San Antonio Gunslingers
| San Antonio Gunslingers | |
|---|---|
 
|
|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Folded | 1985 |
| Based in | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Home field | Alamo Stadium |
| League | USFL |
| Conference | Western Conference |
| Division | Central Division |
| Team History | San Antonio Gunslingers (1984–1985) |
| Team colors |
Royal Blue, Kelly Green, Silver, White |
| Head coaches | 1984 Gil Steinke (7-11) 1985 Jim Bates (3-9) 1985 Gil Steinke (2-4) |
| Owner(s) | Clinton Manges |
Royal Blue, Kelly Green, Silver, White
The San Antonio Gunslingers were a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas that played in the USFL in 1984 and 1985. Owned by oil magnate Clinton Manges, the team played its home games in Alamo Stadium and its colors were kelly green, royal blue, silver and white. Rick Neuheisel was the team's quarterback and only recognizable name.
Going into the 1984 season, the USFL made the decision to expand to eighteen teams in order to boost league capital. However, efforts to expand to Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle fell through. San Antonio was mentioned as a possible market for expansion, as rapid growth through the 1970's propelled it into the tenth most populous city in the United States. A series of studies of possible new cities concluded that San Antonio could not support a USFL team. Even though over a million people lived in San Antonio proper, the area, then as now, was considered a medium-sized market because the surrounding suburban and rural areas were far smaller than the city itself. However, a heavy sales pitch by oilman Manges, along with the desire to give the Houston Gamblers a rival, persuaded league owners to award a franchise to the city.
While the USFL had endeavored to avoid the mistakes of the ill-fated World Football League by imposing strict capitalization and due diligence on prospective franchisees, the league neglected to perform any meaningful due diligence on Manges' application. The flamboyant oil baron was long thought to be one of the richest men in Texas. This lack of oversight also allowed the Gunslingers' owner to skirt league capitalization requirements. Despite his oil fortune, Manges never made an initial capital investment (as is standard for most major league sports franchises). Rather, he appeared to pay team expenses out-of-pocket as they arose. Until the league ordered them to move, team offices were located in a double-wide trailer in the Alamo Stadium parking lot.
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