1975 World Football League season: Difference between revisions

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			{{Use American English\|date=October 2024}}
	The '''1975 World Football League season''' was the second and last season of the ].
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=October 2024}}

			The '''1975 World Football League season''' was the second and last season of the ]. The 1975 season was to be an 18-game season over a twenty-week schedule.
	The WFL returned with a massive overhaul under new commissioner, ]. Four of the inaugural twelve teams returned from the ]: ], ], ] and ], as did the ] and ], who established themselves midway through the 1974 season. New WFL teams replaced folded teams in Birmingham (where the ] replaced the ]), Portland (where the ] took the place of the ]), Jacksonville (the ] took over for the ]), and Chicago (the ] stepped into the place of the ]). One new market was added, the ]; the ] and ] both folded and were not replaced in their home markets, with the Wings taking over Blazers' history.

			The WFL returned with a massive overhaul under new commissioner, ]. Four of the inaugural twelve teams returned from the ]: ], ], ] and ], as did the ] and ], who moved from ] and ], respectively, midway through the 1974 season. New WFL teams replaced folded teams in Birmingham (where the ] replaced the league champion ]), Portland (where the ] took the place of the ]), Jacksonville (the ] took over for the ]), and Chicago (the ] stepped into the place of the ]). One new market was added when the ] moved to become the ]; the Blazers and ] were not replaced in their home markets.
	The Winds were expelled from the league five games into the season. They had essentially bet their existence on an attempt to woo ] quarterback ] as its starting quarterback. The Winds all but promised that Namath was coming, and their failure to deliver him was a severe blow to the league's credibility. It also prompted ], the league's TV partner, to cancel its WFL coverage prior to the regular season, leaving the league untelevised with the exception of some local television.

			The Winds were expelled from the league five games into the season. They had essentially bet their existence on an attempt to woo ] quarterback ] as its starting quarterback. The Winds all but promised that Namath was coming, and their failure to deliver him was a severe blow to the league's credibility. It also prompted ], the league's TV partner, to cancel its WFL coverage prior to the regular season, leaving the league untelevised with the exception of some local television.
	The WFL ceased operations twelve weeks into the regular season, with the ] crowned as league champions based on having a league-best 9-3 record at the time.<ref name="ct780716">{{cite news \|first=Rick \|last=Talley \|work=] \|title=Origer's feelings for WFL, Fire still burn bright \|page=B8 \|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/630803312.html?dids=630803312:630803312&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI \|quote=Although he could have sold 22000 season tickets for that ill-fated '75 season, he folded the team \|date=July 16, 1978 \|accessdate=April 28, 2010}}</ref>

			Memphis and San Antonio won the first half of the split-season format and had secured playoff spots for the end of the season. The playoffs were to have six teams and ] was scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 1976. Without significant television and low attendance,<ref name=wcffl>{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TS8PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hIUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4343%2C3873192 \|work=Victoria Advocate \|location=(Texas) \|agency=Associated Press \|title=Woes continue for WFL \|date=October 22, 1975 \|page=2B}}</ref> WFL ceased operations twelve weeks into the regular season on Wednesday, October 22<!--, 1975-->.<ref name=itovr>{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KNZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6366%2C6777086 \|work=Eugene Register-Guard \|location=(Oregon) \|agency=Associated Press \|title='It's over' for WFL \|date=October 22, 1975 \|page=1E}}</ref><ref name=cllps>{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zPJLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ce0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7184%2C3119091 \|work=Spokesman-Review \|location=(Spokane, Washington) \|agency=Associated Press \|title=World Football League collapses in hopeless debt \|date=October 23, 1975 \|page=34}}</ref><ref name=gossp>{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PW5YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3fcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C3074951 \|work=The Bulletin \|location=(Bend, Oregon) \|agency=Associated Press \|title=Ghost of season past kills WFL \|date=October 23, 1975 \|page=13}}</ref> The ] had the league's best record (9–3) at the time of the shutdown.<ref name=sdcslg>{{cite news \|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZE9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5099%2C1047746 \|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle \|location=(Washington) \|title=Pro football: World League standings \|date=October 21, 1975 \|page=14}}</ref>

			==Draft==
	''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage''
			Because of the uncertainties facing the WFL, the ] was the only collegiate draft held by the league. In 1975, only a Pro Draft of entire ] and ] teams was done at its league meetings in ]. The professional football teams chosen were the following:

			* ]: Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
			* ]: Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills.
			* ]: Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Edmonton Eskimos.
			* ]: San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles.
			* ]: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers.
			* ]: Toronto Argonauts, St. Louis Cardinals, and New England Patriots.
			* ]: Montreal Alouettes, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins.
			* ]: Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
			* ]: Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, Calgary Stampeders, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
			* ]: New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Cincinnati Bengals.
			* ]: Los Angeles Rams, BC Lions, and San Diego Chargers.

			==Final standings==
			{{Location map+\|USA2\|width=500\|caption='''WFL teams: ] Western, ] Eastern'''\|relief=1\|places=
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Green pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Hornets'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 35.2182
			\| lon_deg = -80.8283}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Green pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Express'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 30.323889
			\| lon_deg = -81.6375}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Green pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Bell'''
			\| position = left
			\| lat_deg = 39.9014
			\| lon_deg = -75.1719}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Green pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Vulcans'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 33.511389
			\| lon_deg = -86.842778}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Green pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Southmen'''
			\| position = left
			\| lat_deg = 35.121111
			\| lon_deg = -89.9775}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Winds'''
			\| position = left
			\| lat_deg = 41.8623
			\| lon_deg = -87.6167}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Sun'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 33.800278
			\| lon_deg = -117.882778}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Hawaiians'''
			\| position = bottom
			\| lat_deg = 28.25
			\| lon_deg = -105.5}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Steamer'''
			\| position = left
			\| lat_deg = 32.475556
			\| lon_deg = -93.791944}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Thunder'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 45.521389
			\| lon_deg = -122.691667}}
			{{Location map~ \| United States
			\| mark = Yellow pog.svg
			\| marksize = 8
			\| label_size = 80
			\| label = '''Wings'''
			\| position = right
			\| lat_deg = 29.462764
			\| lon_deg = -98.479031}}
			\|float=right}}
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	\|-		\|-
	\| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"\| '''Eastern Division'''		\| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"\| '''Eastern Division'''
	\|-		\|-
	!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT		!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
			\|9\|\|3\|\|0\|\|.750\|\|257<ref name="lastgame">{{cite web\|url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/262297243/?terms=Birmingham%20Vulcans&match=1\|work= Montgomery Advertiser \|title= Vulcs take fire out of Southmen\|date= 20 Oct 1975\|page=7\|first=Roy\|last=Thomas\|via=Newspapers.com\|access-date=2021-10-04}}</ref> \|\|186
	\|9\|\|3\|\|0\|\|.750
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|7\|\|4\|\|0\|\|.636		\|7\|\|4\|\|0\|\|.636\|\|254\|\|206<ref name="lastgame"/>
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|6\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.545		\|6\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.545\|\|225\|\|199
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|6\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.545		\|6\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.545\|\|227\|\|247
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364		\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364\|\|195\|\|237
	\|-		\|-
	\| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"\| '''Western Division'''		\| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"\| '''Western Division'''
	\|-		\|-
	!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT		!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|7\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.583		\|7\|\|5\|\|0\|\|.583\|\|354\|\|341
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|7\|\|6\|\|0\|\|.538		\|7\|\|6\|\|0\|\|.538\|\|364\|\|268
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|5\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.417		\|5\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.417\|\|276\|\|313
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364		\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364\|\|210\|\|281
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364		\|4\|\|7\|\|0\|\|.364\|\|213\|\|239
	\|- style="text-align:center;"		\|- style="text-align:center;"
	\|align="left"\| ]		\|align="left"\| ]
	\|1\|\|4\|\|0\|\|.200		\|1\|\|4\|\|0\|\|.200\|\|67\|\|125
	\|}		\|}
			''W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against''
			:{{small\|Source:}}<ref name=sdcslg/><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://wflfootball.tripod.com/1975/results.html\| title=1975 World Football League Results\| accessdate=2015-11-11}}</ref>


			==See also==
			* ]

			==References==
			{{reflist\|2}}

	{{WFL}}		{{WFL}}

Latest revision as of 15:09, 17 October 2024

The 1975 World Football League season was the second and last season of the World Football League. The 1975 season was to be an 18-game season over a twenty-week schedule.

The WFL returned with a massive overhaul under new commissioner, Christopher Hemmeter. Four of the inaugural twelve teams returned from the 1974 season: The Hawaiians, Southern California Sun, Philadelphia Bell and Memphis Southmen, as did the Shreveport Steamer and Charlotte Hornets, who moved from Houston and New York City, respectively, midway through the 1974 season. New WFL teams replaced folded teams in Birmingham (where the Vulcans replaced the league champion Americans), Portland (where the Thunder took the place of the Storm), Jacksonville (the Express took over for the Sharks), and Chicago (the Winds stepped into the place of the Fire). One new market was added when the Florida Blazers moved to become the San Antonio Wings; the Blazers and Detroit Wheels were not replaced in their home markets.

The Winds were expelled from the league five games into the season. They had essentially bet their existence on an attempt to woo New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath as its starting quarterback. The Winds all but promised that Namath was coming, and their failure to deliver him was a severe blow to the league's credibility. It also prompted TVS Television Network, the league's TV partner, to cancel its WFL coverage prior to the regular season, leaving the league untelevised with the exception of some local television.

Memphis and San Antonio won the first half of the split-season format and had secured playoff spots for the end of the season. The playoffs were to have six teams and World Bowl 2 was scheduled for Sunday, January 4, 1976. Without significant television and low attendance, WFL ceased operations twelve weeks into the regular season on Wednesday, October 22. The Birmingham Vulcans had the league's best record (9–3) at the time of the shutdown.

Draft

Because of the uncertainties facing the WFL, the 1974 WFL Draft was the only collegiate draft held by the league. In 1975, only a Pro Draft of entire NFL and CFL teams was done at its league meetings in Birmingham, Alabama. The professional football teams chosen were the following:

Birmingham Vulcans: Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Charlotte Hornets: Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills.
Chicago Winds: Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, and Edmonton Eskimos.
The Hawaiians: San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacksonville Express: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers.
Memphis Southmen: Toronto Argonauts, St. Louis Cardinals, and New England Patriots.
Philadelphia Bell: Montreal Alouettes, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins.
Portland Thunder: Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
San Antonio Wings: Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers, Calgary Stampeders, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Shreveport Steamer: New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Southern California Sun: Los Angeles Rams, BC Lions, and San Diego Chargers.

Final standings

Hornets

Express

Bell

Vulcans

Southmen

Winds

Sun

Hawaiians

Steamer

Thunder

Wingsclass=notpageimage| WFL teams: Western, Eastern

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Eastern Division
Birmingham Vulcans	9	3	0	.750	257	186
Memphis Southmen	7	4	0	.636	254	206
Charlotte Hornets	6	5	0	.545	225	199
Jacksonville Express	6	5	0	.545	227	247
Philadelphia Bell	4	7	0	.364	195	237
Western Division
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Southern California Sun	7	5	0	.583	354	341
San Antonio Wings	7	6	0	.538	364	268
Shreveport Steamer	5	7	0	.417	276	313
The Hawaiians	4	7	0	.364	210	281
Portland Thunder	4	7	0	.364	213	239
Chicago Winds	1	4	0	.200	67	125

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against

Source:

References

"Woes continue for WFL". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. October 22, 1975. p. 2B.
"'It's over' for WFL". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 22, 1975. p. 1E.
"World Football League collapses in hopeless debt". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 23, 1975. p. 34.
"Ghost of season past kills WFL". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. October 23, 1975. p. 13.
^ "Pro football: World League standings". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 21, 1975. p. 14.
^ Thomas, Roy (October 20, 1975). "Vulcs take fire out of Southmen". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 7. Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
"1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.

World Football League

Teams

1974	Birmingham Americans New York Stars / Charlotte Hornets Chicago Fire Detroit Wheels Florida Blazers The Hawaiians Jacksonville Sharks Memphis Southmen Philadelphia Bell Portland Storm Houston Texans / Shreveport Steamer Southern California Sun
1975	Birmingham Vulcans Charlotte Hornets Chicago Winds The Hawaiians Jacksonville Express Memphis Southmen Philadelphia Bell Portland Thunder San Antonio Wings Shreveport Steamer Southern California Sun

Commissioners

Misc.

Categories:

Latest revision as of 15:09, 17 October 2024

Draft

Final standings

See also

References