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MICHIGAN
PANTHERS HISTORY
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| YEARS
IN LEAGUE: 1983-84 |
OWNER
: A. Alfred Taubman and Judge Peter Spivak |
| STADIUM:
Pontiac Silverdome (80,000) |
HEAD
COACH : Jim Stanley |
| OVERALL
REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 22-14 OVERALL PLAYOFF RECORD:
2-1 |
COLORS: Blue,
Champagne, Plum |
| 1984
STANDINGS: 12-6 1985 STANDINGS: 10-8 |
1983
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 22,250 1984 AVERAGE HOME
ATTENDANCE: 32,457 |
USFL CHAMPIONS: 1983
Synopsis:
The
Michigan Panthers perhaps best exemplified what the USFL could
have been. The Panthers, coached by Jim Stanley, were a young,
exciting team that provided its fans with plenty of good football.
A 1-4 start in 1983 bore little resemblance to the way Michigan
played the rest of the season. After the slow beginning, the
Panthers won six straight to get back into contention for a
playoff spot. Their 12-6 record and two victories over the Chicago
Blitz gave them the Central Division crown and the right to
host a first round playoff game. In front of 60,237 fans at
the Silverdome, the Panthers cruised to a 37-21 win over the
Oakland Invaders. Twice the Panthers went for it on fourth down
when in field goal range and twice they scored touchdowns. Michigan
then knocked off the Philadelphia Stars at Denver's Mile High
Stadium for the first league crown.
Michigan started the 1984 campaign at 6-0, but crashed to the
earth after Carter broke his arm in the sixth game against the
San Antonio Gunslingers. Try as they might, the Panthers were
just a shadow of their former selves and had to win their final
two games just to make the playoffs. Once there, they battled
the Los Angeles Express in the longest game in pro football
history before succumbing, 27-21, in the third overtime. Two
missed field goals by otherwise reliable Novo Bojovic were the
difference.
With the announced move to the fall for 1986, the Panthers had
to find a new home in Detroit. A. Alfred Taubman chose to merge
the Panthers' lot in with the Oakland Invaders. |
| 1983
RESULTS |
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1984
RESULTS |
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| at
Birmingham |
W |
9-7 |
CHICAGO |
W |
20-18 |
| at
Tampa Bay |
L |
19-7 |
PITTSBURGH |
W |
27-24 |
| OAKLAND |
L |
33-27 |
at
Denver |
W |
28-0 |
| at
Washington |
L |
22-16
OT |
ARIZONA |
W |
31-26 |
| DENVER |
L |
29-21 |
at
Houston |
W |
52-34 |
| at
New Jersey |
W |
21-6 |
SAN
ANTONIO |
W |
26-10 |
| CHICAGO |
W |
17-12 |
at
Oklahoma |
L |
20-17 |
| LOS
ANGELES |
W |
34-24 |
BIRMINGHAM |
L |
28-17 |
| at
Boston |
W |
28-24 |
TAMPA
BAY |
L |
20-7 |
| at
Arizona |
W |
21-10 |
at
New Jersey |
L |
31-21 |
| NEW
JERSEY |
W |
31-24 |
HOUSTON |
W |
31-28
OT |
| BIRMINGHAM |
L |
23-20
OT |
at
New Orleans |
L |
10-3 |
| TAMPA
BAY |
W |
43-7 |
at
Los Angeles |
L |
24-17 |
| at
Philadelphia |
L |
29-20 |
PHILADELPHIA |
L |
31-13 |
| at
Los Angeles |
W |
42-17 |
at
San Antonio |
W |
20-17
OT |
| WASHINGTON |
W |
27-25 |
at
Oakland |
L |
20-13 |
| at
Chicago |
W |
34-19 |
OKLAHOMA |
W |
34-24 |
| ARIZONA |
W |
33-7 |
at
Chicago |
W |
20-17 |
| OAKLAND |
W |
37-21 |
at
Los Angeles |
L |
21-27
3 OT's |
| vs
Philadelphia* |
W |
24-22 |
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Remember the
USFL
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