Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.
Team History
The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League (USFL) on May 11, 1982.
A. Alfred Taubman, one of the nation's leading real estate developers, headed the ownership group that included Judge Peter B. Spivak and Max M. Fisher.
The Panthers named fomer CFL executive, Jim Spavital as it's first General Manager on August 26, 1982. Michigan then hired Jim Stanley as its' first Head Coach on November 18, 1982. Stanley was head coach at Oklahoma State University.
The Pontiac Silverdome (Cap. 80,638) was home of the Panthers for each of the two seasons the club was active.
Michigan made a splash in signing some of the top young NCAA prospects in Michigan WR Anthony Carter, Tulsa RB Ken Lacy, Wisconsin SS David Greenwood and QB Bobby Hebert of Northeastern State (La.).
Unfortunately, the club got off to a slow start, mostly due to a very porous offensive line that struggled to create holes or time for their offensive stars.
The Panthers started their first season in the USFL with a 1-4 record after dropping a 29-21 decision at home to the Denver Gold. The club then began to sign a series of former NFL offensive linemen in OT Ray Pinney (Pittsburgh Steelers), OG Tyrone McGriff (NY Giants) at OG Thom Dornbrook (NY Giants).
After making those additions, the Panthers then won 11 of their next 13 contests and captured the Central Divison Championship with a 12-6 record - one game ahead of the second place Chicago Blitz which also earned a wildcard playoff berth against the Philadelphia Stars.
In the playoffs, the Panthers hosted what was a record crowd of 60,237 at the Silverdome to see the club down the Western Division Champion Oakland Invaders, 37-21 - sending the Panthers onto the inaugural USFL Championship Game at Denver, CO.
On July 17, 1983; the Panthers captured the USFL's first ever 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 11:59 left in the fourth quarter than proved to be the deciding score. Hebert was named MVP of the game throwing for 319 yards and 3 TD's.
The Panthers won the first USFL championship in 1983. The team had reasonable fan support playing at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac. The championship game drew over 47,000 spectators. However after the 1984 season was over, the USFL, largely under the influence of New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump, decided to go to a fall schedule, effective with the 1986 season. This would have meant the Panthers being locked out of the Silverdome, which was then also home to the NFL's Detroit Lions. The Panthers merged with the Oakland Invaders for the 1985 USFL season. After this season, when the USFL received on $3 in its antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, a lawsuit on which it had staked its survival, the USFL folded.
Single Season Leaders
Rushing Yards: 1182 (1983), Ken Lacy
Receiving Yards: 1220 (1984), Derek Holloway
Passing Yards: 3368 (1984), Bobby Hebert
Season-By-Season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1st Central | Won Divisional (Oakland) Won USFL Championship (Philadelphia) |
| 1984 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2nd WC Central | Lost Quarterfinal (Los Angeles)1 |
| Totals | 24 | 15 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
1 - Lost to Los Angeles 27-21 in triple overtime, in longest game in professional football history.