USFL Offseason Heats Up as Teams & League in Flux.

USA Today, August 17, 1986

The USFL league season may be over, but this wild offseason is just getting rolling. With the expansion draft format set and scheduled for mid-November, and the collegiate drafts (Open and Territorial) scheduled for December, the main action right now is on free agency, along with coaching and staff hires for both expansion clubs and teams in transition. A lot is happening so let’s get right to it.

COACHING

The USFL offseason began several weeks back with the usual “Black Friday Massacre” as teams let coaches go. Washington replaced Lee Corso immediately with OC Sam Rutigliano, but LA and Pittsburgh engaged in a full search, as did all 4 expansion teams. We know already about the hires in Chicago (Bugel), San Antonio (Gil Steinke), and Miami/Orlando (Schnellenberger), and now we know the remaining and final 3 positions.

Los Angeles: After an up and down ride with former CFL coach Hugh Campbell, the Express have opted to go with a local boy, southern California legend John Hadl is the new Head man in LA. Hadl played with both the Chargers of the AFL/AFC and the Rams of the NFC (along with Green Bay and Houston), has also coached in both the NCAA, at Kansas, and in the NFL, with the Rams and Broncos. His new position will be his first stint as a Head Coach.

Pittsburgh: The Maulers, after interviewing several USFL and NFL assistants, have decided that the best solution is right in their own back yard, and have promoted OC Roman Gabriel to be their next Head Coach. This comes as something of a surprise as Pittsburgh did not exactly light the league on fire offensively under Gabriel this year. It is believed that a strong endorsement from new Mauler QB Alan Risher may have been the swaying factor for the Maulers to stay in house rather than sign someone to come in fresh.

Tulsa: More on why there is a USFL team in Tulsa below, but the still nameless final USFL expansion franchise has locked in their coach, former Steelers linebacker coach and defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer, will take on the new franchise. Widenhofer has served in a variety of defensive capacities for the Steelers, the University of Minnesota, Eastern Michigan and Michigan State, and is known for his work with the Steel Curtain defense, but this will be his first head coaching position, and with the franchise both behind the 8-ball and behind schedule, it will be a tough task as he assembles his staff and tries to put together a roster.

NFL SIGNINGS

More USFL talent has headed to the NFL, and one huge name is still in limbo as we close in on the start of the 1986 NFL season.

• HOUSTON: Coy Bacon, the top DE on Houston's roster, played his first 2 seasons in Washington and now heads back to DC after signing with the Redskins.

• LOS ANGELES: The only kicker the Express have ever had, Tony Zendejas, heads to the Houston Oilers.

• MICHIGAN: The Champs lose two key players, and all eyes remain fixed on Bobby Hebert to see just how bad the NFL exodus will be. The St. Louis Cardinals have signed CB Clarence Chapman, and the Dallas Cowboys have signed LB Alonzo Johnson after Michigan successfully resigned MLB John Corker.

• PHILADELPHIA: Johnny Hector, who has backed up Kelvin Bryant these past 3 years is heading off to New York as the newest member of the Jets.

• TAMPA BAY: The Bandits lose two starters in Safety John Bostic (Detroit Lions) and LB James Harrell (LA Raiders).

USFL RESIGNINGS

But for every player lost, there is one either resigned or signed away from the NFL. Here are the biggest moves from across the USFL to keep the cupboards from going bare.

• ARIZONA: Resigned FB Mike Cade, HB Kevin Carter, and LB Stan White.

• BALTIMORE: Resigned WR Jackie Flowers, LB Ben Apuna, CB Leslie Frazier, and DT Roberto Daniel.

• DENVER: Resigned T Kevin Call, TE Bob Niziolek, and DE Laval Short.

• HOUSTON: Resigned WR’s Ricky Sanders and Clarence Verdin, along with S Keith Moody.

• LA: Resigned Tony Boddie after losing Kevin Mack to the NFL.

• MEMPHIS: Resigned LB Eddie Simmons.

• MICHIGAN: Has resigned WR Derek Holloway, DE Ronnie Paggett, and LB John Corker, but remain in negotiations with QB Bobby Hebert, who is getting a lot of NFL interest as well.

• NEW JERSEY: Team ownership sighed with relief when Herschel Walker agreed to a new 3 year deal. They have also resigned S Gary Barbaro for another 2 seasons.

• NEW ORLEANS: Has extended the contract of RB Richard Crump for 1 more year. Crump may still end up on the unprotected list, as he currently sits in a crowded backfield with Dalton Hilliard and Marcus Dupree.

• OAKLAND: Resigned LB Kurt Gouveia and TE Ray Chester.

• PHILADELPHIA: The stars have a lot of players up for new contracts, but have resigned TE Steve Folsom, WRs Tom Donovan and Gerald Phelan, LB Sam Mills and FS Rob Porter.

• PITTSBURGH: After his success on a 1-year deal, the Maulers have inked QB Alan Risher to a new 3-year contract. They also kept the Mauler faithful happy by signing league rushing leader Mike Rozier to a 3-year extension.

• TAMPA BAY: After losing James Harrell to the NFL, the Bandits were able to extend LB Paul Plurowski for another 2 years.

• WASHINGTON: With Neil Lomax slated to start for the Federals in 1987, and Reggie Collier’s situation now set, the Federals signed Mike Hohensee for another 2 years, likely to serve as the backup.

TRADES & NFL SIGNINGS

PHILADELPHIA: The Stars made the biggest splash on the NFL player market over the past few weeks (since Washington’s signing of Lomax) with the announcement that they were adding former Eagle wideout Mike Quick to their roster. Quick will instantly add new dimensions of size and speed to a Stars receiving corps that has largely been viewed as medium route possession receivers.

TULSA: The newly-located Oklahoma expansion franchise has signed its first two players, both from the NFL. Under Widenhofer they are expected to focus on their run game, and have started to build that option by signing former St. Louis Cardinal HB Stump Mitchell. Mitchell will likely be the face of the (somewhat wayward) franchise, at least until they sign a QB. In addition to this, the new team has also signed former Packers kicker Al Del Greco.

EXPANSION NEWS

Yes, we let the cat out of bag with our player announcements, but the last 2 USFL expansion franchises now have homes.

ORLANDO: The once-promising Miami expansion bid simply never matieralized, but when lead investor Woody Weisner was unable to secure a lease to the Orange Bowl, another investor, Donald Dizney (not that Disney family, note the spelling) was able to negotiate a very favorable 4 year contract with Orlando’s Citrus Bowl. This week the new franchise announced its new identity, the Renegades. The blue and silver-clad Renegades will be coached by Florida legend and former U. of Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger.

TULSA: After failing to secure a lease in San Diego, William Tatham and his ownership consortium shopped their wares up and down the West Coast in search of a stadium deal. After several false leads and disappointing turns, the group settled on Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the University of Tulsa’s 30,000 seat Skelly Stadium was apparently the best option the team could find. From league sources we expect that the franchise will be approved on a probationary status only, allowing them to play the 1987 season in Tulsa, but with no guarantee beyond that point. Tulsa is not exactly the type of big-name, big-revenue location that the USFL is hoping to add, and there is widespread expectation that the league will try to get the Tatham’s to work with one of the ownership groups that missed out on expansion in 1987, Atlanta, Seattle or Portland. Just how a potential 1-year placement will fly with potential fans in Tulsa (and Oklahoma in general) is yet to be seen. With only a few weeks before the league owners meetings in New York, the new Tulsa franchise is now going to have to get ready in a hurry. They need an identity, a front office, local staffing, ticket sales teams, and a strategy to win over local fans in the Sooner state. They also need to start prepping for this November’s expansion draft.

More to come next month, when we expect to see the protected players lists from all 16 continuing franchises, as well as news and notes from the Owners’ Meeting.