Atlantic Coast Football League
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) was a minor football league that operated from 1962 to 1973. Until 1969, many of its franchises had working agreements with NFL and AFL
teams to serve as farm clubs. The league paid a base salary of $100 per game and had 36 players on each active roster.
For the first few years, Joe Rosentover served as league president. He had served in the same capacity for the American Football League
(formerly the American Association) from 1947 to 1950; a relative, John Rosentover, had run the league from 1936 to 1947. In fact, several of the teams from the AA were revived in the ACFL, including the Providence Steam Roller
, Newark Bears
and a team in Paterson, New Jersey. By 1968, Rosentover had left the organization and been superseded by commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi, who had briefly played for the New York Jets
.
In 1965, three of the franchises (the Hartford Charter Oaks, Newark Bears and Springfield Acorns) joined with five teams from the United Football League to create the Continental Football League
. The league picked up four franchises from that league when it folded in 1969 (Norfolk Neptunes, Orlando Panthers, Jersey Jays and Indianapolis Capitols); the Neptunes and Panthers were exactly the same teams as the Acorns and Bears respectively, having relocated during their time in the CoFL.
In 1970, the Orlando Panthers signed a husband and wife duo, Steven and Patricia Palinkas
, as a kicker and holder respectively. Steven did not make the team, but Patricia did, making her the first female professional football player.
Most of the ACFL's teams, including all of the teams that had been in the Continental league, folded following the 1971 season. The Hartford Knights and Bridgeport Jets survived, and both moved down to the Seaboard Football League
in 1972. Hartford accrued a perfect season
in that league in 1972, including several games with margins of victory over 40 points, and after much dissatisfaction with the league announced it was leaving with the intent to reform the ACFL. The ACFL returned for one final season in 1973 with Hartford, Bridgeport, and several teams promoted up from the SFL (which led to a trickle-up that brought Empire Football League teams upward to the SFL to fill the old SFL teams' void). The return, however, was short lived; the league determined it would not compete with the World Football League
and folded after the 1973 season.
Commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
14 (Double OT), played indoors in the Atlantic City Convention Center
1963- Newark Bears 23 Springfield Acorns 6
1964- Boston Sweepers
14, Newark Bears 10 played in Newark
1965- New Bedford Sweepers
13, Jersey Jets 9
1966- Virginia Sailors 42, Lowell Giants 10
1967- Virginia Sailors 20, Westchester Bulls 14
1968- Hartford Knights 30, Virginia Sailors 17
1969- Pottstown Firebirds 20, Hartford Knights 0
1970- Pottstown Firebirds 31, Hartford Knights 0
1971- Norfolk Neptunes 24, Hartford Knights 13
1973- New England Colonials 41, Bridgeport Jets 17
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
teams to serve as farm clubs. The league paid a base salary of $100 per game and had 36 players on each active roster.
For the first few years, Joe Rosentover served as league president. He had served in the same capacity for the American Football League
American Association (football)
The American Association was a professional American football league based in New York City. Founded in 1936 as a minor league with teams in New York and New Jersey, the AA extended its reach to Providence, Rhode Island prior to the onset of World War II...
(formerly the American Association) from 1947 to 1950; a relative, John Rosentover, had run the league from 1936 to 1947. In fact, several of the teams from the AA were revived in the ACFL, including the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
, Newark Bears
Orange/Newark Tornadoes
The Orange Tornadoes and Newark Tornadoes were two manifestations of a long-lived professional American football franchise that existed in some form from 1887 to 1971, having played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930, the American Association from 1936 to 1941, the Atlantic Coast...
and a team in Paterson, New Jersey. By 1968, Rosentover had left the organization and been superseded by commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi, who had briefly played for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 1965, three of the franchises (the Hartford Charter Oaks, Newark Bears and Springfield Acorns) joined with five teams from the United Football League to create the Continental Football League
Continental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
. The league picked up four franchises from that league when it folded in 1969 (Norfolk Neptunes, Orlando Panthers, Jersey Jays and Indianapolis Capitols); the Neptunes and Panthers were exactly the same teams as the Acorns and Bears respectively, having relocated during their time in the CoFL.
In 1970, the Orlando Panthers signed a husband and wife duo, Steven and Patricia Palinkas
Patricia Palinkas
Patricia "Pat" Palinkas is credited as the first and, until Katie Hnida signed with the Fort Wayne Firehawks in 2010, only woman to play American football professionally. She was a placekick holder for her husband Steven Palinkas for the minor league Orlando Panthers in the Atlantic Coast...
, as a kicker and holder respectively. Steven did not make the team, but Patricia did, making her the first female professional football player.
Most of the ACFL's teams, including all of the teams that had been in the Continental league, folded following the 1971 season. The Hartford Knights and Bridgeport Jets survived, and both moved down to the Seaboard Football League
Seaboard Football League
The Seaboard Football League was a minor American football league that operated from 1971 to 1974. It folded after the 1974 season as a result of the founding of the World Football League, which deprived the league of talent....
in 1972. Hartford accrued a perfect season
Perfect Season
A perfect season is any sports season, excluding the playoff portion of a season, in which a team remains undefeated and untied. The feat is extremely rare at the professional level of any team sport, and has occurred more commonly at the collegiate level in the United States.A perfect season may...
in that league in 1972, including several games with margins of victory over 40 points, and after much dissatisfaction with the league announced it was leaving with the intent to reform the ACFL. The ACFL returned for one final season in 1973 with Hartford, Bridgeport, and several teams promoted up from the SFL (which led to a trickle-up that brought Empire Football League teams upward to the SFL to fill the old SFL teams' void). The return, however, was short lived; the league determined it would not compete with the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
and folded after the 1973 season.
Commissioner Cosmo Iacovazzi was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
ACFL Championship Games
1962- Paterson Miners 17, Providence Steam RollerProvidence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
14 (Double OT), played indoors in the Atlantic City Convention Center
Atlantic City Convention Center
The Atlantic City Convention Center is a large convention center located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Opened in 1997, the center includes of showroom space, 5 exhibit halls, 45 meeting rooms with of space, a garage with 1,400 parking spaces, and an adjacent Sheraton hotel.-History:The Center was...
1963- Newark Bears 23 Springfield Acorns 6
1964- Boston Sweepers
Boston Sweepers
The Boston Sweepers was a team in the Atlantic Coast Football League. They played their home games at the Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts...
14, Newark Bears 10 played in Newark
1965- New Bedford Sweepers
Boston Sweepers
The Boston Sweepers was a team in the Atlantic Coast Football League. They played their home games at the Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts...
13, Jersey Jets 9
1966- Virginia Sailors 42, Lowell Giants 10
1967- Virginia Sailors 20, Westchester Bulls 14
1968- Hartford Knights 30, Virginia Sailors 17
1969- Pottstown Firebirds 20, Hartford Knights 0
1970- Pottstown Firebirds 31, Hartford Knights 0
1971- Norfolk Neptunes 24, Hartford Knights 13
1973- New England Colonials 41, Bridgeport Jets 17
ACFL teams
- Ansonia Black Knights 1962-63
- Atlanta Spartans 1964
- Atlantic City Senators 1966
- Baltimore Broncos 1963
- Boston SweepersBoston SweepersThe Boston Sweepers was a team in the Atlantic Coast Football League. They played their home games at the Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts...
1963-64 - Bridgeport Jets 1968-71, 1973 (affiliated with New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1969) - Frankfort Falcon 1962
- Harrisburg Capitols/Harrisburg Colts 1963-69 (affiliated with Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
in 1969) - Hartford Charter Oaks 1963-64
- Hartford Knights 1968-71, 1973 (affiliated with Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1969) - Holyoke Bombers 1965
- Indianapolis Capitols 1970-71
- Jersey City Jets 1966
- Jersey Giants 1963-64
- Jersey Jays 1970-71
- Jersey Jets 1965
- Jersey Tigers 1970-71
- Long Island Bulls 1969-70 (affiliated with New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1969) - Long Island Chiefs 1973
- Lowell Giants 1966-68 (affiliated with Boston Patriots in 1969)
- Mohawk Valley Falcons 1963-65
- Mount Vernon Crusaders 1973
- Newark Bears 1963-64
- New Bedford SweepersBoston SweepersThe Boston Sweepers was a team in the Atlantic Coast Football League. They played their home games at the Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts...
1965-66 - New England Colonials 1973 (affiliated with Boston Patriots)
- Norfolk Neptunes 1970-71
- Orlando Panthers 1970-71
- Paterson Miners 1962
- Pittsburgh Valley Ironmen 1963-65
- Portland Sea Hawks 1962-64
- Pennsylvania Firebirds 1970-71
- Pottstown Firebirds 1968-69 (affiliated with Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1969) - Providence Steam RollerProvidence Steam RollerThe Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
1962-64 - Quincy Giants 1969-71
- Rhode Island Steelers 1966
- Richmond RebelsRichmond RebelsThe Richmond Rebels were one of eight teams in the United States Baseball League, and were based in Richmond, Virginia. The league collapsed within two months of its creation from May 1 to June 24, 1912...
1964 - Richmond Roadrunners 1968-69 (affiliated with New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 1969) - Richmond Saints 1970
- Roanoke Buckskins 1968-71 (affiliated with Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in 1969) - Scranton Miners 1965-66
- Scranton Pros 1964
- Springfield Acorns 1963-64
- Stamford Golden Bears 1962
- Virginia Sailors 1966-68
- Waterbury Orbits 1966-67
- West Massachusetts Pioneers 1973
- Westchester Bulls 1967-68
- Westchester Crusaders 1963-64, 1973
- Wilmington Clippers 1966-67