1992 Birmingham Fire

The 1992 Birmingham Fire played their second season at Legion Field under second-year head coach Chan Gailey. The team's record was 7-3-1 with an average of 20.2 points per game scored and 16.8 points per game allowed. The Fire's five home games were played before an average crowd of 13,472.

Roster

• Barry Johnson, wide receiver
• Shawn Moore, quarterback
• Greg Jones, quarterback
• Steve Avery, running back
• Joe Valerio, guard
• Kyle Freeman, linebacker
• Terry Gray, guard
• Stephon Weatherspoon, linebacker
• Kirk Maggio, punter
• John Brantley, linebacker
• Barry Johnson, wide receiver
• Philip Doyle, place kicker
• Mike Norseth, quarterback
• Willie Bouyer, wide receiver
• Simmie Carter, cornerback
• Antonio Gibson, safety
• Tracy Sanders, cornerback
• Jim Bell, running back
• Kirk Kirkpatrick, tight end
• John Wyche, safety
• Eugene Rowell, wide receiver
• Phil Ross, tight end
• Joe Valerio, tackle
• Le Andre Anderson, defensive end

Coaching staff

• Ghan Gailey, head coach
• Joe D'Alessandris
• Peter Hurt
• Stanley King
• Gene Smith
• Michael O'Toole
• Steve Marks

Record (7-3-1)

Pre-season (0-1-0)

• March 14: Lost 14-13 vs. London Monarchs. In a professional sports first, preseason victories were utilized as the number 2 tiebreaker for the final 1992 standings, behind results in head-to-head competition. As a result, Birmingham's 14-13 loss meant more than just a meaningless, pre-season defeat. The Fire would build a 13-0 lead on a pair of 32 yard field goals by Philip Doyle and on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Mike Norseth to Willie Bouyer. A furious comeback by the visiting Monarchs in the final six minutes stunned the crown of 10,150 at Legion Field.

Regular season (7-2-1)

• March 21: Lost 20-6 at Sacramento Surge. The Fire would open the 1992 season just as in 1991, with a loss. This time it came at the hands of Sacramento by a final score of 20-6. Birmingham's only points came on a pair of Philip Doyle field goals, a 50 yarder on the opening drive and a 47 yarder in the third.
• March 29: Won 17-10 vs. San Antonio Riders. The stingy Fire defense secured victory as a result of a pair of turnovers in the 1992 home opener. Eugene Roswell would score the first points on a 7 yard touchdown run in the second. Philip Doyle would hit a 47 yard field goal to give the home team a 10-3 halftime lead. In the third, Arthur Hunter would score a touchdown on a 32 yard interception return.
• April 5: Won 17-7 at Frankfurt Galaxy. On the road before 33,857 fans at Frankfurt's Wald Stadium, the Fire upset the Galaxy 17-7. Elroy Harris would score the Fire's two touchdowns: one on a pass from Mike Norseth and on a one yard run in the second quarter. The only second half scoring came on a 30 yard Phillip Doyle field goal.
• April 11: Tied 17-17 at London Monarchs. A 42 yard Philip Doyle field goal as time expired resulted in the only WLAF game to have ever ended in a tie before 20,370 fans in London's Wembley Stadium. Mike Norseth would score Birmingham’s first points on a two yard run early in the game. Elroy Harris would score the Fire's other touchdown in the fourth on a 1 yard run. For the game, Norseth would complete 25 of 40 passes for 251 yards.
• April 18: Won 28-14 vs. Sacramento Surge.
• April 25: Lost 17-14 at San Antonio Riders. On the road, the visitors from Birmingham were unable to recover from 17 second quarter Rider points in this 17-14 defeat. Jim Bell would score the first Fire points on a one yard touchdown run in the first. The only other Birmingham points would come with :06 remaining in the first half on an 84 yard fumble return by Tracy Sanders.
• May 2: Won 19-17 vs. Barcelona Dragons.
• May 10: Won 23-16 vs. Montreal Machine. The Fire would need overtime to defeat the visiting Machine by a final score of 23-16. For the game, Mike Norseth completed 19 of 31 passes for 217 yards, and rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown. Willie Bouyer caught nine passes for 139 yards on the evening.
• May 17: Won 24-23 vs. Orlando Thunder.
• May 24: Won 27-24 at Ohio Glory. Birmingham clinched a playoff birth after defeating the Glory 27-24 before 23,020 fans at Ohio Stadium.

Playoffs (0-1)

• May 30: Lost 45-7 at Orlando Thunder. Playing before 28,746 at the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Fire was routed 45-7 with the Thunder advancing to World Bowl II.

Reference

• LexisNexis database, 1992 various editions, online search via LexisNexis database. Accessed November 5, 2006.