Tampa Bay Bandits
Encyclopedia
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football
team based in Tampa
, Florida
. They were members of the United States Football League
(USFL). They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.
businessman John F. Bassett (who was still in litigation
against the NFL over his previous Memphis Southmen
franchise from the World Football League
in the mid-1970s) and Miami attorney Steve Arky. Minority owners included Hollywood mainstay Burt Reynolds
, at that time one of the most popular motion picture actor
s in the world. The team was named the Bandits due to Reynolds' then-recent appearance in the hit Smokey and the Bandit
movies, and his connection helped build local interest. Also building interest was the hiring of former Florida Gator
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
quarterback Steve Spurrier
to be the team coach. Spurrier had been serving as the offensive coordinator
at Duke University
before coming to Tampa to take his first head coach
ing job. At 37, he was the youngest head coach in professional football at the time.
franchise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, with whom they shared a home field (though the Bucs played in the fall and early winter while the Bandits played in the spring and early summer). The Bandits narrowly missed the playoffs in their first season and made the postseason the next two years. While their offense under Spurrier was usually one of the best in the league, an average defense kept them from serious championship contention.
The Bandits were also successful off the field. They drew the highest average attendance over the three-year history of the USFL, coming in second in attendance in 1983 and leading the league in that category in 1984 and 1985 with over 40,000 fans per game. Also, their memorabilia outsold that of the Buccaneers in the Tampa Bay
area during the time of the team's existence. A fan-friendly atmosphere (including a theme song, "Bandit Ball", penned and sung by Reynolds' friend Jerry Reed
) was one factor, and the Bucs' futility during the period (they went 10–38 from 1983 to 1985) also helped the Bandits' success. Another key factor in the Bandits' success was the fact that there was no Major League Baseball
team in Tampa at the time (the Devil Rays
would not debut for another decade), meaning that unlike other USFL teams, it did not have to compete with other baseball teams for spectators. Due to broad local support, the Bandits were one of a very few USFL teams with a stable home and steady finances - they were the only USFL franchise to have the same coach, owner, and home city throughout the league's three year existence. Due to these factors, the Bandits are considered one of the few USFL teams that had the potential to be a viable venture had the league been better run. The Philadelphia Stars played Tampa Bay at Wembley Stadium in an exhibition game on July 21, 1984.
in May 1986, and neither the Bandits nor the USFL would take the field again.
Receiving Yards: 1146 (1983), Danny Buggs
Passing Yards: 4183 (1985), John Reaves
|1983 || 11 || 7 || 0 || 3rd Central || --
|-
|1984 || 14 || 4 || 0 || 2nd EC Southern || Lost Quarterfinal (Birmingham
)
|-
|1985 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 5th EC || Lost Quarterfinal (Oakland
)
|-
!Totals || 35 || 21 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team based in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. They were members of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
(USFL). They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season.
Preparing to play
The Tampa Bay Bandits' majority owner were CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman John F. Bassett (who was still in litigation
Mid-South Grizzlies v. NFL
Mid-South Grizzlies v. NFL 550 F.Supp. 558 , 720 F. 2d 772 , was a lawsuit filed by John F. Bassett, the owner of the World Football League's Memphis Grizzlies against the National Football League claiming that the NFL violated the antitrust laws by refusing to admit his club to their league.The...
against the NFL over his previous Memphis Southmen
Memphis Southmen
The Memphis Southmen were a franchise in the World Football League which operated in 1974 and 1975. They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.-From North to South:...
franchise from the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
in the mid-1970s) and Miami attorney Steve Arky. Minority owners included Hollywood mainstay Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
, at that time one of the most popular motion picture actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s in the world. The team was named the Bandits due to Reynolds' then-recent appearance in the hit Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
movies, and his connection helped build local interest. Also building interest was the hiring of former Florida Gator
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
quarterback Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
to be the team coach. Spurrier had been serving as the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at Duke University
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
before coming to Tampa to take his first head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
ing job. At 37, he was the youngest head coach in professional football at the time.
Bandit Ball
The Bandits began play in 1983 in Tampa Stadium, and were immediately more successful than the area's NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
franchise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, with whom they shared a home field (though the Bucs played in the fall and early winter while the Bandits played in the spring and early summer). The Bandits narrowly missed the playoffs in their first season and made the postseason the next two years. While their offense under Spurrier was usually one of the best in the league, an average defense kept them from serious championship contention.
The Bandits were also successful off the field. They drew the highest average attendance over the three-year history of the USFL, coming in second in attendance in 1983 and leading the league in that category in 1984 and 1985 with over 40,000 fans per game. Also, their memorabilia outsold that of the Buccaneers in the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
area during the time of the team's existence. A fan-friendly atmosphere (including a theme song, "Bandit Ball", penned and sung by Reynolds' friend Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard , known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, innovative guitarist, songwriter, and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films...
) was one factor, and the Bucs' futility during the period (they went 10–38 from 1983 to 1985) also helped the Bandits' success. Another key factor in the Bandits' success was the fact that there was no Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team in Tampa at the time (the Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
would not debut for another decade), meaning that unlike other USFL teams, it did not have to compete with other baseball teams for spectators. Due to broad local support, the Bandits were one of a very few USFL teams with a stable home and steady finances - they were the only USFL franchise to have the same coach, owner, and home city throughout the league's three year existence. Due to these factors, the Bandits are considered one of the few USFL teams that had the potential to be a viable venture had the league been better run. The Philadelphia Stars played Tampa Bay at Wembley Stadium in an exhibition game on July 21, 1984.
The end of the USFL
Bassett was a strong proponent of the spring football concept. When the USFL decided to switch to fall play for the 1986 season, he declared his intention to organize a new spring football league that would include the Bandits. However, failing health forced Bassett to cancel his plans and sell the team. He died from cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in May 1986, and neither the Bandits nor the USFL would take the field again.
Prominent Tampa Bay Bandits
- Gary AndersonGary Anderson (running back)Gary Wayne Anderson is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League, the United States Football League and the Canadian Football League from 1983 to 1995.-USFL:...
- Jim Fitzpatrick
- Lex LugerLex LugerLawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
- Nate NewtonNate NewtonNathaniel Newton is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers . He also played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, in 1984 and 1985...
- Chuck PitcockChuck PitcockCharles Pitcock is a former NFL and USFL Center and guard who played for both the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1980s. He was known as "the wild man" when he played for the Bandits because of his extremely passionate play...
- John ReavesJohn ReavesThomas Johnson "John" Reaves is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for eleven seasons in the National Football League and three seasons in the United States Football League...
- Ron SimmonsRon SimmonsRonald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
- Steve SpurrierSteve SpurrierStephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
, head coach
Single season leaders
Rushing Yards: 1206 (1985), Gary AndersonGary Anderson (running back)
Gary Wayne Anderson is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League, the United States Football League and the Canadian Football League from 1983 to 1995.-USFL:...
Receiving Yards: 1146 (1983), Danny Buggs
Danny Buggs
Daniel "Danny" Buggs is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins of the National Football League, the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, and the Tampa Bay Bandits and San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football...
Passing Yards: 4183 (1985), John Reaves
John Reaves
Thomas Johnson "John" Reaves is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for eleven seasons in the National Football League and three seasons in the United States Football League...
Season-by-season
|-|1983 || 11 || 7 || 0 || 3rd Central || --
|-
|1984 || 14 || 4 || 0 || 2nd EC Southern || Lost Quarterfinal (Birmingham
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field...
)
|-
|1985 || 10 || 8 || 0 || 5th EC || Lost Quarterfinal (Oakland
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
)
|-
!Totals || 35 || 21 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Results
(11-7-0), 3rd in Central Division- Sun. Mar. 6 - (W) BANDITS 21 vs. BOSTON BREAKERS 17 (Att. 42,437)
- Sat. Mar. 12 - (W) BANDITS 19 vs. MICHIGAN PANTHERS 7 (Att. 38,789)
- Sun. Mar. 20 - (W) BANDITS 32 @ New Jersey Generals 9 (Att. 53,307) abc
- Sun. Mar. 27 - (W) BANDITS 27 @ Philadelphia Stars 22 (Att. 18,718) abc
- Sat. Apr. 2 - (L) BANDITS 3 vs. CHICAGO BLITZ 42 (Att. 46,585) ESPN
- Sat. Apr. 9 - (W) BANDITS 22 @ Denver Gold 16 (OT) (Att. 46,848) ESPN
- Mon. Apr. 18 - (L) BANDITS 13 vs. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 18 (Att. 32,223) ESPN
- Sun. Apr. 24 - (W) BANDITS 30 @ Washington Federals 23 (Att. 9,070)
- Sat. Apr. 30 - (L) BANDITS 10 vs. PHILADELPHIA STARS 24 (Att. 41,559) ESPN
- Sun. May. 8 - (W) BANDITS 17 @ Oakland Invaders 10 (Att. 26,989)
- Sun. May. 15 - (W) BANDITS 20 vs. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 14 (Att. 32,327)
- Sat. May. 21 - (W) BANDITS 29 vs. OAKLAND INVADERS 9 (Att. 43,389) ESPN
- Mon. May. 30 - (L) BANDITS 7 @ Michigan Panthers 43 (Att. 23,976) ESPN
- Sun. June 5 - (W) BANDITS 45 vs. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 17 (Att. 35,623)
- Sun. June 12 - (L) BANDITS 8 @ Chicago Blitz 31 (Att. 21,249) abc
- Sun. June 19 - (L) BANDITS 17 @ Boston Breakers 24 (Att. 15,530)
- Mon. June 27 - (W) BANDITS 26 vs. DENVER GOLD 23 (Att. 46,128) ESPN
- Sat. July 2 - (L) BANDITS 17 @ Birmingham Stallions 29 (Att. 20,300)
Roster
| 1983 Tampa Bay Bandits roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Doug Mackie Douglas Mackie was a Offensive tackle who played for the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League and the Tampa Bay Bandits and New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League- References :... T Ron Mikolajczyk Ronald K. Mikolajczyk is a former professional American football offensive lineman. He played with the New York Giants of the National Football League for four seasons. He also played in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts, in the WFL for the Memphis Southmen and in the USFL for the Tampa Bay... T Chuck Pitcock Charles Pitcock is a former NFL and USFL Center and guard who played for both the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1980s. He was known as "the wild man" when he played for the Bandits because of his extremely passionate play... C/G Defensive Linemen |
Linebackers56 Keith Clark 58 Alonzo Johnson 57 Russell Washington 54 Tony Hayes 55 Kelly Kirchbaum Defensive Backs Special Teams |
Reserve Lists
Rookies in italics |
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