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Somebody help me out here. I have a fuzzy memory as a kid of Chris Lincoln on Channel 8 talking about the Oklahoma Thunder football team. Is it just a bad memory, or was there such a thing? Or, was it just an idea that never got off the ground?
If I remember right, the helmet had a running horse on it.
But it's been 30 or so years... who knows?
Maybe, but no football for 9 months is a worse idea.Originally Posted by palisooner
Uhhh... the 3rd or 4th string RB from Tampa Bay is Mossis Madu.
I don't doubt they existed. Semi-Pro football leagues came and went during that time period, and back then local squads got some media coverage especially when a league formed
Official USFL Twitter is @TheUSFL
I was at one of those games during a downpour. The ex and I ran to the mall and got raingear during halftime. Came back and watched the rest of the game. We were soaked. Doug Williams led a drive for the winning touchdown with just seconds to go. Can't remember who they played that day.
They still exist. http://www.oklahomathunder.net/
edit: I should say that they exist again
I love the idea. There really needs to be a developmental league for guys that just need a couple of more years to hit their stride. I think the ultimate way for such a league to succeed, is to get it off of the ground in a small number of cities and attempt to get to a farm system model, with each NFL team having an affiliate.
A league like this will never be as popular as NFL football, but there is room for a spring league.
I had no idea.
Let me say this is my first post, long time reader but I was more interested in getting information from the “In the know” posters then giving my 2cents. Now this topic came along and it finally gave me a reason to write. I will break this into two posts the first will be “How the USFL can work.” And the second will be “Why should OKC even be interested.”
Ok, I realize the whole situation might be dead in the water because the USFL is just a paper tiger right now. As we know they have been saying they were coming back since 2001 and there is nothing to show for it but one news conference announcing Fred Biletnikoff as a football consultant, so who knows, but here goes. The organization already did the first smart thing, they are considering cities that do not have established NFL or MLB franchises so the fans will not fill spilt on where to spend their disposable income, with the way our economy is going consumers really need to think before they spend.
Secondly, try to use the tradition of the old league meaning uniform colors, retired player from the league (Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Doug Flutie, etc.) to promote the product. Stay in the spring, you do not go up against a power house like the NFL in their own back yard. The UFL and the WFL found that out, the NFL is just too tough that time of year.
Third, allow fans and media access to the players and the team. We all know how frustrating it is to be a Sooner fan. Spring practice just ended and besides little bits of information the coaches reluctantly gave and a short Spring Game we as fans get nothing else. So the league could establish a program that coaches and players are available so fans could get REAL information, just not coach speak. This would also allow the team to build a relationship with the community.
Fourth, allow college sophomores and maybe freshmen the opportunity to play. Now before everyone jumps down my throat about letting these kids play at this age, hell we are letting kids this age go and fight and die for this country, why shouldn’t we give these the opportunity to excel. This is not 25 years ago a lot of these kids are coming out physically more prepared then most could ever imagine. Now if you are telling me Ronnell Lewis was such a great academic student or what if Courtney Gardner does not qualify shouldn’t they be allowed to achieve their goals another way. Now we all remember the situation with the GREAT SMOKE, AKA Chris Patterson, a great talent but never got his opportunity at OU. There is a list a mile long of great athletes who never got the chance because they were not good students.
Fifth, keep ticket and refreshment prices affordable. No Jerry Jones entrance fees, no $26 hotdogs. The normal fan cannot afford this and they would be the life blood to make this work.
Sixth, make an age limit of no older then 30yrs old or maybe 6yrs or less of Professional experience. This league does not need to be a place where washed up old veterans go to fade away, it needs to be a place where the young guns go to prove their worth. Omar Jacobs, Dennis Dixon, and even Tommy Grady would be given a chance and not buried on a depth chart.
Seventh, there must be a TV contract. ABC would be the logical choice and they should try ESPN because what programing do they showcase in the spring, professional poker, wow. They should even try to work with the NFL and get on the NFL Network, in the spring all they have is the NFL Draft and reruns, how boring.
Finally, make the league fun. Let the players enjoy themselves on the field. I had the opportunity to watch the ESPN special on What Killed the USFL and every player that was interviewed all said they had FUN. If there is one thing I remember about the USFL is the entertainment value people went and watched to have a good time. I think that is something the NFL has forgotten since they are the big dog; they can do what they want to kill the game and who cares about the fans. That is what I have for now hopefully I give everyone something to think about. If anyone is interested I will next give my 2cents on Why OKC should even be interested in a franchise.
I wish I could blow that pic up just to see the name of the players..
Finally! Something to watch on Sportscenter in the off season that is not ****ing baseball.
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RAD, perhaps...
**** baseball.
Oklahoma could be a strong contender for a team. From the USFL website:
Q: What will the geography of the league look like?
A: There will be no mandates where team owners/operators locate their teams, but expecting to have a nationwide footprint. Desired locations include teams near hubs of collegiate football and in markets that do not have strong professional sports competition in the spring
Would Oklahoma Support a team?
Two Questions: 1st, Would Oklahoma even support a USFL Franchise? It's not OU or the cowgirls so who cares?
2nd, Where would they play? No way they will be able to use Owen Field, and really who cares about lil'brother up north, Boone thinks he spent them into the big time so would they be willing to let a USFL Team use their stadium?
Depends on how the league ends up. But I would think Oklahoma would support it unless it's ran bad. We support minor league hockey teams when nobody knows their names and Minor League baseball teams with nobody knowing any players so we could easily support a football team for half a dozen games. Tulsa is probably the best prospect for a team full time. Maybe one game a year in OF or Stillyworld.
SoonerLibertarian; I could not agree more with you, if it is ran well and the product put on the field is worthwhile I hope Oklahoma would support it. I am just worried it might be too late, it seems a newspaper article has ran in a lot of the other areas being considered about the new USFL but as far as I can tell there has been nothing in the DOK or the Tulsa World.
As far as where to play, I would love to see one of the major oil companies based in OKC (DEVON or Chesapeake) pay for the renovation of TAFT Stadium. Now that would be special.
TOTALLY!
Screw the USFL, bring back OTASCO instead.
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Any stadium in Oklahoma would have to be done through the MAPS project probably which would mean more taxes. And it would take a few years to really build a stadium. I doubt they would use TAFT stadium. It's still in the early stages for this league. Nobody really knows anything about it right now. When the USFL was going last time, although it had a better product than it will now. Tulsa drew pretty good.
I think that Edmond could handle it.
What stadium in Edmond?
Wantland.
Good starting point before investing in a complex...se how the league goes.
Didn't the previous USFL team play at Skelly stadium? I'm sure TU would be all for it.
The Talons drew really well in Tulsa before the move from AF2 to the Arena league hurt their ability to be competitive. I could see those same fans, plus a lot more going to watch an outdoor team, especially if they can stack the team will players from OU, OSU, TU, and other small colleges in the area.
http://sportsradiointerviews.com/201...back-the-usfl/
Jeff Garcia joined WDAE in Tampa to discuss the rebirth of the USFL, the folks who are behind bringing it back, how it will be different from some of the other professional leagues that are out there and how it will be run similarly to the NFL.
Talk about the USFL and its rebirth:
“That’s part of what I’m doing. I’ve been named on the board of advisers for the USFL, bringing a league back that I think is very much needed in the sense that their approach will be more of a developmental league for the NFL. It’ll be a spring league. It’s not going to compete with any college football, any pro football at the same time. It’ll give some of these kids an opportunity that are coming out. … The USFL can bring back that name recognition, bring back a plan where they’re playing in the spring time, get a TV contract of some sort, get some marketing support, some sponsorship support. I think this could be a league that would not only help develop players, but develop coaches, develop management staff, develop scouts.”
Who approached you about this and who are the names behind it?:
“Fred Biletnikoff Jr. was one of the guys that approached me. Obviously his dad is now on the board of advisers. There have been a couple of gentlemen that have been very involved in the NFL for a number of years. Jim Steeg, who was involved with the Dolphins and Chargers, helping bring the Super Bowl to San Diego. James Bailey, who was with the Cleveland Browns for a number of years and then with the Baltimore Ravens. … So you have some people that have been very involved in the NFL, especially on the front-office side of the world that understand what it takes to run a league, run a team, which I think is very important.”
On the differences with some of the other leagues that are out there:
“Unlike the UFL, that has tried over the past few years to get themselves going, the USFL will not lock a player in contractually if the NFL wants to go pick him out of the league right now. I think that’s one of the great things. Granted, you may only have a few guys that get picked out of the USFL to the NFL, but if you give everybody that dream that they could possibly use this as a stepping stone, that’s what the whole thing, the vision, is all about.”
What will the parameters be? Will the games be just like the NFL or more like the CFL or XFL that have different wrinkles?:
“They’re pretty much looking at the exact same product, pretty much looking at the same rules, keeping it relatively all the same as far as the NFL is concerned. The main thing here is to try to get spread throughout the country with eight cities initially and be in cities that don’t have a professional football experience, but have maybe great college experiences. Cities like, even Tallahassee has been a city that’s been mentioned because of Florida State’s greatness there and not having necessarily Tampa or Miami anywhere close by. … Cities like Omaha in Nebraska … Salt Lake City, Portland, Oregon. … They’re looking at the structure, from a league standpoint, of how Major League Soccer runs its program, and really trying to keep things under control — not try to pay out a lot of dollars, although the dollars that are paid out to the players will be very respectable.”
That's essentially what NFL Europe was.
I think it would have succeeded if it had been in the US.
I agree. They like futbol over there.
FOOTBALL: San Diego group's plan to resurrect USFL generating quite a buzz
After a series of conversations with potential ownership groups, Cuadra said the USFL's eight teams are likely to come from a group of cities that includes Austin, Akron, Ohio, Portland, Ore., Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Oklahoma City, Omaha, Neb., and Las Vegas. Orange County (league organizers toured Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton two weeks ago) and a to-be-determined site in South Florida are also under consideration.
I hope they name them the Ninjas.
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United States Football League targets 2014 to kick off inaugural season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
League makes move to allow time for further development in advance of on-field competition, ****ure success in key areas
San Diego, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2012) — The United States Football League (USFL) announced today that it will target spring 2014 to kick off its inaugural season, allowing the league and its partners the necessary time to develop infrastructure that will be critical to the long-term success of the USFL.
“We are all very proud of and excited about the progress that has been made toward building the premier sports and entertainment property we envisioned when we purchased the rights to the USFL,” said USFL President & Chief Executive Officer Jaime Cuadra. “Targeting a 2014 kickoff is a strategy that everyone on our executive team and board of advisors agrees is best for the league. This should not be taken as an indication that we have stopped working toward our goal. We have a realistic outlook on what needs to be done, and we know we need more time to build this league the right way.
It is critical at this stage that we ensure our processes and decisions are made with the long-term future being paramount. With that in mind, we are confident that moving the kickoff of on-field competition to 2014 is the right decision.”
After announcing EndZone Sports Management’s purchase of the rights to the USFL moniker in February 2012, March 2013 was set as a target to kick off competition, giving the league 14 months to establish its infrastructure, business operations, teams and corporate/media partnerships.
The decision to kick off in 2014 has been well received by prospective partners and investors. Discussions in prospective markets continue to move forward. No formal date has been set to announce the league’s inaugural field of teams, though the league remains steadfast in its goal to re-introduce the USFL to football fans in 2014.
“In my experience, I have found building a brand and a business is a process that will have starts, stops and resets,” said Jim Bailey, Chairman of the USFL’s Board of Advisors and formerly a top executive with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens franchise who oversaw the team’s move to Baltimore. “Building a professional sports league will take time, and we understand that we need to allow ourselves and our partners the appropriate time to build our league the right way so we can launch from a solid foundation and ensure the longevity of the USFL.“
“We are grateful to all those who have showed support for the USFL as we continue to build our brand and legacy,” added Cuadra. “We are committed to completing the hard work necessary to launch the best league possible in 2014.”
The USFL intends to keep its philosophies intact across the board. The USFL is designed to allow players an opportunity to play professionally, with the aim of continued development for its athletes.
The USFL will be structured as a single-entity business. All player and coach contracts will be owned by the USFL, and each team owner will be a member-operator of the league.
The USFL will operate independently of other professional football organizations, but does plan to establish a collaborative environment with similar entities in order to create the relationships that provide its players and personnel with the best opportunity for exposure and training to advance their playing careers to the highest level of the sport.
The USFL will endeavor to prepare players for life after playing football by providing mentorship and counsel to expand the athletes’ awareness of opportunities inside and, especially, outside of football. Additionally, the USFL plans to enhance the fan experience by providing greater access to its players and employing advanced technology to improve the viewing experience for its fans.
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