'83 Chronology-Realignment

Event Date: October 21st, 1983

Event Description: USFL Owners Meet

Source: United Press International

United States Football League owners voted Tuesday to realign the league's two conferences into two divisions for the 1984 season, a spokesman said.

Spokesman Doug Kelly said the eastern and western conferences would have eight teams each, split into two divisions.

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlantic division will include the New Jersey Generals, the Philadelphia Stars, the Pittsburgh Maulers and the Washington Federals. The Southern division will include the Birmingham Stallions, the Jacksonville Bulls, the Memphis Showboats and the Tampa Bay Bandits.

The former Boston Breakers, which became the new New Orleans franchise in a vote by owners Tuesday, will be in the Central division, he said.

In the Western Conference, the Chicago Blitz, the Houston Gamblers, the Michigan Panthers, and the Breakers will make up the Central division.

The Pacific division will include the Arizona Outlaws, the Denver Gold, the Los Angeles Express and the Oakland Invaders.

Kelly said the conference systems was needed because of the league's expansion.

'We added four teams, so it was a question of basically trying to be a little more geographic in concept,' he said.

In other action, the USFL announced the 1984 season will open the weekend of Feb. 26 and conclude June 24. It will be followed by two weeks of playoffs and a championship game July 15.

Two division winners and two wild cards from each conference will qualify for the playoffs, Kelly said.

The USFL draft will be held Jan. 4 and 5 in New York. Training camps will open Jan. 23.

In addition, the league will add an official for each game bringing the total to seven working each game, Kelly said.

The USFL meetings will continue through the week.

Story-(UPI)