USFL Teams: Memphis Showboats

By Wikipedia

The Memphis Showboats was a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its ill-advised expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the first round to the Oakland Invaders.

At a glance... Franchise Facts Established 1984 Located Memphis, TN Owners William Dunavant Records   W L T % 1984  7 11 0 .389 1985  11 7 0 .611 Postseason/Titles 1985 Beat Denver 48-7 Lost to Oakland 28-19 Nicknames Memphis Showboats (1984-85) Stadium Liberty Bowl (50,180)

The Showboats played their home games in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Showboats franchise was one of the USFL's better fan draws as far as live gate was concerned, and seemed to have had a realistic chance to have been a viable business if the overall management of the USFL had been more realistic and financially sound. As it was, they ceased to exist, along with all other USFL franchises, when the league failed to collect significant damages in its 1986 anti-trust suit against the NFL.

See also: 1984 Showboats, 1985 Showboats

A player from the Memphis Showboats appeared as a contestant on Press Your Luck in 1985.

Single Season Leaders

• Rushing Yards: 789 (1985), Tim Spencer
• Receiving Yards: 1143 (1985), Greg Moser
• Passing Yards: 2128 (1985), Mike Kelley

USFL Bibliography
Books:
The $1 League: The Rise and Fall of the USFL by Jim Byrne
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1984
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1985
USFL Media Guides (each team published one each year)

Magazines:
Kickoff Magazine (published by league; 9 issues per year + playoffs; sold at games)
The Sporting News (regular coverage + special "preview" inserts)

These and many other USFL items can be found at eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!