The Cleveland Panthers were a professional American football team that competed in the first American Football League in 1926. Owned by General C. X. Zimmerman (the vice president of the AFL), the Panthers played their home games in Luna Bowl in Luna Park. Coached by Roy Watts, the team drew its players from Ohio colleges and universities and raided the rosters of National Football League teams based in Ohio
The veteran squad led by tailback Al ...
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The Cleveland Panthers were a professional American football team that competed in the first American Football League in 1926. Owned by General C. X. Zimmerman (the vice president of the AFL), the Panthers played their home games in Luna Bowl in Luna Park. Coached by Roy Watts, the team drew its players from Ohio colleges and universities and raided the rosters of National Football League teams based in Ohio
The veteran squad led by tailback Al Michaels was one of only two AFL franchises (the other was the New York Yankees) to average more than 12 points per game. Other former Cleveland Bulldogs Dave Noble and Doc Elliott helped provide offensive firepower, while two-sport star Cookie Cunningham excelled at end, scoring twice on long passes in an October 3, 1926, game against the Los Angeles Wildcats.
In terms of fan support, the Panthers appeared to have had a good start, defeating the Yankees in their first game, at Luna Bowl in front of a reported 22,000 people, but after a second...
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