'85 Chronology-Panther Power

Event Date: November 20th, 1985

Event Description: Panthers Sign Raeford

Source: Football News

The Michigan Panthers announced on Tuesday that free agent defensive back Peter Raeford has signed a two-year contract with the team.

“I'm excited to be joining such a great organization,” said Raeford from the club's practice facility on Tuesday.

Raeford who played his college football at nearby Northern Michigan was the Gunslingers’ top cornerback last season.

Other free agents will have the opportunity to make the Panthers’ roster during an open tryout camp at the Pontiac Silverdome Alamo Stadium on November 28th.

In other USFL news; the Tampa Bay Bandits have traded quarterback Steve Calabria to the New Jersey Generals in exchange for lineman Greg Roberts. 

Calabria became expendable after the signing of free agent quarterback Fred Besana who is set to replace the now departed John Reaves.

'85 Chronology-New Quarterback

Event Date: November 20th, 1985

Event Description: Express Sign Neuheisel

Source: L.A. Times

Rick Neuheisel signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League on Tuesday. 

Neuheisel, who led UCLA to a 45-9 Rose Bowl win over Illinois, played with the San Antonio Gunslingers last year and threw for a 3,167 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Neuheisel is expected to replace Steve Young who has moved on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.

Story-(LA Times Modified)

'85 Chronology-'86 Schedule Released

Event Date: November 18th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Schedule Released

Source: PFW

The fourth United States Football League season opens Feb. 22nd when the New Jersey Generals host the Tampa Bay Bandits, the USFL announced Saturday.

The 14-team, 16-week regular-season schedule includes 112 games and ends Saturday, June 7th. The USFL championship game will be played June 29th in Jacksonville, Florida.

Down from 16 teams in 1985, the USFL will feature two seven-team conferences in 1985. The Eastern Conference includes the Baltimore Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, New Jersey Generals, Orlando Renegades and Tampa Bay Bandits. 

The Western Conference consists of the Arizona Outlaws, Denver Gold, Houston Gamblers, Los Angeles Express, Michigan Panthers, New Orleans Breakers and Oakland Invaders.

The Stars have moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore and the San Antonio Gunslingers have suspended operations and are now under league control.

Each team plays a home-and-home series with teams in its conference, plus single games against four teams from the other conference.

For the fourth year, ABC will carry 16 weeks of USFL games. ABC will televise Sunday afternoons and provide playoff and championship coverage. 

ESPN, which entered into a new three-year agreement with the USFL after the 1984 season, will offer Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday night games.

The league has also reached an agreement with RCA regarding the televising  of league games via syndication.

The USFL playoffs begin June 14th with eight teams qualifying, four from each conference.

'85 Chronology-RCA TV

Event Date: November 16th, 1985

Event Description: New USFL TV Deal

Source: UPI

The U.S. Football League became the first professional sports league to commit to satellite syndication as a means of accessing a nationwide audience by signing an agreement with RCA American Communications, Inc. for the upcoming 1986 season, USFL Commissioner Harry Usher announced Tuesday.

RCA American Communications will launch the nation's most powerful communications satellite via the space shuttle Atlantis Nov. 27. 

The satellite will programmed to reach 550 broadcast TV stations, which the USFL will utilize to distribute its 1986 games.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Savor the Flavor

Event Date: November 15th, 1985

Event Description: USFL TV Deal

Source: Gainesville Sun

'85 Chronology-Kicker Carousel

Event Date: November 15th, 1985

Event Description: Cards Sign Kicker

Source: UPI

The St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday signed kicker Novo Bojovic, who formerly kicked in the USFL.

Bojovic replaces rookie kicker Jess Atkinson, who was waived after missing all three field goals he attempted in his two-week stint with St. Louis. Atkinson had been signed after veteran Neil O'Donoghue was released.

Bojovic kicked for the Michigan Panthers for the last three seasons.

Bojovic passed his physical examination Tuesday after winning a kicking battle with several others who tried out at Busch Stadium.

Bojovic was born in Titograd, Yugoslavia, and attended high school in Hamtramck, Michigan, before kicking at Central Michigan.

Story-(UPI)

'85 Chronology-Sqwincher-Official Drink of the USFL

'85 Chronology-Hawk Hudson

Event Date: November 13th, 1985

Event Description: Hudson Eyes 'Hawks

Source: UPI

While tight end Gordon Hudson's agent says his client is free to negotiate with Seattle, the Seahawks aren't sure they're interested anymore.

Agent John Maloney claims Hudson has been released from his USFL contract with the Los Angeles Express and is free to talk with Seattle, which selected him in the 1984 supplemental draft.

But Mike McCormack, Seattle president and general manager, countered that the Seahawks have not been notified of any change in Hudson's status with the Express.

Coach Chuck Knox Wednesday said the former Brigham Young University star is an enigma to him.

“I don't know anything about him,” Knox said.

Knox said if the Seahawks are to work out a deal with Hudson, there's no guarantee he'll be on the squad's active roster this season.

“We'll wait and see what's worked out between his agent and our administration,” he said. “After that, we'd have to see what our alternatives are. We could place him on injured reserve, depending on how his physical goes, or we could activate him, depending on our needs,” Knox said.

The Seahawks currently have four tight ends -- Charle Young and Dan Ross on the active roster and Mike Tice and Tony Davis on injured reserve.

McCormack said he has talked with Maloney extensively and Seattle team physicians have examined Hudson, who suffered nerve damage in his elbow when he broke an arm during the 1985 USFL season.

Hudson caught 178 passes while at BYU. He set an NCAA record for sophomore tight ends with 67 catches in 1981, including 13 receptions for 259 yards against Utah.

He caught 67 passes as a junior, and as a senior had 44 receptions for 596 yards despite missing the final four games of the season with a knee injury.

Story-(UPI)

'85 Chronology-New Rules

Event Date: November 5th, 1985

Event Description: USFL Fights Chickens

Source: UPI

The United States Football League adopted several rule changes Monday, including a new kick-off regulation, at the first day of their two-day owners meeting.

Owners agreed to a regulation that will make the line of scrimmage after a kickoff the 10-yard line if a receiver does not run the the ball out of the end zone. Previously the ball was returned to the 20-yard line.

However, the 20-yard line will remain the line of scrimmage, should the kick-off go through or out of the end zone.

“The kickoff return could be one of the most exciting plays in football, and we passed it to stimulate more runbacks,” said USFL Commissioner Harry Usher.

The owners also agreed that players involved in “chicken fighting” that results in off-setting personal foul penalties should be required to leave the field for the next two plays, excluding kickoffs.

Those players are subject to league fines of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, and $500 for the third, as well as any fines imposed by their individual clubs.

Usher said both rule changes reflect the USFL's progressive approach to improve the game.

“The altercation rule responds to the fans' displeasure of the standard off-setting penalty call. We feel it will speed up the game and discourage pushing and shoving,” Usher said.

The league increased from five to seven the the number of shools in the territorial draft and adopted their two dates for selecting college players.

The territorial draft will be held January 2nd and the common draft the following day. The USFL draft will again be held weeks before the National Football League, which is again slated for April.

“It will give us the opportunity to talk to and sign players from schools such as Tennessee and Memphis State ahead of the NFL draft. Some good players are going to be available next spring,” Ehrhart said.

The league also agree there will be no restriction on the number of players allowed to go downfield on punt coverage.

In addition;

ProServ Television will represent the U.S. Football League in creating the league's 1986 independent television package for next season. 

The company has sold the international television rights for the USFL since the league's inception in 1983.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Besana to Bandits

Event Date: October 31st, 1985

Event Description: Bandits Sign Besana

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'85 Chronology-The King Holds Court

Event Date: October 29th, 1985

Event Description: Walker Eyes Future

Source: UPI

The throne is currently being kept warm by Eric Dickerson, a royal runner.

The man who should be king, though, does not play football on NFL Sundays. Instead, Herschel Walker is busy carrying the ball for Adidas and several other businesses.

No injuries, no contract holdouts. Walker, the world's best running back, just refuses to look for a hole in his U.S. Football League contract.

“I can't say I miss it because I don't keep up with it,” Walker said of the NFL. “I'm happy to be playing with the Generals. I'm the kind of guy who does what he's told to do.”

The line of progression should have been natural for Walker. He was the greatest runner in high school football history (3,167 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior at Johnson County High School in Georgia). He moved on to become the best college back of all time, leading a typical Georgia team to a national championship as he set a freshman running record.

In three years he set 11 NCAA records. But that was just it, he did it in three years. And as all the previous members of the royal progression -- Jimmy Brown, Gale Sayers and O.J. Simpson to name a few - know, the road to the palace is four years in college (graduation is not essential) before entering the NFL.

Walker took a hard right and a 3-year contract at $1.2 million annually in February 1983 to forego his senior season at Georgia and join the USFL Generals.

“Right now, I'm four years ahead of myself,” Walker said. 

“When people think about it they'll know the salary structure then is nothing like what it is now. I'm in such a great position with pay and feeling comfortable in life. Coming out early gave me a head start.”

But it also meant that his professional talent would not be understood. In his first two USFL seasons, Walker rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a matter of habit. Despite the more than 3,100 combined yards he gained, Walker was criticized for not being super human as he had always been.

So in 1985 Walker became super human. Combining his world-class speed with his awesome power, the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder rushed for a professional single-season record of 2,411 yards. But as Dickerson, whose record he broke, said, it was accomplished in the “minor leagues.”

Walker has said he disagrees with Dickerson's assessment. 

However, each time he referred to the USFL it was as “they" not “we.” But he did recently sign a 4-year personal service contract with Generals owner Donald Trump that begins next year.

Since NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle has warned league members about being careful when discussing USFL players under contract while the USFL's anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL is still on, Cowboys president and general manager Tex Schramm and vice president-personnel development Gil Brandt remain silent on bringing Walker to Dallas.

“I was very honored to be drafted by Dallas,” said the 23-year-old Walker. “I'm with the Generals, though. My name's on the contract and my frame of mind is Generals, Generals. I won't look astray because that's when you become unhappy with yourself.”

The unhappy people now are football fans who want to see Walker against the best.

“It depends on what type of team he went to,” said Maurice Carthon, who was Walker's General running mate for three seasons before jumping to the Giants. “The Dallas Cowboys wouldn't draft him on the fifth round if they didn't think he could help a lot. I think he'd be one of the top backs in the league. I talk to him a lot, but we don't talk much about the NFL. He doesn't ask.”

Walker said: “I'm not going to start any controversies that I'm the best running back around. Then again I'm not going to shy away from any competition. I'm the kind of guy that tries my very best, strives to be top in his craft. I want to show people I'm still around, but it's not the idea of showing other people, but showing yourself.”

Walker will soon return to Georgia to complete the several hours he needs to get his degree in criminal justice. There is business, a new book (Herschel Walker's Basic Training) and several track meets coming up.

And maybe, just maybe, the king will someday complete the journey he has always seemed destined to in the NFL.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Manges Manuevers

Event Date: October 22nd, 1985

Event Description: Manges Payment Plans

Source: UPI

South Texas millionaire rancher Clinton Manges will pay former U.S Football League players for his defunct San Antonio Gunslingers as soon as he can find enough cash, his attorney said Tuesday, doubting threats to begin foreclosure proceedings against him could be pursued.

A court judgment Monday ordering Manges to pay more than $601,000 in back wages owed the former players named the team's parent company, South Texas Sports Inc., which would make it difficult to pursue Manges, principal owner of South Texas Sports, the attorney, Marynell Maloney of San Antonio, said.

“I thought it was a poor decision on the part of the attorney for the players,” she said.

A lawyer for the players said that if an appeal is not filed and the money is not paid, initiation of foreclosure hearings could begin within 30 days.

If the appeals are pursued, that could hurt the players because it could postpone by years payment of their wages, Marynell Maloney said.

“Clinton Manges does want to pay the players as soon as he has the money, irrespective of the judgment, so the appellate process is really irrelevant at this time.  Whenever he has the resources, the cash, the players will be paid. All it takes is money,” she said.

Manges, already facing several lawsuits over debts due to past team expenses, paid his players sporadically in 1985 and waived the entire team after the last game of the season.

His attorneys admit he is worth at least $500 million, but say that is in assets and not cash.

“There's a big difference,” Maloney said.

A USFL Players Association arbitrator July 11 ordered South Texas Sports to pay the back wages. Instead, Manges issued promissory notes, but Sept. 26 passed without the players receiving any money.

South Texas Sports President Bud Haun blames the situation on the USFL, which he said made healthy franchises underwrite ailing ones in Birmingham, Houston and Los Angeles.

“We've tried to sell property, borrow money to pay the salaries. I have the deepest sympathy for them,” Haun said about the players.

Phil Hardberger, an attorney for the players, said he doubted South Texas Sports could afford to appeal the case if it cannot pay the players. The franchise must post a bond worth twice the judgment amount to file an appeal, he said.

“Furthermore, Clinton Manges says he's going to have a team here next year, but by the rules of the league he can't even field a team until he pays this judgment. Now we're going to see if he's going to put up or shut up,” Hardberger said.

“I will continue to take every step as long as Mr. Manges has a piece of land left in Texas or the players get paid, whichever comes first,” he said.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Rozelle Rejection

Event Date: October 16th, 1985

Event Description: NFL League Meetings

Source: UPI

National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle, claiming baseball's drug problems will hurt football as well, Tuesday said he favors expanding the NFL's drug testing program.

Rozelle, speaking during the annual fall league meeting, said some owners want to make additional drug testing part of the next collective bargaining agreement with the players' association. The current agreement expires after the 1986 season.

"A number of owners have said they would like to have more liberalized drug testing," Rozelle said. "I'd like to see it, too."

Rozelle also said there was no indication that any NFL owners would be receptive to absorbing one or more USFL clubs.

“I haven't had any club suggest it to me,” he said.

The proposal to use instant replays to aid in making certain officials' decisions during this season's playoff games and Super Bowl will be voted on Wednesday.

Issues decided Tuesday include:

-- The college draft was set for April 29. All 15 rounds will be held on one day, with one slight change in the drafting format -- teams will have 10 minutes rather than 15 to make their second-round selections. Clubs still have 15 minutes in the first round and five minutes in rounds 3-12.

-- The voice amplication experiment used in two preseason games this year will continue during next year's exhibition season. The experiment involves a radio system in the players' helmets to make quarterback signals clearer.

The clubs will also discuss Wednesday scheduling another exhibition game in London. A preseason game was played there in 1984, and Rozelle said Great Britain is a potential television market.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Exodus II

Event Date: October 12th, 1985

Event Description: Comeback Kid

Source: UPI

Joe Cribbs is expected to be wearing his familiar number 20 for the Bills when Buffalo hosts the Indianapolis Colts next week.

Cribbs, a former All-Pro with the Bills from 1980-1983, has returned to his first professional football team after a two-year stint with the USFL Birmingham Stallions.

“I feel like I wanted to get out of the USFL and I wanted to play in the NFL,” Cribbs said at a news conference Friday, after signing a contract with the Bills, reportedly a four-year deal for $2 million, plus a $500,000 signing bonus.

“I'm glad it's over,” Cribbs, 27, said. “I feel it (the USFL) is a dying situation.”

Cribbs admitted he also has to “work out” and get “back into shape.”

The return of Cribbs had been the subject of talks between the Bills and Louis Burrell, Cribbs' agent, for the past two months. A major hurdle in the talks was the buyout of the remaining years of Cribbs' Birmingham contract.

“I'm delighted it's over,” said Bills general manager Terry Bledsoe, “because he (Cribbs) belongs in a Bills uniform.”

Story-(UPI Modified)

'85 Chronology-Exodus I

Event Date: October 12th, 1985

Event Description: Oilers Sign '84 Pick

Source: UPI

The Houston Oilers have received a two-week exemption that keeps Doug Smith, former defensive lineman with the Birmingham Stallions of the U.S. Footbal League, off their roster, officials said Thursday.

Smith, the team's second-round draft pick in 1984, practiced with the Oilers Thursday after signing a contract, said club spokesman Bob Hyde.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder played for Birmingham last season and had three years remaining on that contract. He signed with the Oilers after he was released from the contract and it was confirmed he cleared USFL waivers.

Terms of Smith's contract with the Oilers were not diclosed The exemption issued by the NFL means Smith will not count on Houston's 45-man roster for two games.

“We think he can help us,” Oilers' General Manager Ladd Herzeg said. “We're carrying only five defensive linemen ... and based on what our scouts say, Doug Smith can make a contribution. Whether or not he can be an impact player remains to be seen.”

Herzeg began negotiations with Smith's agent, George Kickliter, during training camp. Herzeg said he would not sign Smith unless the Oilers received a letter from the Stallions that Smith had been released from his contract.

Smith, who played at Auburn, rejected the Oilers' offer last year and signed a 4-year, $1.25 million contract with Birmingham. He earned All-USFL honors at defensive tackle.

Story-(UPI)

'85 Chronology-Format '86

Event Date: October 7th, 1985

Event Description: USFL  vs. NFL

Source: UPI

A streamlined alignment of two seven-team conferences was announced today by the United States Football League, which also warned that it is in high gear with the legal battle to prevent the National Football League from tampering with existing USFL franchise cities.

Under the league's new format, each of the 14 teams will play home and away within its own conference and each team meets four teams of the other conference when the 1986 regular season opens the weekend of Feb. 22nd.

The Eastern Conference consists of the Baltimore (from Philadelphia) Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, New Jersey Generals, Orlando Renegades and Tampa Bay Bandits.

Western Conference clubs are the Arizona Outlaws, Denver Gold, Houston Gamblers, Los Angeles Express, Michigan Panthers, New Orleans Breakers, and Oakland Invaders.

The San Antonio Gunslingers franchise has been placed under league control and is currently embroiled in a variety of lawsuits. In addition, the Chicago franchise has yet to be re-animated.

The USFL draft will be held January 2nd and 3rd and training camps open January 21st. The championship game is scheduled for June 28th, but the site is to be determined.

On the legal front the league has endorsed a pair of anti-trust lawsuits which are currently being put forth by the Oakland and Philadelphia franchises. 

“The purpose of today's media conference is to provide some answers as to where we're going,” said USFL commissioner Harry Usher.

Story-(UPI '84 Modified)

'85 Chronology-Option Year

Event Date: October 3rd, 1985

Event Description: Andrews Offer

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'85 Chronology-Allocation Draft

Event Date: October 1st, 1985

Event Description: Maulers Allocation Draft

Source: League Office

Pittsburgh Maulers Merger Allocation Draft 

Arizona Outlaws

OG Donnie Hickman

DB Billy Yancy

Birmingham Stallions

WR Greg Anderson

DB Mickey Sutton

QB Tom Rozantz

Denver Gold

OG Ron Hausauer

NT Laval Short

LB Mike McKibben

LB Bob Knapton

DB Jeff Delaney

DB Jesse Johnson

WR Lonell Phea

Houston Gamblers

WR Shawn Potts

Jacksonville Bulls:

P Larry Swider

DB Mark Harper

Los Angeles Express:

G-T Joe Lukens

PK Efren Herrera

DT Rich Dimler

Memphis Showboats: 

DE Sam Clancy

TE Mark Raugh

Michigan Panthers:

DL Ira Albright

DB Sam Sopp

New Jersey Generals

T-G Don Maggs

DB Jerry Holmes

New Orleans Breakers

LB Howard McAdoo

LB Earnest Adams

Oakland Invaders

OC Jeff Harper

DL Doug Hollie

Orlando Renegades

DB William Cesare

Philadelphia Stars

RB Walter Holman

TE Mike Shaw

OC Chuck Correal

OC Mark Udinski

OT Dave Pacella

OL Scott Burris

LB Ron Crosby

Tampa Bay Bandits

RB William Miller