The Memphis Showboats

In 1983, Memphis landed a franchise in the upstart United States Football League after flirting with the World Football League in the 1970s. First owned by Logan Young and then local cotton magnate William Dunavant, the team attracted a charismatic coach, Pepper Rodgers, as well as future Hall of Famer Reggie White (University of Tennessee) and quarterback Walter Lewis (University of Alabama). Following a sub-par initial season, Dunavant lured USFL executive Steve Ehrhart to Memphis, where he built a roster with top-level talent that led to a deep run into the 1985 USFL playoffs. Doomed by a failed anti-trust lawsuit against the National Football League, the USFL collapsed and left Memphis outside the major leagues. This work provides the complete history of the Memphis Showboats, telling the story of the city's support for professional football.