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1983 USFL season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | 1983 USFL season |
| image | File:Logo of the United States Football League.png |
| duration | March 6 – July 3, 1983 |
| finals_date | July 17, 1983 |
| finals_venue | Denver, Colorado |
| finals_champ | Michigan Panthers |
| nextseason_year | 1984 |
The 1983 USFL season was the inaugural season of the United States Football League.
Rules differences from NFL
- Optional 2 point conversion after touchdown (the NFL would add this rule in 1994).
- Optional 1 inch kicking tee for extra points and field goal attempts.
- Clock stop on first downs within the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters.
- Intentional and unintentional pass interference.
- Six member officiating crew (no side judge).
- The USFL game ball was inch (1 cm) shorter than the NFL game ball (both made by Wilson).
- There were no preseason games.
Expansion cities for 1984
During the 1983 season, the USFL announced expansion cities for the 1984 season.
- Pittsburgh April 28
- San Diego May 16; moved to Tulsa July 7
- Houston May 19
- Jacksonville June 14
- San Antonio July 11
- Memphis July 17
Regular season
Michigan won the tiebreaker with Chicago based on season series 2-0-0
Playoffs
| Away team | Score | Home team | Date | Divisional playoffs | USFL Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile High Stadium, Denver Colorado | |||||
| Chicago Blitz | 38–44 (OT) | Philadelphia Stars | July 9, 1983 | ||
| Oakland Invaders | 21–37 | Michigan Panthers | July 10, 1983 | ||
| Michigan Panthers | 24–22 | Philadelphia Stars | July 17, 1983 |
| RD1-seed1 = A1 | RD1-seed2 = C2 | RD1-seed3 = P1 | RD1-seed4 = C1 | RD1-team1 = Philadelphia | RD1-team2 = Chicago | RD1-score1 = 44 (OT) | RD1-score2 = 38 | RD1-team3 = Oakland | RD1-team4 = Michigan | RD1-score3 = 21 | RD1-score4 = 37
| RD2-seed1 = A1 | RD2-seed2 = C1 | RD2-team1 = Philadelphia | RD2-team2 = Michigan | RD2-score1 = 22 | RD2-score2 = 24
Statistics
1983 regular season stat leaders
| Name, Team | Att | Comp | % | yards | YDs/Att | TD | TD % | Long | INT | INT % | Rating | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Hebert, MICH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fred Besana, OAK | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Landry, CHIC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Jordan, TB | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chuck Fusina, PHIL | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan Risher, ARIZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnnie Walton, BOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Rae, LA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Hohensee, WASH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bobby Scott, NJ/CHIC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Ramsey, LA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Kelley, TB | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bob Lane, BIRM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kim McQuilken, WASH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Reaves, TB | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ken Johnson, DENV | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joe Gilliam, WASH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reggie Collier, BIRM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Manucci, ARIZ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Knapple, DENV/NJ |
| POS Name, Team | Att | Yds | Avg. | Long | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB Herschel Walker, NJ | 412 | 1812 | 4.4 | t83 | 17 |
| HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL | 318 | 1442 | 4.5 | 45 | 16 |
| HB Ken Lacy, MI | 232 | 1180 | 5.1 | 59 | 6 |
| HB Tim Spencer, CHIC | 300 | 1157 | 3.9 | 25 | 6 |
| HB Arthur Whittington, OAK | 282 | 1043 | 3.7 | 24 | 6 |
| HB Kevin Long, CHIC | 262 | 1022 | 3.9 | 33 | 12 |
| HB Richard Crump, BOS | 190 | 990 | 5.2 | 62 | 8 |
| HB Ken Talton, BIRM | 228 | 907 | 4.0 | 28 | 5 |
| HB Craig James, WASH | 202 | 823 | 4.1 | 24 | 4 |
| HB Harry Sydney, DENV | 176 | 801 | 4.6 | 45 | 9 |
| HB Billy Taylor, WASH | 171 | 757 | 4.4 | 34 | 5 |
| HB Calvin Murray, ARIZ | 179 | 699 | 3.9 | 34 | 4 |
| HB Greg Boone, TB | 174 | 694 | 4.0 | 21 | 5 |
| HB Allen Harvin, PHIL | 139 | 681 | 4.9 | 49 | 7 |
| HB Larry Canada, DENV | 142 | 631 | 4.4 | t24 | 3 |
| POS Name, Team | Rec | Yds | Avg. | Long | TDs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR Trumaine Johnson, CHIC | ||||||||||
| WR Danny Buggs, TB | ||||||||||
| WR Ricky Ellis, LA | ||||||||||
| TE Raymond Chester, OAK | ||||||||||
| WR Eric Truvillion, TB | ||||||||||
| HB Arthur Whittington, OAK | ||||||||||
| TE Mark Keel, ARIZ | ||||||||||
| HB Billy Taylor, WASH | ||||||||||
| WR Joey Walters, WASH | ||||||||||
| WR Jackie Flowers, ARIZ | ||||||||||
| WR Neil Balholm, ARIZ | ||||||||||
| WR Nolan Franz, BOS | ||||||||||
| WR Gordon Banks, OAK | ||||||||||
| TE Michael Cobb, MICH | ||||||||||
| WR Anthony Carter, MICH | ||||||||||
| WR Scott Fitzkee, PHIL | ||||||||||
| WR Charles Smith, BOS | ||||||||||
| WR Wyatt Henderson, OAK | ||||||||||
| HB Herschel Walker, NJ | ||||||||||
| HB Kelvin Bryant, PHIL |
Awards
Offense
| Position | Player(s) |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | 11 Bobby Hebert, Michigan Panthers |
| Running back | 34 Herschel Walker, New Jersey Generals |
| 44 Kelvin Bryant, Philadelphia Stars | |
| Wide receiver | 2 Trumaine Johnson, Chicago Blitz |
| 84 Eric Truvillion, Tampa Bay Bandits | |
| Tight end | 87 Raymond Chester, Oakland Invaders |
| Offensive tackle | 75 Irv Eatman, Philadelphia Stars |
| 74 Ray Pinney, Michigan Panthers | |
| Guard | 78 Buddy Aydelette, Birmingham Stallions |
| 63 Thom Dornbrook, Michigan Panthers | |
| Center | 67 Bob Van Duyne, Tampa Bay Bandits |
Defense
| Position | Player(s) |
|---|---|
| Defensive end | 79 Mike Raines, Birmingham Stallions |
| 70 Kit Lathrop, Chicago Blitz | |
| Defensive tackle | 68 Fred Nordgren, Tampa Bay Bandits |
| Linebacker | 57 John Corker, Michigan Panthers |
| 52 Stan White, Chicago Blitz | |
| 54 Sam Mills, Philadelphia Stars | |
| 56 Marcus Marek, Boston Breakers | |
| Cornerback | 33 Jeff George, Tampa Bay Bandits |
| 34 David Martin, Denver Gold | |
| Safety | 27 Luther Bradley, Chicago Blitz |
| 25 Scott Woerner, Philadelphia Stars |
Special teams
| Position | Player(s) |
|---|---|
| Kicker | 5 Tim Mazzetti, Boston Breakers |
| Punter | 10 Stan Talley, Oakland Invaders |
| Kickoff returner | 40 Eric Robinson, Washington Federals |
| Punt returner | 34 David Martin, Denver Gold |
Season awards
| Award | Winner | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| USFL Most Valuable Player | Kelvin Bryant | RB | Philadelphia Stars |
| USFL Most Valuable Player (AP) | Kelvin Bryant | RB | Philadelphia Stars |
| USFL Player of the Year (TSN) | Bobby Hebert | QB | Michigan Panthers |
| USFL Man of the Year | Raymond Chester | WR | Oakland Invaders |
| USFL Coach of the Year | Dick Coury | Head coach | Boston Breakers |
| USFL Coach of the Year (TSN) | Dick Coury | Head coach | Boston Breakers |
| USFL Outstanding Running Back | Herschel Walker | RB | New Jersey Generals |
| USFL Outstanding Quarterback | Bobby Hebert | QB | Michigan Panthers |
| USFL Leading Scorer Award | David Trout | K | Philadelphia Stars |
| USFL Leading Receiver | Trumaine Johnson | WR | Chicago Blitz |
| USFL Defensive Player of the Year | John Corker | LB | Michigan Panthers |
| USFL Outstanding Lineman | Kit Lathrop | DL | Chicago Blitz |
| Special Teams Player of the Year | Stan Talley | P | Oakland Invaders |
| USFL Executive of the Year (TSN) | Carl Peterson | General manager | Philadelphia Stars |
References
References
- (Apr 29, 1983). "Pittsburgh Gets USFL Team". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
- (May 17, 1983). "San Diego gets USFL franchise". [[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina).
- (July 8, 1983). "Tulsa awarded new USFL franchise after San Diego spurns proposal". [[The Nevada Daily Mail]].
- (May 20, 1983). "USFL Selects Houston For Expansion Team". [[The Victoria Advocate]].
- (Jun 15, 1983). "Jacksonville Gets USFL Team For 1984 Season". [[Ocala Star-Banner]].
- (Jul 12, 1983). "San Antonio Gets USFL Team". [[Gainesville Sun]].
- (Jul 18, 1983). "Memphis Gets USFL Franchise". [[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]].
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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