HOME     |    ALL-TIME TEAM LIST  |    ALL-TIME RECORDS    |   HALL OF FAME     |    HONORS   |    CONTACT      FOR STATISTICIANS

 

SUPPORT THIS ARCHIVE

Support this archive page!

KEEP THESE PAGES AVAILABLE AND UPDATED

As little as $5/YR or a cup of coffee, keeps this page and others active for others to view.

 

SPOKANE FURY
(1983 - 1985)

Spokane, Washington
Joe Albi Stadium





Thank you to the supporters of this page and the GNFA mission!

Be a Fury page Patron!

Steven Brainerd - Document Contributions
Mark Meadows $5/Annually

After the failed attempt to get the Spokane Expos on the field in 1981 the year after the Golden Hawks collapsed under financial distress in 1980, a group formed to bring the Fury to the field in the Northwest Football Association.  Longtime football administrator and magazine publisher Dick Suess, previously part of the Golden Hawks ownership, volunteered as general manager and "face" of the team.

Ric Pearson, released by the New York Giants signed on to kick for the Fury in 1983 and set a number of field goal records in 1985..  Spokane demolished the NFA defending champion Grizzlies earning a #1 Northwest Ranking by Pro Football Weekly, but promptly lost to the West Seattle Warhawks the next week.  The Fury would get to the NFA championship game only to lose by 21 to the Portland Steelheads.  Eight Fury players would be named to the 1st Team All-NFA list at the end of the season led by former Golden Hawk and a future Hall of Famer in Willie Daigle who went on to a 16-year career as a receiver, return specialist and defensive back.  Daigle would move west and joined the Auburn Panthers in 1984 and later played for the Pierce County Bengals to close his career.
 
The board of directors asked Suess to resign after two games and bought out his share of the franchise for $400 after questions arose about commitments being made by Suess on behalf of the team without board approval.  Coach Gary Davis resigned after four games to take up his coaching position with Spokane Falls Community College.
 
Byron Smith intercepted 3 passes and recovered a fumble in the playoff victory over the Raiders.

Charles "Chuck" Green would be named NFA Defensive Player of the Year after a dominant performance in 1984.  A dozen members of the Fury received All-League honors.
 
The Fury made it to the NFA Title game in it's first two seasons losing to Portland and Auburn.  In 1985 they were bounced from the playoffs by the Salem Stars, a team the Fury beat by 42 to start the season.
 
Vic Wallace, a former University of Idaho star and former Canadian League Calgary and Saskatchewan receiver in 1983-1984, had a huge 1985 season as a receiver and kick returner earning All-NFA honors and climbing the record books for receiving TD's in a season and yards in a season.
 
Following the 1985 season, Nancy and Joe Suor explored interest in moving the team to the Pasco, Washington. In January of 1986 it was announced that the Fury Football Team, Inc of Spokane filed bankruptcy facing debts of $71,402.  The Spokane Chronicle first wrote about potential problems on Oct 3, 1985

On the field, the Fury were a success.  Two championship game appearances and a 23-14 record over three seasons.  But financial issues, and shallow player pools that plagued Spokane for decades brought a close to yet another franchise and it would be another 17-years before the Spokane Nightmare had a brief 2-season run.  Finally, in 2005 Spokane would get some stability from a franchise when an eastern Washington league formed and localized competition made travel easier.  The SaberCats, which would become the Wolfpack after a merger with the State Line Miners maintained football for Spokane for the next 20-years.

Vic Wallace would be inducted into the Northwest Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2015.

 


DO YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO CONTRIBUTE?  CONTACT US! (email)

 

GNFA Hall of Famer Willie Daigle

Spokane Fury 1983
1983
Northwest Football Alliance
Record 8-4
Sponsor Dick Suess / Board of Directors
GM Dick Suess (2 games) Colin Kilburn
Asst GM John Ward
Coach Gary Davis (4 games) Gary Baskett (8 games)
Asst Danny Lee, Don Gregory, Bobby Williams, Dick Suess


1983 Awards

Keith Duncan (WR) All-League 1st Team
Alan Magaway (WR) All-League 1st Team
Greg Yeaw (OT) All-League 1st Team
Mark McNeal (OG) All-League 1st Team
Eric McIntyre (LB) All-League 1st Team
Chuck Green (DL) All-League 1st Team
John Chamberlin (DL) All-League 1st Team
Tim Frisbee (P) All-League 1st Team
Jim Whitsett (LB) All-League 2nd Team
Willie Daigle (WR) All-League 2nd Team
Mike Wells (QB) All-League 2nd Team
Al Stallworth (C) All-League 2nd Team
Pat O'Reilly (PK) All-League 2nd Team
Rayford Guice (PR) All-League 2nd Team
Tony Byrne (SS) All-Leauge 2nd Team
Byron Smith (FS) All-League 3rd Team
Bill Perry () All-League 3rd Team
Chris Anderson () All-League 3rd Team
Kevin Shinkle () All-League 3rd Team


1984
Northwest Football Alliance
Record 7-5
Sponsor Dr. Frank Door, Joe & Nancy Suor
GM Nancy Suor
Coach Don Case


1984 Awards

Chuck Green (DL) NFA Defensive Player of the Year
Keith Duncan (WR) All-League 1st Team
Al Stallworth (C) All-League 1st Team
Chuck Green (NG) All-League 1st Team
Tim Frisbee (P) All-League 1st Team
Dennis McColins (DT) All-League 1st Team
Paul Ratsch (LB) All-League 1st Team
Mike Fullum (CB) All-League 1st Team
Tony Byrne (SS) All-League 1st Team
Byron Smith (FS) All-League 1st Team
Milt Meyers (QB) All-League 1st Team
Ric Pearson (PK) All-League 1st Team
A.D. Graham (KR) All-League 1st Team



1985
Northwest Football Alliance
Record 8-4
Sponsor Dr. Frank Door, Joe & Nancy Suor
GM Nancy Suor
Coach Don Case
Asst Danny Lee


1985 Awards

Paul Ratsch (LB) All-League 1st Team
Vic Wallace (WR) All-League 1st Team (PR) 2nd Team
Tom Kinney (LB) All-League 1st Team
Dennis McColins (DT) All-League 2nd Team
Ric Pearson (PK) All-League 2nd Team
Schedules and Results
Date Opponent Score
1983 July 30 Pacific Coast Vikings 31-7
1983 Aug 6 @ Washington County Grizzlies 43-6
1983 Aug 13 West Seattle Warhawks 0-10
1983 Aug 20 Portland Steelheads 22-0
1983 Aug 27 Skagit Valley Raiders 20-7
1983 Sep 10 Washington County Grizzlies 15-0
1983 Sep 17 @ Seattle Cavaliers 12-7
1983 Sep 24 @ Pacific Coast Vikings (in Pasco) 18-20
1983 Oct 1 Portland Steelheads 14-17
1983 Oct 8 West Seattle Warhawks 31-28
1983 Oct 29 Skagit Valley Raiders (Playoff) 26-15
1983 Nov 6 @ Portland Steelheads (Championship) 3-24
     
     
1984 July 14 @ Eastside Express 13-22
1984 Aug 4 Eastside Express 36-0
1984 Aug 11 @ Auburn Panthers 14-25
1984 Aug 19 Sno-King Blue Knights 14-7
1984 Aug 25 @ Eastside Express 28-8
1984 Sep 1 Peninsula Pioneers 44-0
1984 Sep 15 Seattle Cavaliers 43-3
1984 Sep 22 @ Clark County Grizzlies 28-25
1984 Sep 29 Auburn Panthers 6-30
1984 Oct 20 Skagit Valley Raiders 29-20
1984 Oct 27 Eastside Express (Playoff) 32-16
1984 Nov 3 @ Auburn Panthers (Championship) 17-20
     
     
1985 July 20 Salem Stars 45-3
1985 July 27 @ Eastside Express 3-10
1985 Aug 3 Skagit Valley Raiders 45-0
1985 Aug 10 @ Seattle Cavaliers 43-3
1985 Aug 17 Sno-King Blue Knights 44-20
1985 Aug 24 Eastside Express 20-7
1985 Aug 31 @ Auburn Panthers 2-16
1985 Sep 7 @ Salem Stars 18-20
1985 Sep 14 West Seattle Warhawks 10-2
1985 Sep 21 Seattle Cavaliers 40-15
1985 Sep 28 @ Skagit Valley Raiders 28-0
1985 Oct 5 @ Sno-King Blue Knights 13-36
1985 Oct 12 Salem Stars (Playoff) 7-33
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
COPYRIGHT: GREATER NORTHWEST FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, established 2006 - Washington   | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED