'84 Chronology-Road Trip

Event Date: July 18th, 1984

Event Description: USFL Exhibition

Source: Reading Eagle

'84 Chronology-Flying Flip

Event Date: July 18th, 1984

Event Description: Who Cares?

Source: Reading-Eagle

'84 Chronology-Split Screens

Event Date: July 16th, 1984

Event Description: USFL Owners Meet

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

'84 Chronology-Gamblin' Man!

Event Date: July 16th, 1984

Event Description: Gamblers Take Title

Source: UPI

The Houston Gamblers were confident they could throw on the Birmingham Stallions, and pass they did.

Game MVP Jim Kelly passed for 351yards leading Houston to to a 35-26 win over the Stallions in the second annual USFL championship game Sunday night.

“Our offensive unit and our coaches have a lot of confidence in passing the ball,” said jubilant Houston coach Jack Pardee. “Our intention was to run the ball on them, and we did, but at the end of the day with a quarterback like Jim you have to let him lead the way” he said.

The Gamblers scored on their first two possessions of the third frame, the first a 33-yard strike to Richard Johnson and the second a 40-yarder to Ricky Sanders which pushed Houston ahead 21-10.

“I knew it was going to be a tough game for Birmingham after our first two possessions to start the second-half, ” said Kelly. The Gamblers put together a pair of long drives to start the second-half and never looked back.

Kelly finished the night with 24 completions in 31 attempts for 351 yards with three touchdowns, three sacks and three interceptions. Kelly also rushed for 31 yards on six attempts and added a late touchdown run to seal the victory.

Todd Fowler carried 16 times for 101 yards with one touchdown run and hauled in three passes for 30 yards, the first a 16-yard touchdown reception which opened the scoring.

Richard Johnson finished with nine receptions for 103 yards with one touchdown. Greg Moser finished with five receptions for 81 yards and Ricky Sanders added four receptions for 70 yards with one touchdown.

The Gamblers wasted several scoring opportunities. Kelly was intercepted after getting to the Birmingham 16, and Toni Fritsch missed a field goal attempt just before the intermission.

But the Houston defense covered up for those mistakes by sacking Birmingham quarterback Cliff Stoudt on four occasions and holding Joe Cribbs to under 100 yards rushing, Cribbs finished with 83 yards on 14 carries. 

Stoudt finished with 307 passing yards on 19-of-34 efficiency with one interception, a pair of touchdowns and four sacks.

“I think our defense is among the best in the league,” Pardee said. 

Story-(UPI Modified)

'84 Chronology-Golden Opportunity

Event Date: July 15th, 1984

Event Description: Gold Prep Davis

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-Limbo Jimbo

Event Date: July 14th, 1984

Event Description: Simmons: League in Limbo

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'84 Chronology-Championship Preview

Event Date: July 14th, 1984

Event Description: Championship Preview

Source: UPI

U.S.F.L. Championship at Tampa, Florida

(14-6) Houston Gamblers vs (16-4) Birmingham Stallions

8:05 p.m. (ABC-National-Keith Jackson and Lynn Swann)

Spread: Stallions -2

Rollie Dotsch and Jack Pardee are taking a similar approach to Sunday's second annual U.S. Football League championship game.

Dotsch and Pardee both said Thursday they are approaching Sunday's USFL finale like it was just another game.

“I'm trying to stay on the same schedule we had during the regular season,” said Dotsch. 

“We're going to practice under the lights to get ready for the game, but other than that, I think we’re going to pretty much run our standard week of practice.”

“I suppose it would have been nice to have had an extra week to prepare (like the NFL teams have for their Super Bowl), but I don't know that it really matters,” said Pardee. “The way it has turned out, our (practice) schedule is the same as it was for all our Sunday games.”

The Stallions, who advanced to the championship with playoff victories over Tampa Bay and Philadelphia after a 14-4 regular season, and the Gamblers, winners over Los Angeles and Houston after going 12-6, both arrived in Tampa Tuesday evening and got in their first workouts here Wednesday.

“I think it was a plus to have all that southern heat because the last half of the season we've been very strong,” said Dotsch. 

“With a veteran club, we out-conditioned some of the younger squads. We won a couple of games in the fourth quarter because of our conditioning.”

“We match up well against Houston,” said Dotsch. “They play wide open football, offensively and defensively. They don't seem overly concerned with making mistakes on offense and defensively they try to capitalize on other people's mistakes.”

Sunday's contest will feature the passing of Houston rookie quarterback Jim Kelly against Birmingham's Cliff Stoudt and the running of Todd Fowler against Joe Cribbs and Leon Perry of Birmingham.

Kelly was the USFL’s most exciting quarterback throwing for 4,758 yards and 44 touchdowns during the 18-game regular season. Stoudt, a five-year pro veteran, threw for 2,785 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Fowler rushed for 1,280 yards during the regular season and 247 in two playoff games. Cribbs and Perry led the Stallions with 1,450 and 1,123 yards respectively.

Source: (UPI Modified)

'84 Chronology-Deep Divisions

Event Date: July 13th, 1984

Event Description: USFL Owners Divided

Source: United Press International

U.S. Football League Commissioner Chet Simmons said Friday his 16-team league is divided into three camps in its search for survival.

Simmons, noting attendance is up about 10 percent over last year (the league's first) at an average of about 27,000, is concerned about plunging television ratings. He said a study committee is expected to report shortly on the direction the USFL should take.

“We've got a group pushing for us to go to fall football, another wanting us to continue as we have these past two years and a third that appears willing to accept either option,” said Simmons.

“My gut feeling is we can't stay where we have been for the past two years,” added Simmons, who appears to favor playing head-to-head against the NFL in the fall. “Whatever we do, it must be for the league's best interest.”

Simmons' biggest concern appears to be TV ratings, which were running at 8 percent early this year before sagging to 3 percent by the close of the regular season.

“It isn't just us,” said Simmons. “People have seen so much for so long television sports in general may be in a decline. The only sport that is up right now is Monday night baseball.”

He said he has been trying to get better television times and dates for the USFL.

“I hate to deal with ABC (television) in the press,” said Simmons, “but one of our biggest problems these past two years has been our inability in the spring to televise more games back home for teams on the road.”

Simmons admits that teams now playing in NFL cities probably would be hurt by the USFL's proposed fall schedule. “We have different interests at stake,” he said. “What may be good for one team could be disastrous for another.”

Simmons brushed aside questions about a possible merger between the leagues. “I don't believe,” he said, “there has been any formal merger consideration within the U.S. Football League.”

As for expansion, Simmons said, “There are a couple of markets we're interested in, but nothing has been formalized.”

Simmons said he has been unable to get ABC, which televised two and sometimes three USFL games a week this past season, to sit down and talk about the future.

“Right now, ABC is unwilling to talk about more prime-time coverage,” he said. “We're between a rock and a hard place because we need those numbers for our TV ratings. This league has done very, very well coming from scratch two years ago. At first, level of play was terrible and we've come a long way, surviving the critical approach of the media and some of the fans.”

“We're still losing money, but the losses will be less this year than last. We have to learn to spend our money wisely. We have a very vocal ownership. They are impatient and frustrated. They know they have a good product and they want to expose it.”

Simmons said the USFL is concerned about the problems facing its Los Angeles franchise. But he said next year the Express will fend better without the Olympics to contend with. “The Olympics,” he said, “took a lot of dollars out of the Los Angeles area.”

Simmons said he had little information regarding an announcement that the Tulsa franchise was looking to move.

“I haven't talked to the owners yet,” he said. “I hate to have a team in limbo and that's what we have right now.”

Story-(UPI)

'84 Chronology-Tampering Charges

Event Date: July 11th, 1984

Event Description: Gamblers versus Gold 

Source: UPI

Denver Gold owner Doug Spedding may name a new head coach over the next few days, but he also can expect something else -- a U.S Football League tampering charge for his attempts to lure an assistant coach away from the Houston Gamblers.

Officials expect Spedding to announce by the end of this week the appointment of Darrell 'Mouse' Davis, now an assistant with the Gamblers, as his team's new head coach.

But Denver real estate developer Jay Roulier, a part owner of the Houston team, doesn't like the way Spedding has gone about trying to sign a new coach and plans to do something bout it.

Whether or not Davis is signed, Roulier said he would press tampering charges against his fellow USFL team owner or the way he approached the Houston offensive coordinator about the job.

"We're going to make an issue of this, not to prevent Mouse from going to Denver, but to let Spedding know that he can't flout league rules and get away with it," said Roulier, who flew to Tampa, Fla., Tuesday for Sunday night's USFL championship game.

"All we wanted was for Doug to ask our permission to talk to Davis as league rules provide. He flat didn't do that, and we have a well-documented case of tampering to present to the league."

According to Roulier, Houston co-owner Jerry Argovitz asked Spedding several times in recent weeks whether he wanted to talk to Davis about the Denver job, which formerly was held by former NFL quarterback Craig Morton. He said each time, Spedding would say no and then contact Davis anyway.

"The league can't allow that type of circumvention of the rules to go unpunished," Roulier said. "I talked with Mouse yesterday and told him that I wouldn't respect him if he didn't have that kind of ambition. But I advised him to make sure that this opportunity represents an actual advancement and is something he really wants."

"I've read that Spedding anticipates signing Davis as the new Gold coach soon, but I really don't know what Mouse will do. He's got a great situation with us, one that assures him of a good salary and full responsibility and authority for the offense."

The new contract which Houston has offered Davis calls for an annual salary of $110,000 and the added title of assistant head coach.

Story-(UPI)

'84 Chronology-Public Auction

Event Date: July 11th, 1984

Event Description: Stars Pursue Lott

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'84 Chronology-Trivial Pursuits

Event Date: July 11th, 1984

Event Description: WFL Suit Lingers

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

'84 Chronology-USFL Championship Game Promo II

'84 Chronology-Passing Fancy

Event Date: July 11th, 1984

Event Description: Breakers Ink Fassel

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'84 Chronology-Sunshine State

Event Date: July 9th, 1984

Event Description: Acorn & Logan

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'84 Chronology-USFL Championship Game Promo

'84 Chronology-Stunner!

Event Date: July 9th, 1984

Event Description: Stallions Stun Stars

Story-UPI

The two teams with the best records during the season proved to be the class of the playoffs as well.

Cliff Stoudt attacked the Stars’ secondary by throwing for records of 230 yards and Leon Perry scored a pair of touchdowns, helping Birmingham edge Philadelphia by a score of 27-20. 

“You never expect a playoff road win, but when it begins to develop, you go for the throat,' said Birmingham coach Rollie Dotsch. 'We're really proud of these guys and they are proud of themselves.”

The Stallions will now face Houston in next weeks’ championship game to be held in Tampa, Florida.

“We played relentless, we played hard, we played tough, and we came out with the win,” added Stallions' defensive back Chuck Clanton.

Stoudt completed 18-of-21 passes for 230 yards and was intercepted once to go along with two sacks. Joe Cribbs ran 15 times for 88 yards to lead the Birmingham.

Philadelphia quarterback Chuck Fusina was 25-of-42 for 215 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and two sacks. Kelvin Bryant paced the Stars' ground attack with 109 yards and one touchdown.

The Stallions opened the scoring on their first possession, putting together an eight-play, 48 yard drive that need with a 43-yard Danny Miller field goal.

After stifling the Philadelphia offense through the first quarter, Birmingham struck again with an Earl rant one-yard touchdown plunge that culminated a six-play, 64 yard drive to end the first stanza.

Philadelphia finally broke the ice at the end of the first-half with a one-yard Kelvin Bryant touchdown run. A failed extra point sent the teams into the intermission with Birmingham ahead 10-6.

Birmingham extended its lead to 13-6 midway through the third after another Dan Miller field goal, but the Stars quickly responded with a ten-play, 73 yard drive that ended with a Fusina to Willie Collier touchdown pass. The teams then headed into the final frame tied at 13-13.

The final frame witnessed two long Birmingham drives which sealed the win. The first drive came at the start of the fourth, culminating with a Leon Perry 14-yard run, finishing an 11-play, 75 yard drive, pushing the visitors up 20-13.

The second drive, again finished with a Perry touchdown run and finished a five-play, 70 yard drive after a Donald Evans interception of Fusina.

“We just kept rolling and our defense was the best on the football field today," said Birmingham quarterback Cliff Stoudt.

“I didn't feel frustrated out there,” said Philadelphia coach Jim Mora. “I just kept feeling we would make a big play to put us back into the game -- but it never came. We did a lot of things we wanted to, but they just beat us.”

Story-(UPI Modified)

'84 Chronology-Kelly's Heroes

Event Date: July 9th, 1984

Event Description:  Cruising to Victory

Source: UPI

Jim Kelly tossed six touchdown passes Sunday, including two to Ricky Sanders, to power the Houston Gamblers to a 48-28 triumph over the Michigan Panthers and a berth in the U.S. Football League championship game.

“Jim and I both read the defenses the same way. He threw the ball out there and it's my job to go get it. I was single covered man-to-man and I'm supposed to beat that kind of coverage,” said Sanders who finished with eight receptions for 89 yards.

Kelly, who threw 44 touchdown passes during the season, finished the game with 445 passing yards on 30-of-36 efficiency as the Gamblers cruised to victory.

Kelly hit on touchdown strikes to Rick Moser, Scott McGhee, Richard Johnson, Todd Fowler and Ricky Sanders. Fowler also led all rushers with 120 yards with one rushing touchdown.

The victory, before 28,152 fans, advanced the Gamblers into the championship against the Birmingham Stallions, who defeated the Philadelphia Stars 27-20 in an upset in the Eastern final. It will be both teams’ first trip to the championship game to be held next week in Tampa.

The Panthers were led by Bobby Hebert who finished with 295 yards passing to go along with two touchdowns and one interception. Anthony Carter hauled in five passes for 98 yards while John Williams and ken Lacy combined for 133 yards on the ground.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'84 Chronology-Eastern Conference Introduction

'84 Chronology-Stalled Out

Event Date: July 8th, 1984

Event Description: Stalls Retires

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'84 Chronology-Conference Championship Preview

Event Date: July 7th, 1984

Event description: USFL Conference Championship Previews

Source: UPI

(15-4) Birmingham Stallions at (17-2) Philadelphia Stars

1:05 p.m. (ABC-National-Keith Jackson and Lynn Swann)

Spread: Stars by -6 

Cliff Stoudt is facing his 36th football game since September, and he'll give his right shoulder to play in it.

Although his coach lists him as questionable, Stoudt said there's no way he'll miss leading the Birmingham Stallions into the USFL Eastern Conference championship game against the Philadelphia Stars Sunday.

Tonight, it's Michigan at Houston in the Western Conference final.

The winners meet July 15 at Tampa, Fla. for the USFL title.

Stoudt, who quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers into the NFL playoffs last winter, missed practice all week due to a sore right shoulder. He sat out the final regular-season game, but bounced to score two touchdowns in last week's 33-13 playoff victory over Tampa Bay.

Stoudt finished third to Philadelphia's Chuck Fusina in passing and teams with running back Joe Cribbs and wide receiver Jim Smith to give the Stallions three former NFL starters on their offense.

“There's nothing that could keep me out of this game,” Stoudt said.

Actually, there is one thing -- Birmingham Coach Rollie Dotsch.

Dotsch still hasn't decided whether Stoudt or backup Bobby Lane will start.

“Cliff is very sore,” Dotsch said. “He's questionable right now. I have to wait and see if he can throw the ball. We'll just have to watch him and everyone else carefully this week and hope they get better. There isn't much we can do.”

The Stallions are trying to avenge a 24-10 defeat at the hands of the Stars back in week five.

Despite the previous win, Philadelphia Coach Jim Mora certainly isn't overconfident about Sunday's game.

'The Stallions pose a double threat to us because of their running game and the passing of Cliff Stoudt,' Mora said. “They have three legitimate superstars in Stoudt, Joe Cribbs and Jim Smith. They can play for anybody.”

Cribbs finished the regular season with 1,450 yards, Smith caught 84 passes for 1,371 yards and Stoudt passed for 2,765 yards with 18 TDs and just five interceptions.

Fusina completed 69 percent of his passes for 37 TDs and five interceptions. Stars running back Kelvin Bryant was just behind Cribbs with 1,434 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns.

(10-9) Michigan Panthers at (13-6) Houston Gamblers

8:00 p.m. (ABC Regional-Tim Brant and Lee Grosscup)

Spread: Gamblers -4

The Panthers pulled the upset last week with their road win at Arizona. Michigan will again be the underdog this week as they travel to Houston to take on league-MVP Jim Kelly and the rest of the Gamblers.

Back in Week #8, the Panthers demolished Houston as Kelly was intercepted five times while being held to just 189 passing yards. The Michigan defense swarmed Kelly and his cohorts all day long, while the Panthers’ offense led a controlled the clock with a stout running attack led by John Williams and Ken Lacy.

Look for Michigan to again give the Gamblers all they handle as Bobby Hebert and the offense try and keep pace with the explosive Houston offense.

The game was switched to a Saturday night game so as to take advantage of the prime time audience.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'84 Chronology-Master Minds

Event Date: July 7th, 1984

Event Description: Jones Promoted

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

'84 Chronology-Breach of Contract

Event Date: July 7th, 1984

Event Description: S&L Sues Oldenburg

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

'84 Chronology-Image Makeover

Event Date: July 7th, 1984

Event Description: Clanton Changes

Source: Times Daily

'84 Chronology-Financial Security

Event Date: July 6th, 1984

Event Description: Bulls Sign Pick

Source: Ocala Star Banner

'84 Chronology-Mighty Mouse

Event Date: July 5th, 1984

Event Description: Gold Pursue Mouse

Source: Ocala Star-Banner