Birmingham Stallions

From Bhamwiki
Revision as of 17:43, 28 May 2006 by Dystopos (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Birmingham Stallions logo.gif

The Birmingham Stallions were Birmingham's a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional football league in competition with the National Football League.

The team was owned by a group headed by Marvin L. Warner, and also including Aaron Aronov, Fred Berman, Harold Blach, Jr, Quentin Brown, James E. Clark, Wayne Gillis, Edward Hardin, Jr, Andrew Hollis, Jr, Gaylon McCullough, Mayer Mitchell, Mark Osborn, Bernard Rapoport, Harold Ripps, and J. B. Schilleci, Jr. The name of the team, announced in June 1982, was inspired by Warner's horse-breeding hobby. "Knights" had been mentioned previously by Warner as a possible nickname.

The initial coaching search was dramatic, with friction between Jack Gotta and short-term general manager Jim Gould. Gene Stallings had met with the team and expressed interest, but ended up declining the position to remain with the Dallas Cowboys. After failing to sign a coach, Gould resigned. Jerry Sklar was brought on to become the organization's president and it was announced that the head coach would act as general manager. In September Pittsburgh Steelers assistant Rollie Dotsch accepted the job.

The Stallions played through all three of the USFL's seasons between 1983 and 1985. In 1983 they were in the Central Division of a 12-team league, along with the Chicago Blitz, the Michigan Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Bandits. In 1984 the league expanded to 18 teams and Birmingham competed in the Eastern Conference, Southern Division against the Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, New Orleans Breakers and Tampa Bay. In 1985 the league contracted to 14 teams, and Birmingham played against the Baltimore Stars, Jacksonville, Memphis, the New Jersey Generals (owned by Donald Trump and starring Heisman-winner Doug Flutie), the Orlando Renegades and Tampa Bay.

They played their home games at Legion Field, under a five-year lease of $5,000 per game or 10% of the gate, whichever was higher.

In March 1985 Orlando Sentinel reporter Joan Ryan claimed to have been intimidated and harassed after entering the Stallions locker room after a game. Later that month it was revealed that team owner Marvin Warner had taken a bath in the national Savings & Loan scandal. He dissolved his association with the team, losing his investment. The City of Birmingham, after a favorable opinion by Attorney General Charles Graddick, agreed on a $1 million loan through the Alabama State Fair Authority. By July of 1985 both the city and Jefferson County were investigating unpaid taxes. These were paid by July 19.

In 1986 the league was scheduled to become a fall league, in direct competition with the NFL, which the USFL was suing as an illegal monopoly. After various defections, the league was reduced to eight teams. Birmingham was to play in the Liberty Division against Baltimore, Memphis and New Jersey. In July of that year a federal jury found in favor of the USFL in their antitrust suit against the NFL, but awarded only $1 in damages, mistakenly believing that the court could increase the amount. The USFL appealed the award, requesting that judge Peter Leisure order the break-up of the NFL into independent conferences and the dissolution of their contract with one of the three major networks. The league was facing a season without a major television contract. The league met in New York on August 4 and voted to suspend play for the 1986 season. Player contracts were dissolved, allowing USFL players to sign as free agents in the NFL.

Still waiting for an appeal, the league cancelled the 1987 season. When the league's request was ultimately refused in March 1988, the USFL was already, in effect, a memory.

Prominent players

  • Cliff Stoudt, a former backup with the Steelers (3 year contract for $1.2 million)
  • Joe Cribbs, a backup running back from the Buffalo Bills (5 year contract for $2.35 million)

Records

1985

14-6 (lost in 2nd round of playoffs). Average home attendance: 36,850

  • February 24, Birmingham 38, New Jersey 28
  • March 3, Denver 40, Birmingham 23
  • March 9, Birmingham 34, Orlando 10
  • March 17, Birmingham 34, Memphis 19
  • March 24, Birmingham 7, Baltimore 3
  • March 30, Birmingham 25, Jacksonville 18
  • April 7, San Antonio 15, Birmingham 14
  • April 13, Birmingham 20, Oakland 17
  • April 21, Birmingham 30, Tampa Bay 3
  • April 28, Jacksonville 27, Birmingham 17
  • May 3, Memphis 38, Birmingham 24
  • May 11, Birmingham 14, Portland 0
  • May 19, Birmingham 44, Los Angeles 7
  • May 27, Birmingham 41, Orlando 17
  • June 3, Birmingham 29, Houston 27
  • June 8, Birmingham 14, Baltimore 7
  • June 15, Tampa Bay 17, Birmingham 14
  • June 23, Birmingham 14, New Jersey 6
  • June 29, Birmingham 22, Houston 20 (playoff round 1)
  • July 7, Baltimore 28, Birmingham 14 (playoff round 2)

1984

15-5 (lost in 2nd round of playoffs). Average home attendance: 22,046

  • February 26, New Jersey 17, Birmingham 6
  • March 4, Birmingham 21, Los Angeles 14
  • March 11, Birmingham 30, Pittsburgh 18
  • March 17, Birmingham 54, Memphis 6
  • March 26, Birmingham 27, Tampa Bay 9
  • April 2, Birmingham 31, New Orleans 17
  • April 7, Birmingham 24, Jacksonville 17
  • April 15, Birmingham 28, Michigan 17
  • April 21, Birmingham 41, Oklahoma 17
  • April 29, Birmingham 31, Denver 14
  • May 6, Philadelphia 43, Birmingham 11
  • May 11, Birmingham 42, Jacksonville 10
  • May 18, Birmingham 41, Chicago 7
  • May 27, Birmingham 31, New Orleans 14
  • June 3, Arizona 38, Birmingham 28
  • June 10, Birmingham 42, Washington 21
  • June 16, Birmingham 35, Memphis 20
  • June 24, Tampa Bay 17, Birmingham 16
  • July 1, Birmingham 36, Tampa Bay 17 (playoff round 1)
  • July 8, Philadelphia 20, Birmingham 10 (playoff round 2)

1984

1983: 9-9

  • March 7, Michigan 9, Birmingham 7
  • March 13, Birmingham 20, Oakland 14 (OT)
  • March 21, Philadelphia 17, Birmingham 10
  • March 26, Birmingham 16, Arizona 7
  • April 2, Boston 27, Birmingham 16
  • April 10, Chicago 22, Birmingham 11
  • April 17 Denver 9, Birmingham 7
  • April 24, Birmingham 21, Oakland 9
  • May 1, Birmingham 35, Washington 3
  • May 9, Birmingham 22, New Jersey 7
  • May 14, Birmingham 35, Los Angeles 20
  • May 23, Birmingham 23, Michigan 20
  • May 27, Denver 21, Birmingham 19
  • June 5, Tampa Bay 35, Birmingham 17
  • June 11, Birmingham 31, Boston 19
  • June 17, Chicago 29, Birmingham 14
  • June 26, Philadelphia 31, Birmingham 10
  • July 2, Birmingham 29, Tampa Bay 17

Single Season Leaders

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Birmingham_Stallions&oldid=4526"