West Texas Rufneks Explained

Founded:1966
Folded:1970
League:Texas Football League, Continental Football League
Arena:Memorial Stadium (Midland, Texas)
City:Midland, Texas
Championships:0
Titles:0

The West Texas Rufneks were a professional American football team based in Midland, Texas. They began play as the Odessa-Midland Comets in the Texas Football League in 1966. In September 1968 the franchise was purchased by Dallas investor Alton Fairchild, who changed the team's name to the West Texas Rufneks.[1] When the Texas Football League merged with the Continental Football League for its 1969 season, the Rufneks became a member of the COFL's new Texas Division East.[2] The team announced plans to relocate after the 1969 season, but the move never happened and the Rufneks dissolved before the 1970 Texas Football League season.

Season-by-season

Year League W L T FinishCoach
Odessa-Midland Comets1966 1 8 1 6th Byron Townsend
Odessa-Midland Comets1967 3 11 0 3rd, Western Division Jim Daniel
Odessa-Midland Comets/West Texas Rufneks1968 5 7 0 3rd, Western Division Jim Daniel/Ted Dawson
West Texas Rufneks1969 7 4 0 2nd, Texas Division East Lou Rymkus

Notes and References

  1. News: Comets Get New Owner. The Odessa American. September 25, 1968.
  2. News: TFL Aligns With Huge Continental. The Odessa American. Associated Press. January 26, 1969.