United States Football League (1983-1984)
Tombstone
Born: May 11, 1982 – USFL founding franchise
Moved: October 1984 (Orlando Renegades)
First Game: March 6, 1983 (L 28-7 vs. Chicago Blitz)
Last Game: June 24, 1984 (W 20-17 vs. New Orleans Breakers)
USFL Championships: None
Stadium
RFK Stadium
Opened: 1961
Closed: 2019
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Berl Bernhard
Attendance
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Sources:
- 1984 Pittsburgh Maulers Media Guide (1983 Federals figures)
- 1985 Sporting News USFL Guide & Register (1984 Federals figures; re-built from line scores)
- Oates, Bob. “USFL Shrinks, but Still Has a Large Problem: It’s Not Lack of Money or Quality of Its Players, It’s Convincing Television That There Are Fans”. The Times (Los Angeles, CA). February 4, 1985 (1983 & 1984 USFL league-wide attendance figures)
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Background
The Washington Federals were the lowliest franchise of the springtime United States Football League (1983-1985). The Federals had the misfortune to debut in the nation’s capital just several weeks after the Washington Redskins won Super Bowl XVII, solidifying their grip on the region’s pro football passions. Beyond mere bad luck, the team was simply awful. It seems appropriate that the Feds’ 1984 promotional pocket schedule depicts the team punting.
1983 Debut
Federals owner Berl Bernhard followed the league’s original slow growth business plan and opened his checkbook to sign just one marquee player away from the NFL – rookie running back Craig James out of Southern Methodist University. But James struggled with injuries and managed to play in just 10 games with minimal effectiveness over two seasons. The rest of the roster was largely anonymous. Former NFL All-Pro defensive end Coy Bacon, by then far past his prime at age 40, the most familiar name.
The Federals debuted at RFK Stadium on March 6th, 1983 against the Chicago Blitz, who were coached by former Washington Redskins head man George Allen. The game was selected as the league’s first nationwide broadcast in its ABC television deal. More than 38,000 fans showed up in the rain, but the Federals were overmatched and lost 28-7. The team would never again draw more than 15,000 fans in its two seasons of existence.
The Federals finished the 1983 season with the worst record in the 12-team USFL at 4-14. But they did win their final two games, including a surprise upset of the league’s best team, the 15-3 Philadelphia Stars. The last couple of weeks showed enough promise that Berl Bernhard brought back Head Coach Ray Jauch for a second season in 1984.
1984: Untrained Gerbils
The nature of the league changed during the 1983-84 offseason. New owners like Donald Trump (New Jersey) and William Oldenburg (Los Angeles) launched a salary war with the NFL over free agents and, especially, the 1984 college draft class. Bernhard declined to take part in the spending spree. The Federals made few significant upgrades to the team during the winter of 1983-84. The Feds’ biggest move was to acquire quarterback Reggie Collier from the Birmingham Stallions. Collier was Birmingham’s 1st round draft pick in 1983 but failed to lock down the starting job for the Stallions. The same story would play out in Washington D.C. Despite flashes of promise, Collier couldn’t unseat holdover signal caller Mike Hohensee.
Bernhard learned just how far behind the curve his team had fallen on opening night of the 1984 season. The Federals opened on the road against a lightly regarded expansion team, the Jacksonville Bulls. The Bulls blew out the Feds 53-14. Bernhard famously complained that the team played “like a group of untrained gerbils” – a great line that got more national press attention than Bernhard likely wanted. Head gerbil trainer Ray Jauch was fired three days later. Replacement Dick Bielski couldn’t fare any better. The Federals were even worse than the year before, finishing with the worst record in the league again at 3-15.
James Bolts
Off the field things were even worse. Craig James got hurt again. The Federals let him bolt town midway through the season to sign with the NFL’s New England Patriots. The Feds were relieved to be out from under the fragile running back’s contract.
Attendance plummeted more than 50% from 1983’s already puny figures. On May 6, 1984 only 4,432 fans showed up at RFK Stadium to watch an overtime loss to the Memphis Showboats. It was the smallest announced crowd in the history of the USFL.
Miami, Orlando or Anywhere But Here
In May 1984, Bernhard found an escape route. He lined up a sale of the franchise to Sherwood “Woody” Weiser. The Miami-based hotelier intended to move the team to South Florida for the 1985 season. Weiser coveted University of Miami Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger. Schnellenberger led the ‘Canes to a national championship in 1983. Weiser persuaded Schnellenberger to quit U of M. in return for part ownership of the USFL franchise and a guaranteed $100,000 salary for life. It turned out to be a horrible decision for Schnellenberger.
At league meetings in August 1984, a cabal of new USFL investors led by Trump pushed through a plan to switch to a fall schedule in 1986 and take on the NFL head-to-head. Weiser had zero desire to challenge the Miami Dolphins or U. of M. for attention during the fall and pulled out of the deal.
After the Miami deal fell apart, Bernhard needed a new buyer. He got one in Donald Dizney, a minority partner in the USFL’s popular Tampa Bay Bandits club. Dizney bought out Bernhard and moved the team to Orlando, Florida in October of 1984. Renamed the Orlando Renegades, the team played one final (losing) season in the spring of 1985 . The USFL folded in August 1986 on the eve of what was supposed to be its first fall season.
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Washington Federals Video
The USFL’s debut weekend and the league’s first broadcast on ABC Sports. The Federals host the Chicago Blitz on March 6, 1983. Lee Corso, ABC’s color commentator for the broadcast, would become the franchise’s head coach in 1985 after the team moved to Orlando.
In Memoriam
Back-up quarterback Joe Gilliam (1983) died of a heart attack on Christmas Day, 2000 at age 49.
Federals linebacker Mike Corvino (1983-1984) died in a car accident at age 46 on July 14, 2007.
Former Washington Redskins and Federals (1983) defensive end Coy Bacon died on December 22, 2008 at age 66.
Links
It Was Up, Up and No Way, William Oscar Johnson, Sports Illustrated, May 14, 1984
One Response
lm a sports writer and I trying to locate Jeff McIntyre, Craig James and Ronald Barber.
BTW…What happened to Jeff McIntyre? The best linebacker the Federals had and the Organization did not resign him. The last game he played in was against the Oakland invaders in Oakland…It was a highlight reel of McIntyre and Barber. McIntyre broke his ankle a couple minutes before half. But he still led in tackles. 17 tackles, 14 unassisted, 3 quarterback sacks.
Also Im looking for Washington Federals any memorabilia. Particularly the highlight film that the team had, the personal highlights for their first season. I’m willing to pay for the items I requested.
Thank you Sal Lucianno