American Football Association (1981)
Tombstone
Born: 1981 – AFA expansion franchise
Folded: Postseason 1981
First Game: May 30, 1981 (L 30-27 @ Virginia Hunters)
Last Game: August 8, 1981 (W 32-3 vs. Texas Wranglers)
AFA Championships: None
Stadium
Orlando Stadium
Opened: 1936
Marketing
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Ownership
Owner: Abe Fletcher
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Orlando Americans
Logo T-Shirt
This Orlando Americans were a semi-pro football outfit that played one season at the Citrus Bowl circa 1981. The Americans gained 15 minutes of national notoriety after getting bamboozled by a poorly conditioned impostor claimed to be a former SEC All-American offensive lineman.
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Background
The Orlando Americans were a minor league football outfit that played for one season in the obscure American Football Association (AFA). The team played at what was then known as Orlando Stadium, better known by its previous and future names, the Tangerine Bowl and the Citrus Bowl.
The Impostor
Robert Lee Johnson just wanted a shot at playing professional football. At a doughy 280 pounds, the aspiring o-lineman wasn’t NFL material. He wasn’t sure he would pass muster with the new Orlando Americans of the fly-by-night AFA either. After all, the Americans boasted a handful of players with NFL pedigree, including former New York Giants back-up quarterback Jerry Golsteyn and a pair of former Green Bay Packers wide receivers in Ken Payne and Barry Smith.
Robert Lee Johnson wasn’t sure he could make the Americans, but he knew of somebody who could: former University of Georgia All-American guard Randy Johnson. Randy Johnson’s injury-shortened three-year NFL career ended in 1979 pre-season camp. Robert Lee stole his identity, signing with Orlando under Randy’s name and filling in Randy’s biographical information on team questionnaires. Members of the Americans’ coaching staff soon grew suspicious about the corpulent “Randy Johnson” huffing and puffing his way around the team’s training field.
“Nobody can do go downhill that far that fast,” one staff member later told The Associated Press, recalling Robert Lee’s physique.
Americans Head Coach/General Manager Bob Williams wrote away to the sports information department at the University of Georgia to provide a photo of (the real) Randy Johnson, but the comparison was inconclusive. Eventually, Robert Lee came clean. He claimed to be a former Temple University center who borrowed Randy’s name and reputation to further his football dreams. The real Randy threatened to sue. Robert Lee was given his release.
Demise & Aftermath
The case of the False Johnson got the Orlando Americans some national press coverage in June of 1981. Otherwise, the Americans garnered little attention during their lone summer of play in 1981. Orlando Stadium was far too big for crowds that peaked around 6,000 per game, according to a 1991 retrospective by the Orlando Sentinel.
The Americans finished with a 5-7 record. The club vanished quietly after their lone season ended in August 1981.
Remarkably, Americans quarterback Jerry Golsteyn used his stay in the AFA to earn another shot in the NFL. Golsteyn made the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of training camp in 1982 as a back-up to quarterback Doug Williams. He played two years for the Bucs. In 1985, Golsteyn returned to Orlando and the Citrus Bowl to finish his career as the second-string signal caller for the Orlando Renegades of the big-budget United States Football League.
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Outsiders II
by Bob Gill with Tod Maher & Steve Brainerd
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15 Responses
I actually saw the Orlando Americans play one game that summer. Also on the team? Former Florida State quarterback (and future Tampa Bay Bandit) Jimmy Jordan.
I have never seen anything extensive written about them since, so, thanks.
I am trying to find a jpeg file of the logo for the Orlando Americans, AFA 1981. Can you advise?
Hi Jim,
I’ve never seen one online. Your best bet at this point – at it is a long-shot – would be to find a program from the 1981 Americans (or a perhaps a rival team from same AFA season) that might have a logo you could scan.
Drew
I was at every Orlando Americans home game. My 2nd ex-wife, Linda, was one of their cheerleaders! They put on a good show!
I was a running back for them my name is Gary Anderson and Eric Hager Ness it was a tight end for them both out of Minnesota
I’m Walter Battle I also sign and played with then great group of guys
I played TIGHT END for the Orlando Americans I
caught 34 PAAESS 10 in one game Ron Enclade I worked with UCF RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS IN SUMMER OF 1981 VERY PROUD OF THE KNIGHTS KICKING MY GATORS ASS…
I played C for the Orlando Americans. There is a whole story behind Randy Johnson that you missed. Contact me
Hey Bill Bob Craig here. I played guard right next to you. I remember you getting mad at me in a practice because I cut one lot back legs out from under him and you told me not to do it again because some of the Guys are trying to make it back to the NFL. If I remember correctly, you also played in the NFL. I thought it was the Packers, but I could be wrong. Kenny Payne was my roommate along with Herman Brown.(HB). We had some great talent on that team Bill. I left a comment a few minutes ago about when one of the engines caught on fire and how coach Ross was losing it, lol. I hope all is well with you.
Hey guy’s it’s great to see some familiar teammate names here on this post. I punted for them Brett Porche. Hope you all well and hopefully stay in contact? Who remembers the flight home from Roanoke where the engine of the plane caught fire and we had to abruptly return to Roanoke Airport? Take care, Brett
OMG how I remember I was the one to scream fire. , that’s what I remember we made a u turn and I didn’t even remember as we were landing back at the airport , and we headed back to the hotel and we smoke marijuana all night with Rick Sowers out of Arizona.. that’s what i remember..
Bob Craig here Brett, I was the starting guard prior to the fake Randy coming to town. I was on that plane, red carpet airlines I’ll never forget. They gave all the players as we were boarding the plane a Kentucky fried chicken box. We were supposed to be flying another airline, but somehow that got screwed up and we ended up with red carpet airline a four prop job. I remember Coach Lou Ross did not want to get on that plane from the onset! You were a very good punter and I hope life has treated you well after all these years. It’s great to hear from some of the old teammates.
I was stationed at the naval hospital in Orlando at the time. One of our orthopedic physicians, Dr Murray, was a team physician. A friend of mine and I went to most home games and we would yell at Doc Murray about our leg. The stadium was so empty he could hear us and see us in the wide open seating. A beer cost more than a ticket, sit wherever you want.
My name is Bob Craig and I was the starting right guard that played next to Herman Brown who played with the Dolphins for a few seasons. Kenny Payne and Herman (HB) were my roommates at the Americana Villas off OBT. Jerry was a great QB and we both knew Randy (or whatever his name really was) was a fraud. Do you guys remember when our plane caught on fire returning from the game is West Virgina (I think it was that game)? Lou Ross, one of our coaches who used to play for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League, was in tears. Neil Ginley who played tackle remained calm and asked me if I was going to eat my Kentucky fried chicken the coaches gave us in a box! I left the team as starting guard after the whole Johnson fiasco to get married and pursue a law career. I miss all the guys on the Team such a great group of people
Do anybody remember RAZZIE SMITH who played DB WHO gave our Wide receiver he’ll. He came to practice wearing red HOODIE . He dust Wes Chandler twice. A receiver from Winter Park named Shorty and a bunch of others Wide receiver. He came to practice with BENNY JOHNSON.