San Diego Jaws

History

Founded as the in 1973 as the Baltimore Comets the bankrupt franchise was sold after two unsuccessful seasons on the East Coast and moved by new owner Ken Keegan to San Diego. It January 1976, it was announced the team had been renamed "Jaws". The team hired English midfielder Derek Trevis who had won the NASL championship in 1973 as part of the Philadelphia Atoms to acts as player-manager of the new franchise. Former Chapman College baseball coach Paul Deese, who claimed to have only seen two soccer games in his life, was hired as General Manager. Even though the team still had five open roster spots, include two of three forwards, the Jaws faced their first opponent the Dallas Tornados in a preseason game on March 12, 1976, losing 2-0 in front of a mostly unpaid crowd of 6,754. A week later, the team competed in the 1976 NASL Indoor tournament in Daly City, California, losing both games in which they participated. In another preseason game on March 24, 1976, this one held at Balboa Stadium, in front of 18,128 people in attendance the Jaws tied the New York Cosmos holding Pelé scoreless in the 1-1 draw.

San Diego began the outdoor season with a 1–0 win in overtime against the San Antonio Thunder with 5,200 fans in attendance. Later that month, the team hosted the Mexican Olympic team at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, losing 2-1 with Hugo Sánchez scoring both of Mexico's goals. It was reported that team owner Ken Keegan was seeking investors from the local community, with five limited partners added to the ownership group by mid July. The Jaws ended the season at home losing to the Minnesota Kicks 1-0 before 9,400 fans after two overtime periods. The Jaws finished the season with a record of 9 wins and 15 losses, last place in the Pacific Conference Southern Division. For the season, the team averaged over 6,000 fans at each home game, but it was reported the average paid attendance was only about 2,500. After weeks of speculation, on October 19, 1976, it was reported the team would be moving to Las Vegas.

The Jaws had no television coverage but did broadcast all matches on KSDO radio.

After one season in Las Vegas, the franchise was sold and returned to San Diego as the San Diego Sockers.

Year-by-year

Honors

Indoor All-Stars

• 1976: Archie Roboostoff (West All-Regional Team)

Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame members

• 2019: Alan Mayer

References

References

1. (October 10, 1975). "Comets to move to Calif.". The Baltimore Sun.
2. (October 12, 1975). "San Diego-bound soccer team sold". Times-Advocate.
3. (January 17, 1976). "More, more, more". Chicago Tribune.
4. (January 28, 1976). "Jaws sign Trevis". Times-Advocate.
5. (February 19, 1976). "Morning Briefing". The Los Angeles Times.
6. (February 3, 1976). "Baseball Man Turns to Soccer". The Los Angeles Times.
7. (March 12, 1976). "Jaws debut set tonight against Rote, Tornado". Times-Advocate.
8. (March 14, 1976). "Jaws entertain, lose". Times-Advocate.
9. (March 22, 1976). "Earthquakes, Tornado complete indoor field". Tampa Bay Times.
10. (March 25, 1976). "Pele held scoreless by Jaws in 1-1 tie before 18,128 fans". Times-Advocate.
11. (April 19, 1976). "Defense leads Jaws in upset over Thunder". Times-Advocate.
12. (April 27, 1976). "Jaws to play Mexican team". Times-Advocate.
13. (April 29, 1976). "Jaws lost to Mexican team". Times-Advocate.
14. (July 18, 1976). "Local man takes post with Jaws". Imperial Beach Star-News.
15. (August 15, 1976). "Kicks score 1-0 win over Jaws". Times-Advocate.
16. "North American Soccer League".
17. (October 20, 1976). "Jaws move soccer team to Las Vegas". Times-Advocate.
18. (December 22, 1977). "Quicksilvers moved". Corvallis Gazette-Times.
19. Hunt, Tim. (March 22, 1976). "Quakes work for 8–4 win". The Argus (Fremont, CA).
20. (September 1, 2020). "Hall of Famers".