'82 Chronology-In The Mood

Event Date: December 10th, 1982

Event Description: USFL Sidelines

Source: New York Times

Keith Moody is planning a dual football career in 1983, having signed to coach Brockton State, a Division III team in western New York, and to play for the New Jersey Generals in the new United States Football League. The schedules mesh neatly for him: As a return specialist and backup defensive back, Moody will play from March through July - if he makes the team - and then take up his coaching role in the autumn.

In other USFL news:

The Boston Breakers of the U.S.F.L. signed Roman Gabriel, the former pro quarterback, as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach...Sources close to the Arizona Wranglers said the team had offered Jack Elway the job as head coach. Elway, father of John Elway the Stanford quarterback, has been coach at San Jose State for the last four years and has two years left on his contract.

Story-(New York Times)

'82 Chronology-Training Camp Dates

Event Date: December 9th, 1982

Event Description: USFL Training Camps

Source: United Press International

The United States Football League said Wednesday it will open training camps in Florida, Arizona and California on Jan. 31 in preparation for its 108-game inaugural season that begins March 6.

Twelve teams, competing in three divisions, play an 18-game schedule of nine home and nine away contests in a regular season grind that ends July 3. The three division winners plus a wild card team play in the July 9-10 semifinal playoffs with the championship game scheduled for July 17.

In league openers on March 6, Boston is at Tampa Bay, Chicago at Washington, New Jersey at Los Angeles, Oakland at Arizona and Philadelphia at Denver. Birmingham entertains Michigan on Monday night, March 7. The schedule calls for four games to be played on Friday night, 20 each on Saturday and Monday nights and 64 on Sundays.

Two rules differ from National Football League regulations. The USFL will have a two-point conversion attempt after touchdowns and kickers have the option of using a 1-inch kicking tee on placement attempts. 

Story-(UPI)

'82 Chronology-USFL Owners

Event Date: December 9th, 1982

Event Description: USFL Owners

Source: Washington Post

Washington Federals

Berl Bernhard: Senior partner and president of a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm. Served as general counsel and member of the board of directors of the Washington Star Newspaper Co. and special counsel to the Democratic National Committee. Was presidential campaign manager for Edmund Muskie in 1972 and senior adviser to the Secretary of State. Earned a degree from Yale Law School. 

Boston Breakers

George Matthews: General partner of the Matthews Group, a limited-partnership holding company with diversified interests. He also serves as chairman of the board of Nuclear Metals, Inc. in West Concord, Mass., and FF Industries Corp. of Puerto Rico. A native of Boston, he is a trustee of Northeastern University.

Randy Vataha: An outstanding pass receiver at Stanford and in the NFL with Green Bay and New England. Was the Patriots' player representative in 1975 and '76. Now president of of LMV, Inc., a company that owns and manages recreational facilities throughout the Northeast. 

New Jersey Generals

J.Walter Duncan Jr.: Founder and principal owner of Walter Duncan Oil Properties, a leading oil and gas-producing company located in Oklahoma City. Serves as member on board of directors of Liberty National Bank in Oklahoma City and the Marquette Cement Co. of Nashville.

Chuck Fairbanks: A successful coach at the University of Oklahoma and with the New England Patriots before going to the University of Colorado. Also will serve as coach. 

Philadelphia Stars

Myles Tanenbaum: Executive vice president of Kravco, Inc., a major developer and manager of shopping centers and other commerical real estate. Director of the Atlantic City Racing Association. Graduated cum laude with a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Tampa Bay Bandits

John Bassett: President of Amulet Pictures, Ltd., a producer of motion pictures. Served as chief executive officer of Memphis in the World Football League plus Toronto and Birmingham of the World Hockey Association. Has numerous real estate and business interests.

Stephen Arky: President of a law firm with offices in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. Member of board of directors of Great American Banks, Inc., Founders Financial Corp., and the Insurance Exchange of Americas, Inc. 

Birmingham Stallions

Marvin Warner: Chairman and chief executive officer of ComBanks Corp and Great American Banks, Inc., of Orlando and Miami. Owner of Warnerton Farms, a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation, and a principal owner of Warner National Corp., a financial holding company. Appointed ambassador to Switzerland in 1977. Also served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. 

Chicago Blitz

Dr. Ted Deitrich: A cardiovascular surgeon and founder and director of the Arizona Heart Institute in Phoenix. Has lectured to NFL teams, coaches and owners on heart disease.

George Allen: Successful NFL coach and general manager at Washington and Los Angeles. He will also serve as coach and his son, Bruce, will be general manager. 

Michigan Panthers

Peter Spivak: Former judge, now counsel to a law firm in Detroit. A trustee of New Detroit, Inc. Earned a law degree at Northwestern. 

Arizona Wranglers

Jim S. Joseph: President of Interland Corp, a real estate development, management and construction company in San Mateo, Calif. Director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of San Francisco. 

Los Angeles Express

Bill Daniels: Described in many national publications as "The Father of Cable Television." Former president of the National Cable Television Association. Through his company in Denver, he is credited with developing the cable industry within the media. He was a candidate for governor of Colorado in 1974.

Alan Harmon: President of a Denver-based cable television operator with 20 systems in seven states. Former vice president of Daniels & Associates. 

Denver Gold

Ron Blanding: President of Blanding & Co., a leading Denver-based commerical real estate development and construction firm. Also, president of the Colorado Athletic Clubs. 

Oakland Invaders

Thaddeus Taube: Chairman of Taube Associates, Inc., a diversified real estate investment, development and management company in Belmont, Calif. Involved in industrial and commerical real estate operations throughout the West. Served as chairman and chief executive officer of Koracorp Industries Inc. until its merger with Levi Strauss in 1979.

Story-Washington Post

'82 Chronology-Blitz Release Schedule

Event Date: December 8th, 1982

Event Description: Blitz Release Schedule

Source: Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Blitz will open its 1983 season March 6 in Washington -- the city where owner and coach George Allen rose to fame, the team announced Wednesday. The Blitz is Chicago's entry in the new United States Football League. The Blitz' home opener will be in Soldier Field March 20 against Denver.

The home schedule is: Denver March 20, Los Angeles March 27, Birmingham April 10, New Jersey April 25, Washington May 8, Arizona May 30, Tampa Bay June 12, Detroit June 26 and Oakland July 3.

Road games are: Washington March 6, Arizona March 12, Tampa Bay April 2, Detroit April 17, Los Angeles May 1, Philadelphia May 15, New Jersey May 22, Boston June 6, Birmingham June 17. 

Before the season ends at home July 3 against Oakland, the Blitz will be featured on three Monday night games and one Friday night contest. The semifinals of the USFL playoffs will be July 10 and the first championship game will be July 17.

The Blitz will play in the USFL's Central Division, along with the Birmingham Stallions, Michigan Panthers and Tampa Bay Bandits.

'82 Chronology-Stars Lose New Coach

Event Date: December 4th, 1982

Event Description: Perles to MSU

Source: New York Times

George Perles, the architect of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain defense, was named yesterday as coach of Michigan State with a five-year contract at $95,000 a year. Perles, who was to coach the Philadelphia Stars of the new United States Football League, succeeds Muddy Waters, who was dismissed Nov. 14 after a 2-9 season, his third straight losing season. 

'82 Chronology-Boston Bound?

Event Date: November 27th, 1982

Event Description: Gabriel Opts Out

Source: United Press International

Roman Gabriel, the former pro quarterback, says he is resigning as head football coach at California Poly-Pomona, because nobody will tell him if the school intends to continue playing football. During his professional career, he was a star with the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.

But in three seasons as coach at Pomona, things were not so cheery: His team won 8 games and lost 24, and this season lost 10 of 11 games. But Gabriel, 42 years old, says that he is more troubled because he has ''a gut feeling'' that football will be dropped. ''I have been trying to get an answer for five weeks,'' he says, ''and, when the president told me he wouldn't make a decision until next week, I submitted my resignation.'' 

Gabriel adds that he has been in touch with the Boston Breakers of the new United States Football League about a job as offensive coordinator under Coach Dick Coury.

Story-(UPI)

Photo-(Calisphere)

'82 Chronology-Free Agent Fight

Event Date: Event Date: November 23rd, 1982

Event Description: Thompson Files Suit

Source: New York Times

Jack Thompson, a reserve quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, has filed a Federal breach-of-contract suit in Seattle against the National Football League.

The seldom-used Thompson, a first-round draft choice of the Bengals in 1979, wants to leave the N.F.L. so he can sign a contract with the Michigan Panthers of the new United States Football League.

In other USFL News:

For six football players trying to crack the pros, this may become a special Thanksgiving Day: Contracts were mailed to them yesterday by the New Jersey Generals of the new United States Football League.

The six are the survivors of 570 candidates who were invited to mass tryouts this month by the Generals. After two sessions in Giants Stadium, 16 players were invited back for another look. Now, there are six.

In February, the Generals will take 95 players to their training camp in Orlando, Fla., and only about half will make the team. But the six will have their shot at professional ball.

''We can't identify them yet,'' a spokesman for the team said, ''because the contracts are still in the mail. But all six had college experience, and none of them is a place-kicker. They faced big odds, and still do.'' 

Story-(NY Times)

'82 Chronology-Spurrier to USFL?

Event Date: November 22nd, 1982

Event Description: Spurrier to Tampa?

Source: New York Times

Steve Spurrier, the former college and pro quarterback, has resigned as offensive coordinator at Duke. ''I can't say I'm gone forever,'' he said, ''but I won't be here next season.'' Where will he be? Probably with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, who are expected to appoint the 37-year-old Spurrier as head coach on Monday.

In other USFL news:

The Cincinnati Bengals have won a court order enjoining Jack Thompson, their backup quarterback, from signing a contract with the rival United States Football League. Thompson, who has two years left on his contract, has not reported to the Bengals' latest camp.

Story-(New York Times/UPI)

'82 Chronology-Midwest Mania

Event Date: November 21st, 1982

Event Description: Scallen Seeks Football Franchise

Source: New York Times

Thomas Scallen, a Minneapolis businessman, is suing the Minnesota Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission for the right to rent Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for the U.S.F.L. team he hopes to bring to the city. The commission had rejected his request because of a clause in the Viking contract that guarantees exclusive use of the stadium for professional football.

In other USFL news:

A prison inmate in Illinois who is serving a 12-year sentence for armed robbery was given a free-agent tryout by the Chicago Blitz in the Logan Correctional Center yard. Twenty-three-year-old Mike Sifford, who has served four and a half years and is due for parole at the end of 1983, impressed George Allen, the general manager, part owner and coach of the fledgling United States Football League franchise.

Story-(NY Times/UPI)

'82 Chronology-Red Carpet Ride

Event Date: November 20th, 1982

Event Description: Breakers Add Geathers

Source: United Press International

The coach of the U.S. Football League's Boston Breakers says former South Carolina State defensive end Robert Geathers will be a welcome addition to the club's roster.

“We feel Robert will be to the USFL what Ernie Ladd and Earl Faison were to the old AFL,” Dick Coury, coach and general manager of the Breakers, said Wednesday.

“He is in the tradition of Deacon Jones, another great South Carolina State product,” Coury said. “We are convinced he can be all-USFL in his first season.”

Geathers, a third-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1981, said Wednesday he has signed a six-figure contract with the Breakers. Details of the two-year pact were not released but Ken Morton, Geathers' agent, said there was no option year clause in the pact.

That means the 6-foot-7, 295-pound Geathers could return to the NFL in 1984, Morton said. Geathers spent 1981 on the Bills' injured reserve list and was waived by the team this year.

“He will be treated like a first-round draft pick when he goes up to Boston. We have everything from an automobile to an apartment to $2,500 to complete his degree,” Morton said. “He's being treated with real kid gloves. They are rolling out the red carpet for him.”

Morton said the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Raiders made formal offers to Geathers but he decided to sign with the Boston club. “The offers were not necessarily less in dollars, but we felt they were less in opportunity,” Morton said.

The USFL season begins March 7 and Geathers said he will head to camp at Orlando, Fla., Jan. 31 at a weight of 280 pounds.

Story-(UPI)

'82 Chronology-Thompson Talks

Event Date: November 19th, 1982

Event Description: Thompson Talks USFL

Source: Chicago Tribune

'82 Chronology-Elvis!

Event Date: November 12th, 1982

Event Description: Ex-Sooner Signs

Source: NewsOK

Former Oklahoma Sooner running back Elvis Peacock has signed a contract to play for the Arizona Wranglers in the United States Football League, club officials said Friday.

Terms of the pact were not announced, although Peacock was believed to have signed a multi-year deal with several options including a $40,000 loan from the team to buy a home in Norman, Okla.

Peacock was the Los Angeles Rams' first-round choice in the 1978 NFL draft. His pro career was cut short because of ligament damage to both knees, however. 

Peacock, who turned 26 last Sunday, has been on an extensive rehabilitation program at the University of Oklahoma, where he has also been completing studies for a degree. "My knees are fine," Peacock said in a recent telephone interview. "The doctors have OK'd them. I'm looking forward to playing again. The only thing I need to do is get myself in shape."

The 6-1 Peacock said he weighs "around 232" pounds and plans to pare down to 215 or 218 by training camp time. Peacock said the USFL "is a door that's open to me and I'm hoping it'll stay open. After all my injuries, though, it's like starting from the bottom floor again."

The Arizona franchise has yet to name a head coach, but Peacock said: "I'll feel relaxed there whoever the coach is. I'm looking forward to joining them. They're expecting to be a balanced football team."

In another USFL signing involving another former Sooner, linebacker Orlando Flanagan has joined the New Jersey Generals.

Story-(Oklahoman)

Photo-(Pinterest)

'82 Chronology-SoCal Sojourn

Event Date: Novmber 12th 1982

Event Description: Express Sign Duo

Source: L.A. Times/UPI

Running back Don Hardeman, one-time No. 1 draft choice of the Houston Oilers, and former Chicago Bears wide receiver Kris Haines have signed contracts with the Los Angeles Express of the U.S. Football League.

Hardeman, 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, was with the Oilers from 1975-78. He spent the last three seasons with the Baltimore Colts.

Haines, who played in the Cotton Bowl twice and the Gator Bowl once during his college career at Notre Dame, has been with the Bears for three years. He was obtained in a trade with the Chicago Blitz of the USFL.

Story-(LA Times/UPI)

'82 Chronology-Bidding War?

Event Date: November 3rd, 1982

Event Description: USFL Player Pool

Source: United Press International

Commissioner Chet Simmons said Friday his fledging United States Football League will honor all bonafide contracts signed by National Football League and Canadian Football League players and is not interested in getting into a war with the two more established circuits.

“We will not talk with any players about coming to our league unless they are free, clean and clear of previous obligations,” Simmons said in response to a question that if the NFL strike wipes out the 1982 season, some 1,500 players might become free agents.

“We plan to honor all contracts, but if a player is free and contacts us we will be happy to listen to him. We are not in competition with anyone. They (NFL) have their league and we have ours.”

But Simmons said the USFL is concerned about the possibility the NFL might extend its season -- because of the strike -- into February and March when the new circuit plans to crank up for its first year.

“We are getting information about such a possibility and we are studying it very closely,” said Simmons. “At the moment we are considering such talk as speculation and conjecture.”

Speaking at the end of a three-day meeting by the league's 12 clubs, Simmons said he is optimistic about the USFL and, in fact, the circuit is considering the granting of four more franchises.

“I never said it would be easy (to launch the USFL) but I'm a lot more optimistic about our chances now than I was the day I signed on as commissioner,” he said. “All our market research indicates we have a fine opportunity for success. We feel we can succeed where other new leagues failed because of a strong television contract and because of the kind of people who own our clubs.”

The USFL will begin in March and play an 18-game schedule. Simmons said applications from nine cities will be reviwed at the league's next meeting -- in a month at Tampa, Fla. -- with the idea of granting four more franchises.

“We'd like to get it all squared away soon,” said Simmons, “so the new cities will have a whole year to get ready for the 1984 season.”

He listed Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle as being interested in USFL franchises.

The first USFL championship game will be played on July 17, 1983 at a site yet to be determined, Simmons said, adding he was empowered to investigate possible sites and stadiums and then make a selection.

A 1983 schedule as yet has not been drawn up and approved, but Simmons said the league plans to play on Saturday and Monday nights and Sunday afternoons so as to be attractive to television. The league has TV contracts with ABC and ESPN.

Simmons said the league will be successful if it averages 35,000 a game in its first season. “Denver already has sold 25,000 season tickets,” Simmons said, “and a few other clubs are closing in on that figure.”

Story-(UPI)

'82 Chronology-Bargaining Chips

Event Date: November 3rd, 1982

Event Description: Turner Talks

Source: United Press International

The striking NFL Players Association struck out in two directions Wednesday in efforts to energize stalled negotiations with the Management Council in the 44th day of the walkout.

While the NFL was calling off a seventh weekend of games and bargaining continued between both sides and private mediator Sam Kagel in a midtown hotel, a group of 16 players, including 14 player representatives, were dispatched six blocks away for an impromptu meeting with United States Football League Commissioner Chet Simmons.

Earlier in the day, Ted Turner appeared at the hotel at the request of union head Ed Garvey to reopen discussions about continuing last month's union-sponsored all-star games.

The 16 players, along with union spokesman Dave Sheridan and NFLPA assistant Doug Allen, walked out of the USFL office sporting USFL red, white and blue hats and apparently content they had successfully devised another bargaining tool.

“Right now, there are 352 NFL players who become free agents by Feb. 1...they're in their option year this season. This meeting with the USFL is another tool on our side. We have to consider our options. Turner is one option and this is another. These are contingency plans if management is not interested in a settlement.”

Simmons, who said the union “called us and said they'd like to come by and learn more about the league,” termed the meeting “constructive” and said his league -- which is scheduled to begin March 6 - was naturally interested in possibly absorbing current NFL players who will soon be eligible to play in the USFL.

“We stand by our statement that we will not interfere with the valid, bonafide NFL contract,” said Simmons, “but the question is, what if the player is in his option year? Then we'll give him a chance to talk to the USFL club that has his allocation rights.”

“I think we would be absolutely nuts not to make ourselves available to those players. Overall, this strike has distracted the hell out of me, occupying our time thinking about the possibilities, including extending the NFL season. That would give me a real cause for concern and would be a very inhibiting factor to us.”

“We supplied the United States Football League with the names of the NFL free agents and suggested they did not have to wait until Feb. 1, 1983 to contact them,” Garvey said.

“We still hope to settle this contract dispute with the NFL. One change is we will no longer play games past March 5 because it would extend into the United States Football League season, although one date (NFL Commissioner) Pete Rozelle had mentioned about the Super Bowl was March 7.”

Garvey added, “There is no movements in the talks. There is more movement in the lobby here than at the bargaining table.”

Turner, the maverick owner of baseball's Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, flew into New York and met with the full contingent of player representatives.

“He talked about what the financial arrangements would be in his league,” said Garvey. “He's very optimistic about how you can put it together. This is the first time our reps met with him as a group.”

Just before the NFL scrubbed a weekend slate of games for the seventh consecutive week, another group of players met with Rozelle for a 100-minute discussion in which they expressed their disenchantment with Management Council tactics.

(Story-UPI/Photo Wikipedia)

'82 Chronology-Expansion in '84?

Event Date: November 1st, 1982

Event Description: Expansion Plans?

Source: Birmingham News/UPI

The new 12-team United States Football League hasn't even seen its first kickoff yet, but league officials say they are already planning to add new franchises.

USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons was quoted by the Birmingham News Wednesday as saying that 40 cities -- ranging in size from Madison, Wis., to Dallas -- have expressed an interest in joining the league.

Simmons said other cities that have contacted his office include Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Honolulu, Atlanta, St. Louis, Hartford, Jacksonville and Fort Wayne, Ind. Simmons said the 12-team league will probably expand to 16 teams in time for the 1984 season.

“This is no minor league,” Simmons said. “We're not a fly-by-night league. I guarantee you'll love the USFL.”

In other USFL news;

Chicago Blitz coach George Allen Friday traded his first USFL draft choice to the Washington Federals for a veteran NFL punter George Roberts, the first such trade in the USFL. For Roberts, 27, Allen traded a middle-round choice in the league's college draft, to begin Jan. 4.

Roberts, 27, played from 1978-80 with the Miami Dolphins and was traded last season to the San Diego Chargers. In 64 NFL games, he averaged 41.0 on 289 punts.

'82 Chronology-Null and Void?

Event Date: October 26th, 1982

Event Description: Strike Breakers?

Source: Milwaukee Sentinel

Tackle Greg Koch and backup quarterback David Whitehurst of the Green Bay Packers say they may jump to the new United States Football League if the strike wipes out the entire NFL season.

“I've talked to a couple of my friends who play for the Atlanta Falcons,” Koch told the Milwaukee Sentinel Monday.

“If they call the season, there are a lot of people seriously thinking about going to the United States Football League”. He said he is undecided but if the owners call off the season, it “would be a strong possibility.”

Koch said players “only have so many years ... and I just don't want to blow one of them, none of us are getting any younger.”

Whitehurst told the Sentinel if the owners cancel the season because of the five-week-old players' strike “it could void our contract. Then there would be a lot of people who would be interested in going to the USFL.”

Koch said the suspension of talks bothers him.

“We've conceded everything,”Koch said of the players. “We're just getting back to the point where basically we're going to take what they say we're going to have to take and I think it's not right.” Koch has been working as a part-time bartender during the strike.

'82 Chronology-Strike Strategy?

Event Date: October 26th, 1982

Event Description: Strike Threatens NFL Season

Source: United Press International

With the possibility growing that the NFL players' strike could wipe out the season, indications surfaced Tuesday that the club owners may appeal to the union's rank-and-file in an attempt to settle the more than 5-week-old walkout.

A member of the NFL Management Council's executive committee suggested the owners might have to "go over the heads" of union leaders and appeal to the membership for a contract agreement.

In Washington, Ed Garvey, executive director of the NFL Players Association, warned players that the owners are threatening to cancel the season if the players reject a final contract proposal.

Garvey said the owners are contacting the player representatives and saying they will make a 'take it or leave it' offer Friday.

“They are trying to convince the players and the public that if the players do not accept, they will cancel the season in 24 hours,” said Garvey, also contending the owners would lose too much money and expose themselves to legal action if they canceled the season.

Before the news conference, union president Gene Upshaw met with a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board. Garvey said the NLRB could order an injunction forcing the NFL Management Council to discuss the wage scale issue, the major stumbling block in the 36-day strike.

“There is a growing feeling among our people that the NFL is trying to back into the USFL season.” Garvey said. “They can kill two birds with one stone.” The fledgling United States Football League plans to play its season in late spring and early summer. Murphy said if the season is canceled “it would immediately make the USFL a stronger league.”

If the owners canceled the season, Garvey said they could be ordered to pay back-wages to all striking players and run the risk of all players becoming free agents.

(Story-UPI)

'82 Chronology-Familiar Face?

Event Date: October 26th, 1982

Event Description: Bandits Hold Tryouts

Source: Lakleand Ledger

Fans who assembled at Jesuit High School's football field in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 23rd to watch an open tryout for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League were surprised.

Among the candidates was a soccer-style place-kicker who bore a surprising resemblance to Garo Yepremian, the former star in the National Football League. 

Yepremian, who began his career with the Detroit Lions in 1966 and starred with the Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1978, last played in the N.F.L. with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in the 1981 season.

Story-(UPI/Lakeland Ledger)

'82 Chronology-Stadium Wars

Event Date: October 26th, 1982

Event Description: Blitz Blame Bears

Source: UPI

The Chicago Park District Tuesday gave unanimous approval to let the Chicago Blitz use Soldier Field -- but only after officials of the U.S. Football League team threatened to leave town if approval was not granted.

The Blitz charged the Chicago Bears -- the other primary tenants of Soldier Field -- tried to sabotage the deal for use of the 65,000-seat stadium.

“We're aware that the Bears have attempted to delay the signing of our contract,” Blitz attorney Paul Meyer told the commissioners before the vote.

As a result of the delay, he said, the Blitz is behind schedule - and behind other USFL teams -- in implementing ticket sales promotions and other advertising.

“I'm prepared to call our office in in New York and tell them we're transferring our franchise,” Ted Diethrich, one of the team's owners, told the commissioners.

After the vote, however, Diethrich said he is “greatly pleased with the unanimous approval of our agreement with the Chicago Park District. With this final ratification, we will now embark on a full-scale promotional campaign for the Chicago Blitz in ticket sales and marketing.”

Story-(United Press International)

'82 Chronology-Here Comes The Sun

Event Date: October 22nd, 1982

Event Description: USFL Stadium Negotiations

Source: UPI

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Arizona Board of Regents met in an executive session Friday to work out details of a proposed stadium lease between Arizona State University and the USFL Wranglers.

Board of Regents president Esther Capin said the regents “met” through a conference telephone call to receive a report on the status of negotiations between ASU and the Wranglers.

Capin said the board will hold a special meeting Nov. 9 at the board offices in Phoenix to act on an agreement with the Wranglers for the use of Sun Devil Stadium.

Story-United Press International