'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.

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