Arizona Outlaws

Oklahoma-Arizona Outlaws
Founded	1984
Folded	1986
Based in	Tulsa, Oklahoma (1984) Tempe, Arizona (1985) United States
Home field	Skelly Stadium (1984) Sun Devil Stadium (1985)
League	USFL
Conference	Western Conference
Division	Central Division (1984) Western Division (1985)
Team History	Oklahoma Outlaws (1984) Arizona Outlaws (1985)
Team Colors	Black, Red, White (1984 - as Oklahoma Outlaws) Black, Red, Copper, White (1985 - as Arizona Outlaws)
Head coaches	1984 Woody Widenhofer (6-12) 1985 Frank Kush (8-10)
Owner(s)	1984-6 William R. Tatham Sr., William R. Tatham Jr.

The Arizona Outlaws were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They were owned by Fresno banker and real estate agent William Tatham, Sr., who had briefly owned the Portland Thunder of the World Football League.

History

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws

The Outlaws were originally slated to play in San Diego. However, under pressure from baseball's Padres, the NFL's Chargers and the NASL's Sockers, the city refused to grant Tatham a lease for Jack Murphy Stadium.

Scrambling for a home, Tatham seriously considered playing in Honolulu for its inaugural 1984 season, but settled on Tulsa, Oklahoma--even though the city had not even been included in a list of possible expansion sites for the USFL. However, Tatham had roots in Oklahoma (his father had moved to California during the Great Depression), and felt that putting his team there would give something back to the state. He christened his team the Oklahoma Outlaws. The club was the second major-league sports team to play in the state, after the North American Soccer League's Tulsa Roughnecks, and played at Skelly Stadium.

On July 7, 1983, at the same time the USFL announced the expansion team, Tatham introduced Hall of Fame member Sid Gillman, who came out of retirement at age 71 to serve as the Director of Operations.^[1] Gillman signed a roster of players, including former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting QB Doug Williams, but Gillman was fired by Tatham in December in a dispute over finances.

Along with Williams, the Outlaws roster included rookie Oklahoma State star RB Earnest Anderson. Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer coached the team. Williams had been one of the biggest NFL stars to bolt to the USFL. He left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they offered him a contract that would have still made him among the lowest-paid starters in the league, even though it would have been triple his previous salary. Williams was not a very refined, efficient, or consistent passer at that point in addition to being a little rusty, but had a big arm and a knack for making plays.

The team only drew 15,937 to their first game, a home opener versus the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers on a rainy and cold spring day. (Home openers in the USFL for most teams were the highest attendance games of the season.) Two weeks into the season, Tatham's son, Bill, Jr.--who was serving as general manager despite being fresh out of law school—announced that Skelly Stadium was inadequate for the Outlaws' needs and that they would be playing elsewhere in 1985.

The Outlaws were competitive for much of the first half of the season, starting out 6-2 off the strength of Williams' arm. Unfortunately, the team could not consistently run the ball. (The Outlaws finished with a league worst total of 1537 total rushing yards --- almost 200 yards less than the 17th ranked team.) Two blowout losses sent the team into a downward spiral. They did not win another game that season, dropping 10 straight to finish 6-12.

In spite of those factors, the Outlaws averaged 21,038 fans (in a 40,000-seat stadium), 14th in the league. It might have been even higher if not for brutally cold and wet early-season weather and what amounted to season-long lame duck status. While Tulsa as a USFL host city had a number of legitimate problems, fan turnout was surprisingly respectable, especially compared to the crippling attendance numbers seen by USFL teams in Chicago (7,455), Washington (7,694) and Los Angeles (15,361). They were also one of eight teams whose average attendance was 45 percent or more of listed capacity. The Outlaws would draw decent crowds of 25,403, 21,625, 22,017 and 29,324 later in the season.

During the team's season in Tulsa, all six of their wins came during inclement weather, 4 at home. Wins against Pittsburgh, Michigan, Houston, at Washington, and San Antonio came in rainy conditions, and a win against Chicago came in a Chicago snow storm.

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws opening day roster

Oklahoma Outlaws 1984 Opening Day Roster (at 26-Feb-84)
Quarterbacks 12 WILLIAMS, Doug* 15 JOHNSON, Rick Running Backs 31 JAMES, Darryl RB* 43 RAGSDALE, George RB/KR 38 THORNTON, Sidney FB* 42 HUGHES, Derek FB Wide Receivers 85 GRAY, Mel* 83 TURNER, Lonnie* 87 STEPTOE, Jack 80 CRANE, Darryl 81 HILL, Otha 86 BLAIR, Ken Tight Ends 88 WHEELER, Ron*		Offensive Linemen 76 TAYLOR, James LT* 73 WILSON, Duane RT* 72 SPEIGHT, Bob T 57 FRAZIER, Frank LG* 63 POWELL, Alvin RG* 70 IRVING, Reggie RG 50 KATOLIN, Mike C/LS* 64 BEQUETTE, Jay C Defensive Linemen 65 NELSON, Bob NT* 60 LEWIS, Johnny NT 67 JACKSON, Jeff LDE* 90 ANDERSON, Curtis RDE* 62 SUBER, Tony DE		Linebackers 52 McCLAIN, Dewey LOLB* 58 BEESON, Terry LILB* 56 HAYES, Tony RILB* 54 WEST, Isaiah ROLB* 53 KOENNIG, Vic LB 68 MITCHELL, John LB Defensive Backs 22 WILSON, Lee LCB* 40 COPELAND, Barry RCB* 28 KNIGHT, Tom CB 21 MIDDLETON, Kelvin FS* 44 WILLIAMS, Herb SS* 25 BONNER, Bonji SS Special Teams  6 CRUM, Stu K  8 BORIS, Bob P		Developmental Squad 10 LOYD, Mike QB 35 PITTMAN, Dwayne RB 26 SAMPLE, Ted FB 82 McCREARY, Loaird TE 84 JACKSON, Cleveland TE 77 LAMB, Jim Bob OT 66 ROBERTS, Carl OG 55 BYROM, Bruce C/LS 71 RUYLE, Clay DE 92 BALLARD, Steve DE 51 PRATER, Sam LB 94 TRUITT, John LB 24 McMILLAN, Rodney CB		Injured Reserve 94 BRUNEAU, Phil DE 91 POUNDS, Mitchell DE Rookies in italics 40 Active, 13 Developmental

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws Game Results

Week	Day	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Attendance	Final Score	W/L	Record
1	Sunday	February 26, 1984	Pittsburgh Maulers	Skelly Stadium	15,973	7-3	W	1-0
2	Saturday	March 3, 1984	Denver Gold	Skelly Stadium	25,403	14-17 OT	L	1-1
3	Sunday	March 11, 1984	San Antonio Gunslingers	Skelly Stadium		14-7	W	2-1
4	Saturday	March 17, 1984	at Chicago Blitz	Soldier Field	6,206	17-14	W	3-1
5	Saturday	March 24, 1984	at Arizona Wranglers	Sun Devil Stadium	29,434	7-49	L	3-2
6	Saturday	March 31, 1984	Houston Gamblers	Skelly Stadium	17,266	31-28 OT	W	4-2
7	Saturday	April 7, 1984	Michigan Panthers	Skelly Stadium		20-17	W	5-2
8	Saturday	April 14, 1984	at Washington Federals	RFK Stadium	6,075	20-16	W	6-2
9	Saturday	April 21, 1984	at Birmingham Stallions	Legion Field	41,653	17-41	L	6-3
10	Friday	April 27, 1984	Jacksonville Bulls	Skelly Stadium	29,324	6-34	L	6-4
11	Sunday	May 6, 1984	at New Jersey Generals	Giants Stadium	34,917	17-49	L	6-5
12	Monday	May 14, 1984	at Tampa Bay Bandits	Tampa Stadium	45,116	21-48	L	6-6
13	Sunday	May 20, 1984	at Houston Gamblers	Houston Astrodome	31,142	12-31	L	6-7
14	Saturday	May 26, 1984	Oakland Invaders	Skelly Stadium	16,378	14-17	L	6-8
15	Saturday	June 2, 1984	Chicago Blitz	Skelly Stadium	17,195	0-14	L	6-9
16	Sunday	June 10, 1984	Los Angeles Express	Skelly Stadium	22,017	10-17	L	6-10
17	Monday	June 16, 1984	at Michigan Panthers	Pontiac Silverdome	15,838	24-34	L	6-11
18	Sunday	June 24, 1984	at San Antonio Gunslingers	Alamo Stadium	21,625	0-23	L	6-12

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws End of Season roster

Oklahoma Outlaws 1984 End of Season Roster (at 24-Jun-84)
Quarterbacks 15 JOHNSON, Rick* 10 LOYD, Mike Running Backs 26 SAMPLE, Ted RB * 33 LAZARUS, Andrew RB 38 THORNTON, Sidney FB * 35 TUCKER, Mel FB Wide Receivers 41 WILLIAMS, Alphonso* 83 TURNER, Lonnie* 82 HARRIS, Lonnie 87 McCLAIN, Frank 80 BENNETT, James Tight Ends 88 WHEELER, Ron*		Offensive Linemen 69 PYTEL, Steve LT* 77 LAMB, Jim Bob RT* 73 WILSON, Duane OT 75 LEVELIS, Joe T/G 66 ROBERTS, Carl LG* 63 POWELL, Alvin RG* 50 KATOLIN, Mike C/LS* 64 BEQUETTE, Jay C Defensive Linemen 65 NELSON, Bob NT* 60 LEWIS, Johnny NT 94 BRUNEAU, Phil LDE* 92 BALLARD, Steve RDE* 90 ANDERSON, Curtis DE 71 RUYLE, Clay DE 72 McCUNE, Ken DE		Linebackers 54 WEST, Isaiah LOLB* 58 BEESON, Terry LILB* 53 KOENNIG, Vic RILB* 46 GOODLOW, Darryl ROLB* 56 HAYES, Tony LB 68 MITCHELL, John LB 51 PRATER, Sam LB Defensive Backs 24 McMILLAN, Rodney LCB* 20 HIGGINS, John RCB* 23 ROBINSON, Kevin CB/FS 21 MIDDLETON, Kelvin FS* 44 WILLIAMS, Herb SS* 25 BONNER, Bonji SS Special Teams  1 HERRERA, Efren K  3 deBRUIJN, Case P		Developmental Squad 34 ANDERSON, Earnest RB 86 PRICE, Jerry TE 76 TAYLOR, James OT 70 IRVING, Reggie OG 91 COLE, Robert DE 52 McCLAIN, Dewey LB 22 YANCY, Billy CB		Injured Reserve 12 WILLIAMS, Doug QB 31 JAMES, Darryl RB 43 RAGSDALE, George RB/KR 45 BEDFORD, Vance IR Rookies in italics 43 Active, 7 Developmental * Denotes Starter

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws Player Roster (all Players)

No.	Name	Pos	Ht.	Wt.	Age	College	Hometown	GP/GS
10	Mike Loyd	QB	6.02	216	28	Missouri Southern	Joplin, MO	3/0
12	Doug Williams	QB	6.04	220	28	Grambling State	Zachary, LA	15/15
15	Rick Johnson	QB	6.02	200	23	Southern Illinois	Wheaton, IL	18/3
31	Darryl James	RB	5.11	175	23	Yankton		4/4

Leaving Oklahoma

The Tathams were looking for a larger market with an acceptable stadium. The Tathams nearly had a deal to merge the Outlaws with the Oakland Invaders. However, the deal collapsed at the last minute because Invaders owner Tad Taube was unwilling to give control of the team to the younger Tatham, who had by this time acquired a reputation as the enfant terrible of the league. This left the team homeless and looking at their options.

Ultimately, the Tathams would turn to the 1984 Western Conference Champion Arizona Wranglers. Despite representing the Western Conference in the 1984 championship game, the Wranglers did not draw enough fans to cover expenses, and owner Dr. Ted Diethrich wanted out. They had fielded a much more competitive team, but the Wranglers' 1984 attendance figures --- although respectable --- were actually slightly below those of the 1983 Wranglers team. Dietrich had anticipated much higher attendance and had again lost millions for the second year in a row. He sold the assets of the Wranglers to Tatham, and Tatham relocated the Outlaws to Arizona for the 1985 season as the Arizona Outlaws. Since the assets included all of the Wranglers' player contracts, this deal was reported by some outlets as a merger. As a result, Arizona received what amounted to its third USFL team in as many seasons. (The original Wranglers of the 1983 season had effectively swapped rosters with the 1983 Chicago Blitz during the 1983-1984 offseason.)

Arizona Outlaws

The Outlaws played at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium. They retained many of the better players off both rosters, but not all of them. Rather than retaining the majority of the 1984 Western Conference Champion Wranglers and simply replacing the retiring QB Greg Landry with Williams, for the second year in a row little effort was made to retain players in which Arizona fans felt a vested interest. Tatham did, however, name former Sun Devils coach Frank Kush as head coach. Kush was a hard-nosed, run-oriented coach who had shown little talent in dealing with professional QBs in his time in the NFL as coach of the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts. Although very much an icon in the region due to his successful 21-year tenure at ASU, he was a surprising choice to team with Doug Williams.

In the instance of mergers, the league ran allocation drafts to send players to other teams. The Tathams allowed several of the better players on the Wranglers to be dispersed. In this way Wrangler star HB Tim Spencer, for example, ended up starting for Memphis in 1985. Other key Wranglers joined Landry in retirement or defected to other leagues (ex. CB Frank Minnifield who left in the 1984 season). Wrangler lead receiver Trumaine Johnson actually held out for the full season.

The 1985 season was very much a replay of 1984, with the Outlaws struggling after a quick start. The team jumped out to a 4-2 start, including a 31-13 pounding of the Herschel Walker/Doug Flutie-led New Jersey Generals. However, they proceeded to drop six in a row, and seven out of eight. They rebounded to win three straight, but did not get enough help to make the playoffs, and finished 8-10.

The Outlaws were a much better rushing team in 1985 totalling 2019 yards in support of Williams and the passing game.

Area fans did not warm up to the Outlaws. For the second year in a row, attendance dropped --- from the 25,568 George Allen's Wranglers' drew the year before, to 17,881. The Outlaws actually drew 4,000 fewer fans than they did in Tulsa, even though Sun Devil Stadium was almost double the size of Skelly Stadium. Despite this, the Tathams hoped to stick it out once the league won their lawsuit against the NFL.

The Outlaws were one of eight teams slated to play in 1986. After the Portland Breakers folded while the antitrust trial was still underway, the Outlaws were the only team west of the Mississippi River left in the league. By this time, the Tathams had become some of the louder voices among the owners hoping to force a merger with the NFL (in which case their investment would more than double). However, the league won the suit but only received a $3 award. The Outlaws, and the rest of the league, had been counting on the lawsuit money to bail out their unsustainable spending. As the league had essentially staked its future on winning a hefty award in court, if suspended operations never to return.

Professional football in the Valley of the Sun would not be gone for long: the St. Louis Cardinals moved into Sun Devil Stadium for the 1988 NFL season.

1984 Oklahoma Outlaws total roster

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach: Woody Widenhofer

Offensive Coordinator/QBs - Ed Chlebek; Offensive Line - Charlie Butler; Running Backs - Frank Novak; Receivers/Spec. Teams - Wright Anderson; Defensive Coordinator/Secondary - Jim Johnson; Tim Mills Defensive Line - Ralph Staub; Linebackers - Jim McKinley; Strength & Conditioning - Bert Jacobson; Trainer - Keith Jones, Equipment Mgr. - Bud Turk

Single season leaders

Rushing Yards: 1031 (1985), Reggie Brown

Receiving Yards: 1087 (1984), Alphonso Williams

Passing Yards: 3645 (1985), Doug Williams

Season-by-season

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
Oklahoma Outlaws
1984	6	12	0	4th WC Central	-
Arizona Outlaws
1985	8	10	0	4th WC	-
Totals	14	22	0	(including playoffs)

Outlaws in video games

The Outlaws' logo can be found in Madden NFL's Create-A-Team Feature. They are also featured in Blitz: The League, the Arizona Outlaws are a Division 3 team and are the first opponents against the player's created team.

References

1. ^ Oklahoma Outlaws to Join USFL; Chicago Herald; July 8, 1983; Page 22.

External links

• http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/teams/outlaws.html