It’s a week that saw three teams reach a perfect 3-0, and two more stay unbeaten by settling for a tie in one of the weirder Texas Showdowns we have seen. We also watched as both Denver and Tampa Bay sank to 0-3 as their rough starts to the year continue. We will make some very early overreactions to where teams stand right now in just a bit, but let’s start with our slate of games, opening with a classic Stallion-Showboat slugfest in Memphis.
We talk a lot about a college atmosphere as being the best thing a pro football game can achieve, but when it is Birmingham vs. Memphis it feels more like a college rivalry atmosphere, an SEC showdown between heavy hitters. That was definitely the scene in Memphis this week, where more than 55,000 were on hand to cheer their team on. There was a distinct Stallion rooting section but for the most part it was Memphis fans making noise. And what better to rile up both sets of fans than a game that got taken down to the final 2 minutes and then into overtime. Talk about a college atmosphere, this had it all.
The game started off with both clubs testing each other out, probing to see where the weak spots would be. Memphis struck first when on their second drive a pass interference penalty against Birmingham gave the Showboats the ball on the 7 yard line. Heath Shuler connected with Joe Horn and it was a quick 7-0 lead for the home team.
Birmingham is still testing out their new run game, and they kept feeding the ball to Shaun Alexander, who would finish the game with 67 yards on 17 carries. Using Alexander, Birmingham worked their way down the field before Brett Favre found Marcus Robinson in the endzone to even the score just as the 2nd quarter began. Memphis would retake the lead 6 minutes later with a Jeff Hall field goal, but Birmingham would jump back out on top just before the half with Favre hitting Tyree Davis for a go-ahead TD.
But lest you think this was a pure offensive showcase, it was not. Both defenses had their moments, with Birmingham holding Memphis to only 89 yards rushing and sacking Shuler 5 times on the day , including twice by Renaldo Turnbull. Memphis for their part kept Brett Favre under 50% completions (15 of 34) and took him to the ground 6 times as the Stallion line struggled to deal with stunts and blitzes from the Jim Mora defense.
Memphis received the 2nd half kick, and despite some solid defense along the way, the Stallions gave up points as Shuler found FB Larry Centers from 12 yards out to pull ahead 17-14. Birmingham would punt on their next possession, but following a Shuler pick they got close enough for Olindo Mare to even the score at 17. As we entered the 4th quarter Memphis again went ahead. Joe Horn, who finished the game with 9 receptions for 131 yards, snagged his second TD catch from Shuler, this time a quick bubble screen that went to the house with 6:55 left to play. Birmingham would get the ball back and mix the run and the pass to both even the score and leave too little time for Memphis to respond. They got their final score, another Tyree Davis TD catch, with only seconds left to play, forcing Memphis to play for overtime with the few plays left available to them.
Despite the late score, it never felt like Birmingham had stolen the momentum from the Showboats. It was a see saw game all day, and when the Stallions were forced to punt on the first possession of overtime, Memphis had enough in the tank to get the ball lined up for Jeff Hall to try a 50-yard attempt. Hall hit his kick and the Memphis faithful went home happy. It was a good game played between two evenly matched teams, but the Showboats got the home field bump and the points in overtime to take the W and move to 3-0. Birmingham suffers their first loss and drops to 2-1, but with plenty to take away from this one.
TEX 15 HOU 15 OVERTIME
If Birmingham-Memphis was close, this one was razor sharp as both undefeated Texas squads fought to a tie, neither able to get the win in overtime. It was a game that saw both offenses struggle to get in the endzone, with Houston getting the lone touchdown on a Hasselbeck to Robinson toss in the first quarter. Texas’s only points would be 5 field goals from Rian Lindell, while Houston would add 2 field goals and a safety. Houston went up 15-12 with only 1:37 left to play, but Texas was able to get Lindell into range and he equalized at the whistle. Neither club could move the ball in overtime and the game ended with the always unsatisfying tie score, but at least both can still say they are undefeated.
JAX 28 NJ 23
Another good tight match up in the Meadowlands, where Jacksonville seemed to be running away with the game, up 28-7 at one point, before New Jersey mounted a ferocious comeback attempt. In the end it was too little too late for New Jersey, but they made it interesting. Kenny Bynum was the hero for the Bulls, scoring twice and racking up 97 yards against a defense designed to stop him.
PIT 17 WSH 13
The Maulers got a huge win on the road as they knocked off the Federals thanks in part to two Terrell Davis scoring runs. Davis struggled to reach 100 yards, ending at 99 on 25 carries, but that was a lot better than the Federal backs who combined for only 30 total rushing yards against Pittsburgh’s revamped D-line. Rookie Mauler LB Akin Ayodele and veteran Demetrius Dubose were on top of things, combining for 15 tackles, while Kyle Vanden Bosch added another sack to join the group trailing Kavika Pittman by only 1 (5 to 4).
ARZ 24 DEN 20
The Wranglers dealt Denver another tough blow, knocking them to 0-3 with a road win at Mile High. They did it, as they so often seem to, without a workable run game, relying on Jake Plummer. Their QB responded with 3 TD passes and 297 yards, and the Wrangler defense contained Denver when it mattered most, shutting them out in the 4th quarter.
SEA 22 POR 14
Seattle won the Cascade Clash in Portland by picking off Akili Smith twice and holding the Thunder to only 20 total rushing yards in a truly poor display by Buckhalter and Kaufmann (23 carries for a combined 14 yards. Corey Dillon and NFL import Brian Mitchell blew past that for a combined 145 yards and 2 scores as Seattle got the divisional road win.
NOR 33 NSH 20
The Breakers figured out the weak spots in Nashville’s defense and exploited them, with Trent Dilfer throwing for 3 scores and the combo of Ricky Williams and Troy Davis gaining 108 yards. As the 4th quarter began it was 26-3 and despite some late let down by New Orleans’s defense, the game was never really in doubt.
LA 41 OAK 13
It has been a while since Oakland has gotten the better of their downstate rivals, and it certainly did not happen on this day. LA scored the first 34 points of the game, aided by 2 Invader turnovers, and Cade McNown was done as the 4th quarter began. Antowain Smith had a solid day with 82 yards on 14 carries, but gave way in the second half as LA let DeShaun Foster get some work. The rookie responded with 22 carries for 110 yards and 2 scores as Oakland’s defense was simply manhandled up front all day.
OHI 34 PHI 23
Ohio got 183 yards on the ground from Eddie George and that left Philly vulnerable to the play action pass as well, as pretty much every plan Ohio had seemed to work. Joey Galloway scored twice and the Ohio defense, looking more formidable than last year, limited the Stars to only 89 rushing yards on the day. No longer a divisional game, this one still has to feel good for the Glory, who move to 3-0 on the year.
TBY 17 MGN 28
Real worries in Tampa Bay that the offense has just not found a rhythm this year. Trent Green threw three picks to the Panther secondary and Errict Rhett was limited to only 43 yards rushing as Michigan pulled away in this one thanks to 2 TD passes from Drew Brees and TD runs from both rookie T.J. Duckett and 3rd down back Winslow Oliver.
ORL 13 CHI 23
The Machine got to rookie Joey Harrington often, with 5 sacks and numerous hits, and that led to several stalled drives for Orlando. Meanwhile Curtis Conway had a good game for the Machine, catching 6 for 110 and a score, one of two thrown by Jeff George on the day. Brian Urlacher had 10 tackles to lead all Machine players, as Orlando tried to play a short game and kept sending players into his zone.
ATL 21 BAL 31
The battle of 0-2 teams had to produce a winner, and that winner was the home team, Baltimore. They got big days from two unexpected contributors as Billy Joe Tolliver was called on after a concussion was suffered by starter Jeff Garcia. He would throw for two TD passes, and little used scatback Travis Minor proved his worth, rushing 7 times for 117 yards, including a 56 yard TD run that left Atlanta players pointing fingers.
OVERREACTIONS OR JUST OBSERVATIONS?
We are starting our review of the stories of the week with a Week 3 Overreaction Session. We look at the 5 winless clubs and the 5 unbeatens and try to figure out if fans are overreacting to what they have seen so far. We start with a particularly panicked fanbase up in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland needs to prioritize the HB position
Fans in Portland are ecstatic that the club was sold to an ownership group that has designs on keeping the club in their city, especially after what happened in St. Louis and what appears to be happening in Atlanta. That said, they are not exactly feeling the Thunder when it comes to what they see on the field. This is a fanbase that got spoiled over several years when Robert Drummond was winning rushing titles and single handedly powering the Portland offense. The past few years the Thunder brought Napoleon Kaufmann over from the NFL and drafted Correll Buckhalter, and both have had moments, but the Thunder have been unable to consistently maintain a run game, so should Portland do something about this?
Our bullpen is split on this. Some believe a trade for a top level HB may be enough to get Portland on track for major improvement, others think the roster as a whole needs improvement and that means keeping their draft picks. Our take: Panic over the run gam is overreaction right now.
Trent Green needs better security
Tampa Bay is a surprising 0-3, and Trent Green is being harassed, chased, and flustered on nearly every drop back. Is Tampa Bay in need of an O-line overhaul?
Our crew was pretty unanimous on this one. Yes. They need to make moves and make them quick. This is a team that has talent outside, a solid HB, and Trent Green has proven he can win if they can protect him, but this O-line is doing him no favors. If they can make some moves to acquire better talent, especially on the outside at tackle, they have the talent to be much better than what we have seen so far.
Denver does not have the answer at HB
We all knew it would not be easy to replace Rashaan Salaam’s contributions to the team, but we are just not seeing the combo of Rod Smart and Robert Holcombe are just not providing the push needed to force teams to respect the run, which, of course means life is harder for Mark Brunell.
Our take: Give it time. Smart and Holcombe are very different backs than Salaam. It will take time for the coaches to cater to their strengths in the run game, and time for both to feel like the run game is theirs. Honestly, we are more concerned about the defense and it’s issues giving up big plays than we are the offense.
Oakland needs defensive playmakers
If you see the same issue year after year, is it really overreaction to point it out? Oakland’s defense is one of the worst in the league. They are last in scoring defense and have given up 344 yards rushing in only 3 games. So when fans say they need to overhaul the defense, are they overreacting?
Our take: No, of course not. This is a defense that simply cannot make the stop when it is needed. We feel for Chris Spielman and Kailee Wong, who are solid players, but what are they surrounded by? Eric Curry has only 2 sacks this year and has never lived up to his reputation. The secondary is simply not good enough. But what is Oakland to do? Trade away what little offensive talent they have to get defensive improvements or mortgage their future by trading draft picks? They are in a bad spot, and that does not bode well for their supposed defensive guru Dom Capers.
Atlanta cannot focus right now & Bledsoe is not the answer.
Fans in Atlanta are apoplectic right now. It appears that they are about to lose their team, and yet they seem to be equally frustrated by the team’s inability to put together a winning roster. That may be Boston’s issue next year, but it is still a problem this year. Atlanta has some offensive talent, particularly HB Tiki Barber, but even with Drew Bledsoe expected to start next week, there is not a lot of hope that he is the answer.
We think fans are right to worry about this offense. Yes, Barber is a good back. He would be a better back if he could count on the passing game to take the pressure off, but even with Bledsoe, a receiving corps of Terrance Mathis, Wayne Chrebet, Chris Calloway and Joe Jurevicious is not exactly causing the Fire’s opponent to shake with fear. If Atlanta could trade for a true #1 wideout (a rare find, honestly) they could be more formidable, but that seems unlikely right now.
OK, We have seen the panic in the eyes of the fans of the five winless teams, so what are the fans of the undefeated teams thinking? We scoured the sports radio dial and we heard what fans have to say. Are they overreacting?
Houston Fans seem to think that the Gamblers have finally put enough talent around their killer DE combo of Sinclair and Pittman to truly shut the opposition down.
We say: They are right. Houston has allowed only 31 points in 3 games (that is just about 10 per game for our math-impaired fans). The run defense has been stout, and that means teams have to pass, which leads them right into the trap of the Dynamic Duo. This is a defense that can win games, and if Matt Hasselbeck and the offense can average perhaps 20 points a game, they will win a lot of contests.
Texas Fans say that the weekly QB rotation, based on who has the hot hand in practice and each game’s first couple of series can work for the year.
We say: Have you met Ryan Leaf? What are the odds that if he keeps losing out to Jeff Lewis, as he did this week, that he will sit quietly and accept this. Rotating QB’s makes sense in preseason, and maybe for a week or two, but it also breeds resentment and animosity in the QB group, and that is not the path to sustainable success. Pick one and stick with him.
Jacksonville fans are saying that the Bulls defense and Kenny Bynum can lead them to wins despite Jake Delhomme at QB.
We say: Not so fast. First off, way to diss your starting QB. Give the guy a shot. Delhomme has not been a disaster, in fact, he has been pretty good, with 6 TDs to only 2 picks. That is decent quarterbacking even if he is not the most dynamic passer in the game. Secondly, no, we don’t think any team can win consistently unless they have a QB who can manage the game, and who responds when the team needs a spark. We don’t know if Delhomme can do this, but we at least want him to have a shot to try.
Fans in Memphis are confident that their Showboats can win without a strong run game.
We say: Traditional wisdom says no, but that wisdom is based on the NFL, where late season games are often held in rough weather and a run game is essential. This is the USFL, and as the season goes on the weather makes a passing game more and more viable as the entire focus of an offense. We have seen plenty of teams pass their way to the playoffs. Would it help if Garrison Hearst could return to his 2000 form, when he topped 1,000 yards. He has fewer than 200 in 3 games this year, so that seems unlikely, but even just an 800-yard rusher could be enough for Memphis to keep defenses honest.
The craziest fans we heard were those in Columbus, who, we think, are too used to college football. The talk this week was about going undefeated, as if Ohio could count on upcoming games against Kent State or Indiana on the schedule.
We say: This is pro football. Undefeated is a nearly impossible task. Yes, the Ohio defense seems to be much better than last year, and yes, the offense is a juggernaut that came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, but this is the USFL, not the Big 10. No one is going undefeated. All it takes is one game where the breaks go the other way and Ohio will learn this. We think the coaches and players understand this, but the fans in Columbus are being a bit delusional.
The other big stories this week are both injury related, and since they are both pretty significant upheavals, we will cover them here and leave the Injury Report to fill in the rest of the injury news this week.
Memphis loses potential ROTY candidate for the season
Heartbreak in the Mid-South as Julius Peppers is lost for the year. Memphis, who traded away several picks to land the UNC edge rusher, got the news on Monday. The injury to Peppers’ left foot is in fact quite severe, with at least two significant fractures. He will be off the foot and using a scooter for his left leg for at least 6 weeks, this will be followed by a period in a soft boot, and finally some rehab to bring the foot back to standard flexibility. All told we are looking at 12 weeks at the minimum. Expect Memphis to put Peppers on IR, which means the pass rush now falls to Dameaion Jeffries and Sedrick Clark, a major downgrade. Expect to see Coach Mora forced to add blitzes to their repertoire to try to maintain pressure, and that means more receivers will be locked in single coverage.
Michigan loses their best corner.
Another big blow on the defensive side, this time in Michigan, where the Panthers’ #1 corner, Deltha O’Neal is out for the year after breaking his hip on a painful play in which he was pushed out of bounds, and clipped a team bench with his hip. The collision with the metal bench caused a dislocation, and x-rays on Monday showed that it also caused damage to the joint, with a fracture that will require that O’Neal be placed in traction for at least a month. Surgery is also not out of the question to stabilize the hip. The loss of O’Neal means that Chris Canty moves up to the #1 position, Donovan Greer moves to a starting position, while Dereck Combs now takes over in the slot. That s all the corners Michigan has on the roster, so they will certainly be on the market to find a 4th corner this week.
In addition to the two big injuries cited above, there were plenty of knocks, bumps, and bruises to go around all over the league. LB Al Harris of Seattle could be out 8-12 weeks with a ruptured disk, a major blow for the Seattle defense. In LA it is DT Cletidus Hunt who could also be looking at 8 weeks with a torn biceps, testing the depth of the LA D-line. Tampa Bay’s defensive leader, LB Kevin Mitchell is expected to be out 4-6 weeks due to a knee injury, though fortunately the early fears of an ACL tear turned out to be avoided. Denver RT Chris Terry is likely out 2-4 weeks with a fracture in his arm, while Seattle is down on the offensive line, with swing guard Russ Hochstein expected to be out 1-3 weeks. Arizona CB Fred Smoot hurt his foot and could miss up to a month. Memphis TE Erron Kinney will be out that long as well, and Nashville backup tackle Joaquin Gonzalez is out at least 2 weeks due to broken ribs.
Bobby Hoying did not see much action this week for New Orleans, but he saw enough to put him on the injured list, out 1-2 weeks with a sprained wrist. Texas LB Stephen Boyd could miss up to 2 weeks with turf toe, while LA CB Ray Crockett is out this week due to a pinched nerve. Baltimore may just sit Jeff Garcia this week after he has complained of blurred vision after a hit in this week’s game, and Pittsburgh’s Jay Riemersma is still recovering from a hernia, and will miss at least one more game. It’s football season, and the ability to deal with injuries is clearly a part of the game.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2002 FINALISTS NAMED
It is always an exciting time with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and USFL Nomination Committee release their list of the upcoming class of nominees for induction into the Hall. We start with 15 nominees for the Class of 2002, knowing that only 5 will have a shot at being inducted this October. This year could be one of the toughest classes yet. Last year we saw Kelvin Bryant lead a great group into the Hall and this year we have such a strong group of 1997 retirees that it could be a really tough year for anyone in their second or third year of eligibility to make the grade. And this year’s pool is not without controversy it appears the selection committee is hoping to rectify what many see as an injustice in the first 6 years of the USFL Hall of Legends inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The HOF has yet to induct a single USFL offensive lineman, and that seems a travesty. Well, this year the nominating committee seems to be jumping on that reality as it has proposed 5 linemen for the Hall. Perhaps this is the year that we see our first big slobberknocker get the honor of joining his teammates in the Hall. Here is our list of 12 nominees, beginning with the class of 2002, our 1997 retirees in their first year of eligibility.
HB Mike Rozier: Pittsburgh Maulers (1984-1997)
If there is a first ballot lock in this year’s class it has to be Rozier. The Nebraska product was among the elite halfbacks in all of football during his USFL career, rushing for a pro football record 19,088 yards in his career. He also holds the USFL record with 134 rushing touchdowns and 4,180 attempts. His 1986 total of 1,743 yards rushing is third all time (behind only Joe Cribb’s 1984 mark and Herschel Walker’s league record of 1,767 in 1983). Rozier was the 1984 USFL Rookie of the Year just months after winning the 1983 Heisman Trophy. He is a 10 time All-USFL player, the 1992 League MVP and 1995 Playoff MVP in the year he helped lead the Maulers to their lone league title to date.
HB Thurman Thomas: Houston Gamblers (1988-1997).
With a career four years shorter than that of Rozier, Thomas still accomplished amazing feats. He retired with 2,827 carries for 11,503 yards rushing, and 86 career rushing touchdowns. Thomas is also seen as the first in a series of halfbacks who became almost as prolific as pass catchers than as rushers. As a part of Houston’s Run & Shoot offense, led by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, Thomas finished his career with 386 receptions for 5,653 yards and another 41 touchdowns. He too was a Rookie of the Year, in 1988, and a league MVP (1993). He was voted to 9 All-USFL teams and has three Championship rings with the Gamblers (88, 92, and 96). Can both dynamic halfbacks make it into the hall in their first year of eligibility?
QB Chuck Long: Chicago Machine (1987-1992), Philadelphia Stars (1993-1997)
A prolific QB with more than 37,000 yards passing and 207 touchdowns, Long was a 10-year starter with the Machine and Stars. He was voted to 4 All-USFL teams, twice with each club he led. He was named the 1994 Playoff MVP in the year he won his only title, leading the Stars to their third title as a franchise. The University of Iowa product was known as a smart player with a good arm, and limited mobility. He retired with a 67.4% career completion rate, which places him 8th all time. The one possible knock on Long is that his overall QB rating is not among the elite at 88.4. That could make him a tough sell for some voters.
T Howard Ballard: Houston Gamblers (1987-1997)
The “House” was a stalwart of the championship Houston Gamblers squads from 1988-1996, winning three titles as Jim Kelly’s premiere bodyguard. Ballard was one of the toughest left tackles to beat, protecting Kelly and helping make holes for Thurman Thomas to run through. He was nominated All-USSL 8 times, and seems this year’s best shot to become the first offensive lineman to make the Hall.
T Bruce Armstrong: San Antonio Gunslingers (1987) Portland Thunder (1988-1997)
It is never easy coming into the league with an expansion team, but that is what Bruce Armstrong did, starting his career with the short-lived San Antonio Gunslingers. When the league forced a merger with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the formation of the expansion Portland Thunder, Armstrong found himself in the Pacific Northwest. He would play the remaining 10 seasons with Portland. He was named All-USFL twice, despite the Thunder often having a sub-par record. He did make one Summer Bowl appearance, when Portland rode a hot streak all the way to the title game in his final season on the gridiron. Known as a physical presence who could get a little nasty, Armstrong started 162 career games and in that span is noted as having given up only 18 sacks, an incredible rate of success in protecting his QB.
G Gary Zimmerman: Los Angeles Express/St. Louis Knights (1984-1997)
Our third offensive lineman is generally considered the best guard of the league’s first decade. Big Zimm played 14 seasons, all of them with the LA Express (later St. Louis Knights) franchise. It was a long career that brought plenty of accolades (2 All-USFL nominations) but no titles as neither the Express nor the Knights would get a ring during his long career.
DE Dexter Manley: Washington Federals (1986-1997)
An absolute terror for opposing QB’s, Manley was one of the most feared defensive players during his 12 seasons in Washington. Manley retired with 164 QB Sacks, including 9 years in which he reached double digit sacks. When paired with Charles Haley, Washington’s defense was simply soulcrushing for opponents. Manley was one of the main players in both of Washington’s Championship seasons, 1990 and 1997, his final year in the league. He was named to 7 All-USFL teams and currently ranks behind only Reggie White, Phil Hansen, Chris Doleman, an Jerry Reese for career sacks.
LB Brian Bosworth: Oklahoma Outlaws (1987), Texas Outlaws (1988-1997)
Another expansion class of 1987 veteran, “The Boz” was the star signing of the then Oklahoma Outlaws. An in-state hero from OU, Bozworth was expected to be a top NFL draft pick, but signed with the USFL to play in Tulsa. The next year he was in San Antonio playing for the relocated and reimagined Outlaws. His career lived up to the hype he received out of college, leading the league in tackles three of his first four seasons before injuries (and better teammates, honestly) reduced his totals. He recorded over 100 tackles in 9 of his 11 seasons, and added 29 sacks and 11 picks as well. His 155-tackle season in 1990 remains the league record, and he also holds the 3rd place ranking with his 1987 rookie total of 147. Big, fast, and camera-ready, Boz was a star in Texas and helped bring the Outlaws a statewide following. He was voted All-USFL 7 times, was the 1990 Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year (Defense) in 1987.
Honorable Mention, just missing the cut from the 1997 retirement cohort we find LB Eddie Simmons, DE Charles Haley, QB Cliff Stoudt, and WR Louis Lipps. In addition to the 8 first-year eligible players, 4 returning candidates were given semi-finalist status, though up against this first-year class is a tough place to find yourself, to be sure.
QB Alan Risher: Arizona Wranglers (1983-1985), Pittsburgh Maulers (1986-1996).
Risher began his career in Arizona, the 170th draft pick in the open pool. He had an on-again, off-again relationship with Coach Allen in Arizona before being traded to the Pittsburgh Maulers for the 1986 season. Risher would see action in 10 games in 1986 before becoming the full-time starter for the 1987 season. A year later he had his best season as a pro, throwing for 3,926 yards and 33 touchdowns. He would finish his career in Pittsburgh, with a total of 34,523 yards and 239 passing touchdowns. In 1995, his last full season as a starter in Pittsburgh, Risher would help Pittsburgh attain its only league title, a 44-37 shootout win over the heavily-favored Houston Gamblers and Jim Kelly. Only a 2 time All-USFL nominee, and having spent most of his career working with Mike Rozier, there may not be a lot of groundswell of support for Risher as a HOF finalist.
HB Marcus Dupree: Memphis Showboats (1984-1985), New Orleans Breakers (1986-1994)
Following a tumultuous singles season of college football at Oklahoma, special approval was given to the Showboats to bring DuPree to the USFL. He would have two injury-plagues seasons in Memphis, rushing for just under 1,400 yards combined in the two years. He would find his way to New Orleans in 1986, and that is where the magic returned. In his first year as a Breaker, DuPree would rush for 1,347yards and 10 touchdowns. Over the next 8 seasons he would hi the 1,200 yard mark another 4 times, retiring with over 10,000 yards rushing and 74 rushing touchdowns. He would be voted All-USFL twice in his career but would be denied a league championship ring (as so many in those years with the Breakers can say).
SS Dave Dumars: Denver Gold (1983-1985), Baltimore Blitz (1987-1995)
Something of a surprise selection of the committee, Dumars appears for the first time in 2 years on the nominee list. The hard-hitting safety played 9 years in the USFL, with one weird year when he departed for the NFL in 1986. In that time he amassed 750 tackles, 22 sacks and 19 picks, but was known primarily for his coverage skills and the force of his tackles against receivers. Dumars was named to 3 All-USFL Teams, all with Baltimore.
HC Ted Marchibroda: Pittsburgh Maulers, (1988-1996)
An offensive innovator both in the USFL and the NFL, Coach Marchibroda led Pittsburgh from obscurity into the limelight as a 7-time playoff club, 2 time title contender, and the victors in the 1995 Summer Bowl. Coach Marchibroda’s career may not be as lengthy as some other HOF coaches from the spring league, but his record of 83-61 (.576) is one of the league’s best and certainly the best in Mauler history.
Week Four of the USFL’s new 14 game season is now officially past the ¼ mark, so it is time for teams to get their game fully humming. With several unbeaten teams already in midseason form, this fourth week provides us with some outstanding games among teams that look ready for prime time. Perhaps the best pits the 3-0 Ohio Glory against the stingy defense of the 2-1 Nashville Knights. Nashville was shocked by the Breakers in their home opener, so look for them to play angry in this one.
Another great matchup sees the 3-0 Memphis Showboats hosting the 2-1 Michigan Panthers. Can Michigan keep pace with that high-flying Showboat passing game? In a battle of 2-1 teams, Chicago heads down to Legion Field to face the Stallions, while another battle of 2-1 clubs sees New Orleans, fresh off their upset win in Nashville, welcoming the Pittsburgh Maulers to the Super Dome.
Both Texas clubs are unbeaten, having tied this week, and both are at home in Week 4. Houston hosts the 1-2 Philadelphia Stars, who are hoping this road game can get them to .500. The Outlaws see a very similar situation with 1-2 Washington in town. The league’s only other unbeaten team, the Jacksonville Bulls, are all the way out west, taking on the winless Oakland Invaders by the Bay. Speaking of winless teams, we still have a few, with 0-3 Tampa Bay headed to Seattle to slay the Dragons, 0-3 Atlanta is also on the left coast, facing the 2-1 LA Express in sunny California. Portland, still looking for their first win, get the defending champion Renegades, who have started at 1-2 with rookie Joey Harrington at the helm. The league’s other surprisingly winless club, the Denver Gold, are back in the friendly confines of Mile High (well, new Mile High) to face the 1-2 Generals, not an easy game for a first win. Other games this week. The final game on the slate is in Tempe, where the two teams who swapped entire franchises back in 1984, the Blitz and the Wranglers, will face off.
Always a good day when the Dragons beat the Blunder. Go Dragons Go!