USFL Forever: USFL 1984: Western Conference Final: Los Angeles Express @ Phoenix Wranglers: Full Game

Source:The New Democrat 

The problems with the United States Football League had nothing to do with lack of talent either with player personal or coaching. The Los Angeles Express QB was Steve Young who of course is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Phoenix Wranglers head coach was George Allen who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Express head coach was John Hadl who is at least a borderline Hall of Fame caliber QB with the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.

The problems with the USFL had to with the league trying to grow too fast being at eighteen clubs by 1985 just their third season. Too many clubs in major NFL markets like Los Angeles with the Express that already had the Raiders in Los Angeles and the Rams in Anaheim. And of course moving from a spring/summer league which was perfect for them with no NFL games to go up against. To playing in the fall where they are right up against the NFL

XFL 2001: XFL 2001-Week 2-Las Vegas Outlaws @ Memphis Maniax: Full Game

Source:The New Democrat

Well I’ll give the Xtreme Football League as it was called not my name for it, but what they called it credit for a few things actually. But the first one not being their best credit. Is that combining pro football that is major league football NFL talent all over the XFL with pro wrestling was an interesting concept. But something that will probably never be done again for good reason. World Wrestling Entertainment Vince McMahon’s company are the people who produced this league and the games.

The XFL didn’t die after one season because they lacked talent or didn’t have the right coaching or anything really having to do with football. The XFL died because it was run by WWE. And having WWE personalities all over the league and turned the XFL in not so much a pro football league. But a celebrity reality show that was designed to look like a concert or a show and not football games. Which is not what football fans want to see which is football.

If you are familiar with the WWE and what they do and then watch a XFL game, the only thing that is different about either show is that instead of watching pro wrestling you are watching what is supposed to be pro football. But with all of these wrestling personalities involved in the production. And their little wrestling segments involved in the programs as well. Instead of seeing a serious pro football game and show that is only about pro football.

USFL Forever: USFL 1983-Week 6-Oakland Invaders @ Boston Breakers: Full Game

Source:The New Democrat.  

A crowd of less than eight-thousand at a major league pro football game. I guess the USFL was slow to catch on Boston which is too bad. Because the USFL had very good teams in it and a lot of NFL caliber players. Of course the weather looked horrible for this game. Which isn’t uncommon in Boston in early spring. But the Breakers were one of the USFL franchises that relocated and ended up in Portland in 1984 or 85. Boston was one of the mistakes if the USFL. Their idea that the USFL could take on the NFL in their own markets was one of their fatal errors. Oakland was one of their good moves, because Oakland is crazy for major league pro football. And the Raiders had just moved to Los Angeles in 1982. So the USFL going to Oakland was perfect timing on their part.

ESPN: UFL 1985- Memphis Showboats @ Portland Breakers

Source:ESPN- The Memphis Showboats playing the Portland Breakers, at Portland Civic Stadium, in 1985.

Source:Real Life Journal

“Portland tied a United States Football League record by picking off six Mike Kelley passes, the last one to set up Tim Mazzetti’s 44-yard field goal with no time remaining as the Breakers upset the Memphis Showboats 17-14.

Kelley had only been intercepted five times all season before Saturday night’s troubles.

The Breakers, who snapped a six-game losing streak, also set a USFL mark by returning the interceptions for 120 yards.

The loss snapped the Showboats’ four-game winning string to drop their record to 8-6. Portland is 4-10.

Memphis dominated the contest offensively but the turnovers kept Portland close. The Breakers also successfully appealed two officials’ rulings by use of television replays. One of the rulings negated a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown by Henry Williams early in the final quarter.”

From USFL Forever

Unlike with Memphis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Birmingham, and a few other USFL cities, there wasn't even much of a major college football background and history in Portland, Oregon, let alone a major league pro football history. So there was never any real need for a major league caliber American football stadium, in Portland, at least before the Breakers moved there in 1985. Which is why they played at a big, minor league, baseball, which is what Portland Civic Stadium was essentially, not a football stadium.

Source:ESPN- the Showboats and Breakers from 1985.

Playing pro football in a baseball park which is what Portland Civic Stadium was before they converted it to a soccer stadium. And Portland will need a football stadium if they are going to get another major league pro football franchise.

Memphis and Portland are markets that the USFL should’ve been looking at back then and should be looking at today. If they are serious about coming back. Something they’ve talked about since 2011-12. Because these are markets that are not currently occupied by the NFL and they wouldn’t have to compete with the NFL for their fans.

Memphis and Portland are major markets that can both support major league football franchises. Which is what the old USFL was and what a new USFL would be. If they get an agreement with the NFL about training their players in the spring.

ABC Sports: USFL 1983- Week 1- New Jersey Generals @ Los Angeles Express: Full Game

Source:USFL Forever- the Los Angeles Express & New Jersey Generals, kicking off (pun intended) the USFL, in 1983.

Source:Real Life Journal 

“The high-priced running back who left the University of Georgia a year early for a $5 million, three-year contract, did score the game’s first touchdown. But he gained only 65 yards on 16 carries and by the second quarter, was largely forgotten by the crowd of 34,002 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Instead, all eyes were on Tom Ramsey and Tony Boddie as the Los Angeles Express beat the Generals 20-15 in a season-opening United States Football League game, one of five played that Sunday.

Ramsey, who played his college ball in the same stadium last year when he was the nation’s college passing percentage leader, turned things around when he replaced former National Football player Mike Rae with the Express trailing 9-6.

Boddie, a 12th-round draft choice out of Montana State, rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 49 yards.

Meanwhile, Walker was generally ineffective. Usually a prime pass receiver as well as a runner, the Heisman Trophy winner caught only one pass for three yards.” 

From USFL Forever

I can see why ABC Sports and the USFL would want New Jersey and Los Angeles for their week 1 matchup on ABC. The biggest markets in America in Los Angeles and New York/North Jersey. And try to get a big week one TV rating from this game. And maybe they did, but the New Jersey Generals were 6-12 in 83 and were much better in 84 and 85, but they were a bad team in 83, at least as far as what they showed. And the Los Angeles Express were 8-10 a mediocre team that again were better in 84 and 85.

I think what is rememberable about this game is that it was Generals running back Herschel Walker’s first professional football game. No question the best college running back in 1982 and instead of playing in the NFL, he ends up in the USFL because he lost his college eligibility for speaking to pro agents too soon. Either a bad rule or big mistake on Herschel’s part. Because had Herschel played his whole career in the NFL, we are talking about a guaranteed first ballot hall of famer. But that is how good the USFL was as far as the talent that they had and the players they brought in.