On a steamy evening in Memphis, the Tampa Bay Bandit, led by backup quarterback Matt Cassel, outlasted the Pittsburgh Maulers to claim their third Summer Bowl title. With the on-field temperature at kickoff just over 100 degrees, it was a long, hot evening in the Liberty Bowl for both teams, and the energy level of both players and fans was definitely affected, but over the course of the game’s second half, the Bandits rallied around Cassel to come back from an early 7-3 deficit to score 17 second half points and take their first John Bassett Trophy as USFL Champs since 1998.
It had been a sweltering day in Memphis, and while the game began just after 6pm local time, the temperature was still hovering around 100 degrees, with on-field conditions even hotter. And while that was great for beer, soda and water sales in the sold out Liberty Bowl Stadium, it was not as good for the members of the two teams, who struggled to avoid cramping and stay hydrated throughout the game. Even halftime performers Justin Timberlake and Lady Antebellum commented on the heat during their performance.
The game itself got off to a slow start, with the two teams, who had not met in the regular season, sizing each other up and trying to get their run games going. There would be no points in the first quarter, as neither team ventured within their opponent’s 40-yard line. What would be the biggest play of the first quarter, and a defining moment in the game was not a long pass or a dynamic run, but a sack. Linebacker Keith Bullock, blitzing on a 3rd and 8, drove Daunte Culpepper to the ground. The Bandits’ starter got up and immediately called for attention, his non-throwing left arm dangling awkwardly at his side. He would go immediately to the locker room, and later it would be revealed that not only had his shoulder been dislocated, but that there appeared to be damage to the joint. Culpepper would not return and in a scoreless game it would have to be backup Matt Cassel, who saw all of 12 snaps during the season, who would now have to lead Tampa Bay in the championship game.
The next two drives, one each for the Bandits and Maulers, would continue the slow pace of play and would again see both teams fail to cross the 50. As the Mauler offense prepared to go onto the field at the 3:33 mark of the half, Coach Rivera encouraged Pickett to open up a bit and test the Bandit secondary. He did just that, connecting with Vincent Jackson for one first down, then Ronnie Brown rushed for 15 three plays later for another, before Pickett connected with Victor Cruz for the opening score, a fade route to the right side of the endzone. The Maulers were up 7-0 and facing an untested backup for the Bandits.
As Matt Cassel prepared to come in for his next series, Coach Shula gave Cassel a pep talk and a pat on the back. Shula started Cassel off with a makeable short pass just to help calm his nerves. The strategy worked, and on Cassel’s second drive he completed 4 of 4 passing and got the Bandits into field goal range for Nate Kaeding. Cassel would lead the Bandits down to the 5-yard line, but could not connect with Chris Doering on a 3rd and goal, so Kaeding would come in and put the Bandits on the board.
The Maulers received the kick and took a knee, apparently happy to go into the air-conditioned locker rooms up 7-3, confident that Tampa Bay’s offense was significantly hobbled without Culpepper, and ready to slowly pull away. But that is not what would happen.
Following the half-time show which saw Lady Antebellum get the crowd up and cheering to songs like “Need You Now” and “I Run to You”, and Justin Timberlake both bring “Sexyback” and hit with “Cant’ Stop the Feeling”, the Liberty Bowl crowd settled in for what they feared would be a slow-moving and low-scoring second half. The temperature had, by this time, dipped into the 90’s but with humidity and no breeze at all it was a sticky, muggy evening still.
As expected, the two teams coming out of the locker room had a bit more energy, having hydrated at the half. And yet, getting into scoring range proved difficult. Tampa Bay garnered 2 first downs on the opening drive, but then stalled and were forced to punt. Pinned in their own end, Pittsburgh moved the ball slowly, largely on the backs of Brown and Watson, who would combine for 99 yards on the day. They would get down to the Tampa Bay 41, but then the ballhawking Bandit defense got its first break. A slightly off-target ball towards Vincent Jackson made for easy picking for Patrick Robinson, who stepped into the throw and snatched it away from Jackson, returning the ball to the Maulers’ side of the field.
Energized by the turnover, Tampa Bay’s offense came onto the field, and hit Pittsburgh with two quick plays, both for first downs. Shane Vereen started the drive off well when his initial carry of the drive went for 12 and got Tampa Bay inside the 35. Then Cassel connected with Joey Galloway for another first down, hitting him with a very well thrown out route. 4 plays later, Cassel would connect with TE Jared Cook on a short goal-to-go toss for 6 and Tampa Bay would surprisingly take the lead. Cassel, who would finish the day 25 of 29 for 241 yards, was showing confidence in his arm and in Coach Shula’s playcalls. The Bandits went up 3 and seemed amped up as the third quarter wound towards its conclusion.
That feeling would only grow stronger after Pittsburgh was forced to punt after a 3-and-out, giving the Bandits the ball back in good field position with 1:01 left in the quarter. Cassel again found Galloway, again putting the team in range for Kaeding, but they would not be satisfied with that. 3 plays later, from the Pittsburgh 39, the Maulers went for it all. It was a 3rd and 2, and the play fake to Brown worked to perfection, forcing the safeties to hesitate, and leaving Chris Doering in single coverage with Dunta Robinson. Now, Robinson is a solid corner, but even he cannot defend against all routes. Cassel let fly a perfect arcing ball towards the endzone and Doering got a step on Robinson, stretched his arms out and brought in the pass for another score and a 10 point lead for the Bandits. Shockingly, the Bandits, with their backup QB at the helm, had a two score lead.
Pittsburgh was stunned, the big play had been something they had avoided all season, and all game, and they just did not see it coming, figuring Shula would go for the first down with his run game, or perhaps a short crossing route, but Shula trusted Cassel to take a shot and that confidence paid off. The Maulers took the field with an air of desperation about them. They had rarely faced this type of scenario during the season, and they had simply not proven an ability to drive the ball consistently all game.
They had some success on the drive, relying heavily on the run and the play action pass. Pickett connected with TE Owen Daniels to get the Maulers within field goal range for Ryan Succop, but Pittsburgh could not move the ball any further. With 10:14 left to play, the Maulers settled for a Succop field goal from the 27-yard line, drawing within 1 score at 17-10. Tampa Bay would take over on their own 14 yard line, and would do what they could to retain possession and kill as much clock as possible. They relied on Vereen, who would take the handoff from Cassel 5 times on the drive, and they would mix in short passes to Galloway, Cook, Tyree, and Stocker, but while they did take significant time off the clock, they would have to punt the ball back to Pittsburgh with just over 4 minutes left to play.
The Maulers had time, had time outs, and had the ball with a chance to tie the game, or go for 2 and possibly take the win. They did not need to rely entirely on the pass, and they did not. Using Watson on first down, and Brown 2 plays later to snag the first new set of downs of the drive. A short pass to Jackson, then another to Owen Daniels and they had a 2nd first down. But on 1st and 10 from their own 48, catastrophe. Jason Pierre-Paul, who had recorded one of only 2 sacks against Pickett all game, got immediate pressure on the left side of the line. Pickett threw the ball hurredly, but inaccurately, and once again Tampa Bay’s Patrick Robinson was there to take advantage of the rushed throw. Robinson caught the ball cleanly and started down the sideline for what appeared to be a certain game-clinching touchdown. Only Cody Pickett’s diving shove forced Robinson out of bounds at the 17-yard line.
In field goal range, and with just under 3 minutes to play, Tampa Bay was content to send Vereen and fullback Ayanbedejo into the center of the Mauler line on three consecutive plays. They failed to pick up the first down on 3rd and 3, but set up Kaeding for an easy 20-yard chipshot. Kaeding connected and once again Tampa Bay was up 10, now with just over 2:30 left in the game. Pittsburgh would need two drives and two scores to recapture this game.
The Maulers, exhausted, drenched in sweat, and deflated by both the sudden turn of events and by their inability to capitalize on Daunte Culpepper’s absence, did not have it in them to mount one, much less two, scoring drives. Their initial drive would stall out around midfield, and on a 4th and 5, Pickett was unable to find a receiver, scrambled, and tried to hit Jimmie Graham late over the middle. The pass did not connect and the Bandits took over on downs. They would milk the clock, force Pittsburgh to use their last time out, and then take a knee to end the game.
As red, silver, and black confetti was shot into the air around the Liberty Bowl, the Bandit players celebrated on the field with their families, Coach Shula congratulated Coach Rivera on a game well-played, and Matt Cassel hugged everyone in sight, including a wincing Daunte Culpepper, back on the field in sweats, his arm in a sling. Many felt that Cassel deserved the MVP trophy, but it was awarded to Patrick Robinson, whose two interceptions of Cody Pickett set up 10 points for the Bandits and preserved the win in the process. The Bandits would take home their third John Bassett Trophy, matching Philadelphia, Michigan, and New Jersey in that feat, and now only 1 behind 4-time winner Houston.
For Pittsburgh, it was a tough and bitter pill to swallow, to come so far and fall short, even after knocking out the opponent’s star quarterback. The Maulers simply were not able to generate the offense they needed, and Cody Pickett, despite a solid 20 of 30 day passing, also threw two balls that led directly to Bandit scores. For Tampa Bay it was a celebration of tenacity, toughness, and timely big plays that gave them the league trophy and the title of USFL Champions. Well earned and well deserved by the Bandits.
And so, now on to the 2011-2012 USFL offseason, as clubs prepare for the 2012 season and a chance to appear in Summer Bowl 2012 in St. Louis for the 30th title in the 30th season of the spring league.
Wait!.... what happened to the stats and box score for the game?
"HOW BOUT DEM BANDITS!!!"