The 1988 Los Angeles Cobras season was the first and only season for the Cobras.
On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey. The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.
The team debuted April 30, 1988, against the New York Knights. The Cobras started the season 0–3, but finished the season 5-3-1, clinching a playoff spot.
Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens and future Arena Football Hall of Fame Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL. The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29–16. It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras (as well as the New York Knights and the New England Steamrollers) folded after the 1988 season, temporarily cutting the league down to just three teams.
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Results Game site Final score Team record 1 April 30 New York Knights L 52–60 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 2 May 6 at Chicago Bruisers L 35–46 0–2 Rosemont Horizon 3 May 14 at Pittsburgh Gladiators L 43–61 0–3 Civic Arena 4 May 21 Pittsburgh Gladiators W 66–32 1–3 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5 May 26 New England Steamrollers W 27–20 2–3 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6 June 6 at New York Knights W 36–22 3–3 Madison Square Garden 7 June 10 at Detroit Drive L 26–39 3–4 Joe Louis Arena 8 June 16 Detroit Drive L 14–38 3–5 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 9 June 25 at New England Steamrollers W 49–34 4–5 Providence Civic Center 10 July 2 New York Knights L 30–40 4–6 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11 July 9 at Chicago Bruisers W 48–28 5–6 Rosemont Horizon 12 July 14 Chicago Bruisers T 37–37 (OT) 5–6–1 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Standings
Playoffs Round Date Opponent Results Game site Final score Team record Semi-finals July 23 at Chicago Bruisers L 16–29 0–1 Rosemont Horizon
Roster 1988 Los Angeles Cobras roster Quarterbacks Eric Beavers Michael Mendoza Matt Stevens
Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs Mike Benson Cliff Branch Derrick Donald Joe Kelly Gary Mullen Running Backs/Linebackers Rob DeVita Paul Green Yepi Pauu Richard Prather Ed Zeman
Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen Eric Arrington Brian Clark Chuck Harris Dwayne Jackson Michael Jones Tony Palamara Louis Sorrentino Dester Stowers Wes Walton Wide Receivers/Linebackers Wade Lockett Matthew McKnight Richard Rodgers
Kickers Nick Mike-Mayer Ken Olson Marty Zendejas
Rookies in italicsRoster updated February 5, 2013 28 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS
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Awards Position Player Award All-Arena team Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Gary Mullen none 1st Quarterback Matt Stevens none 2nd
References