Even though I did attend a few Invaders games after the two teams merged for the 85 season, I have to say that this game was probably the USFL's finest hour. Look at that crowd. We never got more than 25,000 in Oakland. Michigan was hungry for a champion and they got one that year.
I was 12 years old when this game was played. On the Sunday morning of this game day my uncle surprised my 2 cousins and myself with tickets for this game starting at 4pm. For a kid like myself and my cousins it was a magical day, because the Silverdome had a record crowd of 65,000 and the Panthers won and we got to run on the field. What a great childhood memory with my family.
I watched the USFL as a kid in NY. I was 13 in 83. I remember the Philadelphia Stars were the best team. Anthony Carter was an amazing receiver in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!! Was at this game and ran onto the field after the Panthers won and kept saying "Bill Ford Sucks!!!' Would've loved to have seen a matchup between the Panthers and the Lions that year.
watched this game from home in Florida and wished i was there as a kid and was a huge football and NFL fan when this league started and have to say the Michigan Panthers was my favorite team till this day and USFL was just way more fun and do not know how to describe it but has not ever felt same about sports since .
It would have been a good game -- the Lions were 9-7 in 1983 and made the playoffs (lost 24-23 to the 49ers). In 1982 (strike shortened season) they were 4-5. So contrary to popular image, the Lions were not absolutely awful.
I was 11 years old when this game was played, and 2 days before the game my uncle surprised me and my 2 cousins with tickets to this game and I barely slept the 2 before going to the game and being in the dome that day was awesome the energy there and the excitement was out of this world, great childhood family memory at the game. Also when the Lions started up in September of 83 following up the panthers championship, the Lions went on to win the NFC's Central Division and went to San Francisco in the divisional playoff game and the Lions almost pulled the upset but Eddie Murray missed a rare clutch field goal with coach Monte Clark praying on the sidelines as time expired, but it was a really good year for football in Metro Detroit!
@@louisbologna4089 I remember it all. The energy in that stadium was unbelievable. I wish Eddie would have made that field goal. Things may have been different for the Lions
If this league never folded and the Michigan Panthers stayed in Detroit I believe QB #11 Bobby Hebert and WR #1 Anthony Carter would have been legends in Detroit. They had great looking uniform colors with a cool looking Panther on the Helmet. If they would have played there games at Tiger Stadium in downtown Detroit they would have been the top football team in the area ahead of the Detroit Lions
Doubtful. The Lions had no problem drawing in Pontiac when the team was competitive. Downtown Detroit was nothing like it is now. The Lions and the Pistons left and wouldn't come back for decades.
At the end when the fans stormed the field they all felt something that Detroit Haden't felt for decades, and haven't felt since, and that's a Winning Football Team.
I live in the area and my organization is giving free tickets for the games for this new rendition inaugural season. I was about 9-10 at the time when it first started. Honestly the only thing I'm ticked at Trump about.🤣. But in all seriousness, don't respond to last sentence with any left takes... it's only going to make you seem more ridiculous than you already are.
I believe I watched this game on TV, I started watching football during the NFC and AFC Championships that January. So by the time this game was on TV I had seen more USFL games than NFL Games and to be honest,,, it was looking to be just as much fun as NFL Football. The NFL just came off of a strike season and Some teams in the NFL were so awful that some of these USFL teams could beat them. I miss having the USFL as a competition league. Football was at its best during this team period.
I agree the football in the USFL was just as good as the NFL but when it comes to the No Fun League they started implementing rules that was taking the "fun" out of the game. Thats why the fans liked the USFL bc you could dance after a TD in the end zone and truly enjoy the game.
Notice how there wasn’t a single blue and silver shirt in the crowd. Could you imagine if the Lions won a conference championship at home the fans would tear apart the stadium.
OMG this city would go insane if the Lions ever won a Superbowl, and it would be incredible to witness! Next to my kids being born I could tell you right now that if the lions ever won it all that would be the greatest moment of my life and I would probably be able to fill a Olympic size pool with all my happy tears! Unfortunately I have to keep dreaming
@@louisbologna4089 I know how you feel. I've been a San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers fan since 1993 and what I wouldn't give to see them win a Super Bowl. Hopefully Dan Campbell can inject a winning culture and positive vibe into the Lions because they need it. Just think of all those Lions over the years who poured their heart out for the team like: like Barry Sanders, Chris Spielman, Lomas Brown, Kevin Glover Jerry Ball, Mel Gray, Herman Moore, Dennis Gibson, Marc Spindler, Luther Elliss, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and others and who never even participated in a Super Bowl. Man, it hurts being a Lions fan. And again, I know your pain (Chargers 1-15 in 2000 and just one Super Bowl appearance in team history).
The Houston Oiler fan flipping off the Monday Night Football camera during a beat down...that was the greatest. I think anyone that's played football has said a LOT worse.
One bit of trivia . .Novo Bojovic (Panthers kicker) used to keep a clove of garlic in his kicking show . .Didn't believe it, but the Detroit Free Press printed his interview and stated that.
That is correct. The Panthers owner merged with the Invaders because the the league announced the move to the fall and he felt they couldn't compete for tickets at the same time the Lions played in the Silverdome.
These were the days before steroid explosion. Both offensive lines averaged about 255-265 pounds. Nobody over 280. In the NFL today there are very few OL under 300 pounds.
This was a awesome league, with talented players and some great coaches! I firmly believe this usfl would have survived or eventually merge with the NFL if Trump didn't get greedy and sue the NFL so the usfl could play in the fall on Sunday's too, that was the MAIN DOWNFALL, and if the league would have never pursued the changing of the seasons they play and be happy with playing in spring then the usfl would have survived and that was due to our president! Advice in life for the usfl folding should have been " if it ain't broke don't fix it! "
I agree with most of your statement but unfortunately the USFL had weak owners. I believe by merging certain teams that were not strong enough with other teams that were then yes the league could have moved forward through the spring for years to come. Sadly too many owners spent themselves out of business. Football wise though the product on the field was just as good as the NFL.
@@mikepastor.k6233 TRUMP WAS A MORON THEN & IS AN ASSHOLE NOW, HE SCREWED THE USFL PUSHING A MOVE TO THE FALL BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HAVE AN NFL FRANCHISE & FORCING A MERGER WAS THE ONLY WAY HE WAS GOING TO OWN AN NFL FRANCHISE!! HIS ACTIONS WERE TOTALLY SELF SERVING.
If they had just controlled the spending and stayed in the spring they could have easily been a solid #2 league for a long time. Heck, they probably could have even eventually had some sort of working relationship with the NFL. Kinda like what the NFL eventually did with the WLAF.
This is why "the USFL will not make it till the 5th week" 5) crowd size . This is the home team with free tickets and Bham can't fill it. 4) XFL2, This is just a reboot of xfl2, with 1 stadium. I say reboot the first xfl with he hate me. 3)No alumni. Hershel Walker was the face of the first usfl in 1983. I would have Mr Walker in Newark giving his report Monday nights.2)Sunday night football. Have you ever asked yourself "why isn't the SB on Saturday afternoon on E$9n?" because a. they want the most ratings possible. Nobody has cable in Kentucky. b. More people are watching TV on Sunday nights. 1) The scores are to low. This is the highest scoring game in the new usfl history , yet no team has scored over 40 points. Any writer knows a book should start off with a train wreck to get the readers attention. I want to watch football ,however it's painful to watch a 0-3 game . I'll turn it off at halftime.
This was 1983 when they FIRST launched. A new league takes time to get its footing and the USFL DID. Let me REMIND you that over 187 players went to the NFL AFTER the league folded and 15 players made it to the Pro Bowl not to mention hall of famers Young, Kelly, Reggie White just to name a few. The Saints became RELEVANT contenders with Jim Mora, Hebert, Mills and others. You're welcome!
I miss this league . It was anwvery man league . No an elitist league like the NFL which has better athletes that take boat loads of PEds to bolster the sheer luck of their genetics . This league gave hope toguys like me who ran low 4 second 40s but was only 5'9" . I might never even get into a major college team but hadno chance at all of playi gin the pro's until the USFL
![Week 10 - 1984: Los Angeles Express vs Houston Gamblers [FULL GAME]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/F6PI0sdC5kg/mqdefault.jpg)
![Week 10 - 1984: Los Angeles Express vs Houston Gamblers [FULL GAME]](/img/tr.png)
This was great football, I don't care what anyone says, Dope uniforms and just a great vibe.
Preach on!
Even though I did attend a few Invaders games after the two teams merged for the 85 season, I have to say that this game was probably the USFL's finest hour. Look at that crowd. We never got more than 25,000 in Oakland. Michigan was hungry for a champion and they got one that year.
You did in the first game in franchise history
@@liamkilpatrick5026 you’re right. I should have said we never got 25,000 when I attended in 1985.
I was 12 years old when this game was played. On the Sunday morning of this game day my uncle surprised my 2 cousins and myself with tickets for this game starting at 4pm. For a kid like myself and my cousins it was a magical day, because the Silverdome had a record crowd of 65,000 and the Panthers won and we got to run on the field. What a great childhood memory with my family.
Good share. Good memory for you 😊
I watched the USFL as a kid in NY. I was 13 in 83.
I remember the Philadelphia Stars were the best team.
Anthony Carter was an amazing receiver in the USFL for the Michigan Panthers.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!! Was at this game and ran onto the field after the Panthers won and kept saying "Bill Ford Sucks!!!' Would've loved to have seen a matchup between the Panthers and the Lions that year.
watched this game from home in Florida and wished i was there as a kid and was a huge football and NFL fan when this league started and have to say the Michigan Panthers was my favorite team till this day and USFL was just way more fun and do not know how to describe it but has not ever felt same about sports since .
It would have been a good game -- the Lions were 9-7 in 1983 and made the playoffs (lost 24-23 to the 49ers). In 1982 (strike shortened season) they were 4-5. So contrary to popular image, the Lions were not absolutely awful.
I was 11 years old when this game was played, and 2 days before the game my uncle surprised me and my 2 cousins with tickets to this game and I barely slept the 2 before going to the game and being in the dome that day was awesome the energy there and the excitement was out of this world, great childhood family memory at the game. Also when the Lions started up in September of 83 following up the panthers championship, the Lions went on to win the NFC's Central Division and went to San Francisco in the divisional playoff game and the Lions almost pulled the upset but Eddie Murray missed a rare clutch field goal with coach Monte Clark praying on the sidelines as time expired, but it was a really good year for football in Metro Detroit!
@@louisbologna4089 I remember it all. The energy in that stadium was unbelievable. I wish Eddie would have made that field goal. Things may have been different for the Lions
@@louisbologna4089 yep I remember that missed FG,shouldn’t have ended like that
Absolutely loved that theme ABC had for the USFL.
Me to.
RIP Keith Jackson
He was AWESOME!! Miss him dearly.
I was at that game. Guys took a 40 foot piece of goal post across the catwalk over M-59 after they stormed the field. WOW!
i remember when i was young ....i love PANTHERS ....thanks :) :)
till this day favorite team of all time and i was a fan of cowboys as a kid when this league started .
WHAT A FABULOUS THEME SONG!
This game gave me chills as a 10yr old kid. I went to the very first stars game. Just to the fans going nuts ripping down the goal post.
If this league never folded and the Michigan Panthers stayed in Detroit I believe QB #11 Bobby Hebert and WR #1 Anthony Carter would have been legends in Detroit. They had great looking uniform colors with a cool looking Panther on the Helmet. If they would have played there games at Tiger Stadium in downtown Detroit they would have been the top football team in the area ahead of the Detroit Lions
Doubtful. The Lions had no problem drawing in Pontiac when the team was competitive. Downtown Detroit was nothing like it is now. The Lions and the Pistons left and wouldn't come back for decades.
At the end when the fans stormed the field they all felt something that Detroit Haden't felt for decades, and haven't felt since, and that's a Winning Football Team.
100% TRUE but unfortunately history always seems to be hidden in the USA. Americans tend to forget.
@@USFLForever Do you agree with me that there is something special about playoff football?
@@tonyarceneaux286 100%. You are playing for a championship no matter what league or sport it is. Playoffs are always special.
Both teams, such colorful uniforms for that era. I welcomed the new teams to watch when I was a kid
I always liked the usfl it was a lot of fun to watch glad to see it's coming back I hope it is around for a very long time to come
I know I will be watching! We need to support it as much as possible!!
I live in the area and my organization is giving free tickets for the games for this new rendition inaugural season. I was about 9-10 at the time when it first started. Honestly the only thing I'm ticked at Trump about.🤣. But in all seriousness, don't respond to last sentence with any left takes... it's only going to make you seem more ridiculous than you already are.
@@tiderbean well i"m not on the left so I guess I'm ok lol
@@danielcorreard3746 actually I lied... I do not believe it's possible for the mentioned to be any more ridiculous.
@@tiderbean i couldn't agree with you more
I believe I watched this game on TV, I started watching football during the NFC and AFC Championships that January. So by the time this game was on TV I had seen more USFL games than NFL Games and to be honest,,, it was looking to be just as much fun as NFL Football. The NFL just came off of a strike season and Some teams in the NFL were so awful that some of these USFL teams could beat them. I miss having the USFL as a competition league. Football was at its best during this team period.
I agree the football in the USFL was just as good as the NFL but when it comes to the No Fun League they started implementing rules that was taking the "fun" out of the game. Thats why the fans liked the USFL bc you could dance after a TD in the end zone and truly enjoy the game.
Notice how there wasn’t a single blue and silver shirt in the crowd. Could you imagine if the Lions won a conference championship at home the fans would tear apart the stadium.
OMG this city would go insane if the Lions ever won a Superbowl, and it would be incredible to witness! Next to my kids being born I could tell you right now that if the lions ever won it all that would be the greatest moment of my life and I would probably be able to fill a Olympic size pool with all my happy tears! Unfortunately I have to keep dreaming
@@louisbologna4089 I know how you feel. I've been a San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers fan since 1993 and what I wouldn't give to see them win a Super Bowl. Hopefully Dan Campbell can inject a winning culture and positive vibe into the Lions because they need it. Just think of all those Lions over the years who poured their heart out for the team like: like Barry Sanders, Chris Spielman, Lomas Brown, Kevin Glover Jerry Ball, Mel Gray, Herman Moore, Dennis Gibson, Marc Spindler, Luther Elliss, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and others and who never even participated in a Super Bowl. Man, it hurts being a Lions fan. And again, I know your pain (Chargers 1-15 in 2000 and just one Super Bowl appearance in team history).
2:24 - 2:33 I don’t blame you, Keith, that was a great game!
Keith Jackson was the best.
@@USFLForever he certainly was, and he’s missed terribly
53:30-53:39 One of the greatest moments in live television history.
Unfortunately live television can pick up plenty of emotions including cursing.
The Houston Oiler fan flipping off the Monday Night Football camera during a beat down...that was the greatest. I think anyone that's played football has said a LOT worse.
One bit of trivia . .Novo Bojovic (Panthers kicker) used to keep a clove of garlic in his kicking show . .Didn't believe it, but the Detroit Free Press printed his interview and stated that.
I remember being on the field helping tear down the goal post
I was there also! That stadium was so loud.
That is correct. The Panthers owner merged with the Invaders because the the league announced the move to the fall and he felt they couldn't compete for tickets at the same time the Lions played in the Silverdome.
I remember the original 1983 theme music, and I certainly miss the great Keith Jackson. R.I.P.
The Invaders were the only team in the United States Football League who are from the Bay Area. I wasn't born yet when it happen.
The Panthers were the pride of Detroit. If only the Lions could do the same!
These teams would merge for the 1985 season and make it to the championship game
Correct.
The Last Pro Football Champions of Michigan…
Rami Malek should play Bobby Hebert in the movie.
I would love to see some type of movie of this league.
OG USFL Movie would be Wild Epic ‼️
Invaders season tix holder when my Raiders went to LA.
Invaders did fill a void somewhat.
Didn't these two teams merge into the Oakland Invaders by 1985?
Yes they did.
If only the lions could be like the Panthers!
Sadly if the Panthers win the USFL title AGAIN it will be Detroits second Pro Football championship in over 40 years.
@@USFLForever Look Michigan Panthers logo looks like the Carolina Panthers logo.
@@tonyarceneaux286 Where do you think the NFL got it from?
From the USFL no where else. Once the league folded those logos were up for grabs after the trademarks expired.
These were the days before steroid explosion. Both offensive lines averaged about 255-265 pounds. Nobody over 280. In the NFL today there are very few OL under 300 pounds.
WRONG!!!
i think the Panthers ended up merging with the Invaders and Herbert became the Invader QB in its final season?
Correct
Geez imagine if the Lions ever won the NFC Championship at home...
Do you think with all of the players from the USFL that would go to the NFL that a player like Anthony Carter was ignored?
AC had a good career with the Vikings.
That's when they were all the pads. Side pads butt pads lol
This was a awesome league, with talented players and some great coaches! I firmly believe this usfl would have survived or eventually merge with the NFL if Trump didn't get greedy and sue the NFL so the usfl could play in the fall on Sunday's too, that was the MAIN DOWNFALL, and if the league would have never pursued the changing of the seasons they play and be happy with playing in spring then the usfl would have survived and that was due to our president! Advice in life for the usfl folding should have been " if it ain't broke don't fix it! "
I agree with most of your statement but unfortunately the USFL had weak owners. I believe by merging certain teams that were not strong enough with other teams that were then yes the league could have moved forward through the spring for years to come. Sadly too many owners spent themselves out of business. Football wise though the product on the field was just as good as the NFL.
Lol Trump was the only reason they went as far as they did. He had the means to get top talent unlike most the rest of the owners.
@@mikepastor.k6233 TRUMP WAS A MORON THEN & IS AN ASSHOLE NOW, HE SCREWED THE USFL PUSHING A MOVE TO THE FALL BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HAVE AN NFL FRANCHISE & FORCING A MERGER WAS THE ONLY WAY HE WAS GOING TO OWN AN NFL FRANCHISE!! HIS ACTIONS WERE TOTALLY SELF SERVING.
If they had just controlled the spending and stayed in the spring they could have easily been a solid #2 league for a long time. Heck, they probably could have even eventually had some sort of working relationship with the NFL. Kinda like what the NFL eventually did with the WLAF.
@@mikepastor.k6233 LOL. Trump was, and still is, a complete moron.
This game derseves to had a long pre game.
I would be shocked if this game was a blowout.
It wasn't.
Join us at our USFL Forever Facebook Page below.
facebook.com/TheUSFLForever
2:41:00 Bobby Hebert's final speech before getting loved to death.
It was a crazy scene.
This is why "the USFL will not make it till the 5th week" 5) crowd size . This is the home team with free tickets and Bham can't fill it. 4) XFL2, This is just a reboot of xfl2, with 1 stadium. I say reboot the first xfl with he hate me. 3)No alumni. Hershel Walker was the face of the first usfl in 1983. I would have Mr Walker in Newark giving his report Monday nights.2)Sunday night football. Have you ever asked yourself "why isn't the SB on Saturday afternoon on E$9n?" because a. they want the most ratings possible. Nobody has cable in Kentucky. b. More people are watching TV on Sunday nights. 1) The scores are to low. This is the highest scoring game in the new usfl history , yet no team has scored over 40 points. Any writer knows a book should start off with a train wreck to get the readers attention. I want to watch football ,however it's painful to watch a 0-3 game . I'll turn it off at halftime.
This was 1983 when they FIRST launched. A new league takes time to get its footing and the USFL DID. Let me REMIND you that over 187 players went to the NFL AFTER the league folded and 15 players made it to the Pro Bowl not to mention hall of famers Young, Kelly, Reggie White just to name a few. The Saints became RELEVANT contenders with Jim Mora, Hebert, Mills and others. You're welcome!
one reason why the new usfl should bring back the oakland invaders
Keith and Lynn calling both division games? Not even Madden would do that, but his bus couldn't travel that fast.
It's about a 45 minute flight from Chicago and Detroit.
Pretty incredible… Chris Fowler called a game in Georgia on Saturday night and the rose bowl on Sunday morning the day after
I miss this league . It was anwvery man league . No an elitist league like the NFL which has better athletes that take boat loads of PEds to bolster the sheer luck of their genetics . This league gave hope toguys like me who ran low 4 second 40s but was only 5'9" . I might never even get into a major college team but hadno chance at all of playi gin the pro's until the USFL
The USFL was unique and most of all FUN! The NFL product is diluted, boring and predictable. Hardly watch it anymore. How I to miss the USFL.
Swann a poor analyst. Just recaps what happens on every down. Verbal instant replay.
Pre-steroid era football looks a bit different. The players are so much smaller.
Well at least it was REAL football.
STEROID USE STARTED WELL BEFORE THE USFL WAS EVER HEARD OF!
# 92 ALVA LILES WAS MY HIGH SCHOOL COACH. R.I.P.
SACRAMENTO HIGH SCHOOL.