known to be one of the least successful of the CFL's American franchises
CFL USA
The term CFL USA refers to the abortive expansion of the Canadian Football League into the United States in the early-to-mid 1990s. The 1993 CFL season saw the addition of the first American team to the league, the Sacramento Gold Miners...
on and off the field, despite relatively strong fan support. It was created when Bernard Glieberman
Bernard Glieberman
Bernard "Bernie" Glieberman is an American real estate mogul and the president of Crosswinds Communities. Despite having made his fortune in real estate, Glieberman was perhaps best known for, with his son Lonie, making several unsuccessful and controversial forays into sports team ownership and...
and his son Lonnie, owners of the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, made noises about moving the struggling franchise to the United States. The CFL rejected this move, but engineered a deal in which the Rough Riders were essentially split in two. The Gliebermans received an expansion franchise in Shreveport, while a new ownership group took over the Rough Riders name, colours and history.
General manager J. I. Albrecht
J. I. Albrecht
J. I. Albrecht worked in college and professional sports for 53 years. He worked in the CFL, NFL and NCAA, and NASL.-Background:...
hired John Huard
John Huard
John Roland "Big John" Huard is a former National Football League linebacker and Canadian Football League coach.-Playing career:...
as head coach, but the Gliebermans overruled him and installed Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
as coach before the team took its first snap. It took them until week 15 to record their first victory, a 24–12 victory over the Sacramento Gold Miners
Sacramento Gold Miners
The Sacramento Gold Miners were a Canadian football team based in Sacramento, California. The franchise was the first American team in the Canadian Football League. The Gold Miners were originally the "descendants" of the Sacramento Surge from the defunct World League of American Football...
After the historic victory, the team won two out of their last three games, but they still finished last in the CFL East Division with a 3–15 record. Albrecht resigned and sued Glieberman and the Pirates.
Top performers were wide receiver Charles Thompson
Charles Thompson
Charles Thompson is the name of:* Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet , British admiral* Charles Thompson , Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation* Charles Thompson , former quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners...
with 641 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns and running back Martin Patton was the team leading rusher with 659 yards and 8 touchdowns. Terrence Jones
Terrence Jones
Terrence Jones is an American college basketball player for the University of Kentucky. He was one of the top rated basketball players in the class of 2010.-High school career:...
had 1,046 yard passing with 4 touchdowns and with 9 interceptions and Mike Johnson, of the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, passed for 1,259 yards and 4 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. The club averaged 17,871 fans per game (second highest of the American teams, behind only Baltimore
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
) with a high of 32,011 for their victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
.
The problems continued off the field as the Gliebermans tried to relocate the team to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
but the deal fell through. Notable about the move to Virginia was "the Great Tucker Caper" when the City of Shreveport tried to seize Bernard Glieberman's 1948 Tucker (which was on loan to a classic automobile museum in downtown Shreveport) for defaulting on debts related to the Pirates' lease at Independence Stadium. Glieberman's lawyer, Mark Gilliam, tried to escape with the car and hide the vintage auto, but he ran out of gas along the way. The police spotted him, and took the car back to the museum where it was being stored until the case could be settled. Norfolk wasn't interested in the team in any event due to the Gliebermans' poor business record. The soap opera saga led to the contraction of the team. It appeared that the Birmingham Barracudas
Birmingham Barracudas
The Birmingham Barracudas were a Canadian football team that played the 1995 season in the Canadian Football League. The Barracudas were part of a failed attempt to expand the CFL into the United States.-In the beginning:...
would move to Shreveport, but that proposal came to nothing when the CFL's American teams either moved (Baltimore to Montreal) or folded.
Some notable players were quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver is a former American football player who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints...
and kick returner Freeman Baysinger. Kicker Björn Nittmo
Björn Nittmo
Björn Arne Nittmo is a retired American football placekicker, being the first Swedish-born player ever in the National Football League.-Football career:...
was also a fan favorite, both for making some very long field goals and for being friendly to the fans, often attending meetings of their Booster Club. Jon Heidenreich
Jon Heidenreich
Jon Heidenreich is an American professional wrestler, better known simply as Heidenreich. He is best known for his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one time WWE Tag Team Champion with Road Warrior Animal as a part of the Road Warriors.-Early career:Prior to professional...
played two seasons with the club, and later became popular as a wrestler (WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship
WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship
The WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the top title contested for in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling promotion, the World Wrestling Council. The championship was established in July 1982, as the WWC World Heavyweight...
). Curiously, two players, Joe Montford
Joe Montford
Joe Montford is a Canadian and American football defensive end. Montford was released by the Edmonton Eskimos prior to the 2006 season after playing one year with the team...
and Elfrid Payton
Elfrid Payton
Elfrid Payton was an all-star football player in the Canadian Football League.Payton graduated from Grambling State University.-Career:Payton played with seven different teams over the course of his career....
, would later go on to fame as winners of the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually rewarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian Football League. This is the third-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
(added to this pair is Greg Stumon
Greg Stumon
Greg Stumon was an award winning defensive end and linebacker in the Canadian Football League....
, who was a former winner of the same award). Uzooma Okeke
Uzooma Okeke
Uzooma Okeke was a Canadian Football League tackle for the Montreal Alouettes. He won a Grey Cup with Montreal in 2002...
went on to become one of the best linemen in the history of the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
and won the 1999 CFL Most Outstanding Lineman award. He became a scout with the Alouettes in 2007.
Shreveport averaged more than 26 points per game in 1995, but gave up better than 28 en route to a 5–13 record. Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver is a former American football player who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints...
completed 252 of 429 passes for 3,440 yards and 14 touchdowns. His favorite target was fellow Texas Tech
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
product Wayne Walker
Wayne Walker
Wayne Harrison Walker is a former professional football player and sports broadcaster. He played in the NFL for fifteen seasons, from 1958-72 for the Detroit Lions. A starter throughout his career, #55 played in 200 regular season games as a 6'2", 225 lb...
, who caught 51 passes for 790 yards. Curtis Mayfield led the team in receptions with 58 for 846 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. The team's leading rusher was former University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
player Martin Patton, who ran for 1,040 yards, third in the league. Kicker Björn Nittmo
Björn Nittmo
Björn Arne Nittmo is a retired American football placekicker, being the first Swedish-born player ever in the National Football League.-Football career:...
finished 46 of 53 in field goals and was sixth in the league in scoring.
The Pirates booster club was formed during the team's first season in order to support the team, and remained active long after the team became defunct, spearheading various later attempts to get another professional football team in the Shreveport area.
See also
- CFL USA all time records and statisticsCFL USA all time records and statisticsCFL USA all time records and statisticsThis list combines the statistics and records of the seven CFL American teams from 1993 to 1995: Baltimore Stallions, Birmingham Barracudas, Las Vegas Posse, Memphis Mad Dogs, Sacramento Gold Miners, San Antonio Texans, and the Shreveport Pirates...
- Comparison of Canadian and American footballComparison of Canadian and American footballAmerican and Canadian football are very similar, as both have their origins in rugby football, but there are some key differences.-History:Football was introduced to North America in Canada by the British Army garrison in Montreal, which played a series of games with McGill University...
- 1994 CFL season1994 CFL seasonThe 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:...
- 1995 CFL season1995 CFL seasonThe 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...