San Diego Jaws
{{Short description|Defunct American soccer club}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football club |
American = true |
clubname = San Diego Jaws|
image = 200px |
fullname = San Diego Jaws|
nickname = |
founded = 1976|
dissolved= 1976 (moved)|
stadium = Aztec Bowl,
San Diego, California|
capacity = |
chairman = |
manager = |
league = North American Soccer League|
season = |
position = |
| kit_alt1 =
| pattern_la1 = _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes
| pattern_b1 = _vneckblack
| pattern_ra1 = _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes
| pattern_sh1 = _white_stripes
| pattern_so1 = _3_stripes_black
| leftarm1 = FFD300
| body1 = FFD300
| rightarm1 = FFD300
| shorts1 = 000000
| socks1 = FFD300
| kit_alt2 =
| pattern_la2 = _goldborder
| pattern_b2 = _vneckyellow
| pattern_ra2 = _goldborder
| pattern_sh2 =
| pattern_so2 = _3_stripes_black
| leftarm2 =049ADB
| body2 =049ADB
| rightarm2 =049ADB
| shorts2 = 000000
| socks2 = FFD300
}}
The San Diego Jaws were a professional soccer team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The team played its games at Aztec Bowl on the campus of San Diego State University. Founded in 1976, the team was the league's second attempt to place a franchise in San Diego with the Toros having folded in 1968 after two seasons. The franchise lasted only one season and relocated to Las Vegas for the 1977 NASL season.
History
Founded as the in 1973 as the Baltimore Comets the bankrupt franchise was sold after two unsuccessful seasons on the East Coast and moved by new owner Ken Keegan to San Diego.{{cite news |last1=Lowenberger |first1=William |title=Comets to move to Calif. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105006330/comets-to-move-to-calif/ |access-date=July 5, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 10, 1975 |page=C7}}{{cite news |title=San Diego-bound soccer team sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105400913/san-diego-bound-soccer-team-sold/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |agency=Associated Press |date=October 12, 1975 |location=New York |page=B-5}} It January 1976, it was announced the team had been renamed "Jaws".{{cite news |title=More, more, more |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106283468/more-more-more/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=January 17, 1976}} The team hired English midfielder Derek Trevis who had won the NASL championship in 1973 as part of the Philadelphia Atoms to acts as player-manager of the new franchise.{{cite news |title=Jaws sign Trevis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284270/jaws-sign-trevis/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=January 28, 1976 |page=A-17}}
Former Chapman College baseball coach Paul Deese, who claimed to have only seen two soccer games in his life,{{cite news |title=Morning Briefing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106285704/morning-breifing/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 1976}} was hired as General Manager.{{cite news |last1=Gustkey |first1=Earl |title=Baseball Man Turns to Soccer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106284549/baseball-man-turns-to-soccer/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=February 3, 1976 |page=9}} Even though the team still had five open roster spots, include two of three forwards, the Jaws faced their first opponent the Dallas Tornados in a preseason game on March 12, 1976,{{cite news |title=Jaws debut set tonight against Rote, Tornado |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106289504/jaws-debut-set-tonight-against-rote/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=March 12, 1976 |location=San Diego |page=A-12}} losing 2-0 in front of a mostly unpaid crowd of 6,754.{{cite news |last1=Littlefield |first1=Larry |title=Jaws entertain, lose |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106290488/jaws-entertain-lose/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=March 14, 1976 |location=San Diego |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106290488/jaws-entertain-lose/ B1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106290576/jaws-shut-in-soccer-debut/ B2]}} A week later, the team competed in the 1976 NASL Indoor tournament in Daly City, California, losing both games in which they participated.{{cite news |title=Earthquakes, Tornado complete indoor field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106290122/earthquakes-tornado-complete-indoor/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=March 22, 1976 |page=2C}} In another preseason game on March 24, 1976, this one held at Balboa Stadium, in front of 18,128 people in attendance the Jaws tied the New York Cosmos holding Pelé scoreless in the 1-1 draw.{{cite news |last1=Littlefield |first1=Larry |title=Pele held scoreless by Jaws in 1-1 tie before 18,128 fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106293819/pele-held-scoreless-by-jaws-in-1-1-tie/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=March 25, 1976 |location=San Diego |page=A-15}}
San Diego began the outdoor season with a 1–0 win in overtime against the San Antonio Thunder with 5,200 fans in attendance.{{cite news |title=Defense leads Jaws in upset over Thunder |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106294296/defense-leads-jaws-in-upset-over-thunder/ |access-date=July 25, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=April 19, 1976 |location=San Diego |page=A-10}} Later that month, the team hosted the Mexican Olympic team at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California, losing 2-1 with Hugo Sánchez scoring both of Mexico's goals.{{cite news |title=Jaws to play Mexican team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106337480/jaws-to-play-mexican-team/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=April 27, 1976 |location=Chula Vista, California |page=A-11}}{{cite news |title=Jaws lost to Mexican team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106337507/jaws-lost-to-mexican-team/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=April 29, 1976 |location=Chula Vista, California |page=A-12}} It was reported that team owner Ken Keegan was seeking investors from the local community, with five limited partners added to the ownership group by mid July.{{cite news |title=Local man takes post with Jaws |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106338251/local-man-takes-post-with-jaws/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Imperial Beach Star-News |date=July 18, 1976 |page=B-2}} The Jaws ended the season at home losing to the Minnesota Kicks 1-0 before 9,400 fans after two overtime periods.{{cite news |title=Kicks score 1-0 win over Jaws |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106338421/kicks-score-1-0-win-over-jaws/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |agency=United Press International |date=August 15, 1976 |location=San Diego |page=B-4}} The Jaws finished the season with a record of 9 wins and 15 losses, last place in the Pacific Conference Southern Division.{{cite web |title=North American Soccer League |url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/nasl.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=July 26, 2022}} For the season, the team averaged over 6,000 fans at each home game, but it was reported the average paid attendance was only about 2,500.{{cite news |title=Jaws move soccer team to Las Vegas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106338605/jaws-move-soccer-team-to-las-vegas/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Times-Advocate |date=October 20, 1976 |location=San Diego |page=A-18}} After weeks of speculation, on October 19, 1976, it was reported the team would be moving to Las Vegas.
After one season in Las Vegas, the franchise was sold and returned to San Diego as the San Diego Sockers.{{cite news |title=Quicksilvers moved |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106338959/quicksilvers-moved/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |agency=Associated Press |date=December 22, 1977 |location=San Diego |page=18}}
Year-by-year
Honors
Indoor All-Stars
- 1976: Archie Roboostoff (West All-Regional Team){{cite news |last= Hunt|first=Tim |title=Quakes work for 8–4 win|date=March 22, 1976|newspaper=The Argus (Fremont, CA)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/37995005/?terms=Quakes|page=16|access-date=July 15, 2017}}
Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame members
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North American Soccer League (1966–85)}}
Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams
Category:Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States
Category:Soccer clubs in California
Category:Defunct soccer clubs in California
Category:1976 establishments in California
Category:1976 disestablishments in California