1966 St. Petersburg Blazers

The Blazers were coached by Forrest Page, a former coach at St. Petersburg’s Dixie Hollins High School. The team was built with plenty of collegiate players from the state of Florida. From the University of Tampa came quarterbacks Billy Turner and Don Herndon, receiver John Perry and defensive back Charlie Lyle. Former Florida Gators included running back Jimmy Jordan, receiver Willie Booker and center Roger Pettee. Florida State was represented by defensive linemen Frank Pennie and Jack Shinholser, and linebackers Chuck Robinson and Bill McDowell. Also signed were Wisconsin State fullback Jack Puglisi and Delta State QB Mike Vincent.

The St. Petersburg Blazers started fast in every way. On Saturday August 6th, 6,360 fans came out for an exhibition game at the field at Northeast High School. The Blazers won that game over the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-23. The regular season opened the following Saturday at Evans-Collins Field in Knoxville. 1:06 into the game, Jimmy Jordan took a punt return 53 yards for a score the first time St. Pete had the ball. Jordan scored three TDs, including one on a 60 yard pass play from Billy Turner. The Blazers took a 28-13 lead and felt the Soks got some home cooking from the officials. There was an onsides kick that appeared to only go 8-yards and an official cussed at a St. Petersburg player who questioned the call. On a sad note, one official, Knoxville car salesman Dewitt Roberts, had a heart attack during the game and died at the hospital 30 minutes later. After a 28-27 victory, Forest Page said of the officiating, “It seemed any aggression on our part was taken as a rule infraction. It was a fearful position to be in.”

The next week in Huntsville, Jimmy Jordan ran 62 yards for a touchdown on the team’s second play in a 34-28 victory over the Rockets. Over 10,000 fans came out for the home opener and Billy Turner hit flanker Willie Booker on 65 yard TD pass on the Blazers first offensive play of a 40-7 victory over Knoxville. Jimmy Jordan returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score in a 48-0 victory over the Chattanooga Redskins. The team then went to Chattanooga and had some issues with its charter flight. The plane left late, ran into bad weather and the Blazers arrived 1 ˝ hours late for the game. Chattanooga could have accepted a forfeit, but waited for the visitors to arrive. Mike Vincent tossed four TD passes in a 40-0 triumph for the Blazers.

A NAFL record crowd of 12,862 were on-hand for the game against the Lakeland based Florida Brahmans. It was not only the biggest crowd in league history, but the biggest crowd for a football game in St. Petersburg. The Brahmans lead 21-14 in the final seconds, before Mike Vincent hit Al Barnes on a last second TD pass. The extra point added more drama, as Frank Vining took the low snap on the conversion and ran into the end zone to tie game. The next week, anticipating a larger crowd, Jacksonville moved a home game to St. Petersburg. There was some controversy when the St. Petersburg ownership took the payment for the officials out of the $3,500 Jacksonville was expecting,. The Blazers won the game 32-10. A win at Mobile, 21-14 over the Tarpons, was followed by a 48-7 home victory over Huntsville. Forest Page said after that game, “I could tell we weren’t up for the game. Once we got going, though, we looked pretty sharp.”

The regular season finale at Lakeland almost did not happen. The team had issued some bad checks and the players voted not to play due to the failure to meet payroll. There was talk of the players being free agents, the Florida team guarantying the Blazers enough to meet payroll, but eventually additional financing was found and the game went on as scheduled. The lack of payment had effected the Blazers practice schedule, as the team owed money to Northeast High School as well. Behind John Sofa, who would be starting for the Miami Dolphins before the year was out, the Lakeland team won 28-19. Even with the loss, the team was trash talking. John Perry, who caught a TD pass that night, said, “I want to get back at them. They are not as good as we are and we can beat them.” Defensive end Frank Reinhart stated, “Three good days of hard practice to get our timing back and we’ll run them off the field. They are not that good. Some of them are even lousy.”

Almost immediately, there was talk of holding a championship game between the Blazers and Brahmans. Each team had posted 8-1-1 records in the regular season and each team had a victory in a non-league game, so they were 9-1-1. There were more money issues, however, a title game was eventually played on November 12th at Jack White Stadium in Clearwater. 5,200 fans would watch St. Petersburg roll. Billy Turner (20 of 25 for 272 yards with 2 INTs) tossed two touchdown passes, Jimmy Jordan ran 74 yards for a score and Jack Puglisi ran for two TDs. The Blazers intercepted five passes, including one returned 21 yards for a score by Jack Shinholser. It was 34-3 at the half and the Blazers coasted to a 40-9 victory. Lineman Frank Pennie said, “We came to play football and we played it.” Frank Reinhart added, “I told you they were lousy.”

This was the only season for the St. Petersburg Blazers and mismanagement was primarily to blame. Local businessman Bill Workman formed the Suncoast Football Corporation and founded the team. Workman was the general manager who assembled the team, then was forced out by additional investors. Travel executive Charles Proper took over the GM duties for a period, then Circuit Court Judge Charles Phillips was the man in charge. When the season ended the corporation was $40,000 in debt and went bankrupt. NAFL commissioner Don Loy asked the question many fans were asking. Loy said, “St. Pete was the backbone of the league this season. I can’t understand with the crowds they had why they’re so far in debt. Where did the money go?”

1966	St. Petersburg Blazers	(10-1-1)
Date	Opponent (Site)	Result
Sat Aug 6	Jacksonville (St. Petersburg)	Won 31-23
Sat Aug 13	Knoxville (Knoxville)	Won 28-27
Sat Aug 20	Huntsville (Huntsville)	Won 34-28
Sat Aug 27	Knoxville (St. Petersburg)	Won 40-7
Sat Sep 3	Chattanooga (St. Petersburg)	Won 48-0
Sat Sep 10	Chattanooga (Rossville, GA)	Won 40-0
Sat Sep 17	Florida (St. Petersburg)	Tie 21-21
Sat Sep 24	Jacksonville (St. Petersburg)	Won 32-10
Sat Oct 1	Mobile (Mobile)	Won 21-14
Sat Oct 8	Huntsville (St. Petersburg)	Won 48-7
Sat Oct 22	Florida (Lakeland)	Lost 28-19
Sat Nov 12	Florida (Clearwater)	Won 40-9

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