Memphis Showboats: Vision, Leadership & Major League Dreams | Dr. Keith B. Wood Artwork

The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

A bi-weekly podcast that delves into the lives of retired athletes as they navigate the uncharted waters of life after their competitive careers end.

Host, Sandy Adams, brings forth captivating interviews, sharing the stories of athletes who transitioned into new endeavors, discovered their purpose beyond sports, and the highs and lows along the way.

Plus a new mini series "On The Sideline" conversations with current athletes and people working in the sports world.

All Episodes

The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams

Memphis Showboats: Vision, Leadership & Major League Dreams | Dr. Keith B. Wood

April 01, 2026 • Sandy Adams Creative Group

0:00 | 1:09:13

Memphis has chased major league status for decades — from the Memphis Red Sox to the ABA and the World Football League. In the early 1980s, that pursuit led to the Memphis Showboats, one of the most memorable chapters in the city’s sports history.

On this episode of The 5th Quarter Podcast with Sandy Adams, historian and author Dr. Keith B. Wood returns to discuss his new book The Memphis Showboats: The USFL Team & the City’s Fight for Major League Status and the leadership, vision, and belief that rallied a city.

We discuss:

Memphis’ push to become a major league city
How the Showboats landed in Memphis
Leadership of owner William Dunavant and GM Steve Ehrhart
Pepper Rodgers and the team’s identity
The impact of Reggie White and Walter Lewis
How the Showboats united Memphis
Why the USFL collapsed
The team’s lasting legacy

For three seasons, the country took notice — but the story is bigger than football. It’s about leadership, opportunity, and belief in what a city could become.

Send us a text.

Grab my new book, "The Visionary Personal Brand Playbook" and start building your brand today. Grab your copy at sandy-adams.com/playbook

Support the show