'83 Chronology-USFL Debuts

Event Date: March 7th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Roundup

Source: United Press International

Herschel Walker drew more attention from the Los Angeles Express defense than from the Los Angeles fans in his USFL debut Sunday.

Walker carried 27 times for 173 yards, but former UCLA quarterback Tom Ramsey and the Express spoiled Walker's pro debut with a 25-20 victory over the New Jersey Generals before a disappointing crowd of 34,002 in the 90,000-seat Coliseum.

The Generals-Express game drew the lowest attendance of the five USFL openers played on Sunday.

Ramsey fired a late touchdown pass, hitting Ricky Ellis from 22 yards out with just under ten minutes reaining as the Express held on for the victory. Ramsey finished 10-for-27 for 159 yards to go along with one sack. Backup pivot Mike rae also tossed a 46-yard touchdown midway through the third frame.

Bobby Scott, an 11-year NFL veteran, completed 18-of-28 passes for 238 yards for New Jersey, but was intercepted twice and sacked five times.

In other games, Boston bashed Tampa Bay 40-10, Chicago blanked Washington 10-0, Philadelphia routed Denver 32-6 and Oakland downed Arizona 20-10.

In Tampa, Former WFL quarterback Johnny Walton threw a pair of touchdown passes for the Breakers. Waltons' first scoring pass was a 13-yard toss to veteran wideout Charlie Smith in the second period and his second came early in third after hitting Nolan Franz for a 24-yard score. Ex-CFL star Richard Crump paced the Boston ground attack with 112 yards and one touchdown.

In Washington, rookie running back Tim Spencer rushed for 123 yards while Kevin Long added a late touchdown run to give George Allen a triumphant return to the nation's capital as the Blitz shout out the Federals.

In Denver, Chuck Fusina tossed a touchdown pass to Willie Collier and ran for another touchdown, while David Trout kicked a pair of field goals as Philadelphia routed Denver by a score of 32-6. Rookie Kelvin Bryant rushed for 88 yards and scored the games’ opening touchdown.

In Tempe, Ariz., Fred Besana threw two touchdown passes to lead the Invaders over the Wranglers by a score of 20-10. A crowd of 45,167 attended the game in Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium.

Story-(Modified from UPI)

'83 Chronology-Week #1 Preview

Event Date: March 5th, 1983

Event Description: Week #1 Preview

Source: PFW

Week #1 USFL Preview

Sunday 

Boston Breakers at Tampa Bay Bandits (Bandits -3)      

      Chicago Blitz at Washington Federals (Blitz -10)

New Jersey Generals at Los Angeles Express (Generals -4)

Oakland Invaders at Arizona Wranglers (Wranglers -1)

Philadelphia Stars at Denver Gold (Stars -6)

Monday

Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions (Stallions -4)

'83 Chronology-Coaches Profile

Event Date: March 3rd, 1983

Event Description: USFL Coaches

Source: United Press International

Profiles of the United States Football League head coaches:

George Allen, Chicago Blitz -- 60 years old. Attended Michigan. Former head coach of Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams. NFL Coach of the Year. Led Redskins to Super Bowl VII. Assistant coach with for Chicago Bears for eight years, the last three as defensive coordinator. Head coach at Whittier College for six years and Morningside (Iowa) for three years.

Hugh Campbell, Los Angeles Express -- 41 years old. Attended Washington State. Served as head coach of Edmonton Eskimos of Canadian League for past six years and won last five Grey Cup championships, a record. Most victories of any coach in CFL history. Head coach at Whitworth College for five years after serving as assistant at Washington State for two years.

Dick Coury, Boston Breakers -- 52 years old. Attended Notre Dame. Former head coach of World Football League Portland Storm in 1974. Spent last six years as assistant offensive coach of Philadelphia Eagles. Also served as assistant in pros at San Diego and Denver. Served as head coach at Cal-Fullerton for three years and was defensive coordinator at Southern California for three years.

Rollie Dotsch, Birmingham Stallions -- 49 years old. Attended Michigan State. First pro head coaching job. Comes to USFL after serving four years as offensive line coach of Pittsburgh Steelers. Also was an assistant with Detroit, New England and Green Bay. Former head coach and director of athletics at Northern Michigan. Also served as assistant at Missouri and Colorado.

Chuck Fairbanks, New Jersey Generals -- 49 years old. Attended Michigan State. Was head coach and general manager of New England Patriots for six years after seven years as head coach at Oklahoma. Spent last two years as head coach at Colorado. College assistant at Oklahoma and Houston.

Ray Jauch, Washington Federals -- 44 years old. Attended Iowa. Spent last 16 years coaching in Canadian League after two years as an assistant at Iowa. Head coach at Edmonton for seven years and director of operations for the Eskimos for one year before moving on to Winnipeg, where he spent the last five years.

Red Miller, Denver Gold -- 55 years old. Attended Western Illinois. Head coach of the Denver Broncos from 1977 to 1980, taking them to the Super Bowl in first season as head coach. Named AFC Coach of the Year. Offensive coordinator at New England for seven years after serving as line coach at Baltimore for two years. Also was an assistant at St. Louis, Denver and Buffalo of NFL and Boston of AFL.

Jim Mora, Philadelphia Stars -- 47 years old. Attended Occidental. First pro head coaching job. Was defensive coordinator of New England Patriots for last two years after four years as defensive line coach of Seattle Seahawks. Head coach at Occidental in 1964 and later served as college assistant at Stanford, Colordo, UCLA and Washington.

John Ralston, Oakland Invaders -- 55 years old. Attended Calfornia. Former head coach of Denver Broncos for six years. AFC Coach of the Year in 1973. Served as administrator for San Francisco 49ers from 1979-81 after two years as an assistant at Philadelphia. Head coach at Stanford for 10 years and Utah State for five years.

Doug Shively, Arizona Wranglers -- 44 years old. Attended Kentucky. First head coaching job. Served as linebacker coach for Atlanta Falcons for the past six years. Also served as assistant coach with New Orleans Saints and in college at North Carolina, Clemson, Kentucky and Virginia Tech.

Steve Spurrier, Tampa Bay Bandits -- 37 years old. Attended Florida. First head coaching job. Former quarterback won Heisman Trophy in 1966 and spent 11 years in NFL, nine with San Francisco and two with Tampa Bay. Served as assistant coach at Florida and Georgia Tech before spending last three years as offensive coordinator at Duke.

Jim Stanley, Michigan Panthers -- 44 years old. Attended Texas A&M. First pro head coaching job. Defensive line coach of Atlanta Falcons for past three years after a year with New York Giants. Former head coach at Oklahoma State for six years after a year as assistant. Spent a year as assistant with Winnipeg of Canadian League and served as college assistant at Navy, Texas El Paso and Southern Methodist.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Stars Spurned

Event Date: March 3rd, 1983

Event Description:  Free Agent Moves

Source: UPI

Free agent linebacker Rich Milot Wednesday shunned the Philadelphia Stars of the fledgling U.S. Football League to re-sign with the Washington Redskins, according to General Manager Bobby Beathard.

Milot, a starter his three seasons with the Redskins, had received a lucrative offer from the Stars, according to his agent, Washington attorney Richard Bennett. But Milot chose to remain with the Redskins, becoming the first of the club's 15 free agents to re-sign.

Beathard is due to talk with running back John Riggins this week, but the meeting is not definite. Riggins reportedly has been offered a $2.5 million, three-year guaranteed contract by the Michigan Panthers of the USFL.

In other pro football news;

Gene Goodlow, a wide receiver for three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, says he has signed a six-year, $1.6 million contract with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.

Goodlow, 24, who left Kansas State after his sophomore season, said the contract signed Wednesday included a $545,000 bonus. He was drafted by the Saints in 1981, but couldn't sign with the NFL team until this year because of his contract with Winnipeg, he said.

Goodlow said the Saints' contract also includes an option for an additional season. In his second year with Blue Bombers, Goodlow set a CFL record with 100 receptions, gaining 1,494 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns.

Story-(United Press International)

'83 Chronology-Back to the Future

Event Date: March 3rd, 1983

Event Description: Ross Signs Future Contract

Source: UPI

Cincinnati Bengals' All-Pro tight end Dan Ross has signed a contract to play with the Boston Breakers of the United States Football League beginning in 1984. Breakers President Robert Caporale confirmed the signing Thursday.

Bengals assistant general manager Mike Brown said the agent for Ross told the Bengals Wednesday the fifth-year pro had signed a contract to play with the Breakers after completing the final year on his current pact with Cincinnati.

Brown said the Bengals were told by the agent, Tom Toner, they 'had until 2 o'clock tomorrow (Thursday) to quote "buy him out of the contract," end quote.

The asking price was over $1.5 million over four years, said Brown, and "we declined." Caporale said Ross signed a three-year contract with the Breakers Wednesday night but would not disclose the terms.

Ross, a Boston native and a Northeastern University graduate, has been among the Bengals' top receivers over the past two years. He set a team record in 1981 with 71 catches, and was the No. 2 receiver after Cris Collinsworth with 47 catches last season.

In other USFL news:

Officials from several college football conferences and the fledgling U.S. Football League have agreed to work together to reach an accord on recruiting policies.

The USFL raised the ire of many conferences by signing junior Herschel Walker to a multi-million dollar contract with the New Jersey Generals.

Walker, last year's Heisman Trophy winner and one of the leading rushers in the country, was the first underclassman to be recruited by a professional football league. Some conferences and other individual schools have barred USFL recruiters from their campuses, denying them access to game films or to talk with players.

Charlie McClendon, director of the American College Football Association, said he felt better about the relationship between the USFL and colleges after the meeting. “I'm satisfied we have established a working relationship with the USFL,” McClendon said.

Simmons assured the college representatives the league would not attempt to recruit any more undergraduates while discussions continued about permanent policies. McClendon said he understood that some athletes might have to be granted the option to market their abilities and pursue professional contracts.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Final Touches

Event Date: March 3rd, 1983

Event Description:  Panthers Finalize Roster

Source: United Press International

The Michigan Panthers, who open their USFL season Monday, are putting the final touches on the team.

The Panthers Thursday acquired offensive lineman Steve Cox of Tulsa when New Jersey waived him and added defensive lineman Ken Hughes of Western Michigan, cut by Chicago. In addition, the Panthers completed their 10-player developmental squad by shifting five players from the active roster.

Wide receiver Ken Jackson of Tulsa also was released to enable the Panthers to activate newly signed Anthony Carter, who will start Monday night in Birmingham, Ala.

The Panthers also switched their only experienced quarterback, Mark Miller of Bowling Green, to the developmental squad. Miller had three seasons of training camp tryouts with NFL teams.

The move left Michigan with two rookies -- Bobby Hebert of Northwest Louisiana State and Whit Taylor of Vanderbilt -- as the only two active quarterbacks. Hebert, the Panthers' No. 3 draft choice, will start.

Miller will travel with the team and is still available for duty under a league rule permitting only quarterbacks among those on the developmental squad to be eligible to play.

“We can take all of them to games,” said assistant general manager Mike Keller, “but the quarterback is the only one able to play. He can go in if the other two quarterbacks get hurt.”

In addition to placing Cox and Hughes on the developmental squad, the Panthers also shifted defensive end Curtis Anderson of Central State (Ohio), safety Marion Body of Michigan, linebacker Kyle Borland of Wisconsin and defensive end Tony Osbun of Michigan from the active roster. They joined nose guard Ira Albright, Miller, injured rookie running back Ken Lacy of Tulsa and safety Tom Moriarity of Bowling Green.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Allen on Walker

Event Date: March 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Allen Interview

Source: Chicago Tribune

The signing of Herschel Walker to a USFL contract does not signal a trend of all-out raids on college underclassmen, Chicago Blitz coach George Allen says. Allen, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, said he supports the NFL rule that prohibits clubs from drafting college players until their original class has graduated.

“Anybody can be a hardship case if the price is right,” Allen said. “I think that's kind of a flimsy way of saying this guy is a hardship case.”

Allen, a minority owner of the USFL Blitz, said he didn't know whether his club made an offer to Walker in December and said he'd rather have his own No. 1 draft choice, Ohio State running back Tim Spencer than Walker.

“I have a high regard for Herschel. He is unique in that he could have won the Heisman Trophy as a freshman,” Allen told the Tribune at Blitz camp in Phoenix. “But I'd just as soon have Tim Spencer. He has the character I want on this team.”

Walker, a former University of Georgia running back, Wednesday signed a three-year contract reported to be worth $8.9 million with the New Jersey Generals. He had a year of eligibility remaining.

“I told our owners that I wasn't intrested in Walker,” Allen said. “They asked my opinion and I told them he is a great player but I wasn't interested in all the ramifications that could result fom his coming in here. I told them to forget it. Whether they did or not, I don't know.” Allen told the Chicago Sun-Times he was happy to see Walker in the league. “It's good for the league,” he said.

Story-(UPI/Chicago Tribune)

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #6

USFL ESPN Preview 1-6-Copyright ESPN 1983 All Rights Reserved

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #5

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #4

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #3

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #2

'83 Chronology-ESPN USFL Preview #1

'83 Chronology-A Better Offer?

Event Date: March 1st, 1983

Event Description: Packer Plans

Source: New York Times

Green Bay Packer defensive end Mike Butler said Wednesday he may sit out this season and sign next year with a United States Football League team if he cannot reach a contract agreement with the Packers.

“Right now things aren't going to well with Green Bay,” Butler told the Milwaukee Sentinel. “I don't know if I'm in the Packers' plans.”

He played out his option with the club last year and became a free agent. He had talked about jumping to the new league but may wait until next year. The USFL starts play this weekend and Butler has not signed with any team. He said he may sit out this year and sign next year.

“My lawyers talked to Green Bay Tuesday,” he said. “The Packers gave me an offer, but I don't want to comment on it.”

In other USFL news:

The Generals sold an additional 1,500 season tickets Saturday and 500 more today, bringing to 7,800 the number sold since Herschel Walker signed with the team last week, Charlie Theokas, vice president in charge of business, said. He said that the team sold 30,000 season tickets priced at $112.50 and $90.

Story-(New York Times)

Photo-(Spokeo)

'83 Chronology-Business Friendly

Event Date: March 1st, 1983

Event Description:  Breakers Sign Marek

Source: New York Times

The United States Football League showed it meant business when Herschel Walker signed a contract to play in the league, and there was more business being conducted yesterday involving big-name players.

Marcus Marek, who received all-America honors as an Ohio State linebacker, said that yesterday he had signed a two-year contract with the Boston Breakers on Thursday. And John Riggins, the Super Bowl star of the Washington Redskins, was in Detroit yesterday to talk to the Michigan Panthers. Riggins is now a free agent. 

In other USFL news:

Joe Gilliam, the former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback who had hoped for a comeback with the United States Football League, has been dropped by the Denver Gold.

Story-(New York Times)

'83 Chronology-Panthers Sign A.C.

Event Date: February 28th, 1983

Event Description: Panthers Sign Carter

Source: United Press International

Wide receiver Anthony Carter has signed a reported $1.5 million contract with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Foodball League.

Carter had been regarded as a first round draft choice in the NFL. It was the second big signing for the USFL. The New Jersey Generals signed Herschel Walker last week.

In other USFL news;

The New Jersey Generals traded former New York Giants linebacker Dan Lloyd and former NFL star running back Terry Miller in separate deals Sunday.

The Lloyd deal has apparently ended his comeback attempt from a two-year bout with cancer of the lymph nodes. Lloyd, who was sent along with linebacker Herbie Spencer to the Birmingham Stallions for an undisclosed draft choice, has decided not to report to the Stallions.

Lloyd was signed by the Generals last week after his NFL career ended when he suffered a knee injury in Giants camp last summer. Lloyd, a starter for the Giants in 1979, sat out the 1980-81 seasons while battling cancer. He spent four seasons with the Giants after being selected out of Washington in the fifth round of the 1976 draft.

Miller, the former Oklahoma star who gained 1,060 yards as an NFL rookie in 1978, was traded to the Denver Gold for offensive guard John Jewell and a fifth-round pick in the 1984 draft. Miller, who played with the NFL's Buffalo Bills from 1978-80, had been faced with the task of competing with Herschel Walker for a spot in the Generals' backfield.

In other deals, New Jersey sent defensive back Peter Raeford to the Boston Breakers for a 12th-round draft pick in 1984; signed Tom Woodland, a nose tackle from Missouri; and released linebacker Sammy Green from Florida.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Bassett Pleased?

Event Date: February 25th, 1983

Event Description: Bassett Interview

Source: UPI-St. Petersburg Times

John Bassett, owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits, said Thursday he is pleased Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker signed with the new United States Football League, but he is not happy with the way it was handled.

“My first reaction as an owner was how come they (New Jersey Generals) had the right to sign him,” Bassett said in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times. “I know he requested to play in New Jersey, but so what. Just because he can make more money from Madison Avenue commercials isn't a good enough reason for him to play in New Jersey. He's here to play football, not to sell underarm deodorant and cars.”

Bassett said USFL officials should have given every franchise an opportunity to sign Walker. “We would have signed him and we wanted an opportunity. The way it was done is not a fair situation,” he said.

USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons said Wednesday he made the decision to allow the Generals to sign Walker because of “a very, very special and unique set of circumstances.”

Bassett said the Generals should be forced to give up something to the other 11 teams. “I can tell you that it's the policy of this football team to exact meaningful, compensating concessions from New Jersey, because the Tampa Bay Bandits would have been in the running for Walker,” Bassett said.

USFL officials have said the league's rule against signing of underclassmen still is in effect and that the signing of Walker was a one-time situation.

Bassett said he will follow a two-fold policy in which if an underclassman from a school in the Bandits' territory makes himself available, he would contact the player's coach and if he gave his approval, the player would be signed. If he didn't approve, he wouldn't.

But if a star from outside the territory -- such as Marcus DuPree of Oklahoma -- became available “I'd sign him as soon as I could.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-USFL on ABC

Event Date: February 25th, 1983

Event Description: ABC Broadcast Schedule

Source: UPI

ABC-TV said Thursday it will kick off its broadcast of United States Football League coverage with three regional games on opening day March 6 -- including the New Jersey at Los Angeles game featuring the pro debut of Generals' running back Herschel Walker.

On Wednesday, Walker announced he had signed a 3-year USFL contract with the Generals after a record-setting three years at Georgia. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1982 as a junior and holds 10 NCAA rushing records.

The network's regular season broadcasting covers 17 Sunday afternoon games and one Friday night contest for the March 6-July 3 inaugural USFL season. ABC also has contracted to televise the July 9-10 playoffs and the July 17 championship game.

The other regional games to be televised March 6 are Chicago at Washington and Philadelphia at Denver.

In other USFL news;

The USFL Philadelphia Stars Wednesday signed linebacker Jeff Gabrielson to a one-year contract and waived former Penn State linebacker Rick Donaldson.

Gabrielson, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound 1980 Ripon College graduate, played in the Canadian Football League with Montreal in 1980 and 1981. He most recently attended Ottawa's 1982 training camp, a spokesman said.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Seal of Approval

Event Date: February 25th, 1983

Event Description: Dixon Approves

Source: UPI

The founder of the United States Football League said the signing of running back Herschel Walker by the New Jersey Generals puts the fledgling USFL 'on a credibility level with the NFL at this moment.

“I think he's made our league,” Dave Dixon said Wednesday. “I think we're on a credibility level with the NFL at this moment. I thought it would take two or three years to achieve.”

Dixon, who has an option to form proposed Houston and New Orleans franchises in the USFL and now is a consultant to the league, said “it's a great day for the USFL, but mostly it's a great day for Herschel Walker.”

“Had he stayed at the University of Georgia this year and torn up a knee, he wouldn't have gotten 16 dollars, let alone 16 million dollars,” he said. “Herschel Walker is well set for life.”

The University of Georgia announced Wednesday that Walker, who led the Bulldogs to a national championship his freshman year and won the Heisman Trophy as a junior this past season, had signed a professional contract with the Generals that estimated indicate could be worth as much as $16.5 million for six years. 

Walker is the first collegian ever to be signed before his senior year, and Dixon said he had some concerns about that precedent.“But I think people understand that the Herschel Walker situation is an exception,” he added.

“I don't think there's ever been anyone else like Herschel.”

In other USFL news;

Quarterback Bobby Scott, who saw limited service in the NFL, was signed to a contract by the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.

Scott, was a New Orleans' 14th round pick in the 1971 NFL draft, but did not see any action with the Saints until 1973. He had his best season at New Orleans in 1976 when he competed 54.2 per cent of his passes for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns.

The 33-year-old Scott played in only 18 games over the next six years. He was on the injured reserve most of 1982 before becoming a free agent.  

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Star Power

Event Date: February 24th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Sign Herschel

Source: United Press International

Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker has signed a three-year, multi-million contract with the New Jersey Generals that will make him the highest paid player in the history of professional football, his attorney said Wednesday.

The spectacular University of Georgia star signed with the Generals of the the fledgling U.S. Football League after discovering he had lost his amateur status by earlier signing a tentative contract with the club.

Walker's agent and attorney, Jack Manton, said Walker received his first year's salary in cash and in advance and that the entire package is “totally guaranteed”.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed but earlier reports had the Generals offering Walker as much as $16.5 million for five years. According to the report, Walker was to receive $2.5 million a year.

Manton issued a brief statement from Walker in which the three-time All-America running back said he made a mistake in denying earlier he had signed a contract with the Generals. Walker, 20, met last Thursday with Generals owner J. Walker Duncan but announced the next day he was sticking to his previously announced decision to complete his eligibility at Georgia before turning pro.

Although he insisted last Friday he had not signed a contract with the Generals, a statement from the University of Georgia Wednesday said “new information” presented Tuesday to Dooley made it "apparent'" that Walker “has engaged in actions which would cause him to be ineligible according to NCAA regulations.”

USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons said Walker approached the USFL in early January, indicating a desire to play for the new league. Simmons said because Walker was an undergraduate and not involved in the draft, he decided to allow him to negotiate with the league.

“Sure, we could have said no,” said Simmons. “We had to make a tough decision and I made it with all good conscience.” Simmons said Walker had approached the NFL last year, as well as the Canadian Football League in the past, and said “there was never a backoff” by Walker's advisors. Asked why he allowed the Generals to have the rights to Walker, Simmons said: “One of the conditions was he wanted to play in the New York metropolitan area. It was a special circumstance.”

Full Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Sea of Green

Event Date: February 23rd, 1983

Event Description: Bandits Trade Backer

Source: UPI

The Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League have traded linebacker Sammy Green to the New Jersey Generals in return for an undisclosed 1984 draft pick.

Green, who played for the University of Florida, was a second-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 1976 before playing briefly with Vancouver in the CFL.

The Bandits also signed free agent offensive guard Steve Gettel, who was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL in 1981-82. Gettel left the Bucs the first year because of an ankle problem from his college days, and was on injured reserve the second year with a hyperextended knee before he eventually was waived.

Story-(UPI)

Photo-(Seahawks History)

'83 Chronology-Garvey Gamble

Event Date: February 23rd, 1983

Event Description: Garvey Seeks Support

Source: Observer-Reporter

'83 Chronology-Kelley Claimed

Event Date: February 22nd,1983

Event Description: Invaders Claim QB

Source: United Press International

The Oakland Invaders announced Tuesday they have waived rookie quarterback Bill Myatt of Hayward State and claimed quarterback Mike Kelley from the Birmingham Stallions. Kelley played at Georgia Tech and last year was the sixth-round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Invaders also announced they will scrimmage against the Denver Gold on Wednesday and against the Chicago Blitz on Thursday and Saturday. All three USFL teams are training in the Phoenix area.

Beginning next week, the Invaders will switch training sites to San Lorenzo near the Oakland Coliseum by way. Their season-opener is against the Arizona Wranglers March 6.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Walker Investigation

Event Date: February 22nd,1983

Event Description:  Walker Eligibility Questioned

Source: United Press International

The NCAA will launch an investigation next week into the question of whether Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker violated eligibility rules during talks with the New Jersey Generals of the new United States Football League.

In a telephone interview Tuesday from Mission, Kan., NCAA Director of Enforcement David Berst said he would visit the University of Georgia next week to interview the star running back, his attorney-advisor Jack Manton, and 'other principals' involved in Walker's meeting last Thursday with Generals owner J. Walter Duncan.

Walker held a news conference in Athens last Friday to confirm he met with Duncan, but said he had rejected the Generals' overtures and would return to Georgia next season to complete his collegiate career.

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that two sources 'close to negotiations' said Walker had signed a $5 million contract with the Generals of the USFL, but two hours later backed out of the deal through a 24-hour escape clause in the contract.

Under NCAA rules, Walker would be ineligible to play out his final season if he signed a contract. He would also be ineligible if Manton negotiated for him, as the Globe story said he did.

In other USFL News;

KEX radio will begin broadcasting United States Football League contests starting March 6, station officials have announced.

Play-by-play will be announced by three sportscasters from the ABC radio network, Fred Manfra, Dan Lovett and Bob Buck. Each of the 12 USFL teams will play an 18-game regular season. KEX also will broadcast two playoff games the weekend of July 9-10 and the championship game on July 17.

Story-(UPI)

Logo-(KEXRAdio)

'83 Chronology-Williams Waived

Event Date: February 21st, 1983

Event Description: Williams Waived

Source: United Press International

Veteran running back Delvin Williams, plagued by a chronic neck injury, was placed on waivers Monday by the Oakland Invaders, reducing the USFL club's player roster to 58.

According to Invaders head coach-general manager John Ralston, Williams' injury was not responding to treatment. In seven National Football League seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins, Williams rushed for 5,598 yards and caught 152 passes for 1,415 yards.

The Invaders also announced they will break their training camp here Feb. 26 and return to the Bay Area to put the finishing touches on the 40-man squad that will open the season March 6 against the Arizona Wranglers in Phoenix.

In other USFL news;

Los Angeles Express owner Alan Harmon denied Sunday night that USFL owners were prepared to join forces to get Walker to play in one of the major cities in the new league.

“That's incorrect.” Harmon said. “I was not part of any deal that would bring him to New Jersey or L.A.” Harmon said the story may have started with an agent who had proposed in December that the league should pool its resources to lure Walker.

Stories-(UPI)

Photo-(Phns Insider)