AUGUST 11, 1975
1975 PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW EDITION
HOUSTON AND MIAMI ARE PRESEASON FAVOURITES TO MEET IN AFA WORLD CLASSICThe 26 American Football Association teams are set to report to training camps across the country this week in preparation for the league's 54th season. The early line suggests that World Classic XII will feature two teams very familiar with the AFA championship contest as the Houston Drillers and Miami Mariners have the best chance at prevailing in their respective conferences. The Drillers have already played in six title games, winning three of them but also losing three times including last January when they fell 12-6 to the Tom Bowens coached Buffalo Red Jackets in a game that made Bowens the first coach to win both a national collegiate title and a World Classic. The Mariners have reached the pinnacle game of the sport four times in the eleven year history of the World Classic but came out on top just once - that was in World Classic V to conclude the 1968 season when they edged Houston 9-7.
There are plenty of other contenders particularly in the National Conference where the Mariners could face stiff challenges from not only their East Division rival Red Jackets but also the Los Angeles Olympians, Dallas Stallions and the Kansas City Cowboys. The American Conference holds Houston, with a dominant defense led by Bobby Barrell Jr., as the clear favourite but the Drillers were hit hard by the retirement of their top two running backs in Vern Rebovich and Keith Gladfeather, which perhaps opens the door for teams such as the Washington Wasps, Pittsburgh Paladins and Cleveland Finches.
Here is a team by team look at each of the AFA clubs listed by division in their predicted order of finish.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION
PITTSBURGH PALADINS 1974 RESULT:9-5, made playoffs for first time since 1969 but lost 13-0 to Washington in Wildcard Round
HISTORICAL:Founded in 1934 they have won 4 AFA titles including a 23-20 victory over Miami in World Classic III in 1966
KEY LOSSES:Hubert Clary, who was among the league rushing leaders with 967 last season, announced his retirement.
KEY ADDITIONS:Pittsburgh brought center Danny Hutchins back to the team he started his career with in 1960. The 36-year-old had played for Cleveland the past five seasons before returning to the Paladins as a free agent signing. In the draft, the Paladins stayed close to home with their first round draft pick, selecting their QB of the future in Penn Catholic signal caller Roy Trevor. In round two they selected a huge offensive guard in 6'4", 303 lbs. Winfred Bock out of Coastal California.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Can running back Vincent Breen have a breakout season as the new starter in his third season with the Paladins. The decision to draft Trevor sets off some alarms that perhaps the Paladins do not feel that Charlie Stillwell, who the drafted in the second round three years ago and threw for over 2,100 yards last year, is long for the starting job.
WASHINGTON WASPS
1974 RESULT: Won AFA East with a 10-4 record and beat Pittsburgh in wildcard round only to fall 27-20 to Houston in conference final
HISTORICAL:Founded in 1937, the Wasps won back to back AFA title games in 1957 and 1958. The franchise struggled through the 1960's but did win a conference title in 1971 before being blown out 57-0 by Kansas City in World Classic VII. They would get their revenge the following season, reaching the World Classic and beating Kansas City in a rematch for their first World Classic victory.
KEY LOSSES:Defensive end John D'Amore, a key piece on the '71 and '72 teams that reached the World Classic, retired at the age of 33.
KEY ADDITIONS:Georgia Baptist free safety Mark Gagne was their first round pick and the Wasps may have picked up a steal in round two when they landed Ipswich Trophy winning offensive tackle Robert Longo from St. Blane. The Wasps were also busy in free agency in adding fullback Frank Floyd from Boston, strong safety Eric Strand from San Francisco and former Detroit defensive end Pete Lamb.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Charles Hartman took a big step forward in his second season as a quarterback, throwing 20 touchdown passes and for more than 2,600 yards. Can Hartman continue to improve and lead the Wasps back to the World Classic?
BOSTON AMERICANS
1974 RESULT:8-6 to finish third in their division
HISTORICAL:One of the early members of the AFA the Americans have been around since the 1920s and won titles in 1939, 1945 and 1962. They endured some lean years the past decade with their lone winning season coming in 1973 when they went 10-4 but made a quick exit from the playoffs.
KEY LOSSES:Fullback Frank Floyd left as a free agent and went to division rival Washington while veteran tackle Mark Randolph retired.
KEY ADDITIONS:The Yanks went for wideouts at the top of the draft selecting Chicago Poly speedster Ben Jacobson in round one and Joe Miller, who caught 6 touchdown passes for Cumberland last season and is also a threat to run the ball.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Juan Huff is a young quarterback and made the All-Star Classic as a rookie but took a step back last year. Can Huff rebound? The answer to that may depend on the Boston running game where Stephen McKeever returns for a ninth season but, like Huff, struggled in 1974.
PHILADELPHIA FRIGATES
1974 RESULT: 4-10, 4th place in division
HISTORICAL:Founded in 1933 the Frigates have won 3 AFA titles: 1944, 1954 and 1955. Times have be tough of late with back to back 4-10 seasons and they have not made the playoffs since 1969 when they went 7-7. The last time Philadelphia finished over .500 was 1964.
KEY LOSSES:Big holes to fill with the retirement of two long-time starters on defense in linebacker Pete Lipsey and tackle Doug Hallworth. Leading rusher from a year ago Frank Jones also called it quits.
KEY ADDITIONS:Vernon Kennedy, a linebacker out of Rome State, was drafted fourth overall with the hope he can replace the two-time All-Pro Lipsey. After surrendering an AFA worst 414 points last year it is easy to see why the Frigates also went defense with their second round draft pick: Cumberland safety Patrick Cook.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Can long-time reserve running back Carl Hale handle the starting job and can the defense improve at all?
NEW YORK STARS
1974 RESULT: 3-11, last place in their division
HISTORICAL:Another of the very early clubs to join the AFA, the Stars were often called the New York Football Stars to avoid confusion with the baseball team, but the FABL club moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s. As for the football Stars, they won their first league title in 1930 and two more over the next two decades. They were perhaps the most dominant team in football in the 1950's, winning 4 league titles and reaching the playoffs 10 times in a 12 year span ending in 1963. There have been mostly down seasons since then including a 2-12 mess in 1971 and missing the playoffs each of the last two years.
KEY LOSSES: Their offense took a hit with the retirement of Gil Cooper, a wide receiver who spent 14 seasons with the Stars and caught 36 passes a year ago. Center Dennis Hudson also left, signing as a free agent with Houston as did starting guard Richard Narvaez, who went to Miami.
KEY ADDITIONS:The hope is their first round pick, second overall, Carl Ashworth, a wide receiver out of Columbia Military Academy can immediately step in as a replacement for Cooper. The Stars had two second round picks and used them on Maryland State safety Scooter Talley and St Ignatius center Richard Cleveland.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Can Dick Cleaves, who is the son of baseball Hall of Famer George Cleaves, improve on an awful campaign a year ago when the New York quarterback completed just 39% of his passes and threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns? A big factor on what happens with Cleaves this year will be can the offensive line, which lost two starters, hold up.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION
CLEVELAND FINCHES 1974 RESULT:9-5 to finish first in the Central Division but were thumped 45-10 by Houston in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
HISTORICAL:The Finches won AFA titles in 1925, 1932 and 1947 but had nothing to celebrate until they finally made the playoffs again in 1973 with a modern day franchise best 10-4 record. They followed that up with a 9-5 season a year ago and returned to the playoffs but still have not won a postseason game since 1947.
KEY LOSSES:Veteran center Danny Hutchins signed with Pittsburgh while backup linebacker Steve Kohler signed with St Louis.
KEY ADDITIONS:The big news in Cleveland over the summer was the signing of free agent quarterback Saul Washington away from the New York Stars. Selected first overall in the 1971 draft, Washington was a three year starter for the Stars but fell out of favour and spent last year primarily holding a clipboard on the sideline. Washington looks like he may replace Danny Boudreaux, the starter each of the past two years, under center. To aid the Cleveland passing game the Finches selected Raymond Markham, a four year starting wide receiver at Annapolis Maritime was the Finches first round draft pick while in round two they opted for steady guard William Wirth out of American Atlantic.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:The quarterback battle between incumbent Danny Boudreaux and free agent signing Saul Washington. Anthony Henderson, Roy Byrd and rookie Markham give the Finches plenty of capable receivers so the expectation is this will be a big year for the club offensively if a quarterback can emerge as a leader.
CHICAGO WILDCATS
1974 RESULT:snapped a string of three consecutive 4-10 seasons with a 7-7 record, good for second in the division but not good enough for the playoffs.
HISTORICAL:A 1920 charter member of the AFA, the Wildcats have a rich and storied history, most of it with Carl Boon at the helm as the owner/coach turns 79 and shows no interest in stepping down. Their most recent AFA title came in 1959 but they have only made the playoffs four times since then and never reached the World Classic.
KEY LOSSES:Five-time All-Star Classic tackle Jake Weber retired after a dozen seasons and will leave a big hole on the offensive line while Bill Gilbert, a 1970 all-star selection at free safety signed with New Orleans.
KEY ADDITIONS: In the draft the Wildcats nabbed Great Lakes Alliance All-Conference tight end Bernard Bird out of Detroit City College in round one and linebacker James Fraley from the 1974 national champion Redwood Mammoths in round two. Tight end is a focus position for the Wildcats as they also signed Johnny Gutierrez, who did not play last year but was a key piece of the St Louis offense from 1970-74.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Carl Pittman joined the Wildcats last year after spending his first seven years with Detroit and New Orleans. All the 30-year-old wideout did was led the league in receiving yardage with 1,146 after being a spare part in New Orleans the previous season. He immediately clicked with Chicago quarterback Carl Pederson and the Wildcats will need more of the same if they are going to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1970.
DETROIT MAROONS
1974 RESULT:6-8 and tied for third in the four team Central Division.
HISTORICAL:Ralph Butterworth enters his sixth season as Detroit's head coach, still looking for his first playoff win. It has been a long time since the club Rollie Barrell founded in 1920 has won anything in the postseason. The Maroons had won 4 AFA titles by 1936 but since then have lost 9 straight playoff games with the most recent one coming in 1971.
KEY LOSSES:Pete Lamb, a fixture for nearly a decade at defensive end, left for Washington as a free agent while wideout Jake De Lancy signed with the New York Titans.
KEY ADDITIONS: The Maroons opted to improve their passing game in the draft by grabbing CCLA wide receiver Andre Wertz, who was a key piece as a freshman on the Coyotes 1971 national championship team, in round one and Demetrius Springer, a wideout from Red River State in the second round.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Aside from all-star classic selection in rookie safety Michael Ruth, Detroit's defense was awful. With mostly the same cast of characters can it be improved upon? Can third year quarterback Charles Sonnenberg take another step forward?
MILWAUKEE STAGS
1974 RESULT:6-8 and tied with Detroit for third place in the Central Division.
HISTORICAL:1966 expansion club made the playoffs in both 1971 and 1972 but has struggled the past two years.
KEY LOSSES: none to speak of.
KEY ADDITIONS: Milwaukee was thrilled to land defensive tackle George Haight with the 11th pick in the draft. Haight was a two-time All-American at Boulder State and named All-Conference each of his four seasons with the Grizzlies. They stayed with defense in round two as well by selecting Arkansas A&T end James Bearden. It was a risky pick as Bearden was a star as a junior but missed his senior season with an injury. The Stags also signed free agent fullback Richard Beall, who had spent four seasons with Washington.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Only Atlanta, Seattle and the New York Stars put fewer points on the board than the Stags did last season, averaging less than 15 per game. Fifth year quarterback Rob Stone needs to cut down on his interceptions- he threw 17 a year ago. The hope is with fullback Beall leading the way, perhaps halfback Dave McFadden can crack the 1,000 yard rushing mark. McFadden did just that from 1971 to 1973 but came up short a year ago.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION
HOUSTON DRILLERS 1974 RESULT: 9-5 Won Division followed by playoff victories over Cleveland and Washington before losing 12-6 to Buffalo in World Classic.
HISTORICAL:Went 3-11 as a 1961 expansion team and has never had a losing season since. The Drillers shocked the league by reaching the AFA title game in just their second season and would win their first of three World Classic titles in 1967. Houston also reached the World Classic three other times including last season making them the only club to play in six World Classics in the first 11 years of the event.
KEY LOSSES:A major loss is the retirement of running back Vern Rebovich after a decade as the teams leading rusher. The 1969 playoff MVP rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight of his ten seasons including last year. To compound the problems his backup Keith Gladfelter, who gained 851 yards a year ago and was the 1967 playoff MVP, also retired as did offensive guard Randy Hutchins, after a decade as a starter.
KEY ADDITIONS:Houston signed a pair of free agents in center Denis Hudson, a longtime starter for the Stars and former Miami backup tight end Lionel Washington. It comes as no surprise the Drillers would take a running back with their late first round pick. It was Anderson Nall out of Potomac College where he was All-Conference twice. They also used their second rounder on a halfback, taking Scott Starling from Northern California.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:All the attention will be on fourth year back Billy Ray Brown and can the former Lane State power runner replace Rebovich as the starting halfback. Brown was primarily used on special teams the past three seasons and has never rushed for as many as 300 yards in the pros but did top the 1,000 yard mark three times in four years in college. Brown will likely get first crack as the starter but will be pushed by rookies Nall and Starling. The Houston defense remains its strength, led by future Hall of Famer Bobby Barrell Jr., who enters his 10th season in the league as a five-time winner of the Defensive MVP award.
NEW ORLEANS CRESCENTS
1974 RESULT:8-6, finished second in division
HISTORICAL:A 1967 AFA expansion club the Crescents went 3-11 each of their first three seasons and have been within a game of either side of .500 ever since. This will be their 9th season and they continue to search for their first playoff berth. This is the second time New Orleans has hosted an AFA club as the city was part of the Continental Football Conference from 1946-49 and was one of three teams to join the AFA in 1950 when the CFC folded. That club, also known as the Crescents, lasted just one year in the AFA before folding after an 0-11-1 1950 season.
KEY LOSSES:Running backs Joseph Swan and Jason Burris both retired leaving veteran backup Wayne Phillips as the only halfback with previous AFA experience.
KEY ADDITIONS:To upgrade a defense that had its struggles a year ago the Crescents signed a pair of experienced free agents in veteran All-Pro free safety Bill Gilbert from Chicago and defensive end Rick Fall, a 13-year starter in Kansas City. In the draft the Crescents added Cache Valley All-American safety Terry Hickman in round one and looked to fill the holes at halfback in round two with the selection of Troy Silverman from Maryland State.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:The addition of Fall and Gilbert to a defense that already included AFA sack leader Mike Poulin should give New Orleans a much improved defense.
LOS ANGELES TIGERS
1974 RESULT:6-8, finished 3rd in division
HISTORICAL: The Tigers history traces back to Cincinnati in 1944 before being purchased by West Coast businessman Thomas X. Bigsby and moved to Los Angeles in 1950. The club has only enjoyed very limited success, reaching the playoffs twice (1955 & 1958) and has only won a playoff game once.
KEY LOSSES:Running back Harold Tapia has not agreed to a contract and remains a free agent
KEY ADDITIONS:With Tapia's holdout the Tigers seemed to have moved on as they selected the Southwestern Athletic Association player of the year in Travis College running back Robert Diggs with their first round pick. Diggs ran for 1,307 yards as a senior.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Tigers had the most productive running game in the AFA a year ago led by Harold Tapia's 1,029 yards but Tapia is unlikely to return. James Dortch gained 919 yards as the backup so the question is can he carry the load as the number one option or will Diggs claim the job.
SAN FRANCISCO WINGS
1974 RESULT:5-9, finished fourth in division.
HISTORICAL:One of two teams born out the post-WWII Continental Football Conference that continues today (Kansas City is the other), the Wings won a CFC title in 1948 and joined the AFA in 1950. San Francisco won its only AFA title in 1956 but has made the playoffs just once since 1959. That was 5 years ago when they were an impressive 11-3 but still finished second behind 13-1 Houston in their division and lost their wildcard round game to the Drillers. They have not finished above .500 since.
KEY LOSSES:Starting strong safety Eric Strand signed with Washington but the Wings lured long-time Los Angeles Tigers safety Dennis Lawson out of a 1-year retirement to replace Stand.
KEY ADDITIONS:Portland Tech running back Jimmy Young was the Wings first pick, fifth overall, in the AFA draft. In round two they also looked offense with the selection of Carl Powers, a wideout from the Detroit City College team that played in back to back East-West Classics.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Can the defense, which has been the franchise's weak link in recent years improve under second year defensive coordinator Charles Miller? If not it will be another long year at Golden Gate Stadium despite a high octane offense led by quarterback Charlie Singletary, who set a personal best in passing yards in his Wings debut after four season with Minnesota.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION
MIAMI MARINERS 1974 RESULT:11-3 to win their division but were upset by wildcard Buffalo 31-14 in the opening round of the playoffs.
HISTORICAL:The most successful of the National Football Conference teams from the new league born in 1964, the Mariners reached the World Classic four consecutive seasons from 1966-1969 but only won the title game once, in 1968 when they nipped Houston 9-7. Miami had made the playoffs nine straight seasons but failed to win a postseason game each of the past three years.
KEY LOSSES:Nickelback Bill Szafranski is the only notable loss, retiring after being one of the original 1964 Mariners.
KEY ADDITIONS:Veteran guard Richard Narvaez, a 4-year starter for the New York Stars, was signed as a free agent. In the draft the Mariners found a replacement for Szafranski with the selection of Alexandria cornerback Eddy St. Pierre with the 22nd pick of the opening round.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Miami has not missed the playoffs since 1965. Expect that trend to continue and if they stay healthy the Mariners may just win their second World Classic trophy. Big things are expected out of third year quarterback Jeffrey Conroy, who finished second in the league in passing yards and was named to the All-Star Classic roster as a sophomore.
BUFFALO RED JACKETS
1974 RESULT:8-6 but that was good enough to earn a wildcard berth and they went on to win their first World Classic, upsetting favoured Houston 12-6.
HISTORICAL:They joined the AFA along the Houston Drillers as 1961 expansion clubs but were far less successful. Buffalo did not make the playoffs for the first time until 1973, a year after former CCLA national champion coach and ex-AFA star receiver Tom Bowens took over as their head coach. Moved to the NFC during the 1970 merger, the Red Jackets made the playoffs for the first time in Bowens second season when they went 9-5 and followed that up with the run from wildcard team to AFA champion last year.
KEY LOSSES:Veteran defensive end John Strumler, a key cog on the Red Jackets defense, has retired.
KEY ADDITIONS:It is much the same cast with center Harold Horner, a backup last year in Detroit, being the only notable signing. Defensive tackle Joel Dorsey, out of Tempe College, was the Red Jackets first round selection. They dealt their second round pick to Kansas City
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:How much better can the Red Jackets get? Coach Tom Bowens has taken the team to the top with a World Classic win. Everyone will be gunning for the Red Jackets this time around. Can they repeat?
NEW YORK TITANS
1974 RESULT:7-7, fourth place in the NFC East Division
HISTORICAL:A charter member of the National Football Conference when it debuted in 1964, the Titans challenged the immensely popular Stars for fan attention in New York City. They went 11-3 in their second season and played in World Classic II, but lost 17-3 to the Boston Americans. The Titans have not won a postseason game since, making the playoffs just one more time in 1972.
KEY LOSSES:Quarterback Saul Washington, the 1971 first overall draft pick and a two year starter for the Titans before losing his starting job last year, left for Cleveland as a free agent. Two veteran defenders in cornerback Jerry Worcester and linebacker Jim Pitts retired but both had taken on reduced roles in 1974.
KEY ADDITIONS:One of the biggest free agent pickups of the off-season was Jack De Lacey being signed away from Detroit. The 9th year wideout had 45 catches for the Maroons a year ago and will fit in nicely alongside veteran receiver Richard Salcedo to upgrade the Titans passing game. The Titans focused on defense in the draft, selecting defensive end Edwin Dooley out of Georgia Baptist in round one and Northern Mississippi safety Lester Snyder with their second pick. Both are expected to earn starting jobs immediately.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Can Louis Snyder, a 1973 7th round pick who won the quarterback job from '73 third rounder James Tovar last year, continue to improve. He has lots of weapons at his disposal in receivers Salcedo and De Lacey along with running backs Leland Vinson and Mike Dover.
CINCINNATI RIVERMEN
1974 RESULT:8-6, tied with Buffalo for second in the division but lost out on tiebreaker for the wildcard berth.
HISTORICAL:Part of the original group of eight NFC teams to debut with that new league in 1964, the Riverman brought football back to the Queen City 14 years after the Tigers moved to Los Angeles. They have only made the playoffs once, back in 1968 but did improve to 8-6 a year ago after the franchise bottomed out in 1973 with a 3-11 campaign.
KEY LOSSES:Only veteran defensive lineman Al Cummings, who was reduced to a backup role last year.
KEY ADDITIONS:Harold Robinson, the quarterback who led Detroit City College to consecutive East-West Classic appearances, was the Rivermen's first round draft pick while defensive end Steven Meeks, out of Charleston Tech, was selected in round two.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:The selection of Robinson is one that left many observers shaking their heads. Yes, he did drop in the draft but the Riverman did not need a quarterback as they have Chuck Rayford -who is just 25 and was selected 18th overall three years ago- as their starter and Rayford seemed to really find his groove last season. Does the addition of Robinson mean Rayford is on a short leash?
ATLANTA FIREBIRDS
1974 RESULT:2-12, worst record in the entire league.
HISTORICAL:They became the first NFC expansion club, joining the second league in 1966, two years after its debut. The Firebirds made the playoffs in both 1969 and 1970 but did not win a postseason game. The team has spiraled since then, going 5-9 in 1971 and slipping 1-13 in 1972 before posting back to back 2-12 seasons. They have a new field to play on, Peachtree Stadium, thanks in part to the arrival of baseball's most successful club in recent years as the Pittsburgh Miners moved to Atlanta to become the Copperheads, but the Copperheads winning ways have made the Firebirds far less of a priority for the Georgia sports fan, which also has two powerhouse college programs in Georgia Baptist and Noble Jones College to support.
KEY LOSSES: Cortez Howes, a starting guard for eight seasons left for the Los Angeles Olympians as a free agent.
KEY ADDITIONS:The first overall pick in the draft was quarterback Allen McAllister, who led St Blane to a national title in 1972 and was a four year starter for the Fighting Saints. The Atlanta offense was awful a year ago and it will be interesting to see how long it is before McAllister replaces veteran Pete Fairfield as the Firebirds quarterback. Fairfield has been Atlanta's starting quarterback since the franchise joined the league in 1966.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: For Atlanta to succeed with either quarterback they need a better ground game meaning George Elliason needs to regain his form of two years ago when he rushed for 1,296 yards. He missed much of the 1973 season with an injury and was healthy last season but gained just 872 a year ago.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION
DALLAS STALLIONS 1974 RESULT:10-4 to win the Central Division for the second time in three years. They beat the Los Angeles Olympians in the opening round of the playoffs but fell in the conference final, losing to Buffalo 17-6.
HISTORICAL:Joined the NFC in its debut season of 1964 but went 3-11. It was not until 1972 that Dallas made the playoffs for the first time but they followed that up with a 4-10 campaign the following year. They did rebound last season, going 10-4 to win their division for the second time.
KEY LOSSES:no major losses.
KEY ADDITIONS:Wide receiver Carl Berger, out of American Atlantic, was the Stallions first round draft pick.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:No team surrendered fewer points than the Stallions allowed last year and their defense, led by 9-time All-Star tackle John Smith will determine just how far Dallas can go in 1975.
KANSAS CITY COWBOYS
1974 RESULT:8-6 missed the playoffs as they finished second in their division
HISTORICAL:Led by legendary quarterback Pat Chappell, the Cowboys dominated the post WWII Continental Football Conference, winning three titles in the four year run of the league before the CFC folded and three of its teams joined the AFA. Two of them continue to survive in the Cowboys and the San Francisco Wings. In their debut season in the AFA, 1950, the Cowboys won the league title but despite playing in the next three AFA titles games and again in 1960 they did not win a second AFA title. They were shifted to the NFC during the 1970 merger and responded with the first World Classic win, taking the 1970 game by the largest margin in World Classic history when they shelled Washington 51-0. The two sides would meet again in the 1971 World Classic and this time Washington turned the tables with a 26-6 victory. The Cowboys also played in World Classic X two years ago but were beaten 26-20 by Houston. Last year they missed the playoffs.
KEY LOSSES:Rick Fall, a 13-year starter at defensive end left via free agency for New Orleans while Leroy Avens, who ran for over 1,100 yards last year, retired.
KEY ADDITIONS:Shawn Landrum, a cerebral safety out of Dickson College of the Academia Alliance was the Cowboys first round selection in the draft and in round two they selected all-Great Lakes Alliance running back Jimmy Walker from Detroit City College. It is hoped that Walker can immediately replace the retired Leroy Avens as the top rushing option for the Cowboys.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Josh Sellers was solid in his second season since being drafted out of Daniel Boone College. The 23-year-old quarterback was offensive rookie of the year in 1973 and is only expected to get better. The Cowboys passing attack is solid but they need Walker to have success right out of the gate at halfback.
MINNESOTA LAKERS
1974 RESULT:6-8, third in the Central Division
HISTORICAL:The first champions of the National Football Conference in 1964, they played in World Classic I but were beaten handily by the St Louis Ramblers. The Lakers made the playoffs four more times in the next five years but did not win a postseason game. They have not made the playoffs since 1969 and only finished above .500 once in that span, an 8-6 showing two years ago.
KEY LOSSES:Defensive tackle Don Whiting retired after 11 seasons with the Lakers.
KEY ADDITIONS: First round pick James Allman, a safety out of Utah A&M, and College of San Diego wide receiver Joseph Middleton were the Lakers top two draft picks.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Gus Robards had a terrific rookie season at quarterback without a true elite receiver. Can he take another step forward in 1975?
ST LOUIS RAMBLERS
1974 RESULT:4-10, last in their division.
HISTORICAL:The Ramblers joined the American Football Association 1933 and were one of the teams to move to the National Conference during the 1970 merger. The franchise enjoyed little success until 1963 when, after just two playoff games and no wins, they won back to back American Football Association titles in 1963 and 1964. That 1964 title would advance them to the very first World Classic between the winners of the AFA and the newly formed National Football Conference and the Ramblers became the first World Classic winners, blasting Minnesota 27-3 in what would later be known as World Classic I. St Louis made the playoffs three more times since then (1966, 1968 and 1971) but has yet to win another postseason game. Last year's 4-10 season was their worst showing since a 3-9 effort in 1960.
KEY LOSSES:None of note
KEY ADDITIONS:veteran linebacker Steve Kohler was signed from Cleveland to help steady a struggling defense. Freddie Hopkins, a wide receiver out of South Valley State, was selected third overall in the draft while the round two choice was Central Ohio safety Earl Grimes.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:The Ramblers have holes everywhere and it is hard to imagine them competing for a playoff berth. Their strongest position group is likely the offensive line led by All-Star Classic participants Pat Walrath and Vince Wendell. Neither Jerry Flores or Patrick Kelly instill much confidence at quarterback. Don't be surprised if St Louis is picking first overall in next year's draft.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION
LOS ANGELES OLYMPIANS 1974 RESULT:10-4 won the West Division but lost to Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs.
HISTORICAL:A 1964 NFC charter member they went head to head with the established Los Angeles Tigers for the attention of football fans in Los Angeles. The Olympians finished 11-3 in each of their first two seasons but did not make the playoffs until 1967 after a mediocre 7-7 campaign earned them a spot thanks to a very week West Division. They have been to the playoffs four times since including each of the past two years but have never advanced past the second round.
KEY LOSSES:Wideout Andy Ahlman and safety Les Carrigan retired. John Steele, one of two LA backs to surpass the 1,000 yard rushing mark, is unsigned and may not return.
KEY ADDITIONS:Veteran guard Cortez Howes was signed from Atlanta while in the draft the Olympians added Georgia Baptist cornerback Luther Spillman in round one and safety John Wiggins, who was the Southwestern Athletic Association defensive player of the year as a senior at College of Waco, in round two.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Halfback Hal Jagger came over from Houston last year and had the finest season of his 10 year career by rushing for 1,075 yards and formed a perfect duo with fellow running back John Steele. Steele is holding out and may not sign which brings up concerns whether Jagger is still durable enough to carry the mail on his own. If not, third round pick Eugene O'Neill out of Pittsburgh State, may need to develop quickly.
DENVER MOUNTAINEERS
1974 RESULT:8-6 second in their division, missed playoffs.
HISTORICAL:A 1964 charter member of the National Football Conference the Mountaineers had little success during their first eight seasons but discovered magic in 1972 when an unheralded quarterback by the name of Ben Atwell caught fire and led them to a season ending 7 game winning streak to make the playoffs for the first time. Atwell never cooled off in the postseason as Denver rolled to a 17-14 shocking upset of the Houston Drillers in World Classic IX. Atwell failed to duplicate his success the following year as he and the Mountaineers stumbled through a 7-7 season and he was cut prior to last season when the Mountaineers narrowly missed the playoffs.
KEY LOSSES:Hit hard by retirement with LB Jeff Lane, a 4-time All-Star Classic participant headline the losses that also included running back Ron Gorski and guard Alex Michael.
KEY ADDITIONS:Dave Lankford is a highly touted defensive tackle selected out of St. Pancras in the first round. The Mountaineers had two second round selections and went offense with both in 1,200 yard rusher Joseph Chatman of Alabama Baptist along with North Carolina Tech wide receiver Ryan Corey.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:After three years apprenticing, Robert Haas was finally given the starting quarterback job and he was the biggest surprise of the year. A dual threat Haas threw for over 2200 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for 591 and six more scores to be named the AFA's Most Valuable Player. Not bad for a 6th round pick out of Maryland State but can he duplicate it this year or will he be a one-year wonder like his predecessor Atwell?
SAN DIEGO ADMIRALS
1974 RESULT:5-9, tied for last in the West Division.
HISTORICAL:1964 charter members of the NFA, the Admirals struggled through four straight 3-11 seasons to begin their existence. The only playoff berth came in 1971 when they finished over .500 (8-6) for the first and so far only time in franchise history. They have yet to win a postseason contest.
KEY LOSSES:veteran cornerback Terry Scheidemantel, who had been with the Admirals since they formed in 1964, retired.
KEY ADDITIONS:The always struggling franchise has another new coach as former Denver defensive coordinator Ken Chapman gets his first shot at being a head coach in the AFA. Both coordinators are also new so this club may struggle early, but that is nothing new for the Admirals, who are 53-101 all-time. In the draft they added former Northern Mississippi cornerback Michael Richards with the seventh overall selection and nabbed Rainier College receiver Stephen Martins in round two.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:With Rick Osorio, who was the Admirals only offensive selection on the All-Star Classic roster last year, and rookie Martins the Admirals have some talent at wide receiver. Now it will be up to Duane Gray, who was a backup for five seasons before getting the starting quarterback job last year, to step up. Emery Cartwright is the only other option but there are worries the 1974 second round pick has not progressed as hoped.
SEATTLE ROUGHNECKS
1974 RESULT:5-9, tied for last in the West Division.
HISTORICAL:A 1968 NFA expansion team, they shocked the junior league by going 11-3 in their debut campaign and reaching the playoffs. The party ended in heartbreak with a 20-18 loss to Miami in the opening round of the playoffs and Seattle has never returned to the postseason. They have finished below .500 in four of the past five seasons with the lone exception being a 7-6-1 showing in 1971.
KEY LOSSES:A major one as Randy O'Connell, who led the AFA in rushing and was an All-Pro a year ago when he joined Seattle after 11 years in Chicago, has retired.
KEY ADDITIONS:Walter Martinez, who ran for 1,156 yards as a senior at Opelika State, was the Roughnecks first round selection, sixth overall. Due to trades made in previous years the Roughnecks did not select again until round four when they choose another Deep South Conference player in Northern Mississippi linebacker Luther McCarter.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:Plenty of pressure on the rookie Martinez to step in and replace the veteran O'Connell. A good running game is essential as third year quarterback Ellis Rich instills very little confidence and has thrown 30 interceptions vs just 20 touchdown passes over his two seasons in Seattle.
COMETS SWEEP SUNS, SNEAK WITHIN FIVE AS DIVISION RACE HEATS UPPerhaps we will have more then just one division race this year, as the Houston Comets did exactly what they had to do when the first place Los Angeles Suns came to town. A tough four game series, the Comets swept their guests out of town, allowing just a single run in three of the four contests. The fourth was a 9-8 nail-biter where the Comets got 3 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th, able to keep the line moving with a lot of well-timed singles.
Houston did follow that up with a tough series loss, dropping two of three to the last place Minutemen, but lucky for them, the Suns did the same for the sub-.500 Gothams. Entering the week five games down, they do have a chance to keep cutting that deficit, but Houston has a tough test right out of the gate that will be a lot more difficult then
Whether it's LA or Houston or even the Chicago Chiefs, who are now just seven out, the Western winner will have to face the autonomous juggernaut known as the Atlanta Copperheads. That's who the Comets start with, and even with a winning record they have 22 fewer wins. No FABL team has scored more runs or allowed fewer, and aside from the questionable decision to move what could have been a 5-Time Allen winner Marco Middleton (12-1, 1, 2.98, 98) to the pen, they have done everything right.
That hasn't been the case for the Comets, but things have gotten a lot better since Joe McCarthy's return. Now having made 11 starts since recovering from his bone spur, he's allowed one or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts, including back-to-back complete game wins with just one run allowed. Set to start the series against the Copperheads, he's arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and no elbow injury is going to put a damper on to that. The 1974 Allen winner holds 2.11 ERA (187 ERA+), 1.09 WHIP, and 3.04 FIP (76 FIP-) in 81 innings, striking out 50 with just 20 walks. None of this matters when you're facing a lineup of John Newton (.323, 11, 53, 22), Al Hubbard (.334, 12, 61, 16), and Jack Blair (.343, 11, 84, 30), while leadoff man Gus Richards (.315, 6, 35, 10) is having a huge breakout in his first year as a starter. It's a tough test for any starter, but if someone can handle it, it sure is McCarthy.
The same is true for Johnny Blackburn (13-5, 2.66, 111) who is scheduled for the second game, giving the Comets a legitimate chance to use their top two pitchers to secure a critical series win. Blackburn doesn't have the track record of McCarthy, but he's an iron man arm in the midst of his fifth consecutive above average season, Yet to miss a start in his career, he's set to face the Copperheads for the third time this season, splitting the two previous matchups. Game three will be the real challenge, as they're going with George Roy (5-16, 4.93, 100), a floundering starting pitcher who's way better then the results display, but still not the type of guy you want going against Atlanta. This puts a lot of pressure on the Comets' offense, which at best is middle of the pack. John Edwards (.259, 10, 64, 16) does not really look like the guy he was in Minneapolis, butting a lot of pressure on outfield mates Stan Francis (.348, 2, 42) and Hank Andrew (.313, 12, 60, 11). The drop-off after these three is major, as they cannot keep up in slugfests if Roy is hit hard.
Meanwhile, the Suns get a pair of Eastern division teams that should not be tough to beat, hosting the Keystones and Minutemen. Philly is 52-64 and Boston 44-69, though the last place Minutemen did take two of three from the Comets to finish the week. Neither team should pose much of a threat, but the Suns have lost 7 of their last 8 and haven't won a series since their July 22nd to 24th series hosting the Clippers. They have a solid staff and lineup, but they aren't constructed the same way. While their staff is deep and talented, led by Heine Schmidt (13-8, 3.17, 113) and reigning Pitcher of the Month Pete Meissner (11-7, 3.77, 114), while the lineup is just carried by two stars. Tom Lally (.320, 25, 82, 8) and Sam Forrester (.320, 25, 82, 8) do all the heavy lifting, and if their slide continues, one would wonder why they didn't add a few extra pieces when they had the chance.
LA and Houston don't meet again until September, but if the pennant race is still undecided, these games will prove crucial. Both are small two games series exactly one week apart. The two clubs will be in LA on the 17th and 18th before going to Houston on the 24th and 25th. That second series is the second to last of the season, as LA finishes hosting the Dynamos while the Comets leave town to finish the year in St. Louis. On paper, that favors Houston, as St. Louis is in last while the Dynamos are still a few games over .500, but they have their work cut out for them if they want that last series to matter.
Catching Up With The Division Races
- It likely comes as no surprise that the team with the best record since the all-star break is the Atlanta Copperheads, who have gone 21-6 since what is considered the traditional midpoint of the season. This was a rare week for the Copperheads as they lost three times for just the second time since mid-May. Despite the 4-3 showing over the past seven days the Copperheads are still on a pace to win 118 games, which would be a new FABL record.
- The Los Angeles Stars have looked much improved the second half of the season, posting a 16-9 record after finishing the first half a game under .500. It is likely a case of too little, too late for the Stars as they are 18 games back of Seattle in the CA West. The Kings are not slowing down as they are 20-7 since the midseason classic.
- You have to wonder if anyone wants to win the CA East as each of the top four teams in that division have a losing record since the break and the New York Imperials went 2-5 last week and actually increased their lead atop the division because second place Cleveland lost 6 in a row. The Imperials are presently two games ahead of the Foresters with the third place Milwaukee Arrows a half game back of Cleveland.
- The Arrows took 3 of 4 from Cleveland last week and made up two games on the Imperials but things get tough for the CA East clubs this week as each of them begins a trek through West Division opponents.
- How bad is the CA East? The front-running Imperials 62-56 record would be at least 6.5 games out of first place if they were in any other division.
- The Fed West may just become a race as the Los Angeles Suns were swept by Houston in a 4-game set last week, moving the Comets suddenly to within 5 games of the front-running Suns. The Suns lost seven consecutive games before snapping the streak yesterday with a 3-2 win over the Gothams.
Milestones & Awards
- Catcher Chris Wells of the Chicago Chiefs was named the Federal Association player of the week. The 25-year-old went 12-for-25 and scored 9 runs last week to help the Chiefs take six of seven from Detroit and Washington. A 14th round pick in 1968, Wells his hitting .264 with 3 homers and 50 rbi's in his third season with the Chiefs.
- In the Continental the weekly accolades went to Charlie Jarzombek of the San Francisco Sailors for the second time this season. The 24-year-old rookie outfielder is generating some Kellogg Award talk with a .310 batting average and 8 homers so far this season.
- Cincinnati third baseman Tony Nino delivered his 1,000th career hit.
- 27-year-old Moe Lowery begin work on his second 100 wins by allowing just 1 run over 8 innings to beat Montreal 3-1. Lowery now has 101 career victories and is 15-7 on the season and may just be on his way to his second Allen Award.
- It was a long wait but Art Newell made his FABL debut last week with the Montreal Saints. The 29-year-old righthander was originally drafted 12 years ago by the Dallas Wranglers and has bounced around the minors ever since. He was called up and got the start against Cincinnati last Thursday but it was not a storybook ending as Newell lasted just 5 innings, surrendering all the runs in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Cannons.
Odds & Ends
- What a nightmare season for Tom Lorang in his debut campaign with the Chicago Cougars. He'll hit the IL for the second time this year, and when he returns close to the end of August, he'll have just 6 home run sin 398 trips to the plate. Since his debut at 18, Lorang has never hit fewer then 18 home runs, and has hit 20 or more 14 time. He's also likely to produce his first sub-150 OPS+ since his debut season, as his current 118 matches his 1960 total.
- Two more Continental Association infielders will miss some time after suffering injuries last week. Cincinnati lost second sacker Bob Bell until at least mid-September while Cleveland will be without Andy Barrington as their second baseman may be done for the season with a torn quad.
- Tough break for San Francisco Sailors prospect Frank Torsiello. The 3rd overall pick in the most recent draft was tearing up AAA pitching with a .307 batting average through his first 38 pro games. You had to figure the third baseman would be a September call-up by the Sailors but that won't happen now as he was hurt last week, suffering a torn hamstring that probably ends his season prematurely.
- Detroit's Lou Strader continues to make a strong case for the Federal Association Kellogg Award. The 22-year-old rookie first baseman is batting .359 with 4 homers so far this month to give him 16 on the season to go with a .320 batting average. Strader will get competition for the top newcomer award in the Fed from Minneapolis shortstop Bill Barber (.302,16,80).
- Keep an eye on Sal Baldassari. One of the few bright spots for the Boston Minutemen organization this season has been the showing of the 19-year-old pitcher in the minors. The 1974 second overall pick went 8-1 in 12 starts at Low A ball before being moved up to High A a little over a month ago. He is 6-0 with a 2.65 era at the level and word is the Minutemen are going to push the 19-year-old up to AA, perhaps as early as this week. OSA has Baldassari as its second best pitching prospect behind only George Carney of the Detroit Dynamos.
- Looks like Jim Norris plans to pitch next season and with an 11-4 record and a 3.03 era so far this year why not? The 45-year-old just agreed to a one-year extension with the Chicago Cougars. He is just 14 wins away from 350 for his career and needs just 14 strikeout to join the 3,000 K club. Very exclusive company should Norris get there as only one pitcher in FABL history has at least 350 wins and 3,000 K's. That would be Hall of Famer Charlie Sis who won 395 games and fanned a record 3,462.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: WEST COAST ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONThe eight members of the West Coast Athletic Association gather each fall with a single prize in mind: the right to represent the conference in the East–West Classic. The oldest of the New Year’s Day college games, the East–West has been played continuously since 1916 and, with the lone exception of a wartime relocation to New York City in 1941, has called Santa Ana, California home. Since 1946, it has served as an annual measuring stick between the WCAA champion and the winner of the Great Lakes Alliance.
The West Coast enters the 1975 season riding a wave of national credibility. Redwood University has captured the last two East–West Classics, both times turning back Detroit City College. Last January’s 17–14 victory delivered the Mammoths their first national championship and underscored the conference’s growing stature. It marked the second time in four seasons that the nation’s top-ranked team hailed from the WCAA, following the City College of Los Angeles Coyotes’ run to number one in 1971 under legendary coach Tom Bowens, now plying his trade with the Buffalo Red Jackets of the American Football Association.
Redwood and CCLA again sit near the top of the preseason charts, but the path to Santa Ana figures to be crowded. Northern California and Lane State both appear capable of forcing their way into the race and turning the conference chase into a four-team scramble.
The defending champions from Redwood will be anchored by junior linebacker Dennis Brower, who is widely expected to earn preseason All-American honors. City College of Los Angeles counters with a veteran offense led by senior quarterback Jeremy Richardson, who threw for nearly 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Northern California, still seeking its first conference title since 1960, enters a new era under first-year head coach Donald Fortenberry but boasts one of the nation’s elite backs in senior Jorge Gross. Lane State, despite a five-win season a year ago, returns considerable experience, including senior quarterback Jerry Lewis, now in his third year as the Emeralds’ starting signal caller.
With recent history favoring the West Coast and no shortage of contenders lining up behind the frontrunners, the WCAA once again shapes up as one of college football’s most compelling—and unforgiving—conference races.
Wolves Remain in The East Basement Despite taking 2 of 3 from the East Division leading Imperials of New York, Toronto actually lost a game to Cincinnati in the standings over the past week.
In the three early week games the crowds, as sparse as they were, were treated to good, close games as all three games were decided by a single run. Monday saw the home side come from behind with 2 in eight followed by a walkoff homerun from Pat Kellison when Manager Evans surprisingly sent him to the plate to pinch hit for Les Reid, a player who has been one of the stronger bats in the lineup. The news got worse for Reid later in the week, he was injured in a collision while running the bases and will be unavailable for the next two weeks with a bone bruise. Joining Reid on DL will be Sid Cullen as his ankle is not responding to treatment as well as the training staff had hoped for over the last week.
On a soggy Tuesday Stan Terry ran his record to 0-10 when he could not hold on to a 3-1 lead when New York scored two on a Jay Grey triple in the seventh inning to win 4-3. Wolves took the series with their own comeback by scoring 2 in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 3 before Pat Schmitt sent everyone home happy with a run scoring single in the tenth.
Toronto went into the weekend series against San Francisco with a 5-4 record against the Sailors for 1975: one of the few teams in the West in which Toronto's record has more wins than losses. The Sailors will finish the season with an even record, 6-6 after humiliating the Wolves 11-3 on Friday, breaking a 3-3 with 3 in 7 to win 6-3 Saturday. Toronto avoided a losing record on Sunday with their third walkoff of the week when 3 hits, 2 errors, 3 walks by Sailors hurlers turned a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of 9 into a 5-4 loss for the Sailors.
In other news Dwayne Cleaves and Gus Hayes were recalled from Buffalo to replace the injured Reid and Cullen. Fans were clamoring for Maldonado to start his career in Toronto since he had just won the Union League POTW going 7 for 19 (.368) 3 HR 6 RBI, staff feels Pedro needs more time at AAA to further develop at the plate. In what is beginning to look like lost season for C Pat Duffy, 22, will take his .245/.381/.361 line to the DL for at least 2 weeks due to a bad back. It was hoped that by this time in the '75 season the 66th OSA ranked prospect would be in Davenport or possibly Chattanooga. His bat has been improving over the summer but not enough for promotion. It also seems that Wolves top prospect LHP Ron Burch, 20, has stalled after starting the year with the Mounties with moderate success management thought he would be the ace of the Tomcats' staff. While it is not time to give up on the 8th ranked FABL prospect by OSA his 1-2, 7.63, 1.99 WHIP, 8.2 BB/9 is causing some consternation in the scouting department.
The Week That Was
Current events from the week ending 08/10/1975
- President Ford defends Helsinki Accords in national address, pushing back against critics who say the agreement concedes too much to the Soviet Union.
- U.S. Senate opens hearings on Helsinki pact, as lawmakers question its implications for Eastern Europe and American foreign policy.
- New York City begins operating under federal financial oversight, with control boards starting reviews of budgets, contracts, and borrowing plans.
- Unemployment remains high despite economic stabilization signs, tempering optimism that the recession is ending.
- Energy officials warn of possible autumn fuel price increases, citing refinery limits and strong summer demand.
- Indochinese refugee settlement programs expanded, as governments shift from emergency relief to permanent integration measures.