Minor League Football System (1990)
Tombstone
Born: 1990 – MLFS expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1990
First Game: July 14, 1990 (L 13-11 @ Bay State Titans)
Last Game: September 15, 1990 (L 23-17 vs. Bay State Titans)
MLFS Championships: None
Stadium
Henderson Stadium (10,000)11990 Middle Georgia Heat Wave Program
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners: Lars Anderson, et al.
Background
The Middle Georgia Heat Wave were a semi-pro football team that existed for one season in Macon during the summer of 1990. The Heat Wave were an expansion club during the second and final season of a short-lived organization known as the Minor League Football System (MLFS).
MLFS players were unpaid. Each franchise was responsible for finding local jobs for their players. But the teams nevertheless took part in an ambitious nationwide schedule that required air travel all across the country. The Heat Wave played road games as far afield as Colorado and Massachusetts.
On The Field
The Heat Wave put together an impressive coaching roster for a semi-pro club. The team inked Lou Saban, the 1964 and 1965 American Football League Coach-of-the-Year with the Buffalo Bills as head coach. Macon native Julius Adams, a 16-year standout defensive lineman with the New England Patriots from 1971 to 1987, signed on a defensive coordinator.
The Heat Wave debuted in July 1990. After a 1-2 start to the season, Saban left the team. Adams took over as head coach and the Heat Wave went 5-2 the rest of the way.
Quarterbacks Tony Constantine (Tennessee Tech ’84) and Shannon Jackson (Jackson State ’88) shared time at quarterback. Jarvis Jenkins (Alcorn State ’90) was the top ground threat.
Demise
MLFS teams were originally slated to play a 12-game schedule in 1990. But during the first week of September two of the league’s twelve teams – the Tacoma Express and the Colorado Springs Spirit – collapsed in midseason. The league scrambled to shorten the schedule to ten games and move into playoffs.
The Heat Wave finished their only season with a 6-4 record and missed the playoffs.
In Memoriam
Lou Saban, the original Head Coach of the Heat Wave, died on March 29, 2009 at age 87. New York Times obituary.
Heat Wave Defensive Coordinator and later Head Coach Julius Adams passed away at age 67 on March 24th, 2016. ESPN.com obituary.
Downloads
8-25-1990 Middle Georgia Heat Wave Roster
8-25-1990 Middle Georgia Heat Wave Roster
Links
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2 Responses
I, and my teammates, had a great time with the Heatwave. We made some good friendships and had fun playing in front of some pretty good crowds. Lou Saban got us started, and Julius Adams helped us finish the season as head coach. I remember both coaches very fondly. It was sad to see the league fold.
Sam Hagler #10 Place Kicker of the inaugural and only Macon Heatwave team.
And a proud South Carolina Gamecock at that!