Tombstone
Born: December 13, 1973 – WFL founding franchise
Folded: October 10, 1974
First Game: July 10, 1974 (L 34-15 @ Memphis Southmen)
Last Game: October 2, 1974 (L 14-11 @ Shreveport Steamer)
World Bowl Championships: None
Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners: Louis Lee, Mike Ilitch, Marvin Gaye, et al.
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Background
The Detroit Wheels were a failed pro football venture that failed to complete their first and only season in the start-up World Football League during the autumn of 1974. The Wheels’ misadventures and financial problems became a point of national embarrassment for the WFL – although far from the only one – as the new league tried to establish itself as a reputable competitor to the National Football League, as the AFL had done in the 1960’s.
33 Owners, No Money
The Wheels’ problems stemmed from an overstuffed and underfinanced ownership group of 33 different investors. The group included Motown star Marvin Gaye and Little Caesar’s Pizza baron Mike Ilitch, who would later own both the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. But neither were hands-on in the management of the club. Louis Lee was the official front man, but it seemed no one in the group was willing to make the necessary capital investment to actually operate the team once the initial franchise fee was paid. Management was unable to provide even the basic essentials of operating a football team, including scouting film for the coaching staff or laundry service and athletic training supplies for the players.
Next Level Cheapness
The unwillingness or inability of the Wheels’ owners to spend money also affected the quality of the team. The Wheels were unwilling to spend more than $10,000 per player, which took them out of the running for most of the NFL and Canadian Football League veterans that were signing with the WFL’s other franchises. The Wheels signed only three of their 33 college draft choices, the fewest in the league. During the pre-season, the team resorted to advertising an open tryout in the newspaper. 600 people showed up. Not one made the team. As training camp progressed at Eastern Michigan University, one owner suggested that the team move the players into tents in a public park in order to reduce pre-season expenses.
Nevertheless, the Wheels were able to sign a handful of competent players. Starting quarterback Bubba Wyche was a CFL veteran (and the brother of future NFL head coach Sam Wyche). 24-year old former U. Michigan linebacker Mike Taylor was the New York Jets’ #1 draft pick in 1972 and had a couple of years NFL experience before jumping to the Wheels in May of 1974. Sam Scarber was a rugged fullback from the Canadian league who led the Wheels in rushing (606 yards).
Box Office Flop & Closure
The Wheels couldn’t get a lease at Tiger Stadium or at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The team ended up 35 miles outside Detroit at Rynearson Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. The Wheels’ home debut on July 17, 1974 against the Florida Blazers drew only 10,631 fans, which was the worst opening among the league’s 12 franchises. As it turned out, the Wheels would play only 5 home games during their brief history.
The Wheels lost their first 10 games of the season. On September 11, 1974 the Wheels travelled to Orlando and shocked the Florida Blazers 15-14 for the first and only win in franchise history. The Blazers, coached by Jack Pardee, were one of the WFL’s best teams and would later appear in the 1974 championship game. The Wheels lost their next three to drop to 1-13 before the club’s financial problems sunk the club.
The WFL folded the team on October 10th, 1974, cancelling the six remaining games on Detroit’s schedule. The WFL itself folded a little over a year later in October 1975.
Trivia
Fullback Sam Scarber later became a character actor in movies and TV shows such as The Karate Kid, C.H.I.P.S., The A-Team and T.J. Hooker.
Detroit Wheels Shop
WFL Mini-Helmets
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In Memoriam
Offensive tackle Jim O’Connor died on October 29, 2004 at age 54.
Wheels Head Coach Dan Boisture died on May 18, 2007 at age 82.
Former Wheels General Manager Sonny Grandelius passed away on April 25, 2008 at age 79.
Tight end Dan Macholz died on July 3, 2012 after a bout with cancer. Macholz was 60 years old.
Defensive back Dan Lintner passed away July 8, 2012. He was 61 years old.
Downloads
9-18-1974 Wheels @ Southern California Sun Roster
9-18-1974 Detroit Wheels @ Southern California Sun Roster-compressed
Links
“In Detroit, Where The Wheels Fell Off“, Mark Speck, The Coffin Corner, Vol 19 No.3, 1997
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5 Responses
Their September 2 game against Portland was moved to London, Ontario in exchange for $30,000 from Portland’s owner.
I beleive there a four things an upstart “rebel league” needs to do to survive. Detroit had none of these. 1. was finanial backing (This was the AFL greatest strength)of local and league ownership. 2. Drawing power, a star to give credibibily to the whole league at any one time. 3. An adequate stadium and variable media center locations (NYC, LA) 4. A sense of parity. it is extremely hard for the worst team in a psuedo major league; nobody wants to see a loser especially in a town with an established winner in an established league. (AFL had great problems with this too in the early years)
Ah, the Wheels. Check out the wiki page (largely written by yours truly) for more info!
i have a detroit wheels framed poster
I signed with Detroit for the 1974 season. Lasted through training camp and was released just prior to the first game due to injury … and I wasn’t good enough … But I did pose for a team picture and some individual shots. Any way to find out about those pictures/negatives?