'83 Chronology-USFL Star Power?

Event Date: January 5th, 1983

Event Description: Colleges Stars Weigh Options

Source: NY Times

John Elway of Stanford and Dan Marino of Pitt, two of the leading quarterbacks in college football last season, were among the players chosen yesterday as the most desired by the United States Football League for its first season, which is scheduled to begin March 6.

Marino was the first player selected in the league's first draft, and Elway was one of 312 territorial choices from 60 designated colleges. Those players were exempted from the drafting process after the teams had released their territorial lists.

Marino to Weigh Options

Marino, who went to Los Angeles with his father at the invitation of the Express after Pitt's 7-3 loss to Southern Methodist in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas last Saturday, said, ''I'm not counting out either league. I'm going to sit back and weigh my options.'' Marino and Harmon spoke by telephone to reporters at the draft headquarters in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. 

The Oakland Invaders announced that they offered Elway a five-year contract last week. Speaking for himself and his father, Jack, the head football coach at San Jose State, Elway said, ''We were pleased with what was put in front of us.''

Elway has several options. He was an outfielder last summer in the Yankee minor-league system, and he could choose a career in baseball. Like Marino, he is regarded as a probable first-round choice when the N.F.L. conducts its draft April 20-21.

Marino and Elway face a dilemma because the U.S.F.L. will want them to sign and report to their training camps starting in the first week in February.

In other USFL news:

Allen Goes All Out

The Chicago Blitz, coached by George Allen, has tried out 3,148 players and has 272 under contract, and the selection process will add 45, for a total of 317. Chicago has 45, rather than 50, Allen having already traded five draft choices. But Allen will have to release 217 players by the time training camp begins in February.

Story-(NY Times)

Photo-(Pro Football Talk)