New England Steamrollers

The New England Steamrollers were a former Arena Football League team based in Providence, Rhode Island. The team played in the AFL's 1988 season. The Steamrollers were one of four teams to enter the AFL in 1988, and along with the New York Knights and Los Angeles Cobras were folded following the season.

New England Steamrollers
Established 1988 Folded 1988 Played in Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island
League/conference affiliations
Arena Football League (1988)
Current uniform
Team colors	Black, orange, white
Personnel
Owner(s)	Frank J. Russo Robert Andreoli
Head coach	Babe Parilli
Team history
New England Steamrollers (1988)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0) Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
Providence Civic Center (1988)

The Steamrollers were based out of Providence, Rhode Island and played their home games at the Providence Civic Center. They were the first professional football team of any kind to play in Providence since the Providence Steam Roller folded in 1933 and the first non-minor league professional sports franchise to play in the city since the NBA's Providence Steamrollers folded in 1949.

The coach of the Steamrollers was former Boston Patriots All-Pro quarterback Babe Parilli.

History

Main article: 1988 New England Steamrollers season

In 1988, Concert and fight promoter, Frank J. Russo, and jeweler, Robert Andreoli, purchased a limited partnership from the Arena Football League to own the rights to a Providence, Rhode Island team.^[1] The team's first move was the hiring of Head Coach, Babe Parilli in March.^[2][3] After a 3-9 season, the Steamrollers didn't achieve the dollar amount that Russo and Andreoli thought they would, and the franchise folded.^[4]

Notable players

Roster

1988 New England Steamrollers roster
Quarterbacks 22 Matt Heidman  8 Harold Smith  7 Paul Williams Wide receivers/Defensive backs 30 Brian Allen 23 Frank Bianchini  9 Brian Gardner 27 Russell Hairston 46 David Hendley 85 Jim Hockaday -- Jason Oliver 22 Jim Pratt 28 Jim Rafferty 27 Tony Slaton 45 Alvin Williams	Running backs/linebackers 29 Chris Brewer 44 Cletis Jones Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen 68 Sylvester Bembery 98 Joe Felton 63 Kim Johnson 54 Kevin Murphy 67 Mike Nease 51 Steve O'Malley 89 Jeff Oliver 67 Donald Thompson 88 Joe Williams 56 Bill Birnbaum	Wide receivers/linebackers 29 Maurice Gravely 31 Larry Friday Kickers  3 David Jacobs  3 Bernie Ruoff Rookies in italics Roster updated February 12, 2013 29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Arena Football League Hall of Famers

New England Steamrollers Hall of Famers
No.	Name	Year inducted	Position(s)	Years w/ Steamrollers
68	Sylvester Bembery	2011	OL/DL	1988

All-Arena players

The following Steamrollers players were named to All-Arena Teams:

• WR/DB Jim Hockaday
• OL/DL Sylvester Bembery, Kevin Murphy

Head coaches

Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Babe Parilli	1988	3	9	0	.250	0	0

Season-by-season

Season records

Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
1988	3	9	0	5th	--