Week one saw its share of upsets, big games, and big debuts, but, as we often see in Week 1 of any season, it also saw some sloppy play, some penalties, and some turnovers as teams still try to find their groove after a short preseason. What we did not see this week was snow or bitter cold. With only 3 games in outdoor cold weather cities (Baltimore, Washington, and Pittsburgh), the league got lucky with the Northeast generally looking at good weather. So, no blizzard games or rain outs, just football and some growing pains. Speaking of pain, Tampa Bay suffered the first big setback of the year, or did they? We will review the Bandits-Monarchs game, our Game of the Week, then recap all the action of the league’s opening weekend. Get your USFL fix right here as football is back!
TAMPA BAY BANDITS 17 CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 20 OVERTIME
This was not a game that many had circled as “must watch” in Week 1, but it ended up being a game filled with drama, surprises, and some pretty well-played football. Plus, it went to overtime, which we always find intriguing. It matched up the top and the bottom of the 2015 standings in the Southeast Division, with reigning division champions Charlotte facing off against basement dweller Tampa Bay. For many, the game looked on paper like a pretty easy opening week for the Monarchs, facing a Bandit squad whose biggest offseason story was one of failure, failure to obtain a bona fide starting QB. Charlotte, for their part, had made several big offseason moves, bringing in NFL talent on both sides of the ball. Even though the biggest name added this offseason, HB Adrian Peterson, would not be activated for the game, the other big signing, DE Chandler Jones would be on the field and was expected to be a nightmare for beleaguered Bandit QB Pat White.
For Tampa Bay, the biggest new name was former NFL linebacker Don’t’a Hightower, though rookie Jalen Ramsey was also a story of interest. What we did not expect is that it would be a rookie QB who would impress us and nearly provide the Bandits with a huge upset over the heavily favored Monarchs. Midway through the 2nd quarter, Tampa Bay starter Pat White would go down after a scramble and would have to be helped off the field, meaning that T-Draft rookie pick and “backup option” when Jared Goff signed with the NFL, Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, would find himself in the game and likely starting for the Bandits for the next month or longer.
At the time Prescott came into the game, the score was only 3-3, with both starting QBs having already thrown a pick, and both defenses looking a bit more advanced than the offenses. Prescott would have one play on offense, a 3rd and 5 draw that did not convert, before returning to the sideline to get some very hasty coaching. In the meantime, Charlotte hit on a big play that looked like it might finally turn the tide in the game. Brandon Wheedon benefitted from miscommunication in the Tampa Bay secondary, with rookie Jalen Ramsey expecting help over the top from the safety. That help was too late and Wheedon hit D. J. Hackett for a 79-yard TD toss on a perfect out & up route.
Now down 7, Prescott returned to action and promptly missed on his first 4 pass attempts. Nerves were clearly an issue, as was a lack of snaps in practice all week with Pat White getting the pre-game focus. Prescott would calm down and earn some first downs in the third quarter, but while he was getting his feet under him, the Monarchs were increasing the lead to 17-3, thanks to an 11-play drive that ended with Wheedon finding his tight end, Brandon Pettigrew for a Brandon-to-Brandon TD. Now down, 14, it was beginning to look like Tampa Bay was going to start the year with a loss and that the 9-point spread that Las Vegas had given the Monarchs was in good shape.
But, a funny thing happened in the 4th quarter. The rookie started to make plays, and others around him made plays for him. With the run game producing absolutely nothing against the Monarch front 7 (a total of 37 yards for the game, a clear issue the Bandits need to address), Coach Shula showed confidence in the young QB and started calling more pass plays, using bootlegs, play action, and run-pass options to allow Prescott to maximize his talents and play a style closer to his college days.
The 4th round pick got help from his receivers, particularly Hank Basket, another new Bandit, having come over from Dallas as a free agent. Basket would have 4 of his 5 catches in the 4th quarter, including a 38-yard catch and run on 3rd and 7 that put Tampa Bay in position for their first TD of the game, putting the ball on the Charlotte 15. After a scramble for 3 yards, Prescott found 3rd year receiver Ryan Grant on a 12-yard scoring toss, pulling the Bandits within 7 and boosting the confidence of the young QB.
Charlotte responded with a nice drive down to the Tampa Bay 22, but when Brandon Coutu surprisingly missed on the 39-yarder, it raised the Bandit spirits even more. They had over 5 minutes to get another score and send the game to overtime. The Bandits rallied around Prescott, with 5 different receivers making catches on the drive, including a 1-handed grab by Santonio Holmes on a 3rd and 11 that just barely crossed the line to gain. With just over 1:30 left to play, Prescott found his tight end, former Renegade Greg Olsen in the endzone and we had a tie game. The Bandits had proven resilient, and their rookie QB had shaken off the early game jitters and produced two touchdown drives in the final 9 minutes of action.
Charlotte would play conservatively in the final 90 seconds, not wanting to give the ball back to the Bandits. They moved the ball only to midfield and then took a final shot at a Hail Mary which was easily swatted to the ground, sending the game to an extra period. In the extra period, both defenses got more aggressive, sending blitzes and keeping any completed passes in front of them. Both teams had the ball twice, but it was only on the final drive of the game that anyone saw any offensive success. Charlotte moved to a 2-minute offense late in the extra period, eschewing huddles and rushing back to the line. That strategy paid off as Wheedon was able to find Hakeem Nicks and D. J. Hackett on back to back throws that brought the ball in range for Brandon Coutu. With a timeout taken with 2 seconds left in the game, the Monarchs knew they would not lose the game. They could win with a 46-yard kick from Coutu, or they would get a tie if he missed. Coutu, having been embarrassed by his sub-40 shank earlier in the game, redeemed himself by sending his kick straight down the middle of the field.
Charlotte got the win, but Tampa Bay may have gotten something they did not expect, a sneak peak at what their rookie QB could become. Prescott did not play perfect ball, completing only 15 of 31 throws, but he showed spirit and an ability to make plays in his 2 fourth quarter drives. The verdict on White’s injury would have to wait 24 hours, but it appears that the Bandits may have lucked into a viable option in the draft after all, at least that was the impression received in his first 40 minutes of action.
OAKLAND 17 NEW ORLEANS 3
We expected a defensive battle and we got one. Neither team cracked 200 yards passing or 300 yards of total offense. The two combined for only 6 converted 1st downs in 22 tries, and the Breakers had trouble holding onto the ball, with 4 turnovers, 3 of them picks by a beleaguered Drew Brees. Oakland got just enough from their offense to build a 17-0 lead, helped by 10 points off turnovers. New Orleans finally got on the board in the 4th to avoid the shutout, but it was not a good showing at all from the Breaker offense.
POTG: Invader LB Bobby Wagner: 10 Tck, 2 Int
ATLANTA 3 WASHINGTON 16
Another defensive game, with both teams a little sloppy to start the year, committing 10 penalties between the two. Washington got two Garrard to Benjamin TD tosses to put themselves on top 16-0, with Atlanta getting only a late FG to avoid the shutout. Garrard had a good first week, completing 25 of 32 passes for 259 yards and 2 scores.
POTG: Federals’ WR Kelvin Benjamin: 4 Rec, 52 Yds, 2 TD
HOUSTON 35 MEMPHIS 16
Memphis outgained the Gamblers in this one, but not on the scoreboard. Three Hasselbeck TD tosses, and 108 yards from WR Mike Evans were enough to more than double up the Showboats, who moved the ball, thanks in part to 100-yard games by both Robert Woods and Mark Clayton, but could not score in the red zone, settling or fireld goals on 3 different red zone trips.
POTG: Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 17 Att, 86 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 1 TD
LAS VEGAS 20 TEXAS 34
A game that looks closer on the scoreboard than it really was. Texas had built up a 34-6 lead before the backups came in and gave up two late TDs to Cody Pickett and the Vipers. Joe Flacco threw for 289 and 2 scores in this one, while Marshawn Lynch rushed for 63 yards on 16 carries, including a TD run in the 3rd to boost the Texas lead to 28 points.
POTG: Texas LB Bart Scott: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.
PORTLAND 6 BIRMINGHAM 29
Portland outgained Birmingham 300-177, but committed 3 turnovers to help the Stallions get the home opening win. The star for the Stallions was kicker Garrett Hartley, who converted on all 5 field goal tries. Kudos as well to the Stallion D, which pressured Mariota all day, producing 5 sacks and a pick.
POTG: Stallion kicker Garrett Hartley: 5/5 field goals
NEW JERSEY 29 BALTIMORE 24
A stunning upset in Baltimore, where the Generals got a Devin McCourty pick-six in the 4th to build a 12-point lead that Baltimore could not overcome. Brett Hundley was a respectable 25/40 for 217 yards, surviving two picks thanks to his defense, which also picked off Ben Roethlisberger twice to even the score.
POTG: Generals’ DE Vic Beasley: 4 Tck, 3 Sck
MICHIGAN 27 SAN DIEGO 10
The panthers build up a 14-3 lead at the half and then expand it for a 17 point victory in San Diego despite only 2.3 YPC from LeVeon Bell (26 attempts for 60 yards). Kirk Cousins was the star, throwing for 2 scores and nearly 300 yards. Joe Webb threw 3 picks and Ryan Williams was a non-factor in his first game for the Thunder, rushing the ball 13 times for a stunning -2 yards. Not what Thunder fans expected from their big free agent signing.
POTG: Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: 26/29, 293 Yds, 2 TD
PHILADELPHIA 18 ST. LOUIS 16
Two very good early signs for the Stars as they beat a 2015 Division Champion on the road to start the season. The defense looked very solid against the Skyhawks, holding Eddie Lacy under 40 yards rushing, and rookie Derrick Henry looked like everything Stars fans hoped for, rushing for 107 on 20 carries.
POTG: Stars LB Terrell Suggs: 9 Tck, 1 Sck
DENVER 17 JACKSONVILLE 10
The Gold get a road win to open the season as Matt Leinart throws for 279 and 2 scores to begin the 2016 campaign. Golden Tate caught 7 and brought in a score as well. The Denver d did their part, holding Jacksonville to only 4 of 16 on third down and shutting down the Bulls’ run game. QB Robert Griffin III was the leading rusher for the Bulls with only 34 yards as Matt Jones and Cadillac Williams combined for only 42 yards on 16 carries.
POTG: Denver DE Justice Cole: 8 Tck, 2 Sck
OHIO 30 SEATTLE 14
Maybe Ohio does not have a QB problem after all. Brock Osweiler goes 27 of 34 with 2 TDs in the surprising Ohio outburst. He did throw 3 picks, which helped keep the game close for a half, when Seattle led 14-10, but in the second half he connected with both Mario Manningham and Justin Blackmon as Ohio took the lead and pulled away. The defense also came up big, especially rookie Xavien Howard, whose first pro pick was run back for 6 points.
POTG: Ohio CB Xavien Howard: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
CHICAGO 21 LOS ANGELES 19
This battle between two last place finishers in 2015 was a pretty entertaining game. Each club had a new QB under center, with Ryan Fitzpatrick just slightly outperforming Sam Bradford. Fitzie went 15 of 22 for 174 yards and 2 scores while Bradford finished 21 of 31 for 231 yards and a score. Ohio trailed in the 4th, but a TD toss from Fitzpatrick to veteran Michael Floyd gave them the lead and the D held late to give them the win.
POTG: Chicago WR Aaron Dobson: 7 Rec, 113 Yds
ARIZONA 41 DALLAS 14
The Wranglers make an opening week statement, turning a 17-14 halfttime lead into a dominant second half. Arizona scored the final 31 points in the game, including a pick-six on defene and long TDs from both Frank Gore and Larry Fitzgerald to crush Dallas’s hopes for a big divisional win to open the season.
POTG: Wrangler QB David Carr: 12/23, 306 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
ORLANDO 42 PITTSBURGH 25
The Renegades had the formula to upend the Maulers in their home opener, racking up 433 yards of offense and pulling away from the Maulers in the second half. Russell Wilson threw for two scores and Latavius Murray was dynamic, rushing for 80 yards on only 8 touches, including a 16-yard TD run that thrilled the small contingent of Orland fans on hand at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh was not in synch on either side of the ball, coming out of the gate slow, with Andy Dalton suffering 9 sacks in the game, including 6 from the Orlando pair of starting DE’s.
POTG: Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 9 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 Sfty
Campbell, Carr, Beasley, and Hackett impress in Week 1.
The stars of Week 1 were not hard to find. Calais Campbell, perhaps annoyed by predictions that he was due to see his reign as the Sack King of the USFL end, put up 4 sacks in Week 1 action against Pittsburgh. Andy Dalton suffered 9 sacks in the game as the front 7 of the Renegades was relentless, but it was Campbell who was the focal point, and even with constant double teams, the 7-time USFL Sack Leader was up to the task, earning 4 sacks, one of them producing a safety, and taking the league-wide lead in the season’s first week.
Second to Campbell on the sack tally is a surprising candidate, 2nd year DE Vic Beasley of the Generals. We should not be entirely surprised by Beasley’s big opening week, he did finish 2015 with 16 sacks for the Generals, a very impressive rookie season. Well, with 3 sacks in the Generals’ upset win in Baltimore, Beasley set himself up for a strong sophomore campaign as well. The Clemson product benefitted from a Blitz O-line that was focused on Aaron Kampman (5 tackles, 2 sacks), so Beasley found himself often in a single block without chipping. Ben Roethlisberger suffered 8 total sacks, as it seems that both the Generals and Renegades opted to focus on QB pressure as a way to derail the Mauler and Blitz offenses. With two upset victories, led by their D-lines, it appears they found an effective strategy, at least for Week 1.
On offense, the big star of the week was Charlotte WR D. J. Hackett, who brought in 7 catches for 184 yards, including a 79-yard TD catch in the Monarchs’ overtime win over the Bandits. Hackett was all over the field, often on the deeper routes, while Hakeem Nicks and TE Brandon Pettigrew dealt with the underneath coverages. Hackett averaged 26.3 yards per catch for the day, producing a score and 5 first downs with his 7 receptions.
The other big offensive star of the week was Arizona QB David Carr, who started the season with a 4-TD performance against Dallas in a key divisional Week 1 game. Carr starts the year with a 300-yard game and a 26-point win over a team we predicted to finish 2nd in the division. The Arizona QB spread the ball around, hitting Larry Fitzgerald 4 times for 126 yards and 2 scores, Antonio Bryant 3 times for 75 yards, and connecting with tailback Frank Gore twice, both times producing scores.
A good start for all 4, and many others, as the league kicked off with a bang and players got their first chance to impress the fans (and the fantasy team owners) with games that count.
Prescott Pressed into Service in Tampa Bay
It was not planned, and it was certainly not Coach Shula’s preference, but rookie QB Dak Prescott became the first of the rookie QBs to see action in 2016. Coming into the game when Pat White suffered a knee injury on a scramble in the 2nd quarter, Prescott struggled at first, but had a big 4th quarter to send the game to overtime.
While it may not have been the plan, Coach Shula is now likely to be pressed into developing Prescott on a faster timeline. The 4th round pick is likely to see between 4-6 weeks of action before Pat White is ready to return. White’ knee was imaged on Monday and a partial MCL tear is the verdict. That puts White on track to remain out at least through week 5, possibly longer. In the meantime, Prescott will get the start over 3rd stringer B. J. Daniels. Tampa has already added a third QB to the roster, signing former Memphis Showboat QB Ryan Mallett to a one-year deal. Mallett will be on the practice squad this week, eligible only as the 3rd “emergency” QB behind Prescott and Daniels.
For Prescott, this is a chance to show the Bandits and the league what he is capable of. If he can find success with the Bandits, he could earn the starting position over White. If he struggles, he returns to the bench and is back in place as the number two option. For the former Mississippi State starter who signed with Tampa Bay over the Houston Oilers (4th round pick there as well), it is a chance to show everyone that he deserved more consideration after a very strong career in Starksville. For Coach Shula and the Bandits, it is a chance to see if they lucked into a potential starting QB despite their much criticized failures with Jameis Winston and Jared Goff in the past 2 drafts.
Henry and Howard Best of the Rookie First Impressions
First impressions are huge, and at least for two rookies they made the best of their chance to impress USFL fans. Stars’ HB Derrick Henry finished Week 1 as the league leader with 107 yards on 20 carries, a very nice 5.4 YPC in his first pro action. He also added 2 receptions for 18 yards, proving that he could be a factor in the passing game. Henry’s success was a big factor in Philadelphia’s surprising season opening win in St. Louis.
The other initial impression came from Seattle cornerback Xavien Howard. Howard could not will the Dragons to a win as their offense struggled to put anything together, but his day was highlighted not only by his first pro interception, but a pick-six at that, returning an errant Osweiler throw 24 yards on the opening drive of the game. Howard finished with 4 tackles and that strong opening shot, a play that likely kept Osweiler from trying to exploit the rookie the rest of the game.
Another rookie who started the season looking like he would have a considerable role this year include Atlanta HB Kenyan Drake, who rushed for 30 yards on 9 carries. We also saw Hunter Henry lead all Birmingham receivers with 5 receptions, racking up 35 yards, in his first action. San Diego linebacker started in Week 1 and finished the game with 8 tackles, with one a TFL, snagging Mike Hart behind the line. Of course, QB Dak Prescott saw more action than anyone expected, and likely will over the next month. Finally, two rookie kickers got their first points in the league, with New Jersey’s Ka’imi Fairbairn connecting on 3 of 4 field goal attempts in the Generals’ upset victory over Baltimore and Oakland’s Roberto Aguayo going 1 of 2 as Oakland fell to New Orleans.
Two Sack Specialists Already Out (But Not for Long)
You never want to see a star edge rusher knocked out of action, especially not in Week 1 of the season, but the good news for both the Maulers and Invaders is that the injuries to their star defensive ends are not expected to be significant, with both Jared Allen of Pittsburgh and Cliff Avril of Oakland targeting Week 3 for a possible return, meaning they will miss only 1 game. Allen suffered a neck injury, believed to be a nerve pinch in a dogpile after a Philadelphia fumble, while Avril has a deep thigh bruise which he picked up after taking a knee right between the quad and hamstring, a classic Charlie Horse. Neither injury produced significant damage, so both players should be cleared to play after taking this next week to rest and rehab.
The injury to Tampa Bay QB Pat White got headlines, but he is hardly alone on the injury list. No players added to IR after one week, but several who could be out for several weeks and more listed as doubtful for week 2. Football is a brutal sport.
OUT
OT James Carpenter ORL Ankle 6-8 Weeks
QB Pat White TBY MCL 4-6 Weeks
DE Marcus Harrison NJ Arm 4-6 Weeks
C Zach Williams TBY Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
CB Vontae Davis STL Eye 1-2 Weeks
DE Jared Allen PIT Neck 1-2 Weeks
DE Cliff Avril OAK Thigh 1-2 Weeks
LB Vontez Burfict WSH Toe 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
G Joe Thuney WSH Toe
FS Nate Allen ARZ Concussion
WR Nelson Agholor LA Toe
DE Michael Johnson CHA Hamstring
OT Ju’Wuan James ARZ Concussion
OT Xavier Fulton OHI Foot
QUESTIONABLE
TE Kevin Everett SD Hand
TE Antonio Gates BAL Neck
DE Chris Long WSH Back
LB Alec Ogletree WSH Abdomen
Tracking the Biggest Free Agent Impacts of Week One
We have already looked at the rookie class of 2016 and how some of the big name signings fared in Week 1. How about the big free agents and traded veterans? Well, it was a mixed bag, with some big games and some disappointments. Here is the rundown of 12 players who are in new homes this year and how their seasons began.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (POR to CHI trade)
Fitzpatrick had a solid game, going 15 of 22 for 174 yards, 2 TDs and 1 pick in his Machine debut, but more importantly, he got the W for a Machine club that started last year 0-8. That alone was reason for fans to start warming up to the Harvard grad and beard aficionado.
WR Doug Baldwin (NJ to LV trade)
Baldwin’s numbers were solid in his first game as a Viper, catching 8 of 10 targets for 78 yards. It was not enough for the Vipers to defeat Texas, but it was a solid outing for the 5th year veteran.
HB Knile Davis (MEM to OAK trade)
Davis led the Invaders with 57 yards on 13 carries, splitting time with Donald Brown. He did not have any receptions, which is odd because Oakland was expected to use Davis quite a bit in the passing game.
HB Chris Ivory (NJ to ATL trade)
Ivory, as expected, got the start at tailback, but produced only 2.4 yards per carry with 14 attempts for only 33 yards. He did not appear to be as productive as rookie Kenyan Drake, but that may be due to the timing of their runs, with Ivory taking more of the tough 1st down carries.
LB Angelo Crowell (LV to STL trade)
Crowell started at MLB and had himself a solid game, finishing behind only Aldon Smith with 7 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss.
TE Jimmie Graham (PIT to ARZ, free agent)
Graham was largely silent for the Wranglers, catching 1 of 4 targets for only 3 yards. Arizona really did not need him as the outside receivers for the Wranglers were devastating, with Bryant and Fitzgerald combining for 201 yards on 7 receptions.
QB Sam Bradford (NJ to LA, free agent)
A solid outing for Bradford, going 21 of 31 for 231 yards and a TD. He probably was not a fan of the 6 sacks Chicago landed, but that is really no different from what he experienced in New Jersey. He had LA in this game but could not come up with a final game winning drive.
DE Robert Quinn (BAL to OHI, free agent)
Quinn was one of the more successful transfers, racking up 4 tackles and 2 sacks in his first game for the Glory. His contribution and pressure on Leftwich helped Ohio start the year off right with a road victory.
HB Ryan Williams (OAK to SD, free agent)
A horrible opening week for Williams as he rushed the ball 13 times for a putrid -2 total yards. Nothing was there for him as the Michigan defense seemed to be one step ahead of the Thunder all game long.
HB Felix Jones (TEX to POR, free agent)
Jones won the starting job in camp over fellow new arrival LeMichael James, but he also struggled in his first game as the starter, rushing for only 1.2 yards per carry (20 attempts for only 36 yards). Not what the Stags were hoping to see as they try to replace Jonathan Stewart.
LB Kevin Burnett (HOU to WSH, free agent)
Washington’s defense came out strong in their opener against Atlanta, and Burnett was a big part of it, finishing with 6 tackles (1 for loss) and 2 pass deflections. A good start for the veteran in a new home.
WR Hank Basket (DAL to TBY, free agent)
Our last free agent check in, Basket had a strong first outing, catching 5 passes for 102 yards. He did miss on a couple, with his 5 receptions coming on 12 targets, but we also have to acknowledge that QB Dak Prescott was a bit inaccurate on some throws as well.
NFL Stars Sit in Opening Week
We did not see all the big names that came over from the Fall league as the USFL kicked off. That is pretty normal due to the physical need for players to heal and recover after a full NFL season. We did see several players contribute this week, including DE Connor Barwin in Chicago, though it was LB Courtney Upshaw who had the bigger impact, with 6 tackles and his first USFL sack. In Tampa Bay, LB Don’t’a Hightower got 2 tackles in limited action, while in Dallas got only 2 extra points from NFL import kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who did not attempt a field goal.
We expect to see more NFL imports in action in Week 2, with the announcement that DE Chandler Jones will get his first action for Charlotte, with Jamaal Charles cleared to play for Denver, and with Memphis hoping to have Cordarelle Patterson ready for action. No word yet on whether or not Charlotte’s other big signing, Adrian Peterson, will be suited up. We do know that WR Dorial Green-Beckham for Atlanta and WR Kenny Stills of Chicago are not expected to be activated yet. San Diego will have Christian Ponder in uniform, but we still expect Joe Webb to get the start as the Thunder face off against Las Vegas in the second iteration of the Thunder relocation revenge game, this time in San Diego.
Chicago & Orlando Unveil 30th Season Patches
This year four USFL clubs celebrate their 30th anniversary in the league. Or is it two? It depends how you look at it. What is unquestioned is that the USFL expanded from 16 teams to 20 in the Spring of 2017. For two of those expansion clubs, the Chicago Machine and the Orlando Renegades, the story from there is pretty straightforward. For the other two, the San Antonio Gunslingers and the Oklahoma Outlaws, the history gets murky really fast.
Chicago and Orlando have been stable franchises for the 30 seasons since then, with Orlando making a Summer Bowl appearance only 4 years later in 1991, then, a decade later, winning a league title in 2001. Chicago has appeared in three Summer Bowls since replacing the relocated Chicago Blitz in 1987, but have yet to bring a title to the Second City.
Both clubs celebrate their 30th season this year, and this week each club took to the field with commemorative patches on their jerseys. Chicago’s patch includes 4 logos used by the Machine over the years, from the Block M of the first few seasons to the first and later versions of the “Gear C” logo, and finally the newest of the logos, the “Machinery M” design that is a current secondary logo for the squad.
The Orlando logo was a bit trickier considering that the club is in the middle of a process to remove the tomahawk logo from its identity, a feature of the Renegades’ design since their opening season. So, how did they celebrate their history without referencing the controversial design element? Well, for starts, they used the team’s original red script “Renegades” wordmark, then paired it with a “30” made up of a 3 and the now-iconic Orlando “O” design in blue and black. Finally, they added the years 1987 and 2016 on a squared banner behind the numbers, one that evokes, without representing the tomahawk handle from recent versions of the team logo.
But what about the Gunslingers and Outlaws? Well, as you might imagine the topic of celebrating the 1987 Oklahoma Outlaws would be a very touchy subject in San Antonio right now. As for the Gunslingers, there remains significant debate over whether the Outlaws, who retain the 1987 team’s kelly and royal color scheme, is the true heir to the team, or if it is the Thunder, who took on considerable portions of the Gunslinger staff and roster when they were formed in Portland in 1988. The easiest thing to do, and what it appears that both teams are doing, is to wait for the 2017 to recognize the formation of the two clubs that came to be known as the Thunder and the Outlaws. How the situation with Texas ownership, potential sale, and the club’s current “road” status, impacts any celebration of club history will have to wait until then.
Dallas Leads Strong Opening Week at the Box Office
A very good weekend for mid-March weather helped the USFL increase their Week 1 attendance by nearly 1,100 attendees per game. Leading the pack were the Dallas Roughnecks, whose season opener against Arizona drew an impressive 52,082. They were followed by Baltimore’s 48,507 and Pittsburgh’s 48,425, in an unusually strong opening week for teams in the North. The rest of the Top 5 saw League Champion New Orleans draw 47,889 for their opener, with a party atmosphere that still felt like Mardis Gras nearly a month later, and Birmingham, always among the attendance leaders, drawing 47.011 to their opener.
Only 2 clubs drew fewer than 40,000 in a strong opening week for the league. Texas, playing their opener in San Marcos at 30,000 seat Bobcat Stadium had a sellout, but that still only meant 30,022 in attendance. The other sub-40k team was no shocker as Los Angeles drew only 31,244 to Farmers Insurance Field. LA has almost always been a tough market for the league, with plenty of other distractions in the city and a team with a reputation as one of the league’s least successful over the decades. Following up on a 4-win season, LA struggled to sell season tickets, even with Sam Bradford as the new star attraction. Facing a 3-win Chicago team in the opener did not exactly pack in the fans, and now, with LA sitting at 0-1, Express tickets could remain a tough sell.
Week two seems early for a major divisional action week, but we have 9 of 14 games including divisional opponents, starting on Friday with the Showboats visiting the Breakers. The divisional clashes continue on Saturday, with 3 more games, including Philly @ Pittsburgh in a Keystone Clash, Ohio @ Michigan and the nightcap game, Arizona @ Denver. Sunday has 5 more, with Charlotte @ Tampa Bay and Atlanta @ Orlando in two SE Division 12:00 noon clashes. At 4pm we have two Pacific clashes with Seattle visiting Oakland and LA heading up the coast to Portland. Finally, at 8pm in the weekend’s finale, we have the Birmingham Stallions visiting Houston. That is a lot of meaningful division games all in one weekend. As always, blue denotes our divisional matchups in the week's schedule rundown.
Friday @ 8pm ET Memphis (0-1) @ New Orleans (0-1) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (0-1) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm ET Washington (1-0) @ Chicago (1-0) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm ET Ohio (1-0) @ Michigan (1-0) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm ET New Jersey (1-0) @ Texas (1-0) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm ET Dallas (0-1) @ St. Louis (0-1) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm ET Arizona (1-0) @ Denver (1-0) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm ET Charlotte (1-0) @ Tampa Bay (0-1) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0) ABC Regional
Sunday @ 12pm ET Atlanta (0-1) @ Orlando (1-0) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm ET Seattle (0-1) @ Oakland (1-0) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (0-1) @ San Diego (0-1) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 4pm ET Los Angeles (0-1) @ Portland (0-1) FOX Regional
Sunday @ 8pm ET Birmingham (1-0) @ Houston (1-0) ESPN/EFN
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