Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Jacksonville Bulls
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jacksonville Bulls were a team which competed in the final two seasons of the United States Football League, 1984 and 1985. They played their home games in the former Gator Bowl Stadium. The Bulls represented a serious attempt to form a viable professional football organization. Former Miami Dolphins stars Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick were involved in an advertising campaign for the team, and apparently had at least a minor ownership interest as well. Larry Munson was hired as a radio play-by-play announcer. His very distinctive voice was already quite well-known in the Jacksonville area already due to his long association with both the University of Georgia Bulldogs college team and the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons.
The name "Bulls" was taken from Fred Bullard, the owner of the team. The team colors of maroon, orange and silver were taken from the three college football teams most popular in the area; the orange from the Florida Gators, the maroon from the Florida State Seminoles, and the silver was a nod to the silver pants worn by the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Bulls weren't a very good team in their first season (1984), going 6-12. Yet they were overwhelmed by their fan support, setting USFL attendance records. On one occasion, a huge crowd at the Gator Bowl patiently waited through a late-June downpour which postponed the game for more than an hour. When play finally started, the game was a blowout, ending in a 26-2 Jacksonville victory. The Bulls' second season (1985) was considerably better, ending with a 9-9 record- just one win short of a playoff spot.
Nothing could prevent the Bulls' demise, however, as the league itself made several fatal errors, the chief two of which were the plans to switch to a fall schedule effective with the 1986 season (which was never actually played) and the decision essentially to stake the league's future on the outcome of an anti-trust suit against the NFL. When the league technically won the suit but was awarded only $3 in damages, the Bulls were forced to fold, along with all of the other USFL teams, and they passed into history and the realm of what might have been.
Many Jacksonville football fans believe that had it not been for the Bulls' success, the NFL would have never even considered awarding the Jacksonville Jaguars to the city.
The Bulls led the league in attendance in their inaugural season and were again one of the leaders in 1985. Their crowd of 73,228 on March 4, 1984, against the New Jersey Generals was the best in league history.
The 1985 Bulls were the first team in professional football history[citation needed] to simultaneously have the winners of three different Heisman Trophies on its roster. The Heisman winners were Mike Rozier (1983) and Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975).
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 5th EC Southern | -- |
| 1985 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 6th EC | -- |
| Totals | 15 | 21 | 0 | ||
| United States Football League |
| Arizona Wranglers (1983-84) | Birmingham Stallions (1983-85) | Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers (1983-85) | Chicago Blitz (1983-84) | Denver Gold (1983-85) | Los Angeles Express (1983-85) | Michigan Panthers (1983-84) | New Jersey Generals (1983-85) | Oakland Invaders (1983-85) | Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (1983-85) | Tampa Bay Bandits (1983-85) | Washington Federals/Orlando Renegades (1983-85) | Houston Gamblers (1984-85) | Jacksonville Bulls (1984-85) | Memphis Showboats (1984-85) | Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws (1984-85) | Pittsburgh Maulers (1984) | San Antonio Gunslingers (1984-85) |