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PACIFIC DIVISION The last division in our preview edition is the Pacific, unchanged from last year, when there was serious doubt whether any team could finish over .500. Denver managed to scrape up to a 9 win season, and overcame a weakened Michigan squad to reach the USFL championship played in their own stadium. The whole league seems to be banking on a better Pacific Division in 1984, particularly with some big name rookie signings like LA’s Steve Young and Arizona’s Rick Neuheiseil. Having a division with no expansion franchises might equal more wins for some Pacific teams, but the real key will be if the 4 western clubs have found improvements to fix the issues that held them back last season. DENVER GOLD (9-7, Division Champ in 1983) Denver was the only club to actually turn a profit in 1983, thanks largely to a rabid fan base and a solid, but inexpensive roster. This year may be more of the same, as Denver largely avoided the costly talent war with the NFL, signing only an unproven backup QB in Bob Gagliano when the NFL scooped up last year’s starter, Ken Johnson. Denver was a well-coached team last year, but coach Red Miller, tired of constant haggling with owner Ron Blanding, headed off into the sunset. His OC, former Bronco QB Craig Morton will now take the reins of the franchise. Returning Stars: RB Harry Sidney, WR Vic James, TE Bob Niziolek, LB Putt Choate, DE Larry White, SS Dave Dumars. Departures: QB Ken Johnson (NFL), DE Francis Murphy (NFL) New Additions: QB Bob Gagliano (NFL), WR Brian Brennan (BC), DE Greg Townsend (TCU), DT Mike Taliferro (TCU) Projections: Denver is sort of like the tortoise that just never gives up. No flash, no sizzle, just solid, slow progress. Will that be enough this year? Well, they still have the same 3 clubs to face in the division, so it may just be. But it is possible that there is a hare in this division that is ready to burst out front. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (5-11, 2nd in Division) As we mentioned in our article about Chicago, this is not last year’s Wranglers. The club more closely resembles last year’s Chicago Blitz, complete with head coach George Allen and his vet-heavy roster. There are some new names on the club, the biggest of which is former UCLA quarterback Rick Neuheisel. Chicago had talent last year, and were expected to do a lot, but fell flat. Will another year under Allen be enough to meet the early expectations, or is Allen and his old-school approach too much at odds with the fast and furious youthful style of the USFL? Returning Stars (from CHI): QB Greg Landry, RB Tim Spencer, WR Trumaine Johnson, LB Stan White, LB John Farnhorst. Departures (From ARZ: Most of the roster, including QB Alan RIsher and WR Jackie Flowers. New Additions: DE Mike St. Clair (NFL), QB Rick Neuheisel (UCLA), RB Mike Cade (ASU), WR Louis Lipps (So Miss), LB Vernon Maxwell (ASU), G Dean Steinkuhler (Nebr) Projections: We like Arizona as a possible darkhorse this year, if, and only if, George Allen makes use of some of the talent he picked up in this year’s draft. Cade is likely not going to unseat Tim Spencer at RB, but is a good change of pace, and we think rookie wideout Louis Lipps has the potential to be this year’s Anthony Carter and provide Arizona with big play ability. OAKLAND INVADERS (5-11, 3rd in Division) Oakland is a team that just could not string good performances back to back. They would dazzle one week and fizzle the next. We like QB Fred Besana, a classic drop-back deep ball guy, and RB Arthur Whittington had a break out year, but this team needs to be more consistent. The LB’s are solid, but too much is asked of them. The addition of Clyde Glover, a promising rookie, at DT may help, but is it enough? Returning Stars: QB Fred Besana, RB Arthur Whittington, WR Gordon Banks, LB Gary Plummer, LB Frank Manumaleuga. Departures: WR Bob Metzger (NFL) New Additions: WR Henry Ellard (Fresno St), G Guy McIntyre (UGa), DT Clyde Glover (Fresno St), LB Ron Rivera (Cal) Projections: There is talent here, but we are not sure John Ralston has what he needs to turn that talent into a consistent performer. We anticipate an ’84 season much like ’83 with weeks when they can run with anyone followed by complete no-shows. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (4-12, 4th in Division) Of all the teams in the USFL, none has made more of a transformation than the Express. They need to if they want any chance at building a fan base in Southern California. Moving to 45,000 seat Angel Stadium is a good start for a team that averaged under 20k per game in the LA Coliseum. Signing a projected #1 NFL Draft pick in QB Steve Young, is another. This is a team that has added star power, but also solid players across the roster. The Express have a chance to go from worst to first in a pretty balanced, and pretty weak, division. Returning Stars: RB Tony Boddie, WR Jo Jo Townsell, TE Ricky Ellis, DT Eddie Weaver, LB Danny Rich Departures: QB Tom Ramsey (NFL) New Additions: QB Steve Young (BYU), RB Kevin Mack (Clemson), G Gary Zimmerman (Oregon), LB Niko Noga (Hawaii), K Tony Zendejas (Nevada) Projections: We expect the 1984 edition of the Express to be more entertaining, more competitive, and more worthy of a bandwagon. Steve Young is an undeniable talent, and there is enough on this team to expect 8-8 or better as a realistic result.

CENTRAL DIVISION We turn now to the second “split” division coming out of the USFL expansion. The Western Conference’s Central Division has 1983 returnees Michigan and Chicago, and will be joined by newcomers Houston and Pittsburgh, forming their own “Black & Blue Norris Division” in the heartland. MICHIGAN PANTHERS (12-4, Wildcard in 1983) Michigan was looking like a serious championship contender in the Central Division last year, but a late season injury to their breakout star QB Bobby Hebert left them limping into the playoffs, where they were dispatched by the less-talented Denver Gold. This year, with their top two rivals now in a different division, the Panthers are primed to dominate what could be the weakest division in the league. Expect Hebert and the Panthers to rip through the division and possibly earn a trip to the Championship in 1984. Returning Stars: QB Bobby Hebert, RB John Williams, WR Anthony Carter, WR Derek Holloway, LB John Corker, LB Ray Bentley, and DE Ronnie Paggett. Departures: No players of note. New Additions: DB Keith Bostic (Mich), FS Evan Cooper (Mich), LB Rick Naylor (N Dame), C Tom Dixon (Mich) Projections: We see championship potential for the Panthers. Their offense is both consistent and explosive and they added some good new pieces to the league’s best defense. That is a winning combination in any league. CHICAGO BLITZ (5-11, 4th in Central—or in Pacific, really) When owners Ted Dietrich and Jim Joseph essentially swapped franchises this offseason, it meant that this year’s “New’ Blitz were not the 5-11 franchise from ’83, but were now basically the equally bad 5-11 Arizona Wranglers. Only a few players remain from the 1983 Blitz, but Chicago has also added some talent to a streaky Wranglers roster. The one downside is that instead of going from geriatric QB Greg Landry to the exciting gunslinger Alan Risher, Risher jetted off to the NFL, and Chicago once again found themselves searching for a QB. They are hoping that former Bear backup Vince Evans can find life with his new Windy City team. New Head Coach, former Chiefs leader, Marv Levy has a lot of “ifs” to deal with. Returning Stars (From AZ): RB Steve Howell, WR Jackie Flowers, TE Mark Keel, LB Sam Norris, DE Junior Ah You (CHI in ’83) Departures: Most of the CHI roster, including QB Greg Landry, RB Tim Spencer, WR Trumaine Johnson, and LBs Stan White and Jim Farnhorst. Coach George Allen New Additions: QB Vince Evans (NFL), QB Blair Kiel (N Dame), RB Mel Gray (Purdue), LB Ed Brady (Illinois) Projections: The roster has some talent, but it was talent that led to a 5-11 season last year in Arizona. We are not sure the addition of Vince Evans is enough to right the ship and help Chicago compete with Michigan. Honestly, there is likely a better chance they finish below one of the expansion clubs than that they overtake the Panthers for the Division title. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (Expansion Franchise) The Houston Gamblers are going to be fun to watch, that is for sure, but whether the new “Run & Shoot” offense being prepared by Head Coach Jack Pardee and his OC “Mouse” Davis will lead to high scoring aerial assaults or a potential injury trap for their star rookie, QB Jim Kelly is a big question out there. The franchise focused almost exclusively on offense with their draft and free agent acquisitions, the lone exception being the signing of outstanding U. of Texas LB Kiki DeAyala. This is a team that may fall flat on its face, or may revolutionize offensive football. Only time will tell. Potential Stars: QB Jim Kelly (Miami), WR Gerald McNeill (Baylor), WR Rick Sanders (Texas St.), LB Kiki DeAyala (Texas), S Donald Dykes (NFL) Projection: Of the four expansion clubs, Houston has the most buzz, largely due to their signing of Jim Kelly away from the NFL, but also because they are trying something new. We don’t know if a pass-happy 3-4 receiver offense will work at this level, but it has us interested. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (Expansion Franchise) Former Steelers and Philly Stars coach Joe Pendry has a tall order in front of him with the Maulers, but he has some talent on this squad, as well as some local names to draw in curious fans, especially if the Pirates slump this year. The biggest name on the roster is Heisman winner Mike Rozier out of Nebraska. Rozier likely had a better O-line in Lincoln than with the Maulers, so he will need help to continue running to daylight. At QB, the Maulers will likely start the season with former Cowboy Glen Carano at the helm, but we expect West Virginia’s elusive Jeff Hostetler to get a shot as well. The defense is largely no-name, but we like the early looks we have had of former Golden Domer Dave Duerson at Strong Safety. In what may be a long year in the Steel City, we think there may still be signs of hope for spring football at Three Rivers. Potential Stars: QB Jeff Hostetler (WV), RB Mike Rozier (Nebr), TE Mike Shaw (Va Tech), DB Dave Duerson (N Dame) Projection: This is a team where big name players may simply not be able to overcome the deficiencies on the rest of the roster. No wideouts of note, and lines on both sides which may have difficulty keeping pace with other USFL squads are not a great formula in a league that prides itself on big plays and explosive scoring. Pittsburgh may find itself falling short this year, but can they do enough to build interest for the future?

SOUTHERN DIVISION Our second of four preview stories focuses on the new Southern Division within the USFL’s Eastern Conference. With two strong returning franchises, including the 1983 USFL Champion Tampa Bay Bandits, and two expansion teams in Memphis and Jacksonville, this could be a bi-polar division. We expect Tampa to be a force again in 1984, and Birmingham is also a very solid team, but we like the aggressive postures taken by both the Houston Gamblers and Jacksonville Bulls in signing big name talent. In a division that may end up leading the league in attendance in hotbed SEC and ACC territory, the question is whether anyone has the tools to keep up with a Bandits squad that defined success in 1983. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (14-2, League Champions) Bandit Ball was all the rage last season, and the Bandits look loaded for bear again in 1984. Their additions are not as flashy as those of other teams, but they did not lack for much last year, with an explosive longball offense and a tenacious defense used to playing with a lead, the Bandits have all the pieces they need to compete again at the highest level. Returning Stars: QB John Reaves, RB Gary Anderson, WR Eric Truvillion, WR Willie Gillespie, LB Alonzo Johnson, DT Fred Nordgren Departures: No players of note. New Additions: LB James Harrell (NFL), RB Speedy Neal (Miami), DT Alphonso Carreker (FSU), SS John Bostic (Bethune C) Projection: We see Tampa as a strong candidate to repeat in ’84. They will face a challenge from an improved Birmingham team, but this squad has experienced leadership, solid coaching and a talented roster. We expect Bandit Ball to keep rolling this year. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (10-6, 3rd in Division) For much of the year Birmingham kept pace with the Bandits, and were solid on both sides of the ball, but their passing game could not match the strength of their rush game with now-departed Cornelius Quarles. The Stallions hope they have found a good replacement for the dynamic Quarles by signing disgruntled Buffalo Bills RB Joe Cribbs, but the most important addition may be that of former Steelers QB Cliff Stoudt. Stoudt never quite got his footing under him in Pittsburgh but hopes that a move to the Steel City of the South will help spark something. The Stallions are hoping that spark can lead the team into the playoffs this season. Returning Stars: HB Earl Gant, G Buddy Aydolette, WR Jim Smith, LB Rich D’Amico, DE Jackie Cline, CB Jeff Cox. Departures: HB Cornelius Quarles (NFL) New Additions: QB Cliff Stoudt (NFL), HB Joe Cribbs (NFL), HB Michael Haddix (Miss St), CB Dennis Woodberry (So Ark). Projection: Birmingham is not as flashy as Tampa Bay, but they have a solid core and coach Rollie Dotsch has their faith. We think this is a playoff team if not a championship contender in 1984, but a lot is depending on the meshing of new QB and RB talent in Stoudt and Cribbs. JACKSONVILLE BULLS (Expansion Franchise) Jacksonville was a surprise selection when the USFL announced their 4 new franchises for 1984, but since that announcement owner Fred Bullard has put together a solid franchise. Season ticket sales are among the best in the league, and some of the talent that Bullard and Head Coach Lindy Infante have brought to northern Florida might merit some excitement. Bullard was able to sign an NFL veteran at QB in Doug WIliams, taking advantage of poor negotiations with the NFL Buccaneers to snag his starter. But Williams is not the only talent on this team. Jacksonville has a chance to do some damage in their first year. Potential Stars: QB Doug Williams (NFL), RB Sidney Thornton (NFL), WR Gary Clark (JMU), DB Terry Kinard (Clemson), LB Vaughan Johnson (NC State), TE Trey Junkin (La Tech) Projections: Veteran leadership is the key. If Williams and Thornton can provide that, then the inventive offensive mind of Lindy Infante could find himself with a winning club. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (Expansion Franchise) Memphis is a great location for football, as the WFL’s Memphis Southmen proved, but unlike the WFL’s short-lived team, this Memphis squad did not raid NFL roster for Csonka-like talent. They were largely content with plying the waters of the collegiate draft, where they founds some gems in QB Walter Lewis, and the big fish, Tennessee DE Reggie White. Is it enough to begin their team as a winner in a tough division, we are not sure, but we expect free-wheeling Head Coach Pepper Rodgers to come up with some twists and surprises along the way. Potential Stars: QB Walter Lewis (Alabama), WR Mel Gray (NFL), WR Willie Gault (Tenn), DE Reggie White (Tenn), LB Eddie Simmons (Kansas), and K Efran Herrera (NFL) Projection: We think the Memphis D will be solid, if young, but scoring may be tough for the Showboats. 7-8 wins is possible if they can get any semblance of offense from this young squad.

Sporting News, February 26, 1984 We are just one week away from the start of the USFL’s second spring football league. In their first season the upstart spring football league surpassed all expectations, and over the courses of the offseason since the Tampa Bay Bandits won the first USFL Championship Trophy, the league has continued to astonish fans and shock the football establishment. The league will be bigger this year, with 4 expansion franchises joining the original 12, but also because the USFL has been aggressively recruiting and signing top talent, predominantly from the graduating college classes of 1983 and 1984, to take a chance on a new football league. The league that first broke news by signing the 1982 Heisman Winner, Hershel Walker, has now proven that it can attract top level talent to its high-flying, more exuberant, and less constrictive form of football. Much as the American Football League proved in the 1960’s the USFL has shown the world a dynamic and fun-loving version of pro-football and players seem eager to take part. The challenge for the league in its second year will be to harness this excitement and turn water cooler buzz into even greater attendance and television viewership, in hopes of renegotiating contracts and setting up more lucrative alliances and sponsorships after this season. As we look at the 16 teams that will be competing in the USFL’s sophomore season, we will focus on their successes and failures in 1983, the players lost and gained, and the prospects for a new season. We will complete this season preview in four parts, starting with the Atlantic Division and moving across the nation through the 4 divisions that make up the 1983 USFL. ATLANTIC DIVISION PHILADELPHIA STARS (12-4, Division Champions) The Stars were a revelation in 1983, led by a balanced offense and a hard-hitting defense, Philly came on at the end of the season to pull away from their divisional foes and win the Atlantic by a 2 game margin. The Stars have not lost much in the offseason, and have grown deeper in several key positions. The only question is whether other teams, with a more aggressive draft and free agent signings, have leapfrogged the ’83 division champs. Returning Stars: RB Kelvin Bryant, QB Chuck Fusina, WR Scott Fitzkee, MLB Sam Mills, K David Trout Departures: Backup QB Danny Hale, RB Brian Basil. New Additions: QB Jeff Hostetler (WVU), LB Scott Radecic (Penn St), RB Johnny Hector (Texas A&M) and DE William Fuller (UNC). Projection: We see Philly repeating as division champions, though 12 wins in a more competitive division may not be possible in 1984. BOSTON BREAKERS (10-6, 2nd in Division) Boston was a team that outplayed their pedigree in 1983. With a largely unknown roster, the Breakers were competitive through the season until a late spring slump moved them out of playoff contention in the season’s final weeks. In the offseason they added a couple of known commodities in former Bengal TE Dan Ross and promising rookie rusher Buford Jordan. They worked a trade with Chicago that also brought highly scouted Illinois QB Tony Eason to Boston (and not with the Patriots). Eason will likely back up veteran Johnnie Walton, but for how long? The other big move for Boston was a switch from tiny Nickerson Field on the campus of BU to slightly larger Harvard Stadium. The move ups the potential attendance from 22,000 up to 34,000, but even that may not be enough for the Breakers to turn a profit in their second year. Returning Stars: QB Johnnie Walton, WR Nolan Franz, LBs Marcus Marek & Ben Needham, and K Tim Mazzetti. Departures: No significant contributors. New Additions: QB Tony Eason (Illinois), TE Dan Ross (NFL) , RB Buford Jordan (McNeese St), CB Alex Clark (LSU) Projection: Boston added some talent on offense, but that was their strength last year anyway. The need to upgrade on defense did not appear to be met, and that may just be enough to cause Boston to slide a bit in 1984. We are picking them to be 3rd in the division this year. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (7-9, 3rd in Division) The Generals, now under new ownership, are hoping to turn a new page after a disappointing 1983 campaign. Hershel Walker was all that was promised and more, leading the league in rushing, but an aging Bobby Scott, and a porous defense, meant that New Jersey fell from the playoff chase too soon. With new ownership comes a new coach, former NY Jet HC Walt Michaels, and a new attitude. New Jersey was aggressive in pursuing NFL talent, landing leaders on both sides of the ball in former Browns QB Brian Sipe and All-NFL Safety Gary Barbaro. In the draft they went after wideouts, snagging two in the first two rounds, but their biggest draft coup may have been signing Boston College’s Steve DeOssie in the 5th round. Returning Stars: RB Hershel Wallker, RB Maurice Carthon, TE Sam Bowers, CB Terry Daniels, and LB Mike McKibben. Departures: Starting QB Bobby Scott (Retirement), WR Tom McConnaughey (NFL), K Dave Jacobs New Additions: QB Brian Sipe (NFL), S Gary Barbaro (NFL), WR Danny Knight (Miss St), WR Clarence Collins (IL State), LB Steve DeOssie (BC), and DE Blaise Winter (Syracuse) Projection: The addition of Sipe, Barbaro and some talented collegiate wideouts helps the Generals, but we still expect this to be the Hershel Show, and why not, he was the offensive player of the year last season on a losing team. If Walt Michaels can get more of a defensive performance from this squad, they could compete with Philly for the Division. WASHINGTON FEDERALS (3-13, 4th in Division) Last year the Federals were outgunned, undermanned, and outclassed week in and week out on their way to the worst record in the league. And yet, despite that, they had some talent on this team. The RB combo of Craig James and Curtis Bledsoe is talented and wideout Joey Walters showed some flashes. The defense was atrocious, despite the individual performance of SS Mike Guess, who finished the year with 116 tackles. But Guess has retired and Washington is counting on some new blood to revitalize the team under new coach Lee Corso. The Feds traded to get Birmingham backup QB Reggie Collier, a dual threat QB who may be a little raw but can add excitement to the team. In the collegiate draft we think they hit with the signing of J.D. Fuller, the thumping LB from South Carolina, but it just doesn’t look like enough was done to move beyond mediocrity this year. Returning Stars: RB Craig James, RB Curtis Bledsoe, WR Joey Walters, DT Bennie Smith Departures: QB Kim McQuilken (Retired), QB Joe Gilliam (Retired), SS Mike Guess (Retired) New Additions: QB Reggie Collier (BIR), QB Babe Laufenberg (IU), LB J.D. Fuller (So Car), K Nick Mike-Mayer (NFL), C Joel Hilgenberg (Iowa) Projection: Washington is again likely to find itself looking up at the rest of the Atlantic Division. They are better than a 3-win team, but we still cannot see them getting to .500 on the season.

Sporting News, January 15, 1984 The USFL continues to emphasize youth and big-name signings just 1 month after their 1984 Collegiate and Territorial Drafts. Just as they did following the 1983 NFL Draft, the USFL has opted to seek out big names and potential early round NFL talent to fill their rosters. Among those signed this past month include anticipated early round NFL picks such as QBs Walter Lewis of Alabama and Rick Neuheisel of UCLA, RBs Kevin Mack of Clemson and Mel Gray of Purdue, and WRs Gary Clark of James Madison and Danny Knight of Miss. State, but the three biggest are all players expected to be Top 10 Draft Picks in the NFL, including the anticipated #1 pick, QB Steve Young of BYU. The Los Angeles Express announced this week that they have signed Young to a multi-year contract worth over $40,000,000, a contract that will operate as an annuity, allowing the Express to pay out over 20 years. The Express, who struggled to attract fans in their first season, went big on name recognition, signing the mobile BYU quarterback to a deal that reconfigures the entire QB market in both the USFL and the NFL. Having signed three of the six NFL quarterbacks from the 1983 draft (Blackledge, Kelly and Eason), the USFL continues to put a high value on big name NCAA quarterbacks with the signing of Young. For the second year in a row the USFL has also targeted a Heisman winning running back, with the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers announcing the signing of Nebraska’s Mike Rozier. Rozier will join Herschel Walker as Heisman winners who passed up the chance to play in the NFL, though, unlike Walker who was a sophomore at the time, Rozier was fully eligible to be drafted by the NFL. And, on the defensive side, the Memphis Showboats have signed Tennessee’s game-disrupting DE, Reggie White. White, able to stay in the state of Tennessee, will join the USFL expansion franchise, where he will get to chase after longtime nemesis Alabama QB Walter Lewis in practice instead of in game action. While these three signings will certainly garner a lot of attention over the course of the upcoming USFL season, they are hardly alone. Below are just a few of the well-known collegiate stars who have opted to play in the spring with the upstart league: Arizona Wranglers: QB Rick Neuheisel, WR Louis Lipps Birmingham Stallions: WR Joey Jones, LB Milton Fields Boston Breakers: RB Buford Jordan, DE Leroy Howell Chicago Blitz: LB Mike Russell, RB Mel Gray Denver Gold: WR Brian Brennan, DT Mike Taliferro Houston Gamblers: RB/TE Todd Fowler, WR Gerald McNeil, WR Clarence Verdin Jacksonville Bulls: WR Gary Clark, WR Perry Kemp, LB Vaughan Johnson Los Angeles Express: QB Steve Young, G Gary Zimmerman, K Tony Zendejas Memphis Showboats: DE Reggie White, QB Walter Lewis, LB Eddie Simmons Michigan Panthers: LB Rick Naylor, DE Steve Hamilton New Jersey Generals: WR Clarence Collins, WR Danny Knight, TE Jeff Spek Oakland Invaders: DT Clyde Glover, LB Ron Rivera, LB Niko Noga Philadelphia Stars: DB Ron Porter, DE William Fuller Pittsburgh Maulers: RB Mike Rozier,QB Jeff Hostetler, TE Mike Shaw, T Dwayne Massey Tampa Bay Bandits: RB Speedy Neal, DT Alphonso Carreker Washington Federals: WR Duane Gunn, RB Kevin Mack (Traded to LA)

USA Today, June 22, 1984 The Roster Wars between the NFL and the upstart USFL have seen a lot of action over the past few weeks. Just as the NFL prepares to open camp for its 1983 fall season, the USFL has been signing veteran players in preparation for their second season in the spring of 1984. Likewise, the NFL has been signing away some of the USFL’s top players, those who had signed only 1 year contracts for the just completed 1983 season. The USFL will be seeking to replace some solid talent lost to the NFL this May and June, including several starting quarterbacks, such as Arizona’s Alan Risher, Los Angeles’s Tom Ramsey, and Denver’s Ken Johnson. Risher, who led the USFL in completion percentage is the newest quarterback to try to provide wins for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Ramsey will try to win a starting job in St. Louis and Johnson in Baltimore. The signing of Risher by the Bucs appears to be direct retaliation for the earlier signing of disgruntled Bucs starter Doug Williams by the USFL. Williams, who still has not selected which of the three USFL franchises which bid on his services (Jacksonville, Denver, and Arizona), left the NFL with a bitter taste in his mouth after negotiations with Tampa fell through. Williams was not the only NFL starting signal caller to defect to the USFL. Only days after New Jersey Generals 1983 starter Bobby Scott announced his retirement, the Generals announced the signing of long time Cleveland Brown Brian Sipe. Another AFC North QB, Pittsburgh’s Cliff Stoudt, signed with Birmingham of the USFL, as did former Buffalo Bill RB Joe Cribbs. The signing of Cribbs was yet another “swap” with the NFL, as the Stallions lost one of their brightest talents, RB Cornelius Quarles, who signed with the Houston Oilers. Other notable signees by the NFL include DE Francis Murphy (Denver Gold to the LA Rams), WR Tom McConnaughey (NJ Generals to the Miami Dolphins) and WR Bob Metzger (Oakland Invaders to the New Orleans Saints). Meanwhile the NFL to USFL veteran pipeline was made up mostly of backups and marginal players, but a few known names beyond Williams, Sipe and Stoudt made the jump. The biggest of these was the signing of KC All-Pro safety Gary Barbaro to the New Jersey Generals. Also of note were the following USFL signings: Arizona: DE Mike St. Clair Boston: TE Dan Ross Chicago: QB Vince Evans Denver: G George Yarno Houston: CB Donald Dykes Jacksonville: RB Sydney Thornton, QB Matt Robinson Memphis: K Efran Herrera, WR Mel Gray Michigan: DL Larry Bethea New Jersey: LB Jim LeClair Pittsburgh: QB Glen Carano Tampa Bay: LB James Harrell Washington: K Nick Mike-Meyer With the signing of these veterans, along with a good number of 1983 NFL draftees, and with the USFL scheduled to hold their own draft of collegiate talent in December, the battle for star players seems to be in full effect between the two leagues. The NFL has the clout and the money to outspend the USFL, however, as the signings of Sipe, Williams and Cribbs shows, the USFL also can do some damage. With each USFL team allowed 3 players exempt from their salary cap structure, the potential is limited, but with an emphasis on signing young stars such as RB Hershel Walker, and quarterbacks like Jim Kelly and Todd Blackledge, the reality of a player drain is becoming an uncomfortable one for the NFL. And, we can expect, as USFL contracts, most of which were for only 2 or 3 years, continue to expire, the NFL will come calling to bring the best and brightest back into the fold.

USA Today, Aug. 3, 1983 The USFL Championship was held only 3 weeks ago and yet, several significant offseason stories have occurred within the USFL in that short time. We summarize the top stories of the past month here as the USFL prepares for a second season in March of 1984 New Jersey Generals Sold Considered one of the flagship franchises of the league, and with its biggest star, RB Hershel Walker, the New Jersey Generals disappointed many this year, finishing a mediocre 7-9 and out of playoff contention. One of those disappointed was owner J. Walter Duncan. While most USFL owners anticipated significant losses for the league's first few seasons, it appears Duncan either underestimated the potential losses in a large market like NY-NJ, or simply decided that the league was not going where he hoped it would. This week Duncan sold the franchise to a new ownership group led by young NY real estate developer Donald J. Trump. Trump announced that the Generals would be overhauled and made into a winner immediately. He fired coach and minority owner (under Duncan) Chuck Fairbanks and almost immediately hired the recently let-go NY Jets coach Walt Michaels to lead the Generals. With solid ticket sales in 1983 and a superstar in Walker, it seems New Jersey is poised for big things under this new leadership. USFL Owners Decide to Swap Franchises In one of the more bizarre stories of the short-lived USFL, Ted Dietrich, owner of the Chicago Blitz and Jim Joseph, owner of the Arizona Wranglers, have agreed to swap franchises. While the team names, stadium contracts and equipment will remain with each city, most of the players, coaching staffs, and personnel of the two teams will relocate from Chicago to Arizona or vice versa. While a few players will remain with each city, most, including Ohio State RB Tim Spencer or WR Jackie Flowers will be playing in a new city next year. Coach George Allen of the Blitz is expected to stay on as the new Arizona Wranglers coach, while former Wranglers Coach George Shively has been let go, and the new Blitz will be seeking to replace Shively with an experienced head coach in the next few weeks. Head Coach carousel for USFL In addition to the position cited above in Chicago, several teams also looked into new coaches. The Washington Federals have signed former Louisville and Indiana head man Lee Corso to take over a team that went 3-13 in its first season. The expansion franchises in Jacksonville, Houston, and Pittsburgh have also signed their first coaches, following the Memphis franchise’s signing of Pepper Rodgers. Former Bears and Redskins coach Jack Pardee will run the show in Houston, Pittsburgh has signed Philly Stars’ OC Joe Pendry to move across the state and lead the Maulers, and Jacksonville has tabbed Cincinnati Bengals OC Lindy Infante to take the lead job for their team. The most surprising change was in Denver, where Red Miller, former Broncos’ head man, led the Gold to the 1983 USFL Championship, but was regularly butting heads with the team owner, Ron Blanding, over the purse strings which limited the Gold’s ability to put together a roster. Citing stylistic differences, Red Miller stepped down, and assistant, and former Broncos QB, Craig Morton was promoted to the Head Coach position. This leaves Chicago as the only USFL franchise without a leader, however talks are underway with three well-known coaches, and it is expected that one of these three will be signed. The contenders for the Blitz job are former Seahawks coach Jack Patera, former Chiefs HC Marv Levy, and recently fired Chicago Bears coach Neill Armstrong. NFL Draftees select their USFL squads In what appeared to be almost a reverse draft, 20 players who earlier this year signed USFL contracts rather than sign with the NFL teams which drafted them have now selected the teams they will play for in the USFL. Each USFL franchise was eligible to bid on 3 players, with expansion franchises given a 4th bid, and then players were able to meet with owners and coaches to determine which franchise they preferred. With some big names on the board, it was a scramble for teams to try to convince top talent to join them, while players got the rare opportunity to have a voice in their professional career starting point. For the USFL this is a chance to bolster rosters which many owners expect will get raided by the NFL over the next few weeks. With several USFL star players signed only to 1 year contracts for 1983, there is potential loss of some of the league's bigger names, and the addition of these fresh faces from college may just offset some of the anticipated losses. Of the players who opted out of NFL deals for the fledgling USFL, it was the three NFL 1st Round quarterbacks who were the biggest names, and the big newsmakers on the day. Former Nittany Lion and NFL #7 pick Todd Blackledge surprised many by choosing to sign with coach Jim Mora and the Philadelphia Stars over bids from expansion Pittsburgh and Jacksonville. With another Penn Stater, veteran Chuck Fusina, firmly at the helm of the Philadelphia offense, it seems unlikely that Mora will offer Blackledge a chance to start in 1984, but perhaps the young signal caller is looking ahead to 1985 for his big shot. U. of Miami’s Jim Kelly did not wish to wait, and also had no desire to play in Buffalo, where the NFL Bills picked him with the 14th pick in the NFL Draft. Citing the chance to play in a wide open offense and with coach Jack Pardee, Kelly opted to sign with the expansion Houston Gamblers. Kelly bring immediate star power to the Gamblers, who have only a few other players named to the team. The third NFL first round QB, Illinois’ Tony Eason, could have opted to stay in the region with the Chicago Blitz, but with no head coach yet in place, that was a tough sell. Eason, in a move that will certainly irk the NFL Patriots, who drafted him 15th in April’s draft, will sign on for the other New England franchise, the Boston Breakers. Eason is expected to challenge veteran Johnnie Walton for playing time almost immediately. Among other notable players who have chosen their USFL destinations we find the following: RB Michael Haddix, Mississippi State (1st round #8 PHI) to the Birmingham Stallions WR Terry Kinard, Clemson (1st round #10 NYG) to the expansion Jacksonville Bulls WR Willie Gault, Tennessee (1st round #18 CHI) to the expansion Memphis Showboats LB Vernon Maxwell, Arizona St. (2nd round #29 BAL) to the “New” Arizona Wranglers WR Henry Ellard, Fresno St. (2nd round #32 LARm) to the Oakland Invaders DB Keith Bostic, Michigan (2nd round #42 HOU) to the Michigan Panthers RB Johnny Hector, Texas A&M (2nd round #51 NYJ) to expansion Jacksonville RB Richard Williams, Memphis (2nd round #46 WSH) to expansion Memphis DB Dave Duerson, Notre Dame (3rd round #64 CHI) to expansion Pittsburgh TE Trey Junkin, La Tech (4th round #93 BUF) to expansion Memphis DE Greg Townsend, TCU (4h round #110 LARd) to the Denver Gold LB Kiki DeAyala, Texas (6th round, #152 CIN) to the expansion Houston Gamblers QB Babe Laufenberg (6th round, #168 WSH) to the Washington Federals

In a game that was all the USFL could have hoped for and more, the Tampa Bay Bandits outdueled the Denver Gold in front of a crowd of over 61,000 in Mile High Stadium to take the league’s first championship title. In what was an unexpectedly close game, the heavily favored Bandits had to fight back from a 12 point deficit in the 4th quarter to win a title most believed they were destined to take. The Denver Gold, the 9-7 Champion of the beleaguered and disrespected Pacific Division entered the game as 12 point underdogs to the 14-2 Bandits, but Denver, as the host city for the title tilt, had enormous fan support to buoy them through the game. Denver started strong from the opening whistle, scoring three times in the first half as Tampa seemed uncharacteristically gunshy. A Ken Johnson toss to league receptions leader Vic James and a 1 yard Harry Sydney plunge gave Denver a 17-7 halftime lead. Tampa only managed one decent drive in the first half, a 60 yard, 10 play drive that led to a Gary Anderson 16 yard run for the Bandits’ lone score of the half. Tampa would get the ball first in the second half, an in only 4 plays they pulled within 3. League MVP John Reaves escaped a Francis Murphy sack attempt and found Eric Truvillion for a 35 yard scoring toss just 1:20 into the second half. Denver, unphased, used their next drive to expand the lead back up to 6 with a short Speelman field goal. It was then that Tampa struck with its usual gunslinger mentality. With the ball on their own 18 yard line, John Reaves handed the ball off to Gary Anderson on 1st and 10, only to have Anderson reach the line, and toss the ball back to Reaves on a flea flicker. Reaves found wideout Willie Gillespie streaking down the sideline and hit him perfectly in stride for what would be an 82 yard TD strike to take their first lead of the day at 21-20. Denver again showed their moxy, taking the ensuing kickoff to the 30 and then driving to the outer limits of kicker Brian Speelman’s range. Speelman hit what had to be an altitude-aided 53 yard field goal to once again put Denver on top, 23-21 after 3 quarters. And this is where things started to get fast and furious. After a touchback on the kickoff, Reaves had his first pass bounce out of the hands of TE Kenneth Arroyo and right into the awaiting arms of Denver free safety Delmar Rush. Rush brought the ball back to the Tampa 11 before getting shoved out of bounds. 3 plays later, and after an untimely defensive holding call, Denver was on the one yard line, and big bruiser Harry Sydney plunged over to expand the Gold’s lead to 30-21. After a short Tampa drive, Denver would get the ball back and Speelman would add yet another field goal, this time a 45 yarder, much to the delight of the frenzied Denver crowd. But it was not to last. Tampa’s offense had been a big game, big play offense all year, and in the second half of the 4th quarter, that explosiveness did in Denver’s hopes of a league title. It was RB Gary Anderson who seemed to find another level in the games final minutes, scoring twice on passes from Reaves. Anderson caught his first, a 20 yarder, with 7:01 left in the game, to pull the score back to 33-28. After Denver missed on a 3rd and 7 throw, Tampa got the ball back, and in less than a minute Gary Anderson caught his second scoring throw, this time from 18 yards out. The missed 2-pt conversion left the game at Tampa 34-Denver 33. Denver would get the ball back with 3:30 left in the game, and when they failed to convert on a 3rd and 6 pass attempt from their own 31, they had no choice but to go for it on 4th down. Tampa was ready and when LB Paul Plurowski batted down a pass intended for Denver wideout Vic James, Tampa took over deep in Denver territory. They would kick a field goal with only seconds left to reach the final 37-33 score. It was a game that kept the 60,000 plus fans on the edge of their seats, and those who watched the game on ABC (which received NFL playoff level ratings for the game) also saw a championship game that was much closer, more exciting, and more entertaining than most of the recent NFL Super Bowls. Gary Anderson won the MVP trophy for his combination of rushing and receiving. In addition to 93 yards and a score on the ground, Anderson caught 4 tosses for over 110 yards, and the two late scores. John Reaves proved he was a major star in the making for the young league, and the Denver fans got strong performances from QB Ken Johnson and wideout James. It was a game that promised much, and delivered. Tampa may be the champion, but the USFL as a whole came out as a big winner this Sunday in Denver.

USA Today, July 6, 1983 Today the USFL announced four expansion franchises for the 1984 season. With their first Championship Game scheduled for this upcoming Sunday in Denver, the USFL is not resting on its laurels. The first year spring football league has exceeded expectations and even before their regular season was at its half-way point, was inviting bids for potential expansion franchises for the following year. The initial wave of applications was rumored to have represented over 20 bids, and last month the USFL announced 10 finalist bids. From a podium at New York's Downtown Athletic Club, the USFL announced that from their 10 finalists the USFL has opted to accept four new franchises into the league for the 1984 season. The four franchises to join the league when play starts in March of 1984 are: Houston Gamblers: The Gamblers will play in the Astrodome and are owned by a finance group featuring Alvin Lubetkin, Bernard Lerner and Dr. Jerry Argovitz. One of the minority owners, famous singer Kenny Rogers, is the inspiration for the “Gamblers” moniker. From the start of the expansion process, it was clear that the USFL was looking to add a Texas franchise and Houston was able to beat out San Antonio as the home to the state’s first USFL franchise. The Gamblers will wear predominantly black uniforms with red and silver secondary colors. Their logo includes the state of Texas inside a stylized red “G”. Jacksonville Bulls: The Bulls were something of a surprise pick as Miami was also a finalist and Tampa Bay already represents Florida in the league, however, a strong ownership group, led by real estate developer Fred Bullard, and a solid stadium contract with the Gator Bowl helped Jacksonville land a USFL franchise. The Bulls hope to draw the same type of excitement and local attention as their cross-state rivals, the Bandits, who will play in the first USFL championship this Sunday. Jacksonville will wear burgundy, orange and grey uniforms and have a charging bull as their logo. Memphis Showboats: Memphis was one of the highlight locations in the failed World Football League, but fans in the region demonstrated that pro football would sell in the mid-South, so the city becomes the third of four USFL expansion locations. The Showboats, named for the riverboats which ply the waters of the Mississippi river, along with the flashy, “more fun” football the USFL thrives on, will play their home games at the Liberty Bowl. They are owned by Forbes 500 owner William Dunavant and famous Alabama booster and food manufacturer Logan Young. The Showboats have already announced their head coach, former UCLA and Ga Tech head man, the always dynamic Pepper Rodgers. The Showboats will wear red and silver as their colors, hoping to avoid clashes with local NCAA schools such as Alabama (Crimson), Tennessee (Orange), and Memphis State (Blue). Their logo is the familiar paddlewheel shield seen on steamboats. Pittsburgh Maulers: Pittsburgh was considered a darkhorse candidate when the 10 finalist bids were announced, but the NFL experience of owner Edward DeBartolo Sr, former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, certainly helped bring the bid home. DeBartolo is known to Pittsburghers, having bought the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1977 and also owns the MISL soccer club in Pittsburgh, the Spirit. The Maulers, toting a hammer-wielding steelworker as a logo, will play in Three Rivers Stadium, and will be the first major sports franchise not to wear black and gold as their uniform colors. The Maulers have chosen a somewhat unique combination of purple, orange and steel grey for their design. Each of these teams will be stocked with players through various routes. It is assumed that they will be able to bid on the NFL 1983 Draft picks which have been signed to USFL contracts, including QB’s Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly and Tony Eason. There will also be an expansion draft in which these new franchises will be able to select from a pool of unprotected players from the USFL’s initial 12 teams. In December there will also be a Collegiate Draft in two parts, with each USFL having 6 protected Territorial Schools from which to choose up to 10 players, and then an open draft of remaining college talent. Of course, there is also the option of trading for players, as the early draft positions of these expansion teams are likely to be attractive trade bait for many teams. We anticipate further expansion news as coaching staffs are filled out, rosters begin to form, and tickets go for sale in each market. As for the structure of the USFL, the league announced that it will be splitting the current Central Division (the strongest in 1983) into two divisions, a more-northern focused Central Division with Chicago, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Houston, and a Southern Division in which Jacksonville and Memphis will join 1983 squads Tampa Bay and Birmingham.

Denver edges Michigan and Tampa comes back against Philadelphia as the USFL Championship is set. Denver Thrills Home Crowd with 20-17 Victory in USFL Playoffs Fans of the USFL in Denver have been supporting the new league all season, and this week, in the league’s first playoff week, the Denver Gold paid them back with an exciting 3 point win. Over 51,000 eager football fans packed Mile High Stadium to watch the 9-7 Pacific Division Denver Gold take on the 12-4 Wild Card Michigan Panthers. With the news that Michigan Panther QB Bobby Hebert would be playing, despite a recent jaw fracture that kept him out of the final week of the regular season, Las Vegas made the Panthers an 8 point favorite over the homestanding Gold. Apparently no one told Denver. The Gold opened the game with a long, methodical drive that killed off 8 minutes of the opening period and ended when Harry Sydney plowed through the Panther LB’s and into the endzone to give Denver a 7-0 lead. The drive showed the balance and patience which Denver would display for the entire game, as the Gold mixed 7 runs with 6 passes to work their way down the field. Michigan would answer with a drive of their own, this one taking little over 3 mintues. Bobby Hebert missed on a couple of passes, but found Anthony Carter on a beautiful crossing pattern that gained 32 and brought the Panthers to the gate, on the 3 yard line. It took two plays to score after that, with John Williams running the ball in from the 1 to equalize the score. The turning point of the game came soon after. Denver went 3 and out on their next possession, failing to convert a 3rd and 7 from their own 26. Michigan took over on their 40, but when Denver’s Francis Murphy, clipped Bobby Hebert just as he threw, the ball fluttered in the air and was picked off by David Martin, who ran it all the way in for a score, giving Denver a 14-7 lead and significant momentum. The second quarter was a back and forth of short, unsuccessful drives by both teams. The only score in the quarter was a 43 yard field goal by Denver’s Brian Speelman to build the lead to 17-7 at the half. Michigan would come back strong in the 3rd quarter as Hebert consistently found Carter and Derek Holloway on medium and short routes. It was clear that Denver’s strategy was to avoid the big play that had defined much of Michigan’s offense for the year. Michigan followed a 46 yard Kevin Shea field goal with a second long drive, moving the ball 73 yards down the field before Derek Holloway slipped past his coverage on a 3nd and goal from the 3 yard line and Hebert found him along the backline of the endzone for the tying score. After allowing the Panthers to claw their way back into the game in the 3rd quarter, the Gold defense stiffened in the 4th. The first Panther drive was stopped short when Murphy sacked Bobby Hebert on a 3rd and 6 at their own 47. On another drive, a deep ball for Carter was just inches too long and Michigan again failed on 3rd down. But, the biggest play, the one which led to the winning score, was a costly fumble by the Panthers. Having moved the ball from their own 22 to the Denver 44, a basic dive right play on 1st and 10 for the Panthers went horribly wrong when Bobby Hebert and Ken Lacy could not complete the handoff, leading to the ball hitting the turf, only to be recovered by everpresent defensive ace Putt Choate for Denver. The Gold took advantage of the timely takeaway, and while their offensive engine was not fully revving the entire second half, they rode the legs of Harry Sydney and Larry Canada close enough for Speelman to hit on a 49 yard field goal to take the 20-17 lead. Michigan would have two more shots at equalizing the score, but Denver’s defense shut down both drives before the Panthers could reach comfortable field goal range. On the game’s final play Michigan kicker Novo Bojovic attempted a 57 yarder. The ball fell well short and the fans in Denver celebrated a hard-fought win, knowing that they would again have a chance to root for the Gold a week later in the Denver-hosted USFL Championship game. Tampa Bay Bandits Outpace Philadelphia to Reach the USFL Championship In a game that saw a little of everything, the Tampa Bay Bandits, led by Head Coach Steve Spurrier and USFL MVP QB John Reaves outpaced the Philadelphia Stars to advance to the USFL Championship. Both teams demonstrated the talent that won them their divisions, but in the end the 14-2 Bandits and their high-flying Bandit Ball Offense were just too much for the more cautious Stars. All season long, QB John Reaves has sacrificed pass efficiency for long ball excitement, and that formula paid off again for the Bandits. Reaves hit Eric Truvillion for 3 scores, including a 54 yarder in the 4th quarter to take the lead in the game. A late Gary Anderson TD run salted away the victory and sent Tampa off to Denver to face the Gold in the first USFL Championship. Philly was certainly game, as the combination of RB Kevlin Bryant’s 18 carries for 71 yards and QB Chuck Fusina’s 65% completion rate helped Philly build a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter. The Stars doubled up, scoring on the last drive of the first half, a Kevlin Bryant plunge from the 2, and then on the first drive of the 2nd half, with Fusina hitting Willie Collier for the score. But, after that, it was all Tampa as the Bandits scored 17 unanswered points and held Philly without a trip into the Tampa Red Zone for the rest of the game. Reaves finished the day with 318 yards in the air, with 148 going to Truvillion. RB Gary Anderson also had a strong day with 81 yards rushing and another 22 on 2 catches, including a key 3rd and 13 grab on the drive that would lead to the third Truvillion touchdown and the lead. The Bandits have looked like the best team in the league all season, and this game was no different. They head off to the USFL Championship game next week, where they are likely to face not only the Pacific Champion Denver Gold, but also as many as 60,000 crazed Denver fans in Mile High Stadium.

Sporting News, June 30, 1983 With the first season of the USFL's unique spring schedule coming to a close, and the playoffs about to begin, it seems a good time to look back at an unlikely success story and assess where the league stands. By all accounts the overall story of the fledgling USFL’s first season is one of success. The league had excellent TV ratings on ABC and ESPN, average attendance (despite some problematic markets) was well over the 20,000 they had hoped for, and the quality of play on the field was outstanding, despite the fact that the biggest names in the league were college standouts rather than NFL veterans. As the league wrapped up its regular season this past week, and now prepares for the playoffs, there are some lessons to be learned, and some kudos to go around. The first lesson seems to be that 4 playoff teams for a 12 team league may not be enough. While Denver was able to eke into the playoffs at 9-7, both Boston and Birmingham, which had better records than the Denver Gold, were locked out due to the lack of wildcard slots for the playoffs. As the league looks to expand in 1984, we hope they will also look at expanding their playoff field as well. Having 6 of the 12 teams in the league qualify would have been appropriate this year, though we must admit that the drama of teams clinching and falling away over the league's final few weeks did add an air of excitement in several markets. Attendance is another area where the league has mixed results and is already taking steps to improve their standing. While the league average was above expectations, bolstered by very strong attendance in New Jersey, Denver, Birmingham and Tampa, the league struggled to draw fans to some of their weaker teams, particularly in LA and Chicago, two large markets. Both LA and Chicago, along with Arizona and Washington, had weak teams with few stars, so it is not entirely unexpected, and the league’s unique revenue sharing plan means that none of these cities is in dire financial crisis, but expanding the local fan base will have to be a mission for the USFL moving forward. The USFL has already started moving to address attendance concerns, announcing recently that Boston would be relocating (within the city) to the larger Harvard Stadium from tiny Nickerson Field, while LA would be leaving the often-empty LA Coliseum for cozier confines at Angel Stadium in Anaheim for their second season. As the league looks to the future, marketing, and building some star power, on these and other franchises will be key. The league has already signed several players from the NFL's 1983 draft class, so some strategic placement of big name players in markets that have struggled with attendance may be appropriate. Finally, there is the question of financial stability overall. Clearly the expansion coming next year will bring funds in the form of expansion fees, and the league can start to renegotiate their sponsorship and television contracts after a successful first year, but the biggest item on the agenda will be shoring up those franchises which saw significant losses, as well as ensuring that the league’s innovative salary cap structure remains active despite the desire of some owners to compete with the NFL for top talent. The league implemented a hard salary cap for 1984, one which applies to 50 of the 53 players on USFL rosters, allowing each team to have a Hershel Walker, Jim Kelly or Kelvin Bryant without risking a solid 53 man roster. While all of this lies ahead for the league, what is immediately on their plate are the playoffs. The 14-2 Tampa Bay Bandits will host the 12-4 Philadelphia Stars in one semifinal, while the 9-7 Denver Gold play host to the 12-4 Michigan Panthers. Denver, if they can win, would then get the chance to play the championship game in their home stadium, with Mile High having been announced as the site of the USFL’s title game several weeks ago. Denver, with a modest team budget and modest success on the field, has been the star of the league with attendance solidly over 40,000 per game, and their hosting a playoff game is sure to help bolster the league as well. Were they to beat the Panthers and play at home for the USFL championship, we might anticipate a near sell-out at Mile High, which would certainly look good on TV for those tuning in for the championship as their first exposure to the spring league. That said, Tampa-Philly is the headline game of the two, with both teams filled with top notch talent. Philadelphia has outstanding rookie rusher Kelvin Bryant and the steady combo of Chuck Fusina and Scott Fitzkee in the passing game. Their defense is led by one of the league’s big revelations, MLB Sam Mills. Tampa, on the other hand, is all about “Bandit Ball”, a wide open offensive style designed to keep defenses off their game. Led by likely league MVP QB John Reaves, the Bandits boast a lot of offensive talent, from RB Gary Anderson to the wideout combo of Eric Truvillion and Willie Gillespie. So it will be a rabbit vs. tortoise matchup on Sunday in Tampa. Can Tampa put the game away early or will Philadelphia grind them down over the course of 60 minutes. At Mile High stadium we have an interesting situation in that neither team is seen as very explosive, despite the amazing pass catching duo of Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway for the Panthers. With Panthers star QB Bobby Hebert hobbled and quite possibly unable to play, the Panthers will rely on defense. For Denver, slow and steady has been their motto all year, so this game may very well be a slow, methodical battle of attrition, dominated by defense and a field-position game. It’s playoff time for the USFL, and with a bright future ahead, the league, and one of these four teams, hopes to be looking good as summer heats up.

Playoff teams tune up for next week and also-rans end up the season looking to the future as the initial regular season of the USFL comes to an end. Next up, the playoffs. PHI 28 WSH 12—Philadelphia left no doubt that they were the Atlantic Division champs as they dismantled the undermanned Federals to close out the season. A Kelvin Bryant TD run and a Steve Folsom scoring catch in the first quarter were more than enough to have beaten the Feds. Bryant would finish the day with 88 yards rushing and anther 27 through the air. For Fusina it was a highly efficient day, as he was 23 of 26 for 272 yards and 2 scores. The Stars used the week to fine tune on both sides of the ball as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Bandits in the playoffs next week. NJ 18 BOS 15—In a game that had no meaning for either team, the Generals edged past a clearly dispirited Breakers squad, coming off a brutal loss to Philly and elimination from the playoffs last week. Boston’s usually potent offense just had no energy as Johnnie Walton only completed 45% of his passes and Richard Crump carried the ball 12 times for only 16 yards. The Boston D continued to fight, limiting Hershel Walker to only 88 yards rushing and knocking Generals QB Bobby Scott out of the game in the 3rd quarter. But, New Jersey had enoughand with Boston only scoring off the foot of Tim Mazzetti, the Generals took the win and finish the year at 7-9, while Boston limps home at 10-6. TBY 35 BIR 32—It was in doubt all week whether Steve Spurrier would use this final division game to prep for the playoffs or to rest his starters. Spurrier opted to view this week as a tune up game, and his Bandits played a spirited game against a Birmingham Stallion team with nothing to lose. What emerged was an offensive show, with both John Reaves and Bobby Lane throwing for 4 scores each. Tampa had 3 receivers go over 100 yards each, as the patented Bandit Ball longball strategy proved very effective. Tampa finishes the year at an impressive 14-2, while Birmingham concludes at a respectable 10-6. MGN 17 CHI 6—Defense was the name of the game as Michigan played without their all-league QB Bobby Hebert. Without Hebert, the Panther offense limped through most of the game, depending heavily on the rushing of Williams and Lacy, and using play action to offset the run. But, by holding Chicago to only two field goals, in a game where Greg Landry was relieved early by backup Tim Koegel, the Panthers notched a 12th win for the year. Chicago finished well below expectations at 5-11. OAK 25 LA 27—In a game between two teams going nowhere this year, LA edged Oakland to finish the year at 4-12. Oakland, with the loss, fell to 5-11 for the year. The standout player for the game was Invader QB Fred Besana, who has played well all year, but not well enough to deliver more victories. Besana thew for 275 yards and 3 scores in a losing effort, something we are getting accustomed to saying. As the season ends for these two clubs, questions abound for both. Prime for Oakland is how they will put more weapons around Besana, while for LA, the big question is one of local support, as they once again failed to draw 10,000 fans to their game. ARZ 6 DEN 27—Denver wins a game they did not need, while Arizona continues the streakiest season this reporter can remember. The Wranglers began the year 0-6, then won 5 straight, only to end the year with an 0-5 streak. They have some talent, particularly in gunslinging QB Alan Risher, but their defense is atrocious. Denver, on the other hand, is the very definition of a blue collar team. They have no star power, but week in and week out they plod along, mustering enough to win 9 of their 16 games and win the division. Will this style be enough next week when they face the Panthers? Well, if Bobby Hebert cannot go for Michigan, it may just be.