USFL Roundup : Gunslinger Coach Quits; Team Then Loses Sixth in Row, 24-21

Just a few hours after losing their head coach, the San Antonio Gunslingers lost their sixth straight United States Football League game Saturday night before 7,118, the smallest home crowd in the franchise’s history.

Gunslinger Coach Jim Bates resigned in the afternoon, leaving former head coach Gil Steinke to fill in for him in a 24-21 loss to the Oakland Invaders. It was the fifth straight win for the Invaders (9-3-1). The loss dropped San Antonio to 3-10.

In a statement, Bates said he resigned for “personal reasons.” A San Antonio radio station reported that the decision had to do in part with the team’s problems in meeting its payroll.

Memphis 38, Tampa Bay 14--Mike Kelley led the Showboats (8-5) to their fourth straight victory after replacing Walter Lewis at quarterback. The Bandits fell to 9-4.

Kelley completed 20 of 28 passes for a team-record 290 yards. He tossed touchdown passes of 17 and five yards to Derrick Crawford and later threw a 13-yarder to Greg Moser.