| Classification | Low-level minor league |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 2008 |
| Ceased | 2010 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Country | United States |
| Most titles | Oklahoma Thunder (3) |
The World Football League was a professional American Football minor league which operated for three seasons, from 2008 through 2010. It was named for the short-lived World Football League which served as a competitor to the NFL in the mid-1970s.
History
In 2007, the rights to the "World Football League" name and logo were purchased by Chip Pierce of Beaumont, Texas. The league was brought back to life as a minor league system that did not compete with the NFL, but gave players of a higher talent level than that of the many players involved in semi-pro football the opportunity to showcase their skills. Players like Willie Ponder who have exited the NFL but had aspirations of returning and players like Kejuan Jones or Prentiss Elliot who were looking to get a shot to make in the NFL.[1] At the end of the season SiteInDeX, Inc., purchased the WFL from Pierce.
2008
The inaugural rebirth season of the WFL as a minor league system had 8 teams in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.[1][2]
| Team | W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Thunder | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 406 | 77 |
| Austin Gamebreakers | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 343 | 156 |
| Southeast Texas Demons | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 196 | 124 |
| Dallas Diesel | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 | 193 | 160 |
| Arkansas War Cats | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 86 | 227 |
| Texas Bulldogs | 1 | 7 | 0 | .125 | 62 | 351 |
| Louisiana Lightning | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 22 | 57 |
| Texarkana Warriors | 0 | 9 | 0 | .000 | 30 | 186 |
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (September 6, 2008):
Dallas Diesel 66 vs. Arkansas War Cats 6
Southeast Texas Demons 0 vs. Texas Bulldogs 6
Semifinals (September 20, 2008):
Austin Gamebreakers 32 vs. Dallas Diesel 10
Oklahoma Thunder 66 vs. Texas Bulldogs 6
World Bowl II (October 18, 2008):
Oklahoma Thunder 29 vs. Austin Gamebreakers 6
World Bowl II (continuing the number from the original league) was held at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, and crowned Thunder as the first champion of the WFL in the minor league era.[3]
2009
The second season saw large increase, as the league now contained 14 full time teams, and featured teams in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Iowa and Arkansas. The league was divided to three separate divisions and Oklahoma Thunder (Great Plains), Iowa Sharks (Heartland) and Dallas Diesel (South) finished as divisions champions.[4]
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (August 15, 2009):
Texas Bulldogs 13 vs. Austin Gamebreakers 30
Dallas Diesel 34 vs. Kansas Kaos 14
Iowa Eagles 0 vs Iowa Sharks 34
Oklahoma Thunder 70 vs. Arkansas War Cats 7
Semifinals (August 22, 2009):
Dallas Diesel 20 vs. Iowa Sharks 10
Austin Gamebreakers 6 vs. Oklahoma Thunder 101
World Bowl III (August 29, 2009):
Oklahoma Thunder 43 vs. Dallas Diesel 12
World Bowl III was held at LaFortune Stadium in Tulsa, as the Thunder repeated the result from previous year.[5]
2010
The third and final year of the WFL featured 13 teams that were divided to four divisions, with Oklahoma (Great Plains), Des Moines Blaze (Heartland), Saint Louis Bulldogs (Central) and Eagle Creek Marauders (South) finishing on top.[6] The Thunder finished the season 11–0, and won all 40 of their games in WFL history.[7]
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (July 17, 2010):
Saint Louis Bulldogs 55 vs. Oklahoma City Wolverines 14
Kansas Kaos 15 vs Eagle Creek Marauders 45
Semifinals (July 24, 2010):
Des Moines Blaze 50 vs. Saint Louis Bulldogs 21
Oklahoma Thunder 63 vs. Eagle Creek Marauders 0
World Bowl IV (July 31, 2010 at East Tulsa Sports Complex):
Oklahoma Thunder 52 vs. Des Moines Blaze 10
End
Before the 2011 season, most of the teams in the new WFL either folded or left for other leagues. In a key defection, three-time World Bowl winner Oklahoma Thunder left for the Gridiron Developmental Football League.[8] The new WFL merged with another league to become the Alliance Football League. The merged league began the 2011 season with six teams: the Texas Bulldogs, Dallas-Fort Worth Heat, Dallas Diesel, Central Texas Gorillas, Houston Pride of Texas, and Oklahoma City Wolverines. World Bowl V, scheduled for Tulsa, was moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, and renamed the National Championship. This merger and renaming ended the minor league rebirth of the WFL.
See also
References
- 1 2 Hibdon, Glenn (July 19, 2008). "Oklahoma Thunder 101". Tulsa World. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Enciclopedia del football italiano:2008 World Football League" (PDF).
- ↑ "Oklahoma Thunder Wins World Bowl II". Baconian Online. Bacone College. October 20, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Enciclopedia del football italiano:2009 World Football League" (PDF).
- ↑ "Thunder wins World Bowl". Tulsa World. August 31, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Enciclopedia del football italiano:2010 World Football League" (PDF).
- ↑ "Thunder Win 3rd Straight World Bowl". World Football League. August 1, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ↑ "So you want to start a pro football league? (side bar)". Sports Business journal. American City Business Journals, Inc. January 29, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.