Michigan Panthers
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Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.
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[edit] Team History
The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League (USFL) on May 11, 1982.
A. Alfred Taubman, one of the nation's leading real estate developers, headed the ownership group that included Judge Peter B. Spivak and Max M. Fisher.
The Panthers named fomer CFL executive, Jim Spavital as its first General Manager on August 26, 1982. Michigan then hired Jim Stanley as its' first Head Coach on November 18, 1982. Stanley was head coach at Oklahoma State University. Stanley would be the only head coach for the club in the two years they were in Michigan.
The Pontiac Silverdome (Cap. 80,638) was home of the Panthers for each of the two seasons the club was active.
The Panthers held their first-ever collegiate draft, along with the other USFL teams, on January 4, 1983 where they selected Wisconsin SS David Greenwood with their first round (10th overall) selection.
They also tabbed Michigan WR Anthony Carter in the USFL Territorial Draft - a process whereby USFL teams could protect up to 25 graduating seniors from a series of local universities. The Panthers had territorial rights the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Northern Michigan.
Michigan made a splash in signing some of the top young NCAA prospects in 1983 in Michigan WR Anthony Carter, Tulsa RB Ken Lacy, Wisconsin SS David Greenwood and QB Bobby Hebert of Northeastern State (La.).
[edit] 1983 Season Highlights
Michigan held their first training camp at City Island Stadium in Daytona Beach, FL sifting through over 75 players.
On Monday, March 7, 1983; they opened their 1983 schedule with a rain-soaked 9-7 win at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL. The game marked the first professional football game ever to be broadcast on ESPN. A Hungarian kicker (via Central Michigan) named Novo Bojovic hit the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments to preserve the Panthers' road win.
After starting out 1-0, the Panthers then dropped their next four contests losing on Sat. Mar. 12 to the Tampa Bay Bandits (7-19); Sat. Mar. 19 at home to the Oakland Invaders (27-33); Sun. Mar. 27 at the Washington Federals (16-22 OT) and Mon. Apr. 4 at home to the Denver Gold (21-29).
Their slow start was attributed mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars.
Spavital addressed the issue immediately by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen in OT Ray Pinney (Pittsburgh Steelers), OG Tyrone McGriff (NY Giants) at OG Thom Dornbrook (NY Giants).
After making those additions, the Panthers then won 11 of their next 13 contests and captured the Central Divison Championship with a 12-6 record - one game ahead of the second place Chicago Blitz who also earned a wildcard playoff berth against the Philadelphia Stars.
In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted what was a record crowd of 60,237 at the Silverdome to see the club down the Western Division Champion Oakland Invaders, 37-21 - sending the Panthers onto the inaugural USFL Championship Game at Denver, CO.
On July 17, 1983; the Panthers captured the USFL's first ever championship with a 24-22 win over the Atlantic Division Champion Philadelphia Stars. QB Bobby Hebert hit WR Anthony Carter on a 48-yard touchdown strike with 11:59 left in the fourth quarter that proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game throwing for 319 yards and 3 TD's.
[edit] 1984 Season Highlights
The Panthers won the first USFL championship in 1983. The team had reasonable fan support playing at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac. The championship game drew over 47,000 spectators. However after the 1984 season was over, the USFL, largely under the influence of New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump, decided to go to a fall schedule, effective with the 1986 season. This would have meant the Panthers being locked out of the Silverdome, which was then also home to the NFL's Detroit Lions. The Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders for the 1985 USFL season. After this season, when the USFL received on $3 in its antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, a lawsuit on which it had staked its survival, the USFL folded.
[edit] Single Season Leaders
Rushing Yards: 1182 (1983), Ken Lacy
Receiving Yards: 1220 (1984), Derek Holloway
Passing Yards: 3368 (1984), Bobby Hebert
[edit] Season-By-Season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1st Central | Won Divisional (Oakland) Won USFL Championship (Philadelphia) |
| 1984 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2nd WC Central | Lost Quarterfinal (Los Angeles)1 |
| Totals | 24 | 15 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
1 - Lost to Los Angeles 27-21 in triple overtime, in longest game in professional football history.
[edit] External links
| United States Football League |
| Arizona Wranglers (1983-84) | Birmingham Stallions (1983-85) | Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers (1983-85) | Chicago Blitz (1983-84) | Denver Gold (1983-85) | Los Angeles Express (1983-85) | Michigan Panthers (1983-84) | New Jersey Generals (1983-85) | Oakland Invaders (1983-85) | Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (1983-85) | Tampa Bay Bandits (1983-85) | Washington Federals/Orlando Renegades (1983-85) | Houston Gamblers (1984-85) | Jacksonville Bulls (1984-85) | Memphis Showboats (1984-85) | Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws (1984-85) | Pittsburgh Maulers (1984) | San Antonio Gunslingers (1984-85) |
