USFL Forever: USFL 1984: Jim Simpson Interviews Philadelphia Stars General Manager Carl Peterson

Source:The New Democrat

The USFL was already in trouble by 1984 financially with most if not all of their clubs losing money. And this really didn't have anything to do with fan support. The fans were there for this league to still be in business as a spring/summer league today. But the league simply grew too fast with eighteen clubs by 1985. And most of these clubs being in established NFL markets. Like Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Los Angeles.

I'm not sure the old USFL could've been saved at this point, but moving their games to the fall which was the plan for 1986 was probably the thing that killed the league. Going up against the NFL in their markets in their territory the same time the NFL is playing. Perhaps the only thing that would've saved the old USFL at this point was going back to the old spring/fall schedule. And contraction or relocation of USFL clubs that were in NFL markets.

Paul Woods: CFL 1994-Week 1: Baltimore Stallions @ Toronto Argonauts

Source:The New Democrat

The first Canadian Football League game ever for the City of Baltimore, Maryland, which was starving for major league pro football again to the point they would take a CFL franchise to show they can and will support good pro football. This is not a shot at the CFL, of which I'm actually a fan and watch their games in America, but Baltimore is one of the greatest pro football cities in North America, with a long proud rich tradition. It is the only city to win the NFL Championship, including three Super Bowls, the United States Football Championship in 1985 with the Stars, and the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup in 1995 which you could make the case was the North American gridiron pro football championship in 1994 and 1995. The Baltimore Stallions played both games against the Vancouver Lions in 1994 and the Calgary Stampeders in 1995.

1994-95 was the final chapter in the Baltimore journey to be an NFL city, again by not only getting the Stallions as an CFL expansion franchise, but supporting them very well, and I believe they even led the CFL in attendance. Keep in mind an American franchise leading the Canadian Football League in attendance, but they wanted the NFL back in Baltimore so much that they would support another style of gridiron football from another country.

Thanks to the CFL and football fans of Baltimore and the State of Maryland in general and perhaps the Delmarva area and Southern Pennsylvania, Baltimore proved that they were an NFL-caliber market again after losing the Colts in 1984 and losing out on NFL expansion in 1993, that the NFL was losing money by not having a franchise in this great football city and market, and that the State of Maryland deserved its own NFL franchise again as well.  Now it has two:  the Ravens and the Redskins, who play about 40 miles apart from each other.

ESPN: USFL 1984- Washington Federals @ Tampa Bandits: Gary Anderson TD

Source:ESPN- the Federals playing the Bandits at Tampa Stadium.

Source:Real Life Journal

“Gary Anderson starts for the scoring for the Tampa Bay Bandits against the visiting Washington Federals in this 1984 United States Football League (USFL) game.”

From the USFL Guy

Because of the Redskins, Washington should’ve never have had a USFL franchise. Neither should have Tampa, because of the Buccaneers, which was just one of the problems with the USFL. Two many duel market teams competing with the NFL for fans when they should’ve been trying to develop their own fan base.

Back in 1984, Florida already had Orlando and Jacksonville as far as USFL franchises. They didn’t need to be in Tampa as well, which wasn’t a proven NFL market yet with the Buccaneers struggling.

So putting another pro football franchise there was a mistake. And Maryland had the Baltimore Stars in the USFL, after the Colts moved to Indianapolis. Plus, the Redskins in Washington for Maryland NFL fans.

So the USFL had no business in Washington or Tampa. Other than wanting to have a club in a big market like Washington.

ESPN: CFL 1995-Week 7-Memphis Mad Dogs @ Baltimore Stallions: Short Clip

Source:CFL Video- don't ask me who number 16 for the Stallions is.

Source:Real Life Journal

“CFL 1995 MEMPHIS MADDOGS AT BALTIMORE STALLIONS. SHORT CLIP 95 SEASON.” 

From CFL Video

The Stallions, weren’t the only good team in the CFL’s Southern Conference, American Conference, really. The San Antonio Texans, at 12-6 in 1995 were pretty good too. But the Stallions were the class of the CFL South. Maybe the only real Grey Cup contender in the entire CFL South in 1995.

But you gotta know, the entire CFL South were expansion franchises. The Stallions, we’re in their second season. The Memphis Mad Dogs, were in their second season. The Shreveport Pirates and Birmingham Piranhas, were in their second seasons. The San Antonio Texans, who came over from Sacramento, were in their third season. The Las Vegas Posse, were in their second season in 1995.

The CFL, wanted to create two conferences: a Canadian and an American, so the Grey Cup Final would be a Can Am Championship of pro football. Which was the right idea, but poorly executed. With the American clubs outside of Baltimore never marketed very well in America.

ESPN: CFL 1995- Memphis Mad Dogs @ Edmonton Eskimos: Short Video

Source:ESPN- Edmonton Eskimos kick returner Gizmo Williams.

Source:Real Life Journal

“CFL 1995 MEMPHIS MADDOGS AT EDMONTON ESKIMOS”

From CFL Video

Here’s a battle between one of the most storied and successful North American, not just CFL, but North American major league pro football franchises in the Edmonton Eskimos and one CFL American expansion franchises in the Memphis Mad Dogs. Who in their two CFL seasons were decent, but struggled to get over 500. A defensive oriented teamed coached by Pepper Rogers, who had some success in college football and the old USFL.

The Memphis Mad Dogs were one of the better defensive teams in the entire Canadian Football League, just like the Baltimore Stallions and Calgary Stampeders, but we’re at best ball control offensive team that needed to run the ball very well. And then they could throw with play action with QB Damon Allen and go deep to receivers like Joe Horn, who would end up in the NFL after the CFL.

CBC Sports: CFL 1995- San Antonio Texans @ Toronto Argonauts: Short Video

Source:CBC Sports- the San Antonio Texans going north to play the Toronto Argonauts at Skydome.

Source:Real Life Journal 

“CFL 1995 SAN ANTONIO TEXANS AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS”

From CFL Video 

Inter-conference play in the CFL with the San Antonio Texans from the South or American Conference, against the Toronto Argonauts from the North, or Canadian Conference. Which was really the goal of the CFL when they started their American experiment in the early 1990s was to create a continental or Can-Am league, between America and Canada with a Canadian conference and an American conference. And have the winners of both conferences play in a continental or North American Championship game. 

The 1995 San Antonio Texans were the second best American team in the CFL. They had NFL quality and NFL experienced talent on their club, both on offense and defense. Which is why I’m surprised they didn’t do better as far as attendance and ratings in San Antonio which is a great sports market as far as size and people who love sports. And of course Texas has always been a great state of football. But the Texans weren’t marketed very well and perhaps just expected their fans to automatically show up for their games. Not that different from the Los Angeles Raiders in the NFL.