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The '''Pottstown Firebirds''' were a professional [[American football]] minor league team and member of the [[Atlantic Coast Football League]] from 1968 to 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds were former NFL football players, former college football players, and former high school football players that loved to play the game of football. The Firebirds were originally a "farm club" of the Philadelphia Eagles and were provided with equipment/helmets already emblazened with Eagle wings. Only a few Firebirds ever moved up to NFL teams. The Firebirds affiliation with the Philadelphia Eagles was short-lived and was withdrawn in 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds home field was located at the Pottstown High School and it still exists to this day. In their final two seasons of existence in Pottstown(1969 and 1970), the Firebirds won the league championship |
The '''Pottstown Firebirds''' were a professional [[American football]] minor league team and member of the [[Atlantic Coast Football League]] from 1968 to 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds were former NFL football players, former college football players, and former high school football players that loved to play the game of football. The Firebirds were originally a "farm club" of the Philadelphia Eagles and were provided with equipment/helmets already emblazened with Eagle wings. Only a few Firebirds ever moved up to NFL teams. The Firebirds affiliation with the Philadelphia Eagles was short-lived and was withdrawn in 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds home field was located at the Pottstown High School and it still exists to this day. In their final two seasons of existence in Pottstown (1969 and 1970), the Firebirds won the league championship. |
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In 1971, the Firebirds merged with the Norfolk Neptunes bringing an end to |
In 1971, the Firebirds merged with the [[Norfolk Neptunes]] and left Pottstown. (That year, the [[Seaboard Football League]] established the Schuylkill County Coal Crackers as a replacement team; the Coal Crackers moved to [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] after one season, bringing an end to professional football in Pottstown.) After the collapse of the ACFL a couple of years later, the World Football League sprang up. Many of the Pottstown Firebirds went on to play for the [[Philadelphia Bell]] as described in Vince Papale's book ''Invincible''. Ron Waller, former Head Offensive Coach of the Firebirds, moved on to become Head Coach of the Philadelphia Bell in 1974. |
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The Firebirds were perhaps best remembered as the subject of a 1970 [[NFL Films]] documentary ''Pro Football, Pottstown, Pa.'' which documented the ties between the minor league club, its players, and their hometown of [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]. Of particular note was the portrayal of the Firebirds' star quarterback, [[King Corcoran]]. "The King" was considered the "Poor Man's Joe Namath" and had stints on the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles before landing in Pottstown. |
The Firebirds were perhaps best remembered as the subject of a 1970 [[NFL Films]] documentary ''Pro Football, Pottstown, Pa.'' which documented the ties between the minor league club, its players, and their hometown of [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]. Of particular note was the portrayal of the Firebirds' star quarterback, [[King Corcoran]]. "The King" was considered the "Poor Man's Joe Namath" and had stints on the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles before landing in Pottstown. |
Revision as of 22:04, 11 May 2014
The Pottstown Firebirds were a professional American football minor league team and member of the Atlantic Coast Football League from 1968 to 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds were former NFL football players, former college football players, and former high school football players that loved to play the game of football. The Firebirds were originally a "farm club" of the Philadelphia Eagles and were provided with equipment/helmets already emblazened with Eagle wings. Only a few Firebirds ever moved up to NFL teams. The Firebirds affiliation with the Philadelphia Eagles was short-lived and was withdrawn in 1970. The Pottstown Firebirds home field was located at the Pottstown High School and it still exists to this day. In their final two seasons of existence in Pottstown (1969 and 1970), the Firebirds won the league championship.
In 1971, the Firebirds merged with the Norfolk Neptunes and left Pottstown. (That year, the Seaboard Football League established the Schuylkill County Coal Crackers as a replacement team; the Coal Crackers moved to Reading after one season, bringing an end to professional football in Pottstown.) After the collapse of the ACFL a couple of years later, the World Football League sprang up. Many of the Pottstown Firebirds went on to play for the Philadelphia Bell as described in Vince Papale's book Invincible. Ron Waller, former Head Offensive Coach of the Firebirds, moved on to become Head Coach of the Philadelphia Bell in 1974.
The Firebirds were perhaps best remembered as the subject of a 1970 NFL Films documentary Pro Football, Pottstown, Pa. which documented the ties between the minor league club, its players, and their hometown of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Of particular note was the portrayal of the Firebirds' star quarterback, King Corcoran. "The King" was considered the "Poor Man's Joe Namath" and had stints on the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles before landing in Pottstown.
In 2000 NFL Films returned to Pottstown for an episode of their Lost Treasures series. Pottstown Revisited covered some surviving players reminiscing about their days on the team, remembered the town's relationship with the long-gone /football team, and filmed a 30-year player reunion.
Funding
Bob "Chuz" Calvario and Al Cavallo were credited with founding the Firebirds minor league football franchise in Pottstown. To raise funds, Calvario and Cavallo assembled a group of local investors that all put up a few hundred dollars each and they also sold public stock. In order to secure a franchise, $10,000 was needed to post a performance bond with the ACFL. The franchise was secured but the group fell short of meeting their financial goals to fund an entire team until the entry of local millionaire Ed Gruber. The Pottstown Firebirds financial short-comings were over as Gruber put up the cash to attract the best minor league players money could buy. Ultimately, Gruber became the team owner and called all the shots.
Key Landmarks
The Downtown Motor Inn's name has since gone but the hotel at High and Manatawny Streets still exists. The Firebirds and Staff lived there during the season.
The Firebird's "Roost" was a home near Hanover and Third Streets where a number of the Firebirds players lived. The "Roost" was later torn down and no longer exists today.
The Elks Home, 61 High Street, was the location where important team meetings took place and where the Firebirds ate a number of their meals. The Elks Home is still in operation today.
Pottstown High School - Firebird home games were played at the high school football stadium that is used to this day. Firebird team players used the high school locker room in the basement for practices and games. Not sure if the old locker room in the basement still exists today (2012) as the school had undergone renovations in the past few years.
Bellewood Country Club - Both mansions at this country club belonged to Gruber and was later purchased by investors to develop the location into a golf course.
1970 Season
11 Wins & 1 loss
09/12/70 Firebirds-41 Roanoke Buckskins-0
09/19/70 Firebirds-38 Richmond Saints-10
09/26/70 Firebirds-24 Indianapolis Caps-9
10/03/70 Firebirds-20 Jersey Jays-9
10/09/70 Firebirds-30 Bridgeport Jets-26
10/17/70 Firebirds-36 Hartford Knights-27
10/31/70 Firebirds-35 Norfolk Neptunes-24
11/07/70 Firebirds-14 Orlando Panthers-12
11/14/70 Firebirds-34 Indianapolis Caps-13
11/20/70 Firebirds-22 Long Island Bulls-13
11/29/70 Firebirds-7 Norfolk Neptunes-22
12/06/70 Firebirds-18 Richmond Saints-0
Championship Game
12/12/70 Firebirds-31 Hartford Knights-0
1970 Player's Roster
Adams, Ernie - Offensive Guard
Allen, Buddy - Defensive Back
Alley, Don - Tight End
Barber, John - Offensive Guard
Barnhorst, Dick - Wide Receiver
Baughn, Jim - Defensive Tackle
Berger, Greg - Defensive Back
Blake, Joe - Defensive End
Carr, Tom - Assistant Coach
Corcoran, Sean Patrick "Jimmy" - Quarterback
Davis, Tommy - Defensive Tackle
Demzcuk, Sonny - Tight End
DiMuzio, Tom - Quarterback/Halfback
Diphillippo, Jerry - Linebacker
Dolbin, Jack - Wide Receiver
Foster, Jim - Linebacker
Gravelle, Howard - Tight End
Haynie, Jim - Quarterback
Holliday, Ron - Flanker
Land, John - Running Back
Levandowski, Leo - Center
Marshall, Bryan - Defensive Back
McGuigan, Frank - Running Back
Mitchell, Frank - Offensive Tackle
Nauss, Herb - Defensive Back
Puterbaugh, Bruce - Offensive Tackle
Pyne, Ed - Kicker and Tight End
Rakow, Billy - Defensive Back
Ross, Sherman - Defensive Back
Sarkisian, Tom - Offensive Tackle
Stetz, Bill - Offensive Tackle
Thrower, Jim - Defensive Back
Watts, Claude - Running Back
Weedman, Dave - Linebacker
Wells, Harold - Linebacker
Zegalia, Steve - Linebacker
1970 Staff and Coaches
Team Owner - Ed Gruber
President - Bob "Chuz" Calvario
General Manager/Head Coach - Dave DiFilippo
Head Offensive Coach - Ron Waller
Head Defensive Coach - Andy Nelson
Assistant Coach - Tom Carr
Bomb Squad Coach - Pressly Lee Day
Public Relations - Bill "Doc" Dougherty
Public Relations - Denny "Peaches" Pietro
Team Physician - Dr. Daniel Gross
Trainer - Bill "Scotty" Scott
Assistant Trainer - Bill Kirlin
Equipment Manager - John DeGregorio
Ball Boys - Dave Musser, Dave Katch, and Steve Cavallo
References
- Watch Lost Treasures of NFL Films Season 2 Episode 2 Pottstown Revisited (OVGuide)
- Watch the DVD by NFL Films - Big Game America: Legends of Autumn Vol IV (features the Pottstown Firebirds revisited footage and was available at Amazon as of 12-26-12)
- The Forgettables by Jay Acton - ISBN 0-690-00088-X