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. Montenegrin kicker (via Central Michigan) Novo Bojovic kicked 3 Field Goals 49,49 and 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. The additions on the offensive line, combined with installing rookie Bobby Hebert as quarterback, helped the Panthers win 11 of their next 13 contests to finish with a 12–6 record. They actually tied the Chicago Blitz for the best record in the Central Division, but were awarded the division title after sweeping the Blitz in the regular season.

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 3:11 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' late season surge (counting the playoffs, they went 13–2 to finish the season) was fueled by the addition of NFL-comparable talent at several positions. Indeed, they were one of three USFL teams, along with the Stars and Blitz, that observers believed could have made a good account of themselves in the NFL. It came at a high price, however; they spent $6 million during the season—three times what USFL founder David Dixon recommended that a team spend in a single season.

Personnel

Staff

Roster

1983 USFL profootballarchives.com

USFL draft

Round Pick Player Position School110David GreenwoodSafetyWisconsin215Wayne RadloffCenterGeorgia334Bobby HebertQuarterbackNorthwestern State439Paul SkansiWide ReceiverWashington558Whit TaylorQuarterbackVanderbilt669Ken LacyRunning BackTulsa782Craig WederquistOffensive TackleDrake887Ron HopkinsDefensive BackMurray State9106Stanley WashingtonWide ReceiverTCU10111Russ GrahamOffensive TackleOklahoma State12135Larry McCrimmonQuarterbackCameron13154Kevin SloanOffensive TackleWashington State 14159John WilliamsRunning BackWisconsin

Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 March 7 at Birmingham Stallions W 9–7 1–0 Legion Field 30,305 2 at Tampa Bay Bandits 7–19 1–1 Tampa Stadium 38,789 3 Oakland Invaders L 27–33 1–2 Pontiac Silverdome 28,952 4 March 27 at Washington Federals L 16–22 (OT) 1–3 RFK Stadium 11,404 5 Denver Gold L 21–29 1–4 Pontiac Silverdome 11,279 6 April 10 at New Jersey Generals W 21–6 2–4 Giants Stadium 17,648 7 April 17 Chicago Blitz W 17–12 3–4 Pontiac Silverdome 11,634 8 Los Angeles Express W 34–24 4–4 Pontiac Silverdome 13,184 9 May 1 at Boston Breakers W 28–24 5–4 Nickerson Field 10,971 10 at Arizona Wranglers W 21–10 6–4 Sun Devil Stadium 20,423 11 New Jersey Generals W 31–24 7–4 Pontiac Silverdome 32,862 12 Birmingham Stallions L 20–23 7–5 Pontiac Silverdome 20,042 13 Tampa Bay Bandits W 43–7 8–5 Pontiac Silverdome 23,976 14 June 5 at Philadelphia Stars L 20–29 8–6 Veterans Stadium 19,727 15 June 12 at Los Angeles Express W 42–17 9–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 16,023 16 Washington Federals W 27–25 10–6 Pontiac Silverdome 26,418 17 June 26 at Chicago Blitz W 34–19 11–6 Soldier Field 25,041 18 July 3 Arizona Wranglers W 33–7 12–6 Pontiac Silverdome 31,905

Playoff schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Location Divisional Playoffs July 10 Oakland Invaders W 37–21 1–0 Pontiac Silverdome USFL Championship July 17 Philadelphia Stars W 24–22 2–0 Mile High Stadium

statscrew.com 1983 Michigan Panthers Game-by-Game Resultsusflsite.com 1983 USFL Seasonprofootballarchives.com 1983 Michigan Panthers (USFL)

Standings

Awards Award Winner Position All-USFL Team Ray Pinney OT All-USFL Team Thom Dornbrook G All-USFL Team Bobby Hebert QB All-USFL Team John Corker LB Defensive Player of the Year John Corker LB USFL Outstanding Quarterback Bobby Hebert QB USFL Passing Touchdowns Leader Bobby Hebert QB USFL QBR Leader Bobby Hebert QB USFL Championship Game MVP Bobby Hebert QB

Final statistics Offense Panthers Passing C/ATTYdsTDINTBobby Hebert257/45135682717Whit Taylor17/3435310Ken Lacy1/13810Rick Partridge0/1000Panthers Rushing CarYdsTDLGKen Lacy2321180659John Williams1536241231Cleo Miller94374019Tony Ellis46158025Terry Miller33123322Mike Hagen1368016Bobby Hebert283539Whit Taylor310016Jimmy Hargrove2403Anthony Carter3109Panthers ReceivingRecYdsTDLGMike Cobb61674531Anthony Carter601181981Ken Lacy40433239Derek Holloway398111167Donnie Echols20196027Frank McClain19264039Cleo Miller1292028John Williams880153Tony Ellis555027Jerome Staley327011Mike Hagen325014Jimmy Hargrove224017Lonell Phea114014Terry Miller1909Ray Pinney1212

Defense Panthers SacksSacksJohn Corker28.0David Tipton12.0Ronnie Paggett9.5Allen Hughes4.0Phil Dokes2.5Mike Edwards2.0Kyle Borland2.0Ira Albright2.0Robert Pennywell1.0David Greenwood1.0Ray Bentley1.0John Banaszak1.0Andy Cannavino1.0

Panthers InterceptionsIntYdsTDLGPDRobert Pennywell423016Ron Osborn3707David Greenwood231031Oliver Davis224016John Corker222011Ray Bentley211011John Arnaud2704Andy Cannavino1909Kyle Borland1000Clarence Chapman1000Freddie Logan1000

Panthers FumblesFFFmbFRYdsTDKen Lacy10100Bobby Hebert8200Anthony Carter6300John Williams5100Eric Robinson4100Whit Taylor3200Tony Ellis3100John Corker260100David Greenwood2204Lonell Phea2100Mike Cobb1000Mike Hagen1000Cleo Miller1000Terry Miller1000

Special teams Panthers KickingFGM–FGAXPM–XPANovo Bojovic18-1949-54

Panthers PuntingPntYdsLngBlckDavid Greenwood371532560Rick Partridge23905530Herman Weaver16601510Bob Grupp128280

Panthers Kick ReturnsRetYdsTDLngLonell Phea14307039John Williams12290043Derek Holloway13254031Ron Ingram10206026Jerome Staley588021Tony Ellis230024Mike Hagen230018David Greenwood1303Robert Pennywell1000John Arnaud1000

Panthers Punt ReturnsRetYdsTDLngAnthony Carter40387157Lonell Phea887023Derek Holloway1–20–2Ron Ingram1000

profootballarchives.com

References