Week 7 - 1985：Jacksonville Bulls vs Tampa Bay Bandits

1985 Week 7 - Saturday, April 6, 1985

Attendance: 51,286

TV: ESPN

Gary Anderson, the United States Football League's scoring leader with 13 touchdowns, ran for one TD and caught passes from John Reaves for two more on this to lead the Tampa Bay Bandits to a 31-17 victory over the visiting Jacksonville Bulls.

The triumph was Tampa Bay's fourth in its last five games and moved the 5-2 Bandits to within one-half game of the Eastern Conference-leading Birmingham Stallions. Jacksonville, loser of five of its last six contests, dropped to 2-5.

Saturday, April 6, 1985

Jacksonville Bulls 17 Tampa Bay Bandits 31

Tampa Stadium Attendance: 51,286

Jacksonville Bulls:

Years of existence: 1984-1985

Owner: Fred Bullard

Stadium: Gator Bowl (80,200)

Colors: Garnet (or burgundy), burnt orange, silver, black and white

Overall Regular Season Record: 15-21 (.417)

Overall Playoff Record: 0-0

Yearly Standings and Average Home Attendances:

1984: 6-12 (46,730)

1985: 9-9 (44,325)

The Bulls are perhaps the best example of what the USFL meant to a community. Without the support shown the Bulls in 1984 and 1985, there would be no such thing as the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bulls led the league in attendance in their inaugural season and were again one of the leaders in 1985. Their crowd of 73,227 on March 4, 1984, against the New Jersey Generals was the best in league history.

Their Finest Hour: In 1984, the Bulls had come within a hair of beating the New Jersey Generals in front of a raucus crowd of 73,227 at the Gator Bowl, but Danny Miller's last second field goal attempt sailed just wide in a 28-26 loss. In week 11 of the 1985 season, the Bulls got another crack at the Generals, and this time the Jacksonville faithful left happy. New Jersey jumped on top 10-0 on a Roger Ruzek field goal and a Doug Flutie to Sam Bowers TD pass. Rozier scampered into the end zone from the 23, and Franco kicked three field goals to give the Bulls a 16-13 lead headed into the fourth. The Generals retook the lead when Maurice Carthon scored from 10 yards out, but Jacksonville would not be denied. Norris Brown raced 82 yards with the ensuing kickoff and scored the go-ahead touchdown. Rozier clinched it with a late one-yard TD run, giving Jacksonville a 30-20 victory. Quarterback Ed Luther connected on 20 of 31 passes for 200 yards.

Tampa Bay Bandits

Years of existence: 1983-1985

Owner: John Bassett

Stadium: Tampa Stadium (76,891)

Colors: Red, silver, black and white

Overall Regular Season Record: 35-19 (.648)

Overall Playoff Record: 0-2

Yearly Standings and Average Home Attendances:

1983: 11-7 (39,896)

1984: 14-4 (46,158)

1985: 10-8 (45,220)

The Tampa Bay Bandits were one of the USFL's most entertaining teams, and the fans of Tampa embraced them. Always among the league leaders in attendance, the Bandits employed a daring, risky offense featuring trick plays and gimmickry. Bandit Ball was a true reflection of coach Steve Spurrier and maverick owner John Bassett. Bassett was the biggest opponent of the league's announced move to the fall, and even threatened to pull Tampa Bay out of the league and start his own circuit. Unfortunately, Bassett died of cancer shortly after the 1985 season concluded.

Their Finest Hour: It was week three of the 1984 season, and new in-state rival Jacksonville was at Tampa Stadium for a visit. The Bandits knew they were in for a tough one because the Bulls had already whipped the Washington Federals and nearly knocked off the New Jersey Generals. Jacksonville jumped out on top, 12-0, on a Matt Robinson touchdown pass (kick failed) and Larry Mason scoring run (conversion failed). Gary Anderson's two-yard TD brought Tampa Bay within 12-7 before Alonzo Johnson blocked a Jacksonville put out of the end zone to make it 12-9. Robinson drove the Bulls down and snuck in from the one, but the Bandits scored the next 13 to take their first lead. First, Zenon Andrusyshyn kicked a field goal to close the first half. Then in the third period, Reaves hit Truvillion for a score and Greg Boone rambled nine yards to put Tampa Bay up, 25-18. The Bulls bounced back to tie the game, however, on a Willie McClendon TD scamper early in the fourth. Neither team could break through for the rest of the quarter until the Bandits mounted a late drive. Andrusyshyn nailed a 30-yard field kick with just two seconds left to give the home team a 28-25 victory.

Sources: http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/index.php

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