Wilmington Renegades Explained

Founded:1966
Folded:1967
League:Atlantic Coast Football League
Arena:Baynard Stadium
City:Wilmington, Delaware
Championships:0
Titles:0

The Wilmington Renegades were a minor league American football team based in Wilmington, Delaware. They joined the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) as the Wilmington Clippers on February 20, 1966.[1] Most of the team's ownership and management carried over from another Wilmington football franchise, the Wilmington Comets of the North American Football League.[2] The team's first signing was Dick Christy, former running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Boston Patriots, and New York Jets.[3]

Despite losing $80,000 in 1966, the Clippers returned to the ACFL for the 1967 season. The team announced a five-year working agreement with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in March 1967, which saw the Eagles help with the cost of running the team.[4] Despite the agreement, the Clippers continued to lose money and announced their dissolution in September 1967, just two games into the regular season.[5]

The league stepped in immediately and offered to finance the franchise, which was renamed as the Renegades.[6] Newspapers reported the team's full name alternately as the Wilmington Renegades or Delmarva Renegades. The franchise ceased operations permanently in November 1967, canceling their final two regular season games.[7]

Season-by-season

Year League W L T FinishCoach
Wilmington Clippers1966 4 7 0 4th, Southern Division Tex Warrington/Ron Waller
Wilmington Clippers/Renegades1967 2 7 0 2nd, Southern Division Ron Waller

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: DeFilippo Will Not Coach Here. Evening Journal. March 10, 1966.
  2. News: Katzman. Izzy. Izzy Katzman. Clippers to Play in 10-Team Loop. The Morning News. March 14, 1966.
  3. News: Katzman. Izzy. Izzy Katzman. Dick Christy First to Join Clippers. The Morning News. March 23, 1966.
  4. News: Feldner. Karl. Clippers Tie Up With Eagles. Evening Journal. March 29, 1967.
  5. News: Wilmington Clippers Drown In Red Ink. Delaware County Times. September 7, 1967.
  6. News: ACFL to Assist City Grid Team. The News Journal. September 11, 1967.
  7. News: Football Clippers Disband for Year. The Pittsburgh Press. UPI. November 4, 1967.