1965 Continental Football League season
DurationAugust 14 – November 14, 1965
DateNovember 28, 1965
Finals venueLaidley Field, Charleston, WV
Finals championsCharleston Rockets

The 1965 COFL season was the first season of the Continental Football League (COFL). The COFL entered its inaugural season with franchises in Philadelphia, Springfield, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey, Toronto, Wheeling, West Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, Charleston, West Virginia, Hartford, Connecticut, Providence, Rhode Island, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Franchise changes

In April 1965 the Springfield franchise was purchased by a group from Norfolk, Virginia.[1] The sale was approved and finalized in May.

General news

  • Happy Chandler was appointed commissioner in March 1965, with a five-year contract worth $50,000 per year.[2]

Rules different from NFL

  • Games tied after four quarters move to a sudden death period.
  • On kickoffs, if the ball goes beyond the end zone the kicking team is given a five-yard penalty and must kick again until the ball is handled.
  • Fair catches are not allowed.
  • If the receiving team on a kickoff attempts to run the ball out of the end zone and does not reach the 20-yard-line, the ball is automatically placed at the 20.

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 y  = Division Champion

Eastern Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach
y-Toronto Rifles 1130.786412258Maple Leaf StadiumLeo Cahill
Philadelphia Bulldogs 1040.717414341Temple StadiumBabe Dimancheff
Norfolk Neptunes 950.643326280Foreman FieldGary Glick
Newark Bears 590.357307310Newark Schools StadiumSteve Van Buren
Wheeling Ironmen 2120.143175290Wheeling Island StadiumMac Cara/Bob Snyder
Western Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadiumCoach
y-Charleston Rockets 14001.000462129Laidley FieldPerry Moss
Fort Wayne Warriors 860.538351256Zollner StadiumKen Carpenter
Richmond Rebels 680.429283385City StadiumPete Pihos
Rhode Island Indians 3110.214182411City StadiumMike Connolly
Hartford Charter Oaks 2120.143203455Dillon StadiumFred Wallner/Lee Grosscup/Lowell Lander

Playoffs

Home team in CAPITALS

League Championship (November 28, 1965)

  • CHARLESTON 24, Toronto 7

Awards

  • Most Valuable Player: Bob Brodhead (QB, Philadelphia Bulldogs) & Joe Williams (FB, Toronto Rifles)[3]
  • Coach of the Year: Perry Ross, Charleston[4]

References

  1. "Norfolk Gets Berth In Continental Loop". The Progress-Index. Associated Press. April 30, 1965.
  2. "Happy Chandler Commissioner Of Continental Football League". Ogden Standard-Examiner. UPI. March 18, 1965.
  3. "Bulldogs Brodhead Given MVP Award". Evening Journal. Associated Press. November 27, 1965.
  4. "Moss Is Named Coach of Year". Beckley Post-Herald. Associated Press. November 25, 1965.
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