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1988 Los Angeles Cobras season

Arena Football League team season

Field	Value
team	Los Angeles Cobras
year	1988
record	5–6–1
division_place	4th
coach	Ray Willsey
stadium	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
playoffs	L semifinals vs. Chicago Bruisers 29–16
no_prevseason	true
no_nextseason	true

The 1988 Los Angeles Cobras season was the first and only season for the Cobras.

On March 16, 1988, it was announced that team would be nicknamed the Cobras, as well as the introduction of head coach Ray Willsey. The Cobras played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. The team's logo consisted of an interlocking "LA" in which the left upright of the "A" was formed by the hooded head and "neck" of a cobra.

The team debuted April 30, 1988, against the New York Knights. The Cobras started the season 0–3, but finished the season 5-3-1, clinching a playoff spot.

Despite a lineup that featured former NFL all-pro receiver Cliff Branch, ex-UCLA quarterback Matt Stevens and future Arena Football Hall of Fame Gary Mullen, Los Angeles drew dismal crowds: just 7,507 per game, second-worst in the AFL. The Cobras lost in the semifinals to the Chicago Bruisers, 29–16. It turned out to be their last game ever as the Cobras (as well as the New York Knights and the New England Steamrollers) folded after the 1988 season, temporarily cutting the league down to just three teams.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Results	Game site
April 30	New York Knights	L 52–60	0–1	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
May 6	at Chicago Bruisers	L 35–46	0–2	Rosemont Horizon
May 14	at Pittsburgh Gladiators	L 43–61	0–3	Civic Arena
May 21	Pittsburgh Gladiators	W 66–32	1–3	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
May 26	New England Steamrollers	W 27–20	2–3	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
June 6	at New York Knights	W 36–22	3–3	Madison Square Garden
June 10	at Detroit Drive	L 26–39	3–4	Joe Louis Arena
June 16	Detroit Drive	L 14–38	3–5	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
June 25	at New England Steamrollers	W 49–34	4–5	Providence Civic Center
July 2	New York Knights	L 30–40	4–6	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
July 9	at Chicago Bruisers	W 48–28	5–6	Rosemont Horizon
July 14	Chicago Bruisers	T 37–37 (OT)	5–6–1	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

Standings

Playoffs

Round	Date	Opponent	Results	Game site	Final score	Team record	Semi-finals
July 23	at Chicago Bruisers	L 16–29	0–1	Rosemont Horizon

Roster

1988 Los Angeles Cobras roster
Quarterbacks

Awards

Position	Player	Award	All-Arena team
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back	Gary Mullen	none	1st
Quarterback	Matt Stevens	none	2nd

References

Lonnie White. (March 17, 1988). "Arena Football : Ray Willsey Will Coach L.A.'s Cobras". Los Angeles Times.
Lonnie White. (April 30, 2013). "Cobras, Arena Football Make L.A. Debut Tonight". Los Angeles Times.
Lonnie White. (May 21, 1988). "Now, Matt Stevens' Job Is to Turn the Cobras Around". Los Angeles Times.
Lonnie White. (July 23, 1988). "L.A. Is a Tough Arena for Indoor Football : Cobras Are Still Making Some Gains Despite Competition for Sports Dollar". Los Angeles Times.
Lonnie White. (April 6, 1988). "Branch, Stevens Head Cobra Picks". Los Angeles Times.
"Box Score LA @ Chicago July 23, 1988". ArenaFan.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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