The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Perhaps the most prominent player on the Showboats' roster during their two seasons of existence was future Pro Football Hall of Fame member Reggie White. They were owned by cotton magnate William Dunavant and Logan Young; the head coach was Pepper Rodgers, who would later go on to coach another Memphis pro football team, the Memphis Mad Dogs, in 1995.
The Showboats played their home games in the Liberty Bowl. The Showboats franchise was one of the USFL's better fan draws as far as live gate was concerned, and seemed to have had a realistic chance to have been a viable business if the overall management of the USFL had been more realistic and financially sound. As it was, they ceased to exist, along with all other USFL franchises, when the league failed to collect significant damages in its 1986 anti-trust suit against the NFL. ..... Read more
Years Played in USFL: 1984, 1985
Club Owner(s): Logan Young, Jr. (1984), William Dunavant (1984-85)
Playing Site: Liberty Bowl, Memphis, Tennessee
Head Coach(es): Pepper Rodgers
Overall Record: 19-19-0 (18-18-0 regular season)
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