'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)

'83 Chronology-The Crescent City

Event Date: October 20th, 1983

Event Description: Breakers Moving

Source: Daily News

'83 Chronology-Tentative Offer II

Event Date: October 20th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Pursue Sipe

Source: United Press International

The New Jersey Generals of the U.S. Football League confirmed Wednesday they have talked to the agent of Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe but denied making a money offer.

“According to Jim Gould (representative of new team owner Donald Trump), we never made a money offer to Brian Sipe's agent,” said Generals spokesman Kevin MacConnell. “A representative went out (to Cleveland), Jim didn't say who the representative was, to express interest in him.

“They spoke to the L.A. Express, who have the negotiating rights to him, and Jim Gould spoke to Al Harmon (owner of the L.A. Express) to let him know the Generals were interested in Sipe. At no time was a money offer made.”

However, an Express spokesman, said from Los Angeles that the club has not been contacted by the Generals.

At the Browns' practice site in Berea, both the club and Sipe brushed aside a reported offer of $600,000 per year to lure the 11-year veteran to the USFL.

“I think Brian Sipe ... his first interest is in the Cleveland Browns, us beating Seattle,” Cleveland coach Sam Rutigliano said. “I really don't know of anything else. I read the funnies every day too.”

“The first time I heard of this was this morning when a reporter contacted me,” Sipe said. “I have heard nothing else. I haven't addressed myself to it. It's not important to me right now. What's important to me is preparing to play the Seattle Seahawks and there's just not enough time in my schedule to think about anything else.”

The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that Generals' representative Gould made an offer to Sipe.

Sipe said he had spoken to a reporter from the Daily News in training camp.

“He ended by asking me ... if I was designated to sit the bench this year, would I move to the USFL and play for less money, or something, than I was playing for right now,” said Sipe. “I tried to be positive and I said, “Why think like that. Why not think I'm going to win the Super Bowl and become the highest paid player?”

“There was nothing more to it than that except I was trying to express to him positiveness on my side about my confidence. It really had very little to do with the USFL.”

Rutigliano said he didn't think the offer would upset the positive attitude built by the 3-1 Browns this season.

“You're dealing with a very mature guy who is very stable and with 48 other guys who have a great sense of humor, too,” he said. “I think this is kind of funny and adds a little levity to our Wednesday, which made it a little better for us.”

Asked to guess what might happen next, he said, “I don't know. It's a new league and the franchises come up like McDonalds, so there may be something else.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Tentative Offer

Event Date: October 18th, 1983

Event Description: Generals Pursue Shula

Source: United Press International

Miami Dolphin coach Don Shula said Monday he was tentatively offered $1 million a year to coach the USFL's New Jersey Generals, the same team that lured Heisman Trophy-winner Herschel Walker with a huge contract.

Shula said he received three telephone calls last week from representatives of the United States Football League team trying to determine whether he would be interested in taking the job in 1984.

“The calls weren't from the principal owner but from people who are close to the situation,” said Shula, one of the most successful coaches in National Football League history.

Shula said he was tentatively offered $1 million a year -- more than double the salary of any NFL coach.

Shula refused to say whether he was interested in the Generals' offer. His contract with the Dolphins runs out Feb. 28 unless he and team owner Joe Robbie reach agreement on a new one before then.

“At the present time, my contract here has not been settled,” he said. “I'm certainly going to give Joe every opportunity to work it out here.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Breaking Away

Event Date: October 15th, 1983

Event Description:  Breaking Away

Source: United Press International

The Boston Breakers are expected to complete a deal to move to New Orleans within the next 48 hours, a newspaper reported today.

The Boston Globe said a top USFL league official has indicated the move is likely to be completely set by next Tuesday when league meetings begin in Houston.

If the final details of the deal are worked out by then, the league owners would be able to ratify an agreement.

It is not known whether owners George Matthews and Randy Vataha plan to sell the team outright to a group of New Orleans businessmen or whether they plan to retain partial interests in the team.

The USFL team has been in Boston for just a year and a move has been anticipated for several months because the team has not found a satisfactory playing field.

When Matthews, Vataha and a small group of investors bought the franchise a year ago, the team hoped to play in Harvard Stadium. But Harvard officials would not permit it and the team played on Boston University's Nickerson Field during the 1982-1983 season.

Although the Breakers played well, ending the season with a (9-9) record, attendance was poor and the team lost nearly $2.5 million.

The Breakers found the BU field too small and after negotiations with the New England Patriots to play at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro fellthrough, the team began looking for a new home.

Since July, the owners have talked with representatives of Memphis, Indianapolis, Akron, Seattle Portland and Hawaii.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Express Interest

Event Date: October 12th, 1983

Event Description: McDonald Expresses Interest

Source: United Press International

Reserve quarterback Paul McDonald is continuing to talk with the U.S. Football League while his agent negotiates with the Cleveland Browns.

Leigh Steinberg said Tuesday negotiations with the Browns are becoming “more progressive,” but indicated he and the quarterback are continuing to talk with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL.

McDonald is dissatisfied with his role as the backup to starter Brian Sipe, who is having a good year for the 4-2 Browns.

Last season, McDonald took over the starting role midway through the season and led the Browns to a playoff spot. However, Sipe won the starting role this season.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Trump Card

Event Date: October 5th, 1983

Event Description:  Duncan Sells Generals

Source: United Press International

The New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League have called a Thursday news conference to announce the sale of the club to  a consortium led by real estate investor Donald Trump.

A source within the league said Trump, as well as representatives from Madison Square Garden Inc., and Generals' owner J. Walter Duncan will attend the 10:30 a.m. EDT conference at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan.

The Generals finished 3-15 in the USFL's maiden season and club officials, including president and coach Chuck Fairbanks, have been negotiating the sale of the franchise for several weeks.

Last week, New York attorney Lonn Berney said he had purchased the Generals for $9 million and planned to move the team to a proposed stadium in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Generals and the USFL denied the sale of the club to Berney and stressed the franchise intended to honor a 20-year lease at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Owner John McMullen of baseball's Houston Astros and Madison Square Garden had previously been reported interested in acquiring the Generals, whose average attendance was just under 34,000 in 76,000-seat Giants Stadium.

Trump, 37, recently completed the 56-story Trump Tower and was the prime mover in a venture with the Hyatt Corporation to open an ultra-modern 1,407-room hotel next to Grand Central Station in Manhattan.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed, although it is believed that Trump and MSG Incorporated will each take control of 40% of the franchise. New York developer Stephen Ross and current head coach Chuck Fairbanks will each control 10%.

In addition to the sale of the Generals, former owner J. Walter Duncan has purchased the rights to a future expansion team to be based in Oklahoma which would be closer to his current business and oil interests. 

The league would not disclose when the team would begin play, but Commissioner Chet Simmons did confirm that Duncan had purchased the rights to the now defunct Wranglers’ franchise, including the rights to the team logo, some equipment and the copyright to the the name Wranglers.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Marv-elous

Event Date: October 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Blitz Hire Levy

Source: United Press International

The new owner and new head coach of a Chicago Blitz football team were revealed Saturday at a press conference in downtown Chicago.

Dr. James F. Hoffman Jr., chief of cardiovascular surgery at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Milwaukee, is the new owner. Marv Levy, former Kansas City Chiefs coach and television football commentator, is the new coach.

A priority of the new management team will be bringing crowds out to see the Blitz, who failed to fill Soldier Field despite winning the league championship last season. “We have to win their confidence over a period of time,” said Levy, who listed finding another veteran quarterback to go along with Greg Landry as one of his main priorities.

“Personnel is an area where we can gain ground quickly,” said Levy, a native Chicagoan who coached the Chiefs from 1978 to 1982 before working as a football analyst for NBC and ESPN television.

Hoffman, 43, who before buying the Blitz for approximately $7.2 million had no active participation in professional sports, said a change was needed despite the Blitz' winning record.

“If I had had an opportunity to buy the Blitz as it were, I would not have even considered it,” Hoffman said. “The front office was terrible, player contracts and salaries were heading for absolute disaster.”

Hoffman laid most of the blame on former Blitz Coach George Allen, who at the request of the the former Blitz' owner, Dr. Ted Diethrich, joined the now defunct Wranglers’ franchise after Diethrich purchased the team from Jim Joseph.

“I don't think he Bruce Allen did anything as general manager,” Hoffman said.

Levy came to the defense of Allen, who told Levy he feared Chicagoans would feel he was a turncoat for joining the Arizona squad. “George Allen told me to tell you he hopes he's not viewed as that much of a villain,” Levy said.

Other Blitz management personnel introduced at the news conference were general manager and chief executive officer Ronald E. Potochnik, a banking executive and former football coach; and executive vice president James Foster, who was the Wrangler's assistant general manager last season.

Also introduced were Ron Waller, former assistant coach of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs; business manager and ticket director Jerry Foran, who was the Blitz' ticket director last season; director of player development Gary Carroll, who worked in the same office for the USFL's Michigan Panthers last season, and recruiter Dan Jiggetts, a former player for the NFL's Chicago Bears.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Career Challenges

Event Date: September 28th, 1983

Event Description: Football News

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Conference Call

Event Date: September 27th, 1983

Event Description: Outlaws Raid Bucs

Source: UPI

The Arizona Outlaws have called press conferences for today in Phoenix and Tempe to announce the signing of a quarterback for the new United States Football League team, and there were indications late Monday that it would be Doug Williams of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There were also reports Monday night that Don Strock, backup quarterback for the NFL Miami Dolphins, would be announced as the Outlaws' quarterback, but Strock, reached by telephone at his Miami, Fla., home, told a reporter for the Miami Herald newspaper, "I don't know anything about that."

Bill Tatham Jr. part owner of the Outlaws, refused to confirm Monday night that Williams would be announced as the quarterback. "They are signing the contract in Phoenix tonight," said Tatham. "But I can't tell you at this time that it's Doug Williams. We've talked to Doug Williams and we've talked to Don Strock. I can say that it's an NFL quarterback, no question about that."

Williams could not be reached at home in Zachary, Louisiana. Tatham said the team's new quarterback underwent physical examinations in Phoenix Monday and had dinner with general manager Bruce Allen and head coach George Allen Monday night in Phoenix. "They're having dinner right now," said Tatham late Monday. "He's is supposed to sign the contract at dinner."

A Tempe newspaper reported in its Tuesday editions that Williams, the former Grambling University standout who was the No. 1 pick of the 1978 NFL draft, had, indeed, signed with the Outlaws. 

According to the Associated Press, George Allen reacted to that report by saying, "There is no foundation to that at all. As far as I know right at the moment, there is no confirmation yet."

The Outlaws announced Monday they will present their new quarterback at a press conference this morning at Sun Devil. The quarterback and team officials plan to fly to Phoenix for another press conference later in the day.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-First Refusal?

Event Date: September 21st, 1983

Event Description: Bills File Suit

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Arizona Outlaw

Event Date: September 20th, 1983

Event Description: Tathams Take Control

Source: United Press International

Bill Tatham Sr. and his son, Bill Jr., will take over 75 percent ownership of the new Arizona Outlaws franchise under terms of a merger contract between the ex-Wranglers’ franchise and the Chicago Blitz, according to a published report.

The Arizona Republic quoted “highly-placed” sources as saying that current owner Ted Diethrich and his minority partners would be reduced to 25 percent or less of the franchise.

A “cleanup of very minor items” is the only obstacle facing the final sale, according to the report. 

The deal originally called for a 50-50 partnership in the club, but Diethrich later asked the Tathams for a larger financial commitment, the source said.

Diethrich has admitted losses of well over $2 million in his first year in the USFL. His financial problems were increased after he sold his original team, the Chicago Blitz, and bought the now defunct Wranglers from Jim Joseph.

At stake was Diethrich's primary source of income, the Arizona Heart Institute. It is not known what percentage of the team Diethrich's minority partners, George Allen and Bill Harris, will assume, but it is believed to be around ten percent.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Swap Meet

Event Date: September 17th, 1983

Event Description: Franchise Swap

Source: United Press International

After weeks of negotiations, Phoenix heart surgeon Dr. Ted Diethrich Friday announced the purchase of the Arizona Wranglers and the sale of the Chicago Blitz in a deal that includes a swap of some players on the U.S. Football League teams.

The Blitz' head coach, George Allen, and his entire staff will move to the Arizona franchise as will Allen's son, Bruce, 26, who has been the Chicago general manager.

Diethrich said the Arizona team will now be known as the Outlaws, ending speculation he might also bring the “Blitz” name to Arizona. He said that decision was made by the new owners William Tatham and his son, William Tatham Jr.

“This has been an almost impossible task,” Diethrich said in making the announcement to reporters who packed a news conference at his Arizona Heart Institute.

Diethrich and the Tathams bought the Arizona franchise from California businessman Jim Joseph and sold the Chicago franchise to Dr. James F. Hoffman Jr. of Milwaukee. 

Diethrich said there will be a number of players remaining in the cities where they played the inaugural USFL season, but some of the players would move when the franchise swap is complete.

Terms of the transactions were not announced, but sources put the value of each franchise at about $7 million. The Blitz won the league championship last season, but struggled at the turnstile, while the Wranglers struggled to a 1-17 mark.

Referring to the fact that a team with such a poor record is moving to the Midwest, Allen said, "I'm sure Chicago doesn't take this graciously."

Allen said he will build the new Arizona franchise more on draft picks than through free agents as he did in his NFL coaching days with the Redskins and Los Angeles Rams. He said that in the next draft the Outlaws will have two first-round picks and also extra selections in the third and fifth rounds. However, Allen did admit that the team will be pursuing a big-name quarterback in the days and weeks to come.

Allen was optimistic about the future of the USFL. “This league is here to stay,” Allen said. “There's too many solid people in it.”

Allen said one of his first tasks would be to improve the teams training facility at the closed East Phoenix High School and to hold a tryout camp in the Phoenix area. He said the training facilities need a weight room and improvements to the practice field.

The new Outlaws coach also joked that he was glad to be getting such schools as Arizona State and the University of Arizona in the league's territorial draft rather than the Chicago schools such as Northwestern and Northern Illinois.

And Diethrich said he was happy to have a team in his hometown, noting he had to leave Phoenix 17 times last spring to watch the Blitz play. “I think it's just impossible for an owner trying to establish a franchise to be outside his territory,” he said.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Shively Fired

Event Date: September 16th, 1983

Event Description: Shively Axed

Source: United Press International

Doug Shively, a last-minute selection to coach the Arizona Wranglers in their inaugural U.S. Football League season, was fired Sunday, team officials said.

Gerry Coyle, a senior vice president of Interland Corp., the team's parent company, and the spokesman for owner Jim Joseph, said Shively was dismissed as a first step in a reorganization.

“In order to produce a winning product on the field, we felt it was necessary to reorganize the football operation,” Coyle said.

Shively, appearing at the same news conference, said he was not given a fair chance to produce a winning team, but declined to criticize Joseph.

“The man that owns the team has the right to hire and fire as he so chooses,” Shively said. “I'm a good football coach and, given the opportunity, I can put a winning team on the field.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Brooklyn Baseball?

Event Date: September 14th, 1983

Event Description:  Fairbanks Denies Move

Source: United Press International

Chuck Fairbanks, president and head coach of the New Jersey Generals, said Tuesday the U.S. Football League franchise has no intention of moving to another city.

“I'm tired of the unfounded statements regarding the Generals leaving New Jersey to go play in Brooklyn,” he said.

“We have a 20-year lease at the Meadowlands and that is where we are going to play. We have been a New Jersey team from day one and we will continue to be just that.”

The Generals are up for sale and at least three potential buyers have negotiated with principal club owner J. Walter Duncan.

Among them is New York attorney Lonn Berney, who said Monday he purchased the team for $9 million and plans to move the club to Brooklyn by 1985. Berney's claim was not confirmed by the Generals or the USFL.

Berney named his other partners as industrialist Milton Gilbert and real estate developer Nathan Kalikow. He added besides moving the Generals to New York the investors are considering buying a baseball team and placing it in Brooklyn.

Berney said his group is interested in buying the Cleveland Indians or the Cincinnati Reds or the Minnesota Twins.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-General Salesmanship

Event Date: September 12th, 1983

Event Description: Brooklyn Generals?

Source: United Press International

Officials for the New Jersey Generals said Monday they are negotiating the sale of the U.S. Football League club.

At least three potential buyers have negotiated with J. Walter Duncan, the Oklahoma oil tycoon and club owner, a team spokesman said.

Among them was New York attorney Lonn Berney, who told UPI Monday he purchased the team for $9 million and plans to move it to Brooklyn by the 1985 season. However, Berney's claim was not confirmed by the Generals or the USFL.

“I know he has claimed that,” USFL spokesman Doug Kelly said. “But we have not heard anything definite.”

“No deal has been signed,” Generals Director Kevin MacConnell said. “(Generals coach and president Chuck Fairbanks) said when the time comes, he will talk with everybody.”

MacConnell said the Generals have a 20-year lease with Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which would make a move to Brooklyn difficult. The league also must approve any franchise shifts.

When told Berney intends to move the team, Kelly said: “I don't know about that.”

Houston Astros owner Dr. John McMullen and Madison Square Garden also have been reportedly interested in the Generals.

The Generals finished 6-12 in the inaugural USFL season after the controversial signing of 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker to a $5 million contract.

The Generals averaged more than 35,000 a game this season, second best in the league.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Cat Belue

Event Date: September 8th, 1983

Event Description: Bulls Contract Offer

Source: United Press International

The Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League have offered former University of Georgia quarterback Buck Belue a free agent contract, a Bulls' official said Thursday.

“We offered him a contract Tuesday and he said he'd let me know by the end of the week,” Nick Kish, director of player personnel, said. ”My thinking is that he'll sign.”

Belue, who led Georgia to the 1980 NCAA championship, has been playing professional baseball the past two summers in the Montreal Expos' farm system. An outfielder, Belue batted .268 at West Palm Beach of the Class A Florida State League this past summer.

“I get the impression Buck is burned out on baseball,” Kish said. “We sure hope he signs. He's a quality athlete who knows what it's like to play on a championship team. That means a lot.”

The contract offered by the Bulls offers no guarantees or bonuses. Belue would receive no money unless he made the final roster.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Stock In Trade

Event Date: September 8th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Teams Stocked

Source: Star-News

'83 Chronology-Bulls Draft Bacon

Event Date: September 7th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Expansion Draft

Source: Washington Post

Coy Bacon, a durable defensive end, was one of four Washington Federals starters selected by the new franchises in the USFL expansion draft yesterday.

Bacon, who played four years for the Redskins before signing with the Federals, played all 18 games last season. He was picked by the Jacksonville Bulls in the 17th round of the draft, which will continue through six more rounds today. 

Also drafted late yesterday were defensive tackle Ron Estay, also by Jacksonville; guard Myke Horton and linebacker Joe Harris, both by the Memphis Showboats; and defensive end Mike Matocha by Jacksonville. 

Each team could lose 12 players before the expansion draft is completed. Starting with 29 protected players, teams shield an additional one each time a man is drafted. No financial compensation is made by the expansionists to the existing teams.

The new clubs, Memphis, Jacksonville, Houston and Pittsburgh, had postseason experience in mind during the first round. 

Mark Buben was taken from the league champion Chicago Blitz, DE Brad Anae from Philadelphia and tackles Phil Dokes and Greg Fairchild from the Michigan Panthers.

Story-(Washington Post Modified)

'83 Chronology-Argovitz Sells Out

Event Date: September 7th, 1983

Event Description: Argovitz Sells Out

Source: United Press International

Houston Gamblers owner Jerry Argovitz, under pressure from the United States Football League commissioner, has sold his lucrative business of negotiating players' contracts to a group of Houston businessmen, Argovitz told UPI Friday.

The deal for an undisclosed amount of cash was finalized Thursday, leaving NFL players Joe Cribbs of Buffalo, Curtis Dickey of Baltimore, David Overstreet of Miami, Billy Sims of Detroit and Robert Brazile of Houston in the hands of Jeff Prosser, 43, an international construction equipment salesman who recently involved himself with pro athletes' contracts.

Argovitz, a former dentist who earned millions through his stable of pro football players, had been ordered when he organized the fledgling Gamblers earlier this year to remove himself as a players' agent to avoid possible conflict of interest.

”I'm sure now Chet Simmons will be smiling,” Argovitz said.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Foreman Plots Comeback

Event Date: September 2nd, 1983

Event Description: I.F.L. Inks Foreman

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Taking the Helm

Event Date: September 1st, 1983

Event Description: 'Boats Hire Pepper

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Hoosier Hopefuls

Event Date: August 31st, 1983

Event Description:  Indianapolis IFL

Source: United Press International

Indianapolis has been awarded a franchise in the new International Football League, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, real estate developer Max Bartlett will be its owner, the Indianapolis News reported Wednesday.

Bartlett, 48, has asked the Indianapolis Capital Improvements Board for permission to use the Hoosier Dome for his new club's home games, according to a story by News sports editor Wayne Fuson.

The CIB was scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider Bartlett's request, the story said.

The IFL is to be a spring league. Other IFL cities, according to Bartlett, are Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Omaha, Neb., and Columbus, Ohio.

The team would be the first professional football organization in Indianapolis. City leaders have been wooing the National Football League, and had the Hoosier Dome built as a stadium to increase the city's chances.

There was a futile attempt this summer to move the financially troubled Boston Breakers of the USFL to Indianapolis.

Story-(UPI)