Newton Nite Hawks
Encyclopedia
The Newton Nite Hawks were a semi-pro American football team that played in Newton, Iowa
from 1974-1978. They were members of the Chicagoland Football League (CFL) and Northern States Football League (NSFL). They were the first professional or semi-professional team to play American football on the European
continent.
and Jim Williams in 1974, the Newton Nite Hawks were coached by Tom Ross during their first season. The team earned their first ever franchise victory by defeating the Brighton Park Bengals 48-0. After a slow start, the Nite Hawks went on to win 4 of their last 5 games and earned a spot in the CFL playoffs. They were the first team in CFL history to make the playoffs in their first year of operation. The Nite Hawks finished their inaugural season 5-5-1.
The 1975 season was a breakout year for the Nite Hawks. Jim Williams took over the head coaching duties as the team finished 10-2, won the American Division Title and captured the CFL championship with a 17-7 win over the Niles Saints. Statistically, the Nite Hawks led the league many categories, including total offense and total defense.
In their third year of existence, the 1976 Nite Hawks made the league playoffs for the third consecutive year under new coach Dick Altemeier. The team finished the season 6-5 after a loss to the Delavan (Wisconsin) Red Devils in the first round of the CFL playoffs.
The Newton Nite Hawks made football history in 1977. Through the entrepreneurial efforts of Jim Foster, the Newton Nite Hawks were chosen to play a 5-game football tour in Europe (see below) with the Chicago Lions in early June. After winning all 5 games in Europe, the Nite Hawks posted a 7-3 record in the 1977 NSFL regular season. Additionally, the Nite Hawks became a member of the Northern States Football League and played all home games at H. A. Lynn Field after three previous seasons at Holland Patterson Field. In their final year in Newton, the Nite Hawks finished 5-5 in 1978 under coach Herb Taylor.
Road jerseys were white with black numerals and lettering.
Pants: Gold with single black stripe on each side.
Helmets: Gold shell with black center stripe. Circular black Nite Hawk insignia decals adorn each side of the helmet. Facemasks were grey.
Newton, Iowa
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,254. It is the home of Maytag Dairy Farms and was formerly home to the Maytag Corporation's corporate headquarters until the Whirlpool Corporation acquired it in 2006...
from 1974-1978. They were members of the Chicagoland Football League (CFL) and Northern States Football League (NSFL). They were the first professional or semi-professional team to play American football on the European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
continent.
History
Founded by local businessmen Jim FosterJim Foster
James F. Foster is the founder and first commissioner of the Arena Football League. He, along with two other partners, owns Gridiron Enterprises, which acts as the sanctioning body of the sport of arena football...
and Jim Williams in 1974, the Newton Nite Hawks were coached by Tom Ross during their first season. The team earned their first ever franchise victory by defeating the Brighton Park Bengals 48-0. After a slow start, the Nite Hawks went on to win 4 of their last 5 games and earned a spot in the CFL playoffs. They were the first team in CFL history to make the playoffs in their first year of operation. The Nite Hawks finished their inaugural season 5-5-1.
The 1975 season was a breakout year for the Nite Hawks. Jim Williams took over the head coaching duties as the team finished 10-2, won the American Division Title and captured the CFL championship with a 17-7 win over the Niles Saints. Statistically, the Nite Hawks led the league many categories, including total offense and total defense.
In their third year of existence, the 1976 Nite Hawks made the league playoffs for the third consecutive year under new coach Dick Altemeier. The team finished the season 6-5 after a loss to the Delavan (Wisconsin) Red Devils in the first round of the CFL playoffs.
The Newton Nite Hawks made football history in 1977. Through the entrepreneurial efforts of Jim Foster, the Newton Nite Hawks were chosen to play a 5-game football tour in Europe (see below) with the Chicago Lions in early June. After winning all 5 games in Europe, the Nite Hawks posted a 7-3 record in the 1977 NSFL regular season. Additionally, the Nite Hawks became a member of the Northern States Football League and played all home games at H. A. Lynn Field after three previous seasons at Holland Patterson Field. In their final year in Newton, the Nite Hawks finished 5-5 in 1978 under coach Herb Taylor.
European Championship
In an effort to establish and promote American football in Europe, the Nite Hawks were the first professional team (pro or semi-pro) at any level to play American football on the European continent. Organized by the Intercontinental Football League (IFL), the Nite Hawks and league rival Chicago Lions played a 5 game tour in 3 countries during June, 1977. Games were played in Versailles, France; Lille, France; Landstuhl, Germany; Gratz Austria; and Vienna, Austria. The games in Lille and Gratz drew 21,000 and 13,000 fans respectively. The Nite Hawks swept the Lions, winning all 5 contests and the first (and only) European Professional Football Championship. The IFL attempted to schedule additional games in Linz, Austria and Bucharest, Romania, but logistics and politics proved too difficult for the contests to take place. Nite Hawk running back Mark Fetter scored the first professional touchdown on European soil, a 6 yard run en route to the Nite Hawk’s victory in Versailles, France.Home Field
The Nite Hawks played their home games in Newton at Holland-Patterson Memorial Field (1974–1976) and H. A. Lynn Field (1977–1978). The team often practiced at Industrial Park located in the north end of Newton.Uniforms
The Nite Hawks wore 3 uniform tops during their 5 year history:- 1974-75: Black with gold numerals on front/back and shoulders. The sleeves were trimmed with the words IOWA on one sleeve, and HAWKS on the other.
- 1976-77: Black with gold numerals on front/back and shoulders. Small hawk logo placed on sleeves. The word IOWA was placed above the front chest numerals.
- 1978: Black with gold numerals on front/back and shoulders. The word NITE HAWKS was placed above the front chest numerals.
Road jerseys were white with black numerals and lettering.
Pants: Gold with single black stripe on each side.
Helmets: Gold shell with black center stripe. Circular black Nite Hawk insignia decals adorn each side of the helmet. Facemasks were grey.
Players
Nite Hawks in the American Football Association (AFA) Minor League Pro Football Hall of Fame:- 1982-Jim Foster, (Executive)
- 1991-Stan Allspach, QB (Player)
- 1994-Ron Wilson, WR (Player)
- 1996-Jim Williams, (Coach)
- 2003-Doug Fisher, DB (Player)
- 2004-David Summy, LB (Player)
Notable Players/Alumni
- Jim Foster (GM, WR) –Developed patent for Arena FootballArena footballArena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
- Bill LarsonBill LarsonWilliam Harry Larson is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Colorado State University....
(TE) –Played 3 years in NFL after finishing Nite Hawk career in 1976 - Karl Schueneman (OL)–Starred with Steve McQueenSteve McQueenTerrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American movie actor. He was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona, which he developed at the height of the Vietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination...
in the 1980 film The Hunter - David BeckmanDavid BeckmanDavid Beckman is a former Canadian Football League head coach.Beckman began coaching as an assistant at his alma mater Baldwin-Wallace. From there he coached at University of Evansville and spent the years of 1973-1978 with the Iowa Hawkeyes.The next six years Beckman spent in the front office of...
(Assistant) –Former head coach of Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-CatsThe Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....