The United States Basketball League (USBL) was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985 and ceased operations in 2008. The USBL started in 1985 as one of the first basketball leagues to play a late-spring to early-summer schedule. The league quickly became known as a development league for players, with many players moving up to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and many more playing in Europe after stints here. In 1996, the league made a stock offering, a rarity among sports leagues. However, in later years, the league declined as rival leagues appeared and USBL had a tougher time replacing teams that folded. In the last two seasons, the league was mainly a midwestern league, with teams mainly in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. After speculation that the USBL might fold after the 2007 season, the league announced that it would sit out the 2008 season and consider its options for the future. In January 2010, the league expressed hopes to resume play in April 2010. However, no further news has surfaced from the league. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.
Samuel Cowart III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning consensus All-American honors. A second-round pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he played professionally for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Cowart was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000.
Porter Michael Peterson is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the outside linebackers coach at the University of Florida. He most recently was the outside linebackers coach at the University of South Carolina. Peterson played college football at the University of Florida, where he was a member of a national championship team and earned first-team All-American honors. He was a second-round pick in the 1999 NFL draft and played professionally for thirteen seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He is the older brother of former Chicago Bears Running Back Adrian Peterson
Freddy Keiaho, born Naivote Taulawakeiaho, (born) December 18, 1982) is a Fijian former professional American football linebacker. He played college football for the San Diego State University Aztecs, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He was a part of the Colts' Super Bowl XLI victory against the Chicago Bears. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2010 season.
James "Buster" Davis is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State. Davis was also a member of the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Hartford Colonials, Las Vegas Locomotives, and Jacksonville Sharks.
Lonnie Marts Jr. is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida and coaches future NFL hopefuls with his athletic training company Godspeed Sports Performance.
Arthur Brown Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State University, where he earned All-American honors. Brown was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and San Antonio Commanders.
The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. They were members of the Atlantic Coast Conference ACC).
Alvin B. Wyatt is a former American football player and coach of football and basketball. He played professionally as a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Oilers and in World Football League (WFL) with the Jacksonville Sharks. Wyatt served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Bethune–Cookman University from 1997 to 2009 and Edward Waters College from 2013 to 2017, compiling a career college football coaching record of 100–92. He was also the head women's basketball coach at Bethune–Cookman from 1978 to 1996, tallying a mark of 245–201.
The Jacksonville Sharks are a professional indoor football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, playing their home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. As of 2024, they are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
Charles Frederick, Jr. is a former American football wide receiver. Frederick was born in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. He played wide receiver for the University of Washington. He was signed as a free agent by the Spokane Shock in 2006. Frederick was the co-AFL Rookie of the Year in 2007 with the Kansas City Brigade. On January 13, 2012, it was announced that Frederick would return to the Shock for the 2012 season.
Kirby Griffin is a former arena football player. He played on the defensive line for California University of Pennsylvania. He was signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Sharks in 2009.
Justin Parrish is a former American football defensive end. He played as a defensive end and linebacker for Kent State University. He was signed as a free agent by the Jacksonville Sharks in 2010. Parrish attended a workout with the Washington Redskins in 2006, but did not make the team. Parrish began his professional career with the Ohio Valley Greyhounds of United Indoor Football.
Tyrell Sales is an American football player who last played professionally in 2012 for the Parma Panthers, a team based in Parma, Italy that plays in the top level of the Italian Football League.
Richard Charles Washington, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive lineman for the University of Delaware before transferring to Clark Atlanta University. He played for the Arkansas Diamonds of the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2010.
Richard "Scooter" Berry is a professional football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He was originally signed by the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL).
Charles Kelly is an American football coach and former football player. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach for Auburn Tigers football. Kelly won a national championship as a member of the Florida State Seminoles coaching staff during the 2013 college football season. He also won a College Football Playoff National Championship as the co-defensive coordinator of the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide who went undefeated.
Dexter Jackson is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the Bethune–Cookman University and attended Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He has also been a member of the Milwaukee Mustangs, Orlando Predators, Tampa Bay Storm and Jacksonville Sharks.
Jimmy Gordon is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He has also played for the Jacksonville Sharks and the Tampa Bay Storm.