'83 Chronology-Lucky Seven

Event Date: April 5th, 1983

Event Description:  Peterson: No Conflict

Source: United Press International

Carl Peterson, the president and general manager of the U.S. Football League's Philadelphia Stars, said Tuesday there are seven cities being considered for four possible new franchises in the league next season.

Peterson said the USFL Association holds a meeting Thursday in Chicago to consider the matter of expansion teams for next year's season.

He said the cities that have expressed interest in having a team are Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas, Seattle and New Orleans. He also said Pittsburgh was assured of a team.

"It's certain that Pittsburgh will be an expansion team next year," Peterson said. "And I don't think that there's any conflict of interest."

Peterson was refering to Edward J. DeBartolo's application for an expansion team in Pittsburgh. Some NFL owners object to the expansion team because DeBartolo's son, Edward Jr., owns the San Francisco 49ers.

The Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., of which Edward Jr. is president, among other interests owns thoroughbred racing tracks, including the Louisiana Downs in Shreveport, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey franchise, the Pittsburgh Spirit indoor soccer team and the Pittsburgh Civic Arena.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Personal Business

Event Date: April 5th, 1983

Event Description: Walker Weds

Source: The Windsor Star

'83 Chronology-Gut Buster

Event Date: April 5th, 1983

Event Description: Allen Not Backing Down

Source: United Press International

Chicago Blitz Coach George Allen has refused to back down from comments about possible U.S. Football League expansion that drew criticism from league commissioner Chet Simmons.

Simmons criticized Allen Monday for making comments that were critical of the league's attempts to expand. “I don't know where a Chet Simmons gets off making statements like that,” Allen said. “No one has given more time to this league than George Allen at the expense of my team. When I hear a statement like Simmons', it really busts my gut.”

Allen again said expanding after one season was not a good idea. “As far as expansion, I was speaking from a football sense,” he said. “Economically, I guess it makes sense to expand right away. Football-wise, I don't want my team broken up after one season.”

USFL owners will meet Thursday in Chicago to review the league's progress and discuss expansion. However, Allen said he would not be at the USFL meeting.

Story-(United Press International)

'83 Chronology-General Woes

Event Date: April 4th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Remain Winless

Source: UPI

Alan Risher threw three touchdown passes and defensive tackle Bob Nelson sacked New Jersey quarterback Leamon Hall in the endzone for a late safety Sunday to lift the Arizona Wranglers to a 23-13 victory over the winless New Jersey Generals.

Risher threw two touchdown passes to Jackie Flowers while completing 14-of-23 passes for 154 yards and no interceptions. Flowers finished with seven receptions for 99 yards.

The Generals, whose record fell to 0-5, got a touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Leamon Hall to Tom McConnaughey in the second quarter and  a pair of field goals from kicker John Roveto who was recently acquired in a trade with Chicago.

The Generals host Michigan next week, while the Wranglers travel to Washington for next weeks’ Monday night game.

In other weekend action:

Birmingham Stallions 36

Boston Breakers 7

A first-half touchdown pass from Bob Lane cpmbined with a pair of touchdown runs by Earl Gant and Cornelius Quarles helped the Stallions down Boston by a score of 36-7. Scott Norwood added four field goals and Reggie Lewis led the Birmingham defense with five tackles and one sack.

Chicago Blitz 14

Tampa Bay Bandits 6

Tim Spencer and Kevin Long each rushed for 100 yards and the Blitz defense tagged three interceptions to lead the Blitz to a 14-6 win over the Bandits. The victory leaves Chicago at 5-0, while Tampa has now lost four of five games as their quarterback carousel continues.

Washington Federals 24

Philadelphia Stars 34

Allen Harvin rushed for a career-high 176 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns as Philadelphia handed Washington their second defeat of the season after a 34-24 win at Veterans Stadium.

Joe Gilliam passed for 335 yards with two touchdowns and two picks for the Federals who have now dropped to (3-2)

Oakland Invaders 17

Los Angeles Express 31

Mike Rae threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to Kris Haines and John Barnett rushed for two touchdowns two to lead the Express to a 31-17 victory over the Oakland Invaders.

Barnett, a first-year running back out of Oregon State, scored both of his touchdowns in the first half before leaving the game due to injury late the third quarter. The triumph lifted the Express to a three-game lead over the rest of the division.

Wymon Henderson a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Fred Besana at 6:44 of the first quarter and Raymond Chester grabbed a six-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to pace Oakland. Besana also tossed two interceptions and was sacked four times.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Week #5 Preview

Event Date: March 31st, 1983

Event Description: Week #5 Preview

Source: Pro Football Weekly

Week #5 USFL Preview

Saturday, April 2nd

 (3-1) Birmingham Stallions at (3-1) Boston Breakers

Latest Line: (Breakers -4)   

Television Coverage: Local

  (4-0) Chicago Blitz at  (1-3) Tampa Bay Bandits

Latest Line: (Blitz -9)

Television Coverage: ESPN-National

Sunday, April 3rd

  (3-1) Washington Federals at (4-0) Philadelphia Stars

Latest Line: (Stars -7)

Television Coverage: ABC-National

 (0-4) New Jersey Generals at (0-4) Arizona Wranglers

Latest Line: (Wranglers -6)

Television Coverage: Local

(1-3) Oakland Invaders at (2-2) Los Angeles Express

Latest Line: (Express -3)

Television Coverage: Local

Monday, April 4th

(1-3) Denver Gold at  (2-2) Michigan Panthers

Latest Line: (Panthers -5)

Television Coverage: ESPN-National 

'83 Chronology-Target Date '84

Event Date: March 30th, 1983

Event Description: New Vancouver Dome

Source: The Windsor Star

'83 Chronology-Peterson Optimistic

Event Date: March 30th, 1983

Event Description: Better Weather

Source: Reading Eagle

'83 Chronology-Growing Pains

Event Date: March 29th, 1983

Event Description: Wash Out

Source:   St. Petersburg Times

'83 Chronology-Halt!

Event Date: March 29th, 1983

Event Description: Allen Questions Direction

Source: United Press International

Chicago Blitz coach George Allen Monday called for a halt in any planned expansion in the next two years for the fledgling U.S. Football League.

“Should the planned expansion calling for two more teams in 1984 and four in 1985 became a fact of life, it could decimate teams like the Blitz,” Allen said at a news conference. “It is my firm belief that expansion at this time or in the next two years would not only hurt the Blitz but every other team.”

Allen said falling attendance at USFL games around the country do not indicate that the league will fail. “The fact that the attendance was down overall this past week, particularly in Chicago, is not indicative of fans reaction to our brand of football,” he said.

Allen said that in order for the league's owners to break even, attendance has to be at least 35,000 each week, which he said is “not an insurmountable problem.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Channel 32

'83 Chronology-Journeymen

Event Date: March 29th, 1983

Event Description: Miller Time

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'83 Chronology-A Better Offer?

Event Date: March 29th, 1983

Event Description: Warner Will Wait

Source: Beaver County News

'83 Chronology-Sign of the Times

Event Date: March 28th, 1983

Event Description: Panthers Sign Miller

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Mile High Meeting

Event Date: March 28th, 1983

Event Description: Mile High Matchup

Source: United Press International

Tonight in Mile High Stadium, two former coaches of the Denver Broncos will meet for the first time as coaches of opposition teams in the USFL.

The home team is the Denver Gold, coached by Red Miller, who was fired by the Broncos in 1980. The opposition is the Oakland Invaders, led by John Ralston -- the man Miller replaced as Bronco coach in 1976. “I've been thinking how it will be,” Ralston said. “I'm thinking that when I walk out there and look around I'll get a tremendous chill up and down my spine.”

Local observers have been saying that Red Miller went to the Super Bowl in 1977 with John Ralston's players, and indeed, Miller's teams never did quite as well as they did his first year. Ralston, however, responds that the key decisions leading to the AFL Championship were Miller's. For example, it was Miller who saw a resurrected quarterback in the aging Craig Morton.

“I was their biggest fan,” Ralston said with a straight face. “I'd jump up and down in front of my TV set every game. I would've liked to have been there but ...”

Since then, Ralston has held assistant coaching jobs in several other towns. First he went to Philadelphia. The Eagles went to the Super Bowl the year after he left. Then San Francisco. The 49ers went to the Super Bowl the season after he left. Then Toronto, with the CFL. Toronto won the Grey Cup the season -- you guessed it -- after he left. “This time,” he said, “I plan on sticking around.”

Over the weekend; Boston battered New Jersey 38-14, Washington downed Michigan 38-20 with ex-Steeler Joe Gilliam leading the way, Philadelphia trounced Tampa 34-7 and Chicago defeated Los Angeles 7-0.

Boston Breakers 38

New Jersey Generals 14

A pair of first-half touchdown passes from Johnny Walton combined with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Richard Crump helped the Breakers out to a 21-0 lead at the intermission. In the second-half a Tony Davis score and a 42-yard Tim Mazzetti field goal helped the Breakers down the winless Generals.

Washington Federals 38

Michigan Panthers 20 

Joe Gilliam fired an 83-yard touchdown strike to Mike Holmes midway through the final frame to give the Federals their third straight USFL victory. Washington, 3-1, was led by Gilliam who passed for 327 yards with three touchdowns while Craig James carried the ground game with 94 yards and one touchdown run.

Philadelphia Stars 34

Tampa Bay Bandits 7

Chuck Fusina ran for a pair of touchdowns and Kelvin Bryant added a third as Philadelphia handed Tampa their third defeat in four games. Jeff Gabrielson scored via a blocked punt and David Trout added a pair of late field goals as the Stars’ continue to roll. The Bandits continue to battle bad luck as new starter Mike Kelley was knocked out of the game in the third quarter. The Bandits have now lost three quarterbacks to injury.

Chicago Blitz 7

Los Angeles Express 0 

Kevin Long scored on a two-yard run to lead the Blitz to the shut-out victory. The victory leaves Chicago sitting atop the Central division at 4-0, while Los Angeles drops to 2-2.

Birmingham Stallions 41

Arizona Wranglers 3

Cornelius Quarles scored on a 17-yard run, en route to 131 rushing yards, and the Birmingham defense forced six turnovers to give the Stallions a victory over hapless Arizona on Saturday night.

Story-(Modified from original)-UPI

'83 Chronology-Dixon Predictions

Event Date: March 25th, 1983

Event Description: Dixon Preps Franchise

Source: United Press International

A community-owned football team run by New Orleanians “of the most humble sort of background” will join the United States Football League in 1984 or 1985, said USFL founder Dave Dixon.

Dixon, who holds the rights to franchises in New Orleans and Houston, said Thursday he will sell his rights to the Houston franchise and expects a group to start an expansion team in that city by next spring.

With the proceeds from that sale, he said, he will petition league directors to allow him to create an expansion franchise in New Orleans.

“That expansion franchise will become activated only when and if we sell 40,000 season tickets, and all of those season ticket-holders will be the shareholders in the club,” he said. “This will be revolutionary in sports. It will be the first truly community-owned football team. And a guy of the most humble sort of background can be an owner of this football club.”

Public ownership of the club -- an arrangement now used on a minority basis in franchises such as the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, of which 18percent is public -- would give city residents a greater voice in controlling the team.

“Al Davis picked up and moved his Oakland team that had 13 consecutive years of sellouts and I think that's terribly unfair to the people of Oakland. The people of Oakland really got a job done on them and I think that's dreadful,” Dixon said. “That won't hapoen in New Orleans, because we will own the team ourselves.”

The 12-team USFL will expand into New Orleans, Houston and two other cities by 1984 or 1985, he said, and will include 24 squads within five or six years. Dixon said he soon will begin selling shares in the New Orleans franchise and the club could join the league by next spring if the response from fans is extensive.

Negotiations with a group of Houston investors is underway and there are other groups hoping to gain the franchise rights if that deal falls through, he said, adding  “Houston almost certainly will have a team in 1984.”

Dixon said he will fight attempts by the New Orleans Saints to control use of the Superdome by other teams, such as a USFL entry, and rejected notions that New Orleans might not support two football teams Even though the Saints often do not sell out the 71,000-seat Superdome, Dixon said their mediocre record over the years is the reason. Since the USFL plays in the spring and summer, it will fill a gap in the New Orleans sports scene, he added.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-NFL Draft Date

Event Date: March 25th, 1983

Event Description: NFL Sets Draft Day

Source: Youngstown Vindicator

'83 Chronology-Week #4 Preview

Event Date: March 25th, 1983

Event Description: Week #4 Preview

Source: Pro Football Weekly

Week #4 USFL Preview

Saturday, March 26th

 (0-3) Arizona Wranglers at (2-1) Birmingham Stallions 

Latest Line: (Stallions -2)   

Television Coverage: ESPN-National

Sunday, March 27th

 (2-1) Boston Breakers at (0-3) New Jersey Generals 

Latest Line: (Breakers -2)

Television Coverage: ABC-Regional

  (1-2) Tampa Bay Bandits at (3-0) Philadelphia Stars

Latest Line: (Stars -3)

Television Coverage: ABC-National

 (2-1) Michigan Panthers at (2-1) Washington Federals

Latest Line: (Federals -1)

(2-1) Los Angeles Express at (3-0) Chicago Blitz

Latest Line: (Blitz -4)

Monday, March 28th

(1-2) Oakland Invaders at (0-3) Denver Gold

Latest Line: (Invaders -2)

Television Coverage: ESPN-National 

'83 Chronology-Staying Put

Event Date: March 25th, 1983

Event Description: Hamilton Keeps Cats

Source: The Windsor Star

'83 Chronology-Attendance Analysis

Event Date: March 25th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Attendance Slipping

Source: lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-NFL Salaries

Event Date: March 24th, 1983

Event Description: Average Salaries Rising

Source: Gainesville Sun

'83 Chronology-DeBartolo Decision Pending

Event Date: March 23rd, 1983

Event Description: NFL Wants Answers

Source: Youngstown Vindicator

'83 Chronology-Too Early To Tell

Event Date: March 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Rozelle Leads Owners Meeting

Source: St. Petersburg Times

'83 Chronology-International Feel

Event Date: March 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Another League?

Source: St. Petersburg Times

'83 Chronology-Landry and Phillips

Event Date: March 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Show of Support

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Ballard and Bassett

Event Date: March 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Tiger Cat Talks

Source: The Windsor Star

'83 Chronology-USFL Warning

Event Date: March 22nd, 1983

Event Description: Modell Issues Warning

Source: Herald Journal

'83 Chronology-Hot Topic

Event Date: March 21st, 1983

Event Description: NFL Meetings

Source: The Victoria Advocate

'83 Chronology-Week #3 Roundup

Event Date: March 21st, 1983

Event Description: Bandits Cruise

Source: United Press International

New Jersey coach Chuck Fairbanks knew what had to be done.

With his Generals 0-2 going into their home debut and quarterback Bobby Scott nursing a sore shoulder, Fairbanks knew Herschel Walker had to run the ball early and often.

The Tampa Bay Bandits also knew, however, and were more prepared to stop Walker than the Generals were to spring him. Holding Walker to 77 yards on 18 carries and getting three touchdown passes from Jimmy Jordan, Tampa Bay cruised to a 35-12 win over the Generals Sunday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“I think it was obvious early that Herschel wasn't going to run very far on us,” Bandits coach Steve Spurrier said after his team improved to 1-2 before a USFL record crowd of 53,370.

“I saw Herschel Walker get knocked backward an awful lot. I don't know if you've seen that happen much, I know I haven't.”

Walker rarely got knocked back at Georgia, where he was a three-time All-America and won the Heisman Trophy before signing with the Generals after his junior year.

Walker carried eight times in the first quarter Sunday, but never got untracked. His longest run was fourteen yards and the Bandits minimized his effectiveness by taking a 26-6 lead into the intermission.

“I've still got a lof of learning to do,” Walker said. “Pro ball is a lot different than college ball. It's hard whenever you fall behind early, especially against a team like Tampa. It's not something we looked forward to doing.”

“I am embarrassed,” Fairbanks said. “I think the coach has to get better. We will look over the roster and anyone who knows he's not doing his job knows he won't stay.”

In other games Sunday, Chicago crushed Denver 31-7 and Washington upset Boston 22-20.

On Saturday night, Michigan won their home opener beating Oakland 37-17 and Los Angeles edged Arizona 17-14 on a late field goal by Vince Abbott.

The Philadelphia Stars visit the Birmingham Stallions tonight to complete the USFL's third week. 

Michigan Panthers 37 

Oakland Invaders 17

Bobby Hebert threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, the first to Anthony Carter, to lead Michigan to their first home win. Ken Lacy rushed for a career-high 226 yards with one touchdown and David Tipton returned an interception for a late score.

L.A. Express 17 

Arizona Wranglers 14

Mike Rae passed for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns leading Los Angeles to a 17-14 win on the road against the Wranglers. Los Angeles receiver Kevin Williams caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Rae and Wilbert Haslip led all rushers with 55 yards on the ground.

Chicago Blitz 31 

Denver Gold 7

Denver quarterback Ken Johnson left the game due to injury as Chicago rolled to a 31-7 victory behind backup pivot Tim Koegel. Koegel tossed three touchdown passes in relief of Greg Landry and Kevin Long added a five-yard touchdown run to go along with 46 yards rushing. Trumaine Johnson was solid for Chicago as he hauled in seven receptions for 118 yards and one score.

Washington Federals 22 

Boston Breakers 20

Mike Hohensee’s second touchdown pass, a 30-yarder to newcomer Mike Holmes, gave the Federals a 22-10 lead early in the third stanza as Washington held on for the victory.

Story-(Modified from UPI)

'83 Chronology-Roveto Returns

Event Date: March 20th, 1983

Event Description: Blitz Face Gold

Source: Associated Press

'83 Chronology-USFL Television Test

Event Date: March 20th, 1983

Event Description: TV Sports

Source: Beaver County Times

'83 Chronology-Setting Their Sites

Event Date: March 20th, 1983

Event Description: Ready for Herschel

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Week #3 Preview

Event Date: March 18th, 1983

Event Description: Week #3 Preview

Source: Pro Football Weekly

Week #3 USFL Preview

Saturday, March 19th

(1-1) Oakland Invaders at (1-1) Michigan Panthers 

Latest Line: (Panthers -2)   

Television Coverage: ESPN-National

 (1-1) Los Angeles Express at (0-2) Arizona Wranglers 

Latest Line: (Express -2)

Sunday, March 13th

(0-2) Tampa Bay Bandits at (0-2) New Jersey Generals 

Latest Line: (Bandits -2)

Television Coverage: ABC-Regional

 (1-1) Washington Federals at (2-0) Boston Breakers

Latest Line: (Breakers -9)

 (0-2) Denver Gold at (2-0) Chicago Blitz

Latest Line: (Blitz -14)

Television Coverage: ABC-National

Monday, March 14th

(2-0) Philadelphia Stars at (2-0) Birmingham Stallions

Latest Line: (Stars -3)

Television Coverage: ESPN-National