A podcast devoted to the history of the original United States Football League. Here you will find documentaries and game replays in the public domain. In addition, this podcast will devote air time to the new league as it seeks to reclaim the mantle of its predecessor and succeed where other spring leagues have failed.
https://usflamerica.blogspot.com
Week 2 - 1983: Chicago Blitz vs Arizona Wranglers
1983 Week 2 - Saturday, March 12, 1983 Attendance: 28,434 TV: ESPN
George Allen and the Chicago Blitz were two-touchdown favorites when they invaded Arizona to start Week Two of the United States Football League season. Alan Risher and Jim Asmus threw that line out the window and hung the Blitz out to dry. Allen's team was the only road team favored when the new league debuted and was a heavy favorite against the Wranglers, not only because of the Blitz' 28-7 opening-day victory in Washington (and Arizona's 24-0 first-game loss to Oakland) but because of Allen, who never had a losing season as a National Football League coach. For three periods, Allen's team looked every bit as good as that line, building a 29-12 lead Saturday night on Greg Landry's three touchdown passes. Then Risher took command. Arizona's rookie quarterback, who had thrown a 6-yard touchdown pass to Mike Smith in the third period, completed scoring strikes of 10 yards to Jackie Flowers (and the 2-point conversion to Mark Keel) and 9 yards to Neil Balholm. That cut Chicago's lead to 29-27. And when Arizona's defense held(sacking Landry in the process), Risher guided the Wranglers into position for Jim Asmus' field goal, a 33-yarder with one second remaining that beat the Blitz 30-29. That Asmus was still around was a bit of a surprise. After he missed two field goals in the loss to Oakland, the Wranglers paraded place-kickers through tryouts during the week.