Cincinnati Rockers

History

1992

Main article: 1992 Cincinnati Rockers season

The Rockers were announced in 1991 as successful restaurant owner Ted Gregory was granted the Arena league expansion the franchise. As one of four expansion teams for 1992, the Rockers sold 5,700 season tickets. In a bid to give the new franchise some credibility, the league persuaded the league's strongest team, the Detroit Drive, to trade Art Schlichter to Cincinnati. Schlichter had grown up in nearby Bloomingburg and had starred at Ohio State, and still had some name recognition in the area.

Additionally, the compulsive gambling that had derailed Schlichter's NFL career had continued unabated during his two years with the Drive, to the point that he had to leave Detroit for his own safety. Schlichter signed a one-year $40,000 contract. Soon after that, he was arrested for passing a bad check, and admitted suffering a gambling relapse. Gregory worked out a deal in which the team put most of Schlichter's paycheck into an account to pay off his gambling debts, except for $300 that they gave to his wife, Mitzi. It was to no avail; police were frequently waiting for Schlichter in the locker room.

The Rockers finished their first season in the league with a surprising 7–3 record, but lost in the first round of the playoffs 41–36 to the Tampa Bay Storm.

1993

Main article: 1993 Cincinnati Rockers season

The Rockers suffered a major blow in the 1992-93 offseason when Schlichter was forced to retire. League officials learned that Schlichter was betting on AFL games. League commissioner Joe O'Hara recalled in 2020 that when he learned this, he called Gregory and told him Schlichter had to go. Facing the prospect of being banned from the league, Schlichter was allowed to publicly save face by retiring. Even before then, the Rockers were losing patience with Schlichter's gambling; they had asked him to take a substantial pay cut to return for 1993.

The team ceased operations following a 2–10 season in 1993. The team's attendance fell by almost 50%, leading to Tom Gregory's decision to drop out of the AFL for the 1994 season. Gregory attempted to find additional sponsors to re-launch the team in 1995,

Season-by-season

|- |1992 || 7 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Northern || Lost Week 1 (Tampa Bay 41-36) |- |1993 || 2 || 10 || 0 || 5th Am. Conf. || – n/a – |- !Totals || 9 || 14 || 0 |}

Logos & uniform

The team color scheme incorporated bright yellow and green.

Notable players

Final roster

Arena Football Hall of Famers

Other players

• Chris Barber, Defensive specialist 1992
• Tony Collins, Fullback/linebacker 1992
• Art Schlichter, Quarterback 1992
• David Smith, Fullback/linebacker 1992
• Jackie Walker, Offensive/defensive lineman 1992
• Vince Hale, Offensive/defensive lineman 1992

Head coaches

Notes

• The team appeared on the game EA Sports Arena Football and Arena Football: Road to Glory as a hidden bonus team.

References

References

1. Jason Blanton. (May 12, 1992). "Couch playing Arena Football". Harlan Daily Enterprise.
2. (July 20, 1992). "Rockers bail out Schlichter". The Daily Sentinel.
3. Schlichter, Art. (2009). "Busted: The Rise and Fall of Art Schlichter". Orange Frazer Press.
4. (April 1995). "Art Schlichter's Fall From Glory". [[Columbus Monthly]].
5. (October 23, 1992). "Schlichter may end grid career". Toledo Blade.
6. (July 12, 1992). "Schlichter Admits Gambling Relapse". [[The New York Times]].
7. (March 9, 2020). "AFL Rewind: Joe O'Hara". [[ArenaFan.com]].
8. Ryan Ernst. (March 23, 2003). "Following in footsteps of defunct Rockers". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
9. (October 30, 1993). "ROCKERS TO LEAVE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE". Dayton Daily News.
10. (June 23, 1994). "Arena grid team sold to Hellcats". Record=Journal.
11. "Arena Football League Hall of Fame". Arena Football League.
12. "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Fran Curci". ArenaFan.com.
13. "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Joe Haering". ArenaFan.com.