The New England Steamrollers were an Arena Football League team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The team 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 Knights and Los Angeles Cobras were folded following the season.
The Steamrollers were based out of Providence, Rhode Island and played their home games at the Providence Civic Center. They were the first professional football team of any kind to play in Providence since the Providence Steam Roller folded in 1931 and the first non-minor league professional sports franchise to play in the city since the NBA's Providence Steamrollers folded in 1949.
The coach of the Steamrollers was former Boston Patriots All-Pro quarterback Babe Parilli.
History
In 1988, Concert and fight promoter, Frank J. Russo, and jeweler, Robert Andreoli, purchased a limited partnership from the Arena Football League to own the rights to a Providence, Rhode Island team. The team's first move was the hiring of Head Coach, Babe Parilli in March. After a 3-9 season, the Steamrollers didn't achieve the dollar amount that Russo and Andreoli thought they would, and the franchise folded.
Notable players
Roster 1988 New England Steamrollers roster Quarterbacks Matt Heidman Harold Smith Paul Williams
Wide receivers/Defensive backs Brian Allen Frank Bianchini Brian Gardner Russell Hairston David Hendley Jim Hockaday Jason Oliver Jim Pratt Jim Rafferty Tony Slaton Alvin Williams Running backs/linebackers Chris Brewer Cletis Jones
Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen Sylvester Bembery Joe Felton Kim Johnson Kevin Murphy Mike Nease Steve O'Malley Jeff Oliver Donald Thompson Joe Williams Bill Birnbaum Wide receivers/linebackers Maurice Gravely Larry Friday
Kickers David Jacobs Bernie Ruoff
Rookies in italics Roster updated February 12, 2013 29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS
Arena Football League Hall of Famers New England Steamrollers Hall of FamersNo.NameYear inductedPosition(s)Years w/ Steamrollers 68 Sylvester Bembery 2011 OL/DL 1988
All-Arena players The following Steamrollers players were named to All-Arena Teams: WR/DB Jim Hockaday OL/DL Sylvester Bembery, Kevin Murphy
Head coaches Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards W L T Win% W LBabe Parilli39000
Season-by-season
|1988 || 3 || 9 || 0 || 5th || --
References
External links New England Steamrollers at ArenaFan.com