Knowledge (XXG)

Portland Thunder (WFL)

Source πŸ“

53: 46: 240:
In the first half of the season Portland played poorly, going 2-7-1. The Storm won their first game when they beat Detroit in the ninth week. Originally a Wheels home game, the contest was moved to London, Ontario. The team improved during the second half of the season, thanks in part to several
272:
The team finished the season with an overall record of 7-12-1, tied with Houston-Shreveport for 8th place in the 12-team league and seemingly qualifying them for the playoffs. However, league officials decided to reduce the playoff field to six teamsβ€”without telling anyone with the Storm. Soon
200:
Portland's original owner, Houston accountant John Rooney, soon dropped out of the picture. By March 1974, Bruce Gelker, a former football player and owner of several Saddleback Inns, was named the new owner of the fledgling team. Gelker originally sought a team in
256:
The team was in trouble off the field as well. They only drew 14,000 fans per game. Additionally, an onerous lease with Civic Stadium rapidly drained the team of cash. By the middle of the season, Harris was so short on cash that he persuaded the
1693: 224:
The Storm was the last WFL team to be organized, and as a result had mostly rookies on their roster. Among the standouts was running back Rufus "Roadrunner" Ferguson, ex-CFL and Detroit Lion quarterback
1686: 1679: 265:. The players went the last few games without being paid, and reportedly they had to depend on sympathetic fans for food. They were forced to move their final home game, against the 1891: 1901: 249:, who had been cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. With the stock of veterans, the Storm won six of their final 10 games. One of those wins was a 26–21 upset of the powerful 193:, the original New York entry's draft picks were eventually relocated to Portland. They were the first major league football team based in Portland. They played at then 189:. When the World Football League was created in October 1973, the Storm was the original New York franchise. When the Boston Bulls merged with New York to become the 1649: 1435: 280:
took the Storm's place in 1975 and lasted until the entire WFL folded halfway through their second season. The Thunder's office in downtown closed in October 1975.
1906: 1325: 1281: 1896: 221:, as head coach. Before the season, Canadian businessman Robert Harris bought a controlling interest, but Gelker stayed on as team president. 1804: 1428: 1727: 1660: 1655: 1534: 1461: 1209: 1204: 194: 91: 1881: 1749: 1421: 269:, to the road due to the poor attendance, and only played after Harris guaranteed them $ 50,000. The money never arrived. 233:(later a successful head coach in the NFL) and Bruce Bergey, brother of Cincinnati Bengals-Philadelphia Eagles linebacker 1848: 1499: 1181: 1131: 657: 1886: 1592: 1547: 1524: 1474: 1254: 927: 707: 631: 554: 502: 1333: 1760: 1643: 1452: 1444: 284: 182: 129: 52: 45: 1617: 1562: 1469: 733: 682: 250: 230: 190: 1671: 1557: 1494: 952: 861: 758: 606: 1837: 1815: 1587: 1542: 1519: 1479: 1398: 1054: 1003: 809: 476: 426: 1826: 1793: 1582: 1572: 1509: 1214: 1156: 1080: 1029: 451: 375: 266: 178: 1771: 1716: 1633: 1567: 1504: 1403: 1105: 783: 401: 288: 186: 81: 28: 1738: 1489: 835: 528: 262: 1859: 1782: 1514: 1484: 580: 258: 218: 206: 1875: 1612: 1552: 1408: 1309: 978: 246: 242: 1375: 1355: 241:
NFL players cut during training camp that September. Among the new signings were
234: 226: 202: 1638: 1234: 214: 101: 17: 1236:
Strange but true: Houston accountant tried to put a football team in Oregon
1413: 210: 111: 1282:"Canzano: If Portland could catch a break, it could support the NFL" 205:, which proved to be unfeasible. After approaching officials in 1675: 1417: 1326:"The Portland Thunder? Been there and done that... in 1975" 273:
after, the IRS slapped a $ 168,000 lien on the franchise.
1332:. Comcast Sports Management Services, LLC. Archived from 213:, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, as general manager and 1626: 1605: 1533: 1460: 1451: 143: 135: 125: 117: 107: 97: 87: 77: 69: 61: 1702:American football teams based in Portland, Oregon 1170: 1145: 1119: 1094: 1068: 1043: 1017: 992: 966: 941: 915: 849: 823: 797: 772: 747: 721: 696: 671: 645: 620: 595: 568: 542: 516: 490: 440: 415: 389: 363: 1687: 1429: 8: 34: 1892:American football teams in Portland, Oregon 209:, he settled on Portland. The Storm hired 1694: 1680: 1672: 1457: 1436: 1422: 1414: 51: 44: 33: 1902:Defunct American football teams in Oregon 1356:"1974 World Football League Game Results" 893: 341: 291:, making many recall the Storm/Thunder. 27:For the Arena Football League team, see 1226: 1255:"Ron Mix Interview, Portland Storm GM" 261:to move their game to his hometown of 7: 1376:"1975 World Football League Results" 156:Thunder: Forest Green and Royal Blue 1520:Houston Texans / Shreveport Steamer 1324:Dwight Jaynes (November 12, 2013). 1243:. May 11, 2021 – via YouTube. 1475:New York Stars / Charlotte Hornets 25: 1280:John Canzano (January 28, 2012). 1210:1975 World Football League season 1205:1974 World Football League season 1907:1975 disestablishments in Oregon 298: 197:, now known as Providence Park. 147:Storm: Lime Green and Royal Blue 1313:. November 1, 1975. p. C5. 287:expanded into Portland, as the 1399:Thunder on Fun While It Lasted 121:Robert Harris and Bruce Gelker 1: 1897:1973 establishments in Oregon 465: 245:of the Oakland Raiders, and 217:, an NFL assistant with the 1261:. WFL Nation. July 19, 2013 1923: 1728:Lewis & Clark Pioneers 1650:Mid-South Grizzlies v. NFL 26: 1849:Portland Fighting Fillies 1707: 1307:"Thunder office closed". 41: 229:, and linebackers coach 1816:Portland Forest Dragons 1593:Southern California Sun 1525:Southern California Sun 928:Southern California Sun 708:Southern California Sun 555:Southern California Sun 37:Portland Thunder (1975) 1882:Portland Thunder (WFL) 1860:Portland Thunder/Steel 1805:Oregon Lightning Bolts 1750:Portland State Vikings 1761:Portland Thunderbirds 1644:Canadian Football Act 1445:World Football League 583:(at London, Ontario) 285:Arena Football League 183:World Football League 130:World Football League 35:Portland Storm (1974) 1618:Christopher Hemmeter 1563:Jacksonville Express 1470:Birmingham Americans 1336:on November 13, 2013 1182:Jacksonville Express 1132:Jacksonville Express 734:Birmingham Americans 683:Birmingham Americans 295:Schedule and results 251:Birmingham Americans 231:Marty Schottenheimer 1500:Jacksonville Sharks 1102:September 21, 1975 1076:September 13, 1975 879:1975 regular season 679:September 25, 1974 658:Jacksonville Sharks 653:September 18, 1974 628:September 11, 1974 327:1974 regular season 38: 1838:Rose City Wildcats 1588:Shreveport Steamer 1543:Birmingham Vulcans 1286:www.oregonlive.com 1055:Birmingham Vulcans 1051:September 6, 1975 1004:Shreveport Steamer 857:November 13, 1974 810:Shreveport Steamer 603:September 6, 1974 576:September 2, 1974 1869: 1868: 1827:Portland Prowlers 1794:Portland Breakers 1669: 1668: 1601: 1600: 1583:San Antonio Wings 1573:Philadelphia Bell 1548:Charlotte Hornets 1510:Philadelphia Bell 1288:. Oregon Live LLC 1259:www.wflnation.com 1215:Portland Breakers 1196: 1195: 1178:October 19, 1975 1157:San Antonio Wings 1153:October 12, 1975 1106:Memphis Grizzlies 1081:Philadelphia Bell 1030:San Antonio Wings 876: 875: 831:November 7, 1974 805:October 31, 1974 780:October 24, 1974 755:October 16, 1974 452:Philadelphia Bell 376:Philadelphia Bell 324: 323: 179:American football 167: 166: 16:(Redirected from 1914: 1862: 1851: 1840: 1829: 1818: 1807: 1796: 1785: 1774: 1772:Portland Loggers 1763: 1752: 1741: 1730: 1719: 1717:Portland Rockets 1696: 1689: 1682: 1673: 1578:Portland Thunder 1568:Memphis Southmen 1505:Memphis Southmen 1458: 1438: 1431: 1424: 1415: 1386: 1385: 1383: 1382: 1372: 1366: 1365: 1363: 1362: 1352: 1346: 1345: 1343: 1341: 1321: 1315: 1314: 1304: 1298: 1297: 1295: 1293: 1277: 1271: 1270: 1268: 1266: 1251: 1245: 1244: 1231: 1127:October 4, 1975 1025:August 30, 1975 1000:August 23, 1975 974:August 16, 1975 894: 891: 890: 886: 784:Memphis Southmen 729:October 9, 1974 704:October 2, 1974 550:August 28, 1974 524:August 21, 1974 498:August 14, 1974 402:Memphis Southmen 342: 339: 338: 334: 299: 289:Portland Thunder 278:Portland Thunder 187:Portland, Oregon 171:Portland Thunder 163: 160: 154: 151: 82:Portland, Oregon 55: 48: 39: 29:Portland Thunder 21: 1922: 1921: 1917: 1916: 1915: 1913: 1912: 1911: 1872: 1871: 1870: 1865: 1854: 1843: 1832: 1821: 1810: 1799: 1788: 1777: 1766: 1755: 1744: 1739:Portland Pilots 1733: 1722: 1711: 1703: 1700: 1670: 1665: 1622: 1597: 1529: 1490:Florida Blazers 1447: 1442: 1395: 1390: 1389: 1380: 1378: 1374: 1373: 1369: 1360: 1358: 1354: 1353: 1349: 1339: 1337: 1323: 1322: 1318: 1306: 1305: 1301: 1291: 1289: 1279: 1278: 1274: 1264: 1262: 1253: 1252: 1248: 1233: 1232: 1228: 1223: 1201: 949:August 9, 1975 923:August 3, 1975 892: 888: 884: 882: 881: 836:Florida Blazers 529:Florida Blazers 473:August 7, 1974 340: 336: 332: 330: 329: 297: 267:Florida Blazers 263:London, Ontario 161: 158: 157: 155: 152: 149: 148: 108:General manager 57: 56: 49: 36: 32: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1920: 1918: 1910: 1909: 1904: 1899: 1894: 1889: 1887:Portland Storm 1884: 1874: 1873: 1867: 1866: 1864: 1863: 1852: 1841: 1830: 1819: 1808: 1797: 1786: 1783:Portland Storm 1775: 1764: 1753: 1742: 1731: 1720: 1708: 1705: 1704: 1701: 1699: 1698: 1691: 1684: 1676: 1667: 1666: 1664: 1663: 1658: 1653: 1646: 1641: 1636: 1630: 1628: 1624: 1623: 1621: 1620: 1615: 1609: 1607: 1603: 1602: 1599: 1598: 1596: 1595: 1590: 1585: 1580: 1575: 1570: 1565: 1560: 1555: 1550: 1545: 1539: 1537: 1531: 1530: 1528: 1527: 1522: 1517: 1515:Portland Storm 1512: 1507: 1502: 1497: 1492: 1487: 1485:Detroit Wheels 1482: 1477: 1472: 1466: 1464: 1455: 1449: 1448: 1443: 1441: 1440: 1433: 1426: 1418: 1412: 1411: 1406: 1404:1975 team page 1401: 1394: 1393:External links 1391: 1388: 1387: 1367: 1347: 1316: 1299: 1272: 1246: 1225: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1218: 1217: 1212: 1207: 1200: 1197: 1194: 1193: 1190: 1184: 1179: 1176: 1173: 1169: 1168: 1165: 1159: 1154: 1151: 1148: 1144: 1143: 1140: 1134: 1128: 1125: 1122: 1118: 1117: 1114: 1108: 1103: 1100: 1097: 1093: 1092: 1089: 1083: 1077: 1074: 1071: 1067: 1066: 1063: 1057: 1052: 1049: 1046: 1042: 1041: 1038: 1032: 1026: 1023: 1020: 1016: 1015: 1012: 1006: 1001: 998: 995: 991: 990: 987: 981: 975: 972: 969: 965: 964: 961: 955: 950: 947: 944: 940: 939: 936: 930: 924: 921: 918: 914: 913: 910: 907: 904: 901: 898: 880: 877: 874: 873: 870: 864: 858: 855: 852: 848: 847: 844: 838: 832: 829: 826: 822: 821: 818: 812: 806: 803: 800: 796: 795: 792: 786: 781: 778: 775: 771: 770: 767: 761: 756: 753: 750: 746: 745: 742: 736: 730: 727: 724: 720: 719: 716: 710: 705: 702: 699: 695: 694: 691: 685: 680: 677: 674: 670: 669: 666: 660: 654: 651: 648: 644: 643: 640: 634: 632:New York Stars 629: 626: 623: 619: 618: 615: 609: 604: 601: 598: 594: 593: 590: 584: 581:Detroit Wheels 577: 574: 571: 567: 566: 563: 557: 551: 548: 545: 541: 540: 537: 531: 525: 522: 519: 515: 514: 511: 505: 503:New York Stars 499: 496: 493: 489: 488: 485: 479: 477:Houston Texans 474: 471: 468: 464: 463: 460: 454: 449: 448:July 31, 1974 446: 443: 439: 438: 435: 429: 424: 423:July 24, 1974 421: 418: 414: 413: 410: 404: 398: 397:July 18, 1974 395: 392: 388: 387: 384: 378: 372: 371:July 10, 1974 369: 366: 362: 361: 358: 355: 352: 349: 346: 328: 325: 322: 321: 316: 311: 306: 296: 293: 259:Detroit Wheels 219:Denver Broncos 207:Salt Lake City 191:New York Stars 175:Portland Storm 165: 164: 145: 141: 140: 137: 133: 132: 127: 123: 122: 119: 115: 114: 109: 105: 104: 99: 95: 94: 89: 85: 84: 79: 75: 74: 71: 67: 66: 63: 59: 58: 50: 43: 42: 24: 18:Portland Storm 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1919: 1908: 1905: 1903: 1900: 1898: 1895: 1893: 1890: 1888: 1885: 1883: 1880: 1879: 1877: 1861: 1857: 1853: 1850: 1846: 1842: 1839: 1835: 1831: 1828: 1824: 1820: 1817: 1813: 1809: 1806: 1802: 1798: 1795: 1791: 1787: 1784: 1780: 1776: 1773: 1769: 1765: 1762: 1758: 1754: 1751: 1747: 1743: 1740: 1736: 1732: 1729: 1725: 1721: 1718: 1714: 1710: 1709: 1706: 1697: 1692: 1690: 1685: 1683: 1678: 1677: 1674: 1662: 1659: 1657: 1654: 1652: 1651: 1647: 1645: 1642: 1640: 1637: 1635: 1632: 1631: 1629: 1625: 1619: 1616: 1614: 1613:Gary Davidson 1611: 1610: 1608: 1606:Commissioners 1604: 1594: 1591: 1589: 1586: 1584: 1581: 1579: 1576: 1574: 1571: 1569: 1566: 1564: 1561: 1559: 1558:The Hawaiians 1556: 1554: 1553:Chicago Winds 1551: 1549: 1546: 1544: 1541: 1540: 1538: 1536: 1532: 1526: 1523: 1521: 1518: 1516: 1513: 1511: 1508: 1506: 1503: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1495:The Hawaiians 1493: 1491: 1488: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1467: 1465: 1463: 1459: 1456: 1454: 1450: 1446: 1439: 1434: 1432: 1427: 1425: 1420: 1419: 1416: 1410: 1407: 1405: 1402: 1400: 1397: 1396: 1392: 1377: 1371: 1368: 1357: 1351: 1348: 1335: 1331: 1330:www.csnnw.com 1327: 1320: 1317: 1312: 1311: 1310:The Oregonian 1303: 1300: 1287: 1283: 1276: 1273: 1260: 1256: 1250: 1247: 1242: 1238: 1237: 1230: 1227: 1220: 1216: 1213: 1211: 1208: 1206: 1203: 1202: 1198: 1191: 1188: 1185: 1183: 1180: 1177: 1174: 1171: 1166: 1163: 1160: 1158: 1155: 1152: 1149: 1146: 1141: 1138: 1135: 1133: 1129: 1126: 1123: 1120: 1115: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1104: 1101: 1098: 1095: 1090: 1087: 1084: 1082: 1078: 1075: 1072: 1069: 1064: 1061: 1058: 1056: 1053: 1050: 1047: 1044: 1039: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1027: 1024: 1021: 1018: 1013: 1010: 1007: 1005: 1002: 999: 996: 993: 988: 985: 982: 980: 979:Chicago Winds 976: 973: 970: 967: 962: 959: 956: 954: 951: 948: 945: 942: 937: 934: 931: 929: 925: 922: 919: 916: 911: 908: 905: 902: 899: 896: 895: 887: 878: 871: 868: 865: 863: 859: 856: 853: 850: 845: 842: 839: 837: 833: 830: 827: 824: 819: 816: 813: 811: 807: 804: 801: 798: 793: 790: 787: 785: 782: 779: 776: 773: 768: 765: 762: 760: 757: 754: 751: 748: 743: 740: 737: 735: 731: 728: 725: 722: 717: 714: 711: 709: 706: 703: 700: 697: 692: 689: 686: 684: 681: 678: 675: 672: 667: 664: 661: 659: 655: 652: 649: 646: 641: 638: 635: 633: 630: 627: 624: 621: 616: 613: 610: 608: 605: 602: 599: 596: 591: 588: 585: 582: 578: 575: 572: 569: 564: 561: 558: 556: 552: 549: 546: 543: 538: 535: 532: 530: 526: 523: 520: 517: 512: 509: 506: 504: 500: 497: 494: 491: 486: 483: 480: 478: 475: 472: 469: 466: 461: 458: 455: 453: 450: 447: 444: 441: 436: 433: 430: 428: 425: 422: 419: 416: 411: 408: 405: 403: 399: 396: 393: 390: 385: 382: 379: 377: 373: 370: 367: 364: 359: 356: 353: 350: 347: 344: 343: 335: 326: 320: 317: 315: 312: 310: 307: 304: 301: 300: 294: 292: 290: 286: 283:In 2013, the 281: 279: 274: 270: 268: 264: 260: 254: 252: 248: 247:Pete Beathard 244: 238: 236: 232: 228: 222: 220: 216: 212: 208: 204: 198: 196: 195:Civic Stadium 192: 188: 185:based out of 184: 180: 176: 172: 146: 142: 138: 134: 131: 128: 124: 120: 116: 113: 110: 106: 103: 100: 96: 93: 92:Civic Stadium 90: 86: 83: 80: 76: 72: 68: 64: 60: 54: 47: 40: 30: 19: 1855: 1845:2010–present 1844: 1833: 1822: 1811: 1800: 1789: 1778: 1767: 1756: 1746:1947–present 1745: 1734: 1724:1946–present 1723: 1712: 1648: 1634:World Bowl I 1577: 1480:Chicago Fire 1409:Thunder logo 1379:. Retrieved 1370: 1359:. Retrieved 1350: 1340:November 13, 1338:. Retrieved 1334:the original 1329: 1319: 1308: 1302: 1292:November 13, 1290:. Retrieved 1285: 1275: 1265:November 13, 1263:. Retrieved 1258: 1249: 1240: 1235: 1229: 1186: 1161: 1136: 1110: 1085: 1059: 1034: 1008: 983: 957: 932: 866: 840: 814: 788: 763: 738: 712: 687: 662: 636: 611: 586: 559: 533: 507: 481: 456: 431: 427:Chicago Fire 406: 380: 318: 313: 308: 302: 282: 277: 275: 271: 255: 243:Ben Davidson 239: 223: 199: 181:team in the 174: 173:(originally 170: 168: 73:October 1975 65:October 1973 1661:1975 season 1656:1974 season 912:Attendance 360:Attendance 235:Bill Bergey 227:Greg Barton 203:Mexico City 62:Established 1876:Categories 1639:Dicker-rod 1381:2015-11-11 1361:2015-11-11 1221:References 854:Wednesday 752:Wednesday 726:Wednesday 701:Wednesday 676:Wednesday 650:Wednesday 625:Wednesday 547:Wednesday 521:Wednesday 495:Wednesday 470:Wednesday 445:Wednesday 420:Wednesday 368:Wednesday 215:Dick Coury 102:Dick Coury 98:Head coach 88:Home field 1124:Saturday 1073:Saturday 1048:Saturday 953:Hawaiians 906:Opponent 862:Hawaiians 828:Thursday 802:Thursday 777:Thursday 759:Hawaiians 607:Hawaiians 394:Thursday 354:Opponent 177:) was an 1199:See also 136:Division 118:Owner(s) 78:Based in 1856:2014–16 1812:1997–99 1779:1973–75 1757:1961–66 1735:1946–50 1175:Sunday 1150:Sunday 1116:14,818 1099:Sunday 1040:12,197 1022:Sunday 997:Sunday 971:Sunday 946:Sunday 938:14,362 920:Monday 909:Result 872:14,245 846:11,676 820:20,402 794:13,228 769:11,302 744:25,621 718:20,469 693:14,273 668:16,041 642:13,339 617:15,551 600:Friday 573:Monday 565:27,814 539:15,541 513:16,222 487:15,636 462:13,757 437:19,358 412:31,088 386:55,534 357:Result 211:Ron Mix 144:Colours 139:Western 112:Ron Mix 1192:8,713 1189:30–13 1167:3,818 1164:28–25 1142:8,119 1139:29–32 1091:4,710 1088:25–10 1065:6,342 1014:6,576 1011:33–24 989:3,501 986:18–25 963:7,709 960:24–25 935:15–21 883:": --> 791:26–25 715:22–26 690:26–21 665:19–17 639:15–34 592:5,101 562:15–45 510:16–38 484:15–15 434:22–29 331:": --> 162:  159:  153:  150:  126:League 70:Folded 1627:Misc. 1453:Teams 1113:3–16 1062:8–26 1037:0–22 903:Date 897:Week 869:0–23 843:0–23 817:14–0 741:8–30 614:15–6 589:18–7 536:7–11 459:7–25 409:8–16 383:8–33 351:Date 345:Week 1834:2010 1823:2000 1801:1992 1790:1985 1768:1969 1713:1944 1535:1975 1462:1974 1342:2013 1294:2013 1267:2013 1241:KHOU 900:Day 885:edit 766:3–0 348:Day 333:edit 314:Loss 276:The 169:The 1172:11 1147:10 1130:at 1079:at 1028:at 977:at 926:at 860:at 851:20 834:at 825:19 808:at 799:18 774:17 749:16 732:at 723:15 698:14 673:13 656:at 647:12 622:11 597:10 579:at 553:at 527:at 501:at 400:at 374:at 319:Bye 309:Win 303:Key 1878:: 1858:: 1847:: 1836:: 1825:: 1814:: 1803:: 1792:: 1781:: 1770:: 1759:: 1748:: 1737:: 1726:: 1715:: 1328:. 1284:. 1257:. 1239:. 1121:9 1096:8 1070:7 1045:6 1019:5 994:4 968:3 943:2 917:1 570:9 544:8 518:7 492:6 467:5 442:4 417:3 391:2 365:1 253:. 237:. 1695:e 1688:t 1681:v 1437:e 1430:t 1423:v 1384:. 1364:. 1344:. 1296:. 1269:. 1187:W 1162:W 1137:L 1111:L 1086:W 1060:L 1035:L 1009:W 984:L 958:L 933:L 889:] 867:L 841:L 815:W 789:W 764:W 739:L 713:L 688:W 663:W 637:L 612:W 587:W 560:L 534:L 508:L 482:T 457:L 432:L 407:L 381:L 337:] 305:: 31:. 20:)

Index

Portland Storm
Portland Thunder
Team helmet
Team logo
Portland, Oregon
Civic Stadium
Dick Coury
Ron Mix
World Football League
American football
World Football League
Portland, Oregon
New York Stars
Civic Stadium
Mexico City
Salt Lake City
Ron Mix
Dick Coury
Denver Broncos
Greg Barton
Marty Schottenheimer
Bill Bergey
Ben Davidson
Pete Beathard
Birmingham Americans
Detroit Wheels
London, Ontario
Florida Blazers
Arena Football League
Portland Thunder

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.

↑