1984: Cribbs & Clanton Star as Stallions Defeat Breakers

The Birmingham Stallions had won four straight games and were trying to catch the undefeated New Orleans Breakers in the United States Football League’s Southern Division as they went head to head in a Monday night game on April 2, 1984.

Coached by Rollie Dotsch, the Stallions were much improved on offense from the previous year thanks largely to the addition of RB Joe Cribbs (pictured at right), formerly of the Buffalo Bills, and ex-Steelers QB Cliff Stoudt. Another former Steeler, WR Jim Smith, was back for a second year and provided Stoudt with an outstanding target. The defense was the USFL’s best thus far against the run, although less adept at covering passes.

New Orleans was coached by the offense-minded Dick Coury and it was the explosive attack that had the Breakers at 5-0. QB John Walton, who had been sacked only once thus far, had a strong arm and rarely threw interceptions. WR Frank Lockett was the top receiver for the Breakers and had able partners in WR Charlie Smith and TE Dan Ross, both veterans with significant NFL experience. Rookie RB Buford Jordan powered the ground game.

It was a rainy Monday night at Legion Field with attendance held to 28,100 as a result. On the game’s third play, a pass by John Walton, throwing under pressure, was intercepted by FS Chuck Clanton, who raced 29 yards for a touchdown. Danny Miller added the extra point for the quick 7-0 advantage.

New Orleans missed out on a scoring opportunity when Tim Mazzetti was wide on a 47-yard field goal attempt, his first failure of the season. Following a punt by the Stallions, the Breakers were driving as the opening period ended, having advanced from their 20 to the Birmingham 14. On the first play of the second quarter, RB Marcus DuPree fumbled and the Stallions recovered but Joe Cribbs immediately fumbled the ball back and the Breakers came away with a 31-yard Mazzetti field goal that narrowed the score to 7-3.

Cliff Stoudt quickly passed the Stallions into New Orleans territory and Cribbs ran effectively. Two bootlegs by Stoudt got the ball inside the one from where FB Leon Perry crashed into the end zone for a TD to complete the eight-play, 69-yard series. Miller added the point after to extend the home team’s lead to 14-3.

On the ensuing series, Walton threw to Charlie Smith for a long gain in a third-and-12 situation to get the ball into Birmingham’s end of the field and the 72-yard possession that took nine plays ended with Buford Jordan running seven yards for a touchdown. Mazzetti’s PAT made it a four-point contest with 2:46 remaining in the first half. The score remained 14-10 at halftime as a drive by the Stallions ended with Miller missing on a 45-yard field goal try.

Birmingham had the ball first in the third quarter and advanced methodically in a 17-play drive that covered 89 yards and used up 7:22 of playing time. Cribbs had two key carries along the way and the Stallions converted two fourth downs. Stoudt passed to Cribbs for a six-yard touchdown and Miller converted to make the score 21-10.

The Breakers stormed back, advancing 70 yards in eight plays helped by a pass interference penalty, and Jordan ran around end for an 11-yard TD. Mazzetti added the extra point to again narrow the Birmingham lead at 21-17.

Birmingham put together another time-consuming drive that featured a dropped near-interception and a fake field goal that backup QB Bob Lane, the holder, converted into a first down at the New Orleans 12. It led to a 29-yard Miller field goal and seven-point lead for the Stallions.

A turnover by the Breakers on the first play following the ensuing kickoff, when a pitchout went awry deep in their own territory, was recovered by LB Mike Murphy for the Stallions at the one and quickly led to another short Perry touchdown carry. Miller booted the point after and Birmingham was ahead by 14 points and in control with 9:30 remaining to play.

It was more than enough for the Stallions. Clanton interceptions ended the next two New Orleans possessions, with a Birmingham drive in between that ended with a missed field goal but, most importantly, once again ran significant time off the clock. The Stallions won convincingly by a final score of 31-17.

Birmingham had the edge in total yards (354 to 199), first downs (23 to 17), and time of possession (34:11 to 25:49), including 22:49 to 7:11 in the second half. Of the yardage total for the Stallions, 231 came on the ground. The Breakers also turned the ball over five times, to two by Birmingham. There were only two punts during the game, one by each team.

Joe Cribbs was the star for the Stallions on offense, rushing for 162 yards on 26 carries and catching 5 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. Cliff Stoudt completed 12 of 25 throws for 123 yards and a TD while giving up no interceptions. Leon Perry contributed 48 yards on 15 rushing attempts that included the two short touchdowns. WR Jim Smith gained 63 yards on his four pass receptions. On defense, Chuck Clanton (pictured at left) had three interceptions that he returned for 57 yards and a TD.

For the Breakers, John Walton, who was heavily pressured throughout the contest, completed 12 of 31 passes for 116 yards and no touchdowns while being picked off three times. Buford Jordan ran the ball 7 times for a team-leading 44 yards and two TDs. TE Dan Ross had four catches for 43 yards.

“We played our kind of game in the second half,” said Birmingham’s Coach Dotsch. “We took the ball, ground it out, and scored. It was nothing fancy – just football.”

Birmingham’s winning streak reached nine games on the way to a 14-4 record that topped the Southern Division. The Stallions defeated Tampa Bay in the first playoff round before losing to Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference Championship. The Breakers regained their winning touch the following week but collapsed during the second half of the season and ended up at a disappointing 8-10 tally that placed a distant third in the division.

Joe Cribbs took over the USFL rushing lead with his big performance against New Orleans and that is where he ended up, gaining 1467 yards on 297 carries (4.9 avg.) with eight touchdowns. He also caught 39 passes for 500 yards and another five TDs, and received consensus All-League honors. Chuck Clanton intercepted 10 passes, which he returned for a league-leading 249 yards and three TDs.

1985: Denver Rolls Up Yardage to Defeat Stallions

The Denver Gold were 0-1 as they took on the Birmingham Stallions in a United States Football League game on March 3, 1985. A team that drew well at home but failed to post a winning record in either of its first two USFL seasons, the Gold now was coached by Darrel “Mouse” Davis, formerly of Portland State and most recently offensive coordinator of the Houston Gamblers. Utilizing the high-powered run and shoot offense, the Gamblers had been exciting and productive. Now Davis was bringing the same scheme to Denver, but the run and shoot had misfired in the opening week 31-10 loss to Oakland.

Birmingham, coached by Rollie Dotsch, was coming off of a 14-4 record in ’84 and won its first contest of 1985 (over New Jersey). The Stallions had QB Cliff Stoudt and WR Jim Smith, both formerly of the Steelers, and ex-Buffalo RB Joe Cribbs as key players on offense, which was anchored by an outstanding line.

There were 27,400 fans in attendance at Legion Field in Birmingham and they saw Denver get off to a fast start. On the offense’s first play from scrimmage, QB Vince Evans connected with RB Bill Johnson on a screen pass that gained 55 yards to the Birmingham one yard line. Johnson carried on the next play to gain the final yard and a touchdown and Brian Speelman added the extra point.

The Stallions responded by driving 80 yards in eight plays. Cliff Stoudt finished the series off with a seven-yard TD run and Danny Miller tied the score with the point after. It seemed as though the Gold would score again on the next possession as they reached the Birmingham nine, but FS Chuck Clanton recovered a fumble to snuff out the threat. Three plays later, however, Stoudt fumbled a bad snap that went out of the end zone for a safety to put the visitors back in the lead by 9-7.

Early in the second quarter, Evans threw long to RB Vincent White for a 48-yard touchdown. Speelman’s PAT put the Gold ahead by 16-7. Shortly thereafter, a Stoudt pass was intercepted by Clanton and, two plays after that, Evans completed a pass to WR Leonard Harris for a 39-yard TD. Speelman again converted and Denver was up by 23-7 with 8:33 remaining in the first half.

Later in the period, the Gold put together a 48-yard drive in nine plays that concluded with Speelman kicking a 28-yard field goal. The Stallions got a break on defense when Clanton intercepted his second pass of the game, returning it 23 yards to the Birmingham 48. Stoudt tossed a touchdown pass to Jim Smith eight plays later that covered nine yards with 32 seconds left on the clock. Miller kicked the extra point and the score was 26-14 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, the Stallions drew closer as Stoudt threw to WR Joey Jones for a 53-yard TD. Miller converted and the Denver margin was down to five points at 26-21. The Gold came back with a 10-play, 78-yard series that was capped by Evans gaining one yard for a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Speelman’s kick made it a 33-21 contest.

Early in the fourth quarter, Denver scored again when Johnson ran eight yards for a TD, followed by another Speelman extra point. The Stallions had opportunities to close the gap again, but twice came up empty inside the Denver ten in the final period.  They picked up two more points when Evans was tackled in the end zone for a safety, but it was of no consequence as the Gold came away with a convincing 40-23 win.

Denver compiled a total of 564 yards, with 284 coming on the ground, to 325 yards for the Stallions. The Gold also had the edge in first downs (24 to 19) and time of possession (35:02 to 24:58). However, Denver was hindered by five turnovers, to just one suffered by Birmingham, and 12 penalties, while only five flags were thrown on the Stallions.

Vince Evans completed 14 of 28 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, although giving up three interceptions. RB Todd Gerhart led the impressive running game with 119 yards on 21 carries, followed by Bill Johnson’s 74 yards on 9 attempts that included two TDs, and Evans contributed 50 yards on five carries. Leonard Harris topped the Denver receivers with four catches for 74 yards.

For the Stallions, Cliff Stoudt was successful on 17 of 38 throws for 259 yards and two TDs, giving up one interception and scoring once on the ground. Joe Cribbs had just 36 yards on 9 carries. Jim Smith caught 6 passes for 83 yards and Joey Jones gained 96 yards on four receptions that included a TD. Chuck Clanton (pictured at left) starred on defense, accumulating all three interceptions, recovering a fumble, and getting credit for eight tackles.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Coach Davis of his team’s performance. “We had too many picks (interceptions), but we’re certainly pleased. We’re excited to get our first win and hope it’s the first of many.”

Denver won four of its next five games on the way to an 11-7 record that placed second in the Western Conference. The team ranked third in the USFL in total yards (6629) and, with Vince Evans splitting time at quarterback with Bob Gagliano, rated third in passing yards (4550). In the Gold’s only playoff game, they were thrashed in the Quarterfinal round by the Memphis Showboats. The Stallions recovered to go 13-5 and finish at the top of the Eastern Conference. They defeated Houston in the first round but lost to the Baltimore Stars at the Semifinal level. 

1983: Stallions Beat Panthers in Overtime for Fifth Straight Win

The United States Football League game on May 23, 1983, a Monday night, featured two teams with winning streaks on the line and trying to remain in contention in the competitive Central Division.

The visiting Birmingham Stallions, coached by Rollie Dotsch, had won four straight after getting off to a 2-5 start. They were the USFL’s top rushing team, but the passing attack, utilizing two rookie quarterbacks in Bob Lane (pictured at right) and Reggie Collier, was less successful, although ex-Steeler Jim Smith was a capable wide receiver. The defense was effective, especially when rushing opposing passers.

The Michigan Panthers had also gotten off to a slow start, sporting a lowly 1-4 tally at one point, with the only win coming against the Stallions in the opening week. But Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team was now at 7-4 after winning six consecutive games. Rookie QB Bobby Hebert was a pleasant surprise, more-heralded (and high-priced) rookie WR Anthony Carter was displaying the anticipated big-play ability after getting off to a quiet start, and the addition of some veteran offensive linemen was making a difference. On defense, the Panthers topped the league in sacks with OLB John Corker leading the way.

A somewhat disappointing crowd of 20,042 was on hand at the Pontiac Silverdome. The opening period was scoreless but the Stallions were driving after recovering a Michigan fumble as the game moved into second quarter and the series ended when QB Bob Lane connected with TE Steve Stephens for a one-yard touchdown on a fourth down gamble. Scott Norwood added the extra point.

The visitors then took advantage of an interception by LB Larry McPherson to add to their lead. The Stallions again moved the ball inside the Michigan five, going 29 yards in eight plays, but settled for a 23-yard Norwood field goal and a 10-0 score.

Down by ten points, the Panthers came through with a big play when a scrambling Bobby Hebert went long for Anthony Carter, who grabbed the ball after it was tipped by a defender and raced to the end zone for an 81-yard touchdown. Bojovic kicked the PAT.

The Stallions got another break inside the last two minutes of the half when Carter muffed a punt and RB Lonnie Johnson recovered at the Michigan 17. Five plays later, WR Greg Anderson caught a pass for a 15-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining on the clock and, having capitalized on three turnovers, the score was 17-7 in favor of Birmingham at the half.

The Stallions added to their lead with the first series of the third quarter, putting together a methodical drive that ended with Norwood booting a 25-yard field goal. Michigan finally was able to get back into the game with a fumble recovery late in the period in Birmingham territory. After driving down to the one, RB John Williams was stopped short on successive carries but scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Bojovic added the extra point that made it a six-point contest.

Ahead by 20-14, the Stallions attempted to extend their lead with 7:24 left on the clock, but Norwood’s 49-yard field goal try was short. The Panthers responded by driving 68 yards in nine plays, and it seemed as though they would prevail when Williams again scored a touchdown from a yard out with 2:52 remaining in regulation. However, Birmingham LB Herb Spencer was able to get a hand on Bojovic’s extra point kick and block it, keeping the contest tied at 20-20.

Birmingham nearly won in regulation when DB Fred Logan intercepted a long pass intended for WR Ron Frederick at the Michigan one and rolled into the end zone, losing the ball as he attempted to spike it. TE Darryl Mason fell on the loose football in the end zone and one official signaled a touchdown for the Stallions, but after a long conference it was ruled that the Panthers had possession at the one, and they ran out the clock.

Michigan won the toss and had the first possession in overtime, but the Panthers were forced to punt after six plays. The Stallions then got a huge break when a bad snap sailed over punter Rick Partridge’s head and Birmingham got the ball at the Michigan 34. After two running plays and an incomplete pass, Norwood kicked a 46-yard field goal at 4:22 into the overtime period to win the game by a final score of 23-20.

Total yards were nearly even, with Michigan holding a 341 to 340 edge, although the Stallions had more first downs (22 to 17) and were well ahead in time of possession (38:03 to 26:29). Both teams were penalized seven times and there were no sacks. But the Panthers turned the ball over three times, with all of them leading to Birmingham scores, while the visitors turned it over twice.

Bob Lane completed 16 of 28 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. RB Ken Talton rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries. Jim Smith topped the Stallions with 5 catches for 62 yards.

For the Panthers, Bobby Hebert was successful on 13 of 20 throws for 198 yards and had a TD and an interception. Ken Lacy gained 106 yards on 15 rushing attempts and added another 40 yards on three pass receptions. John Williams ran for just 27 yards on 13 carries, but two were good for touchdowns. Anthony Carter caught 6 passes for 136 yards that included the one long score.

“I think the key was the blocked extra point try,” said a disappointed Coach Jim Stanley. “If we make it, we win the game. Those little things come back to haunt you.”

The win for Birmingham left both teams tied at 7-5 in the Central Division race with the Chicago Blitz a game ahead. It proved to be the high point of the season for the Stallions, who lost their next two games and ended up fourth with a 9-9 record. Ultimately, the Panthers prevailed by winning five of their last six contests, topping the division at 12-6 on the way to winning the first USFL Championship. 

1985: Kelley & White Spur Showboats to Upset of Stallions

The Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League had their work cut out for them as they faced the Birmingham Stallions on May 3, 1985. Coached by the colorful Pepper Rodgers, the Showboats were 6-4 in their second USFL season, but had stumbled after getting off to a 4-0 start. The defense, which featured DE Reggie White, was benefiting from the addition of rookies Leonard Coleman at cornerback and safety Mossy Cade. The offense was slipping, however, and Mike Kelley (pictured above) had replaced Walter Lewis at quarterback the previous week.

Birmingham was a formidable adversary, tied for first place atop the USFL’s Eastern Conference with New Jersey and Tampa Bay at 7-3. The Stallions, under Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, were a well-balanced team with a productive offense guided by QB Cliff Stoudt and featuring RB Joe Cribbs and WR Jim Smith, while the tough defense was one of the league’s best. Moreover, Memphis had lost to them in each of the three previous meetings between the clubs.

There were 29,025 fans in attendance for the Friday night game at the Liberty Bowl. On their first play from scrimmage, the Showboats lined up in a spread formation with both quarterbacks, Mike Kelley and Walter Lewis, in the backfield. Lewis, after faking to Kelley, ran around end for 22 yards to the Memphis 43 and spurred a six-play, 79-yard drive that concluded with Kelley throwing to TE Mark Raugh for a touchdown from five yards out. Alan Duncan added the extra point.

Late in the first quarter, the Memphis defense stopped the Stallions near the goal line and Birmingham settled for a 31-yard field goal by Danny Miller. However, the Showboats fumbled away the ensuing kickoff and less than a minute later the Stallions scored again, this time on a pass from Cliff Stoudt to WR Ken Toler that covered 34 yards. The extra point attempt failed, but Birmingham was in front by 9-7.

In the second quarter, Kelley tossed another scoring pass for the Showboats, this time covering nine yards to WR Derrick Crawford to finish off a 55-yard possession. Alan Duncan again added the PAT and his 20-yard field goal later in the period improved the Memphis lead to 17-9.

The Stallions fought back as Stoudt threw to Jim Smith for a 15-yard TD with 30 seconds remaining in the half and was followed by a Stoudt toss to Toler for two points, tying the contest at 17-17 going into halftime.

Four minutes into the third quarter, the Showboats took advantage of a Birmingham fumble to regain the lead as RB Harry Sydney ran 18 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Sydney scored again, this time gaining the final yard to cap a 62-yard series.

It got worse for the Stallions on their next possession. Stoudt, under a heavy rush, fumbled and Reggie White (pictured at left) recovered and returned it 20 yards for another Memphis TD. All of Duncan’s extra point attempts were successfully added, thus giving the home team a sizable lead of 38-17.

The Stallions finally put a scoring drive together later in the final period, going 72 yards in 11 plays that ended with Stoudt throwing to Toler for an 18-yard touchdown, but by then the outcome was a foregone conclusion. The Showboats came away with a convincing 38-24 upset win.

The Showboats had the edge in total yards (320 to 315) while both teams accumulated 19 first downs. The Memphis defense did a fine job against the normally-proficient running game of the Stallions, holding them to 88 yards on the ground. Each club also turned the ball over two times and time of possession was nearly even with Memphis holding a 30:51 to 29:09 edge. The Showboats accounted for the only two sacks of the game.

Mike Kelley completed 21 of 28 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. WR Greg Moser had 5 catches for 72 yards. Harry Sydney topped the Memphis rushers with 37 yards on 8 carries that included two TDs.

For the Stallions, Cliff Stoudt was successful on 24 of 33 throws for 240 yards and three TDs with none picked off.  Jim Smith had 7 pass receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. Joe Cribbs rushed for 69 yards on 12 attempts and caught two passes for 29 more.

“We made things happen on both sides of the ball,” said an effusive Coach Pepper Rodgers, who called the win the most impressive in the team’s short history.

The Showboats won their next two games and five of their last seven to end up at 11-7 and third in the Eastern Conference. They thrashed Denver in the Quarterfinal playoff round before losing to the Oakland Invaders in the Semifinal game. Birmingham recovered to top the conference with a 13-5 record, edging Houston in the Quarterfinal contest before also falling in the Semifinal round, to the eventual-champion Baltimore Stars.

1983: Bryant Runs for 177 Yards as Stars Defeat Stallions

The Philadelphia Stars were off to a 2-0 start in the inaugural United States Football League season as they took on the Birmingham Stallions on March 21, 1983. Rookie RB Kelvin Bryant had quickly established himself as the key player in the ball control offense that was directed by QB Chuck Fusina while the defense was proving to be very tough and was coming off a shutout of the New Jersey Generals.

The Stallions were 1-1, having won the USFL’s first overtime game the previous week. Coached by Rollie Dotsch, formerly an assistant with the NFL Steelers and used to winning, Birmingham invested heavily in young players, most notably QB Reggie Collier, a mobile rookie out of Southern Mississippi who had signed a big contract to start right away in the new league.  

There was a disappointing crowd of 12,850 fans in attendance at Legion Field on a cold and damp Monday night in Birmingham, with temperatures near freezing; a brief snow shower arrived just prior to the kickoff

The Stars took the early lead by driving 73 yards in 10 plays on their first possession. RB Allen Harvin ran around left end for the final two yards and a touchdown and David Trout added the extra point.

The teams traded interceptions, following which Birmingham came back with a score later in the opening period. The big play was a pass from Reggie Collier to WR Sylvester Moy that covered 45 yards to the Philadelphia 13. Collier carried for a four-yard TD to cap the five-play, 58-yard series and Scott Norwood tied the game with the extra point.

Less than two minutes into the second quarter, Trout put the Stars back in front with a 23-yard field goal, finishing off a 51-yard possession that took seven plays. The 10-7 lead held up through the remainder of the half.

Philadelphia started the third quarter with Harvin returning the second half kickoff 67 yards to the Birmingham 21. Five plays later, and on his fifth straight carry, Kelvin Bryant scored a touchdown from a yard out and Trout added the PAT to make it a ten-point margin.

To make matters worse for the Stallions, a hip pointer knocked Collier out of the game for the second half. Still, with backup QB Bob Lane behind center, the home team responded by driving from their 41 to the Philadelphia two. The Stars held at that point but Norwood made it a seven-point game with a 19-yard field goal.

Philadelphia was unable to build on its lead and Lane nearly led the Stallions to a potential tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Birmingham had a first down at the Philadelphia 12, but three straight passes fell incomplete to end the threat and seal the 17-10 win for the Stars.

The Stallions had the edge in total yards (312 to 227) and first downs (20 to 13), with 200 of Philadelphia’s total coming on the ground. However, Birmingham also turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by the Stars.

Kelvin Bryant had his biggest game yet, rushing for 177 yards on 27 carries that included a touchdown. Chuck Fusina had a rough outing, completing 8 of 15 passes for just 56 yards and being picked off once. WR Willie Collier was the team’s most productive receiver with 28 yards on two catches. FS Mike Lush intercepted two passes on defense.

For the Stallions, Reggie Collier was successful on 7 of 14 throws for 95 yards and tossed two interceptions before having to leave the contest. Bob Lane was 15 of 24 for 134 yards and had one pass intercepted. Sylvester Moy had 8 catches for 115 yards (he had just three more catches and 88 more yards over the remainder of the season). RB Ken Talton led the rushers with 37 yards on 8 attempts and RB Billy White contributed 31 yards on his 14 carries.

“I’m glad to get out of here with a win,” said a relieved Philadelphia Head Coach Jim Mora. “It wasn’t a great game on our part but our guys played hard and we won.”

The win over the Stallions set the Stars up for a battle of unbeaten against the Tampa Bay Bandits the next week, which they lost, but they recovered to go 15-3, top the Atlantic Division, and advance to the USFL Championship game, where they fell to the Michigan Panthers by two points. The defense continued to be a key to the team’s success as well as Kelvin Bryant, who rushed for 1442 yards and was named MVP by the league. Birmingham finished at the bottom of the Central Division with a 9-9 record. 

1984: Stallions Defeat Express with Strong Running Game

The upgraded Birmingham Stallions were 0-1 as they traveled to Los Angeles to take on the equally winless Express in a United States Football League game on March 4, 1984. Head Coach Rollie Dotsch’s team was coming off a 9-9 inaugural season, but had added NFL veterans to the roster in the offseason, most notably QB Cliff Stoudt, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and ex-Bills RB Joe Cribbs. WR Jim Smith also came from the Steelers to bolster the receiving corps. Still, Birmingham lost to the New Jersey Generals in Week 1 by a score of 17-6 at home.

The Express, coached by ex-pro quarterback John Hadl, had problems on offense, most notably at quarterback where Tom Ramsey was the starter. Still, WR JoJo Townsell was a promising player out of UCLA and the offensive line featured well-regarded rookie linemen in OT Mark Adickes and G Gary Zimmerman. LA lost to Denver by a 27-10 score in the opening week.

There was a typically sparse crowd of 14,789 in attendance at the cavernous Memorial Coliseum. They witnessed a scoreless first quarter. In the early part of the second quarter, and following a shanked punt by the Express deep in their own territory, Birmingham went 38 yards in four plays that ended with FB Leon Perry (pictured above) running for a 29-yard touchdown and Scott Norwood added the extra point. With just under six minutes remaining in the half, LA tied the score. Tom Ramsey connected with TE David Hersey for a 42-yard TD and Tony Zendejas was successful with the PAT.

Birmingham came out strong with the first possession of the third quarter. Cliff Stoudt completed a six-play, 87-yard drive with a one-yard run that put the Stallions back in front, with Norwood adding the point after. Along the way, Stoudt had a 13-yard carry and a pass completion to Joe Cribbs that picked up 26 yards.

Birmingham utilized a strong ground game along with Stoudt’s judicious passing to take control in the second half. Thirteen seconds into the fourth quarter, the Stallions got what would prove to be the clinching TD when Cribbs ran for a touchdown from 18 yards out and Norwood booted his third extra point.

Late in the third quarter, Coach Hadl replaced Ramsey with backup QB Frank Seurer, who provided some excitement.  The Express scored on a two-yard carry by RB Kevin Nelson, but a pass to WR Malcolm Moore that reached the Birmingham five was wiped out by a penalty and the home team never again threatened. The Stallions held on to win by a final score of 21-14.

The Stallions outgained Los Angeles by 330 yards to 305, with 225 of that total coming on the ground. They also had a 17 to 16 edge in first downs. Each team suffered one turnover.

Leon Perry rushed for 93 yards on 13 carries that included a touchdown and Joe Cribbs contributed 81 yards, also on 13 attempts. Cliff Stoudt completed 9 of 17 passes for 142 yards and ran the ball 7 times for 33 yards with one TD. WR Jim Smith was the team’s top receiver with four catches for 64 yards.

For the Express, Tom Ramsey was successful on 11 of 25 throws for 126 yards and a TD with one interception before being lifted for Frank Seurer, who was 7 of 17 for 123 yards. Kevin Nelson ran for 50 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and TE Mike Sherrod was the top receiver with 5 receptions for 51 yards. JoJo Townsell added 48 yards on four catches and WR Anthony Allen gained 52 yards on his two receptions.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win and we’re thankful to be leaving here with a ‘W’,” said a relieved Coach Rollie Dotsch.

To make matters worse for Los Angeles, Mark Adickes went down with torn knee ligaments, costing him the remainder of the season. Furthermore, Tom Ramsey expressed annoyance at being relieved and Coach Hadl indicated that Seurer might start the next week (which he did), but any quarterback controversy was resolved once rookie Steve Young joined the team a few weeks later.

The win ignited the Stallions, who put together a nine-game winning streak before losing to the Philadelphia Stars on May 9. The offense continued to perform well – even when Joe Cribbs left the team due to a contract dispute – and the defense was outstanding against the run. Birmingham was the USFL’s top ground-gaining team (3313 yards) and finished atop the Southern Division with a 14-4 record but, after handily defeating Tampa Bay in the opening playoff round, again fell to the Stars in the Eastern Conference Championship Game.

Los Angeles also reached the postseason, performing better on offense once Young took over at quarterback. In the mediocre Pacific Division, the Express placed first with a 10-8 record and unseated the defending-champion Michigan Panthers in an epic overtime win before losing to Arizona in the Western Conference title contest.

1985: Big Plays Propel Stars to Semifinal Playoff Win Over Stallions

On July 7, 1985 the Baltimore Stars traveled to Birmingham to take on the Stallions in a United States Football League Semifinal playoff game before a crowd of 23,250 in attendance at Legion Field.

The Stars, coached by Jim Mora, were the defending USFL Champions and had gone a combined 31-5 over the course of the league’s first two regular seasons, advancing to the league title game after each, while based in Philadelphia. With the pending move to a Fall schedule, the franchise was forced to relocate and had difficulty with the adjustment. The team’s practice facilities remained in Philadelphia while games were played before small crowds at the University of Maryland’s Byrd Stadium. The Stars started off at 1-3-1 and were just 4-5-1 before winning six of their last eight contests to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference at 10-7-1, qualifying for a playoff berth. They edged the New Jersey Generals in the Quarterfinal round to reach the Semifinal playoff.

As they had been in their first two seasons, the Stars were a ball-control team on offense directed by efficient QB Chuck Fusina and featuring RB Kelvin Bryant. The defense remained tough and opportunistic.

Birmingham, coached by Rollie Dotsch, was a well-balanced team that ranked second defensively and third in offensive production. QB Cliff Stoudt passed for 3358 yards and 34 touchdowns, RB Joe Cribbs ran for 1047 yards, and WR Jim Smith had 87 pass receptions for 1322 yards and 20 TDs. All-League FS Chuck Clanton intercepted 16 passes. Moreover, the Stallions had beaten Baltimore in both of their meetings during the regular season and were looking to make it a clean sweep - especially after being denied advancement to the USFL Championship game by the Stars the previous year.

Baltimore struck quickly, scoring on the game’s third play when CB Jonathan Sutton returned an intercepted pass for a 36-yard touchdown. The Stars followed up by scoring again on their first offensive possession on a 30-yard TD pass from Chuck Fusina to WR Victor Harrison. Birmingham was in a 14-0 hole after a quarter of play.

The Stars added to their lead in spectacular fashion in the second quarter when Fusina connected with Kelvin Bryant on a USFL playoff-record 70-yard touchdown pass play.

There was no further scoring in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter the Stars came through with another big play. At their own 24 yard line, Bryant broke through the middle of the line, got past the linebackers and sped 76 yards for a TD.

Down by an insurmountable 28-0, the Stallions finally got on the board when WR Joey Jones caught a pass from Cliff Stoudt for a 14-yard touchdown. Joe Cribbs added a one-yard TD in the final minute of play that only made the result appear less lopsided. The Stars advanced by a score of 28-14.

While playing catch-up virtually the entire game, the Stallions led in total yards (370 to 366) and first downs (21 to 14). However, the Stars came through with big plays while Birmingham averaged only 2.4 yards per rushing play (19 for 46 yards) and turned the ball over twice, once leading directly to a score, while Baltimore suffered one.

Kelvin Bryant had a total of 217 yards from scrimmage as he rushed for 116 yards on 13 carries and gained 101 yards on four pass receptions. Chuck Fusina didn’t go to the air often but completed 10 of 16 passes for 210 yards and two TDs with none intercepted.

For the Stallions, WR Jim Smith caught 10 passes for 110 yards as Cliff Stoudt went to the air 50 times and completed 29 for 327 yards and a TD with the one big interception. Stoudt was also the club’s leading rusher with 30 yards on 7 carries while Joe Cribbs was held to 13 yards on 9 attempts.

“I have a lot of respect for Birmingham’s defense,” said Jim Mora afterward, “but their defense may be easier to break a big play on than it is to gain a simple four to five yards.” 

Baltimore went on to defeat the Oakland Invaders to repeat as USFL Champions in what would prove to be the league’s last game. Hopes for a favorable financial result in the USFL’s anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL were dashed when, although the verdict was favorable, the jury awarded just one dollar in compensation (tripled to three dollars in accordance with the law) and the planned move to the Fall for ’86 never occurred. 

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.

1983: Norwood Kicks 5 Field Goals as Stallions Defeat Generals

The Monday night United States Football League matchup on May 9, 1983 featured the New Jersey Generals, with prize rookie RB Herschel Walker, against the visiting Birmingham Stallions. After a slow start, Walker came into the tenth week leading the new league with over a thousand yards on the ground. However, while they had won the previous week, the Generals were only 3-6 thus far under Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks. Other than Walker, the offense was ordinary and the defense mediocre.

The Stallions, under Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, were 4-5 and suffered with inexperienced Bob Lane and Reggie Collier at quarterback, but utilized an effective running back-by-committee approach. The young defense tended to keep opposing teams out of the end zone and had given up a total of just 21 points over the previous three contests.

There was a crowd of 38,734 in attendance at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. After the Stallions were forced to punt on their initial possession, the Generals took the early lead thanks to a 37-yard scoring pass from QB Bobby Scott to WR Tom McConnaughey on their second play from scrimmage at 2:22 into the first quarter. Unfortunately for the home team, that would prove to be the high point of the evening.

Birmingham came back with an 84-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by RB Bill White. Two more time-consuming drives led to field goals by Scott Norwood in the second quarter. The second came with 18 seconds remaining and made it 13-7 in favor of the Stallions at the half. But while the score was close, Birmingham had dominated time of possession by holding onto the ball for just over 22 minutes. As a result, Herschel Walker had just five carries for 19 yards.

Norwood kicked a 31-yard field goal with just under five minutes to play in the third quarter to extend Birmingham’s lead to 16-7 and then recovered a fumbled kickoff return by RB Thomas Lott. That set up his fourth field goal, from 37 yards.

Norwood booted a league-record fifth field goal in the fourth quarter from 25 yard but just missed a sixth from 41 yards. It was more than enough for the Stallions, who won comfortably by a score of 22-7.

Birmingham dominated in total yards (414 to 154), with 242 of that total coming on the ground, as opposed to just 38 yards for the Generals. The Stallions also were dominant in first downs (24 to 8) and time of possession (43:28 to 16:32). The visitors didn’t turn the ball over, while New Jersey did so once.

Four Birmingham runners outrushed Walker – Ken Talton (64 yards on 20 carries), Earl Gant (12 attempts for 56 yards), Bill White (15 carries for 53 yards), and Cornelius Quarles (11 for 47). Bob Lane was successful on 13 of 19 passes for 182 yards. WR Jim Smith topped the receivers with 5 catches for 78 yards. Scott Norwood, the rookie placekicker out of James Madison who had failed to catch on with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, was the scoring star with his five field goals in six attempts.

For the Generals, Herschel Walker gained just 28 yards on 11 carries. Bobby Scott completed 7 of 16 throws for 121 yards and a TD with none intercepted while backup Gene Bradley was successful on just 2 of 6 for 11 yards. TE Sam Bowers caught 4 passes for 62 yards.

“They kept the ball the whole game and I just stood back and watched,” said Herschel Walker. “I reckon I should have brought my rabbit’s foot – we didn’t have any luck.”

The Stallions went on to finish fourth in the tough Central Division with a 9-9 record. New Jersey ended up third in the Atlantic Division at 6-12.

Scott Norwood’s five field goals remained the USFL record, although it was tied twice – by David Trout of the Stars in 1984 and Brian Franco of Jacksonville in ’85. For the 1983 season, Norwood was successful on 25 of 34 field goal attempts and added 34 extra points to total 109 points, which ranked fourth in the league.

Herschel Walker bounced back with 87 yards the next week on his way to topping the circuit with 1812 yards on 412 carries (4.4 avg.) and 17 touchdowns. He also led the Generals in pass receiving with 53 catches for 489 yards and another TD.

1984: Wranglers Pull Away in 4th Quarter to Upset Stallions

The Arizona Wranglers came into the United States Football League game on June 3, 1984 against the Birmingham Stallions as ten-point underdogs. Head Coach George Allen’s team was 6-8 and barely staying alive in the Pacific Division (Due to what was, in essence, a trade of franchises, the Wranglers were for the most part the same veteran-laden club that played as the Chicago Blitz under Allen in 1983). Meanwhile the Stallions, under Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, were leading the Southern Division with a 12-2 record and had won their last three games in impressive fashion. Furthermore, star RB Joe Cribbs would be back in uniform for Birmingham following a two-week walkout over a contract dispute.

There were 32,500 fans at Birmingham’s Legion Field and they saw the home team score first. An interception by CB Ricky Ray that was returned 24 yards – and had an additional 15 tacked on at the end thanks to a facemask penalty – gave the Stallions the ball on the Arizona 15 yard line and set up an eight-yard touchdown pass from QB Cliff Stoudt to WR Ken Toler late in the first quarter. However, Arizona no sooner got the ball back when RB Tim Spencer took off on an 81-yard scoring run that, with the successful extra point, tied the score at 7-7.

The Wranglers scored twice in the second quarter, first on a 32-yard field goal by Frank Corral and then, in the final minute before the half, on a 25-yard touchdown pass play from 16-year QB Greg Landry to WR Larry Douglas. Arizona went into halftime with a surprising 17-7 lead.

However, the Stallions mounted a comeback in the third quarter. First, RB Leon Perry dove into the end zone from three yards out for a touchdown and then Birmingham took the lead when Stoudt threw to WR Jim Smith for a 21-yard TD. It was 21-17 heading into the final period.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Wranglers went back in front thanks to a 17-yard scoring pass from Landry to WR Lenny Willis. They got a further, and ultimately decisive, break when Stoudt fumbled and DT Joe Ehrmann recovered at the Birmingham 15. Landry hit WR Trumaine Johnson for a touchdown from 12 yards out and, with the extra point, Arizona once again held a ten-point lead.

Birmingham kept it close when Stoudt threw to WR Joey Jones for a 10-yard TD in the last two minutes, but an onside kick attempt was recovered by the Wranglers who proceeded to deliver the final blow as Spencer ran for a 43-yard touchdown. Arizona came away with a big 38-28 win.

The Wranglers outgained Birmingham, 416 to 361, with 246 of those yards coming on the ground (as opposed to 196 yards rushing for the Stallions). Birmingham led in first downs, 25 to 17. However, Arizona sacked Cliff Stoudt seven times, with three accounted for by DT Mark Buben and two by DT Kit Lathrop. Both teams suffered many penalties, as the Wranglers were flagged 15 times at a cost of 105 yards and the Stallions were penalized on 9 occasions for 79 yards.

Tim Spencer ran for 177 yards on just 12 carries thanks to the two long scoring runs and FB Kevin Long added another 12 rushes for 62 yards. Greg Landry completed 12 of 21 passes for 185 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Trumaine Johnson led the team’s receivers with 4 catches for 71 yards and a TD.

In his return to the lineup, Joe Cribbs had 110 yards on 16 rushing attempts. Cliff Stoudt was successful on 21 of 27 passes for 225 yards and three scoring passes of his own along with one interception, and also rushed for 43 yards on five carries – however, he also suffered the seven sacks. Lost in the defeat was a big day by Jim Smith, who caught 9 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

“This was unquestionably our biggest win,” said a happy George Allen. “We cam in here ten-point underdogs and beat them in their own backyard by ten points. We showed a lot of character, toughness and guts.”

“It’s not the end of the world, but it’s always depressing when you lose,” summed up Coach Dotsch of the Stallions.

Arizona didn’t lose again the rest of the regular season, winning the next three contests to finish at 10-8 and qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild Card. The Wranglers kept up the momentum by upsetting Houston in the first round and beat the Lost Angeles Express in the Conference Championship to advance to the league title game, where they fell to the Philadelphia Stars. Birmingham closed out the regular season atop the Southern Division with a 14-4 record, handily beating Tampa Bay in the first round but losing to the Stars in the Eastern Conference Championship game.

Despite leaving the team for two games, Joe Cribbs ended up leading the USFL in rushing with 1467 yards. Tim Spencer was fifth with 1212 yards on 227 carries for a 5.3-yard average and 17 rushing touchdowns.

1984: Cribbs Rushes for 191 Yards as Stallions Defeat Maulers

The Pittsburgh Maulers, one of six new teams in the United States Football League’s second season, had lost their first two games on the road. Owned by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. (father of the owner of the NFL’s 49ers), Coach Joe Pendry’s team had the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, RB Mike Rozier, but little else. QB Glenn Carano was a former backup for the Cowboys and the defense was mediocre. Still, the Maulers lost their first two contests by a combined total of just seven points. On March 11, 1984 they debuted at home against the Birmingham Stallions.

There were 53,771 fans in attendance at Three Rivers Stadium, the first sellout in league history, fueled by the fact that Birmingham’s new starting quarterback was ex-Steeler Cliff Stoudt. He had been less-than-popular as the replacement for the injured Terry Bradshaw in ’83, and had made the jump to the USFL. Stoudt was joined in the backfield by RB Joe Cribbs, who had been selected to the Pro Bowl in three of four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The one element of the Birmingham offense that had played well in 1983 was the line, not surprising under Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, who had been offensive line coach of the Steelers during their last two championship years. Adding experienced veteran talent in the backfield could only help, and the club had gotten off to a 1-1 start.

It was a cold and windy day with temperatures in the 20s. A deafening chorus of boos greeted Stoudt’s pregame introduction and a regular barrage of snowballs were tossed toward the quarterback and his teammates during the contest (drawing angry criticism from Coach Dotsch afterward). However, the Maulers proved mistake-prone on both sides of the ball and put themselves in a hole early.

In the opening period, Birmingham CB Chuck Clanton intercepted Carano’s second pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. Before the first quarter was over, Scott Norwood kicked a 35-yard field goal that was set up thanks to a roughing-the-passer penalty on Pittsburgh on a third-down play in which Stoudt threw an incompletion. A run by Cribbs put the ball in field goal range.

It got worse for the Maulers as a fumble by Rozier after catching a swing pass was recovered by Birmingham DT Joe Cugliari. It initially seemed that Pittsburgh had dodged a bullet when, following a 23-yard pass completion from Stoudt to another ex-Steeler, WR Jim Smith, the defense held and Norwood’s field goal attempt was wide to the right. But Norwood was hit by LB Ron Crosby, who was called for roughing-the-kicker. Five plays later, and just into the second quarter, Cribbs scored on a four-yard touchdown carry.

Norwood suffered a knee injury on the play that resulted in the penalty and was forced to sit out the remainder of the contest. Following the Cribbs touchdown, Stoudt ran for a two-point conversion (waving the football triumphantly over his head in response to the Pittsburgh fans) and the score was 18-0 in favor of the visitors.

Tony Lee kicked field goals of 28 and 42 yards for the Maulers in the second quarter to narrow Birmingham’s margin to 18-6 at halftime. In the second half, another penalty snuffed out a successful fake punt for the Maulers. From their 45, punter Larry Swider, after dropping the snap, threw to CB Bill Yancy (a receiver in this instance). However, the play was called back because of an illegal receiver downfield.


Stoudt (pictured at left) was having a poor day throwing but, with Cribbs running effectively and the Maulers beating themselves, it hardly mattered. He also added another six points in the third quarter on a ten-yard run, although the attempt to pass for a two-point conversion failed.

Pittsburgh finally scored a touchdown two minutes into the fourth quarter as Carano tossed a four-yard pass to WR Shawn Potts. Ten minutes later, Cribbs rushed for a 13-yard TD and the Maulers followed with one last score as FB Walt Easley plowed over from a yard out. Both teams attempted two-point conversions after each of their touchdowns, failing in each instance. Pittsburgh came close to one final, meaningless TD but Rozier was stopped inches short of the goal line on the last play of the game. Birmingham comfortably came away as the winner by a final score of 30-18.

The yardage totals were deceivingly close as the Stallions outgained Pittsburgh by just five yards (263 to 258). However, the breakdown showed Birmingham with 242 yards on 52 rushing plays to just 46 on 20 attempts for the Maulers. The Stallions had only 21 net passing yards to Pittsburgh’s 212 that were accumulated in a vain attempt to come from behind. Birmingham led in first downs (19 to 15) and dominated the time of possession (37:07 to 22:53). There weren’t many turnovers, but both of Pittsburgh’s led to Birmingham scores while the Stallions turned the ball over once, and the Maulers were penalized 8 times to 4 flags thrown on the visitors, often in key situations.

Joe Cribbs was the offensive star for the Stallions with 191 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns. Cliff Stoudt was successful on only two of 17 passes for 29 yards and had one intercepted. Jim Smith’s 23-yard catch was the longest of the game for Birmingham and RB Leon Perry had the only other reception, for six yards. The Stallions went for two-point conversions after their remaining touchdowns but were only successful on one.

For the Maulers, Mike Rozier was held to 52 yards on 16 rushing attempts but caught 7 passes for 68 more, although with the one costly fumble. Glenn Carano went to the air 33 times and had 18 completions for 221 yards and a TD with one intercepted. WR Greg Anderson gained 96 yards on his 4 receptions.

“Cliff did the things that he had to do, and we won,” said Coach Dotsch in response to the comfortable win despite Stoudt’s miniscule passing performance.

“All I have to do is please my teammates, my fans, and my coaches,” added Stoudt, who also said, “the crowd really fired me up. I was just excited out there. I was having fun and I wanted them to know it.”

“The interception didn’t set things back as much as the second turnover,” said Joe Pendry regarding the early plays that put Pittsburgh in a deep hole. “That forced us to throw the ball more than we wanted.”

Pendry, whose team fell to 0-3, added “They’re (Birmingham) an excellent football team, too good for us to make mistakes against. If they didn’t stop us, we had a penalty to stop ourselves.”

The Maulers won their first game the following week, against the equally-hapless Washington Federals, but it was hardly a case of turning a corner. They and Washington ended up the season at 3-15 and at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Coach Pendry was gone after ten weeks.

Birmingham, on the other hand, went on to win nine straight games and topped the Southern Division at 14-4. They easily defeated the division-rival Tampa Bay Bandits in the First Round playoff game but lost to the Philadelphia Stars, who had also ended their season winning streak, in the Eastern Conference Championship game.

Joe Cribbs led the USFL in rushing with 1467 yards on 297 carries (4.9 avg.) and 8 touchdowns. Cliff Stoudt had far better passing days than he did against the Maulers and ended up ranking second in the league with a 101.6 rating that included 3121 yards and 26 TDs to just 7 interceptions.

1985: Stallions Edge Gamblers Thanks to 5 Field Goals by Danny Miller

The United States Football League Quarterfinal playoff game on June 29, 1985 matched the Birmingham Stallions, with the league’s second best defense, against the USFL’s highest scoring team, the Houston Gamblers.

The host Stallions, coached by Rollie Dotsch, had finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 13-5 record. The defense, which featured DT Doug Smith, LB Herb Spencer, and FS Chuck Clanton (16 interceptions), allowed opponents to score just 299 points during the season. To be sure, the offense was effective as well, led by QB Cliff Stoudt, the league’s second-ranked passer (91.2), and including WR Jim Smith, who caught 87 passes for 1322 yards and 20 TDs; RB Joe Cribbs, the USFL’s leading rusher in 1984 who contributed another 1047 yards on the ground in ’85; and All-League guards Buddy Aydelette and Pat Saindon.

Houston, under Head Coach Jack Pardee, featured a run-and-shoot offense that could generate plenty of points – 618 in 1984 and 544 in ’85. QB Jim Kelly, who had a sensational rookie season in ’84, missed the last four games with a knee injury but still ended up as the USFL’s top-rated passer (97.9) and also paced the league by throwing for 4623 yards and 39 touchdowns. WR Richard Johnson was the leading receiver for the second straight year (103 catches) and gained 1384 yards with 14 TDs; WR Clarence Verdin ranked fourth with 84 receptions that added up to 1004 yards and 9 scores. The team faltered with Kelly out of the lineup, but still finished in third place in the Western Conference at 10-8, and Kelly would be behind center against the Stallions, although wearing a knee brace that would hinder his mobility.

There were 18,500 fans in attendance at Legion Field on a 90-degree day in Birmingham. Stallions PK Danny Miller started off the scoring with 39-yard field goal four minutes into the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Birmingham DB Ted Walton knocked the ball away from Verdin and DB Dennis Woodberry recovered for the Stallions at the Houston 34. Four plays later, the Stallions added to their lead with Stoudt’s eight-yard TD pass to Jim Smith.

Kelly showed no rust following the injury layoff, and completed his first seven passes. His 23-yard scoring throw to WR Gerald McNeil cut Birmingham’s lead to 10-7, and that was the tally after one quarter of play.

The teams traded field goals in the second quarter, although it had appeared that the Gamblers were on their way to another touchdown with the ball deep in Birmingham territory. But a goal-line stand by the Stallions, in which RB Todd Fowler was twice stopped short while attempting to dive into the end zone, caused Houston to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Toni Fritsch. Miller booted a 26-yard field goal for Birmingham and the Stallions took a 13-10 lead into halftime.

Midway through the third quarter, Miller kicked his third field goal of the day from 41 yards out. However, a short time later, Johnson got between the safeties and hauled in a Kelly pass, skidding through the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown. With the successful conversion, Houston had its first lead of the game at 17-16.

Birmingham came right back, driving 35 yards in 10 plays that culminated in Miller booming a 57-yard field goal near the end of the period, and took a 19-17 margin into the fourth quarter. In what was turning into a see-saw battle of field goals, the Gamblers responded with another of their own, of 46 yards by Fritsch with just over nine minutes left to play.

The Stallions drove to midfield on their next possession and, forced to punt, veteran Bob Parsons kicked one that was downed on the Houston one. The Gamblers moved to their 20 before having to punt in turn, and the field position advantage was strongly in the Stallions’ favor as they took over at the Houston 48. Playing conservatively, the offense drove 29 yards in six plays (four runs, including a 21-yard bootleg by Stoudt, and an incomplete pass) to set up Miller’s fifth field goal, which was successful from 35 yards with just under two minutes remaining (pictured at top).

Houston had one last shot, and it didn’t appear that the two-point lead would hold up when Kelly hit McNeil for a 21-yard gain on a fourth-and-18 play to the Birmingham 32 with five seconds remaining. The Gamblers had gone 58 yards in nine plays and now stood to win as the 39-year-old Fritsch, a 13-season pro veteran, attempted a 49-yard field goal. But the portly Austrian placekicker known as La Machine hooked the kick to the left and Birmingham came away with the 22-20 win.


Houston outgained the Stallions (385 yards to 248) and also had more first downs (25 to 18). But as Cliff Stoudt summed up afterward, “The only stat that counts is who got the W and who got the L. I feel real bad for Toni Fritsch - well, I don't feel real bad.”

Stoudt was successful on 13 of 26 passes for 156 yards and was not intercepted. Joe Cribbs gained 70 yards on 16 attempts, playing with an injured hand and bruised ribs. WR Joey Jones caught four passes for 59 yards while Jim Smith also caught four for 45.

While Danny Miller’s kicking statistics during the regular season were fairly ordinary (13 field goals in 20 attempts, five missed PATs), it was the second year in a row that he booted five field goals in a playoff game.

For the Gamblers, Jim Kelly completed 23 of 40 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Richard Johnson caught 7 passes for 120 yards. Todd Fowler ran for 36 yards on 9 carries and Sam Harrell had 29 yards on five attempts.

The end came for the Stallions the following week, as they lost in the Quarterfinal round to the eventual league champions, the Baltimore Stars. In their three seasons of existence, they made it to the postseason twice, advancing to the second round both times. Houston, a 1984 expansion team, went to the playoffs twice and lost in the first round in both instances.

1984: Stars Dominate in Showdown with Stallions

The United States Football League game on May 6, 1984 at Birmingham’s Legion Field was a showdown between two 9-1 teams, the Philadelphia Stars and Birmingham Stallions. Playing at home, and having won nine straight contests after losing in their opening game, the Stallions were slight favorites.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Rollie Dotsch, Birmingham was much improved from the team that went 9-9 in ’83. The most significant reasons were the addition of two veterans with NFL experience, QB Cliff Stoudt, formerly of the Steelers, and ex-Bills RB Joe Cribbs. They had the league’s top rushing offense and defensively were best against the run.

The Stars, also coached for the second year by Jim Mora, had made it all the way to the USFL title game in 1983 and, if anything, were an even better club in ’84. The offense, directed by QB Chuck Fusina and powered by RB Kelvin Bryant, was conservative but effective. The “Doghouse Defense” was outstanding against both the run and pass and gave up few points. They had outscored their opponents in the first half by a combined 99-3 in the previous four games, which proved to be more of an omen than seemed possible entering the game.

There were 49,500 fans in attendance at Legion Field for what was expected to be a close contest. Indeed, the Stallions defense stifled the powerful Philadelphia running game initially as the Stars netted just one yard on their first four running plays. However, the visitors proved capable of adjustment – and of moving effectively through the air when necessary.

There was only one score in the first quarter as Philadelphia FB David Riley ran for a seven-yard touchdown. The Stars took control of the game in the second quarter, putting up 23 more points before Birmingham could get on the board. The Stars capitalized on fumbles by Cribbs and CB Von Mansfield (returning a kickoff) that were turned into two of the three field goals kicked by David Trout during the period (two of 29 and one of 25 yards). There was also a pass from Fusina to WR Herbert Harris that initially bounced off the receiver’s hands, hit the defender, CB Dennis Woodberry, and then came back to Harris who juggled the ball but held on to complete the 51-yard touchdown play.

Fusina threw a second TD pass of 12 yards to WR Scott Fitzkee with a minute remaining in the half. The Stallions finally scored on the last play before halftime as Danny Miller kicked a 47-yard field goal, but Philadelphia held a 30-3 lead.

The second half only brought more of the same. Trout kicked a 26-yard field goal for the only points in the third quarter. The Stallions finally got another score in the fourth quarter when backup QB Bob Lane threw to WR Joey Jones for a 44-yard touchdown and then passed to WR Jim Smith for a successful two-point conversion.

However, Trout had already kicked his fifth field goal of the game, from 26 yards, and the Stars capped their domination of the contest with a 39-yard scoring run by RB Bryan Thomas. The final tally was 43-11, and Philadelphia made a clear statement as to which team could lay claim to being the USFL’s best.

The statistics were in line with the score. The Stars outgained the Stallions convincingly both on the ground (270 yards to 90) and through the air (219 to 145). They rolled up 26 first downs to Birmingham’s 10 and, against the team that had been the league’s best thus far in time of possession, held onto the ball for just over 38 minutes to slightly under 22 for the Stallions – fully 16 minutes more.

Kelvin Bryant led the rushing attack, as usual, with 84 yards on 18 carries. Bryan Thomas had 69 yards on seven attempts and David Riley ran the ball six times for 62 yards and a TD. Chuck Fusina completed 15 of 26 passes for 227 yards with the two touchdowns and none intercepted. WR Willie Collier caught four passes for 66 yards and Bryant four for 42, although Herbert Harris led in receiving yards with 74 on his three receptions, along with the one score. David Trout’s five field goals tied the USFL record and his 19 overall points were a new league single-game high by placekicking alone (Trout pictured at bottom).

For the Stallions, Cliff Stoudt (6 of 18 for 62 yards) and Bob Lane (4 of 10 for 99) combined to complete just 10 of 28 passes for 161 yards with a TD and an interception. Joe Cribbs gained 57 yards on 12 carries and caught four passes for 54 more. Joey Jones gained 65 yards on his two catches, including the one touchdown.

The two teams met again in the postseason as the Stars lost only one more game the rest of the way to finish atop the Atlantic Division with a 16-2 record and Birmingham ended up on top of the Southern Division at 14-4. The Stallions handily defeated the Tampa Bay Bandits in the first round of the playoffs while Philadelphia easily dispatched of the division-rival New Jersey Generals. The result of the rematch in the Eastern Conference title game was much the same as it had been in the regular season as the Stars won, 20-10. They went on to successfully complete the title run that fell short the year before, defeating Arizona for the USFL Championship.