Established
1994
City
Las Vegas
League History
1994 / Canadian Football League
Team History
1994 / Las Vegas Posse
Nickname
Posse - The Las Vegas Posse is a defunct Canadian Football League (CFL) team that played in the 1994 season. The team was based out of Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, and had an exciting run during their short time as part of the league. While there are many stories about how they got their nickname, it's believed to have originated from a combination of two sources: local slang for "party" and a reference to the famous outlaws known as "the posse."
The first source can be traced back to when Las Vegas was still relatively new on the map; locals referred to any gathering or celebration as “a posse” because it reminded them of all those old Western movies where cowboys would get together and ride off into battle against some unseen enemy. This term eventually caught on with tourists visiting from other parts of America, so when CFL officials came up with ideas for naming teams, they thought this could be perfect!
As far as why they chose “posse” specifically instead of something else like “gang” or “crew," it may have been due to its association with legendary Wild West figures such as Jesse James' gang, which called themselves The James-Younger Gang but were often referred simply by people outside law enforcement circles at "the posse." It seems likely that someone involved in coming up with names wanted something memorable enough that everyone would recognize while also having ties back into American history – hence why we now know them today by this moniker!
No matter what you think about how Las Vegas Posse got its name - whether through local slang or references from popular culture - one thing is certain: these guys sure knew how to put on a show during their brief stint within Canada's premier professional football league! Their games always drew huge crowds, thanks mainly to the excitement generated around both players AND fans every week at Sam Boyd Stadium – making them unique amongst other teams competing at the period. So next time you hear someone talking about 'Las Vegans,' don't forget to give credit where credit is due…to the original pioneers behind the creation of our beloved franchise: The Possee!!
Championship
Grey Cup 0
Stadium
1994 / Sam Boyd Stadium
Owner
1994 / Las Vegas Major League Sports, Inc.
- 1994
- 1995
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Posse Team Formation
When the Posse started the 1994 season it was clear that CFL football would not last in Las Vegas. They were owned by a publicly held corporation whose public face was Cleveland, Ohio-based Nick Mileti (whose other sports holdings included the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and the AHL’s Cleveland Barons), a man who took little direct involvement in team operations. The team played at Sam Boyd Stadium in suburban Whitney. As ... -
Only One Year
After the season, Mileti entered talks with a group from Milwaukee looking to move the Posse there. A group led by singer and business mogul Jimmy Buffett attempted to buy and relocate the franchise to Jackson, Mississippi. Buffett had gone so far as to begin assembling a front office (led by general manager Eric Tillman) and coaching staff (led by John Payne), and the CFL included the ...
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History of the Posse
The Las Vegas Posse was a professional Canadian Football League (CFL) team from 1994 to 1995. The Posse were the first American-based franchise in the CFL based out of Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. They played two seasons before folding due to financial difficulties caused by poor attendance and a lack of local support. Despite their short existence, the team impacted sports history as one of only three U.S.-based franchises ever to play in a major professional North American football league alongside teams from Canada.
The Posse had some success during their brief tenure with an 8-10 record over two seasons, including winning their division championship game against Edmonton Eskimos in 1995 before losing at home against Baltimore Stallions for the Grey Cup title that same year; however, they remain memorable for being part of CFL history as well as having some talented players such as quarterback Matt Dunigan who would go onto have successful careers after leaving Las Vegas before its demise following season ender loss at Calgary Stampeders’ McMahon Stadium.
In addition, while playing under head coach Ron Meyer with assistance from offensive coordinator Kay Stephenson, the posse also featured several other notable names like running back Mike Pringle, who rushed for 1120 yards and 12 touchdowns during his lone season there; wide receiver Allen Pitts who recorded 1140 yards receiving despite missing four games due injury; and defensive lineman Elfrid Payton Jr., who led all rookies with five sacks - making him second overall among all defenders - en route being named Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award winner. All these factors combined make this forgotten franchise worth remembering for any diehard fan or casual observer when reminiscing about great past moments within sports annals worldwide, even today.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history