Houston Thunderbears
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The Houston Thunderbears were a continuation of the Texas Terror franchise (1996-1997) of the Arena Football League under a new name, logo, and color scheme. The team still played its home games at the Compaq Center. 1998, the first year as the Thunderbears, was the high-water mark in team history, in which they recorded their only winning season and sole playoff appearance (a loss to Arizona). The two subsequent seasons saw a decline in both on-field performance and attendance. By the 2001 season, it was apparent that continuing the franchise in the Compaq Center would be pointless. Although still called the Houston Thunderbears, the team actually played none of its games in Houston, instead playing at various neutral sites where the league hoped to stimulate interest. If the goal of this travel was to find the Thunderbears a new home it was a failure as the team folded after the season.
Notable Players
- Ben Bronson, Offensive specialist 1998-2001
- Terence Davis, Wide Receiver/Linebacker 1998-2001
- Clint Dolezel, Quarterback 1998-1999
- Robert Hall, Offensive Specialist 1999-2000
- Todd Hammel, Quarterback 2001
- Larry Jones, Defensive Specialist 1999; 2000-2001
- Thomas McGaughey, Wide Receiver/Linebacker 1998
- Sedrick Robinson, Wide Receiver/Linebacker 2001