Jacksonville Bulls | |
---|---|
Established 1983 Folded 1986 Played in Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida | |
![]() | |
League/conference affiliations | |
United States Football League (1984–1985)
| |
Current uniform | |
Team colors | Garnet, Orange, Silver, Black, White |
Personnel | |
Owner(s) | 1984–1985 Fred Bullard |
Head coach | 1984–1985 Lindy Infante (15-21) |
Team history | |
| |
Championships | |
League championships (0) | |
Conference championships (0) | |
Division championships (0) | |
Home stadium(s) | |
|
The Jacksonville Bulls were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League (USFL) during its final two seasons, 1984 and 1985. They played their home games in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.
Former Miami Dolphins stars Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick were involved in an advertising campaign for the team, and they apparently had a minor ownership interest as well. Larry Munson was hired as radio play-by-play announcer. His distinctive voice was already well known in the Jacksonville area due to his long association with both the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons.
The Bulls' name was taken from team owner Fred "Bubba" Bullard, a Jacksonville land developer. Bullard had initially sought to buy a stake in the Boston Breakers and move them to Jacksonville when it became apparent the Breakers could not find a suitable venue in Boston. However, Breakers owner George Matthews broke off talks when Bullard insisted that coach Dick Coury be fired in favor of Florida State Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden. [1]
The team held a 'name the team' promotion with a write-in campaign for publicity purposes. The Bulls moniker was credited as a submission from the winning entry. The team colors of garnet, orange and silver were taken from the three college football teams most popular in the area; garnet from the Seminoles, orange from the Florida Gators, and silver from the pants worn by the Georgia Bulldogs.
The helmet design was unique for a professional football team. Each side had the team's logo of a streaking bull (one side the mirror image of the other); the two logos were bridged by a series of parallel lines, and the team name was incorporated into the bridge as a silhouette against the parallel lines. [2]
The Bulls made an immediate splash in their first game, in which they blew out the Washington Federals 53–14. Although they finished 6-12 — last in the tough Southern Division — they were far more competitive than their record indicated. Six of their losses were by a touchdown or less, including two losses by a last-second field goal. They remained in contention for most of the season, but a six-game losing streak toward the end of the season kept them out of the playoffs.
The Bulls were an undisputed success at the gate, running away with the league's attendance title. They notched the only two crowds of 70,000 or greater in league history, including a throng of 73,227 against the powerful New Jersey Generals on March 4. In the last game, against the Pittsburgh Maulers, a huge crowd patiently waited through a late-June downpour which postponed the game for more than an hour. When play finally started the Bulls won 26–2.
Week | Day | Date | Time | Opponent | Game site | Attendance | Television | Result | Record | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason | ||||||||||
1 | Saturday | January 28 | Pittsburgh Maulers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 10,000 | — | T 0–0 | 0–0–1 | ||
2 | Bye | |||||||||
3 | Saturday | February 11 | Houston Gamblers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 24,680 | — | L 22–34 | 0–1–1 | ||
4 | Saturday | February 18 | 2:00 pm | vs. Pittsburgh Maulers | Melbourne, Florida | 4,500 | — | L 10–13 | 0–2–1 | |
Regular Season | ||||||||||
1 | Sunday | February 26 | 2:30 pm | Washington Federals | Gator Bowl Stadium | 49,392 | — | W 53–14 | 1–0 | |
2 | Sunday | March 4 | 2:30 pm | New Jersey Generals | Gator Bowl Stadium | 73,227 | ABC | L 26–28 | 1–1 | |
3 | Saturday | March 10 | 9:00 pm | at Tampa Bay Bandits | Tampa Stadium | 51,274 | ESPN | L 25–28 | 1–2 | |
4 | Monday | March 19 | 8:00 pm | New Orleans Breakers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 48,303 | ESPN | L 9–28 | 1–3 | |
5 | Sunday | March 25 | 4:00 pm | at Los Angeles Express | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 8,000 | — | W 13–7 | 2–3 | |
6 | Saturday | March 31 | 7:00 pm | at Memphis Showboats | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | 17,180 | ESPN | L 24–27 | 2–4 | |
7 | Saturday | April 7 | 8:00 pm | Birmingham Stallions | Gator Bowl Stadium | 43,654 | ESPN | L 17–24 | 2–5 | |
8 | Saturday | April 14 | 8:00 pm | San Antonio Gunslingers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 35,084 | — | L 0–20 | 2–6 | |
9 | Friday | April 20 | 8:00 pm | Memphis Showboats | Gator Bowl Stadium | 36,256 | — | W 12–10 | 3–6 | |
10 | Friday | April 27 | 9:00 pm | at Oklahoma Outlaws | Skelly Stadium | 29,234 | — | W 34–6 | 4–6 | |
11 | Saturday | May 5 | 8:00 pm | Tampa Bay Bandits | Gator Bowl Stadium | 71,174 | ESPN | L 13–31 | 4–7 | |
12 | Friday | May 11 | 7:30 pm | at Birmingham Stallions | Legion Field | 29,500 | — | L 10–42 | 4–8 | |
13 | Saturday | May 19 | 8:00 pm | at Philadelphia Stars | Veterans Stadium | 33,194 | ESPN | L 12–45 | 4–9 | |
14 | Friday | May 25 | 8:00 pm | Houston Gamblers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 31,638 | — | L 7–54 | 4–10 | |
15 | Saturday | June 2 | 8:30 pm | at Oakland Invaders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 29,687 | — | L 12–17 | 4–11 | |
16 | Friday | June 8 | 9:00 pm | at Arizona Wranglers | Sun Devil Stadium | 15,513 | — | L 14–45 | 4–12 | |
17 | Friday | June 15 | 7:00 pm | at New Orleans Breakers | Louisiana Superdome | 21,333 | — | W 20–17 | 5–12 | |
18 | Friday | June 22 | 8:00 pm | Pittsburgh Maulers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 31,843 | — | W 26–2 | 6–12 |
1. Danny Miller (K)
2. Rich Hendley (P)
3. Brian Franco (K/P)
5. Jeff Brockhaus (K)
8. Jeff Pierce (P)
9. Ken Hobart (QB)
14. Ben Bennett (QB)
14. Ron Rice (P)
15. Robbie Mahfouz (QB)
16. Buck Belue (QB)
17. Matt Robinson (QB)
20. Billy Cesare (SS)
21. Willie McClendon (RB)
22. Kevin Gray (CB)
23. Kerry Baird (CB)
23. Donald Dykes (CB)
24. Marvin Lewis (FB)
25. Charlie Dean (CB)
26. Chester Gee (CB)
27. Michael Whiting (RB)
28. Matt Courtney (CB)
32. Larry Mason (RB)
33. Vaughan Johnson (LB)
35. John Lott (FS)
44. Larry Key (RB)
44. Bobby Hosea (FS)
45. Mike Goedeker (LB)
46. Don Bessillieu (FS)
47. Sammy Brown (SS)
50. John McLean (LB)
51. Dave Otey (C)
52. Tom Dinkel (LB)
53. Fernando Jackson (LB)
55. Carl Qualls (LB)
55. Dann Lute (LB)
56. Rufus Norman (LB)
56. Doug West (LB)
57. Greg Zappala (LB)
58. Andy Hendel (LB)
59. Russ Washington (LB)
60. Gary Anderson (G/C)
63. Nat Hudson (T)
64. Kenny Howell (G)
65. Wally Pesuit (C)
66. George Collins (G)
67. Warren Gray (G)
69. Rush Brown (DE)
70. Val Brown (DE)
72. Don Latimer (NT)
73. Ed Gantner (DT)
75. Bob Gruber (T)
77. Chris Wampler (NT)
78. Brian Douglas (NT)
80. Gary Clark (WR)
82. Wyatt Henderson (WR)
83. Aubrey Matthews (WR)
84. Paul Bergmann (TE)
85. Perry Kemp (WR)
87. Chuck McCurley (WR)
88. Robert Young (TE)
89. Alton Alexis (WR)
91. Phil Dokes (DE)
92. George Atiyeh (NT)
92. Marvin Dyett (DE)
95. Mike Raines (DE)
97. Charles Philyaw (DE)
98. Bob Clasby (DE)
99. Joe Costello (DE)
--. Amos Lawrence (RB)
--. Dan Gooch (LB)
Charles R. Hunsicker Jr. – Team Chaplain
The offseason saw the addition of former NFL MVP QB Brian Sipe to take over as triggerman of Coach Lindy Infante's high octane passing scheme as well as former Heisman Trophy winning HB Mike Rozier.
While Sipe only threw 89 passes before suffering a career-ending injury, an improved defense and the addition of Rozier resulted in a 9–9 record. The Bulls finished one win short of a playoff spot and led the league in attendance again.
Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Game site | Attendance | Television | Result | Record | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preseason | |||||||||
1 | Bye | ||||||||
2 | Saturday | February 9 | Orlando Renegades | Gator Bowl Stadium | L 10–20 | 0–1 | |||
3 | Saturday | February 16 | Memphis Showboats | Gator Bowl Stadium | L 10–13 | 0–2 | |||
Regular Season | |||||||||
1 | Sunday | February 24 | Baltimore Stars | Gator Bowl Stadium | 51,045 | — | W 22–14 | 1–0 | |
2 | Monday | March 4 | Memphis Showboats | Gator Bowl Stadium | 40,112 | ESPN | L 14–24 | 1–1 | |
3 | Monday | March 11 | at Arizona Outlaws | Sun Devil Stadium | 13,025 | ESPN | L 21–41 | 1–2 | |
4 | Sunday | March 17 | at Oakland Invaders | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 16,678 | — | L 36–42 | 1–3 | |
5 | Thursday | March 21 | Orlando Renegades | Gator Bowl Stadium | 31,883 | ESPN | W 34–31 (OT) | 2–3 | |
6 | Saturday | March 30 | at Birmingham Stallions | Legion Field | 41,200 | — | L 18–25 | 2–4 | |
7 | Saturday | April 6 | at Tampa Bay Bandits | Tampa Stadium | 51,286 | ESPN | L 17–31 | 2–5 | |
8 | Friday | April 12 | San Antonio Gunslingers | Gator Bowl Stadium | 32,097 | ESPN | W 28–17 | 3–5 | |
9 | Saturday | April 20 | at Orlando Renegades | Florida Citrus Bowl | 34,338 | — | W 31–10 | 4–5 | |
10 | Sunday | April 28 | Birmingham Stallions | Gator Bowl Stadium | 41,298 | ABC | W 27–17 | 5–5 | |
11 | Sunday | May 5 | New Jersey Generals | Gator Bowl Stadium | 60,100 | ABC | W 30–20 | 6–5 | |
12 | Sunday | May 12 | Tampa Bay Bandits | Gator Bowl Stadium | 58,928 | — | L 10–21 | 6–6 | |
13 | Monday | May 20 | at Houston Gamblers | Houston Astrodome | 17,127 | ESPN | W 20–17 | 7–6 | |
14 | Saturday | May 25 | Los Angeles Express | Gator Bowl Stadium | 51,033 | ESPN | W 21–7 | 8–6 | |
15 | Sunday | June 2 | at Baltimore Stars | Byrd Stadium | 9,663 | ABC | L 12–17 | 8–7 | |
16 | Monday | June 10 | at New Jersey Generals | Giants Stadium | 36,465 | ESPN | L 24–31 | 8–8 | |
17 | Saturday | June 15 | at Memphis Showboats | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | 31,634 | — | L 0–31 | 8–9 | |
18 | Sunday | June 23 | Denver Gold | Gator Bowl Stadium | 32,428 | — | W 42–6 | 9–9 |
The Bulls were one of the seven teams assured of playing the 1986 USFL season, which would have been played in the autumn. The Bulls had bought the football assets of the Denver Gold during the offseason and were to take on much of that team's staff, including head coach Mouse Davis. It also attempted to negotiate a merger with the Tampa Bay Bandits, mainly to bring the Bandits' ownership group into the organization, but the eventual deaths of the two leading investors in the Bandits (and their steadfast refusal to go along with the league's plan to move to the autumn in 1986) and the unwillingness of the Orlando Renegades to join in (which would have created a single franchise representing all of Florida) led to those plans being abandoned. [9]
The USFL itself was pursuing a large antitrust lawsuit against the NFL at the time; when they failed to secure a sizable judgment against the older league, the USFL suspended operations and eventually folded.
Despite never posting a winning record, the Bulls were considered to be a serious attempt at a viable professional football organization — indeed, one of the few USFL teams with the potential to be viable had the league been better run. Owner Fred Bullard was determined from the beginning to put together a strong organization on and off the field. Many experts believe that had it not been for the Bulls' success, the NFL would not have considered awarding the Jacksonville Jaguars to the city in 1995. In 1987 the Houston Oilers nearly moved to Jacksonville, in part due to the overwhelming support for the Bulls. The nearby Matthews Bridge was painted in the garnet main color as a backdrop for the games.
Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1984 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 5th EC Southern | -- |
1985 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6th EC | -- |
Totals | 15 | 21 | 0 |
The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be played in the autumn/winter, directly competing against the long-established National Football League (NFL). However, the USFL ceased operations before that season was scheduled to begin.
The Portland Breakers were an American football team that played in the United States Football League (USFL) in the mid-1980s. Before moving to Portland, Oregon, the franchise was previously in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Breakers and New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans Breakers.
The Pittsburgh Maulers were a team that competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL Draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.
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.
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field. They competed in all three USFL seasons, 1983–1985. During their run, they were one of the USFL's more popular teams, and seemed to have a realistic chance of being a viable venture had the USFL been better run.
The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985. The Gold played their home games at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado; and were co-tenants in the spring with the Triple-A Denver Zephyrs baseball team.
The San Antonio Gunslingers were a professional American football team based in San Antonio, Texas, that played in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984 and 1985. Owned by oil magnate Clinton Manges, the team played its home games in Alamo Stadium and its colors were kelly green, royal blue, silver, and white. Rick Neuheisel was the team's quarterback.
The 2001 CFL season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 44th Canadian Football League season.
The 1988 CFL season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.
The 1987 CFL season is considered to be the 34th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 30th Canadian Football League season.
The 1986 CFL season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.
The 1988 Los Angeles Rams season was the franchise's 51st season in the National Football League, their 41st overall, and their 43rd in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The team improved on a disappointing 6–9 record the previous year, going 10–6 and qualifying as a Wild Card before losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card game.
The 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The 19-week regular schedule, issued February 3, 2009, began on July 1, which was only the second time in league history that a CFL season started on Canada Day, with the first occurring in 1998. The playoffs started on November 15 and two weeks of pre-season games began on June 17.
The Seattle Mist were a team in the Legends Football League that were founded as part of the Lingerie Bowl's expansion into a full-fledged league in 2009. They played their home games at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The league, originally named the Lingerie Football League, rebranded in 2013 and shifted away from Super Bowl halftime shows. The Mist won three championships, known as the Legends Cup.
Southern Districts Oilers are a Gridiron team from Adelaide in the State of South Australia in Australia. They play in the South Australian Gridiron Association league.
The 2011 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gene Chizik, who was in his third season with Auburn. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Tigers entered the 2011 season after winning the 2011 BCS National Championship. Auburn finished the year 8–5 overall and 4–4 in SEC play to place fourth in the Western Division. They were invited to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, where they defeated Virginia, 43–24.
The 2022 USFL season was the inaugural season of the United States Football League, and the first season of a league using that name since 1985. The season began on April 16 and concluded on July 3. The league's eight teams represent various geographical locales and associated team names that were part of the 1984 season of the original USFL. For 2022, all regular-season games were played in Birmingham, Alabama, at Protective Stadium and at Legion Field.
The 2023 New Orleans Breakers season was the New Orleans Breakers' second season in the United States Football League, their second at Protective Stadium, and their first under the head coach/general manager tandem of John DeFilippo and Ryan Jones. For the 2023 season, they improved upon their 6–4 record from the previous season by going 7–3, and lost to the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL South Division Championship Game for the second straight year. This time with the final score being 47–22 in favor of Birmingham.
The team started out in 1983 as the Boston Breakers, owned by Boston businessman George Matthews and former New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Vataha. However, finding a stadium proved difficult. The lack of a professional-quality stadium had stymied previous attempts at pro football in Boston before the Patriots arrived in 1960.