Michigan Panthers
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football
team that played in the United States Football League
in the mid-1980s.
A. Alfred Taubman
, one of the nation's leading real estate developers, headed the ownership group that included Judge Peter B. Spivak and Max M. Fisher.
The Panthers named former CFL
executive, Jim Spavital
as their General Manager on August 26, 1982. Michigan then hired Jim Stanley
as their Head Coach on November 18, 1982 after George Perles
decided to coach at Michigan State. Stanley was head coach at Oklahoma State University. Stanleybrought a wealth of choaching expeirence, with stops at SMU, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Navy, and on the professional level with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and NFL's New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, mainly as an assistant coach. Stanley would be the club's only head coach. The coaching staffed was rounded out by Larry Coyer, Pete Rodriguez, and Dick Roach (Defensive coaches). George Dickson, Bob Leahy, and Kent Stephenson were the offensive coaches.
The Pontiac Silverdome
(Cap. 80,638) was the home of the Panthers.
The USFL's first collegiate draft was held on January 4, 1983. The Panthers selected Wisconsin SS David Greenwood with their first round (10th overall) selection.
They also tabbed Michigan WR Anthony Carter in the USFL Territorial Draft – a process whereby USFL teams could protect up to 25 graduating seniors from a series of local universities. The Panthers had territorial rights to the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Northern Michigan. The Panthers used this draft to select two placekickers. One was Novo Bojovic, and the other was Michigan's Ali Haji-Sheikh. Sheikh spurned the Panthers to sign with the New York Giants of the NFL.
Michigan made a splash in signing some of the top young NCAA prospects in 1983 in Michigan WR Anthony Carter, Tulsa RB Ken Lacy
, Wisconsin SS David Greenwood, QB Bobby Hebert
of Northwestern State (La.)and LB John Corker
of Oklahoma State.
The Panthers also had a few key players with NFL experience. Tackle Ray Pinney and Tyrone McGriff had played for the Super Bowl Pittsburgh Steelers teams. The Panthers also landed three former Cleveland Browns starters in Running Back Cleo Miller, Defensive Back Oliver Davis, and Quarterback Mark Miller. The team also had former all pro punter Bob Grupp, who had played for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. However, Grupp had been a one season wonder in Kansas City, and after a few inconsistent weeks, he was released, and safety David Greenwood did double duty taking over as the team's punter. Future Buffalo Bills linebacker and children's book aurthor Ray Bentley was also a Michigan Panther.
On Monday, March 7, 1983; they opened the season with a 9-7 win over the Birmingham Stallions
at Legion Field
in Birmingham, AL. This was the first professional football game ever broadcast on ESPN
. Serbian kicker (via Central Michigan) Novo Bojovic
kicked the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments to preserve the win.
The Panthers then dropped their next four contests, losing on Sat. Mar. 12 to the Tampa Bay Bandits
(7-19); Sat. Mar. 19 at home to the Oakland Invaders
(27-33); Sun. Mar. 27 at the Washington Federals (16-22 OT) and Mon. Apr. 4 at home to the Denver Gold
(21-29). Their slow start was attributed mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars. Management addressed the issue by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen in OT Ray Pinney
(Pittsburgh Steelers
), OG Tyrone McGriff
(Pittsburgh Steelers
) and OG Thom Dornbrook
(NY Giants). Dornbrook and McGriff would both make USFL all-league teams in 1983. The Panthers saw their winning streak end at six games. On May 23, the Panthers faced the Birmingham Stallions, and the two teams were tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter. Michigan had defeated Birmingham earlier in the year, 9-7 thanks to three Novo Bojovic field goals. However, this game would be different. Michigan would have had the lead, but the extra point attempt was blocked. The game went into overtime, and was won by Birmingham thanks to a 46 yard field goal by Stallions placekicker Scott Norwood. The Panthers would bounce back with a 42-7 thrashing of the stellar Tampa Bay Bandits, coached by future Florida Gators head coach, Steve Spurrier.
After making those additions, and installing rookie Bobby Herbet as quarterback, the Panthers then won 11 of their next 13 contests and captured the Central Division Championship with a 12-6 record.
In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted the Western Division Champion Oakland Invaders
before a then USFL-record crowd of 60,237. The Panthers' decisive 37-21 victory vaulted them to the inaugural USFL Championship Game in Denver, CO.
On July 17, 1983, the Panthers captured the USFL's first championship with a 24-22 win over the Atlantic Division Champion Philadelphia Stars. QB Bobby Hebert hit WR Anthony Carter on a 48-yard touchdown strike with 11:59 left in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
The Panthers wound up spending $6 million during the season—three times what USFL founder David Dixon recommended that a team spend in a single season. Nonetheless, some observers suggested that they could have been a fairly competitive NFL team.
team that had swapped nearly all of its players with the last-place Arizona Wranglers
. They initially didn't disappoint, sweeping their first six games. However, in the sixth game, a win over the expansion San Antonio Gunslingers
, star receiver Anthony Carter broke his arm and was lost for the season. Without their chief offensive weapon the Panthers promptly went into a tailspin, losing eight of their next ten games (the Panthers' only wins in this stretch both came in overtime) to sink to a 8-8 record. Needing to win their last two games against Oklahoma and Chicago just to make the playoffs, Michigan did just that, finishing 10-8.
The first-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Express (in a less-than-tenth-filled Los Angeles Coliseum) turned out to be longest professional football game in history. The Panthers took a 21-13 lead in the fourth quarter, only to have future Hall of Famer Steve Young throw a touchdown pass, then personally score the two-point conversion to knot the game at 21 with 52 seconds remaining. The Panthers had chances to win the game in both the first and second overtimes, but normally reliable kicker Novo Bojovic
missed field goals each time. Finally, in the third overtime, rookie Mel Gray (who would later play for the Detroit Lions
) ran 24 yards to give LA a 27-21 victory, ending pro football's longest day after 93 minutes and 33 seconds of play time. (Gray's touchdown would prove to be painful for the young star—the force of the tackle at the end of the play broke his arm.) http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/greatestgame.html
It turned out to be the Panthers' last game. After the 1984 season was over USFL owners, largely under the influence of New Jersey Generals
owner Donald Trump
and Chicago franchise owner Eddie Einhorn
began talking seriously about moving to a fall schedule in 1986. The Panthers had developed a loyal following, though, and Taubman was a strong believer in the original spring football concept. He also had no desire to compete with the Detroit Lions
, who were owned by his longtime friend William Clay Ford
.
Taubman felt like the move was a foregone conclusion. As a result, after the merger between the Oakland Invaders
and the Oklahoma Outlaws collapsed, Taubman quietly approached Invaders owner Tad Taube about a possible merger with his Panthers. When the league owners met to vote on moving to the fall, Taubman sent his son with a message for the commissioner -- if the teams voted to move to the fall, the Panthers would merge with the Invaders, with the Invaders as the surviving team. When the vote to play in the fall passed, the Panthers and Invaders announced their merger, with Taubman as majority owner of the Invaders.
lawsuit against the NFL, on which it had staked its survival, the league folded. The league's abandonment of the Detroit market was a major factor behind the adverse jury award.
Receiving Yards: 1220 (1984), Derek Holloway
Passing Yards: 3368 (1984), Bobby Hebert
|1983 || 12 || 6 || 0 || 1st Central || Won Divisional (Oakland
)
Won USFL Championship (Philadelphia)
|-
|1984 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 2nd WC Central || Lost Quarterfinal (Los Angeles)
|-
!Totals || 24 || 15 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
1984
1 – Longest game in professional football history.
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...
team that played in the United States Football League
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...
in the mid-1980s.
Team history
The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League (USFL) on May 11, 1982.A. Alfred Taubman
A. Alfred Taubman
Adolph Alfred Taubman is an American real estate developer and philanthropist from Michigan. He pioneered the modern shopping mall concept and was described by CBS News as a "legend in retailing" who became wealthy developing upscale shopping malls. He built shopping mall developer Taubman Centers...
, one of the nation's leading real estate developers, headed the ownership group that included Judge Peter B. Spivak and Max M. Fisher.
The Panthers named former CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
executive, Jim Spavital
Jim Spavital
James J. Spavital was a gridiron football fullback, coach and general manager in six different professional football leagues.- Playing career :...
as their General Manager on August 26, 1982. Michigan then hired Jim Stanley
Jim Stanley
James L. Stanley is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater from 1973 to 1978, compiling a record of 35–31–2. Stanley was also the head coach of the USFL's Michigan Panthers in 1983 and 1984, their own...
as their Head Coach on November 18, 1982 after George Perles
George Perles
George J. Perles is a former American football player and coach. He was a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972–1981 and the head coach at Michigan State University from 1983–1994...
decided to coach at Michigan State. Stanley was head coach at Oklahoma State University. Stanleybrought a wealth of choaching expeirence, with stops at SMU, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Navy, and on the professional level with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and NFL's New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, mainly as an assistant coach. Stanley would be the club's only head coach. The coaching staffed was rounded out by Larry Coyer, Pete Rodriguez, and Dick Roach (Defensive coaches). George Dickson, Bob Leahy, and Kent Stephenson were the offensive coaches.
The 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...
(Cap. 80,638) was the home of the Panthers.
The USFL's first collegiate draft was held on January 4, 1983. The Panthers selected Wisconsin SS David Greenwood with their first round (10th overall) selection.
They also tabbed Michigan WR Anthony Carter in the USFL Territorial Draft – a process whereby USFL teams could protect up to 25 graduating seniors from a series of local universities. The Panthers had territorial rights to the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Northern Michigan. The Panthers used this draft to select two placekickers. One was Novo Bojovic, and the other was Michigan's Ali Haji-Sheikh. Sheikh spurned the Panthers to sign with the New York Giants of the NFL.
Michigan made a splash in signing some of the top young NCAA prospects in 1983 in Michigan WR Anthony Carter, Tulsa RB Ken Lacy
Ken Lacy
Ken Lacy was a professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.-References:...
, Wisconsin SS David Greenwood, QB Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
of Northwestern State (La.)and LB John Corker
John Corker
John Corker is a former American football linebacker who played four seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Houston Oilers....
of Oklahoma State.
The Panthers also had a few key players with NFL experience. Tackle Ray Pinney and Tyrone McGriff had played for the Super Bowl Pittsburgh Steelers teams. The Panthers also landed three former Cleveland Browns starters in Running Back Cleo Miller, Defensive Back Oliver Davis, and Quarterback Mark Miller. The team also had former all pro punter Bob Grupp, who had played for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. However, Grupp had been a one season wonder in Kansas City, and after a few inconsistent weeks, he was released, and safety David Greenwood did double duty taking over as the team's punter. Future Buffalo Bills linebacker and children's book aurthor Ray Bentley was also a Michigan Panther.
1983 season highlights
Michigan held their first training camp at City Island Stadium in Daytona Beach, FL sifting through over 75 players.On Monday, March 7, 1983; they opened the season with a 9-7 win over the Birmingham Stallions
Birmingham Stallions
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...
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...
in Birmingham, AL. This was the first professional football game ever broadcast on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Serbian kicker (via Central Michigan) Novo Bojovic
Novo Bojovic
Novo Bojovic is a former placekicker. Bojovic played college football at Central Michigan before embarking on a career in professional football which lasted nine years. Bojovic began his career in pro football with the United States Football League's Michigan Panthers in 1983...
kicked the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments to preserve the win.
The Panthers then dropped their next four contests, losing on Sat. Mar. 12 to 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....
(7-19); Sat. Mar. 19 at home to 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:...
(27-33); Sun. Mar. 27 at the Washington Federals (16-22 OT) and Mon. Apr. 4 at home to the 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...
(21-29). Their slow start was attributed mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars. Management addressed the issue by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen in OT Ray Pinney
Ray Pinney
Raymond Earl Pinney is a former NFL offensive tackle and guard who played seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft. Was the Steelers Starting Right Tackle in Super Bowl XIII. He played in the USFL. Won the 1983 USFL...
(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...
), OG Tyrone McGriff
Tyrone McGriff
Tyrone McGriff is a former American football center and guard who played in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers, He later played in the USFL. Won the 1983 USFL Championship as a starting Guard for the Michigan Panthers...
(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...
) and OG Thom Dornbrook
Thom Dornbrook
Thomas Dornbrook is a former professional American football player who played Center and Guard for two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1979, Dornbrook earned a ring for Super Bowl XIV. He played for the Miami Dolphins in 1980. He later played in the USFL and won the 1983 USFL Championship...
(NY Giants). Dornbrook and McGriff would both make USFL all-league teams in 1983. The Panthers saw their winning streak end at six games. On May 23, the Panthers faced the Birmingham Stallions, and the two teams were tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter. Michigan had defeated Birmingham earlier in the year, 9-7 thanks to three Novo Bojovic field goals. However, this game would be different. Michigan would have had the lead, but the extra point attempt was blocked. The game went into overtime, and was won by Birmingham thanks to a 46 yard field goal by Stallions placekicker Scott Norwood. The Panthers would bounce back with a 42-7 thrashing of the stellar Tampa Bay Bandits, coached by future Florida Gators head coach, Steve Spurrier.
After making those additions, and installing rookie Bobby Herbet as quarterback, the Panthers then won 11 of their next 13 contests and captured the Central Division Championship with a 12-6 record.
In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted the Western Division Champion 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:...
before a then USFL-record crowd of 60,237. The Panthers' decisive 37-21 victory vaulted them to the inaugural USFL Championship Game in Denver, CO.
On July 17, 1983, the Panthers captured the USFL's first championship with a 24-22 win over the Atlantic Division Champion Philadelphia Stars. QB Bobby Hebert hit WR Anthony Carter on a 48-yard touchdown strike with 11:59 left in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
The Panthers wound up spending $6 million during the season—three times what USFL founder David Dixon recommended that a team spend in a single season. Nonetheless, some observers suggested that they could have been a fairly competitive NFL team.
1984 season highlights
The Panthers were expected to romp to another Central Division title in 1984. They were in a division with three expansion teams and a Chicago BlitzChicago 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 :...
team that had swapped nearly all of its players with the last-place 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:...
. They initially didn't disappoint, sweeping their first six games. However, in the sixth game, a win over the expansion 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...
, star receiver Anthony Carter broke his arm and was lost for the season. Without their chief offensive weapon the Panthers promptly went into a tailspin, losing eight of their next ten games (the Panthers' only wins in this stretch both came in overtime) to sink to a 8-8 record. Needing to win their last two games against Oklahoma and Chicago just to make the playoffs, Michigan did just that, finishing 10-8.
The first-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Express (in a less-than-tenth-filled Los Angeles Coliseum) turned out to be longest professional football game in history. The Panthers took a 21-13 lead in the fourth quarter, only to have future Hall of Famer Steve Young throw a touchdown pass, then personally score the two-point conversion to knot the game at 21 with 52 seconds remaining. The Panthers had chances to win the game in both the first and second overtimes, but normally reliable kicker Novo Bojovic
Novo Bojovic
Novo Bojovic is a former placekicker. Bojovic played college football at Central Michigan before embarking on a career in professional football which lasted nine years. Bojovic began his career in pro football with the United States Football League's Michigan Panthers in 1983...
missed field goals each time. Finally, in the third overtime, rookie Mel Gray (who would later play for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
) ran 24 yards to give LA a 27-21 victory, ending pro football's longest day after 93 minutes and 33 seconds of play time. (Gray's touchdown would prove to be painful for the young star—the force of the tackle at the end of the play broke his arm.) http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/greatestgame.html
It turned out to be the Panthers' last game. After the 1984 season was over USFL owners, largely under the influence of 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...
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...
and Chicago franchise owner Eddie Einhorn
Eddie Einhorn
Eddie Einhorn is minority owner and Vice Chairman of the Chicago White Sox.Einhorn produced the nationally syndicated radio broadcast of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1958...
began talking seriously about moving to a fall schedule in 1986. The Panthers had developed a loyal following, though, and Taubman was a strong believer in the original spring football concept. He also had no desire to compete with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, who were owned by his longtime friend William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford, Sr.
William Clay Ford, Sr. is the youngest of the four children of Edsel Ford and the youngest grandchild of Henry Ford.-Biography:...
.
Taubman felt like the move was a foregone conclusion. As a result, after the merger between 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:...
and the Oklahoma Outlaws collapsed, Taubman quietly approached Invaders owner Tad Taube about a possible merger with his Panthers. When the league owners met to vote on moving to the fall, Taubman sent his son with a message for the commissioner -- if the teams voted to move to the fall, the Panthers would merge with the Invaders, with the Invaders as the surviving team. When the vote to play in the fall passed, the Panthers and Invaders announced their merger, with Taubman as majority owner of the Invaders.
Aftermath
After the USFL received only $3 in its antitrustAntitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
lawsuit against the NFL, on which it had staked its survival, the league folded. The league's abandonment of the Detroit market was a major factor behind the adverse jury award.
Single season leaders
Rushing Yards: 1182 (1983), Ken LacyKen Lacy
Ken Lacy was a professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.-References:...
Receiving Yards: 1220 (1984), Derek Holloway
Derek Holloway
Derek Lance Holloway is a former wide receiver in the United States Football League, the National Football League, the Canadian Football League, the World League of American Football and the Arena Football League.-High school career:Holloway played high school football at Palmyra High School in...
Passing Yards: 3368 (1984), Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
Season-by-season
|-|1983 || 12 || 6 || 0 || 1st Central || Won Divisional (Oakland
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:...
)
Won USFL Championship (Philadelphia)
|-
|1984 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 2nd WC Central || Lost Quarterfinal (Los Angeles)
|-
!Totals || 24 || 15 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Game-by-game results
1983| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Attendance | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon. Mar. 7 | Birmingham Stallions Birmingham Stallions 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... |
W 9-7 | 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 | ESPN |
| 2 | Sat. Mar. 12 | 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.... |
L 7-19 | Tampa Stadium | 38,789 | abc |
| 3 | Sat. Mar. 19 | 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:... |
L 27-33 | 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... |
28,952 | ESPN |
| 4 | Sun. Mar. 27 | Washington Federals | L 16-22 (OT) | RFK Stadium | 11,404 | abc |
| 5 | Mon. Apr. 4 | 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... |
L 21-29 | 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... |
11,279 | ESPN |
| 6 | Sun. Apr. 10 | 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... |
W 21-6 | 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... |
17,648 | abc |
| 7 | Sun. Apr. 17 | 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 :... |
W 17-12 | 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... |
11,634 | abc |
| 8 | Sat. Apr. 23 | Los Angeles Express | W 34-24 | 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... |
13,184 | ESPN |
| 9 | Sun. May 1 | 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... |
W 28-24 | 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... |
10,971 | abc |
| 10 | Sat. May 7 | 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:... |
W 21-10 | Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass... |
20,423 | |
| 11 | Mon. May 16 | 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... |
W 31-24 | 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... |
32,862 | ESPN |
| 12 | Mon. May 23 | Birmingham Stallions Birmingham Stallions 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... |
L 20-23 (OT) | 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 | ESPN |
| 13 | Mon. May 30 | 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.... |
W 43-7 | 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... |
23,976 | ESPN |
| 14 | Sun. Jun. 5 | Philadelphia Stars | L 20-29 | 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... |
19,727 | abc |
| 15 | Sun. Jun. 12 | Los Angeles Express | W 42-17 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team... |
16,023 | |
| 16 | Sat. Jun. 18 | Washington Federals | W 27-25 | 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... |
26,418 | |
| 17 | Sun. Jun. 26 | 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 :... |
W 34-19 | 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... |
25,041 | abc |
| 18 | Sun. Jul. 3 | 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:... |
W 33-7 | 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... |
31,905 | abc |
| SF | Sun. Jul. 10 | 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:... |
W 37-21 | 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... |
60,237 | abc |
| FL | Sun. Jul. 17 | Philadelphia Stars | W 24-22 | 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... |
50,906 | abc |
1984
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Attendance | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon. Feb. 27 | 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 :... |
W 20-18 | 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... |
22,428 | ESPN |
| 2 | Sat. Mar. 3 | 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... |
W 27-24 | 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... |
44,485 | ESPN |
| 3 | Sun. Mar. 11 | 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... |
W 28-0 | 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... |
41,623 | abc |
| 4 | Sun. Mar. 18 | 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:... |
W 31-26 | 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... |
43,130 | abc |
| 5 | Mon. Mar. 26 | 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... |
W 52-34 | Houston Astrodome | 38,754 | ESPN |
| 6 | Sun. Apr. 1 | 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... |
W 26-10 | 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... |
42,692 | abc |
| 7 | Sat. Apr. 7 | Oklahoma Outlaws | L 17-20 | Skelly Stadium Skelly Stadium Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is primarily the home of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team. The stadium currently seats 30,000.-History:Skelly Field was built in 1930 as a 14,500-seat stadium... |
21,510 | |
| 8 | Sun. Apr. 15 | Birmingham Stallions Birmingham Stallions 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... |
L 17-28 | 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... |
42,655 | abc |
| 9 | Mon. Apr. 23 | 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.... |
L 7-20 | 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... |
31,433 | ESPN |
| 10 | Sun. Apr. 29 | 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... |
L 21-31 | New Jersey Meadowlands New Jersey Meadowlands New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of... |
50,908 | abc |
| 11 | Sun. May 6 | 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... |
W 31-28 (OT) | 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... |
29,068 | abc |
| 12 | Sun. May 13 | New Orleans Breakers | L 3-10 | 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... |
21,053 | abc |
| 13 | Sun. May 20 | Los Angeles Express | L 17-24 | LA Memorial Coliseum | 10,193 | abc |
| 14 | Sun. May 27 | Philadelphia Stars | L 13-31 | 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... |
20,387 | abc |
| 15 | Fri. Jun. 1 | 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... |
W 20-17 (OT) | 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... |
16,384 | |
| 16 | Sat. Jun. 9 | 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:... |
L 13-20 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum McAfee Coliseum O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area... |
23,918 | ESPN |
| 17 | Mon. Jun. 18 | Oklahoma Outlaws | W 34-24 | 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... |
15,838 | |
| 18 | Mon. June 24 | 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 :... |
W 20-17 | 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... |
5,557 | |
| QF1 | June 30 | Los Angeles Express | L 21-27 (3OT) | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team... |
7,409 | abc |
1 – Longest game in professional football history.
External links
- http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/teams/michigan.html
- http://www.usfl.info/panthers/