USFL Expansion Update

USA Today, June 6, 1986

This has been a big week for USFL expansion news as two franchises are well on their way, revealing both their new Head Coaches and their team identities, while two others seem to be encountering some significant issues related to stadium rental, issues which may force one or both to consider relocation before a single game is played. Let's dive into all four franchise situations with the league's newest coaching hires and the two newest team identities.

CHICAGO—Chicago’s Union Club: The Chicago expansion franchise headed by Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz announced both their team identity and first head coach. Next Season the USFL will welcome the Chicago Machine to the Windy City. The team, whose name pays tribute to both the city’s long history of industrial innovation while also making a sly comment about the Chicago political “machine”, will play at Soldier Field beginning next March. At a press event which was followed by a fan rally at Soldier Field, the Machine revealed their logo, uniforms, and their new Head Coach, former Washington Redskins Offensive Coordinator Joe Bugel. Bugel, who has served as the OC for the Redskins since 1981 has built a reputation for his development of linemen and his devotion to a power running game. His offense has frequently been a top 10 unit in the NFL, and he is expected to bring a smashmouth style to the newly-formed Machine. Rumors had been circling that the Machine ownership had sought to speak with Bears’ defensive guru Buddy Ryan, but as the Bears ownership was hesitant to permit discussion with the coach still under contract, Wirtz and his management group quickly settled on the well-regarded Bugel.

The Machine’s look is a basic one that incorporates elements of Chicago nostalgia, including a color scheme that borrows a deep maroon from the University of Chicago, sky blue from the city flag, and a medium metallic grey from, to quote the team reps present “the machinery and muscle that helped build the Second City”. The main logo will be a stylized M with gear notches along its side. The helmet will be deep maroon with the grey M logo on each side and a series of grey and sky blue stripes (pictured above). The uniforms will be predominantly maroon and grey, with a limited amount of sky blue (below).

The team will begin building its coaching staff and roster over the upcoming months, with Free Agency beginning in late July, an expansion draft in November, and the league’s territorial and open collegiate drafts in December. Expect Coach Bugel to emphasize line strength on both offense and defense, and to seek out a power runner like Washington’s John Riggins.

SAN ANTONIO—A public ceremony was held at San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium introduced the city to their USFL team, the San Antonio Gunslingers, and their new head coach, former Texas A&I coach Gil Steinke. Steinke comes to the USFL with no professional coaching experience, though he was an NFL player for 3 seasons in Philadelphia in the 1940’s. Steinke had served as the A&I coach in the NAIA for 22 years, from 1954 to 1976, and has served as their AD for another 6 years. The selection of Steinke, while certainly a local legend, is a bit of a headscratcher as there is expected to be a lot of space between leading NAIA players and a professional football team. Many expected San Antonio to go with former Longhorn Head Coach Darryl Royal. But, while Steinke will not be well-known outside of central Texas, his record at Texas A&I was impressive, including six NAIA titles, and 3 in a row in the 1970’s.

As for the identity, San Antonio went with an Old West theme in the choice of “Gunslingers” as the team name, but more modern with the color scheme of Kelly green, royal blue, and silver. The Gunslingers logo (seen here) was designed by local cartoonist Bob Dale and portrays a squint-eyed and mustachioed Texas gunslinger ready to draw, enclosed within a silver circle reminiscent of a sheriff or marshal’s badge. The Gunslinger’s uniform will feature a green helmet with silver, blue and white stripes, a royal jersey with paired green and white stripes and silver pants with royal and Kelly stripes (see below).

San Antonio will play their first season in Alamo Stadium, the league’s smallest stadium. It has a permanent capacity of just over 20,000, but ownership expects to use temporary bleachers in the open end of the stadium to allow for a capacity of up to 25,000. This is viewed as a short-term situation as San Antonio is in the process of developing a domed stadium within the city which is anticipated to open by 1990. And so, despite the concerns about another Nickerson Field (Boston Breakers) limiting the possible ticket revenue for the Gunslingers, the ownership is confident that they can be successful in the Alamo City.

MIAMI—Reporting out of New York indicates that the plans for the Miami expansion franchise to obtain a lease for the Orange Bowl are in dire conditions. Negotiations have broken down and internal squabbling within the ownership group could lead to a hasty relocation or a postponement of the franchise joining the USFL. While lead owner Woody Weisner remains adamant that a deal will be possible with the Orange Bowl, minority owner Donald Dizney has offered the option of relocation to Orlando as a viable alternative plan for the Miami franchise. This certainly will not please John Bassett, owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits, as he balked at the idea of a third Florida franchise when Miami was the city chosen, and certainly would be opposed to a team even closer to his Tampa-St. Petersburg fan base. But, unless Mr. Weisner can pull a last-minute agreement to use the Orange Bowl in 1987 out of thin air, the Orlando option may be the only viable plan for the franchise, as certainly the USFL does not wish to see a delay in expansion or the prospect of scheduling for a 19 franchise league.

SAN DIEGO—Another stadium issue may be a problem for the San Diego expansion franchise as well. There is still no signed contract for the use of Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, and rumors have the team seeking potential alternatives if an agreement cannot be reached. Lead owner Ted Tatham has repeatedly said that he selected San Diego for his proposal because it is an ideal football city, but even he must recognize that the options in San Diego are very limited, so unless he can reach agreement with Jack Murphy Stadium, the question of relocation has to be considered. And, of course, the timetable is tight, with teams needing to set up local operations and ticket sales well before the March 1987 kickoff.