New York Knights (arena football)

The New York Knights were an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in New York City. They played in the league for one season, 1988. They played their home games at Madison Square Garden. After going 2–10 overall in their only season the team ceased operations. The league then went several years before attempting to re-enter the nation's largest media market with the New York CityHawks.

History

Template:Main The Knights became an expansion team of the Arena Football League in 1988.<ref name="improv">Template:Cite news</ref> The team announced Jim Valek as the first coach in franchise history.<ref name="improv"/> The team featured a couple of players from the 1987 New York Giants replacement team, including starting quarterback Jim Crocicchia and his primary receiver Edwin Lovelady, but its desire to fans was questioned before the team began playing games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Knights won their first game in franchise history, 60–52 over the Los Angeles Cobras.<ref name="improv"/> During the Knights home opener, a fight erupted in the stands, and items were thrown on the field.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After winning the season opener, the Knights lost 4 straight games before returning home to a smaller crowd, losing 22–36 to the Cobras.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Knights would lose 8 straight games before they defeated the Cobras 40–30 in Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team folded after a disappointing 2–8 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Notable players

Roster

New York Knights roster
Quarterbacks Template:Player Mark Casale Template:Player Jim Crocicchia Template:Player Stan Yagiello Wide receivers/Defensive backs Template:Player Lewis Bennett Template:Player Greg Best Template:Player Vince Courville Template:Player Elbert Gray Template:Player Stan Hunter Template:Player Edwin Lovelady Template:Player Jim Mauro Template:Player Pat Morrison Template:Player Rex Motes Template:Player O'Donovan Murphy Template:Player Ken Sanders Template:Player Al Washington	Fullbacks/Linebackers Template:Player Derek Hughes Template:Player Al Neri Template:Player Johnny Shepherd Offensive linemen/Defensive linemen Template:Player Alec Gibson Template:Player Mark Grandy Template:Player Walter Housman Template:Player Chris Jones Template:Player Quinton Knight Template:Player John Reed Template:Player A. J. Sebastianelli Template:Player Pete Walters	Wide receivers/Linebackers Template:Player Mark Streeter Kickers *** Patrick Ragusa *** Injured Reserve Template:Player Jack Kratochvil Template:Player Eric Schubert Rookies in italics Roster updated February 27, 2013 29 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS → More rosters

All-Arena players

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

• WR/DB Vince Courville
• OL/DL Quinton Knight

Head coaches

Name	Term	Regular season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
Jim Valek	Template:AFL Year	2	10	0	Template:Winperc	0	0

Season results

ArenaBowl Champions

ArenaBowl Appearance

Division Champions

Playoff Berth

Season	League	Conference	Division	Regular season			Postseason results
				Finish	Wins	Losses
New York Knights
1988	AFL	-	—	6th	2	10
Total					2	10	(includes only regular season)
					0	0	(includes only the postseason)
					2	10	(includes both regular season and postseason)

External links

• Template:Usurped