The USFL/WFL's third season begins Tuesday, and it could be a wild ride.
Third-year free agency resulted in several busloads worth of player shuffling during the preseason. In some cases, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. In some cases, the almost-rich added the pieces they needed to be given membership to the country club. The influx of some experienced new coaches has created even more competitive balance.
Here is a division-by-division look at the upcoming 1976 season:
Pacific Division
 |
| Gene Nowlin, QB, LAX |
This division could see its third different champion in three years. The
Honolulu Hawaiians (10-6) are the defending champs. The
Los Angeles Express, however, have been on the cusp of contention and now have a solid, experienced coach in mwd65. The
San Jose SaberCats won the division in 1974 (12-4), then inexplicably plunged to 3-13 last season. Head coach SunBlaze22 has tried to address some of the factors that led to their demise. The
Southern California Sun may bring up the rear again, but let's say something nice about coach Danny-G96. The Sun was the only team to go through the allocation draft with no human coach. Danny-G96 has been saddled with lousy SIM draftees from Day One. As he replaces the dead weight with real players, the Sun have to get better.
West Division
 |
| Edward Ryan, MLB, Invaders (54) |
The
Oakland Invaders stormed through a 14-2 regular season, then swept Portland (36-13), Detroit (9-6) and Pittsburgh (48-7) to win World Bowl II. Almost all of Oakland's key players have returned. Among them are QB Les Lacy, the league's offensive MVP. The
Portland Storm have put together consecutive 12-4 seasons and beat Oakland in last year's regular-season finale. No reason the Storm can't make a third playoff trip. The
Arizona Wranglers broke open their piggy bank during free agency, committing more than $217 million to three players. Can those three players turn around a franchise that has gone 6-10 and 3-13? Former
Denver Gold coach Sanchezz has left the league and left behind quite a mess for new coach AlexanDragon. He'll get there, but it won't be quick or easy.
Southwest Division
 |
| Donnie Baker, WR, Gunslingers |
The
San Antonio Gunslingers should bulldoze their way to a third consecutive division title behind 2,000-yard WR Donnie Baker. San Antonio is 11-1 against division opponents during its first two seasons.The
Oklahoma Outlaws were 10-6 last year, just missing the playoffs and almost beating San Antonio twice, but have a new coach this time around in awest827. The
Houston Gamblers have made some solid moves in an attempt to reach contender status, but are 1-11 vs. division opponents over two seasons. The
Memphis Showboats, also under new leadership (Oberyn), lost all-pro DB James Jones during free agency but still have all-pro LDE Nathan Branch.
Midwest Division
 |
| Mario Valencia, QB, Wheels (18) |
If anybody can knock off Oakland, it's the
Detroit Wheels. They barely lost to the Invaders in the American Conference championship game last season and made some solid moves during free agency. Detroit signed QB Mario Valencia away from Jacksonville and two solid offensive linemen away from Michigan to protect Valencia. The
Chicago Blitz were cruising along at 14-0 last season before losing to Detroit, then lost to the Wheels again in the playoffs. Chicago has added some parts for another title run. Former
Cleveland Thunderbolts coach Scarface left behind a salary cap nightmare for new coach jabillups85. The 'Bolts (8-8) have some star-caliber players, however, and the rebuilding process is likely to be a quick one. No team suffered more ill effects of free agency/salary cap than the
Michigan Panthers, but coach Hellbriner is working diligently to replace the dearly departed and climb back into contention.
Southeast Division
 |
| John Hernandez, WLB, Bandits |
The
Tampa Bay Bandits improved from 6-10 to 8-8 under Mcarovil and are ready to join the ranks of the contenders this season. They could be this division's third champion in three years. The
Jacksonville Bulls are seeking a third consecutive postseason appearance, but took some big hits during free agency. The World Bowl I champion
Florida Blazers went through three head coaches last season and are trying to find their way under Pacman327. The
Orlando Renegades won their first two games, then dropped 14 in a row. They could threaten the league record of 20 consecutive losses by the New York Stars in 1974-75.
South Division
 |
| Charles Stark, CB, Stallions |
The South Division could be, top to bottom, the best in the league and will be a dogfight again this season. The
Georgia Force (15-1) lost to Pittsburgh in last year's National Conference title game and will bring back nearly their entire roster under new coach dangitdarnit. The
Birmingham Stallions improved from 4-12 to 13-3 last year and made the playoffs and are likely to be there again this time around. The
Shreveport Steamer improved from 8-8 to 12-4, earning a playoff spot, and made some bold offseason moves to gear up for another run. The
New Orleans VooDoo has a new coach (greyghost1225) and were 7-9 last year. But, let's not forget, New Orleans was the 1974 division champ and still has many of those pieces in place.
Atlantic Division
 |
| Sidney Woosley, OG, Maulers |
Pittsburgh Maulers coach Otterpop could let his dog Rover run this team and the Maulers would still run away to a third consecutive division crown. Pittsburgh returns all-pro running backs Cliff Thomas and John Murray, but Maulers fans are still clamoring for Rover to replace Otterpop after Thomas and Murray ran the ball only a combined eight times against Oakland. The
Baltimore Stars (8-8) are the closest thing to a competitor for Pittsburgh as they try to work through a third consecutive season with only one QB on the roster. The
Washington Federals (7-9) won three more games than in 1974 and have made some moves to help them vault over .500. The
Charlotte Hornets made big strides under coach UKRAIN last season and are likely to improve on 1-15 and 2-14.
East Division
 |
| Doug Fluty, QB, Generals |
The
New Jersey Generals, the youngest team in the league in 1974, grew up in 1975. The Generals finished 13-3 and won the division by seven games before falling to Pittsburgh in the playoffs. QB Doug Fluty and friends are back for another go-round. Were it not for San Jose, the
Boston Breakers would have been the biggest disappointment in the USFL/WFL after going from the 1974 National Conference championship game to 6-10 last season. The aging Breakers have made some moves to get back to the elite level before the clock strikes midnight. The
Philadelphia Bell (4-12) snapped a nine-game losing streak on the final day of the 1975 season, but took some free-agency hits. A new coach took over the
New York Stars, then traded away the few good players from a team that was 1-15 last season. its lone victory over Philadelphia ending a 20-game losing streak. Even 2-14 would be an improvement for this sorry franchise.
Bold Predictions
Division champions: Los Angeles Express, Oakland Invaders, San Antonio Gunslingers, Detroit Wheels, Tampa Bay Bandits, Shreveport Steamer, Pittsburgh Maulers, New Jersey Generals.
Wild Card: Portland Storm, Chicago Blitz, Birmingham Stallions, Jacksonville/Boston/Georgia (three-way coin flip).
World Bowl III: Oakland Invaders 31, New Jersey Generals 20.
