Los Angeles Cobras

Los Angeles Cobras
Established 1988
Folded 1998
Played in Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California
HelmetLogo
League/conference affiliations
Team colors

Navy, Goldenrod, White

              
Mascot Coby the Cobra
Personnel
Owner(s) John Seamire
Chairman Mike Hunt
President Jon Banks
General manager Mike Hope
Head coach Ray Willsey
Team history
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (0)
0
Home arena(s)

The Los Angeles Cobras were a professional arena football team based in Los Angeles, California that played one season (1988) in the Arena Football League.

History

On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey.[1] The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.

The team debuted April 30, 1988 against the New York Knights.[2] The Cobras started the season 0-3,[3] but finished the season 5-3-1, clinching a playoff spot.[4]

Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens[5] and future Arena Football Hall of Famer Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL.[4] The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29-16.[6] It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras folded after the 1998 season, temporarily cutting the league down

Notable players

Roster

1988 Los Angeles Cobras roster
Quarterbacks

Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs

 Running Backs/Linebackers

Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen

  • -- Eric Arrington
  • 55 Brian Clark
  • 60 Chuck Harris
  • 72 Dwayne Jackson
  • 84 Michael Jones
  • 80 Tony Palamara
  • 82 Louis Sorrentino
  • 64 Dester Stowers
  • 66 Wes Walton
 Wide Receivers/Linebackers
  • 92 Wade Lockett
  • 93 Matthew McKnight
  • 25 Richard Rodgers

Kickers

Rookies in italics
Roster updated February 5, 2013
28 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

→ More rosters

Arena Football League Hall of Famers

Los Angeles Cobras Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Cobras
1 Gary Mullen 1995 WR/DB 1988

All-Arena players

The following Cobras players were named to All-Arena Teams:

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 1988 Arena Football League season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Ray Willsey 1988 5 6 1 .458 0 1

Staff

Head coach: Ray Willsey
Assistant coach: Lew Erber
Running back & special teams coach: Russ Steele
Football operations coordinator: Larry Westbrook
Trainer: Nick Ortenzo
Equipment manager: Marty Hopkins

Media

References

  1. ↑ Lonnie White (March 17, 1988). "Arena Football : Ray Willsey Will Coach L.A.'s Cobras". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lonnie White (April 30, 2013). "Cobras, Arena Football Make L.A. Debut Tonight". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ Lonnie White (May 21, 1988). "Now, Matt Stevens' Job Is to Turn the Cobras Around". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Lonnie White (July 23, 1988). "L.A. Is a Tough Arena for Indoor Football : Cobras Are Still Making Some Gains Despite Competition for Sports Dollar". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ Lonnie White (April 6, 1988). "Branch, Stevens Head Cobra Picks". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Box Score LA @ Chicago July 23, 1988". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
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