Birmingham Stallions
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League
, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football
in the United States
in competition with the National Football League
. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama
's Legion Field
. They competed in all three USFL seasons, 1983–1985, and seemed to be one of the league's better-run and more viable franchises, an organization which could have had a chance to have succeeded if the USFL organization as a whole had been better-funded and better-run.
The team's coach was Rollie Dotsch
, who was previously an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers
during its Super Bowl
years and ended up with the second most wins in USFL history. The Stallions starting QB in 1984 & 1985 was Cliff Stoudt
, a long-time backup to Terry Bradshaw with the Steelers. Stoudt had finally taken over for the injured Bradshaw in 1983 and had played very well for the first half of the season, but his game fell apart in the second half of the season leading Steeler fans to harshly turn on him. After the season, Stoudt quickly decided it wasn't worth staying in Pittsburgh and signed with the Stallions. (Amusingly, the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers' lone sellout was the game where Cliff Stoudt returned to Pittsburgh. Steeler fans pelted the hated Stoudt with snowballs throughout the game, but Stoudt and Birmingham won, 30-18.)
In Birmingham, Stoudt proved to be an excellent QB, finishing in the league's top 5 in 1984 and 1985, among such peers as Jim Kelly
and Chuck Fusina
and leading the team to two divisional titles. The Stallions also added Bills star HB Joe Cribbs
in 1984. Cribbs lead the league in rushing in 1984 and finished 6th in 1985. WR former Steeler WR Jim Smith
was another USFL star on the Stallions. Many other Stallions players went on to have at least brief careers in the NFL once the USFL went out of existence.
Although the team made a splash in signing their first-round draft pick, quarterback Reggie Collier
out of Southern Mississippi, the remainder of the Stallions consisted of mostly unsung former NFL reserves and college free agents.
One of the few the pro veterans signed center Tom Banks
(a Birmingham native), who spent ten seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Banks played 116 NFL games (starting 63) while with the Cardinals and was brought in by coach Rollie Dotsch to serve as a mentor to a very young club. Banks eventually retired after the 1984 Stallions' season and became an assistant coach on the Birmingham staff in 1985.
Other NFL veterans who signed with the Stallions included former Kansas City Chief RB Earl Gant (2 years, 20 games with the Chiefs), RB Ken Talton (1 year, 2 games with the Lions), WR/KR Kevin Miller (3 years, 20 games with the Vikings), TE Steve Stephens
(1 year, 16 games with the Jets), OT Robert Woods (8 years, 99 games with the Jets and Saints), OG Buddy Aydelette
(1 year, 9 games with the Packers), DE Mike Raines
(7 years, 104 games with the CFL Ottawa Rough Riders), DE Reggie Lewis
(2 years, 22 games with the Buccaneers), LB Dallas Hickman
(6 years, 91 games with the Redskins), CB Mike Thomas (6 years, 77 games with the Redskins and Chargers) and SS Billy Cesare (5 years, 46 games with the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Lions),
The Stallions had some success in signing several of their 1983 draft picks to go along with Collier. Guard Pat Saindon (8th round, Vanderbilt), nose tackle Charles Martin (15th round, Livingston College) and reserve guard Mike Turner
(16th round, Louisiana State). They also signed two key territorial draft selections in defensive end Jackie Cline from Alabama and offensive tackle Pat Phenix from Ole' Miss.
The Stallions also signed a rookie free agent named Scott Norwood
who would later be infamous as the Buffalo Bills kicker who missed a field goal in the dying minutes of the Super Bowl in 1990.
After dropping their opening game on a Monday night (9-7, at home to the Michigan Panthers) the Stallions rebounded on the road the following week with a 20-14 overtime victory in Oakland against the Invaders to record their first franchise win.
However, the Stallions struggled out of the gate with a 2-5 record as Coach Rollie Dotsch
and his staff put a patchwork, blue-collar, run-oriented club together.
Prior to the Stallions' sixth game of the season, former Pittsburgh Steeelers wide receiver Jim Smith
(6 years, 73 games with the Steelers) was signed by Dotsch to add some punch to a listless receiving corps. Smith did not disappoint as his arrival helped the offense almost immediately. Dotsch was very familiar with Smith as they were members of two Super Bowl Championship clubs in the Steel City.
The turning point in the season, however, was during a home game in Week #8 (Sunday, April 24) against the Oakland Invaders
when backup quarterback Bobby Lane took the reins of the Stallions offense from Collier, who struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Lane's heroics won the game vs. Oakland and the Stallions went onto win four subsequent games that improved their record to a 7–5 mark. However, the club managed to only win two of their last six games to finish with a 9-9 mark and a fourth-place finish in the Central Division.
All four teams in the USFL Central Division in 1983 were at .500 or above (Michigan 12-6, Chicago 12-6 and Tampa Bay 11-7 all recorded strong campaigns).
The biggest game of the 1983 season for the Stallions came in Week #11 on a Saturday night (May 14, 1983) when they defeated the visiting Los Angeles Express, 35–20, in front of the largest crowd of the year at Legion Field
(42,212). The crowd featured over 20,000 people from the families of local steel and Iron workers unions.
The following week, the Stallions went on the road and defeated the eventual USFL Champion Michigan Panthers, 23-20 at the Pontiac Silverdome. The game was highlighted by a disputed touchdown late in the game when a Michigan defender intercepted a ball in the end zone, spiked the ball and had it recovered by a Stallions' player before the play was blown dead.
Birmingham finished the season as the top rushing club in the USFL with 3,017 yards on 701 carries, however, the Stallions ranked 11th in the 12-team loop with 2,999 yards passing.
Late in the season, the club also announced the signing of former Buffalo Bills
running back Joe Cribbs
, who would join the club at the start of the 1984 season. Cribbs, who played his college ball locally for the Auburn Tigers
, signed a three-year contract with the Stallions.
, running back Joe Cribbs
, full back Leon Perry, defensive end Dave Pureifory
and CFL cornerback Ricky Ray
, the Stallions outlook for the 1984 campaign was bright.
Coach Dotsch shored up several areas, including the defensive line where three players from the 1983 squad were let go. Also added to the lineup was a college free agent in safety Chuck Clanton
who burst onto the scene with the Stallions in 1984 as a major force on a re-build defense.
The Stallions also employed a re-vamped defense with a regular "Nickel" formation featuring, two linebackers and 5 defensive backs - one of the first defenses of its kind utilized in the USFL (the San Antonio Gunslingers
were the other team to feature the nickel defense as well in 1984).
The Stallions' first game of the 1984 campaign was before a league record 62,500 fans at Legion Field against another re-constructed club in the New Jersey Generals
. With the Generals arriving in town like a circus with new owner Donald Trump
, running back Herschel Walker
and quarterback Brian Sipe
in tow, Birmingham was abuzz with anticipation for the new season.
The opening game against New Jersey was broadcast on national television on ABC, however, the Stallions were listless in a 17-6 loss to the Generals to start the season.
However, the game would mark the start of a nine-game unbeaten streak that took the Stallions into a May 6 contest at Legion Field with a 9-1 record against the 9-1 Philadelphia Stars. In its biggest game since the opener against New Jersey, the Stallions came up flat in a 43-11 spanking at the hands of the Stars who would go onto win the 1984 USFL Championsihp.
The game against the Stars drew a crowd of 49,500, however, the loss sullied interest in the team for the rest of the season as the club averaged only averaged 27,000 fans per game for their last four home games, despite chalking up a 14-4 record. The decline was also blamed on the USFL's decision decision in May to move to a fall schedule for the 1986 season - a scenario that transpired in several USFL markets.
With their 14-4 mark, the Stallions captured the Southern Division Championship and a berth in the USFL playoffs with a 35-20 win over the Memphis Showboats
in Week #17 at a sold-out Liberty Bowl
.
In the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, the Stallions defeated their southern division rivals the Tampa Bay Bandits
with a convincing 36-16 win at Legion Field in front of 32,000.
One week later, the Stallions dropped the Eastern Conference Championship, 20-10 to the Philadelphia Stars in a game played at Franklin Field
. The venue was moved to the University of Pennsylvania campus when Veterans Stadium was occupied by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Like most USFL teams, the Stallions exercised more fiscal responsibility in 1985 and made only minor upgrades to their roster in the off-season. The only notable addition during the off-season was defensive tackle Doug Smith
who was a 2nd round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1984. Smith, an Auburn graduate, was a territorial selection of the Stallions in 1984, and signed with the Stallions after being unable to come to a contract agreement with the Oilers.
After acquiring the first overall pick in the 1985 USFL Open Draft, the Stallions selected a wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State University named Jerry Rice
. The USFL draft was held in January 1985, however, when the NFL Draft was held four months later, Rice was considered a "project" by several NFL scouting staffs and dropped to the 16th overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers
.
Although Rice signed with the '49ers, credit should be given to GM Jerry Sklar and his staff for realizing the potential of Rice well ahead of most other other professional scouting staffs.
With the USFL from 18 to 14 teams, the Stallions also acquired some solid depth in safety David Dumars from the Denver Gold, offensive tackle Phil McKinnely
from the Memphis Showboats, linebacker Ken Kelley from the Chicago Blitz and defensive back Mickey Sutton
from the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Birmingham opened the season, as they did in 1984, by hosting the New Jersey Generals
at Legion Field. The game featured the USFL debut of 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie
at quarterback for the Generals. In front of 34,785 at Legion Field
, the Stallions controlled the majority of the game and won their opener, 38-28 over New Jersey.
The Stallions jumped out to a 5-1 record in 1985 and finished the regular season on a 6-1 clip to claim the Eastern Conference title and the #2 seed in the USFL Playoffs with a 13-5-0 mark. Only the Oakland Invaders
had a better record in 1985 with a 13-4-1 record.
Quarterback Cliff Stoudt
had a solid season passing for 3,358 yards, 34 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Stoudt's 34 touchdown passes was second only to Houston's Jim Kelly
who tossed for 39 majors in 1985.
Stoudt's primary target in 1985 was wide receiver Jim Smith
who had a career year catching a USFL record 20 touchdown passes. Smith caught 87 passes for a league leading 1,322 yards and was named to the USFL All-Star team.
Runningback Joe Cribbs
recorded his second consecutive 1,000+ yard season with 1,047 yards on 267 carries and 7 touchdowns.
Safety Chuck Clanton
also set a professional football record with 16 interceptions in 1985 as he also added 275 returns yards and a major picking off passes. The NFL record of 14 in a season was set in 1952 by Dick 'Night Train' Lane of the Los Angeles Rams. The CFL record of 15 in a season was set in 1972 by Al Brenner
of the Calgary Stampeders.
In the USFL Quarter-Final, the Stallions defeated the visiting Houston Gamblers
22-20, at Legion Field.
The following week, the Stallions hosted the defending champion, and nemesis, the Baltimore Stars
at Legion Field. After losing to the Stars in the Eastern Conference final in 1984, the Stallions were hoping to exact revenge, however, they dropped a 28-14 decision to Baltimore in what would eventually be Birmingham's last USFL game.
|1983 ||9||9|| 0 ||4th Central||--
|-
|1984 ||14 || 4 || 0 || 1st EC Southern ||Won Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay
)
Lost Semifinal (Philadelphia
)
|-
|1985 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 1st EC || Won Quarterfinal (Houston
)
Lost Semifinal (Baltimore
)
|-
!Totals || 38 || 20 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
. They received the overall pick in the 1985 USFL Draft, due to a trade with the Orlando Renegades
. Rice never played in Birmingham.
Among those considered to be Birmingham's coach were Bobby Bowden
, Gene Stallings
, and Hank Stram
.
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in competition with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
's Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
. They competed in all three USFL seasons, 1983–1985, and seemed to be one of the league's better-run and more viable franchises, an organization which could have had a chance to have succeeded if the USFL organization as a whole had been better-funded and better-run.
The team's coach was Rollie Dotsch
Rollie Dotsch
Rollie Dotsch was a football coach who served primarily in an assistant capacity before becoming the first coach of the United States Football League's Birmingham Stallions on September 2, 1982....
, who was previously an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
during its Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
years and ended up with the second most wins in USFL history. The Stallions starting QB in 1984 & 1985 was Cliff Stoudt
Cliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
, a long-time backup to Terry Bradshaw with the Steelers. Stoudt had finally taken over for the injured Bradshaw in 1983 and had played very well for the first half of the season, but his game fell apart in the second half of the season leading Steeler fans to harshly turn on him. After the season, Stoudt quickly decided it wasn't worth staying in Pittsburgh and signed with the Stallions. (Amusingly, the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers' lone sellout was the game where Cliff Stoudt returned to Pittsburgh. Steeler fans pelted the hated Stoudt with snowballs throughout the game, but Stoudt and Birmingham won, 30-18.)
In Birmingham, Stoudt proved to be an excellent QB, finishing in the league's top 5 in 1984 and 1985, among such peers as Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
and Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
and leading the team to two divisional titles. The Stallions also added Bills star HB Joe Cribbs
Joe Cribbs
Joe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
in 1984. Cribbs lead the league in rushing in 1984 and finished 6th in 1985. WR former Steeler WR Jim Smith
Jim Smith (American football)
Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League...
was another USFL star on the Stallions. Many other Stallions players went on to have at least brief careers in the NFL once the USFL went out of existence.
1983 season
The Stallions were one of the surprise teams in the inaugural USFL season, compiling a 9–9 record despite coming into the campaign with several relatively unknown players. The club scrambled to put a roster together after training camp and signed or claimed approximately 20 players via trades or waivers in the week prior to their first game.Although the team made a splash in signing their first-round draft pick, quarterback Reggie Collier
Reggie Collier
Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback for the The...
out of Southern Mississippi, the remainder of the Stallions consisted of mostly unsung former NFL reserves and college free agents.
One of the few the pro veterans signed center Tom Banks
Tom Banks (American football)
Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984....
(a Birmingham native), who spent ten seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Banks played 116 NFL games (starting 63) while with the Cardinals and was brought in by coach Rollie Dotsch to serve as a mentor to a very young club. Banks eventually retired after the 1984 Stallions' season and became an assistant coach on the Birmingham staff in 1985.
Other NFL veterans who signed with the Stallions included former Kansas City Chief RB Earl Gant (2 years, 20 games with the Chiefs), RB Ken Talton (1 year, 2 games with the Lions), WR/KR Kevin Miller (3 years, 20 games with the Vikings), TE Steve Stephens
Steve Stephens
Stephen Owen Stephens is a well-known television and communications pioneer. He is most famous for "Steve’s Show," a popular program produced by the CBS television affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas in the 1960s...
(1 year, 16 games with the Jets), OT Robert Woods (8 years, 99 games with the Jets and Saints), OG Buddy Aydelette
Buddy Aydelette
William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL...
(1 year, 9 games with the Packers), DE Mike Raines
Mike Raines
Vaughn Michael Raines is a former professional Canadian football player who played nine seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He later played in the United States Football League. He was named CFL All-Star in 1980 and 1981.-References:...
(7 years, 104 games with the CFL Ottawa Rough Riders), DE Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993.-Early life:...
(2 years, 22 games with the Buccaneers), LB Dallas Hickman
Dallas Hickman
Dallas Mark Hickman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of California and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft....
(6 years, 91 games with the Redskins), CB Mike Thomas (6 years, 77 games with the Redskins and Chargers) and SS Billy Cesare (5 years, 46 games with the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Lions),
The Stallions had some success in signing several of their 1983 draft picks to go along with Collier. Guard Pat Saindon (8th round, Vanderbilt), nose tackle Charles Martin (15th round, Livingston College) and reserve guard Mike Turner
Mike Turner
Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education...
(16th round, Louisiana State). They also signed two key territorial draft selections in defensive end Jackie Cline from Alabama and offensive tackle Pat Phenix from Ole' Miss.
The Stallions also signed a rookie free agent named Scott Norwood
Scott Norwood
Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
who would later be infamous as the Buffalo Bills kicker who missed a field goal in the dying minutes of the Super Bowl in 1990.
After dropping their opening game on a Monday night (9-7, at home to the Michigan Panthers) the Stallions rebounded on the road the following week with a 20-14 overtime victory in Oakland against the Invaders to record their first franchise win.
However, the Stallions struggled out of the gate with a 2-5 record as Coach Rollie Dotsch
Rollie Dotsch
Rollie Dotsch was a football coach who served primarily in an assistant capacity before becoming the first coach of the United States Football League's Birmingham Stallions on September 2, 1982....
and his staff put a patchwork, blue-collar, run-oriented club together.
Prior to the Stallions' sixth game of the season, former Pittsburgh Steeelers wide receiver Jim Smith
Jim Smith (American football)
Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League...
(6 years, 73 games with the Steelers) was signed by Dotsch to add some punch to a listless receiving corps. Smith did not disappoint as his arrival helped the offense almost immediately. Dotsch was very familiar with Smith as they were members of two Super Bowl Championship clubs in the Steel City.
The turning point in the season, however, was during a home game in Week #8 (Sunday, April 24) against the Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
when backup quarterback Bobby Lane took the reins of the Stallions offense from Collier, who struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
Lane's heroics won the game vs. Oakland and the Stallions went onto win four subsequent games that improved their record to a 7–5 mark. However, the club managed to only win two of their last six games to finish with a 9-9 mark and a fourth-place finish in the Central Division.
All four teams in the USFL Central Division in 1983 were at .500 or above (Michigan 12-6, Chicago 12-6 and Tampa Bay 11-7 all recorded strong campaigns).
The biggest game of the 1983 season for the Stallions came in Week #11 on a Saturday night (May 14, 1983) when they defeated the visiting Los Angeles Express, 35–20, in front of the largest crowd of the year at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
(42,212). The crowd featured over 20,000 people from the families of local steel and Iron workers unions.
The following week, the Stallions went on the road and defeated the eventual USFL Champion Michigan Panthers, 23-20 at the Pontiac Silverdome. The game was highlighted by a disputed touchdown late in the game when a Michigan defender intercepted a ball in the end zone, spiked the ball and had it recovered by a Stallions' player before the play was blown dead.
Birmingham finished the season as the top rushing club in the USFL with 3,017 yards on 701 carries, however, the Stallions ranked 11th in the 12-team loop with 2,999 yards passing.
Late in the season, the club also announced the signing of former Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back Joe Cribbs
Joe Cribbs
Joe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
, who would join the club at the start of the 1984 season. Cribbs, who played his college ball locally for the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
, signed a three-year contract with the Stallions.
1983 opening-day roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1983 Opening Day Roster (at 7-Mar-83) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... LG Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Dallas Hickman Dallas Mark Hickman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of California and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft.... LB/DE Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Melvin Williams Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams is Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002.-Personal Biography:... QB Lonnie Johnson Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos... RB/KR Johnnie Dirden Johnnie B. Dirden, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.... WR/KR Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... OG Brett Williams (Canadian football) Brett "the Toaster" Williams is a former Canadian Football League defensive end who played ten seasons for five different teams. He was a CFL All-Star three times. He was nicknamed "the Toaster" because he also played offense in short yardage situations, thus he would "burn you on both sides"... DE |
Injured Reserve
Rookies in italics 40 Active, 10 Developmental |
||||
1983 Birmingham Stallions Schedule
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Attendance | Final Score | W/L | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday | March 7, 1983 | Michigan Panthers Michigan Panthers The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982.... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
30,305 | 7-9 | L | 0-1 |
| 2 | Sunday | March 13, 1983 | at Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:... |
Oakland-Alameda Coliseum | 47,344 | 20-14 OT | W | 1-1 |
| 3 | Monday | March 21, 1983 | Philadelphia Stars | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
12,850 | 10-17 | L | 1-2 |
| 4 | Saturday | March 26, 1983 | Arizona Wranglers Arizona Wranglers The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
5,000 | 16-7 | W | 2-2 |
| 5 | Saturday | April 2, 1983 | at Boston Breakers Portland Breakers The Portland Breakers were a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans... |
Nickerson Field Nickerson Field Nickerson Field is a stadium on the site of Braves Field, in Boston, Massachusetts, the former home of the National League Boston Braves baseball team which is now located in Atlanta... |
10,976 | 16-27 | L | 2-3 |
| 6 | Sunday | April 10, 1983 | at Chicago Blitz Chicago Blitz The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :... |
Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
13,859 | 11-22 | L | 2-4 |
| 7 | Sunday | April 17, 1983 | Denver Gold Denver Gold The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
26,250 | 7-9 | L | 2-5 |
| 8 | Sunday | April 24, 1993 | Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
18,500 | 21-9 | W | 3-5 |
| 9 | Sunday | May 1, 1983 | at Washington Federals | RFK Stadium | 12,818 | 35-3 | W | 4-5 |
| 10 | Monday | May 9, 1983 | at New Jersey Generals New Jersey Generals The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition... |
Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
38,734 | 22-7 | W | 5-5 |
| 11 | Saturday | May 14, 1983 | Los Angeles Express | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
42,212 | 35-20 | W | 6-5 |
| 12 | Monday | May 23, 1983 | at Michigan Panthers Michigan Panthers The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982.... |
Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac Silverdome The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C... |
20,042 | 23-20 | W | 7-5 |
| 13 | Friday | May 27, 1983 | at Denver Gold Denver Gold The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985... |
Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the... |
38,829 | 19-21 | L | 7-6 |
| 14 | Sunday | June 5, 1983 | at Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Tampa Stadium | 35,623 | 17-45 | L | 7-7 |
| 15 | Sunday | June 12, 1983 | Boston Breakers Portland Breakers The Portland Breakers were a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
20,500 | 31-19 | W | 8-7 |
| 16 | Friday | June 17, 1983 | Chicago Blitz Chicago Blitz The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
22,500 | 14-29 | L | 8-8 |
| 17 | Sunday | June 26, 1983 | at Philadelphia Stars | Veterans Stadium Veterans Stadium Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
17,973 | 10-31 | L | 8-9 |
| 18 | Saturday | July 2, 1983 | Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
20,300 | 29-17 | W | 9-9 |
1983 Birmingham Stallions Numerical Roster
| No. | Name | Pos | Ht. | Wt. | College | GP/GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Scott Norwood Scott Norwood Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances... |
K | 6.00 | 207 | James Madison | 18/0 |
| 8 | Skip Johnston | P | 6.01 | 175 | Auburn | 4/0 |
| 9 | Alan Bollinger | P | 6.01 | 190 | Auburn | 11/0 |
| 10 | Reggie Collier Reggie Collier Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback for the The... |
QB | 6.03 | 207 | Southern Mississippi | 8/5 |
| 11 | Melvin Williams Melvin Williams Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams is Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002.-Personal Biography:... |
QB | 6.03 | 200 | Mississippi Valley State | 10/0 |
| 12 | Bobby Lane | QB | 6.03 | 205 | Louisiana State | 18/13 |
| 14 | Jay Venuto | QB | 6.01 | 193 | Vanderbilt | IA/7G |
| 21 | Charles Grandjean | SS | 5.11 | 200 | Kent State | 18/6 |
| 23 | Earl Gant | RB | 6.00 | 207 | Missouri | 17/14 |
| 24 | Charlie Trotman | SS | 5.10 | 185 | Auburn | 3/0 |
| 26 | David Evans | CB | 6.00 | 170 | Central Arkansas | 4/3 |
| 28 | Frank Reed Frank Reed Frank "Tchallah" Reed , is the current lead singer of the vocal group known as The Chi-Lites.-Career:Reed joined the Chi-Lites in 1988, as the successor to former lead singer Eugene Record... |
CB | 5.11 | 193 | Washington | 15/14 |
| 30 | Lonnie Johnson Lonnie Johnson Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos... |
RB/KR | 6.01 | 206 | Indiana | 11/0 |
| 31 | John Skibinski | FB | 6.00 | 222 | Purdue | 17/0 |
| 32 | Ken Talton | FB | 6.00 | 209 | Cornell | 15/11 |
| 37 | David Smilo | SS | 6.02 | 190 | Eastern Michigan | 6/1 |
| 40 | Cornelius Quarles | FB | 6.00 | 220 | Howard | 15/7 |
| 42 | Mike Hatchett | FS | 5.10 | 176 | Texas | 18/0 |
| 44 | Billy Cesare | FS | 5.11 | 190 | Miami (Fl.) | 18/18 |
| 45 | Billy White Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... |
RB | 5.11 | 196 | Missouri | 16/4 |
| 49 | Mike Thomas | CB/FS | 6.00 | 175 | Tennessee State | 18/17 |
| 50 | Larry McPherson | LB | 6.00 | 225 | Fort Valley State | 16/16 |
| 51 | Carl McGee | LB | 6.03 | 228 | Duke | 2/0 |
| 51 | Freddie Smith Freddie Smith Freddie Smith is an American television actor. He is known for his portrayal as Marco Salazar in the new franchise of 90210 aired on The CW... |
LB | 5.11 | 219 | Auburn | 9/2 |
| 52 | Tim James | C/LS | 6.03 | 250 | Elon College | 2/0 |
| 53 | Rich D'Amico | LB | 6.02 | 238 | Penn State | 16/16 |
| 54 | Tom Banks Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... |
C | 6.01 | 255 | Auburn | 18/18 |
| 55 | Herb Spencer | LB | 6.03 | 225 | Newberry College | 16/12 |
| 56 | Mike Murphy | LB | 6.02 | 222 | Southwest Missouri Stat | 13/2 |
| 57 | Dallas Hickman Dallas Hickman Dallas Mark Hickman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of California and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft.... |
LB/DE | 6.06 | 238 | California | 18/16 |
| 58 | Lester Dickey | LB | 6.01 | 225 | Missouri | 2/2 |
| 58 | Sammy Green Sammy Green Samuel Lee "Sammy" Green is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for five seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s... |
LB | 6.00 | 223 | Alabama State | IA/7G |
| 59 | Mark Battaglia | G | 6.02 | 255 | Penn State | 18/11 |
| 60 | Melvin Land | LB | 6.03 | 242 | Michigan State | 7/4 |
| 63 | Brett Williams Brett Williams (Canadian football) Brett "the Toaster" Williams is a former Canadian Football League defensive end who played ten seasons for five different teams. He was a CFL All-Star three times. He was nicknamed "the Toaster" because he also played offense in short yardage situations, thus he would "burn you on both sides"... |
DE | 6.03 | 260 | Austin Peay | 5/0 |
| 64 | Mike Turner Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... |
G/T | 6.03 | 254 | Louisiana State | 14/2 |
| 65 | Joe Bock Joe Bock Joseph Alan Bock is a former American professional football player.-Biography:Bock was born in Rochester, New York, USA. He attended East Rochester High School and played college football at the University of Virginia from 1977-1981... |
C/LS | 6.04 | 256 | Virginia | 16/0 |
| 69 | Bill Searcey | G | 6.02 | 270 | Alabama | 5/0 |
| 70 | Mark Goodspeed | T | 6.05 | 270 | Nebraska | 1/0 |
| 71 | Pat Phenix | T | 6.05 | 275 | Mississippi | 16/16 |
| 72 | Robert Woods | T | 6.05 | 250 | Tennessee State | 16/15 |
| 74 | Pat Saindon | G | 6.03 | 273 | Vanderbilt | 16/10 |
| 75 | Jimmy Walker Jimmy Walker James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932... |
NT | 6.02 | 250 | Arkansas | 18/16 |
| 76 | Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993.-Early life:... |
DE | 6.03 | 260 | North Texas State | 14/3 |
| 77 | Drew Taylor | DE | 6.05 | 225 | San Jose State | 7/4 |
| 78 | Buddy Aydelette Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... |
G | 6.04 | 256 | Alabama | 18/18 |
| 79 | Mike Raines Mike Raines Vaughn Michael Raines is a former professional Canadian football player who played nine seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He later played in the United States Football League. He was named CFL All-Star in 1980 and 1981.-References:... |
DE | 6.05 | 260 | Alabama | 17/13 |
| 80 | Mike Kincaid | WR/KR | 5.04 | 165 | Mississippi College | 10/0 |
| 81 | Darryl Mason | TE | 6.01 | 220 | Arkansas | 18/18 |
| 82 | Ron Frederick | WR/PR | 5.11 | 180 | Duke | 15/4 |
| 83 | Greg Anderson | WR | 5.10 | 170 | Alabama State | 18/16 |
| 84 | Sylvester Moy | WR | 6.00 | 180 | Grambling State | 13/2 |
| 85 | Mike Hirn | TE | 6.03 | 234 | Central Michigan | 6/0 |
| 86 | Jim Smith Jim Smith (American football) Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League... |
WR | 6.02 | 205 | Michigan | 12/10 |
| 87 | Kevin Miller | WR/KR | 5.10 | 180 | Louisville | 5/1 |
| 88 | Steve Stephens Steve Stephens Stephen Owen Stephens is a well-known television and communications pioneer. He is most famous for "Steve’s Show," a popular program produced by the CBS television affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas in the 1960s... |
TE | 6.03 | 227 | Oklahoma State | 14/3 |
| 89 | Johnnie Dirden Johnnie Dirden Johnnie B. Dirden, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.... |
WR/KR | 6.00 | 190 | Sam Houston State | 8/0 |
| 90 | Wendell Ray | LB | 6.04 | 233 | Missouri | 3/2 |
| 96 | Charles Martin | NT | 6.04 | 276 | Livingston College | 14/2 |
| 98 | Jackie Cline | DE | 6.04 | 275 | Alabama | 17/16 |
| 99 | Moochie Allen | NT | 6.04 | 258 | Southern Mississippi | 7/0 |
1983 Birmingham Stallions Statistics
| No. | RUSHING | Pos | GP-GS | Car | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Ken Talton | FB | 15-11 | 228 | 907 | 4.0 | 28 | 5 |
| 23 | Earl Gant | RB | 17-14 | 133 | 530 | 4.0 | 19 | 2 |
| 40 | Cornelius Quarles | FB | 15-7 | 107 | 495 | 4.6 | 39 | 3 |
| 45 | Billy White Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... |
RB | 16-4 | 117 | 349 | 3.0 | 14 | 2 |
| 10 | Reggie Collier Reggie Collier Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback for the The... |
QB | 8-5 | 39 | 253 | 6.5 | 30 | 4 |
| 30 | Lonnie Johnson Lonnie Johnson Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos... |
RB | 11-0 | 52 | 181 | 3.5 | 22 | 3 |
| 12 | Bobby Lane | RB | 18-13 | 42 | 178 | 4.2 | 32 | 3 |
| 11 | Melvin Williams Melvin Williams Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams is Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002.-Personal Biography:... |
QB | 10-0 | 7 | 58 | 8.3 | 17 | 0 |
| 86 | Jim Smith Jim Smith (American football) Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League... |
WR | 12-10 | 5 | 39 | 7.8 | 21 | 0 |
| 82 | Ron Frederick | WR | 15-4 | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 17 | 0 |
| 31 | John Skibinski | FB | 17-0 | 6 | 13 | 2.2 | 4 | 0 |
| 84 | Sylvester Moy | WR | 13-2 | 1 | -5 | -5.0 | -5 | 0 |
| Total | 741 | 3,017 | 4.1 | 39 | 22 | |||
| Opponents | 520 | 2,330 | 4.5 | 73 | 18 |
| No. | PASSING | Pos | GP-GS | Cmp-Att | Yds | Lng | Pct | TD | IC | Skd | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Bobby Lane | QB | 18-13 | 175-346 | 2,264 | 53 | 50.6% | 14 | 18 | 15 | 106 |
| 10 | Reggie Collier Reggie Collier Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback for the The... |
QB | 8-5 | 47-108 | 604 | 46 | 43.5% | 1 | 7 | 14 | 132 |
| 11 | Melvin Williams Melvin Williams Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams is Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002.-Personal Biography:... |
QB | 10-0 | 9-21 | 131 | 39 | 42.9% | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 231-475 | 2,999 | 53 | 48.6% | 15 | 27 | 30 | 243 | |||
| Opponents | 278-554 | 3,520 | 81 | 50.2% | 22 | 22 | 51 | 414 |
| No. | RECEIVING | Pos | GP-GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | Jim Smith Jim Smith (American football) Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League... |
WR | 12-10 | 51 | 756 | 14.8 | 39 | 3 |
| 81 | Darryl Mason | TE | 18-18 | 45 | 547 | 12.2 | 33 | 2 |
| 83 | Greg Anderson | WR | 18-16 | 28 | 529 | 18.9 | 50 | 5 |
| 23 | Earl Gant | RB | 17-14 | 24 | 299 | 12.5 | 37 | 1 |
| 32 | Ken Talton | RB | 15-11 | 21 | 156 | 7.4 | 25 | 0 |
| 82 | Ron Frederick | WR | 15-4 | 16 | 290 | 18.1 | 46 | 2 |
| 84 | Sylvester Moy | WR | 13-2 | 12 | 203 | 16.9 | 53 | 0 |
| 40 | Cornelius Quarles | FB | 15-7 | 12 | 86 | 7.2 | 17 | 0 |
| 45 | Billy White Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... |
RB | 16-4 | 7 | 47 | 6.7 | 8 | 0 |
| 88 | Steve Stephens Steve Stephens Stephen Owen Stephens is a well-known television and communications pioneer. He is most famous for "Steve’s Show," a popular program produced by the CBS television affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas in the 1960s... |
TE | 14-3 | 6 | 36 | 6.0 | 17 | 1 |
| 85 | Johnnie Dirden Johnnie Dirden Johnnie B. Dirden, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.... |
WR | 8-0 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 12 | 0 |
| 31 | John Skibinski | FB | 17-0 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 8 | 0 |
| 30 | Lonnie Johnson Lonnie Johnson Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos... |
RB/KR | 11-0 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 16 | 1 |
| 80 | Mike Kincaid | WR/KR | 10-0 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Scott Norwood Scott Norwood Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances... |
K | 18-0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 231 | 2,999 | 13.0 | 53 | 15 | |||
| Opponents | 278 | 3,520 | 12.7 | 81 | 22 |
| No. | KICKOFF RETURNS | Pos | GP-GS | KOR | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Mike Kincaid | WR/KR | 10-0 | 19 | 404 | 21.3 | 43 | 0 |
| 85 | Johnnie Dirden Johnnie Dirden Johnnie B. Dirden, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.... |
WR/KR | 8-0 | 16 | 322 | 20.1 | 41 | 0 |
| 30 | Lonnie Johnson Lonnie Johnson Alonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos... |
RB/KR | 11-0 | 10 | 190 | 19.0 | 39 | 0 |
| 21 | Charles Grandjean | SS | 18-6 | 8 | 97 | 12.1 | 26 | 0 |
| 87 | Kevin Miller | WR | 5-1 | 2 | 34 | 17.0 | 21 | 0 |
| 45 | Billy White Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... |
WR | 16-4 | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 27 | 0 |
| 82 | Ron Frederick | WR | 15-4 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 |
| 40 | Charlie Trotman | CB | 3-0 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 |
| 59 | Mark Battaglia | G/C | 18-11 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 |
| 57 | Dallas Hickman Dallas Hickman Dallas Mark Hickman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of California and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft.... |
LB | 18-16 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 60 | 1,109 | 18.5 | 43 | 0 | |||
| Opponents | 71 | 1,183 | 16.7 | 67 | 0 |
| No. | PUNT RETURNS | Pos | GP-GS | PR | FC | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Ron Frederick | WR/KR | 15-4 | 23 | 6 | 170 | 7.4 | 15 | 0 |
| 80 | Mike Kincaid | WR/KR | 10-0 | 15 | 1 | 100 | 6.7 | 14 | 0 |
| 45 | Billy White Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... |
RB | 16-4 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 |
| 87 | Kevin Miller | WR/KR | 5-1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 1.5 | 3 | 0 |
| 85 | Johnnie Dirden Johnnie Dirden Johnnie B. Dirden, Jr. is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for three seasons for the Houston Oilers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.... |
WR/KR | 8-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Ken Talton | FB | 15-11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 8 | 291 | 6.5 | 15 | 0 | |||
| Opponents | 45 | 7 | 380 | 8.4 | 31 | 0 |
| No. | KICKING | Pos | GP-GS | FGM | FGA | XPM | XPA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Scott Norwood Scott Norwood Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances... |
K | 18-0 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 109 |
| Total | 25 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 109 | |||
| Opponents | 14 | 27 | 34 | 37 | 76 |
| No. | PUNTING | Pos | GP-GS | Pnt | Yds | Avg | Lng | TB | In20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Alan Bollinger | P | 11-0 | 51 | 2,008 | 39.4 | 56 | 7 | 11 |
| 8 | Skip Johnston | P | 4-0 | 21 | 870 | 41.4 | 63 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | Dario Casarino | P | 3-0 | 12 | 437 | 36.4 | 52 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 84 | 3,315 | 39.5 | 63 | 9 | 13 | |||
| Opponents | 88 | 3,674 | 41.8 | 70 | 8 | 27 |
| No. | DEFENSE | Pos | GP-GS | Tkl | Ast | Tot | Skd | PD | FR | IC | Yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | Herb Spencer | LB | 16-12 | 83 | 22 | 105 | 7.5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 42 |
| 44 | Billy Cesare | SS | 18-18 | 66 | 23 | 89 | 0.0 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 52 |
| 53 | Rich D'Amico | LB | 16-16 | 71 | 13 | 84 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 57 | Dallas Hickmam | LB | 18-16 | 61 | 14 | 75 | 6.5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 28 | Frank Reed Frank Reed Frank "Tchallah" Reed , is the current lead singer of the vocal group known as The Chi-Lites.-Career:Reed joined the Chi-Lites in 1988, as the successor to former lead singer Eugene Record... |
CB | 15-14 | 59 | 14 | 73 | 1.0 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| 75 | Jimmy Walker Jimmy Walker James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932... |
NT | 18-16 | 49 | 14 | 63 | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 27 |
| 20 | Emmuel Thompson | CB | 18-13 | 48 | 10 | 58 | 0.0 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 24 |
| 98 | Jackie Cline | DE | 17-16 | 38 | 11 | 49 | 5.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 49 | Mike Thomas | FS | 18-17 | 41 | 8 | 49 | 0.0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| 97 | Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993.-Early life:... |
DE | 14-3 | 33 | 15 | 48 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 79 | Mike Raines Mike Raines Vaughn Michael Raines is a former professional Canadian football player who played nine seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He later played in the United States Football League. He was named CFL All-Star in 1980 and 1981.-References:... |
DE | 17-13 | 31 | 17 | 48 | 8.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | Larry McPherson | LB | 16-16 | 29 | 14 | 43 | 4.0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 55 |
| 21 | Charles Grandjean | CB | 18-6 | 26 | 12 | 38 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | Mike Hatchett | SS | 18-0 | 23 | 11 | 34 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 56 | Mike Murphy | LB | 13-2 | 27 | 5 | 32 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | David Evans | CB | 4-3 | 21 | 7 | 28 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | Charles Martin | NT | 14-2 | 20 | 7 | 27 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Freddie Smith Freddie Smith Freddie Smith is an American television actor. He is known for his portrayal as Marco Salazar in the new franchise of 90210 aired on The CW... |
LB | 9-2 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | Moochie Allen | NT | 7-0 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | Drew Taylor | DE | 7-4 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 63 | Brett Williams Brett Williams (Canadian football) Brett "the Toaster" Williams is a former Canadian Football League defensive end who played ten seasons for five different teams. He was a CFL All-Star three times. He was nicknamed "the Toaster" because he also played offense in short yardage situations, thus he would "burn you on both sides"... |
DE | 5-0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 60 | Melvin Land | LB | 7-4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 24 | Charlie Trotman | CB | 3-0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 90 | Wendell Ray | LB | 3-2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 58 | Lester Dickey | LB | 2-2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | David Smilo | FS | 6-1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Carl McGee | LB | 2-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 771 | 234 | 1,005 | 51.0 | 77 | 12 | 22 | 267 | |||
| Opponents | --- | --- | |||||||||
| 30.0 | |||||||||||
| 27 | 283 |
| No. | OFFENSIVE LINEMEN | Pos | GP-GS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Robert Woods | LT | 16-15 |
| 71 | Pat Phenix | RT | 16-16 |
| 70 | Mark Goodspeed | OT | 1-0 |
| 78 | Buddy Aydelette Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... |
LG/T | 18-18 |
| 59 | Mark Battaglia | RG | 18-11 |
| 74 | Pat Saindon | RG | 10-6 |
| 64 | Mike Turner Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... |
RG/T | 14-2 |
| 69 | Bill Searcey | OG | 5-0 |
| 54 | Tom Banks Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... |
C | 18-18 |
1983 Birmingham Stallions End of Season Roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1983 End of Season Roster (at 2-Jul-83) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... LG Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... G Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Freddie Smith Freddie Smith is an American television actor. He is known for his portrayal as Marco Salazar in the new franchise of 90210 aired on The CW... LILB Dallas Hickman Dallas Mark Hickman is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Colts. He played college football at the University of California and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft.... LB/DE Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Billy White William "Billy" White is a former English footballer.-Playing career:White joined Burnley from the Liverpool based Clubmoor Boys' Club in 1954, going on to score four times in his nine league outings for the Clarets... RB Reggie Lewis Reggie Lewis was an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993.-Early life:... DE Frank Reed Frank "Tchallah" Reed , is the current lead singer of the vocal group known as The Chi-Lites.-Career:Reed joined the Chi-Lites in 1988, as the successor to former lead singer Eugene Record... FS |
Injured Reserve
Reggie Collier Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football player. Best known as a dynamic college football star, Collier had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League and National Football League.Collier played collegiate football as a quarterback for the The... QB Sammy Green Samuel Lee "Sammy" Green is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for five seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s... LB Rookies in italics 43 Active, 7 Developmental |
||||
1984 Season
With the off-season signing of former NFL'ers quarterback Cliff StoudtCliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
, running back Joe Cribbs
Joe Cribbs
Joe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
, full back Leon Perry, defensive end Dave Pureifory
Dave Pureifory
Dave Pureifory was a professional American football defensive lineman for three teams in an eleven-year career in the National Football League.-Early life:...
and CFL cornerback Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray is a Canadian and American football quarterback who has played in the Canadian Football League and af2, as well as spending time on a roster in the National Football League...
, the Stallions outlook for the 1984 campaign was bright.
Coach Dotsch shored up several areas, including the defensive line where three players from the 1983 squad were let go. Also added to the lineup was a college free agent in safety Chuck Clanton
Chuck Clanton
-Biography:Clanton was born Cleveland Edward Clanton III on July 15, 1962 in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:After playing with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, Clanton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and...
who burst onto the scene with the Stallions in 1984 as a major force on a re-build defense.
The Stallions also employed a re-vamped defense with a regular "Nickel" formation featuring, two linebackers and 5 defensive backs - one of the first defenses of its kind utilized in the USFL (the San Antonio Gunslingers
San Antonio Gunslingers
The San Antonio Gunslingers were a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas that played in the USFL in 1984 and 1985. Rick Neuheisel was the team's quarterback and only recognizable name. The team played in Alamo Stadium...
were the other team to feature the nickel defense as well in 1984).
The Stallions' first game of the 1984 campaign was before a league record 62,500 fans at Legion Field against another re-constructed club in the New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
. With the Generals arriving in town like a circus with new owner Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
, running back Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
and quarterback Brian Sipe
Brian Sipe
Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....
in tow, Birmingham was abuzz with anticipation for the new season.
The opening game against New Jersey was broadcast on national television on ABC, however, the Stallions were listless in a 17-6 loss to the Generals to start the season.
However, the game would mark the start of a nine-game unbeaten streak that took the Stallions into a May 6 contest at Legion Field with a 9-1 record against the 9-1 Philadelphia Stars. In its biggest game since the opener against New Jersey, the Stallions came up flat in a 43-11 spanking at the hands of the Stars who would go onto win the 1984 USFL Championsihp.
The game against the Stars drew a crowd of 49,500, however, the loss sullied interest in the team for the rest of the season as the club averaged only averaged 27,000 fans per game for their last four home games, despite chalking up a 14-4 record. The decline was also blamed on the USFL's decision decision in May to move to a fall schedule for the 1986 season - a scenario that transpired in several USFL markets.
With their 14-4 mark, the Stallions captured the Southern Division Championship and a berth in the USFL playoffs with a 35-20 win over the Memphis Showboats
Memphis Showboats
The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders...
in Week #17 at a sold-out Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
.
In the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, the Stallions defeated their southern division rivals the Tampa Bay Bandits
Tampa Bay Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season....
with a convincing 36-16 win at Legion Field in front of 32,000.
One week later, the Stallions dropped the Eastern Conference Championship, 20-10 to the Philadelphia Stars in a game played at Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. The venue was moved to the University of Pennsylvania campus when Veterans Stadium was occupied by the Philadelphia Phillies.
1984 Birmingham Stallions Opening Day Roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1984 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-84) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... LG Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... G Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Phil Kessel Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey forward, and an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Kessel is a product of USA Hockey's National Development Team and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final... QB Mike Horton Dr. Michael "Mike" William Horton II is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He was named after Mickey Horton, who was thought to be his father, and Bill Horton, his father. Mickey and Bill were brothers. Michael's mother was Mickey's wife Dr... RB/KR Thomas Boyd (American football) Thomas Boyd is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Boyd was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He would later play with the Detroit Lions during the 1987 NFL season.... LB |
Injured Reserve
Fred Anderson Fred Anderson may refer to:*Fred Anderson , former National Football League defensive lineman*Fred Anderson , Major League Baseball player... DE Max Jones Max Jones is an American Journalist, best known for his role as host of 2011 documentary, The Seoul Sisters and being the founder & an on air personality of positive news network, Felice News... LB Rookies in italics 40 Active, 10 Developmental |
||||
1984 Birmingham Stallions Schedule
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Attendance | Final Score | W/L | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday | February 26, 1984 | New Jersey Generals New Jersey Generals The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
62,500 | 6-17 | L | 0-1 |
| 2 | Sunday | March 4, 1984 | at Los Angeles Express | Los Angeles Coliseum | 14,789 | 21-14 | W | 1-1 |
| 3 | Sunday | March 11, 1984 | at Pittsburgh Maulers Pittsburgh Maulers The Pittsburgh Maulers competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.They were... |
Three Rivers Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to... |
53,771 | 30-18 | W | 2-1 |
| 4 | Saturday | March 17, 1984 | Memphis Showboats Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
41,500 | 54-6 | W | 3-1 |
| 5 | Monday | March 26, 1984 | at Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Tampa Stadium | 37,899 | 27-9 | W | 4-1 |
| 6 | Monday | April 2, 1984 | New Orleans Breakers | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
28,100 | 31-17 | W | 5-1 |
| 7 | Saturday | April 7, 1984 | at Jacksonville Bulls Jacksonville Bulls The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985... |
Gator Bowl Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
43,654 | 24-17 | W | 6-1 |
| 8 | Sunday | April 15, 1984 | at Michigan Panthers Michigan Panthers The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982.... |
Pontiac Silvedome | 42,655 | 28-17 | W | 7-1 |
| 9 | Saturday | April 21, 1984 | Oklahoma Outlaws | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
41,653 | 41-17 | W | 8-1 |
| 10 | Sunday | April 29, 1984 | at Denver Gold Denver Gold The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985... |
Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the... |
35,262 | 31-14 | W | 9-1 |
| 11 | Sunday | May 6, 1984 | Philadelphia Stars | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
49,500 | 11-43 | L | 9-2 |
| 12 | Friday | May 11, 1984 | Jacksonville Bulls Jacksonville Bulls The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
29,500 | 42-10 | W | 10-2 |
| 13 | Friday | May 18, 1983 | at Chicago Blitz Chicago Blitz The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :... |
Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
8,578 | 41-7 | W | 11-2 |
| 14 | Sunday | May 27, 1984 | at New Orleans Breakers | Louisiana Superdome Louisiana Superdome The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA... |
23,748 | 31-14 | W | 12-2 |
| 15 | Sunday | June 3, 1984 | Arizona Wranglers Arizona Wranglers The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
32,500 | 28-38 | L | 12-3 |
| 16 | Sunday | June 10, 1984 | Washington Federals | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
22,100 | 42-21 | W | 13-3 |
| 17 | Saturday | June 16, 1984 | at Memphis Showboats Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders... |
Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003... |
50,079 | 35-20 | W | 14-3 |
| 18 | Saturday | July 2, 1984 | Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
24,500 | 16-17 | L | 14-4 |
| *QF | Sunday | July 1, 1984 | Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
32,000 | 36-16 | W | 1-0 |
| *SF | Sunday | July 8, 1984 | at Philadelphia Stars | Franklin Field Franklin Field Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation... |
26,616 | 10-20 | L | 1-1 |
1984 Birmingham Stallions End of Season Roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1984 End of Season Roster (at 24-Jun-84) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... LG Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... G Tom Banks (American football) Thomas Banks is a former American football center who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1983 and 1984.... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Billy Roe Billy Roe , is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1997-1998 and 2000-2002 seasons with 16 career starts, including 2 at the Indianapolis 500. His best IRL finish was a 12th place at Nashville Speedway in 2001. In the 1997 Las Vegas Motor Speedway race, he fielded his own car... MLB Thomas Boyd (American football) Thomas Boyd is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Boyd was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He would later play with the Detroit Lions during the 1987 NFL season.... LB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Phil Kessel Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey forward, and an alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Kessel is a product of USA Hockey's National Development Team and became that program's all-time leader for goals and points in his final... QB Jim Brown James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News... TE Max Jones Max Jones is an American Journalist, best known for his role as host of 2011 documentary, The Seoul Sisters and being the founder & an on air personality of positive news network, Felice News... LB Dennis Woodberry Dennis Earl Woodberry is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins and in the United States Football League for the Birmingham Stallions. Woodberry played college football at Southern Arkansas University.... CB |
Injured Reserve
Scott Norwood Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances... K Rookies in italics 43 Active, 7 Developmental |
||||
1985 Season
After having a very successful 1984 season and coming to within a win of the USFL Championship game, the Stallions entered 1985 with high hopes.Like most USFL teams, the Stallions exercised more fiscal responsibility in 1985 and made only minor upgrades to their roster in the off-season. The only notable addition during the off-season was defensive tackle Doug Smith
Doug Smith (defensive lineman)
Douglas Arthur Smith is a former National Football League defensive tackle who played eight seasons for the Houston Oilers. He also played for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League....
who was a 2nd round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1984. Smith, an Auburn graduate, was a territorial selection of the Stallions in 1984, and signed with the Stallions after being unable to come to a contract agreement with the Oilers.
After acquiring the first overall pick in the 1985 USFL Open Draft, the Stallions selected a wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State University named Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
. The USFL draft was held in January 1985, however, when the NFL Draft was held four months later, Rice was considered a "project" by several NFL scouting staffs and dropped to the 16th overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Although Rice signed with the '49ers, credit should be given to GM Jerry Sklar and his staff for realizing the potential of Rice well ahead of most other other professional scouting staffs.
With the USFL from 18 to 14 teams, the Stallions also acquired some solid depth in safety David Dumars from the Denver Gold, offensive tackle Phil McKinnely
Phil McKinnely
Philip Byron "Phil" McKinnely is a former American football offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the NFL, mainly for the Atlanta Falcons, and then in the USFL for the Memphis Showboats...
from the Memphis Showboats, linebacker Ken Kelley from the Chicago Blitz and defensive back Mickey Sutton
Mickey Sutton (cornerback)
William Earl "Mickey" Sutton is a former professional cornerback in the Canadian Football League , the United States Football League , and the National Football League...
from the Pittsburgh Maulers.
Birmingham opened the season, as they did in 1984, by hosting the New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
at Legion Field. The game featured the USFL debut of 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
at quarterback for the Generals. In front of 34,785 at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
, the Stallions controlled the majority of the game and won their opener, 38-28 over New Jersey.
The Stallions jumped out to a 5-1 record in 1985 and finished the regular season on a 6-1 clip to claim the Eastern Conference title and the #2 seed in the USFL Playoffs with a 13-5-0 mark. Only the Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
had a better record in 1985 with a 13-4-1 record.
Quarterback Cliff Stoudt
Cliff Stoudt
Clifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
had a solid season passing for 3,358 yards, 34 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Stoudt's 34 touchdown passes was second only to Houston's Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
who tossed for 39 majors in 1985.
Stoudt's primary target in 1985 was wide receiver Jim Smith
Jim Smith (American football)
Jim Smith is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League...
who had a career year catching a USFL record 20 touchdown passes. Smith caught 87 passes for a league leading 1,322 yards and was named to the USFL All-Star team.
Runningback Joe Cribbs
Joe Cribbs
Joe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
recorded his second consecutive 1,000+ yard season with 1,047 yards on 267 carries and 7 touchdowns.
Safety Chuck Clanton
Chuck Clanton
-Biography:Clanton was born Cleveland Edward Clanton III on July 15, 1962 in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:After playing with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, Clanton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and...
also set a professional football record with 16 interceptions in 1985 as he also added 275 returns yards and a major picking off passes. The NFL record of 14 in a season was set in 1952 by Dick 'Night Train' Lane of the Los Angeles Rams. The CFL record of 15 in a season was set in 1972 by Al Brenner
Al Brenner
Allen Ray Brenner was a football player in the Canadian Football League for seven years.-Football career:...
of the Calgary Stampeders.
In the USFL Quarter-Final, the Stallions defeated the visiting Houston Gamblers
Houston Gamblers
The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons...
22-20, at Legion Field.
The following week, the Stallions hosted the defending champion, and nemesis, the Baltimore Stars
Baltimore Stars
The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of...
at Legion Field. After losing to the Stars in the Eastern Conference final in 1984, the Stallions were hoping to exact revenge, however, they dropped a 28-14 decision to Baltimore in what would eventually be Birmingham's last USFL game.
1985 Birmingham Stallions Opening Day Roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1985 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-85) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Phil McKinnely Philip Byron "Phil" McKinnely is a former American football offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the NFL, mainly for the Atlanta Falcons, and then in the USFL for the Memphis Showboats... LT Lindsey Mason Lindsey Michael Mason is a former professional American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 3rd round of the 1978 NFL Draft... RT Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... LG Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... C/G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Billy Roe Billy Roe , is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1997-1998 and 2000-2002 seasons with 16 career starts, including 2 at the Indianapolis 500. His best IRL finish was a 12th place at Nashville Speedway in 2001. In the 1997 Las Vegas Motor Speedway race, he fielded his own car... MLB Thomas Boyd (American football) Thomas Boyd is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Boyd was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He would later play with the Detroit Lions during the 1987 NFL season.... LB Doak Field Doak Field is a baseball venue which opened in 1966 as home to the North Carolina State University Wolfpack college baseball team of the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference . The stadium is located in Raleigh, North Carolina on NC State's West Campus, behind Lee and Sullivan residence... LB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Jim Brown James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News... TE |
Injured Reserve
Rookies in italics 43 Active, 7 Developmental |
||||
1985 Birmingham Stallions Schedule
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Attendance | Final Score | W/L | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday | February 26, 1985 | New Jersey Generals New Jersey Generals The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
34,785 | 38-28 | W | 1-0 |
| 2 | Sunday | March 3, 1985 | Denver Gold Denver Gold The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
27,400 | 23-40 | L | 1-1 |
| 3 | Saturday | March 9, 1985 | at Orlando Renegades Orlando Renegades The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-In Washington:-1983 season:... |
Orlando Stadium Orlando Stadium Orlando Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Soweto, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. The stadium was originally built in 1959, at a cost of £37,500, with a capacity of 24,000.... |
25,831 | 34-10 | W | 2-1 |
| 4 | Saturday | March 16, 1985 | Memphis Showboats Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
34,500 | 34-19 | W | 3-1 |
| 5 | Sunday | March 24, 1985 | at Baltimore Stars Baltimore Stars The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of... |
Byrd Stadium Byrd Stadium Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium , is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It is the home of the Maryland Terrapins football and lacrosse teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
14,529 | 7-3 | W | 4-1 |
| 6 | Saturday | March 30, 1985 | Jacksonville Bulls Jacksonville Bulls The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
41,200 | 25-18 | W | 5-1 |
| 7 | Sunday | April 7, 1985 | at San Antonio Gunslingers San Antonio Gunslingers The San Antonio Gunslingers were a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas that played in the USFL in 1984 and 1985. Rick Neuheisel was the team's quarterback and only recognizable name. The team played in Alamo Stadium... |
Alamo Stadium Alamo Stadium Alamo Stadium is a horseshoe-shaped football stadium in San Antonio, Texas. Nicknamed "the rock pile" due to its primarily limestone construction it was completed in September 1940 as a Works Progress Administration project. The stadium is currently owned and operated by the San Antonio Independent... |
8,873 | 14-15 | L | 5-2 |
| 8 | Saturday | April 13, 1985 | Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
44,500 | 20-17 | W | 6-2 |
| 9 | Saturday | April 20, 1985 | Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
28,900 | 30-3 | W | 7-2 |
| 10 | Sunday | April 28, 1985 | at Jacksonville Bulls Jacksonville Bulls The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985... |
Gator Bowl Gator Bowl The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally... |
41,298 | 17-27 | L | 7-3 |
| 11 | Friday | May 3, 1985 | at Memphis Showboats Memphis Showboats The Memphis Showboats were a franchise in the United States Football League. They entered the league in its expansion in 1984 and made the 1985 playoffs, losing in the semifinal round to the Oakland Invaders... |
Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003... |
29,025 | 24-38 | L | 7-4 |
| 12 | Saturday | May 11, 1985 | Portland Breakers Portland Breakers The Portland Breakers were a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
28,500 | 14-0 | W | 8-4 |
| 13 | Sunday | May 19, 1985 | at Los Angeles Express | Los Angeles Coliseum | 4,658 | 44-7 | W | 9-4 |
| 14 | Monday | May 27, 1985 | Orlando Renegades Orlando Renegades The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-In Washington:-1983 season:... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
24,500 | 41-17 | W | 10-4 |
| 15 | Monday | June 3, 1985 | at Houston Gamblers Houston Gamblers The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons... |
Astrodome | 13,202 | 29-27 | W | 11-4 |
| 16 | Saturday | June 8, 1985 | Baltimore Stars Baltimore Stars The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of... |
Byrd Stadium Byrd Stadium Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium , is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It is the home of the Maryland Terrapins football and lacrosse teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
24,300 | 14-7 | W | 12-4 |
| 17 | Saturday | June 15, 1985 | at Tampa Bay Bandits Tampa Bay Bandits The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.... |
Tampa Stadium | 42,131 | 14-17 | L | 12-5 |
| 18 | Sunday | June 23, 1985 | at New Jersey Generals New Jersey Generals The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition... |
Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
44,098 | 14-6 | W | 13-5 |
| *QF | Saturday | June 29, 1985 | Houston Gamblers Houston Gamblers The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons... |
Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
18,500 | 22-20 | W | 1-0 |
| *SF | Sunday | July 7, 1985 | Philadelphia Stars | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... |
23,250 | 14-28 | L | 1-1 |
1985 Birmingham Stallions End of Season Roster
| Birmingham Stallions 1985 End of Season Roster (at 23-Jun-85) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Phil McKinnely Philip Byron "Phil" McKinnely is a former American football offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the NFL, mainly for the Atlanta Falcons, and then in the USFL for the Memphis Showboats... LT Mike Turner Michael R. Turner is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers most of the city of Dayton and includes most of Montgomery County, much of Warren County, and is home to all of Highland and Clinton Counties.-Early life, education... LG Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Billy Roe Billy Roe , is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1997-1998 and 2000-2002 seasons with 16 career starts, including 2 at the Indianapolis 500. His best IRL finish was a 12th place at Nashville Speedway in 2001. In the 1997 Las Vegas Motor Speedway race, he fielded his own car... MLB Thomas Boyd (American football) Thomas Boyd is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Boyd was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He would later play with the Detroit Lions during the 1987 NFL season.... LB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Developmental Squad
Buddy Aydelette William Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL... OG Don Reese Donald Francis Reese was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League. After playing college football at Jackson State University, Reese was a 1st round selection of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins... DE |
Injured Reserve
Jim Brown James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News... TE Rookies in italics 43 Active, 6 Developmental |
||||
Stallions Single-season Records
- Rushing attempts; 297 (1984), Joe CribbsJoe CribbsJoe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
- Rushing yards: 1467 (1984), Joe CribbsJoe CribbsJoe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
- Rushing TDs: 13 (1984), Leon Perry
- Receptions: 89 (1984), Jim Smith
- Receiving yards: 1607 (1984), Jim Smith (USFL record)
- Receiving TDs; 20 (1985), Jim Smith (USFL record)
- Pass Completions: 266 (1985), Cliff StoudtCliff StoudtClifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
- Pass Attempts; 444 (1985), Cliff StoudtCliff StoudtClifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
- Passing yards: 3188 (1985), Cliff StoudtCliff StoudtClifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
- Passing TDs: 35 (1985), Cliff StoudtCliff StoudtClifford Lewis Stoudt is a former American football quarterback for Youngstown State University and the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers...
- Kickoff returns: 26 (1985), Paul Ott CarruthPaul Ott CarruthPaul Ott Carruth is a former running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-Career:Carruth played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He would spend his final NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also played for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL...
- Kickoff return yards: 477 (1985), Paul Ott CarruthPaul Ott CarruthPaul Ott Carruth is a former running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-Career:Carruth played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He would spend his final NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also played for the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL...
- Kickoff return Avg: 23.2 (1984), Lonnie JohnsonLonnie JohnsonAlonzo "Lonnie" Johnson was an American blues and jazz singer/guitarist and songwriter who pioneered the role of jazz guitar and is recognized as the first to play single-string guitar solos...
- Punt returns: 33 (1985), Thad McFadden
- Punt return yards: 328 (1985), Thad McFadden
- Punt return Avg: 9.9 (1985), Thad McFadden
- Field Goals Made: 25 (1983), Scott NorwoodScott NorwoodScott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
- Field Goal Attempts: 34 (1983), Scott NorwoodScott NorwoodScott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
- Punts: 67 (1985), Bob ParsonsBob ParsonsBob Parsons is an American entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of The Go Daddy Group, Inc., a family of companies comprising three ICANN-accredited domain name registrars, including flagship registrar GoDaddy.com, reseller registrar Wild West Domains and Blue Razor Domains...
- Punt Yardage: 2626 (1985), Bob ParsonsBob ParsonsBob Parsons is an American entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founder of The Go Daddy Group, Inc., a family of companies comprising three ICANN-accredited domain name registrars, including flagship registrar GoDaddy.com, reseller registrar Wild West Domains and Blue Razor Domains...
- Punt Average: 41.4 (1983), Skip Johnston
- Tackles: 149 (1985), Herb Spencer
- Sacks: 10.0 (1984), Dave PureiforyDave PureiforyDave Pureifory was a professional American football defensive lineman for three teams in an eleven-year career in the National Football League.-Early life:...
- Passes Defensed: 18 (1985), Chuck ClantonChuck Clanton-Biography:Clanton was born Cleveland Edward Clanton III on July 15, 1962 in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:After playing with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, Clanton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and...
- Fumbles Recoveries: 3 (1984), Mike Murphy
- Interceptions: 16 (1985), Chuck ClantonChuck Clanton-Biography:Clanton was born Cleveland Edward Clanton III on July 15, 1962 in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:After playing with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, Clanton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and...
(USFL and Pro Football record) - Interception yards: 275 (1985), Chuck ClantonChuck Clanton-Biography:Clanton was born Cleveland Edward Clanton III on July 15, 1962 in Richmond, Virginia.-Career:After playing with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, Clanton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and...
(USFL record)
Season-by-season
|-|1983 ||9||9|| 0 ||4th Central||--
|-
|1984 ||14 || 4 || 0 || 1st EC Southern ||Won Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season....
)
Lost Semifinal (Philadelphia
Baltimore Stars
The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of...
)
|-
|1985 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 1st EC || Won Quarterfinal (Houston
Houston Gamblers
The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons...
)
Lost Semifinal (Baltimore
Baltimore Stars
The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of...
)
|-
!Totals || 38 || 20 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
After football
A few of those associated with the Stallions made their mark in Birmingham after the league folded:- Joey Jones, who played wide receiver, coached football at two local high schools. In 2006, he became the first head football coach at Birmingham Southern College since 1939, when football was cancelled as a varsity sport. In 2008, after just one year at BSC, he returned to his hometown of Mobile and started the college football program at the University of South AlabamaUniversity of South AlabamaThe University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
. - Joe CribbsJoe CribbsJoe Stanier Cribbs is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks...
returned to the NFL to finish out his football career. He returned to Birmingham to help those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. - Jim HilyerJim Hilyer-References:...
, an assistant coach, went on to be the first ever football coach at the University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamThe University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
. He would also be an assistant to three other pro football teams to play in Birmingham. After football, he was an instructor in physical fitness at the Birmingham Police Academy. - Buddy AydeletteBuddy AydeletteWilliam Leslie "Buddy" Aydelette was an American football guard. He began his career with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Packers in the 7th round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He would go on to become noteworthy for being the most decorated guard in the history of the rival USFL...
is a city councilman with Trussville. Aydelette played offensive lineman for the Stallions and the University of Alabama.
Other history
The Stallions were the first pro football team to draft Jerry RiceJerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
. They received the overall pick in the 1985 USFL Draft, due to a trade with the Orlando Renegades
Orlando Renegades
The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-In Washington:-1983 season:...
. Rice never played in Birmingham.
Among those considered to be Birmingham's coach were Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
, Gene Stallings
Gene Stallings
Eugene Clifton Stallings, Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University , where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St...
, and Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
.