Orlando Renegades

Last updated
Orlando Renegades
Established 1982
Folded 1986
Played in Florida Citrus Bowl
in Orlando, Florida
League/conference affiliations
United States Football League (1983–1985)
  • Eastern Conference (1984–1985)
    • Atlantic Division (1983–1984)
Current uniform
Team colors1983-84: Kelly Green, Black, Silver, White
    
1985: Navy Blue, Red, White
   
Personnel
Head coach1983–1984 Ray Jauch (4–15)
1984 Dick Bielski (3–14)
1985 Lee Corso (5–13)
Team history
  • Washington Federals (1983–1984)
  • Orlando Renegades (1985)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home stadium(s)

The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in Orlando, Florida, in the United States Football League (USFL) for a single season in 1985. Before its season in Orlando, the franchise played in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Federals for two seasons, in 1983 and 1984.

Contents

The franchise was the worst in the USFL in terms of both game play – a combined record of 7-29-0 – and attendance during its two seasons in Washington, prompting the move to Orlando. In Orlando, attendance was better and the team's performance on the field began to improve over the course of the season despite a 5–13 record, but the USFL folded before the team could play a second season in Orlando.

In Washington

Creation of the franchise

United States Football League founder Donald Dixon was a strong proponent of a USFL franchise in Washington, D.C., [1] and insisted on one despite the dominance of the National Football League′s Washington Redskins in the Washington market. [1] Real estate magnate Marvin Warner originally was slated to own the Federals, but when the USFL announced it was fielding a team in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama – the team which became the Birmingham Stallions – Warner opted to take that franchise instead. The USFL then turned to prominent Washington attorney Berl Bernhard. He stood atop a murky ownership structure. The franchise was held by a limited partnership, Washington Football Partners, which was organized in the District of Columbia on August 20, 1982, with Bernhard's Capital City Sports Management as general partner. In turn, Washington Football Partners was owned by a joint venture that was operated by three corporations. [2] [1]

Financial projections submitted to potential investors in Washington Football Partners foresaw the Federals losing $1.12 million during the 1983 season, with anticipated revenues of $4.13 million – including $2.6 million in ticket sales – and expenses of just over $5.25 million. The Federals' efforts were severely hobbled when the Redskins won Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 1983 – their first NFL championship since 1942 – only 36 days before the Federals′ first game. The Federals' already sluggish ticket sales dried up almost completely. [1]

The Federals played in Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. However, under pressure from the Redskins, the city refused to grant the Federals full access to its facilities. They were forced to practice on a small practice field across the street from a prison. [2]

1983 season

The team lured Ray Jauch to be its head coach; he had previously guided the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers to success in the Canadian Football League. At the time he was the fourth-winningest coach in CFL history. The Federals initially made a splash by signing running back Craig James, one half of the famous "Pony Express" backfield at SMU.

More than any other team in the league, the Federals seemed dogged by inconsistency, bad timing, and terrible luck. A week before the season even began, their player personnel expert bolted to the NFL's New York Jets. The team changed quarterbacks almost weekly, with in-game quarterback changes in a number of games. Jauch's biggest mistake was probably giving the opening day starter, NFL veteran Kim McQuilken, the quick hook for rookie quarterback Mike Hohensee. From there the team never seemed to settle in with a quarterback for more than a few games in a row, and when McQuilken did play, he often pressed, forcing his throws into coverage. The team alternated between McQuilken and Hohensee, with occasional appearances by former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam, who was far past his prime; he had last played a meaningful professional down in 1975, and he only threw for 673 yards. The only other quarterback on the team was rookie Mike Forslund, who never played.

Injuries also dogged the team. James was sidelined for five games with a fractured vertebra. Hohensee only played in nine games all season. At one point, all of the Federals′ receivers had leg injuries. The Federals had good linebackers in Joe Harris, Dan Lloyd, and Jeff McIntyre, who was Washington's best outside linebacker and could cover receivers downfield and stop the run. McIntyre lead the team in tackles and sacks until an ankle injury sidelined him for the final six games.

The first game in franchise history was a portent of things to come; the Federals were drilled at RFK Stadium 28–7 by the Chicago Blitz, the preseason title favorites coached by former Washington Redskins coach George Allen. The game was played on March 6, 1983. The Blitz, led by former Detroit Lions and Baltimore Colts quarterback Greg Landry, raced out to a 28–0 lead. The Blitz held Washington to only one first down and a mere 24 yards total offense in the first half; Chicago led 21–0 before the Federals even recorded a second first down. By that time, Landry had hit 15 of his first 17 pass attempts, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Trumaine Johnson. McQuilken had a horrible debut as the Federals quarterback, and was replaced by back-up Hohensee; Hohensee accounted for the Federals only score, a 19-yard pass to Walker Lee. (The only positive was the attendance of 38,007; unfortunately, this was more than double what the Feds would draw in any of their 17 other games played in Washington.)

The next week went even worse for Washington, as quarterback Hohensee, James, and wide receiver Reggie Smith all were injured. McQuilken could only muster three points of offense, while throwing two more interceptions.

In Week 3, the Federals led the Boston Breakers 16–9 with less than five minutes to go in regulation. However, two bad snaps on special teams led to a 19–16 loss.

Playing at home in Week 4, the Federals finally got a victory. They managed to defeat the Michigan Panthers, one of the better teams in the USFL and the eventual 1983 league champions. The Panthers were led by future NFL quarterback Bobby Hebert, and wide receiver Anthony Carter, one of the fastest players in the league. Federals quarterback Kim McQuilken had one of his better games, completing 24 of 48 passes and throwing for 324 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and gave up only one interception, by Panthers linebacker Robert Pennywell; it led to a game-tying score on a pass from Hebert to Derek Holloway. The game went into overtime, during which Washington won on a 22-yard pass from McQuilken to Joey Walters.

In Week 6, the Federals led the Arizona Wranglers 21–16, only to have a potential game-sealing drive stall on the Wranglers′ 2-yard-line. The Wranglers' first play from scrimmage after that was a 98-yard touchdown pass – the longest in USFL history.

The Federals saved their best game for last in the 1983 season, playing at home against the Philadelphia Stars. The Stars, who entered the game with a record of 15–2, were a dominant team who had crushed Washington 34–3 earlier in the season. At first, it seemed like it was going to be another blow-out loss for the Federals, who entered the game with a record of 3–14. The Stars, led by all-league quarterback Chuck Fusina, built a 14–0 lead in the first half, but McQuilken hit Stan Rome with a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut Philadelphia's lead to 14–6 at halftime. In the second half, Federals rookie linebacker Mike Corvino helped stop two late Stars drives with a sack and an interception. Former New York Giants running back Billy Taylor got in on the scoring for Washington with a six-yard run in the third quarter, and the Federals added two points on the conversation. McQuilken scored his first touchdown as a pro with a one-yard run for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. Lane had his best day ever as a professional, catching 17 passes for 170 yards, and the Federals shocked the league by defeating the Stars 21–14.

The Federals finished with a record of 4–14, in last place in the USFL's Atlantic Division and tied with the Arizona Wranglers – against whom they finished 1–1–0 for the year – for the worst record in the league. The only USFL all-star on the team was reserve running back Eric Robinson, whose kickoff return for touchdown vs. the Tampa Bay Bandits at RFK Stadium was the only kickoff return for a touchdown in the USFL in 1983.

Despite initial fears at the season's start that they had little going for them other than James [2] – who rushed for 823 yards during the season [1] – the Federals were far more competitive in 1983 than their 4–14 record indicated. Eight of their losses were by a touchdown or less. They had a fair amount of offensive talent and skill players with comparatively good depth, and they finished the season third in the league in passing attempts. [1] The Federals had pulled off an upset win over the Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia Stars to complete the season and had defeated both teams – Philadelphia and Michigan – who played in the 1983 USFL championship game. In spite of a tremendous number of on-field mistakes, the Federals might have been almost a .500 team – and perhaps even a 12–6 team – with just a few lucky breaks. The Federals had started the season 1–13, but they had a strong finish going 3–1 in the last four games, and it appeared that the Federals had finally learned how to turn a close game into a win. The franchise had grounds for optimism as it considered its prospects for its second season in 1984.

The Federals' marketing efforts were crippled by the Redskins' Super Bowl victory only 36 days before the Federals′ first game. [1] Washington-area fans largely viewed the Federals with indifference, and the Federals averaged only 13,800 fans per game in 1983 in a 56,000-seat stadium. Revenue from ticket sales amounted to no more than a third of the $2.6 million projected before the season. [1] Even after taking on several investors who had initially tried to get a USFL franchise for Cleveland, [3] the Federals were still starved for capital. Years later, Bernhard said that he had seriously underestimated the expenses associated with pro football. [2]

1983 Washington Federals schedule and results

WeekDayDateOpponentResultRecordTVVenueAttendance
1SundayMarch 6 Chicago Blitz L 7–280–1 ABC RFK Stadium 38,007
2MondayMarch 14at Los Angeles Express L 3–200–2 ESPN Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 22,453
3SundayMarch 20at Boston Breakers L 16–190–3 Nickerson Field 18,430
4SundayMarch 27 Michigan Panthers W 22–16 (OT)1–3RFK Stadium11,404
5SundayApril 3at Philadelphia Stars L 3–341–4ABC Veterans Stadium 14,576
6MondayApril 11 Arizona Wranglers L 21–221–5ESPNRFK Stadium13,936
7SundayApril 17at New Jersey Generals L 22–231–6ABC Giants Stadium 35,381
8SundayApril 24 Tampa Bay Bandits L 23–301–7RFK Stadium9,070
9SundayMay 1 Birmingham Stallions L 3–351–8RFK Stadium12,818
10SundayMay 8at Chicago Blitz L 3–311–9 Soldier Field 11,300
11MondayMay 16at Oakland Invaders L 27–341–10 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 25,900
12SundayMay 22 Boston Breakers L 14–211–11RFK Stadium7,303
13SundayMay 29 New Jersey Generals L 29–321–12RFK Stadium11,264
14FridayJune 3at Denver Gold L 12–241–13 Mile High Stadium 40,671
15SaturdayJune 11at Arizona Wranglers W 18–112–13 Sun Devil Stadium 16,656
16MondayJune 20at Michigan Panthers L 25–272–14ESPN Pontiac Silverdome 26,418
17SundayJune 26 Los Angeles Express W 28–213–14RFK Stadium9,792
18SundayJuly 3 Philadelphia Stars W 21–144–14RFK Stadium11,039

Sources [4] [5] [6]

1983 Washington Federals statistics

Passing
No.NamePos.GP/GSComp.Attm.YardsLongComp%TD'sINTsSKDsLost
11 McQUILKEN, Kim QB11/91883441,9125556.371424222
9HOHENSEE, MikeQB9/7921901,2968048.49712102
10GILLIAM, JoeQB4/2401026735239.2511218
Rushing
No.NamePos.GP/GSCarr.YardsAvg.LongTD's
32JAMES, CraigRB14/142018234.1245
38TAYLOR, BillyFB15/131727634.4345
23BLEDSOE, CurtisRB6/0261335.1310
39MAYBERRY, JamesFB17/6411142.8112
40ROBINSON, EricRB16/349972.080
9HOHENSEE, MikeQB9/719733.8190
11McQUILKEN, KimQB11/91390.771
35CLAITT, RickyFB4/0111.010
22HARDEMAN, BuddyFB4/03−3−1.040
10GILLIAM, JoeQB4/23−6−2.040
3MOORE, DanaP/K15/11−8−8.0−80
Receiving
No.NamePos.GP/GSRec.YardsAvg.LongTD's
38TAYLOR, BillyFB15/13645238.2552
87WALTERS, JoeyWR16/156395915.2426
32JAMES, CraigRB14/14403428.6522
84HOLMES, MikeWR11/103565418.7807
82HARRIS, MikeWR14/62644117.0422
40ROBINSON, EricRB16/3181729.6200
22HARDEMAN, BuddyRB4/0181146.3160
89ROME, StanWR4/11215713.1261
81KINNEY, VinceWR12/0712017.1300
80SMITH, ReggieWR2/268714.5220
39MAYBERRY, JamesFB17/65142.860
83ROGUSKY, VinceTE10/644711.8200
88POSTELL, JeffWR7/14328.090
23BLEDSOE, CurtisRB6/04256.380
86CHISLEY, CharlesWR6/234715.7300
85DIGGS, BubbaTE12/43196.380
82LEE, WalkerWR1/023216.0191
35CLAITT, RickyFB4/022713.5140
89WALL, WilliamTE3/222010.0110
89SAMUELS, TonyTE4/313030.0300
83BROWN, MarcWR2/111818.0180
57LOIA, TonyC9/602---20
Kickoff Returns
No.NamePos.GP/GSKORsYardsAvg.LongTD's
40ROBINSON, EricRB16/32160929.0941
44GUESS, MikeFS17/122248622.1550
82HARRIS, MikeWR14/61536524.3710
23BLEDSOE, CurtisRB6/0710915.6310
80SMITH, ReggieWR2/258116.2310
33GIAMMONA, LouieRB1/036622.0240
51MULLER, MikeLB6/323417.0190
58CORVINO, MikeLB18/733110.3130
87WALTERS, JoeyWR16/1512020.0200
35CLAITT, RickyFB4/011313.0130
54McLAIN, KevinLB6/511212.0120
43HURST, MikeSS16/0144.040
54SHUPYRT, BobLB7/4133.030

1983 Washington Federals opening day roster

Washington Federals 1983 Opening Day Roster (at 6-Mar-83)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squadInjured reserve


rookies in italics
40 Active, 10 Developmental

1983 Washington Federals final roster

Washington Federals 1983 Final Game Roster (at 3-Jul-83)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squadInjured reserve


rookies in italics
43 Active, 6 Inactive

1984 season

Despite losing millions of dollars in 1983, Bernhard was committed to another season in Washington. The Federals had a lot of reasons for optimism in 1984. The 1983 team had played with heart under Jauch, taking better teams down to the wire even at the end of the season. The USFL added six new teams for the 1984 season, and with the league-wide talent pool expected to be diluted by expansion, the 1984 schedule seemed likely to include a number of very winnable games. With McQuilken's post-season retirement, the team had an undisputed and seemingly capable starter at quarterback in Hohensee. The Birmingham Stallions' acquisition of Cliff Stoudt made their 1983 quarterback Reggie Collier available, and the Federals added him for depth in 1984 alongside Hohensee and rookie Lou Pagley. Star running back Craig James had recovered from his 1983 injury and was healthy for 1984. It seemed like the pitfalls that Jauch had fallen into in the first season might be missed this time around. Player familiarity with the system and their teammates and having a proven winner like Jauch as a coach suggested the Federals were bound to deliver better results in 1984.

Unfortunately, the 1984 season unraveled in a hurry. The league scheduled the Federals to open against the expansion Jacksonville Bulls, probably in an effort to help the get the Federals off to a good start with an easy win. Unfortunately, that plan backfired; hours before the game, the Federals hobbled their defense by cutting all three of their starting linebackers, and the Bulls crushed the Federals 53–14. "We played like a group of untrained gerbils," Bernhard said after the game. [1] In an effort to save face, Bernhard fired Jauch three days after the game and replaced him with his offensive coordinator, former Maryland Terrapins and Dallas Cowboys running back Dick Bielski.

In Week 2 James suffered a season-ending injury. His frequent injuries had disappointed the Federals. For his part, James wanted to play before larger crowds than the Federals could draw. A little over a month into the season, the Federals granted James his release to allow him to sign with the NFL's New England Patriots.

Although the defense was awful throughout the season, the offense was respectable in the last 12 games or so. Hohensee played fairly well for a second-year starter and finished the season with a very respectable – by USFL standards – passer rating of 72.2. Halfback Curtis Bledsoe replaced James as the team's featured running back, rushing for a respectable 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns in 1984. Wide receiver Joey Walters caught 98 passes for 1,410 yards and seven touchdowns and made The Sporting News 1984 USFL All-Star Team, becoming the Federals' main star.

Despite the successes of Hohensee, Bledsoe, and Walters, Washington opened the season with eight straight losses and suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of all six expansion teams; [1] among their season lowlights were two losses to the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers, who won only three games all season. [1] The Federals finished with a record 3–15, tied with the Maulers for both last place in the USFL's Atlantic Division [1] and the worst record in the league. [1]

Fan support dwindled further; the Federals only averaged 7,700 fans per game in 1984, well below 1983's disappointing average. The home opener drew almost 26,000 fewer fans than the 1983 opener; [1] it nonetheless was the biggest home crowd of the season. On April 14 the Federals offered free T-shirts to the first 10,000 fans through the turnstiles for a game against the Oklahoma Outlaws, but only 6,075 showed up, [1] and the crowd of 4,432 who came to RFK Stadium to watch the Federals play the Memphis Showboats on May 6 during a day-long rainstorm was the smallest crowd in USFL history at the time. [1] [7]

1984 Washington Federals schedule and results

WeekDayDateOpponentResultRecordTVVenueAttendance
Preseason
1Bye
2SaturdayFebruary 4vs. Tampa Bay Bandits L 9–280–1 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 17,225
3SaturdayFebruary 11vs. Pittsburgh Maulers L 7–310–2 Melbourne, Florida 6,000
4FridayFebruary 17vs. New Jersey Generals L 24–270–3 Orlando, Florida 3,784
Regular season
1SundayFebruary 26at Jacksonville Bulls L 14–530–1 Gator Bowl Stadium 49,392
2SundayMarch 4 Philadelphia Stars L 6–170–2 RFK Stadium 12,067
3MondayMarch 12at Arizona Wranglers L 7–370–3 Sun Devil Stadium 25,218
4SundayMarch 18 Pittsburgh Maulers L 7–160–4 ESPN RFK Stadium10,121
5SundayMarch 25at New Jersey Generals L 6–430–5 Giants Stadium 38,075
6SaturdayMarch 31 Chicago Blitz L 20–210–6RFK Stadium7,373
7MondayApril 9at Houston Gamblers L 13–310–7 Houston Astrodome 16,710
8SaturdayApril 14 Oklahoma Outlaws L 16–200–8RFK Stadium6,075
9SundayApril 22at Oakland Invaders W 31–171–8 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 14,828
10SaturdayApril 28at Tampa Bay Bandits L 19–371–9ESPN Tampa Stadium 42,810
11SundayMay 6 Memphis Showboats L 10–13 (OT)1–10RFK Stadium4,432
12FridayMay 11 New Jersey Generals W 31–172–10RFK Stadium11,367
13SundayMay 20 San Antonio Gunslingers L 14–302–11RFK Stadium6,159
14SundayMay 27at Pittsburgh Maulers L 6–152–12 Three Rivers Stadium 15,153
15SundayJune 3 Los Angeles Express L 21–352–13RFK Stadium5,263
16SundayJune 10at Birmingham Stallions L 21–422–14 Legion Field 22,100
17FridayJune 15at Philadelphia Stars L 8–312–15 Veterans Stadium 22,582
18SundayJune 24 New Orleans Breakers W 20–173–15RFK Stadium6,386

Sources [8] [9] [10]

1984 Washington Federals opening day roster

Washington Federals 1984 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-84)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squad

rookies in italics
40 Active, 10 Developmental

1984 Washington Federals final roster

Washington Federals 1984 Final Roster (at 24-Jun-84)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Developmental squadInjured reserveOther Players active in 1984


rookies in italics
43 Active, 7 Inactive

Moving the franchise

In March 1984, with the Federals failing on the field and at the gate for a second straight season, Bernhard decided to sell the franchise. [1] Florida real estate developer Sherwood "Woody" Weiser agreed in principle to buy the Federals for $5.5 million and made plans to relocate the team to Miami as The Spirit of Miami for the 1985 season. [1] In anticipation of the deal, the USFL executed a lease agreement for the Spirit to play at the Miami Orange Bowl. [1] At a meeting on May 9, 1984, the USFL's team owners unanimously approved the sale of the Federals to Weiser. [1]

Weiser signed up University of Miami head coach Howard Schnellenberger as part-owner, president, general manager, and head coach for the 1985 season. Schnellenberger was to assume his new posts as soon as the 1984 USFL season ended. [1] Weiser envisioned closing the deal to purchase the Federals soon after the end of the 1984 USFL season, with Schnellenberger in the interim hiring assistant coaches and joining them in evaluating player talent on the Federals and elsewhere in the USFL and preparing a plan of action for the team after Weiser concluded the purchase. [1] USFL owners openly discussed their expectation that a USFL championship game would take place at the Orange Bowl in the near future. [1]

In June 1984, Bernhard's Washington Football Partners entered into a preliminary agreement to sell the Federals to American Sports, Ltd., a company controlled by Weiser. [1] However, by this time there were persistent rumors that the USFL was considering moving to a fall schedule in 1986. Knowing that he could not even begin to compete with the NFL's Miami Dolphins for Miami's professional football market in the fall, Weiser insisted on writing an escape clause into the purchase agreement that allowed him to cancel the sale if the USFL switched to a fall schedule. On August 22, 1984, the USFL team owners voted to move to a fall schedule in 1986. Weiser promptly canceled the deal to purchase the Federals, and American Sports, Ltd., relinquished the franchise to Washington Football Partners two days later. [1]

This left Bernhard in a desperate situation. Even without the impossible task of competing with the Redskins once the USFL moved to the fall, he had no intention of sticking it out for 1985 even if the USFL had stuck with playing in the spring. Years later, he said Washington fans had very little tolerance for losers, and had spoiled by the Redskins' resurgence in the 1970s and early 1980s. [3]

Shortly thereafter, hospital magnate Donald Dizney, who had been a minority owner of the Tampa Bay Bandits before briefly joining Weiser's group, stepped in to end Bernhard's suffering. [3] Dizney quickly reached a deal on the same terms that Bernhard had reached with Weiser. [1] In a deal agreed to on August 28, 1984, [1] and announced on September 1, 1984, [1] Dizney bought the Federals, moved them to Orlando, Florida, and renamed them the Orlando Renegades.

In Orlando

Orlando Football Partners, Inc., was incorporated in Florida on September 10, 1984, as the general partnership which owned the Orlando Renegades. [1] On December 31, 1984, Orlando Football Partners, Ltd., was organized as a limited partnership to hold the franchise, with Orlando Football Partners, Inc., as the general partner. [1]

The Renegades played at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Orlando lay within the territory of the Bandits, which drew many fans from the Orlando area. [1] Rather than resist the franchise's move to Orlando, however, Bandits owner John F. Bassett embraced it. [1] Although Bassett had claimed nearly all of Florida south of the Jacksonville area as his home territory, he readily surrendered those rights when the Federals initially made plans to move to Miami, [2] and did the same when they ultimately moved to Orlando.

Unlike Schnellenberger and Weiser of the stillborn Miami franchise, Dizney did not have the benefit of several months of research of coaching and player possibilities. [1] With Schnellenberger opting not to follow the team to Orlando, [3] Dizney turned to Lee Corso, a Florida State University alumnus and a longtime college head coach best known for his tenure at Indiana. Corso had a clear plan that involved building the team around third-year quarterback Reggie Collier. After starting out looking much like the 1984 Federals, opening the season with six straight losses, the Renegades were fairly competitive in their remaining 12 games, winning five of them as the mobile and talented Collier, who had been an abysmal failure in Birmingham and Washington in his first two seasons, began to develop. (Collier later went on to play briefly for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL). Backup quarterbacks Jerry Golstyen and Steve Pisarkiewicz also played. The team's offense also featured running back Curtis Bledsoe and wide receiver Joey Walters. The Renegades finished with a record of 5–13 [1] and a seventh-place finish.

The Renegades drew far better than the Federals, averaging about 25,000 fans per game over their nine regular-season home dates, [1] and the crowd of 26,847 that attended the June 1 game against Tampa Bay, which included many Bandits fans who traveled to Orlando from the Tampa area for the game as part of a growing Tampa Bay-Orlando rivalry, [1] was a highlight of the season. [1] Dizney had hoped to draw more Orlando-area fans away from the Bandits than the Renegades did in 1985 and for bigger crowds overall at Renegades home games. [1] He nonetheless decided to move forward with the team in Orlando for the 1986 USFL season. [1] One of his limited partners, Charles Givens, told NPR that he knew that the Renegades would not be included in any potential merger with the NFL, and contented himself with the likelihood that the Renegades and any other teams left out of a merger would automatically receive $14 million. [3]

After the conclusion of the 1985 season, the USFL considered contraction of the league to focus on its more successful franchises. At a meeting on July 2, 1985, league owners discussed a possible merger of the league's three Florida teams. [11] Dizney rejected the idea of the Renegades being involved in any merger, fearing he would lose credibility in Orlando if he agreed to move the Renegades out of the Orlando area. [11] Ultimately, the Renegades were one of eight teams selected to continue operations in the 1986 season, when the USFL planned to switch to a fall schedule. However, the entire league collapsed before any games were played in 1986. Orlando Football Partners, Ltd., was dissolved on January 25, 1988, [1] and the franchise's existence as a corporate entity came to an official end when Orlando Football Partners, Inc., was dissolved on September 26, 1997. [1]

1985 Orlando Renegades schedule and results

WeekDayDateOpponentResultRecordTVVenueAttendance
Preseason
1SaturdayFebruary 2vs. Baltimore Stars W 16–101–0 Spec Martin Stadium, Deland, Florida 3,000
2SaturdayFebruary 9at Jacksonville Bulls W 20–102–0 Gator Bowl Stadium
3FridayFebruary 15 New Jersey Generals L 14–242–1 Florida Citrus Bowl 33,000
Regular season
1SaturdayFebruary 23at Tampa Bay Bandits L 7–350–1 ESPN Tampa Stadium 45,045
2FridayMarch 1 New Jersey Generals L 10–280–2ESPN Florida Citrus Bowl 32,748
3SaturdayMarch 9 Birmingham Stallions L 10–340–3Florida Citrus Bowl25,831
4SaturdayMarch 16at Portland Breakers L 17–230–4 Civic Stadium 25,885
5ThursdayMarch 21at Jacksonville Bulls L 31–34 (OT)0–5ESPN Gator Bowl Stadium 31,883
6SundayMarch 31 Denver Gold L 17–210–6 Mile High Stadium 10,217
7ThursdayApril 4 Memphis Showboats W 28–171–6ESPNFlorida Citrus Bowl21,223
8SundayApril 14at Arizona Outlaws W 24–192–6 Sun Devil Stadium 32,169
9SaturdayApril 20 Jacksonville Bulls L 10–312–7Florida Citrus Bowl34,338
10MondayApril 29at New Jersey Generals L 7–242–8ESPN Giants Stadium 38,084
11SundayMay 5 Oakland Invaders L 7–212–9Florida Citrus Bowl21,085
12MondayMay 13 San Antonio Gunslingers W 21–203–9ESPNFlorida Citrus Bowl22,404
13FridayMay 17 Baltimore Stars L 21–343–10ESPNFlorida Citrus Bowl23,121
14MondayMay 27at Birmingham Stallions L 17–413–11ESPN Legion Field 24,500
15SaturdayJune 1 Tampa Bay Bandits W 37–74–11Florida Citrus Bowl26,847
16FridayJune 7at Memphis Showboats L 17–414–12ESPN Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 23,216
17SaturdayJune 15at Baltimore Stars L 10–414–13 Byrd Stadium 6,988
FridayJune 21 Los Angeles Express Postponed (lightning); rescheduled for June 22.Florida Citrus Bowl
18SaturdayJune 22 Los Angeles Express W 17–105–13ESPNFlorida Citrus Bowl22,865

Sources [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

1985 Orlando Renegades opening day roster

Orlando Renegades 1985 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-85)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Inactives


rookies in italics
43 Active, 7 Inactive

1985 Orlando Renegades final roster

Orlando Renegades 1985 Final Roster (at 22-Jun-85)
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Inactives


rookies in italics
43 Active, 7 Inactive

Single season leaders

Rushing Yards: 1080 (1984), Curtis Bledsoe

Receiving Yards: 1510 (1984), Joey Walters

Passing Yards: 2766 (1984), Mike Hohensee

Season-by-season results

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
Washington Federals
198341404th Atlantic Division
19843150T-3rd Atlantic Division
Orlando Renegades
198551307th Eastern Conference
Totals12420

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Football League</span> American football league (1983–1986)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Flutie</span> American football player (born 1962)

Douglas Richard Flutie is an American former football quarterback who played professionally for 21 seasons. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and one season in the United States Football League (USFL). Flutie played college football for the Boston College Eagles, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1984 amid a season that saw him throw the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds against the Miami Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Breakers</span> Former American football team based out of New Orleans, Louisiana and Portland, Oregon

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 Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars were a professional American football team which played in the United States Football League (USFL) in the mid-1980s. Owned by real-estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum, they were the short-lived league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning the latter two. They played their first two seasons in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Stars before relocating to Baltimore, where they played as the Baltimore Stars for the USFL's final season. Coached by Jim Mora, the Stars won a league-best 41 regular season games and 7 playoff games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Kelly</span> American football player (born 1960)

James Edward Kelly is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He also spent two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Kelly played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning offensive MVP honors in the 1981 Peach Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Young</span> American football player (born 1961)

Jon Steven Young is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to his NFL career, Young was a member of the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons. He played college football for the BYU Cougars, setting school and NCAA records en route to being runner-up for the 1983 Heisman Trophy.

The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League (USFL) established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983 to 1985, winning 31 regular season games and losing 25 while going 0–2 in postseason competition. Home games were played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which was called The Meadowlands for Generals games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Bay Bandits</span> American football team in the USFL

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 Los Angeles Express was a team in the United States Football League (USFL) based in Los Angeles, California. Playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Express competed in all three of the USFL seasons played between 1983 and 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Hohensee</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1961)

Michael Louis Hohensee is a former professional football quarterback who played in the United States Football League (USFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). He most recently the head coach of the AFL's Portland Thunder. He played college football at the University of Minnesota, and was in the AFL for two seasons, from 1987 to 1988. Hohensee has been a head coach since 1990, beginning at the Washington Commandos. He has served as head coach of eight different arena football franchises, winning ArenaBowl XX with the Chicago Rush in 2006.

The 1987 Arena Football League season was the first season, also known as the "demonstration season", of the Arena Football League (AFL). The league champions were the Denver Dynamite, who defeated the Pittsburgh Gladiators in ArenaBowl I.

Reginald C. Collier is a former professional American football quarterback. Best known as a dynamic college football star, he had a short-lived professional career in both the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim McQuilken</span> American football player (born 1951)

Kim McQuilken is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins and the USFL with the Washington Federals.

Ray Jauch is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He was head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the United States Football League (USFL), and the Arena Football League (AFL). He won 127 regular season games in the CFL, the sixth highest win total by a head coach in the league's history.

Joey Walters is a former slotback and wide receiver who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL), mainly for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He later played for the Washington Federals and the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL). Walters played college football at Clemson University.

Jackie Flowers is a former professional American football wide receiver in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Arizona Wranglers, Chicago Blitz, Pittsburgh Maulers and the Orlando Renegades. He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Florida State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 USFL season</span> Sports season

The 1986 USFL season would have been the fourth season of the United States Football League. Plans and a schedule had been set for a 1986 season, which would have played in the autumn and winter months, but the failure to secure a large judgment or concessions through a landmark antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League, combined with the seizure of one of the team's assets, days before the season was to begin led the league to postpone, then ultimately cancel the season and cease operations. The federal court judgement found the NFL guilty of violating antitrust guidelines on July 29, 1986, but the USFL was only awarded $1 in damages plus court costs, as the jury found that the actions of the USFL owners had done as much in detriment to themselves as did the actions of the NFL. On August 4, the 1986 season was canceled. On August 7, all players were released from their contracts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlington Renegades</span> UFL (2024) team based in Arlington, Texas

The Arlington Renegades are a professional American football team based in Arlington, Texas. The Renegades compete in the United Football League (UFL). The team was founded as the Dallas Renegades by Vince McMahon's Alpha Entertainment and are owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Renegades play their home games at Choctaw Stadium. In 2023, The Renegades had a regular season record of 4-6 and were 2-0 in the playoffs, and were crowned XFL Champions. They were a part of the UFL merger in 2024, and started the 2024 season against the USFL Champion Birmingham Stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Washington Federals season</span> Defunct football team in the USFL

The team lured Ray Jauch to be its head coach; he had previously guided the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers to success in the Canadian Football League. At the time he was the fourth-winningest coach in CFL history. The Federals initially made a splash by signing running back Craig James, one half of the famous "Pony Express" backfield at SMU. More than any other team in the league, the Federals seemed dogged by inconsistency, bad timing, and terrible luck. A week before the season even began, their player personnel expert bolted to the NFL's New York Jets. The team changed quarterbacks almost weekly, with in-game quarterback changes in a number of games. Jauch's biggest mistake was probably giving the opening day starter, NFL veteran Kim McQuilken, the quick hook for rookie quarterback Mike Hohensee. From there the team never seemed to settle in with a quarterback for more than a few games in a row, and when McQuilken did play, he often pressed, forcing his throws into coverage. The team alternated between McQuilken and Hohensee, with occasional appearances by former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam, who was far past his prime; he had last played a meaningful professional down in 1975, and he only threw for 673 yards. The only other quarterback on the team was rookie Mike Forslund, who never played.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Pearlman, Jeff (2018). Football For A Buck: The Crazy Rise and Crazier Demise of the USFL. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN   978-0544454385.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Reeths, Paul (2017). The United States Football League, 1982-1986. McFarland & Company. ISBN   1476667446.
  4. statscrew.com 1983 Washington Federals Game-by-Game Results
  5. usflsite.com 1983 USFL Season
  6. profootballarchives.com 1983 Washington Federals (USFL)
  7. Anonymous, "Memphis 13 at Washington 10 OT," Associated Press, May 6, 1984. Retrieved December 16, 2018
  8. statscrew.com 1984 Washington Federals Game-by-Game Results
  9. usflsite.com 1984 USFL Season Retrieved December 14, 2018
  10. profootballarchives.com 1984 Washington Federals (USFL) Retrieved December 15, 2018
  11. 1 2 Anonymous, "A merger of USFL teams in Jacksonville, Orlando and...," upi.com, July 6, 1985. Retrieved December 15, 2018
  12. statscrew.com 1985 Orlando Renegades Game-by-Game Results
  13. usflsite.com 1985 USFL Season Retrieved December 14, 2018
  14. Anonymous, "Baltimore 10 at Orlando 16 (Deland, FL)," Associated Press, February 2, 1985. Retrieved December 16, 2018
  15. profootballarchives.com 1985 Orlando Renegades (USFL) Retrieved December 15, 2018
  16. Lorenz, Rich, "The New Jersey Generals have offered tackle...," Chicago Tribune, February 3, 1985. Retrieved December 15, 2018