The 1969 COFL season was the fifth and final season of the Continental Football League (COFL). Following the season, nine of the league's remaining teams split from the league, with five forming the Trans-American Football League and four joining the Atlantic Coast Football League.
Franchise changes The Michigan Arrows moved to Midland, Michigan and became the Tri-City Apollos. They were an informal farm team of the NFL's Detroit Lions. The Hawaii Warriors were announced as a new league franchise in January 1969, but were unable to raise the necessary money to keep the team alive. Their spot in the league was instead given to Portland, Oregon. A franchise was awarded to Newark, New Jersey, which was subsequently named the Jersey Jays. The Jays were later announced to be a farm team of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. The Orange County Ramblers announced a relocation to San Bernardino, California but had their franchise revoked several weeks later for failing to confirm conditional approval. Their player contracts were later assumed by the Portland Loggers. On September 21, 1969 the Mexico Golden Aztecs ceased operations and forfeited the remainder of their 1969 schedule. The Spokane Shockers became a farm team of the AFL's Oakland Raiders. The TFL's El Paso Jets franchise was revoked for failure to comply with league regulations regarding several issues.
General news James Dunn was named commissioner of the league. On January 25, 1969 it was announced that the COFL was adding the entirety of the eight-team Texas Football League to its ranks. The TFL joined as a separate entity and was placed into the new Texas Division (itself split into East and West). The new teams were mostly scheduled to play against each other but did also play interleague contests. The league office moved from San Jose to Indianapolis. As a result of the addition of the eight TFL franchises, the league was split into four divisions. The league established the Glen Hepburn Memorial Award for Community Service, named for an Omaha Mustangs player who died from an injury sustained during a game the previous September.
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
= Division Champion
Atlantic DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Orlando Panthers1020.833330160Tangerine BowlDick Pesonen Norfolk Neptunes840.667366224Foreman FieldGary Glick/George Hughes Jersey Jays750.583265254Newark Schools StadiumNick Cutro Alabama Hawks660.500221246Milton Frank StadiumDave Sington Arkansas Diamonds570.417236298War Memorial StadiumFred Williams Central DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Indianapolis Capitols840.667276202Bush StadiumKen Carpenter Ohio Valley Ironmen660.500245313Wheeling Island StadiumLou Blumling Omaha Mustangs660.500265246Johnny Rosenblatt StadiumDon Fleming Chicago Owls570.417208247Soldier FieldBob Webb Tri-City Apollos2100.167148270Midland StadiumChuck Cherundolo Texas Division WestTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach San Antonio Toros740.636279180Harlandale Memorial StadiumHoover Evans West Texas Rufneks740.636244212Memorial StadiumLou Rymkus Mexico Golden Aztecs260.25072108Estadio UniversitarioDuncan McCauley Texas Division EastTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Texarkana Titans750.583245248Grim StadiumTom Collins/Jimmy Cobb Oklahoma Thunderbirds560.455306334Custer StadiumArt Ramage Fort Worth Braves570.417262259Farrington FieldJohn Hatley Dallas Rockets1100.091129318Roffino StadiumJoe Verret Pacific DivisionTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach Las Vegas Cowboys840.667249181Cashman FieldPaul Massey Sacramento Capitols840.667192163Hughes StadiumGeorge Porter Seattle Rangers750.583221185Memorial StadiumDon White Spokane Shockers570.417253243Joe Albi StadiumHugh Taylor Portland Loggers390.250219348Multnomah StadiumChuck Fenenbock
Playoffs Home team in CAPITALS
Divisional playoffs, round 1 (November 29, 1969) San Antonio 20, TEXARKANA 7 Las Vegas 31, SACRAMENTO 0 INDIANAPOLIS 27, Orlando 7
Divisional playoffs, round 2 (December 7, 1969) SAN ANTONIO 21, Las Vegas 17
League Championship (December 13, 1969) INDIANAPOLIS 44, San Antonio 38 (OT)
Awards MVP: Johnnie Walton, QB, Indianapolis Coach of the Year: Ken Carpenter, Indianapolis
References