Tag: Pontiac Silverdome

Trevor Francis Detroit Express

Detroit Express

The Detroit Express began life as an expansion team in the North American Soccer League in 1978. The Express, who played at the Pontiac Silverdome, swiftly gained international attention by acquiring English soccer star Trevor Francis on loan from Birmingham City. It was an era when NASL owners lured numerous aging European stars to America with eye-popping paychecks.  Francis was an exception to this NASL retirement plan.  He was only 25 years old and at the peak of his powers during his two Express seasons in 1978 and 1979. The NASL Express franchise moved to Washington D.C. after three seasons in early 1981. A new version of the Express immediately formed and joined the lower division American Soccer League, playing three more seasons from 1981 through 1983.

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1984 Michigan Panthers media guide from the United States Football League

Michigan Panthers

The Michigan Panthers were the original champions of the spring season United States Football League during the league’s 1983 debut season. The team launched the pro careers of future NFL stars Bobby Hebert (quarterback) and Anthony Carter (wide receiver), who sparked the Panthers to the USFL title as rookies. The Panthers played in the longest game in a professional football history, a 93-minute triple overtime playoff loss to Steve Young and the Los Angeles Express in June 1984. This also proved to the Panthers final game. The USFL’s planned move to a fall season in 1986 caused the Detroit-based Panthers to merge with the Oakland Invaders ahead of the USFL’s 1985 season in order to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 1986.

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