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The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team in the United States Football League (USFL) which was based in Tampa, Florida. The Bandits were a charter member of the USFL and was the only franchise to have the same principal owner, head coach, and home field during the league's three seasons of play (1983–1985). The Bandits were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived spring football league both on the field and at the ticket booth. Spurrier's "Bandit Ball" offense led them to three winning seasons and two playoff appearances, and their exciting brand of play combined with innovative local marketing helped the Bandits lead the league in attendance. However, the franchise folded along with the rest of the USFL when the league suspended play after the 1985 season.
Freddie Lee Mitchell II is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He was chosen as a consensus All-American in 2000 while playing college football for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons as a member of the Eagles, culminating in an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 NFL season.
Gary Wayne Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL), United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1983 to 1995.
Trumaine Johnson is a retired American football player who played in the National Football League and the United States Football League.
Daniel Buggs is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins of the National Football League, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, and the Tampa Bay Bandits and San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League.
Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and three seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. Reaves played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors.
Ronnie Bernard Smith is a former professional American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, the San Diego Chargers, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
James Arthur Smith is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1974 to 1976. He also played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1977 to 1982 before starring on the Birmingham Stallions of the rival United States Football League (USFL). After the USFL's demise, Smith played a final season for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1985.
The 1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League the 9th playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and the 9th and final season under head coach John McKay. They improved on their 2–14 season and finished 6-10, but missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
The 1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's ninth season in the National Football League, the ninth playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and the first season under head coach Leeman Bennett. The team failed to improve on a 6–10 season, once again finishing at 2–14, the same as in 1983.
The 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League playing their home games at Tampa Stadium and their second under head coach Leeman Bennett. The team matched their 2–14 season from 1985, for one of the worst seasons in franchise history, and according to statistics site Football Outsiders, the sixth-worst team in the NFL since 1950. There is some sentiment that the 1986 team was even worse than the winless team of 1976, and the 473 points conceded was not beaten by any NFL team until the 2001 Indianapolis Colts gave up 486. The Buccaneers selected Bo Jackson with the top pick in the draft, but were unable to convince him to join the team. Three weeks after the draft, Jackson signed a three-year baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals. Despite holding four of the first forty selections in the draft, and the presence of a great influx of fresh talent from defunct USFL teams, the Buccaneers were unable to find any impact players in either the draft or free agency. They entered the season with a roster nearly identical to the previous season's 2–14 team.
Vernest Raynard Alexander is a former gridiron football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. He also played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for three teams. He played college football at Florida A&M University.
Anthony Derrick Allen is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for five seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at the University of Washington and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
Jackie Flowers is a former professional American football wide receiver in the United States Football League for the Arizona Wranglers, Chicago Blitz, Pittsburgh Maulers and the Orlando Renegades. He also played in the National Football League for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Florida State University.
Larry Brodsky is a former American football wide receiver in the United States Football League (USFL) for the New Jersey Generals and Tampa Bay Bandits. He played college football at the University of Miami.
John Franklin III is a German-born American football wide receiver for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football for Florida State, Auburn and Florida Atlantic. He also played junior college football for East Mississippi, where he was featured prominently in the first season of Last Chance U. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Derrick Willies is an American football wide receiver for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Texas Tech and played professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).
Austin Watkins Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at UAB. Watkins has been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Memphis Showboats.
Vincent Joseph Papale is an American football wide receiver for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL). He is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Vince Papale, whose career was the basis of the 2006 film Invincible.
Diondre Overton is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Clemson and has also spent time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Vienna Vikings.
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- ↑ Lakeland Ledger, January 13, 1984, publisher: Lakeland Ledger, published: 1984