While the WFL failed in the 1970s, the United States Football League was being set up to succeed as early as 1965. That's when David Dixon, a New Orleans businessman who brought the Saints and the Superdome to his city, developed what is now called the "Dixon Plan."
The plan was for a spring-summer football league with teams in top TV markets, playing in NFL-caliber stadiums. The league would also have a national TV contract and owners who would promise to limit their spending.
Like the WFL, the league began play with 12 teams in three divisions. Their first season began in March 1983.
The new league succeeded in more than a few ways. Attendance was roughly 25,000 on average, with the Gold and the Bandits leading the way. The TV ratings were even better: the league had aimed for a 5.0 Nielsen rating but averaged a 6.1.
From a talent standpoint, the USFL proved to be a formidable alternative to the NFL. By allowing players to join after three years of college—unlike the NFL, at the time—the new league was able to attract the most recent Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker (who would sign with the Generals), as well as other young players and even some NFL veterans.
Notably, the signing of Walker (for millions of dollars over three years) flouted the spending limit portion of the Dixon Plan. His contract was actually between him and the Generals' owner, rather than with the team, because of the league's salary cap. But the other owners didn't complain; the league was now a credible force.
The USFL played 18 games over 18 weeks, concluding the regular season with a 4-team playoff. As with just about any other league, each division would get at least one team in the postseason. That meant that Pacific champion Oakland (9-9 in the regular season) received a bid over Tampa Bay and Boston (both 11-7).
With a 15-3 regular season record, the Philadelphia Stars were the top seed in the playoffs. The tie between the Michigan Panthers and Chicago Blitz was decided in favor of the Panthers, based on their head-to-head 2-0 record against the Blitz. That meant that the Blitz would play at the Stars in the first round, while the Panthers would host the Invaders.
And that may be what allowed the Panthers to pounce in the inaugural USFL title game, as they defeated the Stars, 24-22. While the Panthers easily dispatched the Invaders, the Blitz forced overtime against the Stars.
In spite of that, the Chicago Blitz finish on top of my ratings for the 1983 USFL season.
There's a strong positive correlation between my ratings and point differentials. Unsurprisingly, the top three teams here were the only three to score more than 100 points more than they allowed. While the Panthers were third in that metric, their strong performance down the stretch really helped them.
Now, all of this is not to say that there were no issues for the new league. In addition to running around the salary cap to sign Walker and other stars, some NFL teams refused to allow their stadiums to host USFL teams. This kept some teams, such as the Boston Breakers, from making money despite their passionate fans.
But all in all, the United States Football League succeeded in its first year. Every football league is going to struggle early on; in the early days of the NFL, the mere idea of playing the sport professionally was scoffed at.
Next week, I'll be looking at the 1984 season of the USFL. Its 18 teams will be the most of any season that is part of this series. Don't forget to come around for my XFL ratings, too!
The plan was for a spring-summer football league with teams in top TV markets, playing in NFL-caliber stadiums. The league would also have a national TV contract and owners who would promise to limit their spending.
Like the WFL, the league began play with 12 teams in three divisions. Their first season began in March 1983.
The new league succeeded in more than a few ways. Attendance was roughly 25,000 on average, with the Gold and the Bandits leading the way. The TV ratings were even better: the league had aimed for a 5.0 Nielsen rating but averaged a 6.1.
From a talent standpoint, the USFL proved to be a formidable alternative to the NFL. By allowing players to join after three years of college—unlike the NFL, at the time—the new league was able to attract the most recent Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker (who would sign with the Generals), as well as other young players and even some NFL veterans.
Notably, the signing of Walker (for millions of dollars over three years) flouted the spending limit portion of the Dixon Plan. His contract was actually between him and the Generals' owner, rather than with the team, because of the league's salary cap. But the other owners didn't complain; the league was now a credible force.
The USFL played 18 games over 18 weeks, concluding the regular season with a 4-team playoff. As with just about any other league, each division would get at least one team in the postseason. That meant that Pacific champion Oakland (9-9 in the regular season) received a bid over Tampa Bay and Boston (both 11-7).
With a 15-3 regular season record, the Philadelphia Stars were the top seed in the playoffs. The tie between the Michigan Panthers and Chicago Blitz was decided in favor of the Panthers, based on their head-to-head 2-0 record against the Blitz. That meant that the Blitz would play at the Stars in the first round, while the Panthers would host the Invaders.
And that may be what allowed the Panthers to pounce in the inaugural USFL title game, as they defeated the Stars, 24-22. While the Panthers easily dispatched the Invaders, the Blitz forced overtime against the Stars.
In spite of that, the Chicago Blitz finish on top of my ratings for the 1983 USFL season.
There's a strong positive correlation between my ratings and point differentials. Unsurprisingly, the top three teams here were the only three to score more than 100 points more than they allowed. While the Panthers were third in that metric, their strong performance down the stretch really helped them.
Now, all of this is not to say that there were no issues for the new league. In addition to running around the salary cap to sign Walker and other stars, some NFL teams refused to allow their stadiums to host USFL teams. This kept some teams, such as the Boston Breakers, from making money despite their passionate fans.
But all in all, the United States Football League succeeded in its first year. Every football league is going to struggle early on; in the early days of the NFL, the mere idea of playing the sport professionally was scoffed at.
Next week, I'll be looking at the 1984 season of the USFL. Its 18 teams will be the most of any season that is part of this series. Don't forget to come around for my XFL ratings, too!
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