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The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks were an
American football team headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina that played for one season in 1991 in the World League of American Football (WLAF). The name was inspired by the Wright brothers' flights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The three jet-trails and three planes in flight, as well as the triangle design in the logo, represented
the three points of the Research Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill). The team's cheerleaders were known
as the "Kittyhawks."
The name was chosen by Raleigh citizens, the choices being the Skyhawks, or Rogues as
published in the News and Observer.
The Skyhawks' home field was N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Then-Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn owned the franchise, and the head coach was former NFL player and State alumnus Roman Gabriel.
The team posted a perfectly dismal 0-10 record in the 1991 season and averaged less than 13,000 spectators per game
due in part by the lack of beer sales at Carter-Finley Stadium; the team was relocated to Columbus, Ohio in early 1992 .
The
Skyhawks' lack of success did not sour the NFL on the whole state, as in 1995, Charlotte welcomed the expansion Carolina Panthers franchise.
Season-By-Season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff
results |
|---|
| 1991 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4th North American East | -- |
Week
1: Sacramento Surge 9, Raleigh-Durham 3
Week 2: Orlando Thunder 58, Raleigh-Durham 20
Week 3: Barcelona Dragons
26, Raleigh-Durham 14
Week 4: San Antonio Riders 37, Raleigh-Durham 15
Week 5: Frankfurt Galaxy 30, Raleigh-Durham
28
Week 6: London Monarchs 35, Raleigh-Durham 10
Week 7: New York-New Jersey Knights 42, Raleigh-Durham 6
Week
8: Montreal Machine 15, Raleigh-Durham 6
Week 9: Orlando Thunder 20, Raleigh-Durham 14
Week 10: Birmingham Fire
28, Raleigh-Durham 7
