1983 Michigan Panthers season

Michigan Panthers football
1983 Michigan Panthers football
1983 record	12-6 ( )
Head coach	Jim Stanley (1st season)
Home stadium	Pontiac Silverdome
	Seasons ← 1982 1984 →

Michigan held its first training camp at City Island Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, sifting through over 75 players.

On Monday, March 7, 1983; the Panthers opened the season with a 9-7 win over the Birmingham Stallions at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. This was the first professional football game ever broadcast on ESPN. Serbian kicker (via Central Michigan) Novo Bojovic kicked the winning field goal from 48 yards out in the waning moments.

The Panthers then dropped their next four contests, losing on March 12 to the Tampa Bay Bandits (19-7); Mar. 19 at home to the Oakland Invaders (33-27); Mar. 27 at the Washington Federals (22-16 in OT) and April 4 at home to the Denver Gold (29-21). Their slow start was attributed mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars. Management addressed the issue by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen in OT Ray Pinney (Pittsburgh Steelers), OG Tyrone McGriff (Pittsburgh Steelers) and OG Thom Dornbrook (NY Giants). Dornbrook and McGriff would both make USFL all-league teams in 1983.

The Panthers had a six-game winning streak. Then, on May 23, they and the Birmingham Stallions were tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter. Michigan would have had the lead, but the extra point attempt was blocked. The game went into overtime and was won by Birmingham thanks to a 46-yard field goal by Stallions placekicker Scott Norwood.

The Panthers would bounce back with a 42-7 thrashing of the stellar Tampa Bay Bandits, coached by future Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier. After making those additions, and installing rookie Bobby Hebert as quarterback, the Panthers then won 11 of their next 13 contests and captured the Central Division championship with a 12-6 record.

In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted the Western Division champion Oakland Invaders before a USFL-record crowd of 60,237. The Panthers' decisive 37-21 victory vaulted them to the inaugural USFL Championship Game in Denver, Colorado.

On July 17, 1983, the Panthers captured the USFL's first championship with a 24-22 win over the Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia Stars. QB Bobby Hebert hit WR Anthony Carter on a 48-yard touchdown strike with 11:59 left in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

The Panthers wound up spending $6 million during the season—three times what USFL founder David Dixon recommended that a team spend in a single season. As a result, they had NFL-comparable talent at several positions.

Roster[edit]

1983 Michigan Panthers final roster

Quarterbacks

11 Bobby Hebert
15 Mark Miller
10 Whit Taylor

Running backs

30 Tony Ellis
34 Mike Hagen FB
33 Jim Hargrove FB
28 Ken Lacy
40 John Williams

Wide receivers

1 Anthony Carter
29 Derek Holloway
86 Ron Ingram
82 Frank McClain

Tight ends

89 Mike Cobb
85 Don Echols

Offensive linemen

64 Steve Cox G
73 Greg Fairchild T
70 Chris Godfrey T
74 Russ Graham T
69 Marv Mantos G
56 Tom Piette C
55 Wayne Radloff C
60 Tony Vitale G

Defensive linemen

90 Curtis Anderson DE
72 Phil Dokes DE
77 Jeff Jackson DE
87 Ronnie Paggett DE
65 David Tipton NT
Ira Albright NT

Linebackers

50 Ray Bentley
46 Kyle Borland
41 Andy Cannavino
58 Will Cokeley
57 John Corker
53 Mike Edwards
51 Mel Land
59 Robert Pennywell
52 Rickey Young

Defensive backs

25 John Arnaud S
21 Marion Body S
22 Clarence Chapman CB
26 Elbert Gray CB
31 David Greenwood S-P
24 Fred Logan CB
23 Ron Osborne CB

Special teams

3 Novo Bojovic K

Reserve lists

Practice squad {{{practice_squad}}}

Rookies in italics
Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Regular season[edit]

Schedule[edit]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance	Television
1	March 7	Birmingham Stallions	W 9-7	Legion Field	30,305	ESPN
2	March 12	Tampa Bay Bandits	L 7-19	Tampa Stadium	38,789	ABC
3	March 19	Oakland Invaders	L 27-33	Pontiac Silverdome	28,952	ESPN
4	March 27	Washington Federals	L 16-22 (OT)	RFK Stadium	11,404	ABC
5	April 4	Denver Gold	L 21-29	Pontiac Silverdome	11,279	ESPN
6	April 10	New Jersey Generals	W 21-6	Giants Stadium	17,648	ABC
7	April 17	Chicago Blitz	W 17-12	Pontiac Silverdome	11,634	ABC
8	April 23	Los Angeles Express	W 34-24	Pontiac Silverdome	13,184	ESPN
9	May 1	Boston Breakers	W 28-24	Nickerson Field	10,971	ABC
10	May 7	Arizona Wranglers	W 21-10	Sun Devil Stadium	20,423
11	May 16	New Jersey Generals	W 31-24	Pontiac Silverdome	32,862	ESPN
12	May 23	Birmingham Stallions	L 20-23 (OT)	Pontiac Silverdome	20,042	ESPN
13	May 30	Tampa Bay Bandits	W 43-7	Pontiac Silverdome	23,976	ESPN
14	June 5	Philadelphia Stars	L 20-29	Veterans Stadium	19,727	ABC
15	June 12	Los Angeles Express	W 42-17	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	16,023
16	June 18	Washington Federals	W 27-25	Pontiac Silverdome	26,418
17	June 26	Chicago Blitz	W 34-19	Soldier Field	25,041	ABC
18	July 3	Arizona Wranglers	W 33-7	Pontiac Silverdome	31,905	ABC
SF	July 10	Oakland Invaders	W 37-21	Pontiac Silverdome	60,237	ABC
FL	July 17	Philadelphia Stars	W 24-22	Mile High Stadium	50,906	ABC

References[edit]

External links[edit]

https://www.usflsite.com/panthers.php

Template:Michigan Panthers Template:1983 USFL season

Michigan Category:Michigan Panthers seasons Michigan Panthers

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