SCORES WSH 28 BLT 10 Washington gets a key divisional win against their closest rival as Neil Lomax throws for 306 and Mark Bavaro gets the longest TD of his career, a 69 yard highlight reel catch and rumble. Baltimore QB Vince Evans was scrambling all day: Sacked 3 times, hurried another 9, and with an eventual rushing total of -16 yards on 13 carries as the Federals D contains and confounds the dual threat QB. PHI 22 NJ 14 Like two heavyweight fighters these two danced around each other and waited for key moments to deliver haymakers. Flutie to Jones for 60 yards, Fusina to Quick for 20, rookie Quinn Early caught 6 for 53 and in the end the Stars simply had 1 more in them than the Generals. TBY 24 BIR 27 OVERTIME After Saturday’s game this looked like a lock for Game of the Week. An overtime thriller that saw Ernest Givens catch the game-tying TD with just over a minute to play and then Scott Norwood booted home the winner. Givens would have 153 on the day, matching Eric Truvillion’s 145 as both teams found big plays throughout the game. MEM 14 JAX 13 Another monsoon game in Jacksonville as Tropical Storm Alice made this one tricky. The storm never made landfall, but the winds and rain made this a tough offensive slog. Greg Boone’s 1 yard plunge in the 3rd would be the difference maker as Memphis pulls out a tough win in tough conditions. Despite the horrible weather, over 32,000 Bulls faithful showed up to watch. TEX 25 HOU 17 The Texans showed off that they are for real, forcing Jim Kelly into one of the worst games of his career. Kelly threw for 291 but also tossed 4 picks to the aggressive Outlaw defense, three to NFL import Najee Mustafaa, who blanketed Ricky Sanders all day. Meanwhile Texas used a balanced approach with Doug Williams throwing for 203 and the combo of Mitchell and Stamper rushing for 104 against the usually stout Gambler D. The end result is that at the end of the day Texas is alone atop the Central at 3-0. MGN 10 CHI 20 Just as Texas shocked the Gamblers, the Ed Luther-led Michigan Panthers were clearly looking past Chicago and paid the price. The Machine outgained the Panthers 336-279 as QB Chuck Long found his rookie receivers early and often, gaining 260 and tossing 2 scores. Michael Haynes was the hot target, cathing 6 for 116, but Wendell Davis also caught 5. TE Scott Eccles is becoming a red zone favorite, catching 2 TD’s on the day. LA 34 ARZ 14 Christian Okoye ran over the Wrangler D to the tune of 135 yards and 2 scores as the Express ruined the home opener in Tempe. Robbie Bosco contributed to the bad day as well, tossing 3 interceptions to help LA turn a 7-3 deficit after one into a 24-7 lead by halftime. It was over from there as LA contained Bosco, Wilder and the Wranglers. POR 10 DEN 21 Kerwin Bell had another good day, outgaining Bob Gagliano 363-141 on the day, but the Thunder could not find the endzone often enough against a steady Gold defense. Bill Brooks looked in top form, catching 7 balls and a key 4th quarter TD to end the drama in Denver. The Denver D also held Portland to 3 of 11 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth down to salt away another home victory. GAME OF THE WEEK New Orleans Breakers 42 Pittsburgh Maulers 46 The New Orleans – Pittsburgh clash was not a high priority game on ABC, but it was perhaps one of the wildest games in USFL or pro football history. In a game where it seemed neither team could effectively stop the other, Alan Risher threw a whopping 6 touchdowns and Breaker HB Marcus Dupree rushed for a staggering 255 on only 16 carries. It was a bad day to bring your parents to the game if you were eithet teams’ punter as the two teams combined for over 900 total yards of offense and put up a combined 88 points. After Pittsburgh built up early 7-0 and 14-7 leads, New Orleans had a strong 2nd quarter, with Charlie Smith catching 2 Matt Robinson tosses for scores to take a 21-14 halftime lead. But, while the first half was exciting football, it paled in comparison to what happened in the 3rd quarter. The quarter began with New Orleans backed up after Charlie Smith bobbled the kickoff and got stuffed at the 7 yard line. After a poorly-executed play action pass led to a sack of Matt Robinson at the 3 yard line, the Breakers opted to give the ball to Dupree on 2nd and 14. The likely did not expect to gain the full 14 on that play, much less 97 yards and a score. Dupree, went off tackle, split the difference between two racing linebackers, then spun out of the grasp of a safety and it was off to the races. 97 yards later a clearly winded Dupree was celebrating in the endzone after the longest rush in USFL history. On their next possession, New Orleans would increase the score to 35-17 on a Nolan Franz TD. Pittsburgh answered with a Danny Buggs catch from Risher, his 3rd TD on the day. Dupree then broke off yet another astonishing TD run, this time from 68 yards out, again off-tackle left. But, as the 3rd quarter wound down, it was Pittsburgh’s turn for the big play as Risher found TE Mike Shaw on a seam pattern that ended up going 73 yards for a score. 5 TD’s in the 3rd and New Orleans was up 42-31, a good lead, but not good enough. In a heroic 4th quarter the Pittsburgh D finally made some key plays, while Risher led the Mauler offense on two scoring drives to pull back to 42-38 and eventually take the lead 46-42. He hit Buggs again from 26 for his 5th TD toss, made the 2 pointer and then came back on the very next drive to find Willie Collier for his 6th and the win. In the end Risher would have 376 on the day, would complete 31 of 39 and would set the USFL record with six TD tosses. There has not been a lot to root for at Mauler games, other than the skill of Mike Rozier, these past 4 seasons, but if this game is any indication, the Maulers are going to be a much more entertaining team this season. Coach Bugel is opening things up and Alan Risher is beginning to show signs of the fun-loving gunslinger we saw when he was with Arizona. For New Orleans another tough loss, and despite the success of Marcus Dupree, the Breakers have to be concerned that their defense is so vulnerable in the air. They got no sacks on Risher, and gave up 435 total yards despite holding Mike Rozier to only 79 yards on the day. So, for them, time to rethink their defensive schemes, while for the Maulers, it is time to start thinking about something other than a 10-loss season. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK We could have given this to Risher, but since we highlighted his record-breaking exploits above, we thought we would give some kudos to a defensive star, Texas Outlaw NFL import Najee Mustafaa had a game that few have been able to pull off guarding Houston’s Ricky Sanders. While some of the credit should go to the Outlaw D-line, which kept the pressure on QB Jim Kelly all day, Mustafaa’s three interceptions of Kelly showcased his instincts, timing and playmaking ability. He gave up a few to Sanders, but he also defended 4 balls and ended 3 Houston drives with well-timed drives on curl or incutting routes to steal the ball and keep Texas on top throughout the game. Mustafaa will likely be lined up against every opponent’s #1 receiver for the rest of the year, and if he shows his stuff like he did this week, he could possibly walk away with a Defensive Player of the Year award. NEWS & NOTES League owners met over conference call for their first check-in of the season. The biggest item on the agenda was the TV contract with ABC/ESPN. The contract has a buy out for one game a week and the USFL seems to be looking at taking it in order to confirm a contract with the fledgling FOX Network for a Saturday night showcase game begining next year. FOX is looking to get into the sports market, and a weekly showcase game would give them a quality option during the slower spring and early summer months. The league owners also discussed a moritorium on expansion at least through the 1990 season as there is great interest in both consolidating the current franchises after a tumultuous year and in renegotiating the league's revenue sharing plan. Finally, there was discussion regarding the Championship game, which is scheduled to be played in Philadelphia this year and Michigan the next. There are some within the league who are hoping to set up either a permanent home for the game, while others are hoping to push forward a divisional rotation which woudl guarantee that the game rotated between the clubs in each of the 4 divisions. Nothing decided at this stage, but something to keep an eye on as we progress through the year. INJURY REPORT Very few long-lasting injuries this week, with the worse being a back injury to Memphis CB Derrick Burroughs which may keep him out for several weeks. Pittsburgh rookie CB Quintin Jones also went out and is listed as doubtful for next week after getting his bell rung trying to shut down Dupree. Arizona tackle Kirk Lowdermilk may miss a couple of weeks with tendinitis in his left patella, while DE Jerry Reese for the Breakers suffered a stress fracture in his foot which will take some time and rest to heal. Among those likely to return to action after missing a week or two we have Dave Dumars for Baltimore, Jack Trudeau for Michigan, Ron Pitts for LA, and DE Bob Buckowski for Texas. LOOKING AHEAD Week Four matches up the Pacific and Southern divisions as well as the Central and Atlantic Divisions. Of the inter-conference games, the best matchups appear to be New Jersey at Michigan, Tampa at Arizona and Birmingham at Denver, but don’t sleep on the Texas-Pittsburgh matchup, as both teams are impressing early. In other games Memphis will be in Oakland, Jacksonville is out in LA, Orlando heads out to Portland, Philly is in the Super Dome to face the Breakers, Baltimore is in Houston and Washington takes on the Machine in Chicago.

It took a second week of USFL action, but some of the league's best offenses started finding their rhythm. Philly, Jersey, Michigan, Tampa and Houston all scored over 30 in the second week of the season, and even Portland showed some potential with a big upset win at home. SCORES BAL 3 NJ 35 It was utter domination at the Meadowlands as New Jersey used every weapon in their arsenal to overwhelm the Blitz. Walker, Byars, Jones, Schwedes and rookie J.J. Birden all scored as the Generals took Baltimore to the woodshed. PHI 38 PIT 10 An 87-yard run highlighted a 21-point first quarter for the Stars, ending the game as soon as it began. By the half it was 35-0 and the Stars could ease their way to a 2-0 start. For Pittsburgh the lone brightspot was the play of LB Manu Tuiasosopo, who recorded 6 tackles, a sack and an INT (of Philly backup Wayne Walker). BIR 26 JAX 17 This was a close one throughout, but eventually HB Joe Cribbs’s 168 yards and 2 scores were too much for the Bulls. Birmingham got the win despite going 2 for 11 on 3rd down thanks to 4 field goals by Scott Norwood and their ability to grind out the clock with Cribbs and Brent Fullwood toting the rock. MEM 20 ORL 23 OVERTIME A really fun back and forth game between the Showboats and Renegades in front of a rowdy Orlando crowd. Curtis Bledsoe had a banner day, rushing for 130 and a score, while Greg Boone returned to Florida and had 126 of his own. New Renegades kicker Fuad Reveiz was the late hero, hitting a 45 yarder to send the game to overtime and then connecting from 29 for the Renegades win. CHI 6 TEX 27 Chicago again struggled under Chuck Long as Texas moved to 2-0 after another win against fellow expansion teams. IT was a good day for Doug Williams (73% completion rate against the Machine D) and Stump Mitchell (another 86 yards on the ground), but the best day was that of wideout Carlos Carson. The former Chief had 10 catches for 135 and a score. MGN 31 NOR 20 It became a battle of backups as Ed Luther got the start for Jack Trudeau (knee sprain in practice). Matt Robinson got poked in the eye on his only pass attempt, leading to Matt Dunigan taking over. Marcus Dupree rushed for 112, but it was not enough as John Williams paced the Panthers with 145 and 3 scores. Despite getting sacked 7 times by the Breaker D, Luther kept it together and led Michigan to the win. LA 20 OAK 17 The Express got 85 yards and a score from Christian Okoye and their new power run offense did just enough to stay ahead of the Invaders. Oakland QB Gale Gilbert threw two costly picks that ended Invader drives, while Steve Young, while not awe-inspiring, did enough to keep LA on track. Eric Martin had his best game in a while, catching 6 balls for 119 yards in the Express win. ARZ 3 POR 17 This is what happens when you take a team from the desert and ask them to play in a monsoon. Portland’s field was a slippery mess as it rained throughout the game, but somehow this did not seem to affect Willie “Flipper” Anderson. The player named after a famous dolphin looked right at home in the rain, catching two early TD’s that ended up being enough for the Thunder to get their first win in front of a pretty full and very wet Civic Stadium crowd. WSH 13 DEN 28 Washington got a taste first hand of one of the best home field advantages in football, as Denver used the one-two punch of Harry Sydney and Timmy Smith to grind out a win on a cold, blustery day in Mile High Stadium. Neil Lomax was held to only 223 yards in the wind and the Denver D built up an insurmountable 28-0 lead before letting off the gas late in the game. GAME OF THE WEEK Tampa Bay Bandits 28 Houston Gamblers 34 It was billed as a matchup of two high octane offenses led by two top gun QB’s and it ended up playing that way. The overtime thriller saw John Reaves throw for a 76% completion rate and hit Eric Truvillion 9 times for 93 yards and a score. Not to be outdone, Houston’s Jim Kelly threw for 335 and 4 scores, including 2 each to TE Victor Hicks and his favorite target, Ricky Sanders. Hicks would finish the day with an impressive 131 yards as well as the 2 scores. The other big performer on the day was Houston’s rookie HB, former OK State Cowpoke, Thurman Thomas. Thomas rushed 27 times for a whopping 177 against the Tampa defense. The rook has clearly taken over the #1 slot ahead of veteran Todd Fowler, who got only 6 carries on the day. The highlight for Thomas was a 46 yard scoring romp at the end of the 1st that will be sure to be shown on Gambler highlight reels for the rest of the year. After bursting through the line untouched, he put a move on SS Tyrone Davis that left the defender standing flat-footed as Thomas raced past him and into the endzone. Davis is not going to like the look of that play as it is replayed again and again. Tampa now falls to 0-2, another slow start for a team that seems to do this every year, while Houston is off to a 2-0 start and seems laser-focused on returning to another USFL Championship after falling by only 1 point in last year’s beauty of a game. But despite Tampa’s slow start, they did play well in this game, keeping pace throughout. When Benny Ricardo hit the game-tying kick in the 4th, many in the stadium were noticeably nervous about the overtime outcome, but the Houston offense left no doubt, marching the ball down the field before Kelly found his go-to guy, Sanders on a beautiful corner route, fooling the CB with an inside move before sprinting to the pylon and the winning score. A good win for Houston, a tolerable, if unwelcome loss for the Bandits, and a great show in front of over 45,000 in the Astrodome and a huge TV audience on Saturday night. A clear win for the USFL and the Gamblers. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK There were a lot of outstanding games this week, from Kelly’s 4 TD day, Thurman Thomas’s breakout performance, a 2 sack and 1 forced fumble day for Birmingham’s Bob Barker, and another 130+ yards for Texas’s Carlos Carson, but with the pressure on, playing with a backup QB, Michigan’s John Williams proved why he should not be left out of the discussion when we talk about the best running backs in the league. Williams came through, carrying the Panthers on his back, as he rushed for 145 yards against the Breakers, and scored 3 touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a much-needed division win. And these were not all 1 yard plunges either. Williams started the day with a 29 yard scoring run on an off-tackle scamper in the first, and followed it with a 2nd quarter 39 yard run on a beautiful toss sweep. His 9.1 yard average, against a defense that did not have to contend with Jack Trudeau, was exactly what Jim Stanley needed and just what the few Michigan faithful in the Super Dome came to see. NEWS & NOTES It may be early in the season to start thinking about what might happen with free agency and player movement this summer, but there is a potential concern for the league that they may want to address early. Most USFL coaches are on 3-year deals, and what we saw in Year 3 of the league was a lot of extensions offered early to the top coaches. That has not happened this time. Look around the league and you see some of the league’s best coaching minds on the final year of their contracts. Michigan’s Jim Stanley, Tampa’s Steve Spurrrier, Birmingham's Rollie Dotsch, and Philly’s Jim Mora are all on the last year of their 2nd three-year deal. If their owners cannot get them an extension during the season, the NFL could come calling. And for Mora, Stanley, and Spurrier, who have done all there is to do, including winning championships in the USFL and making the playoffs every single season, the temptation to prove themselves in the NFL could be a tough urge to resist. If we were working in the front offices in Pontiac, Tampa and Philadelphia, we would be doing all we could to make sure these three were happy to stay put. INJURY REPORT While the eye poke which took out Breakers’s QB Matt Robinson should be fine by next week’s game, Michigan’s Jack Trudeau may need to sit out at least one more week, putting the ball into the hands of Ed Luther once again. Michigan, of course, is still reeling from the injury to John Corker in week 1, now confirmed as a severe knee strain, and likely to require several weeks before he is back to his usual terrifying self. Philly lost an often underrated, but important player in fullback Eddie Colson this week. Colson who suffered what had to be a painful groin pull, was shown to have torn a key muscle connecting to the hip and is likely to be out at least 2 months. In Arizona, rookie DE AL Noga got some bad news when x-rays showed that he will miss at least a month with 2 fractured ribs, while Houston’s Kiki DeAyala may be out at least 1-2 weeks with an badly turned ankle. LOOKING AHEAD We stick with a heavy slate of divisional games again, including some key early matchups. It will be a war when the Generals host the Stars this week, and the Battle of I-95 is renewed when the Federals make the short trip to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. One of the league’s best rivalries is on display at Legion Field when the Bandits come visiting the Stallions. Memphis gets an early test as well, heading down to Jacksonville for a Week 3 clash. In the Central it is a battle of underdogs and heavy favorites when Chicago hosts Michigan and the new Texas Outlaws play Houston in the Dome. LA will head to the desert to face the Wranglers while the Thunder get to experience Mile High Mayhem in Denver. In inter-divisional play, the Breakers will be in Pittsburgh to take on the Maulers and Oakland will fly cross country to play in Orlando against the Renegades. A good week with some key early season divisional battles to enjoy.

A new season begins, with all the optimism and high hopes of a fresh start. But for 10 of the league's 20 teams, defeat is what they will find, raising questions and building concern. But as we saw last year with Birmingham's 0-4 start and Orlando's 4-0 start, in a league with only 1 preseason game, these early clashes are also a time to build towards something better, so if your team did not leave the best first impression, do not despair. It is a long season. SCORES JAX 23 NJ 10 Chris Miller threw for 231 and the Jacksonville D picked off Doug Flutie twice to ruin the home opener for the Generals in Giants Stadium. Rookie Brian Blades snagged 5 balls for 84 yards in his Bulls debut. MEM 9 PHI 17 Both the Stars and the Showboats showed that their defenses were ready for prime time in this slugfest, held in a cold sleet in Philadelphia. Mel Gray still managed to catch 10 balls in the miserable conditions, but Philly’s 2 first quarter scores held up as Memphis could not fight their way back. ORL 13 PIT 17 Bad weather also impacted the Renegades-Mauler games, but on a slick field the advantage went to the sure footed Mike Rozier, who rushed for 128 on the icy field. The win is Pittsburgh’s first ever on Week 1 of any season. TBY 21 WSH 34 The Feds took an early lead on a rare John Reaves pick-6, and kept finding ways to score as they held off a Tampa comeback. Rookie Kevin Harmon scored his first in the USFL, as did Tampa’s Lars Tate. ARZ 24 CHI 19 Chicago started Steve Beurlein, but when he went down with an injury, Chuck Long stepped in and looked like a player ready to roll in his second season. Long finished with a 74% completion rate, but it was not enough as Arizona QB Robbie Bosco returned from last year’s injury and hit Chicago with 3 scores in his first game in almost a year. DEN 16 HOU 27 The rematch of last year’s Western Final was more of the same as Houston’s D contained Bob Gagliano (only 158 yards in the air) while Kelly threw for 259 and 2 scores. Rookie Thurman Thomas started and gained 36 on the ground and another 12 in the air. LA 13 MGN 21 Michigan’s D looks as good as ever, holding Okoye to 58 yards on the ground and keeping Steve Young without a TD. Jack Trudeau threw 3, including a beauty of a bomb to Anthony Carter and another to Derek Holloway. OAK 3 NOR 26 Matt Robinson looked strong for the Breakers, while the Invaders offense struggled to put points on the board. Free agent acquisition Richard Williams could only average 1.9 yards per carry in his first game in Oakland, while the combo of Dupree and Hilliard combined for only 66 total yards. POR 9 TEX 35 Texas wins the battle of new clubs as they dominated the Thunder. Doug Williams threw for 2 scores and Stump Mitchell rumbled for 95 yards against a struggling Thunder Defense. Rookie QB Kerwin Bell had some moments, but ended up completing only 39% of his passes on the day. GAME OF THE WEEK Birmingham Stallions 23 Baltimore Blitz 26 Baltimore’s Vince Evans showed he still had some wheels as he not only passed for 263 against the Stallions, but also added 55 on the ground in a big home opening win for the Blitz. In a game that seesawed all day, it was Evans’s elusivity and the right foot of Luis Zendejas that helped the Blitz earn the win. Birimingham was game, as Cliff Stoudt threw for 304 and found Jim Smith for yet another TD in his ageless career. But Baltimore, whose defense focused on stopping Joe Cribbs, were able to avoid the home run play and held Cribbs to only 2.2 yards per carry, far less than their own Tim Spencer was able to gain. Add in Evans’s runs and Baltimore outgained Birmingham on the ground 143-75. Played on a cold, rainy day in Baltimore, the game saw its fair share of early season blunders, though with only 3 turnovers between the two teams, it was not all about turnovers. Baltimore committed 9 penalties and Birimingham 11 in a game that saw a lot of line errors (offsides, false start, illegal shift, etc.). The win is a good start for the Blitz. For Birmingham, the loss is tough, but they can take solace in a well-played game against a tough team on the road. The Stallions look like the team that won 10 games last year, while Baltimore looks like they have learned from their tough 6-win season. PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK Several players threw for more yards than New Orleans’s Matt Robinson, but few demonstrated as complete a command of the offense. With pressure coming from CFL import Matt Dunigan, Robinson showed in this start that he is up to the challenge. He completed nearly 65% of his passes and found Nolan Franz twice for scores as the Breakers ran roughshod over the Oakland Invaders. Of course it helps to have a feared run game, as Robinson was able to use play action effectively on early downs. It is not Hall of Fame material, but for a team that is hoping not to go a whole season playing musical chairs with their QB’s this start for Robinson has to be appreciated in New Orleans. NEWS & NOTES In an opening week marred with bad weather in most of the eastern half of the country, the crowds still seemed ready to welcome back the USFL. The five Atlantic and five Central teams all had home field this week, and even in locations where the play has not been great of late (Pittsburgh and Chicago, for example) the crowds were decent. The league drew over 40,000 in Baltimore, New Jersey, Philly, Washington, Houston, Michigan and New Orleans, the first time that 7 games had crowds of that size in a single week. And while 23k in Texas may not seem huge, it was a near sellout for Bobcat Stadium to watch the first game of the Outlaws. TV Ratings were also strong, with the Denver-Houston and Memphis-Philadelphia games drawing the highest numbers. A strong start to the league’s sixth season. INJURY REPORT If there were no injuries it would not likely be football any more, and fortunately most teams came out of the week in good shape. The biggest hit was in Chicago where opening day starter Steve Beurlein appears to have suffered a hamstring tear, disconnecting the muscle from the bone. He is expected to be out at least 2 months, perhaps 3. Chicago will now rely on 2nd year QB Chuck Long and NFL import Rusty Hilger for the lion’s share of the season. In Michigan, they are concerned that the sprained knee suffered by ALL-USFL MLB John Corker could keep him out as much as 2 months, while in Texas, CB Gregg Butler may miss 2 months as well after breaking his arm in a fumble dogpile. Arizona rookie Al Noga suffered a concussion in the Wranglers first game, but is expected back next week, as is Denver WR J.T. Smith and Philly guard Eliseo Sneed. LOOKING AHEAD We get our first division games of the year in Week Two, with 16 teams playing rivals. Baltimore will be in New Jersey to test the Generals while Pittsburgh and Philly will renew the Keystone Derby in Three Rivers. Birmingham travels to Jacksonville and Memphis is in Orlando in two big Southern matchups. In the Central Chicago will try to get their first win when they head down to Texas, while the Panthers are indoors at the Superdome to face the Breakers. In the Pacific, it is will be a key California clash as LA is in Oakland. Arizona will travel up to Portland, where they hope to move to 2-0. In inter-divison play, Washington flies out to Denver to face the Gold, while the defending champs face Tampa in the Astro Dome.

The second half of our 1988 USFL Season Preview focuses on the Western Conference. Unlike the East, where Philadelphia has dominated, the West is a wide open competition. Michigan, which had won two titles, seems to be in decline, or at least not dominant. Houston came on last year and shocked the league by winning 13 games while Denver quietly won 12 with almost no fanfare. The West was also home to 3 of the 4 expansion clubs, and with this offseason’s reshuffling, they now feature two new teams, Texas and Portland, who will still be trying to get their feet under themselves. So as we look at the West, there is more uncertainty from top to bottom and more possibility for teams to rise or fall. As with our Eastern Preview, we will rank the teams not by division, but by their overall strength in the conference, looking at who each team has lost, who they have added, and what their prospects are for the season ahead. To do so we will use these codes: (Re) Retired, (FA) Free Agency, (T) Trade, (D) Drafted HOUSTON GAMBLERS (13-3, Conference Champions) KEY DEPARTURES: HB Lynn Cain (Re), HB Steve Howell (FA), TE Victor Marchand (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: None DRAFT RECAP: Amazing what winning will do when it comes to signing draft picks. Houston was able to sign the top names from their draft board, including two outstanding backs to replace Cain and Howell. OSU’s Thurman Thomas can be a 3-down back with outstanding hands to play a role in the passing game, while Keith Woodside from A&M can pound the rock for tough yards. Houston also signed WR Ernie Jones from Indiana and a potential monster in the middle in DT Michael Dean Perry from Clemson. OUTLOOK: Without signing a single free agent, Houston still got stronger with their outstanding draft class. There was nothing that was flukish about last year. This is a solid team with a defense that can shut just about anyone down and this year their run game should be stronger, making it harder for defenses to pin their ears back and rush Jim Kelly. We see Houston returning to the Championship, and this year they may just get that extra inch needed to win it. PREDICTED FINISH: 13-3, Central Champions LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (7-9, 3rd in Pacific) KEY DEPARTURES: HB Tony Boddie (NFL), TE Cap Boso (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: LB Bob Cradle (NFL), WR Emile Harry (FA) DRAFT RECAP: LA struck out on some of their big name draftees (HB Gaston Green, LB Ken Norton Jr) but the players they were able to sign will be difference makers. We like LB Marcus Cotton to start immediately, while HB Mel Farr Jr will help spell Okoye. The Express also signed 3 tackles, with the best of them being Southern’s Gerald Perry. That influx of depth on the O-line will help John Hadl’s new power run offense. OUTLOOK: LA saw something special in HB Christian Okoye towards the end of last year, and this year John Hadl is looking to play on that by shifting to a more smashmouth power run offense. That shift may help free up Jo-Jo Townsell, Eric Martin and Mel Renfro, making Steve Young’s life easier. We like LA to make a major leap and to win the Pacific due in large part to this shift, and to a defense that could greatly benefit from the speed and power of Marcus Cotton in the LB corps. PREDICTED FINISH: 11-5, Pacific Champions MICHIGAN PANTHERS (10-6, 2nd in Central) KEY DEPARTURES: DT T. Krumrie (Re), K Novo Bojovic (Re), FS R. Gee (FA), QB J. Kemp (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: K Tony Franklin (NFL), QB Ed Luther (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Michigan coach Jim Stanley went into the draft intent on rebuilding his offensive line. He got two of his top targets in Wolverine John Elliott and Kentucky’s Dermotti Dawson. While the rest of the Panther draft is rather lackuster, we have seen some highlights in camp from CB/S John Booty of TCU. OUTLOOK: Michigan is not the juggernaut of past years, and Jack Trudeau, while solid, is no Bobby Hebert. The Panthers still have a solid defense and one of the best LB corps in pro football, but there are holes, and there are questions. We still think Michigan is very likely to again qualify for the playoffs, as they have each year of the USFL’s existence, but they will need to gel quickly and find a formula to be able to advance in the playoffs. PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 2nd in Central DENVER GOLD (12-4, 1st in Pacific) KEY DEPARTURES: T John Hull (Re), LB Michael Douglass (FA), T Long Sessions (FA), WR Emile Harry (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: None DRAFT RECAP: While LB Fred Strickland (Purdue) looks like a keeper, he may be the only major contributor from what appears to be a weak draft class for the Gold. They drafted for the O-line, but did not land any of the top-rated linemen. Notre Dame center Chuck Lanza may be the best of the bunch, but we don’t see him starting this year. OUTLOOK: Denver surprised everyone by winning 12 games last year, but with key losses and very little gained in the offseason we just don’t see how they can retain at that lofty height. The Gold look undermanned compared to many other teams in the conference. Coach Mouse Davis is still struggling to make the Run & Shoot viable in Denver, and with no major talent influx this year, we think Denver slips a notch or two. PREDICTED FINISH: 8-8, 2nd in Pacific ARIZONA WRANGLERS (6-10, 4th in Pacific) KEY DEPARTURES: C Jeff Wilkins (FA), DE C. Clark (Re) KEY ARRIVALS: CB Everson Walls (FA), DRAFT RECAP: The Wranglers went for help in non-glamour positions in this year’s draft and we think they found some keepers by doing so. Guard Todd Kalis (ASU) and Tackle Todd Irvin (Ole Miss) could get some action in a line rotation, and DE Al Noga (Hawaii) should help offset the loss of the team’s top passrusher to retirement. OUTLOOK: Arizona is another team we see leapfrogging some folks. Before getting injured, Robbie Bosco showed that he had the right stuff to lead this team. With James Wilder back at HB, Johnson and Lipps at WR, and a healthy Terry Orr at TE, this could be a dynamic offense. Now, if the defense can just be average we see Arizona returning to the playoffs this year. PREDICTED FINISH: 9-7, 3rd in Pacific, Wild Card. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (8-8, 3rd in Central) KEY DEPARTURES: QB Todd Eason (FA), DE Robert Byrd (FA), HC Dick Coury KEY ARRIVALS: HC Bill Arnsparger, WR Herman Fontenot (FA), QB Matt Dunigan (CFL), DE Dallas Hickman (FA) DRAFT RECAP: No one is raving about the Breakers’ draft, but no one is panning it either. They got solid players in tackle Tim Rother (Nebraska) and DE Jerry Reese (Kentucky). They signed FSU’s Danny McManus to be a project behind Matt Robinson and CFL star Matt Dunigan. They also got a possible bargain late in the draft with U. of Miami HB Warren Williams. OUTLOOK: New Orleans under new coach Bill Arnsparger will be able to run the ball. With Marcus Dupree and Dalton Hilliard, that is a guarantee. But with Tony Eason gone, can Matt Robinson, or Canadian import Matt Dunigan build a solid complementary passing game? And will the Breaker defense bend or break? The Breakers eked their way to 8-8 and a quick playoff exit last year, another quick exit that cost Dick Coury his job with the team. We just don’t see enough here to say that Bill Arnsparger will fare much better this year. But as a very popular figure in Louisiana, he will be given time to build something in the Big Easy. PREDICTED FINISH: 7-9, 3rd in Central TEXAS OUTLAWS (4-12, 4th in Central as San Antonio) KEY DEPARTURES: A lot of roster turnover due to merger & Portland expansion. The biggest loss is likely LB Putt Choate. KEY ARRIVALS: Several key players come to San Antonio (Texas) from the Outlaw squad in Oklahoma. Chief among them are QB Doug Williams, HB Stump Mitchell, and LB Brian Bosworth. Texas also reached out and signed DT Dave Butz, CB Najee Mustafaa, and WR Dokie Williams from the NFL. DRAFT RECAP: Safety Kevin Porter may start from day one, and we also like DE Shawn Patterson from ASU. The rest of the signees are likely to be bit players and backups at least this year. OUTLOOK: We are predicting Texas to improve on the 4-win season that San Antonio had last year. Gaining talent from the Oklahoma franchise during the merger, this new Outlaw team has more to work with than either the Gunslingers or the Oklahoma Outlaws last year. They could surprise some folks. PREDICTED FINISH: 6-10, 4th in Central OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6, 2nd in Pacific) KEY DEPARTURES: QB Brian Sipe (Re), LB Gary Plummer (Re), HB Arthur Whittington (NFL), CB Audrey McMillian (FA), FB Ted Torosian (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: QB Jeff Kemp (FA), HB Richard Williams (FA) DRAFT RECAP: The best of the rookie signees for Oakland are on defense, with LB Ken Harvey of Cal leading the pack. We also like CB Chris Carrier and DE Derwin Jones. Tackle Louis Cheek from Texas A&M could also contribute this year. OUTLOOK: Just as Oakland was building something, age and the NFL caught up to them. The result? They lose 3 team captains and their 3 biggest on-field leaders in one fell swoop. Gale Gilbert has been groomed to take over for Brian Sipe, but no one is sure he is up for it. Oakland also signed Memphis’s lead back, Richard Williams, but he is no Arthur Whittington, and rookie Ken Harvey has huge shoes to fill in the departed Gary Plummer. All in all this is a team that lost a lot of leadership and is going to have to repair the plane while its flying. That is a tall order for any team. Expect a significant struggle this year. PREDICTED FINISH: 5-11, 4th in Pacific. CHICAGO MACHINE (2-14, 5th in Central) KEY DEPARTURES: DE Greg Shields (Re), WR Willie Collier (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: DE Dwayne Board (NFL), T Ken Lanier (NFL), QB Rusty Hilger (NFL), SS William Cesare (FA), TE Cap Boso (FA) DRAFT RECAP: We love that Chicago was aggressive in signing for speed in the draft. They signed two speedy receivers in LSU’s Wendell Davis and Northern Arizona’s Michael Haynes. They also tried to help their run game with Michigan back Jamie Morris. Guard Eric Moore from Indiana may also start from week one. OUTLOOK: Chicago’s offense last year was offensive, and not in a good way. But, rather than try to replace their young QB’s the Machine added talent around them in the draft. They also brought in NFL QB Rusty Hilger, who will challenge but also help develop both Chuck Long and Steve Beurlein. It has been an open competition in camp and we are still not sure who will get the Week One start. That uncertainty is not a good thing, but the added talent in Chicago, as well as a year of experience under Joe Bugel, should help Chicago win a few more games this year. PREDICTED FINISH: 5-11, 5th in Central. PORTLAND THUNDER (Expanion Team in 1988) KEY DEPARTURES: The Thunder inherited a mix of Gunslinger and Outlaw players, so no real departures. KEY ARRIVALS: In addition to the OKL/SAN players, Portland did sign some NFL and USFL talent, including: LB Billy Ray Smith (NFL), TE Clint Didier (NFL), CB Dwayne Galloway (NFL), DT Mike Golic (FA), HB Rodney Carter (FA), and TE Victor Marchand (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Portland missed out on some top picks, most notably Chris Chandler from U-Dub, but they did get some quality in the draft. Willie “Flipper” Anderson will contribute immediately, as should DT Roland Putzier and LB Cedric Figaro. They may have also found their starter in the draft, as rookie Kerwin Bell from Florida has moved up the depth chart in camp by showing accuracy to go along with his big arm. OUTLOOK: Everyone was sure that Washington QB would sign with Portland, but he opted to wait for the NFL call, so it looks like the Thunder may start Florida rookie Kerwin Bell, with former Oakland Invader Fred Besana backing him up. Bell may well be shellshocked and his team does not have a lot of firepower to back him up. We like the signing of Rodney Carter at HB, and Ken Lacy brings experience but may be a step slower these days. Signing rookie “Flipper” Anderson to line up alongside Frank Lockett and Gerald McNeil may help Bell out as well. He may need the help, because other than Putt Choate on defense, we are not sure there is a lot to crow about. This is an expansion team, so some bumps in the road are normal, but this season may feel like a mogul run in Portland. PREDICTED FINISH: 2-14, 4th in the Pacific PLAYOFF PICKS: 1-HOU, 2-LA, 3-MGN, 4-DEN, 5-ARZ CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Houston Gamblers CONFERENCE MVP: Jim Kelly, QB-HOU CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ken Harvey, LB, OAK

We kick off our preview of the 1988 USFL Season with a look at the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has represented the conference in the last 3 Championship games, winning in 1985 and again last year. Do they have what it takes to return to a fourth consecutive Championship Game? Who is best poised to challenge them? Can Tampa or Birmingham return to true Championship calibre? Are New Jersey or Washington ready to storm Philly’s castle? Can Baltimore rebound after a rough year? And which lower tier team, if any, can surprise in the upcoming season? There are a lot of questions and we hope to be able to accurately survey the field in the East and provide you with the best likelihoods for the upcoming season. To do this we will rank the teams not by division, but by their overall strength in the conference, looking at who each team has lost, who they have added, and what their prospects are for the season ahead. To do so we will use these codes: (Re) Retired, (FA) Free Agency, (T) Trade, (D) Drafted, (NFL) NFL player signing PHILADELPHIA STARS (13-3, Defending League Champions) KEY DEPARTURES: TE Steve Folsom (Re), QB Jeff Hostetler (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: HB Steve Howell (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Philadelphia had a diverse draft and signing period, landing a tight end they hope can replace Steve Folsom in Ohio State’s Alex Higdon, a speedy wideout in Iowa’s Quinn Early, a hard hitting CB in Purdue’s Chris Dishman, and a backup for Chuck Fusina in San Jose State’s Mike Perez. OUTLOOK: Philadelphia has appeared in three straight Championships, winning two, because they are deep, they are well-coached, and they do not defeat themselves. Their offense is not the flashiest, their defense not the most intimidating, but they are the most consistent team in the league, and that can get them very far. PREDICTED FINISH: 12-4, 1st in Atlantic TAMPA BAY BANDITS (10-6, 2nd in South) KEY DEPARTURES: HB Greg Boone (FA), QB Mike Norseth (FA), KEY ARRIVALS: FS Roy Gee (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Tampa got some solid contributors through several rounds of the draft. We love the look of CB Eric Allen and guard Bob Sims. Former Hurricane wideout Brett Perriman should fit right in with the “go deep” philosophy of the Bandits, and we expect that Lars Tate (Georgia), while not as versatile as Boone, will be a solid backup to Gary Anderson. OUTLOOK: Tampa led the Southern Division for most of the year before falling short in the season’s final week. We don’t expect them to fade down the stretch this year. There is still a lot of explosive talent on the Bandits’ roster. The defense is the big question mark as once again Tampa spent more draft capital on building up the offensive firepower. The division will be a tight one, with 4 solid teams in contention, but we think Tampa has the firepower to end up on top. PREDICTED FINISH: 11-5, First in South BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (10-6, First in South) KEY DEPARTURES: SS W. Cesare (FA), WR J. Jones (FA), LB K. Teel (Re) KEY ARRIVALS: WR Danny Knight (FA), C Chuck Pitcock (NFL) DRAFT RECAP: Birmingham built on strengths, signing a solid backup HB in Bo Wright, adding defensive depth with CB Anthony Blaylock, and trying to solve their TE hole by signing both Donnie Dee (Tulsa) and Danta Whitaker (Miss. Valley State). OUTLOOK: Birmingham has had a very solid core roster for a long time. But that has not prevented the Stallions from going up and down in the standings year to year. Again it will be Stoudt, Cribbs and Givens that define the offense, and again it will be a defense that depends on takeaways and 3rd down conversion rate to win games. After a rough start to 1987, Rollie Dotsch rallied the troops and they ended up winning the division. We think they are on to something, and we expect the momentum to carry over. PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 2nd in South MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (8-8, 3RD in South) KEY DEPARTURES: HB Richard Williams (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: HB Greg Boone (FA), LB Michael Douglass (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Memphis had one of the most productive USFL drafts we have ever seen, signing some of the biggest names away from potential NFL signing. They wanted to get new QB Mike Kelley more weapons and they did that by signing both TE Keith Jackson and WR Anthony Miller. Then they go out and sign U. of Miami safety Bennie Blades as well. Add in Grambling DT Curtis Maxey and UCLA LB Ben Hummel, and this is an outstanding draft class. OUTLOOK: After several years of erratic play from former Crimson Tide QB Walter Lewis, the Showboats opted to give Mike Kelley a shot, and he rose to the occasion in a big way. Memphis moved from an Also-Ran, to one of the most dangerous teams in the league with Kelley in charge. Now with the added talent in the draft and a more versatile HB in Greg Boone coming over from Tampa, Memphis may be ready to take the kind of leap we saw Houston take last year. PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 3rd in South, Wild Card NEW JERSEY GENERALS (12-4, 2nd in Atlantic) KEY DEPARTURES: WR Danny Knight (FA), HB Rayford McGill KEY ARRIVALS: DT Kit Lathrop (FA), DE James Lockette (FA) DRAFT RECAP: After passing on Syracuse’s Bill Romanowski in the Territorial Draft, New Jersey struck gold by signing Ohio State MLB Chris Spielman. They added more depth on defense with Temple DE Ralph Jarvis, and may have gotten a steal in the 4th round, signing Oregon wideout J.J. Birden to help replace the departed Danny Knight. OUTLOOK: Last year the Generals not only consistently won when Hershel Walker was on his game, but even found ways to win without Walker, using Keith Byars as a lead back. They have some weapons on offense, and with the addition of Spielman, Lathrop and Lockette, this defense may be the best in the conference. Can they put the pieces together again and make a run at Philly? It looks very doable for the Generals. PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 2nd in Atlantic WASHINGTON FEDERALS (9-7, 3rd in Atlantic) KEY DEPARTURES: WR Herman Fontenot (FA), LB Brad Swearington (Re) KEY ARRIVALS: T Ken McCray (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Washington went for depth, signing 2 guards (OU’s Mark Hutson and Mich State’s David Houle) and two halfbacks to back up Craig James (Iowa’s Kevin Harmon and Northwestern State’s John Stephens), but the best signing may have been that of Oklahoma LB Dante Jones, who should step right into the spot opened by Bradley Swearingen’s retirement. OUTLOOK: Amazing what having a true stud at QB can do. The arrival of Neil Lomax transformed the Federals. They still need to figure out how to play consistent defense, as they found themselves in way too many come-from-behind situations last year, but this is a team that now believes in themselves, even if their final 9-7 mark is not exactly fear-inducing. PREDICTED FINISH: 10-6, 3rd in East. BALTIMORE BLITZ (7-9, 4th in Atlantic) KEY DEPARTURES: DT Mike Golic (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: DT Joe Klecko (NFL) DRAFT RECAP: We like James Hasty (Wash St) as a plug-and-play CB, and TE Ferrell Edmunds could see some action, but we are not sure that drafting Nate Hill (Auburn) or Mike Piel (Illinois) will be enough to help turn around a Blitz defense that clearly lost a lot when Junior Ah You went to the NFL. OUTLOOK: Vince Evans is erratic, Eric Kramer is nipping at his heels, Tim Spencer is not getting any younger, and the defense seems to be stuck in neutral. Other than that, the Blitz are fine. This looks like it might be a long year for Baltimore unless Joe Klecko’s presence helps to revive a moribund pass rush. We like the Klecko signing, but it does not feel like enough at this point. PREDICTED FINISH: 6-10, 4th in Atlantic JACKSONVILLE BULLS (8-8, 4th in South) KEY DEPARTURES: DE James Lockette (FA), T Ken McCray (FA), QB Ed Luther (FA) KEY ARRIVALS: QB Tony Eason (FA), WR Joey Jones (FA) DRAFT RECAP: Outside of signing Miami wideout Brian Blades, we are not sure what the Bulls’ draft strategy had done to help the team. Pitt DE Jon Carter might develop into a decent starter, but he needs time. Fellow DE George Hinkle from Arizona seems an even more unpolished player, and we are not sure why Jacksonville picked Wake Forest HB Darryl McGill when there were several highly touted backs still on the board. OUTLOOK: While the departure of Ed Luther clearly gives the starting job to 2nd year QB Chris Miller, the signing of former Breaker QB Tony Eason seems to be begging for trouble. The Bulls don’t appear to be building towards a coherent goal this year. Perhaps they have a shift in philosophy in mind after dropping from the playoffs last year, but we have yet to be able to figure out what the new look will be. PREDICTED FINISH: 6-10, 4th in South ORLANDO RENEGADES (6-10, 5th in South) KEY DEPARTURES: DT Kit Lathrop (FA), HB Rodney Carter (FA), LB Timothy Blanchette (Re) KEY ARRIVALS: WR J. Jefferson (FA), FB T. Torosian (FA), C J. Wilkins (FA), QB Todd Blackledge (FA), K Fuad Reveiz (NFL), LB Tim Green (NFL) DRAFT RECAP: Orlando fought hard to sign their draftees and ended with a solid haul. Having a lot of cap space gave them the ability to give out bigger contracts this year and that got them immediate starters. We love the pick of DE Reuben Davis from UNC, as well as HB Lydell Carr from Oklahoma. Indiana LB Van Waiters could see a lot of action this year. The only real headscratcher was the signing of Pitt FB Craig “Ironhead” Heyward when they signed one of the best fullbacks in the league in Ted Torosian earlier in the fall. Can they really run a 2-FB offense? OUTLOOK: Orlando started like a comet, 4-0 out of the gate in their inaugural season, but then reality hit and they ended the year with only 2 wins in their final 12 games. They will be a better team this year, that is for sure, but can they make headway in perhaps the league’s toughest and most well-balanced division? We think they will be a better team on the field, more balanced, and more dangerous, but that may not translate into more wins. PREDICTED FINISH: 6-10, 5th in South PITTSBURGH MAULERS (4-12, 5TH in Atlantic) KEY DEPARTURES: WR John Jefferson (FA), CB Ron Osborne (Re), TE Emory Moorhead (Re) KEY ARRIVALS: WR Willie Collier (FA), LB Greg Gerkin (FA), QB Jeff Hostetler (FA) DRAFT RECAP: CB Quintin Jones is a solid T-Draft signee, and the Maulers get a proven commodity in Ohio State LB Eric Kumerow. The question will be whether others such as Clemson DT Tony Stephens or Mizzou DE Jeff Cross can step up and get into the rotation to help build a semblance of defensive quality on a Maulers’ team that just could not stop teams when they needed to last year. OUTLOOK: It seems tragic that we are 5 years into the Maulers franchise and once again they seem destined to finish last in their division and near the top of the draft order. And once again it will come down to the same thing, can they stop anyone on defense and can they find ways to gain chunks of yardage at once. If I were Mike Rozier, I would want to see more playmakers on this team. Losing John Jefferson and replacing him with Willie Collier is just not enough. Add to that the potential for Alan Risher to feel pressure from an untested Jeff Hostetler, and we see yet another year of frustration for the shrinking Mauler fanbase at Three Rivers. PREDICTED FINISH: 5-11, 5th in Atlantic PLAYOFF PICKS: 1-PHI, 2-TBY, 3-BIR, 4-MEM 5-NJ. CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Philadelphia CONFERENCE MVP: Joe Cribbs, RB, BIR CONFERENCE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Keith Jackson, TE, MEM

USA Today, December 8, 1987 As the USFL gears up for their 6th season, once again the unique process of the league’s two-tier draft system has returned as the league’s 20 clubs try to fill gaps, add depth, and sign future stars in the college ranks. The process used by the USFL is a complex one, a system made more challenging by the fact that many collegiate players are still preparing for late December or January bowl games, are unable to sign agents yet, and are weighing their options between accepting a USFL contract or declining the spring league to await the NFL draft. That last consideration is a major one for the USFL as each year a solid 50% of their drafted players opt to defer a decision and await the NFL draft. Once that decision is made it is nearly impossible for the USFL to sign them. And yet, despite this challenge, the USFL has made a name for itself by signing top collegiate talent each year, beginning with the early signing of HB Herschel Walker after only 2 years at Georgia, and continuing through the signings of two more Heisman winners (Mike Rozier and Doug Flutie) and major talents such as QBs Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason and Chris Miller. But the league has not signed a Heisman Winner since Doug Flutie, and after missing out on potential stars like Vinnie Testaverde and Bo Jackson, many are concerned that there is a growing reluctance of top tier NCAA players to sign early with the spring league. Will this year be the year when some of the top prospects are wooed to the younger league? Are the USFL teams, some now just beginning to see profits for the first time, willing to spend what it might take to sign the biggest stars from the college ranks? And with the NFL finally rising out of labor strife with the signing of a new CBA and the end to its 6 week players strike, how will players choose between the two leagues? All that is on the table as the USFL completed their Territorial Draft this week and prepares for their Open Draft on Saturday. Let’s begin our look at the USFL Collegiate Draft with a review of the Territorial Picks, as teams scramble to try to sign top players from their allotted feeder schools. Here are the prominent names chosen in the 5 rounds of the Territorial Draft. ARIZONA (Arizona, ASU, Utah) WR Aaron Cox, DE Shawn Patterson, G Randall McDaniel, G Todd Kalis, BALTIMORE (Maryland, NC State, UNC) WR Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'Oof, TE Ferrell Edmunds, LB Kevin Walker, NT Tim Goad BIRMINGHAM (Alabama, Auburn, Miss. State) LB Aundray Bruce, HB Bo Wright, DE Robert Goff, LB Kurt Crain CHICAGO (Notre Dame, Illinois, Indiana) WR Tim Brown, DE Scott Davis, CB Keith Traylor, G Eric Moore DENVER (Colorado, BYU, Nebraska) DE Neil Smith, DT David Futrell, CB Rodney Thomas HOUSTON (Texas A&M, Houston, TCU) HB Keith Woodside, S Kip Corrington, LB David Spradlin JACKSONVILLE (FSU, Georgia, Wake Forest) CB Martin Mayhew, TE Pat Carter, LB Paul McGowan, HB Darryl McGill LOS ANGELES (USC, UCLA, San Diego St.) HB Gaston Green, LB Ken Norton Jr., HB Mel Farr Jr., LB Marcus Cotton MEMPHIS (Tennessee, Arkansas, Vanderbilt) WR Anthony Miller, WR Carl Parker, OT Joey Howard MICHIGAN (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue) HB Lorenzo White, OT John Elliott, LB Tim Moore NEW JERSEY (Syracuse, Rutgers, BC) DT Ted Gregory, LB Bill Romanowski, G Dave Widell, TE Pat Kelly NEW ORLEANS (LSU, Tulane, Ole Miss) LB Jeff Herrod, WR Sammie Martin, CB Kevin Guidry OAKLAND (Cal, Stanford, Fresno State) LB Ken Harvey, FB Brad Muster, WR Jeff James ORLANDO (Miami, Clemson, Duke) WR Michael Irvin, LB George Mira, LB Danny Stubbs, T Matt Patchan PHILADELPHIA (Penn State, Temple, Ohio State) QB/P Tom Tupa, WR Ray Roundtree, TE Alex Higdon, HB George Cooper PITTSBURGH (Pitt, West Virginia, Kentucky) HB Robert Delpino, CB Quintin Jones, DE Jeff Cross, DE David Grant PORTLAND (Oregon, Oregon St., Washington) QB Chris Chandler, G Brian Habib, DT Rollin Putzier, LB Tom Erlindson TAMPA BAY (Florida, Georgia Tech, So. Carolina) G Bob Sims, CB Sammy Lilly, LB Clifford Charlton, CB Norman Floyd TEXAS (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor) C Paul Jetton, CB Eric Everett, S John Hagy WASHINGTON (Virginia, Va Tech, Iowa) QB Scott Secules, HB Kevin Harmon, LB Victor Jones The USFL’s track record shows that perhaps 1-2 of these players will sign with the USFL per team. The league has a bit of a better track record with the open draft, as this is more competitive so teams tend to do deeper research into who is open to signing early and who is leaning towards the NFL. That said, it is still only about a 60% signing rate in a good year. But, hope springs eternal, and the 20 USFL clubs have to do their best to sign talent in key areas of need. As we make our predictions for the first round of the 6 round USFL Open Draft, we look at team need and the best talent available, regardless of the potential to sign the players. Based on what each team needs, this is how we would call the first round. PICK 1: CHICAGO MACHINE NEEDS: Almost everything. HB, WR, DL, LB, OL, DB SITUATION: While Chicago’s defense was plucky last year, the offense was an unmitigated disaster. The Machine used 3 different QB’s last year, but did not have enough talent around them to provide any offensive punch. Todd Blackledge is gone, so it is down to one of the 2 second year players at QB, Chuck Long or Steve Beurlein to get things going. The Machine have a lot of needs, but an upgrade at wideout and at halfback should be at the top of their list going into the draft. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: WR Sterling Sharpe, South Carolina. There are three top tier receivers in the draft, and of the three (Michael Irvin, Tim Brown and Sharpe), the Gamecock product seems the most likely to sign on early with the USFL and is the only one not scooped up in the Territorial Draft. PICK 2: PORTLAND THUNDER NEEDS: Again, name a position. QB, HB, WR, OL, DL, LB, CB SITUATION: Portland definitely got the worst of the Outlaw-Gunslinger merger, with most of the top Outlaw players sent to the new Texas Outlaws. The biggest hole is at QB, where the retirement of Rick Neuheisel leaves Portland with major need at the position and no help from the free agency pool. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Having chosen Chris Chandler to hopefully fill the QB hole, the Thunder could go RB here and look at either John Stephens (NW State) or Ickey Woods (UNLV). PICK 3: PITTSBURGH MAULERS NEEDS: Defensive help. DE, MLB, SS, SITUATION: The Maulers have a stud RB and they seem to have their QB room settled after adding former Philly backup Jeff Hostetler to challenge Alan Risher. They now need to address their defense. But after losing wideout John Jefferson, they might go for a wideout here as well. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Early money has them looking at LB Aundray Bruce, but don’t be surprised if they go with another stud at LB in Ohio State’s Eric Kumerow. Again, local players tend to boost ticket sales, so this would not surprise us. PICK 4: TEXAS OUTLAWS NEEDS: S, DE, OT, LB SITUATION: Thanks to the merger of San Antonio and Oklahoma, the Outlaws have solid talent at the offensive skill positions. They need to strengthen the Tackle position to help out Doug Williams, and they need to develop a solid defensive core. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: With Neil Smith picked in the T-Draft, don’t be surprised if they go for a safety like Bennie Blades here. PICK 5: ARIZONA WRANGLERS NEEDS: DE, OL, CB SITUATION: Arizona has their QB, HB and WRs set, we think, but they need to be more explosive all across the line, and they need to be able to rush the passer. There is a lot of talent in those key positions so this could be a good spot to trade down and pick up some extra picks to fill in that O-line. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: They opted to select ASU’s Shawn Patterson at DE in the Territorial Draft, which frees them up to look at O-line here. If so, we like USC’s Dave Cadigan at guard. PICK 6: ORLANDO RENEGADES NEEDS: WR, TE, OL, FB, LB SITUATION: Orlando made quite a few moves in free agency, but we still think that they might not be done trying to boost that offense. Signing John Jefferson was huge, and FB Ted Torosian is a stud, but they may still try to add more firepower early in the draft. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: With the top 3 receivers off the table, and if they don’t add another skill player, then perhaps look for a big tackle like Wisconsin’s Paul Gruber. PICK 7: BALTIMORE BLITZ NEEDS: DE, S, G, TE SITUATION: It was clear last year how much the Blitz miss DE Junior Ah You. They need to find ways to improve the pass rush without him. There are several good DE in this year’s draft, so that should be a priority. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: They have to go DE, right? So Hawaii’s Al Noga or Illinois’ Mike Piel are the options. PICK 8: LOS ANGELES EXPRESS NEEDS: HB, LB, OT, S SITUATION: Losing Tony Boddie to the NFL hurts, but with Christian Okoye looking like the man at HB, the Express need to bolster the tackle position to help spring the Nigerian Nightmare into the 2nd level of the defense. They also need to address the defense, particularly at LB and SS. Lots of options here. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: If he is there, they could go for Aundray Bruce. But they already picked Marcus Cotton in the T-Draft. SO then go for Bennie Blades or a tackle in this round. PICK #9: JACKSONVILLE BULLS NEEDS: DE, DT, LB, WR, HB SITUATION: While most observers like to blame the ongoing QB controversy for Jacksonville’s decline last year, they ought to be looking at the D-line as the main culprit. With little pass rush and uneven run coverage, Jacksonville simply could not stop enough folks. Yes, they need to settle Chris Miller in with some additional weapons, but they need to fix the D-line first. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: If Michael Dean Perry is there, I think the Bulls will go there. But if they crave pass rush, either Jon Carter or (if available) Scott Davis of Illinois. PICK #10: MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS NEEDS: WR, TE, S, DT, LB SITUATION: Mike Kelly electrified fans in Memphis with his late season play, but other than the ageless Mel Gray, who did he have to throw to? Memphis needs to get some playmakers on offense. They also need to fix a hole at safety and add some depth elsewhere on defense as well. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Having taken WR Anthony Miller with the T-draft pick, they may have solved a need at WR, or they may need to take another for insurance. However, if they are smart they will invest in a big TE to help Kelley out. If they think they can sign him, they should jump on Oklahoma’s Keith Jackson. PICK #11: NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS NEEDS: DE, LB, T, G, QB, HB SITUATION: New Orleans believes that the combo of Matt Robinson and CFL import Matt Dunigan solves their QB issue. We are not so sure, but this is not a dynamic QB group in this draft, so maybe they stand pat. Looking at their other needs, they have a lot of flexibility to go with best player available. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Maybe they go after big Wisconsin tackle Paul Gruber or Auburn’s Stacy Searles, or flip to defense and grab a top LB or DE if the value is good. PICK #12: WASHINGTON FEDERALS NEEDS: G, HB, LB, CB SITUATION: Washington has slowly built a pretty solid roster, so despite being in the middle of the pack, they don’t have a lot of glaring needs. If there is a stud HB they love, that might be good insurance for Craig James. If not, then perhaps filling some of the holes at guard would be best. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: If I had to guess, and with the tight-mouthed folks in DC, I have little to go on, I would say they go guard here. If they want a sure thing (signing wise) they could look at Michigan State’s David Houle. PICK #13: TAMPA BAY BANDITS NEEDS: HB, CB, T, QB, LB SITUATION: Tampa’s starters are solid but the lack of depth at a few positions is problematic. We are not sure about Oliver Luck behind Reaves, and with the loss of Greg Boone, someone is needed who can complement and sub for Gary Anderson. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Having taken a lot of defensive players in the T-Draft, they might look to fill their gap at HB or backup QB here. We are still somewhat surprised they passed on Florida’s Kerwin Bell, so maybe they have their eyes on someone else, like Syracuse’s Don McPherson. If it is a HB, we like Oklahoma’s Lydell Carr. PICK #14: MICHIGAN PANTHERS NEEDS: T, C, DE, DT, LB, S SITUATION: This is not a hands-players draft for Michigan. Their defense slipped quite a bit last year, and they lost a couple of key players in free agency, so expect a lot of attention on the defense, and some on the o-line too. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: IF they feel good about signing OT John Elliott from Michigan, then in the open draft, they could also stick with O-line at first or could try to sign a top safety like Oregon’s Anthony Newman. PICK #15: OAKLAND INVADERS NEEDS: HB, LB, QB, OL, DL SITUATION: The Invaders lost 3 leaders this offseason. Both Gary Plummer and Brian Sipe retired, while Arthur Whittington, the face of the franchise, is now a Miami Dolphin. They think they have replaced Whittington with former Showboat Richard Williams, and they have been grooming Gale Gilbert to take over for Sipe, so the biggest hole left is at LB. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: They had of the best LB’s in the nation in their backyard. Cal’s Ken Harvey is a prime option and was a no-brainer pick in the Territorial Draft. But is he signable? If they go outside their territory for a LB, look at Ohio State’s Chris Spielman, a plug and play MLB for a team that needs that position to be solid. PICK #16: NEW JERSEY GENERALS NEEDS: OL, LB, TE, WR SITUATION: 1987 was an unexpected year for the Generals. Despite still having a shaky WR corps, they managed to greatly improve their pass game, and after years of mediocrity, the Generals D rose up and was able to keep NJ in games even when Walker went down to injury. Now they need to add depth and maybe just a bit more punch on both sides of the ball. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: If Oakland passes on Spielman, New Jersey should not. They need his type of hard-nosed hitting in the defense to start to gain some respect and to help hold down the running game. PICK #17: BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS NEEDS: G, TE, DL, DB SITUATION: After starting 0-4, a different Stallions team emerged. The Stalliions have a core of quality at the skill positions, though a good TE to help out Cliff Stoudt would be wise. They need to add some depth at both the D-line and in the backfield. WHO THEY SHOULD PICK: If Keith Jackson is there, he would be perfect for the Stallions. If not, perhaps they look at some help in the defensive backfield. Philadelphia proved that the Stallions defense was not quite ready for prime time, so some help deep would be a good move. If they go DB, there are a lot of players to choose from. It would not surprise us if they went with Eric Allen (ASU) or Terry Williams (Bethune-Cookman). PICK #18: DENVER GOLD NEEDS: T, C, DT, LB, WR SITUATION: Denver was something of a stealthy good team last year. Not much media but a lot of wins before losing to Houston in the Conference Finals. They don’t have the biggest names on the roster, but they have quality and depth. They have some players to replace this offseason, including at LB and the O-Line. That will likely be their focus. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: Denver can play the “BPA” game and decide between several positions in each round. Their Territorial schools don’t often get them flashy players, but there are usually some solid finds at BYU and Colorado, especially on the lines. As for their first round pick, expect them to go for a character player, likely on Defense, because the depth is not quite a solid there as on the line. We don’t expect Denver to move up or down, so someone like a Scott Davis (DE), Ted Gregory (NT), or Danny Stubbs (LB-Miami) should be available. PICK #19: HOUSTON GAMBLERS NEEDS: HB, DT, G, TE, WR SITUATION: Houston’s defense became all the rage last year, but they could still use depth on the line. That will likely be a late round pick for them. The glaring need is at halfback. Todd Fowler is the only significant contributor left after Lynn Cain retired and Steve Howell signed with Philly. We expect that Houston will try to fill this need with multiple picks, starting in round one. WHO THEY SHOULD PICK: If you are looking at Round 1 halfbacks, then expect them to take a serious look at Northwestern State’s John Stephens and UNLV’s Icky Woods. Woods is a pounder, Stephens a one-cut guy, but neither are going to help the pass game much. If they want a multi-dimensional back they should give a look to OK State’s Thurman Thomas. PICK #20: PHILADELPHIA STARS NEEDS: TE, DB, WR, G SITUATION: League champions rarely have gaping holes in their roster, but the unexpected retirement of TE Steve Folsom sure leaves one in the Philly roster. They will likely want to bolster the CB slot as well, and it never hurts to load up on capable linemen. WHO THEY MIGHT PICK: If Oklahoma TE Keith Jackson is available and willing to join the USFL, Philly would be insane to pass him up. But let’s assume he is not. Then what? Who is the next best TE, and is he worth a 1st round pick. Ohio State’s Alex Higdon is the next up, but should be available at the bottom of the 2nd round. If Philly waits on TE, their next option might be to sign a top level CB like Ricky Dixon (OU), Terry McDaniel (Tennessee), Eric Allen (ASU), or Quintin Jones (Pitt). As always the USFL draft is complex. Some top players came off the board during the Territorial Draft, others will forego the USFL entirely and wait for the NFL Draft. Some teams will likely have to overpay to attract top talent. So much depends on the players’ perception of the USFL and their willingness to bypass the NFL draft, sign early, and commit to the new league. And all of this before some of them even complete their final year bowl game or sign an agent. It’s a lot, and it is one of the reasons why the USFL draft is even more of a shot in the dark than other pro drafts.

Sporting News, August 11, 1987 The USFL Free Agency Period this offseason has been unlike any other. In large part this is due to the issues which have embroiled the NFL and its ongoing feud with the NFL Players Association. In a normal year there would be a pretty even back and forth of player “poachings” from one year to another, but with the NFL unable to arrive at a compromise collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, the senior league has been unable to offer contracts to its own free agents, much less sign players away from the USFL. That is not to say that some, particularly agents for top USFL players, have not worked to arrange what they could. Two key USFL players, Oakland HB Arthur Whittington and LA Express HB Tony Boddie have both, to date, opted not to renew or renegotiate their USFL contracts and may hold out until such time as the NFL can sign them. Despite the turmoil with the NFL, the signings of NFL free agents by the USFL has also been slower than usual. It appears that many of the NFL’s top players are holding out hope that the NFLPA will be able to alter the free agency guidelines for the fall league and are reluctant to make the leap. That is not to say that no NFL players have joined the Spring League, but the level of inter-league transfer has been noticeably lower. At the time of this article, the following are the most noteworthy signings by the USFL: Baltimore: DT Joe Klecko (Jets) Birmingham: C Chuck Pitcock (Buccaneers) Chicago: QB Rusty Hilger (Raiders), T Ken Lanier (Broncos), DE Dwayne Board (49ers) Los Angeles: LB Bob Crable (Jets) Michigan: L Tony Franklin (Patriots) Orlando: K Fuad Reveiz (Dolphins), LB Tim Green (Falcons), DT Greg Meisner (Rams) Portland: TE Clint Didier (Redskins), CB Dwayne Galloway (Lions), LB Billie Ray Smith (Chargers) Texas: DT Dave Butz (Redskins), CB Najee Mustafaa (Vikings), WR Dokie Williams (Raiders) The pattern present in NFL signings, that the 1987 and 1988 expansion teams are trying to play catchup, also holds true of USFL to USFL free agency signings. This has been the busiest year yet for player movement within the league, due perhaps to the relaxing of certain free agency protocols negotiated by the USFL player association as part of the expansion process over the past 2 seasons. There are going to be a lot of new faces in new places, and while Chicago, Orlando, Texas and Portland are major players, with plenty of room within the league’s salary cap structure, most teams have made some moves. Here is the rundown of who will be coming to each USFL team through free agency this year: Arizona: CB Everson Walls (SAN) Baltimore: SS Dave Dumars (Resign) Birmingham: WR Danny Knight (NJ) Chicago: TE Cap Boso (LA), SS William Cesare (BIR), CB Woodrow Wilson (Resign) Jacksonville: QB Tony Eason (NOR), WR Johnny Jones (BIR) Los Angeles: DE Calvin Clark (ARZ), WR Emile Harry (DEN) Memphis: HB Greg Boone (TBY), LB Michael Douglass (DEN) Michigan: QB Ed Luther (JAX) New Jersey: DE Jeff Lockette (JAX), DT Kit Lathrop (OKL) New Orleans: WR Herman Fontenot (WSH) Oakland: HB Richard Williams (MEM), QB Jeff Kemp (MGN), QB Mike Norseth (TBY) Orlando: WR John Jefferson (PIT), C Jeff Wilkins (ARZ), FB Ted Torosian (OAK) Philadelphia: FS Ed Gardiner (Resign), HB Steve Howell (HOU) Pittsburgh: LB Greg Gerkin (ORL), WR Willie Collier (CHI), QB Jeff Hostetler (PHI) Portland: DT Mike Golic (BAL), HB Rodney Carter (ORL), TE Victor Marchand (HOU) Tampa Bay: CB Roy Gee (MGN) Texas: DE Ron Byrd (NOR), T Long Sessions (DEN) Washington: T Kevin McCray (JAX) That is a lot of movement in just one year. Looking over the list, the biggest stories to follow will be the QB situation in Oakland, after the retirement of Brian Sipe, will Gale Gilbert get the nod, or will Jeff Kemp get a shot after coming over from the NFL and sitting in Michigan last year? Speaking of Michigan, Jack Trudeau is definitely the starter, but Ed Luther may get a chance if Trudeau struggles. The other potential quarterback controversy is in Pittsburgh, where new coach Ted Marchibroda wasted not time in bringing in former Mountaineer Jeff Hostetler to compete with Alan Risher for the starting job. Pittsburgh also tried to find a replacement for the departed John Jefferson (now in Orlando), by signing another former Star in wideout Willie Collier. Jefferson’s move to Orlando is an odd one, since he complained about the lack of wins in Pittsburgh and now goes to an expansion team. Back in Oakland they are hedging their bets that Arthur Whittington may not resign, by inking former Showboat starter Richard Williams at halfback. Memphis, in turn, signed Greg Boone from division rival Tampa, as well as linebacker Michael Douglass from Denver. And lest we forget, there is a third pro football league, just to our north. The CFL has, for the first time, dipped into the USFL Free Agency Pool. The Ottawa Rough Riders have signed San Antonio QB Damon Allen, making this the third team in 3 years to bring in the Cal State-Fullerton product. And, the New Orleans Breakers, having released controversial starter Tony Eason (now to back up Miller in Jacksonville), and having moved veteran Joe Ferguson to the coaching staff as a QB Specialist, think they have found their new starter in the CFL as well. The Breakers have signed Edmonton Eskimo QB Matt Dunigan, a product of nearby Louisiana Tech, to a contract to begin in November, after completion of the CFL season. Dunigan, the starter for the Eskimos for the past 3 years, and an All-CFL star in 1985, threw for 21 touchdowns that year and surpassed that with 25 in 1986. He is leading the Eskimos through this season and will join the Breakers once the CFL season has ended, likely to engage in a competition with Matt Robinson, the only QB on the Breakers roster. All in all a very dynamic offseason so far, and we still have the Territorial and Open Draft in December to look forward to. A lot of teams still have a lot of holes to fill, so do not be surprised if there are some late signings prior to the draft as teams position themselves to be able to limit their needs and maximize their resources for the draft process.

Sporting News, August 10, 1987 It has been just over 2 weeks since the USFL Championship and the news has been coming fast and furious. From hirings to retirements, expansion to free agency, a lot has happened, and as the annual league summer meetings conclude, there is a lot to report. In this article we will discuss hirings, retirements, the site selection for the 1988 and 1989 USFL Championships, the introduction of the new Portland franchise, and the roster development for both Portland and Texas. In our 2nd part of this two part report from the USFL Owners Summer Meeting, we will review the wild free agency period this year. COACHES HIRED When the offseason officially kicked off after the USFL Championship Game, there were three Head Coach openings on the market. Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Portland would all be looking for coaches. It was well known at the time that the new Texas Outlaws would be retaining Oklahoma coach Woody Widenhofer, releasing Gil Steinke. The three vacancies did not take long to fill. NEW ORLEANS: The Breakers did just as predicted and announced the signing of former LSU Head Coach Bill Arnsparger as the new leader in New Orleans. Arnsparger made his name in the NFL as a defensive specialist with the Colts, Dolphins and Giants before a successful stint in Baton Rouge. The 2-time SEC Coach of the Year will try to instill a killer instinct in the Breakers D while also looking to develop a new quarterback after New Orleans failed to extend Tony Eason’s contract, allowing him to hit the free agent market. PITTSBURGH: The Maulers went a different direction from their past coaches. Looking for an offensive spark to bring fans to the stands, Pittsburgh has agreed to a 3-year contract with former Eagles, Lions, and Bears OC Ted Marchibroda. Marchibroda, who also served as the Head Coach of the Baltimore Colts for 4 seasons is well-regarded as an offensive architect. The Maulers are looking to build around HB Mike Rozier and are hoping that Marchibroda’s system will be a good fit for the often-erratic Alan Risher. PORTLAND: The soon-to-be-named Portland franchise (see below) was quick to announce their team’s first head coach, and they went with someone who is both well-known in the region and experienced in bringing a new team into an established league, former Seattle Seahawks coach, Jack Patera. Patera, who guided the 1976 expansion Seahawks from 2-12 to two consecutive 9-7 seasons in his first 4 years in the NFL remains a very popular figure in the Pacific Northwest. Patera’s trademarks with the Seahawks were a dynamic offense led by Jim Zorn and Steve Largent and a tendency towards trick plays to overcome differences in team depth or talent level with his opponents. If he can recreate those tendencies in Portland, he will almost certainly be warmly welcomed in the Rose City. RETIREMENTS ANNOUNCED In a year when the NFL will not be able to sign many, if any USFL players due to the impasse between the league and the player’s union and the league’s lack of a valid CBA, the USFL was looking mostly at retirement and internal free agency as the primary drivers of roster turnover. Well, if that is the case, the offseason started with a bang as several USFL players have announced that they will be calling it a career and seeking official retirement. The two teams most impacted by this will be Portland, which had anticipated having Rick Neuheisel as part of their initial roster, and the Oakland Invaders, who will be losing 1986 MVP Brian Sipe just weeks after a second playoff appearance. Portland had been warned that after several injury-prone seasons, including the loss of almost the entire 1987 season, that QB Rick Neuheisel might give up his on-field exploits and turn his attention to coaching. That is exactly what happened, leaving Portland at this early stage with only the untested Brett Pease and the one-time Invader Fred Besana (signed by San Antonio as a backup after Neuheisel’s injury) on the active roster. In Oakland, Sipe’s announcement, while not entirely unexpected, came on the heels of another Oakland stalwart hanging up the cleats, as LB Gary Plummer also announced that he would not be returning for the 1988 season. So now Oakland finds themselves without leaders on both sides of the ball. Michigan also lost two players to retirement over the past few weeks as the team’s only kicker, Novo Bojovic, and one of their first NFL signings, DT Tim Krumrie, both announced that they would be retiring. Philadelphia lost only one player to retirement, but TE Steve Folsom will be sorely missed by Chuck Fusina and the Philly offense. Folsom had played an integral part in both the run game and the play action passing of Fusina, as a reliable hot route specialist. The Stars will almost certainly try to find a replacement in free agency, as a rookie TE can take several years to fully integrate into an offense. Other key USFL players who announced retirement plans this year include Houston HB Lynn Cain, Orlando DT Tim Blanchette, Birmingham LB Kevin Teel, Washington LB Brad Swearingen, and Pittsburgh TE Emory Moorhead. PORTLAND BRINGS THE THUNDER The expansion franchise which will take the place of the Oklahoma Outlaws in the Western Conference now has a name and a logo. President and CEO of the club, Phil Knight, announced that the newest USFL Franchise will bring back a name known to those who also participated in the World Football League. And while the new USFL Portland Thunder will also sport white helmets and a blue and green color set, this is not your momma’s Thunder. The new Thunder will sport a bright lime green jersey, complemented by sky blue, navy blue, and sun yellow elements. The logo features a stylized lightning bolt splitting two clouds as it wraps around the team’s helmet. It is a significant departure from the Kelly green and Royal combo of the WFL club, but one which will certainly be distinctive and will set Portland apart from other green jersey clubs like Washington or Texas. OUTLAWS & THUNDER FILL ROSTERS Before the USFL Free Agency window could officially begin, there was one more order of business to attend to, the merger of Oklahoma and San Antonio into the Texas Outlaws, and stocking the expansion roster of the Portland Thunder. Determining just how the merger of two rosters into one team and the expansion to include a new team would be handled was a major issue this Spring and early summer, as the league mediated negotiations among the three parties (San Antonio, Oklahoma, and the ownership of the expansion Portland franchise). It was eventually decided that the Texas Outlaws would retain most of the Gunslinger roster and that most of the Portland roster would be made up of former Oklahoma Outlaws. However, it was not that simple as each team negotiated with the other to build key positions and retain talent that would appeal to the different fanbases. The final result was a 20-player swap, ten players from the Oklahoma roster to Texas and ten Gunslingers to the Portland franchise. The result was as follows: Players headed from San Antonio/Texas to Portland include: QB Fred Besana (Acquired midseason) HB Ken Lacy FB Mike Cade WR Aubrey Matthews WR Gerald McNeil G Dean Steinkuhler C Lonnie Hartman LB Putt Choate LB Mike Weddington DE James Painter Players headed from Oklahoma/Portland to Texas QB Doug Williams QB Blair Kiel HB Stump Mitchell WR Richard Johnson TE Mike Tice G Ellis Clinton DE Mark Mraz LB Brian Bosworth LB Garth Jax CB Emmanuel Carroll 1988 & 1989 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP SITES SELECTED Finally, one of the key items on the agenda of this week’s Owners Meeting in New York was selection of the next two Championship Game sites. No fewer than 10 USFL cities pressed their case, for either 1988 (Eastern Conference site) or 1989 (Western Conference site), but soon the owners came to a consensus that two as-of-yet unused locations would be chosen. In both cases the league seemed to be rewarding faithful fan bases and franchises that had demonstrated excellence both on the field and in the front office. No sooner had the Philadelphia Stars held their Championship Parade in the City of Brotherly Love than the league gave them more to celebrate, awarding the 1988 USFL Championship Game to Veterans Stadium. . The only concerns expressed were concerning the quality of the turf at Veterans Stadium. The Vet is well known as one of the worst artificial surfaces in pro football. Team owner, Miles Tanenbaum assured the other owners that he would be able to work with the NFL’s Eagles to improve or replace the turf in time for the July 1988 championship game. The league then also announced that the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, home to the other 2-time champion, the Michigan Panthers, would be the site for the 1989 Championship. Michigan and Philly represent 2 of the 3 teams who have appeared in the playoffs all five seasons of the league, along with Tampa, which has already hosted the 1984 Championship. While other cities such as Washington, Orlando, Birmingham, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Chicago will have to wait, it seems appropriate that the two teams responsible for the last 4 championships get to host the league’s title game.