The Southern California Sun were an American football team based in Anaheim, California, that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13–7 in 1974 and 7–5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium. They were coached by former Rams great and Hall of Famer Tom Fears and owned by trucking magnate Larry Hatfield.
Former USC greats Anthony Davis and Pat Haden played for the Sun in 1975, along with former Oakland Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica, also known as the "Mad Bomber."
The Sun won the 1974 Western Division title but lost their playoff game against the Hawaiians when three of their best players–Kermit Johnson, James McAlister, and Booker Brown—sat out the game. The three players were owed back pay and claimed the missed checks breached their contracts.Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16. A year later, they were leading the West when the league folded on October 22, 1975, in midseason.
Schedule and results Key: Win Loss Bye
1974 regular season Source:
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at Birmingham Americans L 7–11 0–1 Legion Field 53,231 2 Hawaiians W 38–31 1–1 Anaheim Stadium 32,018 3 at Jacksonville Sharks W 21–19 2–1 Gator Bowl 46,780 4 at Memphis Southmen L 15–25 2–2 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 25,175 5 New York Stars L 8–11 2–3 Anaheim Stadium 28,174 6 at Houston Texans W 18–7 3–3 Astrodome 31,227 7 at Philadelphia Bell W 31–28 4–3 John F. Kennedy Stadium 14,600 8 Portland Storm W 45–15 5–3 Anaheim Stadium 27,814 9 Chicago Fire L 22–32 5–4 Anaheim Stadium 27,133 10 at Detroit Wheels W 10–7 6–4 Rynearson Stadium 6,351 11 at Chicago Fire W 31–28 7–4 Soldier Field 24,837 12 Detroit Wheels W 29–24 8–4 Anaheim Stadium 12,169 13 Jacksonville Sharks W 57–7 9–4 Anaheim Stadium 22,017 14 at Portland Storm W 26–22 10–4 Civic Stadium 20,469 15 Shreveport Steamer W 25–23 11–4 Anaheim Stadium 24,223 16 Birmingham Americans W 29–25 12–4 Anaheim Stadium 25,247 17 Philadelphia Bell L 7–45 12–5 Anaheim Stadium 26,412 18 at Charlotte Hornets W 34–25 13–5 American Legion Memorial Stadium 19,436 19 at Hawaiians L 8–29 13–6 Honolulu Stadium 13,780 20 Florida Blazers L 24–27 13–7 Anaheim Stadium 28,213
Playoffs Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Quarterfinals Hawaiians L 14–32 0–1 Anaheim Stadium 11,430
1975 regular season Source: Week Date Opponent Result Venue Record Attendance Source 1 Portland Thunder W 21–15 Anaheim Stadium 1–0 14,362 2 August 9 at San Antonio Wings L 22–54 Alamo Stadium 1–1 21,000 3 August 16 at Hawaiians W 37–19 Honolulu Stadium 2–1 15,862 4 August 23 at Birmingham Vulcans W 35–25 Legion Field 3–1 32,000 5 Philadelphia Bell W 58–39 Anaheim Stadium 4–1 17,811 6 at San Antonio Wings L 8–30 Alamo Stadium 4–2 10,470 7 September 14 Charlotte Hornets L 22–30 Anaheim Stadium 4–3 13,405 8 at Shreveport Steamer L 29–38 State Fair Stadium 4–4 18,777 9 at Charlotte Hornets W 24–17 American Legion Memorial Stadium 5–4 17,000 10 October 5 at Memphis Grizzlies L 33–37 Memphis Memorial Stadium 5–5 18,129 11 October 12 Shreveport Steamer W 39–30 Anaheim Stadium 6–5 10,505 12 October 19 at Hawaiians W 26–7 Aloha Stadium 7–5 15,905
See also 1974 World Football League season 1975 World Football League season
References
External links Southern California Sun on FunWhileItLasted.net Southern California Sun Helmets