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1984 USFL season

Second season of the United States Football League


Second season of the United States Football League

FieldValue
title1984 USFL season
imageFile:Logo of the United States Football League.png
durationFebruary 26 – June 25, 1984
conf1Eastern Conference champions
conf1_champPhiladelphia Stars
conf2Western Conference champions
conf2_champArizona Wranglers
finals_dateJuly 15, 1984
finals_venueTampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
finals_champPhiladelphia Stars
prevseason_year[1983](1983-usfl-season)
nextseason_year[1985](1985-usfl-season)

The 1984 USFL season was the second season of the United States Football League.

Rule changes

  • The USFL added the side judge to the game officials, making a seven-man crew.
  • Teams played preseason games in 1984. There had been no preseason games in 1983.

Franchise changes

  • Boston Breakers are sold and relocate to New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans Breakers on October 18, 1983.
  • Six expansion teams: Houston Gamblers, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, Oklahoma Outlaws, Pittsburgh Maulers and San Antonio Gunslingers
  • Chicago Blitz's owner buys Arizona Wranglers and sells Blitz, all but two Blitz players are traded to Arizona, all but two Wranglers players are traded to Chicago. The Blitz coaches also go to Arizona, with Chicago acquiring a new coaching staff in 1984. The franchises also trade draft choices.

General news

On September 21, 1983, the New Jersey Generals were sold to Donald Trump.

On October 19, 1983, the United States Football League awarded the 1984 USFL Champion Game to Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL and the 1985 USFL Championship Game to the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI.

On February 15, the USFL took control of the Chicago Blitz.

The Denver Gold were sold during the 1984 season.

In May 1984, the USFL announced a "new" Chicago franchise would be created for the 1985 season.

Players vote to form a union, United States Football League Players Association, with former Buffalo Bills linebacker Doug Allen serving as executive director.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay played in a post season exhibition game billed as "The Jetsave Challenge Cup" in Wembley Stadium on July 21. Philadelphia won 24–21.

On August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986.

On October 19, 1984, the owners reaffirmed the move to the fall.

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

  • = Division Champion, = Wild Card*
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoachTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Philadelphia Stars1620.889479225Veterans Stadium72,20428,66840%Jim Mora
x-New Jersey Generals1440.778430312Giants Stadium76,89137,71649%Walt Michaels
Pittsburgh Maulers3150.167259379Three Rivers Stadium59,00022,85839%Joe Pendry/Ellis Rainsberger
Washington Federals3150.167270492RFK Stadium54,7947,69414%Ray Jauch/Dick Bielski
**Southern Division**
y-Birmingham Stallions1440.778539316Legion Field77,00036,85048%Rollie Dotsch
x-Tampa Bay Bandits1440.778498347Tampa Stadium72,81246,15863%Steve Spurrier
New Orleans Breakers8100.444349395Louisiana Superdome72,67530,55742%Dick Coury
Memphis Showboats7110.389320455Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium50,18027,59955%Pepper Rodgers
Jacksonville Bulls6120.333327455Gator Bowl Stadium80,10046,73058%Lindy Infante
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoachTeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Los Angeles Express1080.556338373Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,00015,36116%John Hadl
x-Arizona Wranglers1080.556502284Sun Devil Stadium70,03025,56837%George Allen
Denver Gold990.500356413Mile High Stadium75,12333,95345%Craig Morton
Oakland Invaders7110.389242348Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum54,61523,64443%John Ralston/Chuck Hutchison
**Central Division**
y-Houston Gamblers1350.722618400Houston Astrodome47,69528,15259%Jack Pardee
x-Michigan Panthers1080.556400382Pontiac Silverdome80,63832,45740%Jim Stanley
San Antonio Gunslingers7110.389309325Alamo Stadium32,00015,44448%Gil Steinke
Oklahoma Outlaws6120.333251459Skelly Stadium40,23521,03852%Woody Widenhofer
Chicago Blitz5130.278340466Soldier Field65,7937,45511%Marv Levy

Birmingham won the Southern Division championship over Tampa Bay based on a division record tiebreaker advantage (7-1-0 to 6-2-0). Birmingham and Tampa Bay tied in the first tiebreaking step, head-to-head (1-1-0).

Tampa Bay won the tiebreaker over New Jersey for the 3rd seed based on winning the head-to-head game.

Los Angeles won the Pacific Division championship over Arizona based on a conference record tiebreaker advantage (7-4-0 to 5-6-0). Los Angeles and Arizona tied in the first two tiebreaking steps, head-to-head (1-1-0) and best divisional record (3-3-0).

Michigan won the tiebreaker over Arizona for the 3rd seed based on winning the head-to-head game.

Pittsburgh finished ahead of Washington based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2-0-0).

Playoffs

Away teamScoreHome teamDateDivisional playoffsConference ChampionshipsUSFL Championship Game
Tampa Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida
New Jersey Generals7-28**Philadelphia Stars**June 30, 1984
Michigan Panthers21-27 (3OT)**Los Angeles Express**June 30, 1984
Tampa Bay Bandits17-36**Birmingham Stallions**July 1, 1984
**Arizona Wranglers**17-16Houston GamblersJuly 1, 1984
**Arizona Wranglers**35-23Los Angeles ExpressJuly 7, 1984
Birmingham Stallions10-20**Philadelphia Stars**July 8, 1984
**Philadelphia Stars**23–3Arizona WranglersJuly 15, 1984

| RD1-seed1 = A1 | RD1-seed2 = A2 | RD1-seed3 = S1 | RD1-seed4 = S2 | RD1-seed5 = P1 | RD1-seed6 = C2 | RD1-seed7 = P2 | RD1-seed8 = C1 | RD1-team1 = Philadelphia | RD1-team2 = New Jersey | RD1-score1 = 28 | RD1-score2 = 7 | RD1-team3 = Birmingham | RD1-team4 = Tampa Bay | RD1-score3 = 36 | RD1-score4 = 17 | RD1-team5 = Los Angeles | RD1-team6 = Michigan | RD1-score5 = 27 (3OT) | RD1-score6 = 21 | RD1-team7 = Arizona | RD1-team8 = Houston | RD1-score7 = 17 | RD1-score8 = 16

| RD2-seed1 = A1 | RD2-seed2 = S1 | RD2-seed3 = P1 | RD2-seed4 = P2 | RD2-team1 = Philadelphia | RD2-team2 = Birmingham | RD2-score1 = 20 | RD2-score2 = 10 | RD2-team3 = Los Angeles | RD2-team4 = Arizona | RD2-score3 = 23 | RD2-score4 = 35

| RD3-seed1 = A1 | RD3-seed2 = P2 | RD3-team1 = Philadelphia | RD3-team2 = Arizona | RD3-score1 = 23 | RD3-score2 = 3

USFL Championship Game

July 15 (at Tampa, Florida)

  • Philadelphia 23, Arizona 3

Statistics

1984 regular season stat leaders

Name, TeamAttComp%yardsYDs/AttTDTD %INTINT %Rating
Chuck Fusina, PHIL
Fred Mortensen, DENV
Cliff Stoudt, BIRM
Jim Kelly, HOU
Mike Kelley, MEM
Greg Landry, AZ
John Reaves, TB
Brian Sipe, NJ
Walter Lewis, MEM
Steve Young, LA
Craig Penrose, DENV
Bobby Hebert, MICH
Fred Besana, OAK
Robbie Mahfouz, JACK
Mike Hohensee, WASH
Johnnie Walton, NO
Rick Neuheisel, SA
Matt Robinson, JACK
Glenn Carano, PITT
Alan Risher, AZ
Ron Reeve, DENV
Tom Rozantz, PITT
Doug Williams, OKL
Vince Evans, CHIC
Name, TeamAttYdsAve.TDs
Joe Cribbs, BIRM
Kelvin Bryant, PHIL
Herschel Walker, NJ
Buford Jordan, NO
Tim Spencer, AZ
Curtis Bledsoe, WASH
Maurice Carthon, NJ
Kevin Long, AZ
Greg Boone, TB
Gary Anderson, TB
Todd Fowler, HOU
John Williams, MICH
Harry Sydney, DENV
Larry Canada, CHIC
Kevin Nelson, LA
Mike Rozier, PITT
Leon Perry, BIRM
Eric Jordan, OAK
Alan Reid, MEM
Sam Harrell, HOU
Marcus Dupree, NO
Mel Gray, LA
Tom Newton, OAK
Walter Lewis, MEM
Ken Lacy, MICH
Steve Young, LA
Scott Stamper, SA
Name, TeamRecYdsAve.TDs
Richard Johnson, HOU
Ricky Sanders, HOU
Joey Walters, WASH
Trumaine Johnson, AZ
Jim Smith, BIRM
Eric Truvillion, TB
Marvin Harvey, TB
Gary Anderson, TB
Dan Ross, NO
Gordon Banks, OAK
Greg Anderson, PITT
Derek Holloway, MICH
Derrick Crawford, MEM
JoJo Townsell, LA
Gary Shirk, MEM
Willie Collier, PHIL
Frank Lockett, NO
Gary Clark, JACK
Scott Fitzkee, PHIL
Mike Cobb, MICH
Billy Taylor, WASH
Jackie Flowers, CHIC/PITT
Ron Wheeler, OKL
Willie Gillespie, TB
Alphonso Williams, OKL
Marcus Anderson, CHIC
Kelvin Bryant, PHIL
Paul Bergmann, JACK
Larry Canada, CHIC
Lenny Willis, AZ
Steve Folsom, PHIL
Tim Spencer, AZ
Jerry Gordon, SA
Buford Jordan, NO
Perry Kemp, JACK

1984 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics

TeamPts.Ave.RankTotal
YardsAve.RankRush.
YardsAve.RankPass.
YardsAve.RankSacksAve.RankPens.Avg.Rank
Houston61834.31768442712373132753112951824.56181488.2217
Birmingham53929.92671437323313184134011899301.6731005.564
Arizona50227.93670937332719151439902223402.2271548.5618
Tampa Bay49827.74663436942341130842932392301.6731065.896
Philadelphia47926.65642635752820157336062008452.50111216.7212
New Jersey43023.965553309928481582270515016201.112884.892
Michigan40022.276030335721941221138362134442.4491126.227
Denver35619.88532529612205611414326918211522.89121216.7212
New Orleans34919.49640035662589144538112125130.7211337.3915
Chicago34018.91053612981122301249313117413382.1151246.8914
Los Angeles33818.8115671315824641376320717812382.1151025.675
Jacksonville32718.2125390299101731961736592036623.4416744.111
Memphis32017.813489527216216312012273215215613.3915894.943
San Antonio30917.214480826717220512310260314517603.33141156.398
Washington27015.015532429613200211116332218510573.17131377.6116
Pittsburgh25914.416490927315201111215289816114442.4491186.569
Oklahoma25113.9175152286141537851836152017402.2271206.6711
Oakland24213.418459225518215011913244213618693.83171196.6110

1984 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics

TeamPts.Ave.RankTotal
YardsAve.RankRush.
YardsAve.RankPass.
YardsAve.RankSacksAve.RankPens.Ave.Rank
Philadelphia22512.51486327021859103130041672482.6771116.175
Arizona28415.82451725112061115624561361734.0511387.6717
New Jersey31217.33534129741992111433491868341.89161116.175
Birmingham31617.645541308618691042367220414452.5091186.5611
San Antonio32518.1557523201119101063384221317492.726995.501
Tampa Bay34719.365583310820091125357419910432.39111116.175
Oakland34819.3759113281325901441333211857532.9441226.7714
Pittsburgh37320.7857423191026331461531091734482.6771146.339
Los Angeles37921.19550830652207123833011836543.0031146.339
Michigan38221.210529929432268126930311683442.44101216.7213
New Orleans39521.9115573310722771271032961835402.2214995.501
Houston40022.21257933221221361197365720313633.5021206.6712
Denver41322.913619634415261714514357919911512.8351317.2716
Jacksonville45525.314632835216272115116360720012271.50181307.2215
Memphis45525.315611634014228912711382721315301.6717995.501
Oklahoma45925.5165704317922961281234081899432.39111116.175
Chicago46625.917687738217303716918384021316362.00151417.8318
Washington49227.318693338518297516517395822018432.39111106.114

Awards

1984 USFL All-League Team

  • WR Trumaine Johnson, AZ
  • WR Richard Johnson, HOU
  • TE Dan Ross, NO
  • T Irv Eatman, PHIL
  • T Pat Phenix, BIRM
  • G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
  • G Chuck Commiskey, PHIL
  • C Bart Oates, PHIL
  • QB Jim Kelly, HOU
  • HB Joe Cribbs, BIRM
  • HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL
  • DE Pete Catan, HOU
  • DE John Lee, AZ
  • DT Kit Lathrop, AZ
  • NT Pete Kugler, PHIL
  • LB Kiki DeAyala, HOU
  • LB Jim LeClair, NJ
  • LB Sam Mills, PHIL
  • LB Ed Smith, AZ
  • CB Peter Raeford, SA
  • CB Garcia Lane, PHIL
  • S Marcus Quinn, OAKL
  • S Mike Lush, PHIL
  • K Toni Fritsch, HOU
  • KR Derrick Crawford, MEM
  • P Stan Talley, OAKL
  • PR David Martin, DENV
  • MVP —QB Jim Kelly, HOU
  • Coach of the year – Jim Mora, PHIL
  • Defensive Player of the year —S Marcus Quinn, OAKL 1984 The Sporting News USFL All-Star Team
  • WR Trumaine Johnson, AZ
  • WR Joey Walters, WASH
  • TE Dan Ross, NO
  • T Irv Eatman, PHIL
  • T Gary Zimmerman, LA
  • G Buddy Aydelette, BIRM
  • G Gerry Raymond, OAKL
  • C Wayne Radloff, MICH
  • QB Chuck Fusina, PHIL
  • HB Joe Cribbs, BIRM
  • HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL
  • DE Pete Catan, HOU
  • DE Karl Lorch, AZ
  • DT Kit Lathrop, AZ
  • LB James Harrell, TB
  • LB Jim LeClair, NJ
  • LB John Corker, MICH
  • LB Howard Carson, LA
  • CB Jerry Holmes, PITT
  • CB David Martin, DENV
  • S Marcus Quinn, OAKL
  • S Gary Barbaro, NJ
  • K Tony Zendejas, LA
  • KR Derrick Crawford, MEM
  • P Sean Landeta, PHIL
  • PR David Martin, DENV
  • Rookie of the year — QB Jim Kelly, HOU
  • Player of the year—QB Chuck Fusina, PHIL
  • Coach of the year -- Jim Mora, PHIL
  • Executive of the year -- Carl Peterson, PHIL

References

References

  1. "The Courier - Google News Archive Search".
  2. "1984 USFL Game Program (Jetsave Challenge Cup) | SportsPaper.info".
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