USA Today USFL Special, February, 1994
The buds are beginning to bloom on the magnolia trees outside of Mobile, Alabama, and the fields that surround Theodore HS are filled with the sound of clashing pads. It is USFL training camp season again, and the Spring Champion Birmingham Stallions are having fun. Brett Favre, their All-league QB, tosses balls nonchalantly with Ernest Givens and Lawrence Dawsey as he jokes with Bob Lane about the rookies. One of those rookies, Auburn RB James Bostic takes hits form handheld pads as he practices busting through tackles. Another, CB Aaron Glenn from Texas A&M is engaged in tip drills. In one endzone veteran DT George Little gets a swig of Gator Ade, while his new linemate, Jon Carter, traded to the Stallions from the Wranglers, complains about the humidity. “If you think it is bad now, wait until we are playing ball in July. You can feel the air around you like it’s soup” says Little with a smirk.
The Stallions are preparing to defend a title that seemed predestined last year. The team ran roughshod over the league, amassing a 14-2 record, and then proceeded to win close game after close game on their way to the franchise’s first title. And across the country, the rest of the league is trying to figure out if their team has done enough to overtake the juggenaut. In Corpus Christi the Houston Gamblers, who came as close as anyone all year, are hoping that adding some defensive talent in rookie LB Allen Aldredge, CB Mike Davis from Cincinnati, and veteran LB Fred Strickland, is enough to even the gap with the Stallions. In the hills of Flagstaff, Arizona, the Wranglers are looking to 9 rookie signings, including WR Darnay Scott of San Diego State, LB Winfred Tubbs of Texas, and CB John Reece of Nebraska, are enough to stay atop their division and catch up to both Houston and Birmingham. With one more cut day to go, some of the 9 may find themselves out the door or hoping for the practice squad, but the Wranglers need youth, and many expect 6-7 of these fresh faces to stick.
Outside of Tupelo, Mississippi, the hope is very different. The Memphis Showboats invested a pirate’s booty to sign the top QB coming out of college this year, Tennessee’s Golden Boy, Heath Shuler. Now they hope that the investment pays off, and pays off quickly. A team built on defense, now has a chance to rebound from a surprising collapse last year, and they are putting their hopes in the young arm of Shuler. In Philadelphia, it is about taking the next step. The Stars were so close to the playoffs that they could taste it, but a final week loss against in-state rival Pittsburgh cost them their playoff spot. They are hoping that signing two top receivers in former Eagle Cris Carter and Houston slot receiver Ernie Jones will help turn Chuck Long from a strong arm to a winning QB. And in Michigan, the excitement is absolutely off the charts as the Panthers went big in their bid to become relevant again. Signing two legendary players from the NFL, QB Joe Montana and HB Marcus Allen, the Panthers are looking for immediate success. They also brought in depth at WR with Terrance Mathis and rookie Terry Mickens of Florida A&M. They too loaded up on draft picks, and are hoping that big DTs Sam Adams and Chris Maumalanga can immediately slot into starting roles to shore up a suspect run defense.
It is a time for high hopes and big dreams around the USFL. Only 3 weeks until the league’s 12th season kicks off, and for the league’s 20 franchises, now is the time to build the foundation that will hold their season together. Some will meet their goals, some will exceed expectations, and some will fall well short. And if the USFL has proven anything over its first 11 seasons, it is that predicting which teams are ascending and which are due for a fall is nearly impossible. While many saw the writing on the wall for Birmingham last year, none predicted the collapses of Memphis and Tampa Bay. So, as we look ahead to this season, we are going to hedge our bets, providing you with our perception of the ceiling and the floor for each club. It’s time for Spring Football in America, a second season for the nation’s most popular sport, and a chance for fans from Orlando to Portland, from the Gulf Coast to the Rockies to dream about football once again. Let’s get to it.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
After last year’s dominant season, it is hard to pick against the Stallions to become the first USFL team to repeat as champions. Our bullpen leans in that direction, but with a target on their backs, we don’t think it will be easy. The conference is not as strong as the West, but there are challenges here along Birmingham’s path.
ATLANTIC SOUTHERN
Washington 11-5* Birmingham 12-4*
New Jersey 10-6* Jacksonville 9-7*
Philadelphia 9-7* Memphis 7-9
Pittsburgh 8-8 Orlando 7-9
Baltimore 6-10 Tampa Bay 6-10
WASHINGTON FEDERALS
Key Departures: LB B. Zavala (Ret), K R. Wersching (Ret). DT J. Phillips (OAK), FS M. Kelso (NOR), WR T. Mathis (MGN)
New Arrivals: CB A. Blaylock (BIR), LB W. Moss (ORL)
Rookies to Watch: FS T. Drakeford (Va Tech), G C. Novitsky (UCLA), WR B. Schroeder (Wisc-LaCrosse)
Outlook: Washington put together a strong season last year, essentially walking away with the Atlantic crown. We think it will be a bit tighter this year, and Washington did lose both talent and experience on defense with the loss of Zavala, Phillips and Kelso. We like the signing of Winston Moss, but we are unsure about the rookie class this year. Still, the Federals look to be a step ahead of the rest of the division.
NEW JERSEY GENERALS
Key Departures: FB M. Carthon (Ret), G J. Castenada (CHI), B C. Carlson (BAL)
New Arrivals: QB O. Luck (POR), G. C. Lacina (ORL)
Rookies to Watch: WR B. Brooks (UNC), HB B. Morris (Texas Tech)
Outlook: The Generals dodged a bullet when Herschel Walker chose not to retire, but they are clearly expecting it to happen soon, signing Texas Tech bruiser Bam Morris to back up their face of the franchise. New Jersey barely eked into the playoffs last year, but Doug Flutie had his best season ever and we expect that growth to continue under Coach Wyche’s guidance.
PHILADELPHIA STARS
Key Departures: WR M. Quick (Ret), HB P. Palmer (Ret), S T. Bowles (HOU), QB M. Perez (BAL)
New Arrivals: QB E. Kramer (BAL), WR C. Carter (POR), WR E. Jones (HOU), CB J. Hasty (BAL)
Rookies to Watch: HB C. Garner (Tenn), S J. Covington (N Dame)
Outlook: They came so close, only to miss out on the playoffs by a hair. They then lost some depth and one of their best playmakers with Mike Quick’s retirement. But the Stars’ management did not sit on their laurels, bringing in a lot of offensive talent to surround Chuck Long. Cris Carter was arguably the best signing of the offseason, and adding Ernie Jones for the slot position and a good-looking rookie in Charlie Garner to spell Kelvin Bryant are both strong moves. Are they strong enough for the Stars to return atop the Atlantic Division? Maybe, just maybe.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS
Key Departures: DE J. Bosa (TEX), HB P. Chaffey (FA), C D. Gamboa (FA)
New Arrivals: C R. Hemphill (OAK), TE C. Boso (CHI), DT C. Veasey (CHI)
Rookies to Watch: C K. Mawae (LSU), HB D. Levens (Ga Tech), K D. Brien (Cal), QB D. Nussmeier (Idaho)
Outlook: Pittsburgh lost one of their best playmakers in DE John Bosa, and honestly their free agent haul was less than impressive. We like the addition of Mawae to start at C as a rookie, and don’t be surprised if Doug Brien beats out Rafael Septien at kicker, but our overall picture is one of a team treading water while those around them are swimming forward.
BALTIMORE BLITZ
Key Departures: DT J. Klecko (Ret), QB E. Kramer (PHI), LB B. Paup (NFL)
New Arrivals: LB B. Bussey (NFL), DT W. Perry (TBY), QB C. Carlson (NJ), QB M. Perez (PHI), LB D. Lockett (PHI)
Rookies to Watch: T W. Gandy (Auburn), LB J. Gildon (OK State), WR O. Parker (Troy)
Outlook: The Blitz have improved under Coach Infante, but it is not showing up in the standings. Perry may actually be an upgrade over Klecko at DT, and Danny Lockett is a good short-term replacement for Paup, but the big issue remains at QB, where Chris Miller will either sink or save the Blitz season.
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Key Departures: CB A. Blaylock (WSH), DE A. Pleasant (POR), WR C. Collins (NOR)
New Arrivals: G E. Moore (CHI), DE J. Carter (ARZ)
Rookies to Watch: CB A. Glenn (TAMU), C T. Nalen (BC), HB J. Bostic (Auburn)
Outlook: The Stallions lost some good contributors to free agency, which is typical for a league champion, but none of the losses were essential to their success. If rookie James Bostic can help Birmingham actually get a run game to counter the passing of Favre, this team could make a run at 16-0. They are that good.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS
Key Departures: LB C. Bratton (Ret), WR L. Tillman (TEX), WR H. Jones (NFL)
New Arrivals: LB J. Holland (HOU), WR D. Williams (TEX), DE A. Wallace (HOU)
Rookies to Watch: DE J. Thierry (Alcorn), QB G. Foley (BC), TE H. Bishop (LSU), WR W. Jackson (Florida)
Outlook: The Bulls may find it hard to keep up with Birmingham, so they may already be mentally settling for a Wild Card. They lost a good one with Charles Bratton’s retirement, but Johnny Holland should be able to plug that hole on defense. The toughest loss will be that of Hassan Jones, a top flight receiver. Dokie Williams has his skills but he is just not the same caliber of weapon. Keep an eye on DE John Thierry to possibly contribute early if he can make the big jump up from Div 1-AA ball.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS
Key Departures: TE K. Jackson (DEN)
New Arrivals: FS J. Booty (MGN), TE T. McGee (MGN)
Rookies to Watch: QB H. Shuler (Tenn), TE A.J. Ofodile (Mizzou), S K. Lyle (UVa)
Outlook: When Mike Kelley went down last season the Showboats absolutely imploded. This is just how perilous their balance of defense and offense is. Without a solid QB option, the Showboats simply could not compete. And with Kelley clearly losing some mobility and arm strength, the time was right to groom a successor. The Showboats sold the ranch to sign Tennessee hero Heath Shuler. The question now is how they keep him on the bench with Kelley in front of him?
ORLANDO RENEGADES
Key Departures: FB C. Heyward (STL), LB W. Moss (WSH), C R. Fortin (FA)
New Arrivals: C J. Juriga (HOU)
Rookies to Watch: WR B. Emmanuel (Rice), DT G. Wilkins (Gardner-Webb), K. M. Hollis (Idaho)
Outlook: It feels like the Renegades’ window of opportunity is closing. Reggie Collier is not showing the same burst he had earlier in his career, and the defense lost a huge piece with the departure of LB Winston Moss. The Renegades did not do much this offseason, and that could cost them. We see a chance for Orlando to be this year’s collapse team.
TAMPA BAY BANDITS
Key Departures: DT W. Perry (BAL), HB V. Dunbar (ARZ), WR C. Collinsworth (FA)
New Arrivals: FS T. Hoague (NFL), K D. Biasucci (NFL), TE J. Novacek (DEN), C T. Dixon (OAK)
Rookies to Watch: HB E. Rhett (Florida), LB K. Mitchell (Syracuse), T C. Louchey (So Car)
Outlook: Coach Glanville will enfuse this team with energy, and the front office helped add some talent as well. TE Jay Novacek should be a welcome sight for QB Troy Aikman, who simply did not have a reliable option when the deep ball was not there. We also think that the Bandits are right to address their woeful rush game. Bringing in a top talent like Errict Rhett can help take pressure off of Aikman and may help spark an offensive revival. Now, about that defense…
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Houston has represented the Western Conference in the past 2 Summer Bowls, and they will once again be the favorite, but there are plenty of teams who appear to be on the cusp, and have the potential to rise up and overtake the Gamblers. It will be a long season across the West, and in the end, we think the influx of talent in Arizona will prove valuable, but there could well be a surprise if any team gels at the right time
CENTRAL PACIFIC
Houston 10-6* Arizona 11-5*
Texas 10-6* Oakland 10-6*
Chicago 8-8 Denver 9-7*
Michigan 6-10 Portland 8-8
New Orleans 4-12 St. Louis 6-10
HOUSTON GAMBLERS
Key Departures: S D. Dykes (Ret), C J. Juriga (ORL), LB J. Holland (JAX), WR E. Jones (PHI)
New Arrivals: FS T. Bowles (PHI), LB F. Strickland (DEN), WR J. Pruitt (OAK), FS L. Butler (JAX)
Rookies to Watch: LB A. Aldridge (HOU), CB M. Davis (Cinci), G I. Davis (Ark)
Outlook: Houston lost some significant contributors in free agency. That may hinder the defense most of all, though we do like the signing of Todd Bowles at safety. The key to Houston’s season will be diversifying the offense, because on the rare occasions when league MVP Thurman Thomas was contained, there were not a lot of other options for the Gamblers.
TEXAS OUTLAWS
Key Departures: K. N, Mike-Myer (Ret), WR D. Williams (JAX), CB N. Mustafaa (NFL), DE M. Mraz (FA)
New Arrivals: DE J. Bosa (PIT), DT TJ Turner (NOR)
Rookies to Watch: G L. Allen (Sonoma), DT B. Walker (DT), CB C. Sawyer (FSU), C. Boniol (K)
Outlook: We are still trying to figure out how Texas flailed so much at the end of last season, costing them a playoff spot that seemed assured. This team is loaded with talent, and now with the addition of John Bosa they may finally have a top level pass rush. That should make defensive captain Brian Bosworth a happy camper in 1994.
CHICAGO MACHINE
Key Departures: G E. Moore (BIR), TE C. Boso (PIT), WR M. Haynes (NFL)
New Arrivals: G. J. Castaneda (NJ), G L. Goeas (PIT)
Rookies to Watch: T M. Spears (NW State), HB M. Bates (ASU), T G. Hegamin (NC State)
Outlook: Chicago made great strides under Coach Schottenheimer last year, mostly due to the arrival of Bernie Kosar. Protecting the less-than-nimble QB was job one this offseason, and the Machine seemed laser focused on that job, signing two top free agent guards in Castaneda and Goeas. In the draft they added youth and skill to the tackle position, spending two picks on solid NCAA tackles. Chicago needs to build up their run game with Ricky Watters, because having Kosar throw the ball 600 times is not a formula for victory.
MICHIGAN PANTHERS
Key Departures: WR D. Halloway (Ret), FS J. Booty (MEM), G R. Brown (POR), HB A. Jenkins (STL)
New Arrivals: QB J. Montana (NFL), HB M. Allen (NFL), DE J. Reynosa (JAX), WR T. Mathis (WSH), WR B. J. Edmunds (MEM)
Rookies to Watch: DT S. Adams (TAMU), WR T. Mickens (FAMU), DE A. Adams (Clark), DT C. Maumalanga (Kansas)
Outlook: No team was more daring, or more desperate, this offseason than Michigan. The signings of legendary QB Joe Montana will fill the Silverdome to be sure, but the bigger signing might actually be that of Marcus Allen. That combo will get the headlines to be sure, but we are not sure who Montana will throw to, and despite signing two top rookie DTs, we are still not sure that the Michigan D is ready for prime time.
NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS
Key Departures: S F. Wilder (Ret), WR M. Jackson (NFL)
New Arrivals: FS M. Kelso (WSH), WR C. Collins (BIR), SS J. Blount (TEX)
Rookies to Watch: T B. Williams (UGA), LB D. Dotson (Ole Miss), QB G. Frerotte (Tulsa)
Outlook: Coach Ditka inherited a team with an identity crisis, and he still has a lot of rebuilding to do. We expect this season to be a reset for the Breakers as Ditka tries to build a culture of toughmindedness and aggression. He does not have the talent to pull off what he did in Chicago just yet, and we are still not sold on the offensive talent the Breakers possess as enough to get a lot of wins on the board.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS
Key Departures: HB D. Clack (Ret), DT M. Lodish (STL), WR B. Hill (POR)
New Arrivals: LB B. Romanowski (NFL), HB V. Dunbar (TBY)
Rookies to Watch: WR D. Scott (SDSU), LB W. Tubbs (Texas), WR M. Floyd (Fresno), CB R. Fuller (Tenn St)
Outlook: Arizona faded down the stretch without Robbie Bosco at the helm. Losing Bruce Hill will not help either. So, what does Arizona do? They double down on defense, signing firebrand LB BilL Romanowski form the NFL, and then bringing in rookie LB Winfred Tubbs as well. That LB corps may be the key to the entire season for the Wranglers.
OAKLAND INVADERS
Key Departures: WR J. Pruitt (HOU), C R. Hemphill (PIT), SS C. Carrier (NFL)
New Arrivals: DT J. Phillips (WSH), DE JJ Wierenga (TBY)
Rookies to Watch: T T. Steussie (Cal), S D.Studstill (WVU), WR J. Morton (USC), TE C. Crumpler (ECU)
Outlook: Oakland is hoping that Bobby Hebert plays in 1994 as he did in his final few games last year. His arrival came with much fanfare, but only in the final weeks of the year did it seem to pay off. Oakland focused this offseason on defense, with signings of Phillips at DT and Wierenga at DE. Their draft may have helped Hebert more directly, as we like the look of both Johnny Morton at WR and the big Cal tackle, Todd Steussie.
DENVER GOLD
Key Departures: LB F. Strickland (HOU), TE J. Novacek (TBY)
New Arrivals: DE L. O’Neal (NFL)
Rookies to Watch: LB T. Alberts (Neb), LB A. Beavers (Okla), HB L. Warren (Colo), CB P. Carter (So Miss)
Outlook: Denver surprised a lot of folks last season, but the late injury to Dave Krieg may have created a can of worms for Coach Phillips. Rookie backup Mark Brunell looked very good in the playoffs, which may motivate QB Dave Krieg, or may cause turmoil. The one move this offseason that will only produce good things is signing former Charger Leslie O’Neal to line up opposite the 35-year old Frank White. O’Neal is going to make life very tough for opposing QB’s.
PORTLAND THUNDER
Key Departures: WR C. Carter (PHI), QB O. Luck (NJ), DT R. Putzier (FA)
New Arrivals: FS R. Lott (NFL), DE A. Pleasant (BIR), G R. Brown (MGN), WR B. Hill (ARZ)
Rookies to Watch: TE L. Johnson (JAX), DT M. Wells (Iowa), S M. Bell (Mich St)
Outlook: The Kerwin Bell era may finally be over in Portland. Fans have wanted to see the Thunder move away from the erratic Bell for years now, and with the trade that brought veteran Panther QB Jack Trudeau to town, their wishes may finally be answered. Of course, bringing in Trudeau and then losing Cris Carter is not the kind of trade off Thunder fans wanted to see. Carter leaves a huge hole on offense, one which former Wrangler WR Bruce Hill does not seem appropriate to fill. Best of luck to Trudeau, because we do not see a lot of weapons for him. Best to hand off to Robert Drummond, who had a career year in 93.
ST. LOUIS KNIGHTS
Key Departures: HB B. Jordan (Ret), CB A. Burleson (Ret), FB N. Faaola (Ret), T G. Perry (NFL), QB D. McGwire (FA)
New Arrivals: WR G. Clark (NFL), DT M. Lodish (ARZ), FB C. Heyward (ORL), HB A. Jenkins (MGN)
Rookies to Watch: S T. Wright (Neb), S r. Harrison (W Ill), QB J. Miller (Mich St), WR C. Penn (Tulsa)
Outlook: St. Louis seems to be spinning their wheels each year. They bring in a few solid players at lower cost, such as former Bull and Redskin Gary Clark, or Orlando fullback Craig Heyward, but they lose key talent too, such as Al Burleson and Gerald Perry. At least they seem to have settled on a QB, with David Archer the clear #1 this year. Rookie Jim Miller has potential, but is in no way ready to take the helm this year.
OUR BIG PICTURE PREDICTION
Like we said up front, it is hard to picture anything but a Stallions repeat. They have weapons upon weapons, and the losses this offseason were minimal. So we are not going to swim upstream. We pick Birmingham to come out of the East. The West is more open, and several teams could rise up to challenge Houston. We still like the Gamblers to win their division, but we see a defensive buzzsaw in Arizona, and if Bosco can stay healthy, their offense can keep pace. So, we are picking a Stallion-Wrangler Summer Bowl, and while Wranglers may be adept at roping Stallions, we just don’t see it. Our pick is Birmingham 35 Arizona 21 in Summer Bowl ’94.