USFL

[outofplace]

My father had season tickets for the Memphis Showboats in their second and final year or partial season tickets. I don't know which, but I think we went to about seven or eight games at the Liberty Bowl.

I remember one night they tried to give away a year's supply of New Coke. You could hear the boos pretty much all over. They also gave away packets of Skoal one night, and somehow they either gave me one (at 8 years old) or I got my hands on one. I didn't know the whole point was not to swallow the tobacco juice. (Face turns green at the memory).

The Panthers were merged into the Invaders, I think before the league's final season. That's how Oakland ended up in the league's final championship game with Bobby Hebert, Anthony Carter and Albert Bentley (a running back who had a few decent years with the Colts).

I remember one particularly hot game against the Houston Gamblers. I have flashes of memories from night games with the Tampa Bay Bandits, Arizona Outlaws and Jacksonville Bulls. I remember walking down the ramp with everyone shouting after the Showboats beat the Bulls.

I also remember when they destroyed the Denver Gold in the playoffs only to break my heart and lose to Bobby Hebert and the Oakland Invaders in the next round.

I don't think I was sad when the USFL disbanded because I didn't really understand what happened at the time. For a little while at work, I did have the Showboats logo as the background on my computer.

Bobby Hebert played for Oakland?
I thought he spent his whole USFL career with the Michigan Panthers

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Michigan didn't have a team in 1985 (I think), when Hebert played for Oakland.

OAKLAND INVADERS ROSTER 1985

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College
1 Anthony Carter WR 5-11 162 24 3 Michigan
3 Novo Bojovic K 5-9 170 25 3 Central Michigan
7 Daryl Hart CB 5-10 172 24 2 Lane
10 Stan Talley P 6-5 225 26 3 Texas Christian
11 Bobby Hebert QB 6-4 208 24 3 N.W. Louisiana
14 Fred Besana QB 6-4 226 30 3 California
15 J Torchio QB 6-2 210 24 2 California
20 Eric Jordan FB 6-0 210 23 2 Purdue
21 Oliver Davis S 6-2 205 30 9 Tennessee St.
24 Derrick Martin CB 5-11 185 28 4 San Jose St.
25 Bobby Futrell CB 5-11 178 22 2 Elizabeth City
28 Shawn Faukner HB 5-11 188 22 1 Western Michigan
29 Derek Holloway WR 5-7 165 24 3 Arkansas
31 David Greenwood S 6-3 208 25 3 Wisconsin
32 Albert Bentley FB 5-11 208 24 2 Miami (Fla.)
34 Mike Jones HB 6-2 210 23 R No. Carolina A&T
36 Vito McKeever CB 6-0 180 23 2 Florida
41 John Sullivan S 6-1 190 23 2 California
43 John Williams HB 5-11 213 24 3 Wisconsin
45 Tom Newton FB 6-0 238 30 8 California
48 Tim Lucas LB 6-4 225 24 3 California
50 Ray Bentley LB 6-2 250 24 3 Central Michigan
51 Gary Plummer LB 6-1 243 25 3 California
54 Ed Smith LB 6-3 225 28 5 Vanderbilt
55 Rich Dixon LB 6-2 230 25 2 California
56 Tom Turnure C 6-4 257 27 6 Washington
57 Randy McClanahan LB 6-5 235 30 8 S.W. Louisiana
58 David Shaw LB 6-0 225 28 3 California
59 Angelo Snipes LB 6-0 208 22 R West Georgia
62 Jeff Wiska G 6-4 265 25 3 Michigan St.
63 Jim Leonard C-G 6-3 260 27 6 Santa Clara
64 Tracy Franz G 6-5 270 25 2 San Jose St.
65 Reggie Irving G 6-2 260 27 2 Grambling
70 Steve Wright OT 6-6 250 26 5 Northern Iowa
72 Dave Markham OT 6-9 285 27 4 North Dakota
73 Dave Browning DE 6-5 245 28 8 Washington
74 Ray Pinney OT 6-4 270 30 9 Washington
75 Darnell Wall DE 6-4 266 24 R Virginia Union
77 Ruben Vaughan NT 6-1 261 28 3 Colorado
80 Wes Howell WR 6-3 212 24 1 California
84 Paul Bergmann TE 6-2 230 24 2 UCLA
85 Mike Shumann WR 6-2 171 30 7 Florida St.
88 Gordon Banks WR 5-10 177 27 5 Stanford
89 Doug Cozen TE 6-4 241 27 3 Illinois
90 Bob Standifer NT 6-5 257 22 R Tennessee-Chattanooga
91 Monte Bennett DE 6-4 276 26 4 Kansas St.
92 Tim Moore NT 6-4 288 24 2 Southern
96 Carl Sullivan DE 6-4 242 23 2 San Jose St.
99 Doug Hollie DE 6-3 265 24 2 SMU

 

[goalmouth]

Well, thank goodness the USFL didn't survive and New Orleans kept its team. This could have been rather uncomfortable:

I still have my certificate signed by **** Coury from a cattle-call public tryout with the Breakers.

I keep it next to the license plate I stole off the WFL's Memphis Southmen golf cart I discovered under the stands at the Liberty Bowl.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

Rosters, uniforms, history and more:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/index.htm

 

[outofplace]

Michigan didn't have a team in 1985 (I think), when Hebert played for Oakland.

OAKLAND INVADERS ROSTER 1985

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Age Exp. College
1 Anthony Carter WR 5-11 162 24 3 Michigan
3 Novo Bojovic K 5-9 170 25 3 Central Michigan
7 Daryl Hart CB 5-10 172 24 2 Lane
10 Stan Talley P 6-5 225 26 3 Texas Christian
11 Bobby Hebert QB 6-4 208 24 3 N.W. Louisiana
14 Fred Besana QB 6-4 226 30 3 California
15 J Torchio QB 6-2 210 24 2 California
20 Eric Jordan FB 6-0 210 23 2 Purdue
21 Oliver Davis S 6-2 205 30 9 Tennessee St.
24 Derrick Martin CB 5-11 185 28 4 San Jose St.
25 Bobby Futrell CB 5-11 178 22 2 Elizabeth City
28 Shawn Faukner HB 5-11 188 22 1 Western Michigan
29 Derek Holloway WR 5-7 165 24 3 Arkansas
31 David Greenwood S 6-3 208 25 3 Wisconsin
32 Albert Bentley FB 5-11 208 24 2 Miami (Fla.)
34 Mike Jones HB 6-2 210 23 R No. Carolina A&T
36 Vito McKeever CB 6-0 180 23 2 Florida
41 John Sullivan S 6-1 190 23 2 California
43 John Williams HB 5-11 213 24 3 Wisconsin
45 Tom Newton FB 6-0 238 30 8 California
48 Tim Lucas LB 6-4 225 24 3 California
50 Ray Bentley LB 6-2 250 24 3 Central Michigan
51 Gary Plummer LB 6-1 243 25 3 California
54 Ed Smith LB 6-3 225 28 5 Vanderbilt
55 Rich Dixon LB 6-2 230 25 2 California
56 Tom Turnure C 6-4 257 27 6 Washington
57 Randy McClanahan LB 6-5 235 30 8 S.W. Louisiana
58 David Shaw LB 6-0 225 28 3 California
59 Angelo Snipes LB 6-0 208 22 R West Georgia
62 Jeff Wiska G 6-4 265 25 3 Michigan St.
63 Jim Leonard C-G 6-3 260 27 6 Santa Clara
64 Tracy Franz G 6-5 270 25 2 San Jose St.
65 Reggie Irving G 6-2 260 27 2 Grambling
70 Steve Wright OT 6-6 250 26 5 Northern Iowa
72 Dave Markham OT 6-9 285 27 4 North Dakota
73 Dave Browning DE 6-5 245 28 8 Washington
74 Ray Pinney OT 6-4 270 30 9 Washington
75 Darnell Wall DE 6-4 266 24 R Virginia Union
77 Ruben Vaughan NT 6-1 261 28 3 Colorado
80 Wes Howell WR 6-3 212 24 1 California
84 Paul Bergmann TE 6-2 230 24 2 UCLA
85 Mike Shumann WR 6-2 171 30 7 Florida St.
88 Gordon Banks WR 5-10 177 27 5 Stanford
89 Doug Cozen TE 6-4 241 27 3 Illinois
90 Bob Standifer NT 6-5 257 22 R Tennessee-Chattanooga
91 Monte Bennett DE 6-4 276 26 4 Kansas St.
92 Tim Moore NT 6-4 288 24 2 Southern
96 Carl Sullivan DE 6-4 242 23 2 San Jose St.
99 Doug Hollie DE 6-3 265 24 2 SMU

Yup. It was either a merger or they folded and somehow all the players went to Oakland. I forget exactly how it went down.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

From that site I linked:

Prior to the 1985 campaign, the USFL announced it's intention to switch to a fall schedule beginning in 1986 and to file an antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League. The change of playing season had severe ramifications for several franchises, many of which faced direct NFL competition in their cities. Fresh off their championship season, the Stars left their growing fan base in Philadelphia for the recently-vacated Baltimore. The Michigan Panthers threw in the towel and merged with the Oakland Invaders. The Pittsburgh Maulers called it quits after just one season. The Breakers were forced out of their new-found home in New Orleans and made Portland, Oregon their third city in as many years. All four moves were a direct consequence of the league's intentions to play in the fall. The Chicago Blitz also suspended operations, the Oklahoma Outlaws and Arizona Wranglers merged to form the Arizona Outlaws and the Washington Federals headed South to become the Orlando Renegades.

On the field in 1985, the relocated Stars overcame a slow start and won their second title. Doug Flutie became the third consecutive Heisman winner to sign with the league, and league play improved dramatically due in large part to the preseason consolidations. Several franchises did not fare very well, though. The San Antonio Gunslingers, Los Angeles Express and Houston Gamblers struggled to make it through the year. Negative headlines and near financial ruin plagued the league even as it was showcasing its best football.

In July of 1986, about a month before the league was to begin its first fall season, the USFL won its suit against the NFL, but incredibly was awarded just $1 (trebled to $3 under antitrust law) in damages. More than $160 million in debt, the league folded before beginning its first fall campaign.

 

[outofplace]

From that site I linked:

Prior to the 1985 campaign, the USFL announced it's intention to switch to a fall schedule beginning in 1986 and to file an antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League. The change of playing season had severe ramifications for several franchises, many of which faced direct NFL competition in their cities. Fresh off their championship season, the Stars left their growing fan base in Philadelphia for the recently-vacated Baltimore. The Michigan Panthers threw in the towel and merged with the Oakland Invaders. The Pittsburgh Maulers called it quits after just one season. The Breakers were forced out of their new-found home in New Orleans and made Portland, Oregon their third city in as many years. All four moves were a direct consequence of the league's intentions to play in the fall. The Chicago Blitz also suspended operations, the Oklahoma Outlaws and Arizona Wranglers merged to form the Arizona Outlaws and the Washington Federals headed South to become the Orlando Renegades.

On the field in 1985, the relocated Stars overcame a slow start and won their second title. Doug Flutie became the third consecutive Heisman winner to sign with the league, and league play improved dramatically due in large part to the preseason consolidations. Several franchises did not fare very well, though. The San Antonio Gunslingers, Los Angeles Express and Houston Gamblers struggled to make it through the year. Negative headlines and near financial ruin plagued the league even as it was showcasing its best football.

In July of 1986, about a month before the league was to begin its first fall season, the USFL won its suit against the NFL, but incredibly was awarded just $1 (trebled to $3 under antitrust law) in damages. More than $160 million in debt, the league folded before beginning its first fall campaign.

I remember that last part. The USFL was basically praying for a big payday from the lawsuit to stay alive. When that didn't happen, they were done.

The teams were falling apart, too. I remember that the Houston Gamblers had already announced they were going to fold/merge with the New Jersey Generals. That's what I was most disappointed about. I wanted to see Jim Kelly and Herschel Walker play together.

 

[goalmouth]

I remember that last part. The USFL was basically praying for a big payday from the lawsuit to stay alive. When that didn't happen, they were done.

Lupica carried the USFL's water throughout that trial. Incredibly embarrasing. You could look it up.

 

[boots]

The USFL was fun to cover and watch. It was a shame that some of the owners were too greedy and wanted a fast investment. It could've worked. I wish it did.

 

[Armchair_QB]

USFL teams had some pretty cool uniforms and I believe the "shiny" pants you see teams wearing now first appeared in that league.

My only USFL anecdote comes from a guy who was an assistant coach for the Gamblers. They had a receiver/runningback who hated returning punts. Hated it so much that he got his agent to put a clause in his contract stipulating he was to receive $2,500 every time they sent him out on the punt return team. The GM told the head coach that, under no circumstances, was this guy to ever see the field as a punt returner.

Well, in the heat of battle, orders like that are hard to remember. Each time they would run this player out as the return guy he would just call for a fair catch and flip the ball to the official. Didn't matter if there was a tackler within 50 yards of him. Fair catch. Every time. $2,500

 

[outofplace]

USFL teams had some pretty cool uniforms and I believe the "shiny" pants you see teams wearing now first appeared in that league.

My only USFL anecdote comes from a guy who was an assistant coach for the Gamblers. They had a receiver/runningback who hated returning punts. Hated it so much that he got his agent to put a clause in his contract stipulating he was to receive $2,500 every time they sent him out on the punt return team. The GM told the head coach that, under no circumstances, was this guy to ever see the field as a punt returner.

Well, in the heat of battle, orders like that are hard to remember. Each time they would run this player out as the return guy he would just call for a fair catch and flip the ball to the official. Didn't matter if there was a tackler within 50 yards of him. Fair catch. Every time. $2,500

Wait a minute. They had Gerald "Ice Cube" McNeil and Clarence Verdin and they were sending out some running back/receiver to return kicks? WTF?

Was Jack Pardee that dumb of a coach?

 

[Oz]

Mike Rozier, you deserved so much better than this ...

 

[expendable]

I remember my dad taking me to an exhibition game in Charlotte. All I can remember was that the LA Express was there, but I can't remember the opponent — and that two guys were behind me getting increasingly drunk and spilling beer everywhere. Dad took me for a walk around the stadium sometime in the third quarter to get away from them. Mom was mad at him for "bringing me home smelling like a brewery."

Charlotte was vying for a franchise and plans were to turn 23,000 seat Memorial Stadium into a 50,000 seat dome. Thank goodness neither came about.


Thanks for jogging my memory. I'll have to call him to see if he remembers.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Mike Rozier, you deserved so much better than this ...

I thought that was one of the greatest football team names ever when they were created.

 

[Armchair_QB]

USFL teams had some pretty cool uniforms and I believe the "shiny" pants you see teams wearing now first appeared in that league.

My only USFL anecdote comes from a guy who was an assistant coach for the Gamblers. They had a receiver/runningback who hated returning punts. Hated it so much that he got his agent to put a clause in his contract stipulating he was to receive $2,500 every time they sent him out on the punt return team. The GM told the head coach that, under no circumstances, was this guy to ever see the field as a punt returner.

Well, in the heat of battle, orders like that are hard to remember. Each time they would run this player out as the return guy he would just call for a fair catch and flip the ball to the official. Didn't matter if there was a tackler within 50 yards of him. Fair catch. Every time. $2,500

Wait a minute. They had Gerald "Ice Cube" McNeil and Clarence Verdin and they were sending out some running back/receiver to return kicks? WTF?

Was Jack Pardee that dumb of a coach?

The guy I knew coached for Pardee with the Gamblers and later at the University of Houston and the Oilers. He may have been talking about a return guy on another team but I thought it was one of their guys. But it was $2,500 for every fair catch.

 

[FishHack76]

Mike Rozier, you deserved so much better than this ...

I thought that was one of the greatest football team names ever when they were created.

The Chicago Bruisers have to be up there too