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USFL Birmingham Stallions

A Brief History of the Birmingham Stallions

by Paul Reeths
December 1, 2021 - United States Football League (USFL)
Birmingham Stallions


Original Birmingham Stallions logo (1983-85)
Original Birmingham Stallions logo (1983-85)
(Birmingham Stallions)

On November 22, the FOX television network unveiled the teams which will comprise the new United States Football League when the circuit hits the field in 2022. Though FOX's USFL is a completely new entity, all its team names were initially used in the original USFL which played from 1983 to 1985.

Below is a brief history of the first Birmingham Stallions franchise.

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One of the league's 12 founding members in 1983, the Birmingham Stallions became one of the USFL's most loved and best supported franchises. In 1984 and 1985 they also were one of the best teams in the league. Founded by Marvin Warner, a former U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, real estate developer and horse breeder, the Stallions captured the Alabama city's sporting attention for three summers. Coach Rollie Dotsch, former defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, led a hard-nosed, physical bunch for all three seasons.

The Stallions played to a 9-9 record in their inaugural campaign. Behind quarterback Bob Lane, who replaced starter Reggie Collier, the squad finished with the circuit's third-worst passing attack. The running game, however, topped the league with 3,017 yards and along with the defense was mostly to thank for the team's respectable showing. Ken Talton topped all runners with 907 yards on the ground.

The additions of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Cliff Stoudt and Buffalo Bills running back Joe Cribbs sparked the team's improvement the following year. Birmingham started the 1984 season with a gaudy 9-1 record and by season's end edged the Tampa Bay Bandits for the Southern Division title. Stoudt ended the year as the USFL's second-leading passer with 3,121 yards, 26 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while Cribbs topped the league with 1,467 yards rushing. Jim Smith, 1983's leading receiver and a Steelers alumnus, led the team with 89 catches for 1,481 yards. The Stallions beat the Bandits, 36-17, in their quarterfinal playoff game before falling to the eventual champion Philadelphia Stars, 20-10, in the Eastern Conference title game.

On the Legion Field turf, the Stallions proved just as strong the following year, fielding the league's third-best offense and second-best defense. Stoudt threw for 3,358 yard with 34 touchdowns, and Smith caught 87 balls for 1,322 yards and finished second in the league in scoring. Cribbs also ran for 1,047 yards for the Eastern Conference regular season champs. Once again, though, Birmingham won its first round game, 22-20 over the Houston Gamblers, but fell to the Stars, this time 28-14, in the semifinals.

Off the field, the franchise ran aground when Warner became embroiled in the savings and loan crisis, causing him to surrender his team to the league. The city of Birmingham stepped in with $1 million to help the organization finish the season. Though the Stallions planned to return in the fall of 1986, the USFL did not play again.

Their Finest Hour: The Stallions' largest crowd of the season was on hand for Birmingham's 1984 game against the Oklahoma Outlaws. The expansion Outlaws had fared surprisingly well in their first season, compiling a 6-2 mark going into Legion Field. The Stallions, though, had also been on fire early in the year with a 7-1 record. Oklahoma scored the game's first 10 points and built a 17-7 lead with under three minutes left in the half. But Stoudt marched the Stallions down the field and hit Jones with a short TD pass with less than a half minute remaining before halftime. Birmingham came out of the lockerroom and immediately took control of the game. Darryl Mason caught a pass for a touchdown, Jones caught another scoring toss and ran one in, and Smith brought down yet another Stoudt aerial for a long touchdown. In all, Stoudt tossed five scoring passes, two each to Smith and Jones as the Stallions cruised to a 41-17 win. The defense did its part, picking off three Outlaws' passes and recovering a fumble.

Years of existence: 1983-1985
Owner: Marvin Warner
Stadium: Legion Field (75,412)
Colors: Red, old gold and white
Overall Regular Season Record: 36-18 (.667)
Overall Playoff Record: 2-2

Yearly Standings and Average Home Attendances
1983: 9-9 (22,046)
1984: 14-4 (36,850)
1985: 13-5 (32,065)

Adapted from USFLsite.com.

Interested in learning more about the United States Football League? Buy The United States Football League, 1982-1986.

Check out the Birmingham Stallions Statistics




Images from this story

Original Birmingham Stallions logo (1983-85)
Original Birmingham Stallions logo (1983-85)
   

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