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The Hawaiians were a professional American football team based in Honolulu that played in the World Football League. They played two seasons, 1974 and 1975. Their records were 9–11 in 1974 and 4–7–1 in 1975. Their home stadium was Honolulu Stadium in 1974 and Aloha Stadium in 1975. The best known player to play for the Hawaiians was former Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill, though quarterback Jim Fassel became better known as a head coach decades later. The Hawaiians' head coach was Michael Giddings[1] who guided the Hawaiians through both the 1974 and 1975 World Football League seasons.
 | |
| Established | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Folded | October 1975 |
| Based in | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Home field | Honolulu Stadium (1974) Aloha Stadium (1975) |
| Head coach | Mike Giddings |
| General manager | Danny Rodgers |
| Owner(s) | Christopher Hemmeter and Sam Battisone (1974) Edward Sultan, Jr. (1975) |
| League | World Football League |
| Division | Western |
| Colours | Brown, Gold, Scarlet |
The franchise was originally going to be called the Honolulu Warriors, but a local team had trademarked that name. As a result, the team was known simply as "The Hawaiians", although the press frequently mistakenly called them the "Honolulu Hawaiians" or the "Hawaii Hawaiians." They were owned by real estate developer Christopher Hemmeter for the first season. He was named league president in 1975, and sold the Hawaiians to jewel merchant Edward Sultan Jr.
Though lasting for less than two seasons of play, the Hawaiians represented a serious attempt to form a viable professional football organization, one that at least had the potential for success had the WFL been better run. They were one of only three teams that did not miss a payroll during the league's first season. (False accounts had said some players released from the team could not afford to get to the mainland.) Hemmeter and his original partner, Sam Battisone (who also owned the NBA's New Orleans Jazz) were among the few owners thought to be capable of fielding a team in 1975.[2]
It was the first and, to date, only major professional American football team to establish its home base outside the contiguous 48 states.
Schedule and results
edit| Key: | Win | Loss | Bye |
1974 regular season
edit- Source[3]
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wednesday | July 10, 1974 | at Florida Blazers | L 7–8 | 18,625 |
| 2 | Wednesday | July 17, 1974 | at Southern California Sun | L 31–38 | 32,018 |
| 3 | Sunday | July 21, 1974 | Detroit Wheels | W 36–16 | 10,080 |
| 4 | Sunday | July 28, 1974 | Chicago Fire | L 29–53 | 12,608 |
| 5 | Thursday | August 8, 1974 | at Jacksonville Sharks | L 14–21 | 43,869 |
| 6 | Wednesday | August 14, 1974 | at Birmingham Americans | L 0–39 | 43,297 |
| 7 | Wednesday | August 21, 1974 | at Memphis Southmen | L 8–60 | 25,123 |
| 8 | Sunday | August 25, 1974 | Jacksonville Sharks | L 8–14 | 10,099 |
| 9 | Sunday | September 1, 1974 | Houston Texans | W 33–15 | 10,248 |
| 10 | Friday | September 6, 1974 | at Portland Storm | L 6–15 | 15,551 |
| 11 | Wednesday | September 11, 1974 | at Houston Texans | W 24–17 | 9,061 |
| 12 | Wednesday | September 18, 1974 | New York Stars | W 17–14 | 12,169 |
| 13 | Wednesday | September 25, 1974 | Philadelphia Bell | L 16–21 | 14,497 |
| 14 | Wednesday | October 2, 1974 | Birmingham Americans | W 14–8 | 12,039 |
| 15 | Wednesday | October 9, 1974 | at Philadelphia Bell | W 25–22 | 4,900 |
| 16 | Wednesday | October 16, 1974 | at Portland Storm | L 0–3 | 11,302 |
| 17 | Wednesday | October 23, 1974 | at Chicago Fire | W 60–17 | 20,203 |
| 18 | Wednesday | October 30, 1974 | Memphis Southmen | L 31–33 | 20,544 |
| 19 | Wednesday | November 6, 1974 | Southern California Sun | W 29–8 | 13,780 |
| 20 | Wednesday | November 13, 1974 | Portland Storm | W 23–0 | 14,245 |
Playoffs
edit| Game | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-finals | Wednesday | November 20, 1974 | at Southern California Sun | W 32–14 | 11,430 |
| Semi-finals | Wednesday | November 27, 1974 | at Birmingham Americans | L 19–22 | 15,379 |
1975 regular season
edit- Source[4]
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday | August 2, 1975 | at Philadelphia Bell | L 15–21 | 3,266 |
| 2 | Sunday | August 9, 1975 | at Portland Thunder | W 25–24 | 7,709 |
| 3 | Sunday | August 16, 1975 | Southern California Sun | L 19–37 | 15,862 |
| 4 | Sunday | August 23, 1975 | Chicago Winds | W 28–17 | 10,313 |
| 5 | Sunday | September 7, 1975 | at Memphis Grizzlies | L 17–37 | 15,132 |
| 6 | Sunday | September 14, 1975 | Jacksonville Express | W 33–15 | 18,479 |
| 7 | Sunday | September 21, 1975 | at San Antonio Wings | L 11–30 | 10,871 |
| 8 | Sunday | September 28, 1975 | at Shreveport Steamer | L 25–32 | 21,348 |
| 9 | Saturday | October 4, 1975 | Birmingham Vulcans | L 16–29 | 18,894 |
| 10 | Saturday | October 11, 1975 | Philadelphia Bell | W 14–13 | 10,789 |
| 11 | Sunday | October 19, 1975 | Southern California Sun | L 7–26 | 15,905 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Head football coach". Football Digest. August 1974.
- ^ Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.
- ^ "1974 World Football League Game Results". Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- ^ "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved 2015-11-11.