|
Honors
Joe Davis, OG Minor Professional
Football Association East-West All-Star Game (New Orleans)
Chuck Green MPFA All-Star Alternate
Stu Dodds, MPFA All-Star Alternate
All-League/All-Stars
Scott Mullernix, DT (1980); LB - 1979 NIFL 1st
Mark Deerheim, DE (1980)
Darryl Wilkerson, WR (1980); 1979 NIFL 2nd
Joe Davis, OG (1980); 1979 NIFL 1st
John Hopson, LB (1980); DL - 1979 NIFL 2nd
Kevin Grafis, OT (1980)
Randy Cameron, WR - 1979 NIFL 1st
Jim Fisk, RB - 1979 NIFL 1st
Todd Arndt, DL - 1979 NIFL 1st
Chuck Green, DL - 1979 NIFL 1st
Jeff Sheffield, DB - 1979 NIFL 1st
Joe Kramer, C - 1979 NIFL 2nd
Mark Jensen, RB - 1979 NIFL 2nd
Mark Richter, DB - 1979 NIFL 2nd
Mike Childers, P - 1979 NIFL 2nd
Doug Miller, KR - 1979 NIFL 2nd
All-America
Joe Davis, OG (1979; 1980)
9,069 fans attended the 'Hawks 1979
season opener as Jim Fisk scored Spokane's first TD in team history.
Nose guard Al Stalworth was voted Defensive Player of the Game.
After an outstanding inaugural season where the 'Hawks lost in the NWIFL
Championship in overtime to the Pierce County Bengals, news began to
surface of problems in the Golden house. Dick Seuss, originator of
the team resigned after two games and in December, he along with Head
Coach Davis and six other team officers were named in a lawsuit brought
by former players. Most notably was Robert Bynum, a former Morgan
State standout from Los Angeles. Bynum presented a letter from
Seuss stating "...we will reimburse your travel expenses if you make a
commitment to come here and play ball." He also claimed promises
of temporary housing and a job for his wife, who quit her job in
California to accompany him to Spokane. Guy Swick, Otis Mills and
Clarence Leverett were other players listed as plaintiffs.
President James McClenahan claimed the team lost nearly $7,000 on the
season and could not share any profits with players.
The 1980 'Hawks finished 2nd in league
standings but were ousted from the playoffs when they violated league
bylaws and forfeited a game to the Van-Port Thunderbirds citing
financial difficulties. The Thunderbirds refused to travel to
Spokane after the 'Hawks no-show reportedly cost them $2,000, money they
would have used for playoff travel. The league reported that the
Golden Hawks were on probation for a similar violation from the previous
season.
Punter Stu Dodds (Montana State), recently released
by the San Diego Chargers (7th round draft pick), punted 9 times for 406
yards (45.1 avg) against Burien on Aug 30.
* * *
In 1981 The Bank of Spokane sued the
Golden Hawks for a loan in the amount of $10, 592. The bank also
claimed $3,671 in unpaid checks were still outstanding when the account
had insufficient funds in it. James McClenahan, Calvin Graedel and
John Plastino were named in the suit as officers of the team. In
June of 1981 a bench warrant was issued for McClenahan and Plastino in a
$14, 263 judgment against them.
|
