Wayback Machine 1-9-8-6

Its time for a little trip back in the Wayback Machine.

Has it been that long? 20 years ago. The USFL Suspended operations



The United States Football League was a professional league which played its games from 1983-1985 during the spring and summer months. Founded by David Dixon, a New Orleans art and antique dealer, the USFL announced its formation on May 11, 1982, at the 21 Club in New York City.
It was a who's who of young talent, has beens, and wannabe's
In July of 1986, about a month before the league was to begin its first fall season, the USFL won its antitrust suit against the NFL, but incredibly was awarded just $1 (trebled to $3 under antitrust law) in damages. More than $160 million in debt, the league folded before beginning its first fall campaign.

The All USFL Team:

QB- Jim Kelly (Hou)
RB- Kelvin Bryant (Phi/Balt)
RB- Herschel Walker (NJ)
WR- Anthony Carter (MI/Oak)
TE- Dan Ross (NO/Port)
T- Irv Eatman (Phil/Balt)
T- Gary Zimmerman (LA)
G- Nate Newton (TB)
G- Tom Thayer (Chi/AZ)
C- Bart Oates (Phi/Balt)
DE- William Fuller (Phi/Balt)
DE- Reggie White (Mem)
LB- Sam Mills (Phi/Balt)
LB- Gary Plummer (Oak)
CB- Luther Bradley (Chi/AZ/Hou)
CB- Frank Minnifield (Chi/AZ)
S- Gary Barbaro (NJ)
S- David Greenwood (MI/Oak)
KR- Mel Gray (LA)

The head coaches are a Who's Who of football
George Allen- Former Redskin Coach
Marv Levy- Bills Coach
Red Miller- Former Bronco Coach
Craig Morton- Won a super bowl for the Cowboys while playing for the Broncos
Mouse Davis- Creator of the run and Shoot offense
Jack Pardee- Former Bears/Redskin Coach
Lindy Infante- Coached the Packers before Holmgren
John Hadl- former NFL QB
John Ralston- Former Bronco coach
Frank Kush- Coached ASU
Lee Corso- From ESPN and former Louisville Coach of ESPN's Tom Jackson
Jim Mora- PLAYOFFS???
Steve Spurrier- No Comment

The NFL considered this a bastard child, however you have to admit the USFL made its impact on the NFL Almost all of the USFL's on-field innovations were eventually adopted by the NFL, and a multitude of star players would go on to very successful careers in the NFL. It was the first League to use instant replay and the first pro league since the AFL to use the two-point conversion. Both rules are on the books today in the NFL.

The NFL would also eventually have franchises in some of the markets where the USFL proved fertile or renewed interest in the game, including Arizona (the St. Louis Cardinals moving there in 1988), Baltimore (the Baltimore Ravens joining the league in 1996, with the original Cleveland Browns franchise having moved there), Jacksonville (the Jacksonville Jaguars being awarded as an expansion franchise for the 1995 season), and Tennessee (the Houston Oilers, before making Nashville their permanent home, spent a year in Memphis).

And what story of the USFL would be complete. Without a Picture of Slick Rick Neuheisel:

Rick Neuheisel, QB; Gunslingers- was the winner of the MVP award in the 1983 Rose Bowl where he led UCLA to a victory...he completed 211 of 383 throws for 2,542 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in rookie year with the 84 Gunslingers...connected on 239 of 421 tosses for 3,068 yards, 18 scores and 25 picks in 1985... signed on with Arizona Outlaws where he would have been Doug Williams' backup...after a stint with the San Diego Chargers' strike team (40-59 for 367 yards with a TD and int), took up coaching