USFL SPECIAL EDITION: HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2000 AND 2001 SEMIFINALISTS NAMED

In preparing to announce the 2001 USFL semifinalists for Hall of Fame induction, I suddenly realized that the announcement of the Class of 2000 Hall of Fame inductions was never published. So, what can USFL Lives do to recognize this very special HOF Class? Seems the best option is to reprint the October 2000 edition of Sports Illustrated which did such an excellent job of covering the induction, followed by our announcement of the Class of 2001 Semifinalists and our picks for 1st ballot and returning candidates.

HERSCHEL IN THE HALL

It may be too much to say that one player changed the course of pro sports history, and yet, that seems very much appropriate to say about Herschel Walker’s arrival to the USFL in the winter of 1983. At the time, the spring league was a ragtag group of dreamers, entrepreneurs, and sports enthusiasts who were trying something different but who had received little to no notice from the nation. Yes, the USFL had been announced back in the summer of 1982, and there were some names that people were familiar with, though honestly, at the time, the biggest name was likely Tampa Bay Bandits minority owner Burt Reynolds. By Winter of 1982 a few older or disgruntled NFL veterans had signed on to the league, and a few highly regarded coaches like New Jersey’s Chuck Fairbanks, Rollie Dotsch, John Ralston, and, most notably, the Chicago Blitz’s George Allen, but the new league simply had not captured the attention of most folks.

The 1983 player draft and early signings had some good signs that this league was willing to go after top college talent. Highly regarded players such as Southern Miss QB Reggie Collier, UCLA’s Tom Ramsey, and Arkansas HB Gary Anderson had signed on to the new league, but most of the top NFL draft candidates were wary of the league. The LA Express were trying to sign Dan Marino, but even despite issues that would eventually cause his NFL Draft stock to plummet, the Pitt QB was not looking seriously at the spring league. That all changed with one huge announcement. Herschel Walker, the unquestionable best player in college ball, perhaps the best player in a generation, and the winner of a Heisman Trophy as a freshman, was signing with the league, and not only with the league, with its largest market club, the New Jersey Generals.

Walker’s signing was an instant game-changer for the USFL. Not only did it bring front page news, as both a powerful statement of the league’s intention to sign the best college players available, but it was a direct challenge to the NFL’s policy of not drafting underclassmen. If this new league would sign Walker a year before he could be eligible for the NFL Draft, then they would be able to do the same year in and year out with a wide range of top college talent that simply wanted to get paid to play. It was a shot across the bow of the NFL and the relationship that league had with the NCAA. It led almost immediately to other players opting to join the upstart spring league. Craig James of SMU’s Pony Express signed on with the Federals, Ohio State’s Tim Spencer with Chicago, the top tackle in the draft, Irv Eatman of UCLA with the Philadelphia Stars, and Grambling’s speedy wideout Trumaine Johnson with the Blitz in Chicago.

It was a wave that would continue throughout the early years of the USFL, with the league signing the next 2 Heisman winners (HB Mike Rozier of Nebraska and QB Doug Flutie of BC), as well as top NFL prospects such as QBs Jim Kelly, Rick Neuheisel, and Steve Young. It was the moment the USFL became a legitimate rival to the fall league, and not just another wannabe like the World Football League. Within 3 years we saw NFL players jumping ship for huge contracts, the entire concept of Free Agency in football was born as the two leagues battled for players, and the 1985 lawsuit filed by the USFL against the NFL form monopolistic anti-trust violations led to a huge settlement that essentially funded all the crazy spending the younger league had engaged in over its first 3 seasons. The USFL had forever changed the way pro football operated. It proved that the USA had such a degree of passion for pro football that it could support 2 full-fledged top tier leagues and year round football seasons.

Is all of that on the shoulders of one running back from Georgia? No, there is a lot of credit to go around, from the early TV savvy of the league as a whole, to the wisdom of former Bandits owner John Bassett, who opposed a movement to shift the league to the fall and direct conflict with the NFL, but what the signing of Herschel Walker meant was that this league was going to be a high talent, highly competitive, true rival of the NFL. That realization, and the success of the league’s first few seasons in signing top talent, put the league on the map, and created the year round football passion we now see in the USA.

The man at the center of all of this, Herschel Walker, was inducted this weekend into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was not the only inductee, in a class that included NFL-USFL crossover coaches Dick Vermeil and Sam Rutigliano, as well as Tampa Bay’s speedy wideout Eric Truvillion and the Wrangler’s defensive captain Sam Norris, but it was clear that the ceremony in Canton would be a celebration of Walker and what he brought to the league, on the field, but also in the public imagination.

Walker played 13 seasons in the spring league, all of them with the Generals. He would set the league rushing record in his very first season, gaining1,767 yards in a year when a derth of quality QB’s meant the league was far more run-oriented than its current reputation as a passing league would have you think. He would win a title 6 years later with the Generals, be named to the All-USFL team 9 times, and reach 1,000 yards an astounding 11 times in his storied career, and yet his on field accomplishments seem almost secondary to the impact that his simple signing had on the landscape of football in America.

Walker retired as the league’s all time leading rusher with 15,569 yards, a mark that would eventually be bested by the 1983 Heisman Winner and Pittsburgh Mauler Mike Rozier, a player who very likely would never have signed with the USFL without Walker’s example. Walker’s 93 rushing TDs is now third behind Rozier and Bryant, and while his 396 rushing attempts and 1,767 rushing yards remain league records, nearly 20 years after that magical first season, Walker is still viewed more as an icon of the league than as a player who was simply dynamic to watch. Whether it was bursting through tackles or racing downfield leaving even the speediest DB’s in his wake, Walker was electric. His wide smile and pure love of the game became a hallmark of the league, which liked to contrast its celebratory, youthful attitude against the prim and proper stoicism of the No Fun League, just as the AFL had done in the 1960’s.

Walker’s impact on the league and the game of football itself cannot be overstated. While others like Kelvin Bryant, Mike Rozier, Joe Cribbs, Jim Kelly, and Bobby Hebert helped the league become a truly legitimate rival of the NFL, it was Walker that opened the door and put the league and the entire concept of a 2nd major football league into the public consciousness. For that alone, without even looking at his amazing on-field performances and statistical high marks, Walker is perhaps the most obvious and most deserving first-ballot inductee in Hall of Fame history.

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2000

We mentioned them briefly in our story about Herschel Walker, but each of the Class of 2000 deserves recognition for their contributions to the game of football and to the growth of the USFL. Here is our tribute to all the members of the Class of 2000.

ERIC TRUViLLION (WR, Tampa Bay Bandits 1983-1996): Emerging from HBCU Florida A&M, Truvillion did not have the immediate accolades of a Walker, Craig James or Trumaine Johnson, but it did not take him long to establish that he was a star in the making. His first season in 1983, Truvillion gained 1,703 yards on only 59 receptions, averaging a ridiculous 28.9 yards per catch. He added 18 touchdowns as he partnered with QB John Reaves to lead the Tampa Bay Bandits to the league’s first championship title. He would go on to star with the Bandits for 13 seasons, amassing a whopping 1,090 receptions for an even more amazing 20,181 yards. Add in 174 career touchdowns and it is easy to see why Truvilion was a first ballot HOF entry.

Despite never having a Top 10 season in total receptions, the ultimate deep ball threat still holds the top 3 places on the all time receiving yardage recordboard, garnering 1st place with 1,959 yards in 1986, 2nd place with 1,944 yards in 1985, and third place with 1,932 yards in 1992. No other player has ever reached 1,900 yards in a season. He lands 5th on the all time list in career receptions with 1,090, and first all time in yardage at 20,181, with Arizona’s Trumaine Johnson a solid 4,000 yards behind him in second place. His gap at the top of the Receiving TDs category is even more impressive. Truvillion’s 174 career TDs is 52 touchdowns ahead of Henry Ellard (122), Ernest Givens (121), and Derek Holloway (119). Of active players, only Lawrence Dawsey at 110 is even in the ballpark and he would need another 7 seasons of 10 TDs to even come close to Truvillion’s numbers. A true GOAT in the game, and still, 5 years after his retirement, one of the best selling jerseys for the Bandits.

DICK VERMEIL (Head Coach, Oakland Invaders, 1985-1995): Coach Vermeil came to the Oakland Invaders with a reputation as a passionate, emotional leader who built teams up through force of will. Having taken the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl in 1980, Vermeil had stepped down only 2 years later, dealing with stress and the ravages it can produce. He would return to coaching 3 years later as the second head coach of the Oakland Invaders. In his 11-year stint with the Invaders he would take them to their only league title, a 1991 Summer Bowl victory over Orlando, the only Pacific Division league title until 2000’s Denver Gold. He would amass a USFL career record of 97-70 (.595 Winning Percentage) and take the Invaders to the playoffs eight times. His teams were known for the passion they played with, a reflection of Coach Vermeil’s own dynamic personality, and for a combination of complex defensive schemes and innovative offensive attacks. Coach Vermeil would return to the NFL after leaving the Invaders in 1995 and would lead the Rams to a title in Super Bowl XXXIV. A dual league superstar among coaches, Dick Vermeil will almost certainly be recognized by the NFL as he has been by the USFL.

SAM RUTIGLIANO (Head Coach, Washington Federals, 1987-1995). Coach Rutigliano, in a 9-year USFL career, helped the Washington Federals move from also-rans to league champions and perennial contenders. After a career in the NFL that started as a WR Coach for the Broncos and concluded with a 6-year term as the head man in Cleveland, Coach Rutigliano came to the USFL in 1987. He had always been an offensive-minded coach, known for his Cardiac Kids in Cleveland, but also known as a coach who simply could not win the big game, losing in the AFC Championship game twice to the Denver Broncos in fantastic (or horrific) fashion. In the USFL, his teams quickly became known as defensive powerhouses, often leading the league in sacks and interceptions thanks to a high-pressure front four manned by DE Dexter Manley and LB Brandon Zavala. Washington under Rutigliano made the playoffs 6 times in 9 years, including a title in 1990 and division titles in 1991 and 1993. Rutigliano retired after a playoff season in 1995 with a USFL career record of 84-60.

SAM NORRIS (LB, Arizona Wranglers/Chicago-Baltimore Blitz, 1983-1994): Entering the hall in his 3rd year of eligibility, Norris was an Ironman for the Blitz and a team captain for the better part of his career. A member of the infamous 1984 roster switch between the Wranglers and Blitz, Norris began his USFL career with 14 game started for the Arizona Wranglers before moving with the entire team to the Blitz Roster. By 1985 he was a defensive captain for the Blitz, a position he would hold in both Chicago and Baltimore until his retirement in 1994. Norris, who began his career at San Francisco Community College before transferring to Eastern Carolina, came to the USFL as an unheralded prospect found during leaguewide pre-draft camps in 1982. Undrafted in either the territorial or open draft, Norris signed as a free agent with the Wranglers. Over the course of his 12 season career in the USFL Norris would amass 1,174 tackles, 29 sacks and 4 picks, but statistics are not the story of Norris’s career. He was known as a coach on the field, a motivator, and a mentor for younger players, both within the LB corps that has always been a strength for the Blitz, and on the roster as a whole. Norris would not earn a ring with the Blitz, though he did appear in the 1985 USFL Championship with the Blitz, then still in Chicago.

THE CLASS OF 2001 SEMI-FINALISTS

As promised, here is the list of the Class of 2001 Hall of Fame Semi-finalists. We have 6 nominees who retired in 1996 and in their first year of eligibility with another 4 decided upon by the writers as returning candidates. Only 5 can enter the Hall this year, so some tough decisions ahead to be sure.

Kelvin Bryant (HB, Philadelphia Stars, 1983-1994): Bryant, though he essentially retired from the league in 1994, is a first year nominee this year because he retained his eligibility through 1996 hoping that a comeback season would be possible after a knee surgery. The come back never materialized but the delay placed him in the Class of 2001 instead of 1999. Bryant is a shoe-in as a first ballot candidate. One of the most dominant players in the league in its early years, Bryant amassed 15,378 yards and 113 touchdowns in his brilliant USFL career. His constant battles with Herschel Walker, Joe Cribbs, and Mike Rozier for the league rushing title was one of the highlights of those early league seasons. Bryant won three titles with the Stars, taking home the trophy in 1985, 1987 and 1994. He was named the MVP of the 1985 season thanks to 1,524 yards rushing and 14 rushing touchdowns. Named to an incredible 10 All-USFL teams in 12 seasons, Bryant was and always will be a Star in Philadelphia.

Joey Walters (WR, Washington Federals, 1983-1996): Walters was already a veteran of 5 seasons of pro ball when he came to the Federals in 1983. He broke in with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and played 4 seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders before the formation of the USFL allowed him to move a lot closer to his South Carolina home with the Federals. In Washington, Walters quickly made a name for himself as a consummate slot receiver, fearlessly going over the middle, eluding tackles and turning a slant into a sprint to the endzone. He retired in 1996 with 1,066 receptions, 15,402 yards and 91 touchdowns. Walters was one of the offensive stars of the Federals during the good run under Sam Rutigliano and with QB Don Majkowski. He won a league title with the Federals in 1990 and was voted to 6 All-USFL Teams in his career. It is a tough WR pool with several strong candidates out there, but we put Walters at the top of the class.

Ted Marchibroda (Head Coach, 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. Marchibroda relied heavily on a stout defense and the running prowess of Mike Rozier during his 9 year stint in the USFL (sandwiched by NFL gigs on either side). His clubs were known for an old-school approach to clock management (keep the ball away from the opposition) paired with some innovative passing schemes, often highlighting the talents of the tight end position or using the backs as primary receivers. 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. Is it enough for a first ballot entry? Not likely, but we see Coach Ted getting in before too long.

QB Alan Risher (QB, Arizona Wranglers, 1983-1985, Pittsburgh Maulers 1986-1996). A scrawny scrambler from LSU, Risher was not initially seen as a viable pro QB, but over 14 seasons, mostly with the Maulers, he proved how wiley and how effective he could be. Risher began his career in Arizona, the 170th draft pick in the open pool. In Arizona he quickly got his chance to shine, starting the final 14 games of the year after an injury to Week 1 starter Dan Manucci got the rookie his shot. Retained by Arizona after the roster swap with Chicago, Risher was largely unused in 1984 and 1985 as Coach George Allen preferred the more traditional style of play of veteran Greg Landry.

Risher was traded to the Pittsburgh Maulers for the 1986 season and that provided him with a new lease on life. 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. Risher would suffer a significant injury in 1996, which would force him to miss the final 12 games of the year and announce his retirement in the offseason. Risher has to be considered a longshot, especially in his first year of eligibility. 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.

Greg Boone (HB, Tampa Bay 1983-1987, Memphis 1988-1996): The former Duke Blue Devil entered the league as a rookie in 1983 with the Bandits. In Tampa Bay he spent most of his career backing up Gary Anderson and only getting occasional moments to shine. When given the ball, he was successful, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scoring 23 touchdowns in his time in Tampa Bay. Boone was traded to Memphis in 1987 and there he blossomed. He became the main back for the Showboats, gaining his first 1,000 yard season in 1988 and his TD high mark the next year with 14 scores in 1989. He obtained his lone All-USFL accolade in 1992, a season in which he rushed for 1,383 yards for the Showboats. He finished his career with 9,563 yards rushing, 81 touchdowns and 131 receptions, 1,023 yards receiving, and another 10 scores. Boone is considered a longshot for induction despite having played in 2 league title games, winning a ring with the 1983 Bandits and falling just short in his first year in Memphis as the Showboats fell to the Houston Gamblers.

David Trout (K, Philadelphia Stars, 1983-1996): Yes, a kicker. David Trout was one of the best the USFL had to offer at the position, and if Tim Mazzetti could get into the hall in his first year, then Trout also needs to be considered. After all, this is the league record holder for the longest field goal in league history, 60 yards against Tampa Bay in 1994, already his 12th season in the league. While Trout currently ranks 4th in total field goals made with 373 (Trailing Kevin Shea, Luis Zendejas and John Carney) he is also among the Top 5 career stats in basically every kicking category. Trout was a member of the 1985, 1987, and 1994 Philadelphia Star teams that won league titles, making him the kicker with the most rings in the league. Is the HOF next for him?

RETURNING CANDIDATE SEMIFINALISTS

We mentioned that this was a tricky year for Wide Receivers, well that is certainly the case. Of the 10 semi-finalists, 5 are in that position, and there is no way more than 2, three at the outside, can get in this year. Then, add to this the fact that in 2002 the first year HOF class will also add Bill Brooks and Louis Lipps to the mix. So, this year may be the year for any of the three receivers in this group, and likely only 1 will make it, if any.

Wamon Buggs (WR, Arizona 1983, Chicago 1984-1986, Orlando 1987-1995). Bugs is in his second year of eligibility and was close last year, so he may be the frontrunner here. He retired with 952 receptions for 13,769 yards and 109 touchdowns, easily HOF number if we compare him with others from the USFL or NFL. Buggs was a 3-time All-USFL receiver, but never got a ring as he was often on poor to mediocre teams, and that alone could hurt his odds. He reached 1,000 yards eight times in his 12-year career, a pretty solid number, and had 3 seasons with 10+ touchdown receptions. His case will be one where we look at the balance between statistical success and the win-loss column of his team.

Jo-Jo Townsell (WR, Los Angeles 1983-1990, Memphis 1991-1995). Townsell also enters his second year of eligibility. His numbers are very comparable to those of Wamon Buggs, with a handful more receptions (1,029) but fewer yards (13,678) and 93 TDs over 12 seasons. It would be hard to argue with one getting in while the other did not, at least not based on numbers. Townsell was a 2-time All-USFL player and he too never won a title, but somehow fans seem to have greater respect for Townsell. In part this is due to his straight line speed and deep ball tendencies. The deep ball receivers are inherently seen as more dangerous than the short route, slant, hook, and crosser receivers like Buggs. Just seems that fans remember the big arcing bombs far more than the 7-yard catch on 3rd and 5.

Lam Jones (WR, New Jersey 1985-1995) Jones is the third of the 1995 wideout retirees who could potentially earn a spot here. His numbers do not compare well with Buggs or Jefferson, with 792 receptions, 13,088 yards and 86 touchdowns, he is slightly less than the other two wideouts, but when we consider that he played for only 10 seasons, not 12, it is impressive that they are so close to those of Buggs and Townsell. Townsell did earn a ring as part of the magical 1989 season that Doug Flutie put together with the Generals, and that season was the 2nd of 3 All-USFL accolades for the lanky receiver from the U. of Texas. We see Jones as the longshot in this group. In an era when the USFL fully developed into a passing league, his numbers are just not dominant compared to many who played at the same time. He did average over 1,000 yards a season throughout his career, but only eclipsed 1,300 yards once

Kiki DeAyala (LB, Houston Gamblers 1984-1995). An 11-year starter for the Gamblers, Kiki-D was one of the first Gamblers, signing before Jim Kelly in 1983 when the club was first forming. The Another UT Longhorn, Ayala was scooped up in the territorial draft by the Gamblers and quickly became a mainstay on a defense that helped Houston win titles in 1988 and 1992. DeAyala was named All-USFL at the outside linebacker position 3 times. He retired with 1,136 tackles, 19 sacks, 12 interceptions, and 99 career tackles for loss. In a year when the 2nd year receivers could split their votes DeAyala may be the easiest non-newcomer to get the requisite 75% of votes. Having 2 rings certainly does not hurt that calculus either.