1983: Bandits Rally to Defeat Gold in Storm-Interrupted Game

The Tampa Bay Bandits were trying to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive in the United States Football League’s first season as they faced the Denver Gold on June 27, 1983.

Coached by the offense-minded Steve Spurrier, the Bandits had broken out to a 4-0 start with 33-year-old veteran QB John Reaves throwing to a fine corps of receivers led by WR Eric Truvillion (pictured above). However, Reaves suffered a broken wrist and, while rookie Jimmy Jordan performed capably in his place, he encountered injury problems as well. The addition of another talented first-year player, RB Gary Anderson, midway through the season helped, but Tampa Bay had trouble winning consistently down the stretch and was 10-6 and fighting the Chicago Blitz and surging Michigan Panthers for dominance in the tough USFL Central Division.

Denver had a 7-9 record in the mediocre Pacific Division. Craig Morton had taken over the coaching reins five weeks before and while the defense was able to keep games close, the offense was unstable at quarterback and prone to turning the ball over.

There were 46,128 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at Tampa Stadium. Less than four minutes into the first quarter, Tampa Bay NT Fred Nordgren intercepted a screen pass by QB Craig Penrose and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. LB Mike Goedecker ran for a two-point conversion to stake the Bandits to an early 8-0 lead.

Following a three-and-out series by the Gold, the home team moved methodically to a score on offense. John Reaves, making his first appearance since his injury, completed passes to Eric Truvillion down the middle for 23 yards and to TE Lewis Gilbert along the sideline for 22. Following a defensive pass interference penalty, the possession concluded with Gary Anderson running two yards for a TD and Zenon Andrusyshyn kicking the extra point that made it 15-0.

Early in the second quarter, the Gold finally got on the board as the result of a 13-play, 65-yard series kept alive when LB Putt Choate took off for 31 yards on a fake punt. After five consecutive running plays, Penrose, facing fourth down, tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to TE Bob Niziolek. Brian Speelman added the point after.

On Denver’s next possession, the visitors again put together a long drive as they advanced 69 yards in 13 plays. While they lost Penrose to a hip pointer, backup QB Fred Mortensen’s first pass was good for a 24-yard gain that set up a touchdown on RB Harry Sydney’s one-yard plunge for a TD. The try for a two-point conversion failed but the Gold was only two points down at 15-13 with 7:18 remaining in the first half.

That was it until, after CB David Martin of the Gold intercepted a pass at the Tampa Bay 45 with just under a minute remaining, Speelman kicked a 41-yard field goal with 17 seconds left on the clock and Denver took a 16-15 lead into halftime.

Jimmy Jordan replaced Reaves at quarterback for the Bandits in the third quarter, but his first pass was picked off and the Gold took advantage, moving 44 yards to another scoring carry by Sydney, this time covering two yards. With Speelman’s conversion, the visitors were up by 23-15.

At just under two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Bandits put points on the board, this time on a 47-yard Andrusyshyn field goal that made it a 23-18 contest. Tampa Bay had the ball again when a storm erupted with heavy rain and lightning, forcing a 50-minute delay in the action with 8:31 left in regulation. On the second play after the game resumed, Jordan threw to Truvillion for a 44-yard touchdown. Up by a point, the home team got two more when RB Greg Boone ran for the conversion.

There was still plenty of time, but Denver turned the ball over on its next series when RB Larry Canada fumbled and CB Jeff George recovered for the Bandits. It was also George who finally put the game away with an interception of a Mortensen pass , to the joy of the remaining Tampa Bay faithful in the stands. The Bandits came away with a 26-23 win.

Tampa Bay had the edge in total yards (283 to 263) while the Gold led in time of possession (35:37 to 24:23) and first downs were even at 16 apiece. Denver was hurt by five turnovers, with the two late ones preventing a fourth quarter comeback, and was penalized 9 times at a cost of 79 yards. The Bandits turned the ball over three times and drew five flags for 55 yards.

In his return to action, John Reaves completed 7 of 13 passes for 72 yards and gave up two interceptions. Jimmy Jordan was 9 of 12 for 131 yards in relief, with a touchdown as well as an interception. Gary Anderson led the Bandits in rushing with 48 yards on 15 carries that included a TD and also caught 5 passes for 36 yards. Eric Truvillion gained 94 yards on his three pass receptions that included the game-winning touchdown.

For the Gold, Craig Penrose was successful on 7 of 11 throws for just 28 yards and a TD while being picked off once and Fred Mortensen made good on 8 of 14 passes for 81 yards and gave up two interceptions. RB Vincent White led the club with 72 yards on 13 rushing attempts while Larry Canada, who ran 8 times for 24 yards, topped the receivers with 6 receptions for 56 yards. On defense, David Martin intercepted three passes but was also beaten for the game-winning touchdown.

“I knew we would win when it started to rain,” said Tampa Bay’s Coach Spurrier. “That was Banditball weather.”

The Bandits needed help to reach the playoffs but it was not forthcoming as they lost their season finale and Michigan and Chicago won to claim the division title and wild card spots, respectively. Tampa Bay finished third at 11-7. The Gold also lost in the last week to place third in the Pacific Division with a 7-11 tally.

1985: Reaves Leads Bandits to Win Against Gunslingers

The Tampa Bay Bandits and San Antonio Gunslingers both had 1-1 records as they met in a United States Football League game on March 10, 1985.

The Bandits, coached for the third year by Steve Spurrier, blew out Orlando in the first week but gave up 50 points in a loss to Houston in Week 2. They featured a potent offense directed by QB John Reaves, who had just turned 35, and the all-around skills of RB Gary Anderson, who was adept both as a runner from scrimmage and receiver out of the backfield. But the defense that recorded eight sacks against the Renegades fared poorly against the explosive Gamblers, not helped by the special teams giving up two kick return TDs.

San Antonio, a low-budget operation coached by Jim Bates, was defeated by the Memphis Showboats in their opening contest but narrowly prevailed over Arizona in the next contest in which QB Rick Neuheisel played well, as did the tough defense in successfully coming from behind.

There were 21,822 fans in attendance at Alamo Stadium. On John Reaves’ second pass of the game, CB Charles Armstead intercepted for San Antonio and returned it 28 yards to the Tampa Bay 34. The Gunslingers weren’t able to move on offense, with a pass deflected on first down, the next broken up, and the third falling incomplete. They settled for a 40-yard Nick Mike-Mayer field goal for the early 3-0 lead.

The Bandits came back to go ahead on a Reaves pass to WR Eric Truvillion that covered 32 yards and Zenon Andrusyshyn added the extra point. Still in the opening period, San Antonio responded with another Mike-Mayer field goal, this time from 30 yards that narrowed the margin to 7-6.

In the second quarter, Reaves, who was consistently hitting his receivers, went long to WR Steve Carter for a 54-yard TD. Andrusyshyn again converted to make the score 14-6. The Gunslingers put together a drive that concluded with RB Scott Stamper diving into the end zone from a yard out. They tried to pass for a two-point conversion but failed and the Bandits remained in front by 14-12.

Late in the perioed, Tampa Bay put together a long drive of 63 yards in 13 plays. With ten seconds remaining on the clock, Andrusyshyn booted a 22-yard field goal and the Bandits took a 17-12 lead over the tenacious Gunslingers into halftime.

San Antonio had managed to keep the game close in the first half, but the Bandits finally took control midway through the third quarter when CB Warren Hanna intercepted a Neuheisel sideline pass and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. Andrusyshyn’s point after made the score 24-12.

Fred Mortensen relieved Neuheisel at quarterback, but with not much more success on offense. The visitors added to their lead early in the fourth quarter when Reaves again connected on a scoring pass to Truvillion, this time from three yards out, and Andrusyshyn’s extra point gave the Bandits a comfortable 31-12 advantage.

San Antonio finally got on the board again with 6:48 left in the contest as Mortensen ran 10 yards for a touchdown. Once again the home team tried for a two-point conversion, and again they failed, but it was of no consequence as the Bandits won by a final score of 31-18.

Tampa Bay had the edge in total yards (409 to 277) and first downs (21 to 14). The Bandits also had two sacks, to San Antonio’s one, but also turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by the Gunslingers.

John Reaves, who completed 12 straight passes at one point, was 25 of 31 for 298 yards and three touchdowns while giving up the one early interception. Eric Truvillion had 8 catches for 130 yards and two of the TDs. RB Gary Anderson rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries and also accumulated 5 pass receptions for 31 more yards.

For the Gunslingers, Rick Neuheisel was successful on just 8 of 22 throws for 101 yards and gave up two interceptions. Fred Mortensen had about the same level of success, completing 8 of 14 passes for 85 yards with one picked off. RB Don Roberts was the leading receiver by far with 7 receptions for 124 yards. Scott Stamper topped the rushers with a modest 24 yards on 9 attempts.  

The Bandits won four of their next five games on the way to a 10-8 record that placed fifth in the Eastern Conference and earned a spot in the playoffs. They lost a close contest to Oakland in the Quarterfinal round. San Antonio lost its next two contests and, mired in organizational problems, finished at 5-13 to rank sixth in the Western Conference.

John Reaves had a highly productive season, completing 56 percent of his passes for 4193 yards, which ranked second in the USFL, and 25 touchdowns, but he also gave up a league-leading 29 interceptions. Gary Anderson ended up leading the club both in rushing with 1207 yards but in pass receiving with 72 catches, for 678 yards, and scored a total of 20 touchdowns.

Highlighted Year: Gary Anderson, 1986

Running Back, San Diego Chargers

Age: 25

5^th season in pro football, 2^nd in NFL & with Chargers

College: Arkansas

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

An outstanding all-purpose back in college, Anderson received All-Southwestern Conference honors in 1982 and was chosen in the first round (20^th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers and in the USFL draft by the New Jersey Generals (fifth overall). The Chargers intended to convert him into a wide receiver, but Anderson expressed an interest in playing for Tampa Bay of the new spring league, and his draft rights were accordingly dealt to the Bandits. He didn’t join the team until halfway through the ’83 season but had an impact when he did, rushing for 516 yards on 97 carries (5.3 avg.) and catching 29 passes for 347 yards in eight games. In 1984, Anderson led the league in rushing touchdowns (19) and touchdowns overall (21, tied with Herschel Walker) while gaining 1008 yards on 268 carries and catching 66 passes for 682 more yards. He had another outstanding season in ‘85, rushing for 1207 yards, catching 72 passes for 678 yards, and scoring a total of 20 touchdowns. He was named to the official USFL All-League team and was also an All-USFL selection by The Sporting News. With the demise of the USFL, Anderson joined the Chargers during the ’85 NFL season and accumulated 1153 all-purpose yards in 12 games.

1986 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 127

Most attempts, game – 25 (for 100 yds.) vs. Kansas City 11/2

Yards – 442

Most yards, game – 100 yards (on 25 carries) vs. Kansas City 11/2

Average gain – 3.5

TDs – 1

100-yard rushing games – 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 80 [6, tied with J.T. Smith] 

Most receptions, game – 11 (for 92 yds.) at Kansas City 10/19

Yards – 871

Most yards, game – 113 (on 7 catches) vs. LA Raiders 11/20

Average gain – 10.9

TDs – 8 [10, tied with four others]

100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 1

Yards – 4

TDs – 1

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 24

Yards – 482

Most yards, game – 89 (on 4 ret.) vs. Kansas City 11/2

Average per return – 20.1

TDs – 0

Longest return – 35 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 25 [20]

Yards – 227 [18, tied with Eric Martin]

Most yards, game – 54 (on 4 ret.) vs. Kansas City 11/2

Average per return – 9.1 [12]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 30 yards

All-Purpose yards – 2022 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 9 [17, tied with seven others]

Points – 54

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Chargers went 4-12 to finish fifth in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Anderson had a lesser year in the strike-interrupted 1987 season while splitting time with Curtis Adams at halfback, but rushed for 1119 yards in ’88. A contract dispute led to his sitting out in 1989 and he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in ’90. While Anderson gained 1110 yards from scrimmage that year despite dealing with nagging injuries, his production dropped off significantly thereafter as he was used more as a specialty receiver out of the backfield. He finished up with Detroit, who obtained him during the ’93 season. Anderson came out of retirement in 1995 to play for the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL, rushing for 250 yards and catching 28 passes in his final pro season. Overall in the USFL, Anderson rushed for 2731 yards on 641 attempts (4.3 avg.), had another 1707 yards on 167 catches, and scored 45 touchdowns. In the NFL, he gained 3409 yards on the ground, 2999 on 302 pass receptions, and adding in kick returns accumulated 9572 all-purpose yards while scoring 32 TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders (NFC/AFC since 1970) in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Gary Anderson, 1984

Running Back, Tampa Bay Bandits

Age: 23 (April 18)

2^nd season in pro football & with Bandits

College: Arkansas

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 180

Prelude:

An outstanding all-purpose back in college, Anderson received All-Southwestern Conference honors in 1982 and was chosen in the first round (20^th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers and in the USFL draft by the New Jersey Generals (fifth overall). The Chargers intended to convert him into a wide receiver, but Anderson expressed an interest in playing for Tampa Bay of the new spring league, and his draft rights were accordingly dealt to the Bandits. He didn’t join the team until halfway through the ’83 season but had an impact when he did, rushing for 516 yards on 97 carries (5.3 avg.) and catching 29 passes for 347 yards in eight games.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared in all 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 268 [4]

Most attempts, game - 26 (for 114 yds.) vs. Houston 2/26

Yards – 1008 [10]

Most yards, game – 114 yards (on 26 carries) vs. Houston 2/26

Average gain – 3.8

TDs – 19 [1]

100-yard rushing games - 2

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 66 [8] 

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 42 yds.) at Philadelphia 4/1, (for 57 yds.) at Birmingham 6/24

Yards – 682

Most yards, game – 100 (on 6 catches) vs. Houston 2/26

Average gain – 10.3

TDs – 2

100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing

Attempts – 3

Completions – 2

Yards – 44

TDs – 1

Interceptions – 1

Punt Returns

Returns – 4

Yards – 22

Average per return – 5.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 12 yards

Scoring

TDs – 21 [1, tied with Herschel Walker]

Points – 126 [4]

Postseason: 1 G (USFL First Round playoff at Birmingham)

Rushing attempts – 8

Rushing yards – 21

Average gain rushing – 2.6

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3

Pass receiving yards - 19

Average yards per reception – 6.3

Pass Receiving TDs - 0

Bandits went 14-4 to finish second in the USFL Southern Division and qualify for a Wild Card playoff spot. Lost USFL First Round playoff to Birmingham Stallions (36-17).

Aftermath:

Anderson had another outstanding season in 1985, rushing for 1207 yards, catching 72 passes for another 678 yards, and scoring a total of 20 touchdowns. He was named to the official USFL All-League team and was also an All-USFL selection by The Sporting News. With the demise of the USFL, Anderson joined the Chargers during the ’85 NFL season and was a Pro Bowl honoree in 1986 after gaining 2022 all-purpose yards, including 871 on a career-high 80 catches. He had a lesser year in the strike-interrupted 1987 season while splitting time with Curtis Adams at halfback, but rushed for 1119 yards in ’88. A contract dispute led to Anderson sitting out in 1989 and he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in ’90. While he gained 1110 yards from scrimmage that year despite dealing with nagging injuries, his production dropped off significantly thereafter as he was used more as a specialty receiver out of the backfield. He finished up with Detroit, who obtained him during the ’93 season. Anderson came out of retirement in 1995 to play for the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL, rushing for 250 yards and catching 28 passes in his final pro season. Overall in the USFL, Anderson rushed for 2731 yards on 641 attempts (4.3 avg.), had another 1707 yards on 167 catches, and scored 45 touchdowns. In the NFL, he gained 3409 yards on the ground, 2999 on 302 pass receptions, and adding in kick returns gained 9572 all-purpose yards while scoring 32 TDs.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1985: Last-Second FG Propels Invaders to Playoff Win Over Bandits

The United States Football League Quarterfinal playoff game in Oakland on June 30, 1985 featured the Oakland Invaders, who had topped the Western Conference with a league-best 13-4-1 record, against the Tampa Bay Bandits, fifth place finishers in the Eastern Conference at 10-8.

The Invaders, coached by Charlie Sumner, benefited greatly from the merger with the Michigan Panthers that brought several key players to the roster, most notably QB Bobby Hebert (pictured above) and wide receivers Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway. In combination with holdover WR Gordon Banks, Oakland had the league’s most dynamic trio of receivers and the running game, paced by ex-Panthers John Williams and Albert Bentley, was also productive. Oakland was a ten-point favorite entering the contest against the Bandits.

Tampa Bay was coached by the offensive-minded Steve Spurrier and had overcome many injuries to reach the playoffs. 35-year-old QB John Reaves passed for 4193 yards and 25 touchdowns while RB Gary Anderson was outstanding both as a runner (1207 yards) and pass receiver out of the backfield (72 catches, 678 yards) as he compiled 20 TDs.

There were 19,344 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. In their first series of the game, the Bandits were penalized for illegal motion, nullifying what would have been a successful fourth down conversion, and then Zenon Andrusyshyn suffered only the second blocked punt of his career to give Oakland the ball at the Tampa Bay 25. However, on the next play, LB James Harrell intercepted a Hebert pass to give the Bandits the ball again at their two yard line. After reaching the 12, Gary Anderson fumbled and CB Vito McKeever recovered for Oakland. Although an unnecessary roughness penalty at the end of the play backed the Invaders up, the result of the turnover was a 37-yard Novo Bojovic field goal for the first points of the game.

Tampa Bay drove to the Oakland 21 on the next series, but Reaves was then intercepted by safety Oliver Davis and the first quarter ended with the score still 3-0.

The Invaders, who were experiencing difficulty moving the ball, punted early in the second quarter and the Bandits, helped by the running of Anderson, drove down the field to a touchdown on a five-yard pass from Reaves to WR Spencer Jackson.  Tampa Bay struck quickly for another TD, this time on a fake reverse in which Reaves threw to a streaking Anderson on a play that covered 73 yards. Andrusyshyn successfully converted following both touchdowns.

Down by 14-3, the Invaders went 80 yards in eight plays and scored on a 25-yard pass completion from Hebert to Derek Holloway. In response, the Bandits again moved into scoring territory. Anderson caught a pass and tightroped to the end zone, but was called out of bounds at the Oakland 14. Coach Spurrier’s request for a review was for naught due to the television network having pulled away to cover a news event, making a replay unavailable. The Bandits came up empty when Andrusyshyn missed a 28-yard field goal attempt and the score remained 14-10 at the half, although Tampa Bay had dominated statistically.

Less than three minutes into the third quarter, and following a 40-yard third-and-13 completion to Gordon Banks, Oakland scored again, this time on a throw from Hebert to Anthony Carter that covered 40 yards. Bojovic added the extra point and, in stunning fashion, the Invaders were in front by 17-14.

It seemed as though Oakland might take control of the game on the next series when Vito McKeever intercepted a Reaves pass in Tampa Bay territory, but the Invaders came up empty when Hebert threw into the end zone and was in turn picked off by CB Mike Thurman. However, the reprieve was short-lived when another interception again gave the Invaders the ball in Tampa Bay territory, and this time they came away with a 52-yard field goal by Bojovic.

Trailing by six points, the visitors put together a seven-play, 58-yard series that was capped when Reaves ran for a six-yard touchdown (his first rushing TD in ten years). Andrusyshyn added the PAT and the Bandits were back in front by 21-20.

Early in the fourth quarter, Oakland was on the move and, after Hebert connected with Holloway for a 41-yard gain to the Tampa Bay one, FB Tom Newton bulled in for a TD. A pass for two points was nullified by a penalty, but Bojovic then kicked the extra point that made the tally 27-21.

Tampa Bay came back to tie the score when Reaves threw to WR Willie Gillespie for a 15-yard touchdown and appeared ready to move back in front once more in what had now turned into a back-and-forth contest. However, following two penalties on successive extra point attempts, Andrusyshyn failed to convert from 35 yards and the game remained knotted at 27-27.

The Invaders responded by driving into Tampa Bay territory, but failed to regain the lead when Bojovic missed a 31-yard field goal with 5:14 left on the clock. However, Oakland’s defense rose up and twice sacked Reaves on Tampa Bay’s next three-and-out possession and, with Andrusyshyn punting out of his end zone, the Invaders had good field position at the Bandits’ 40.

Oakland made the most of the opportunity, methodically moving down the field. On the last play of the game, Bojovic kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Invaders won by a final score of 30-27.

The Bandits led in total yards (418 to 344) and first downs (19 to 17). However, Tampa Bay also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Invaders. Oakland, in turn, was penalized 11 times at a cost of 105 yards, to six flags for 45 yards on the visitors. Each team recorded two sacks apiece.

Bobby Hebert completed 15 of 27 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns while giving up two interceptions. Albert Bentley led the team in rushing with 38 yards on seven carries and also in pass receiving with four catches, for 37 yards. Derek Holloway gained 75 yards on his three receptions that included a TD and Gordon Banks was right behind with 73 yards on two catches.

For the Bandits, John Reaves was successful on 18 of 30 throws for 315 yards and three TDs, but also tossed three interceptions. Gary Anderson ran for 90 yards on 13 attempts and also topped the club with 111 yards on his five pass receptions that included the long touchdown, although most of his production came in the first half. Spencer Jackson contributed five catches as well, gaining 87 yards.

"The defense played great and so did the offense, which gave me the chance to make the kick,” said Novo Bojovic, who had missed three field goals in a losing playoff game while with Michigan the previous year. “It was a great game for everybody and I didn’t want to let them down.”

“We played our hearts out,” said a disappointed John Reaves in defeat. “But we just came up a little short.”

The Invaders went on to defeat the Memphis Southmen in the Semifinal round the following week to advance to the USFL Championship game, where they lost a close contest to the Baltimore Stars. It would prove to be the league’s last game, but several of the Invaders, including Bobby Hebert, Anthony Carter, and Albert Bentley, went on to play in the NFL, as did Tampa Bay’s Gary Anderson. 

1984: Anderson TDs Lift Bandits Over Gamblers

The Tampa Bay Bandits commenced their second United States Football League season by hosting one of six expansion teams, the Houston Gamblers, on February 26, 1984.

The Bandits, coached by Steve Spurrier, had featured an exciting passing attack in the inaugural ’83 season, with 33-year-old QB John Reaves successfully reviving his career until breaking his wrist seven weeks into the schedule. WR Eric Truvillion was an All-USFL selection and all-purpose RB Gary Anderson joined the club as a high-profile rookie midway through the year, played well, and was now available for a full season. Tampa Bay just missed qualifying for the playoffs and was looking to move up in 1984.

Houston had a high-profile rookie of its own in QB Jim Kelly, formerly of the Univ. of Miami and now starting behind center for the first-year club. While Head Coach Jack Pardee was known for his skill with building defenses, the team would be operating a wide-open “run-and-shoot” offense.

There were 42,915 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium. It looked good for the Bandits when they took the opening kickoff and drove to the Houston 14, but Zenon Andrusyshyn missed wide to the right on a 31-yard field goal attempt.

Now it was Houston’s turn, and Jim Kelly completed four consecutive passes on a nine-play, 80-yard possession, the last of which resulted in a nine-yard touchdown to WR Ricky Sanders. Jeff Brockhaus added the extra point and the visitors had the early 7-0 lead.

The Bandits again moved the ball effectively on their next series, but on a first down play at the Houston 27, John Reaves fumbled the snap and LB Rickey Young recovered for the Gamblers. Finally, at 3:15 into the second quarter, the Bandits got on the board when Andrusyshyn booted a 25-yard field goal.

Andrusyshyn kicked another field goal for Tampa Bay with just under two minutes remaining in the first half, this time from 32 yards, making it a one-point game. They got the ball back and went ahead before halftime on a two-yard run by Gary Anderson. Reaves threw to WR Willie Gillespie for a two-point conversion and the home team took a 14-7 lead into the intermission.

Houston came back in the third quarter to tie the score when RB Sam Harrell caught a pass from Kelly for a seven-yard TD and, with Brockhaus adding the point after, the tally was 14-14.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Gamblers drove deep into Tampa Bay territory, but on a third-and-goal play at the four yard line, an option run lost four yards and they had to settle for three points. Still, Houston went ahead when Brockhaus successfully kicked a 26-yard field goal.

It seemed as though the field goal might be enough to pull off the upset. Tampa Bay appeared to be in trouble when, facing third-and-20 at the Houston 45, Anderson dropped a short throw from Reaves. But far from the play, Houston CB Donald Dykes was flagged for an illegal hit on Gillespie and the Bandits stayed alive with a first down at the 30. Reaves threw to Eric Truvillion for 17 yards and, with 2:33 remaining, Anderson took a handoff and ran 12 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, but the home team was ahead by three points.

There was still plenty of time for the Gamblers, and they reached the Tampa Bay 39 with 57 seconds left on the clock. But on fourth-and-six, Kelly kept the ball on an option play and was stopped short of a first down by DE James Ramey. The Bandits ran out the clock to win by a final score of 20-17.

Tampa Bay led in total yards (435 to 316) and time of possession, holding onto the ball some 15 minutes longer than the Gamblers. The Bandits also held a 28 to 18 edge in first downs, but they had difficulty making the most of scoring opportunities despite being inside the Houston 20 on five occasions. Each team turned the ball over twice.

Gary Anderson had a big day , rushing for 114 yards on 26 carries that included two touchdowns and catching 6 passes for another 100 yards. With Houston’s defensive backs playing deep coverage, John Reaves used short throws effectively and completed 25 of 42 passes for 308 yards with one interception. Willie Gillespie, like Anderson, had 6 receptions, gaining 70 yards, and Eric Truvillion contributed 73 yards on his four catches.

For the Gamblers, Jim Kelly had a strong performance in his pro debut, completing 24 of 41 throws for 229 yards and two TDs, although he also gave up two interceptions. Ricky Sanders caught 7 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. WR Richard Johnson added 6 receptions for 44 yards and Sam Harrell gained 44 yards on 5 catches that included a TD to go along with his team-leading 57 yards on 10 rushing attempts. On defense, LB Andy Hawkins, formerly of the NFL Buccaneers, was credited with 11 tackles in his Tampa homecoming.

“We moved the ball and had a lot of yards, but it seemed like all the bad plays were happening to us,” said Tampa Bay’s Coach Spurrier. “A lot of penalties, a missed field goal, a missed extra point.”

Tampa Bay went on to win their next two games on the way to a 14-4 finish that was good for second place in the Southern Division. Qualifying for the postseason as a Wild Card, the Bandits lost their First Round playoff game to the Birmingham Stallions. The Gamblers recovered from their first week loss to win three straight contests on the way to a 13-5 record and first place in the Central Division. They also lost in the initial round of the postseason, to the Arizona Wranglers.

Gary Anderson gained 1008 yards on 268 carries (3.8 avg.) and led the USFL with 19 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 66 passes for 682 more yards and another two TDs for a total of 21, tying for the league lead with New Jersey’s Herschel Walker.

John Reaves stayed healthy and ranked second in passing yards (4092), attempts (544), and completions (313) while accumulating 28 touchdown passes against 15 interceptions. Ahead of him was Jim Kelly, who ranked at the top in yards (5219), TDs (44), attempts (587), and completions (370) in putting together a remarkable rookie year. He received consensus Player of the Year and All-USFL honors.

1985: Bandits Intercept 5 Passes in Defeating Stallions to Wrap Up Playoff Spot

Both the Tampa Bay Bandits and Birmingham Stallions were attempting to secure spots in the postseason as they met in a United States Football League game on June 15, 1985. Birmingham came into the contest at 12-4, having won five straight and with a turnover differential of +16, the best in the league. Head Coach Rollie Dotsch’s team had a well-balanced offense with QB Cliff Stoudt, WR Jim Smith, and RB Joe Cribbs as the featured performers as well as a fine defense.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, was 9-7 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Coached by Steve Spurrier, the Bandits were typically explosive on offense with veteran QB John Reaves behind center and also had a talented all-purpose running back in Gary Anderson (pictured above). But there had been numerous injuries, which were at the root of the club’s recent problems.

There were approximately 24,000 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium. The Stallions drove 92 yards in 11 plays the first time they had the ball to take the early lead. Cliff Stoudt got off to a good start, completing six of his seven passes for 71 yards, including a three-yard scoring toss to Jim Smith. Birmingham’s series was also helped along by a personal foul penalty on LB Tony Office.

But while up by 7-0, the Stallions were unable to build upon their lead in the second quarter, thanks to a missed field goal attempt by Danny Miller and an interception by Tampa Bay safety Dwayne Anderson. Instead, Tampa Bay completed a seven-play, 50-yard drive with 35 seconds left in the half as John Reaves threw to WR Spencer Jackson for a five-yard TD. Zenon Andrusyshyn tied the game with his successful extra point and it was 7-7 at the half.

The third quarter proved to be decisive for the home team. First, Andrusyshyn kicked a 34-yard field goal that put the Bandits in front. Then, with just over a minute left in the period Gary Anderson ran for an 11-yard touchdown and, with the successful PAT, extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 17-7. Meanwhile, the defense did its part by intercepting three of Stoudt’s passes during the quarter, causing Coach Dotsch to bench him in favor of backup QB Bob Lane.

Tampa Bay’s lead held up through the fourth quarter. In the last minute, Lane tossed a seven-yard scoring pass to Smith, but it was too-little, too-late as the Bandits came away with a 17-14 win.

Birmingham gained more yards (416 to 253) and had the edge in first downs (24 to 17) and time of possession (37:13 to 22:47). However, the Stallions turned the ball over five times, most critically in the crucial third quarter, to four by the Bandits and Danny Miller missed both of his field goal attempts, from 38 and 40 yards. Both clubs were heavily penalized, with Tampa Bay drawing 12 flags at a cost of 48 yards while the Stallions had fewer penalties with 9 but at a loss of 57 yards.

Gary Anderson rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries that included a touchdown and gained 16 more yards on three catches. John Reaves had a mediocre performance by his standards, completing just 13 of 30 passes for 112 yards and a TD but with three interceptions. WR Willie Gillespie, like Anderson, caught three passes and gained a team-high 40 yards.

“I think this is the first time in three years we beat a good team and we didn’t play well on offense,” said Steve Spurrier in summing up his team’s win.

For the Stallions, Cliff Stoudt was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 187 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times before being removed. Tellingly, he also led the team in rushing with 29 yards on four carries while Joe Cribbs was held to 28 yards on his 12 attempts. Bob Lane, who ran for 20 yards on three carries, completed 10 of his 17 passes for 130 yards and a TD with one picked off. Jim Smith had 11 pass receptions for 139 yards and two TDs while WR Ken Toler contributed 5 catches for 90 yards.

The much-needed victory secured a playoff spot for the Bandits, who finished fifth in the Eastern Conference at 10-8. They lost in the Quarterfinal round to the Oakland Invaders. Birmingham recovered to top the conference at 13-5. The Stallions won their Quarterfinal game over the high-powered Houston Gamblers but lost to the eventual league champs, the Baltimore Stars, in the Semifinal round (they had fallen to the then-Philadelphia Stars at a similar juncture in 1984).

John Reaves was highly productive, as he was throughout his USFL career, passing for 4193 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he also tossed 29 interceptions. Gary Anderson made the Top 10 in both rushing and pass receiving, gaining 1207 yards and scoring 16 TDs on the ground and catching 72 passes for 678 yards and four more scores through the air.

Cliff Stoudt was the league’s second-ranked passer, throwing for 3358 yards and 34 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. Jim Smith ranked third in pass receiving with 87 catches for 1322 yards and 20 touchdowns.

1984: Reaves Tosses 4 TD Passes as Bandits Beat Outlaws

The Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League were on a roll, having won five straight games prior to hosting the Oklahoma Outlaws on May 14, 1984. Head Coach Steve Spurrier’s team featured an exciting offense directed by 34-year-old QB John Reaves and a defense that was solid up front if less proficient at defending against the pass.

The Oklahoma Outlaws, one of six new clubs for the USFL’s second season, appeared to be going in the opposite direction, having lost three straight games by lopsided scores after getting off to a promising 6-2 start. Coached by Woody Widenhofer, the offense featured QB Doug Williams, who had spent five seasons with the NFL Buccaneers and was making his return to Tampa. Defense was the biggest problem for the Outlaws, who had given up an alarming 124 points in the three losses leading up to the game against the Bandits.

There were 45,116 fans in attendance for the Monday night contest at Tampa Stadium, and they lustily booed Williams when he first appeared. The game started off as a shootout as the Bandits scored the first three times they had the ball, driving 77, 78, and 79 yards respectively, and Oklahoma did so on its first two possessions.

On the first series, RB Gary Anderson tossed an option pass to TE Marvin Harvey for a 10-yard touchdown to finish it off. The Outlaws came back with a scoring drive of their own, with WR Alphonso Williams catching a pass from Doug Williams for an 11-yard TD. It was 7-7 after a period of play.

RB Greg Boone scored a touchdown for the Bandits on the first play of the second quarter, running in from a yard out, and Tampa Bay’s lead increased when John Reaves threw to WR Spencer Jackson for a 26-yard TD. Down by 21-7, the Outlaws rallied back with two quick scores. Williams tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to WR Lonnie Turner to cap a five-play, 69-yard series. He then threw to TE Jerry Price from three yards away and, with the successful extra point, the game was tied with 2:42 left in the half.

However, the Bandits responded by going 74 yards in seven plays ending with a 10-yard Reaves scoring pass to Harvey. It was 28-21 at the midpoint. 

After a very competitive first two quarters, Tampa Bay’s defense shut down the Outlaws in the second half. Reaves tossed a pass to WR Eric Truvillion for a 35-yard touchdown in the third quarter and to Anderson for a six-yard TD in the final period. The extra point was missed after the fourth scoring pass by Reaves, but it hardly mattered, and in any event Truvillion, who normally caught passes, threw one to Harvey from 13 yards out for a TD that capped the scoring. It was the third touchdown for Harvey, each coming from a different passer. Tampa Bay ended up winning comfortably by a final score of 48-21.

The Bandits rolled up 511 total yards to Oklahoma’s 435 and had the edge in first downs by 28 to 27. However, the Outlaws turned the ball over four times, to none by Tampa Bay. Oklahoma had three possessions end with interceptions, one via a fumble, and one more in which they had to turn the ball over on downs. There was only one punt during the game, by the Bandits in the second quarter.

John Reaves had a big day as he completed 22 of 31 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns with none intercepted. WR Willie Gillespie had 5 catches for 107 yards while Marvin Harvey contributed 5 receptions for 68 yards and the three scores. Eric Truvillion pulled in four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown while also passing for a TD. Gary Anderson rushed for 49 yards on 17 carries and had a touchdown pass as well.

For Oklahoma, Doug Williams was successful on 25 of 48 throws for 317 yards and three TDs, but also had three intercepted. In addition, Williams was flagged once for unsportsmanlike conduct after arguing a call and was also penalized for a late hit on an interception return that sparked a scuffle between the teams along the sideline as well as a shower of debris from some nearby fans. Alphonso Williams caught 6 passes for 119 yards and a TD. RB Ted Sample ran for 70 yards on 8 carries.

The sixth straight win for the Bandits put them a game behind the Birmingham Stallions in the Southern Division. They went on to finish at 14-4 and earn a Wild Card playoff spot, although they lost convincingly to the Stallions in the first round. Oklahoma’s collapse continued and the Outlaws ended up at 6-12 and fourth in the division.

John Reaves, who had been a disappointment in the NFL, ranked fifth among USFL passers as he threw for 4092 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 57.5 completion percentage. Eric Truvillion and Marvin Harvey were favorite targets, each catching 70 passes and scoring 9 touchdowns while accumulating 1044 and 938 yards, respectively. 

1983: Bandits Beat Wranglers as Anderson Scores Clinching TD in Debut

The Tampa Bay Bandits had gotten off to a good start in the United States Football League’s inaugural season. Head Coach Steve Spurrier’s team had an outstanding passing offense and was 7-3 in the highly-competitive Central Division. 

However, there was cause for concern in that veteran QB John Reaves had gone down with a broken wrist in the seventh week and his capable backup, Jimmy Jordan, suffered a shoulder separation in Week 10 at Oakland. Thus, the Bandits would have to go with an untested signal caller, Mike Kelley, in their May 15, 1983 game against the Arizona Wranglers. On the upside, rookie RB Gary Anderson (pictured above) would be making his first appearance of the season, having just signed during the previous week.

A star in college at Arkansas, Anderson was drafted in the first round by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, but they expressed an inclination to shift him to wide receiver. Anderson thus chose to sign with Tampa Bay, where he could continue to play at running back.

As for the visiting Wranglers, they were 4-6 under Head Coach Doug Shively, which was good enough to remain competitive in the weak Pacific Division. Rookie QB Alan Risher was performing ably and WR Jackie Flowers was among the USFL’s top touchdown scorers.

There were 32,327 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium and they saw the home team score first on a 49-yard field goal by Zenon Andrusyshyn. However, in their second possession the Bandits drove to the Arizona six but Anderson was stopped short on a fourth-and-one carry and the score remained 3-0 after one quarter.

The Wranglers took the lead in the second quarter when RB Harold Blue ran 25 yards for a touchdown, followed by a successful extra point. After Arizona’s touchdown, the Bandits drove to the Arizona 29 but were backed up by a delay of game penalty and Andrusyshyn was then wide to the left on a 51-yard field goal attempt. Later, Tampa Bay again moved the ball to the Wranglers’ 29 but Kelley was intercepted by LB Sam Norris.

Finally, CB Jeff George intercepted a Risher pass at the Arizona 49 and returned it to the 38 yard line. While he fumbled at the end, FS Glen Edwards recovered and the resulting Tampa Bay possession culminated in Kelley tossing a four-yard touchdown pass to star WR Eric Truvillion. The Bandits, despite the missed opportunities, took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

The margin was extended to 13-7 in the third quarter when Andrusyshyn booted a 46-yard field goal. Then in a pivotal play, CB Warren Hanna intercepted a pass by Risher near midfield (Hanna’s third pickoff of the day). Tampa Bay took advantage on a series that ended with Anderson taking a pitchout and running for a 12-yard TD. The additional score proved to be enough – while Risher connected with WR Neil Balholm for an eight-yard touchdown, Tampa Bay was able to hold on for a 20-14 win.

The Bandits dominated statistically, leading in total yards (340 to 197), first downs (21 to 10), and time of possession (34:56 to 25:04). Still, Tampa Bay was nearly undone by 10 penalties as well as four turnovers and Kelley was sacked seven times. But Arizona turned the ball over six times and struggled against the tough Tampa Bay defense.

Gary Anderson had an impressive debut, rushing for 99 yards on 18 carries with the one TD and catching four passes for 54 more yards. Mike Kelley, also making his first pro start, completed 21 of 39 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception. WR Danny Buggs had 6 catches for 87 yards.

For the Wranglers, Alan Risher completed 13 of 25 throws for 126 yards and a TD, but with four interceptions. TE Mark Keel topped the team with 45 yards on three receptions, and Neil Balholm also caught three passes, for 26 yards, while Jackie Flowers was limited to just two catches for 38 yards. RB Calvin Murray led the ground game with 57 yards on 16 carries.

Tampa Bay ended up going 11-7 and finishing third in the Central Division and just out of the playoffs. The Wranglers completely collapsed, never winning again the rest of the way to finish at 4-14.

In eight games, Gary Anderson continued to play impressively and gained 516 yards on 97 carries for a solid 5.3-yard average while catching 29 passes for 347 yards and a 12.0 average out of the backfield. Mike Kelley won a second straight start and ended up appearing in a total of six games, passing for 1003 yards with four touchdowns against five interceptions. 

1983: Third-String QB and Defense Lead Bandits to Win Over Invaders

The Tampa Bay Bandits had gotten off to a good start in the United States Football League’s inaugural season and were on top of the Central Division with an 8-3 record after eleven weeks. Coached by Steve Spurrier, the Bandits had an explosive offense and kept on winning even after veteran QB John Reaves was lost with a broken wrist. Backup Jimmy Jordan performed well in relief, but he also went down with an injury.

On May 21, 1983 the Bandits hosted the Oakland Invaders at Tampa Stadium, and they were starting their third-string quarterback, Mike Kelley, who had made his first appearance in a winning cause the previous week. A first-year player out of Georgia Tech, Kelley had originally been drafted by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in 1982, was cut in the preseason, and had been cut by both the Birmingham Stallions and Invaders of the USFL without seeing any action prior to signing with the quarterback-desperate Bandits.

Oakland, under Head Coach John Ralston, also boasted a good offense and had the league’s top-rated passer, former minor league star Fred Besana, at quarterback. The Invaders had a lesser record, at 5-6, but that still was enough to contend in the mediocre Pacific Division where they were tied for first with the Los Angeles Express. They had lost to Tampa Bay at home just 13 days earlier in a close contest.

There were 43,389 fans in attendance for the Saturday night game. In the first possession, Mike Kelley completed five of six passes for 71 yards as Tampa Bay went 80 yards in eight plays. Kelley threw to star WR Eric Truvillion, running a slant, for a 21-yard TD. A key play along the way had been a 22-yard completion to RB Gary Anderson, a highly-touted rookie who signed with the club a week earlier and had an impressive debut in the previous game.

Oakland responded with a 43-yard field goal by Kevin Shea, and the score was 7-3 after one period of play. The Bandits had an apparent three-yard TD run by Anderson in the second quarter called back because of illegal procedure and had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Zenon Andrusyshyn, making the score 10-3.

The Bandits’ swarming defense was effective in throttling the Oakland attack and before the second quarter was over, Tampa Bay mounted a second scoring drive. Anderson again played a key role as he grabbed a short pass from Kelley on a third-and-12 play from the Bandits’ own six yard line and gained 26 yards. WR Willie Gillespie scored on a 16-yard pass play from Kelley with 41 seconds remaining in the half to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 17-3.

There was a scary moment in the third quarter when veteran TE Raymond Chester, well known to Oakland fans from his years with the Raiders, was injured and had to be taken from the field on a stretcher. Fortunately, x-rays were negative and the star tight end was diagnosed with a severe neck sprain. He returned to the sideline later wearing a cervical collar.

Andrusyshyn kicked two field goals in the third quarter, from 26 and 38 yards, to extend Tampa Bay’s lead to 23-3 before Besana finally got the Invaders on the board in the final period when he scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak, although the extra point attempt failed. With seven minutes left to play, Oakland got a break when Anderson fumbled and NT George Atiyeh recovered for the Invaders at the Tampa Bay 14. However, Oakland’s coaching staff was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for running onto the field to protest a call on an ensuing sideline pass, moving the ball back to the 26, and the Bandits defense held to end the threat.

RB Greg Boone scored the final points for Tampa Bay on a 12-yard run with 36 seconds left in the game. The PAT attempt was no good, but it hardly mattered as the Bandits won easily by a score of 29-9.

Tampa Bay outgained the Invaders (419 yards to 284) and had more first downs (24 to 15). Moreover, the defense held Oakland to just 25 rushing yards on 17 carries and sacked Besana a league-record 10 times. NT Ken Times led the way with three of those sacks, while DE Walter Carter and NT Fred Nordgren had two apiece.

Mike Kelley completed 21 of 40 passes for 307 yards with two touchdowns and none intercepted. Gary Anderson ran for 66 yards on 16 attempts and caught three passes for 55 more. WR Danny Buggs caught four passes for 72 yards while Greg Boone also had four receptions, for 41 yards, to go along with his 62 yards on 19 rushing attempts that included one TD.


For Oakland, despite being under heavy pressure for much of the game, Fred Besana was successful on 27 of 47 throws for 328 yards, although he was intercepted once and had no touchdown passes. WR Gordon Banks caught 9 of those passes for 128 yards. RB Arthur Whittington led what there was of a running attack, gaining just 12 yards on 9 carries.

The Bandits stayed on top of their division with the win although the loss knocked Oakland out of the tie with Los Angeles in theirs. However, Tampa Bay was badly beaten by Michigan the next week and lost four of its last six games to not only lose the division, but fail to make the postseason. They finished third in the Central Division with a record of 11-7. Conversely, Oakland did make it to the postseason, winning the Pacific Division at 9-9, and lost to the Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.

Mike Kelley ended up completing 48.8 percent of his 166 passes for 1003 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions. He was taken by the Memphis Showboats in the league’s expansion draft for 1984. Gary Anderson finished off his fine rookie year with 516 yards rushing on 97 carries (5.3 avg.) and four touchdowns and gained another 347 yards on 29 pass receptions. Both Fred Nordgren and Ken Times reached double figures in sacks in ’83 (15 and 11, respectively), and Nordgren was an All-League selection.

[Revised 6/10/12]