Event Date: February 21st, 1984
Event Description: USFL Preview '84
Source: United Press International
The USFL opens in three new cities, as four expansion teams, seven head coaches and at least nine starting quarterbacks make their debuts in the first weekend of the league's second season.
Expansion teams opening at home are the Houston Gamblers (vs. Birmingham), and the Jacksonville Bulls (vs. Michigan), also the relocated Breakers open at home in New Orleans (vs. Memphis), and the new Arizona Outlaws franchise takes on newcomer Pittsburgh.
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In other games, it's Philadelphia at Denver, Washington at Los Angeles, New Jersey at Oakland and Tampa Bay at Chicago on Monday night.
Former NFL coaches Walt Michaels (New Jersey), Marv Levy (Chicago) and Jack Pardee (Houston) get their first taste of spring football. Former pro assistants Joe Pendy (Pittsburgh), Lindy Infante (Jacksonville), and John Hadl (Los Angeles) make their head coaching debuts, while Pepper Rodgers (Memphis) joins the USFL from the college ranks.
Star players new to the league include Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier (Pittsburgh), former NFL quarterbacks Brian Sipe (New Jersey), Doug Williams (Arizona) and Vince Evans (Chicago), former All-Pros Joe Cribbs (Birmingham), Gary Barbaro (New Jersey) and college All-Americas Reggie White (Memphis), Gordon Hudson (Los Angeles) and Freddie Gilbert (New Jersey).
Rozier makes his debut against the new Arizona Outlaws led by head coach George Allen. The Pittsburgh Maulers have NFL veteran cornerback Jerry Holmes to go along with Rozier, while Arizona quarterback Doug Williams plays his first USFL game.
The Houston Gamblers, who have strong-armed rookie quarterback Jim Kelly, but suffered their first loss in the courtroom when running back Billy Sims was sent back to the Detroit Lions.
The Birmingham Stallions should be even better with the addition of quarterback Cliff Stoudt and star running back Joe Cribbs.
Denver had the league's worst offense last season and coach Craig Morton isn't sure if incumbent Craig Penrose or Bob Gagliano is the answer at quarterback.
The Philadelphia Stars move into their second season with most of their corps starters returning from last season. The Stars made it to the championship game last season, but fell to Chicago by a score of 17-14.
The Breakers moved south from Boston to New Orleans, but the personnel is mostly the same. Quarterback John Walton was one of league's best last year and his counterpart Sunday will be ex-Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis who will lead the new Memphis club.
Washington, trying to rebound from a mediocre inaugural season, will have a lot of new faces but still no high-salaried stars outside of returning running back Craig James and quarterback Reggie Collier.
Los Angeles Express recently scored a triple when they signed three top college linemen -- center Mike Ruether of Texas, guard Gary Zimmerman of Oregon and tackle Mark Adickes of Baylor -- to protect returning quarterback Tom Ramsey.
The Michigan Panthers open at expansion Jacksonville, with quarterback Bobby Hebert back after a training camp holdout. Jacksonville coach Infante is passing-minded and has given the starting quarterback job to veteran Matt Robinson.
Michigan again has a nice blend of experience and young stars like receiver Anthony Carter and safety David Greenwood.
The new Chicago Blitz hardly resembles the team which floundered in Arizona last year. Evans, running back Vegas Ferguson and safety Doug Plank have NFL experience. Tim Spencer returns for his second season in the Windy City.
John Reaves leads the Tampa Bay Bandits quarterback derby that might not get settled until several weeks into the season. Whether it's Reaves, Jimmy Jordan or Wayne Peace calling signals, they'll be looking for running back Gary Anderson and wide receiver Eric Truvillion.
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