San Antonio Pumas
The San Antonio Pumas were an American
SISL
league. They became the San Antonio Generals before the 1989/90 indoor season and then the San Antonio Pumas before the 1993 outdoor season. They folded after the 1998 season.
History
San Antonio Heat
In 1988, the San Antonio Heat entered the
1989 outdoor season
as they finished sixth and well out of play off contention.
San Antonio Generals
In the fall of 1989, the team came under new management and was renamed the Generals. It began the 1989–1990 indoor season as a "provisional" team. This meant that all its games would count only as exhibition games. However, when the Houston Express was suspended by the league, the Generals replaced them.
San Antonio Pumas
In the spring of 1993, the team was renamed the Pumas. Under head coach Mario Degl'Innocenti, the team again finished even at 8–8 during the 1993 outdoor season. That season, they played eight home games at
Texas Toros, Francisco Javier Cruz, now head coach, was arrested after charging onto the field to confront a referee.[22] A few days later, the team was forced to forfeit the game when the league discovered it had used a player not listed on the game day roster.[23] In April 1999, Da Avila transferred ownership of the Pumas to former coach Guillermo Espinosa.[24]
This was too late to allow Espinosa to enter the team into the USISL for the 1999 season, but intended to return in 2000. Financial difficulties prevented him from doing so and the team ceased operations.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988/89 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 3rd, South | 1st Round | N/A |
| 1989 | N/A | SISL | 6th | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1989/90 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 5th, Texas | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1990 | N/A | SISL | 3rd, Eastern | Quarterfinals | Did not enter |
| 1990/91 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 9th, Southwest | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1991 | N/A | SISL | 4th, Tex-Oma | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1991/92 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 4th, Tex-Oma | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1992 | N/A | USISL | 4th, South Central | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1992/93 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 3rd, South Central | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1993 | N/A | USISL | 4th, South Central | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 3rd, South Central | Divisional Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 4th, South Central | Divisional Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 4th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 5th, South Central | Division Finals | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, South Central | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
Coaches
- Parker Cowand
- "Big" Bill Anderson
- Mario Degl'Innocenti (1993)
- Hisham Alisaleh (1994 – 1995)
- George Price (1996)
- Lance Noble (1996 – interim)
- Guillermo Espinosa (1997)
- Janio Cabezas (1998)
- Francisco Javier Cruz (1998)
Notable players
References
- ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1989
- ^ Sockadillos earn playoff spot in 12–7 rout of San Antonio Austin American-Statesman – Sunday, February 18, 1990
- ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1990
- ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1991
- ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1992
- ^ The Year in American Soccer – 1993
- ^ Kickoff San Antonio Express-News – Wednesday, May 5, 1993
- ^ Pumas ready to rise to another level as new season kicks off San Antonio Express-News – Wednesday, April 13, 1994
- ^ USISL – 1994
- ^ USISL – 1995
- ^ Pumas ' players, owner revolt continues San Antonio Express-News – Wednesday, July 5, 1995
- ^ Check it out: Pumas finally get paid San Antonio Express-News – Friday, July 21, 1995
- ^ Pumas , late start and all, survive thanks to new owner San Antonio Express-News – Thursday, April 18, 1996
- ^ Pumas ready to roar into action once again San Antonio Express-News – Friday, May 3, 1996
- ^ Pumas ready to open season with new owner, new home San Antonio Express-News – Friday, March 28, 1997
- ^ Pumas coach, players see payday come, go San Antonio Express-News – Saturday, May 31, 1997
- ^ Insurance woes may shelve Pumas ' game vs. Toros San Antonio Express-News – Wednesday, June 4, 1997
- ^ Pumas get boost from new owners San Antonio Express-News – Friday, June 13, 1997
- ^ Pumas looking for new home USISL team no longer welcome at Harlandale Memorial Stadium San Antonio Express-News – Monday, June 15, 1998
- ^ Angry Pumas walk out, give Lone Stars 1–0 win Austin American-Statesman (TX) – Sunday, July 26, 1998
- ^ USISL – 1998
- ^ Coach arrested in Pumas' win San Antonio Express-News – Sunday, August 2, 1998
- ^ Pumas owner not giving up Team's setbacks can't take away de Avila's perseverance San Antonio Express-News – Monday, August 10, 1998
- ^ San Antonio is starving for a successful soccer team San Antonio Express-News – Monday, April 12, 1999