Anybody miss the USFL ??

Search

New member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
691
Tokens
As a kid i remember being psyched watching these games during the week during the spring in the mid 80's. I know a league could survive in the spring if it was run properly and in the right markets. It's strange how the NFL basically copied the USFL's two point rule, coaches challenge, and the salary cap. The USFL tried to add too many teams too soon and and that was the beginning of the end. I remember how fun the league was. Here in Jersey it was a pretty big deal with Donald Trump convincing Herschel Walker to play for the Generals.
 

Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid.
Joined
Mar 21, 1999
Messages
2,067
Tokens
I attended every Boston Breakers home game (I believe it was 1983, but I'm not sure) before they moved to New Orleans and loved it. The biggest mistake the USFL made was trying to compete head on with the NFL in the fall. They would still be a viable league today if they stayed as a spring sport.
 

"I like ketchup. It's like tomato wine."
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
10,015
Tokens
I loved the USFL.

I went to the final Championship game at Giants stadium and sat next to Scott Fitzkie's wife. (He was Philly's Tight End and his wife was smoking hot.) She was so happy I knew who he was, she sent me a ton of autographed stuff.

Also got to meet the great George Allen. I think he coached the Arizona team.
 

New member
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
81
Tokens
The Houston Gamblers. Jim Kelly at quarterback. The original "Run and Shoot" offense. Fun Times. I hope they spent that dollar well.
 

Rx Senior
Joined
Dec 7, 2004
Messages
18,351
Tokens
Never seen the USFL....only thing I know is Steve Young played in it.

So it was originally in the "Off-season"? Does this mean that athletes can play in both NFL and USFL or did contracts restrict this?
 

Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid.
Joined
Mar 21, 1999
Messages
2,067
Tokens
I loved the USFL.

Also got to meet the great George Allen. I think he coached the Arizona team.

Allen coached the Chicago Blitz and then the franchise swapped with Arizona. They were solid. My uncle played college ball with Greg Landry, who was the Blitz QB, and I had a chance to meet him.

I believe no player could be under contract to the NFL and the USFL at the same time, but I think some free agent players jumped at the end of the NFL season and played the spring with the USFL. (Not 100% sure about that)
 

I've come to put my house in order
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
1,735
Tokens
remember rooting for the new jersey generals when i lived in new york...
used to like those games as a kid...
 

"I like ketchup. It's like tomato wine."
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
10,015
Tokens
I loved the USFL.

I went to the final Championship game at Giants stadium and sat next to Scott Fitzkie's wife. (He was Philly's Tight End and his wife was smoking hot.) She was so happy I knew who he was, she sent me a ton of autographed stuff.

Also got to meet the great George Allen. I think he coached the Arizona team.

And this game is on ESPN Classic right now.


Bobby Hebert is driving Oakland down the field as we speak. :lolBIG:
 

New member
Joined
Apr 21, 2002
Messages
28,149
Tokens
On a crazy side note to this USFL thread, the last remaining USFL player (Sean Landeta) retired today.
 

hacheman@therx.com
Staff member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
139,160
Tokens
Loved the USFL

Tampa Bay Bandits fan.

USFL had some of the coolest team names in the history of pro sports.

LA Express
Chicago Blitz
Tampa Bay Bandits
Denver Gold
Memphis Showboats
Houston Gamblers
Washington Federals
Birmingham Stallions
Sam Antonio Gunslingers



All top players started turning to that league & we were so close to be discussing USFL today instead of NFL.

Banditswas the first pro football team ever to have 2 RB's go over 1,000 yards rushing. ..
 

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
31,503
Tokens
"If God wanted football in the spring," Trump once said, "he wouldn't have created baseball."

Trump didn't necessarily kill the USFL like the doc says. A lot of the other owners were having financial troubles and took expansion fees, then as the league expanded I believe the financial difficulties just started to mount more.

He definitely did make a huge error in wanting to compete with the NFL in the fall though, zero chance that would've worked. Should've stuck to the Spring and been comfortable as a niche product. I think he just figured that the NFL might let some of the USFL teams in and he would get an NFL team on the cheap. This is basically what happened with the ABA/NBA merger.
 

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
8,518
Tokens
Definitely should have stuck to spring schedule, people are craving football 3 months after the new year.
 

Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga.
Joined
Jan 1, 2001
Messages
4,196
Tokens
I placed my order for this jam on 5/4....arriving between 5/13 and 5/18....pretty sure this will be my lucky shirt for next vegas trip

going to be a great investment

View attachment 18036
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,902
Messages
13,439,420
Members
99,345
Latest member
08winlink
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com