1975 Season Book - Week 11

Sports Daily

October 11, 1975

WFL Owners Meet In New York City

Future of the WFL in doubt

The World Football League entered its eleventh week of play amidst an atmosphere of uncertainty. In New York, WFL officials huddled in an emergency meeting on the state of the league. Owners of the 10 WFL franchises tabled three scenarios: (1) disband the league, (2) fold the Portland and Philadelphia franchises, which are plagued by poor attendance, (3) dissolve the San Antonio franchise, which is plagued by low-attendance and high-salaried players. In San Antonio, the Wings, averaging about 12,000 a game, reportedly needed a $450,000 investment to complete the season. Many WFL owners felt that if the Wings financial problems could be solved the league would be fine for the remainder of the season, if a resolution was not found they worried that more teams would follow. In Portland, headlines of the Oregon Journal read, "Thunder out of WFL?" Governor William Tatham struggled with the Thunder franchise and its average crowds of 6,000 a game. The NASL Timbers were drawing over 20,000 a game and offering $1 tickets to entice fans to the games. Despite improved play, Tatham considered disbanding the Thunder or merging the team with the Hawaiians. The Philadelphia Bell were also drawing poor crowds. Franklin Field, which seats 60,000, had hosted a crowd of 5,000 for the debut of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield of the Memphis Southmen- the largest crowd of the season. The Philadelphia media paid no attention to the team, which went unnoticed in local newspapers. Bell owner John Bosacco, one of the WFL's strongest owners, was rumored to be folding the club and joining the Hawaiians ownership group. The Bell drew only 2,300 fans to its last home game. San Antonio players were asked to take a 25% pay cut to save the franchise which was looking for an investment of $450,000 to make it through the season. An audit of WFL salaries showed the weekly average per player was $786.60. 54.2% of the WFL players were playing under fixed contracts, similar to those in the NFL. These players average $1,022 a game or roughly $20,000 a year. The Hawaiians released running back Duane Thomas and his $3,500 a game salary. Thomas showed up to play for the Hawaiians anyway, but wound up in the broadcast booth as a radio color man. The Philadelphia Bell cut the mighty Jim "King" Corcoran. Jacksonville Express running back Tommy Reamon was sidelined with a collapsed lung and his status was uncertain. Reamon, who has not been rushing like he had in 1974, might be lost for the season. Running back Jim Evenson of the Portland Thunder left the team and retired from pro football.

Chris Hemmeter was concerned over the WFL's poor image and their inability to meet attendance requirements, "up until this point," the WFL President said, "the ultimate responsibility for attendance has been at the franchise level. The league will now act as coordinator."

Memphis leads the WFL in attendance with an average of 19,776 through six home games. Birmingham, the 1974 league champions are second with an average of 19,278. Hemmeter said, "I am sufficiently worried, but not gravely concerned over the attendance figures."

On the field, San Antonio Wing quarterback Johnnie Walton led the WFL in passing, completing 167 of 338 passes for 2,405 yards and 19 touchdowns. Walton was the first WFL quarterback to surpass the 1,000 and 2,000 yards marks this season. Anthony Davis of the Southern California Sun held firmly to the leading rusher spot with 1091 yards and 14 touchdowns- Davis averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Eddie Richardson became the league's top receiver with 45 receptions for 665 yards and four touchdowns. The WFL's leading offense the Southern California Sun with 4,105 total yards for a 373.2 average, and the league's top rated defense was the Birmingham Vulcans, allowing only 285.4 yards a game.

Week eleven also marks the beginning of the WFL's Fall Season. All teams start fresh and can qualify for the playoffs by having the best record in their respective divisions over the next ten weeks of the season. The Memphis Southmen and the San Antonio Wings qualified for the Summer Season playoff positions. October 6 also marked the end of the WFL trading deadline.

Thunder Tops Wings In Overtime

Portland Thunder 28, San Antonio Wings 25.

portland, ore.; Place kicker Don Warner booted a 25-yard field goal in overtime to give the Portland Thunder a 28-25 victory over the San Antonio Wings before only 3,818 fans at Portland's Civic Stadium on Sunday, October 12. Warner's kick capped a 10 point rally by the Thunder which trailed the Wings 25-18 after a Billy Sadler 7-yard touchdown pass from Johnnie Walton in the third quarter. The Thunder defense limited a potent Wings rushing game to only 70 yards, and shut out San Antonio in the final period. They also intercepted Johnnie Walton five times. Thunder quarterback Don Horn completed 14 of 22 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown in a game that saw both team penalized a total of 29 times for 265 yards (191 for the Thunder). The Thunder won their first game for new head coach Joe Gardi. (pictured above, Bob Wyatt runs against the Wings).

San Antonio Wings; Passing - J. Walton 18-31-252-2t-5i; Rushing - D. James 9-49, J. Strong 12-27, J. Walton 2-1-1t, B. Sadler 2-7; Receiving - Ed. Richardson 4-87, L. Palmer 3-77-1t, J. Strong 3-24, D. Yaege 2-25, D. James 2-11, W. Frazier 1-12, B. Gatti 1-12, D. Morris 1-7, B. Sadler 1-7-1t.

Portland Thunder; Passing - D. Horn 14-22-156-1t-2i; Rushing - B. Wyatt 28-90-1t, R. Ferguson 19-75, I. Hammon 3-8, J. Wylie 1-4, D. Horn 3-5-1t; Receiving - B. Christiansen 4-63-1t, J. Wylie 2-25, J. Krieg 2-26, B. Wyatt 2-23, F. Russell 2-15, I. Hammon 1-6, R. Ferguson 1-3.

Vulcans Win A Close One In Memphis

Birmingham Vulcans 18, Memphis Southmen 14.

memphis, tn.; The Birmingham Vulcans scored 15 points in the third quarter, and added a Ron Slovensky 32-yard field goal in the fourth to beat the Memphis Southmen 18-14 in front of 20,192 fans in Memphis on Sunday, October 12. A controversial ruling nullified a final Memphis touchdown with: 55 remaining in the game as it appeared that quarterback Danny White had thrown his third touchdown pass of the game to wide receiver Ed Marshall. The official in the end zone signaled a touchdown, but the game umpire ruled the pass incomplete and the ball was given back to Birmingham to run out the clock. The game officials were hustled off the field and into two waiting Shelby County sheriff's squad cars with Memphis coach John McVay in pursuit. The loss was the first ever at home during the regular season for the Southmen, who dropped to 7-3 with the loss. The former Miami Dolphins Trio was of little help to the Southmen. Larry Csonka missed his fourth game of the season. Paul Warfield went without a reception and Jim Kiick carried the ball ten times for ten yards. (pictured above, Memphis Southmen head coach, John McVay argues with WFL Referee John Overby over the reversed touchdown call).

Birmingham Vulcans; Passing - M. Reed 7-21-63-0t-2i, D. Duron 1-1-27-0t-0i; Rushing - A. Cantrelle 27-124-1t, J. Profit 8-42, J. Musso 11-37-1t, B. Rudder 5-23, T. Powell 2-7, M. Reed 6-1; Receiving - D. Homan 4-36, A. Cantrelle 2-31, J. Bishop 1-16, T. Powell 1-7.

Memphis Southmen; Passing - D. White 16-32-206-2t-0i, J. Harvey 0-10-0t-0i; Rushing W. Spencer 12-50, D. White 2-22, J. Harvey 5-12, J. Kiick 10-10, E. Marshall 1-8; Receiving - E. Marshall 4-68-2t, J. Harvey 4-62, W. Spencer 4-36, R. Wallace 3-23, C. Hobbs 1-17.

Sherman Leads Hornets Over Express

Charlotte Hornets 22, Jacksonville Express 15.

charlotte, nc.; Lee McGriff, released two weeks earlier by the Jacksonville Express, made a circus catch of a 44-yard Tom Sherman aerial to set up a touchdown and ignite the 7,750 spectators at Memorial Stadium as the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Jacksonville Express 22-15. McGriff caught three passes for 66 yards and his second quarter reception turned the game around for the Hornets who scored 19 points before the half. Trailing 7-0, the Hornets got on the board when Ike Thomas burst up the middle of the field for a 92-yard kickoff return. Don Highsmith added the action point on a pass from Tom Sherman, and the Hornets led 8-7. Pete Rajecki added a 22-yard field goal, and James Thompson caught a 12-yard pass from Sherman to give Charlotte a 19-7 halftime lead. Tom Sherman ended the game passing for 168 yards and completing 11 of 23 passes. Express running back Tommy Reamon, the WFL's leading rusher in 1974, returned home to his Newport News, Virginia home after being hospitalized with a collapsed lung. Charlotte and Jacksonville were tied with 6-4 records. This game was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 11, but was changed to Sunday afternoon. (Charlotte running back Don Highsmith is ganged tackle by the Express defense).

Jacksonville Express; Passing - G. Mira 19-37-225-2t-2i; Rushing - A. Haywood 8-43, B. Duncan 12-38, J. Poulos 3-3, S. Johns 2-2; Receiving - W. Beckman 4-44-1t, B. Duncan 4-31, D. Hughes 3-57, S. Barrios 3-53-1t, A. Haywood 3-36, M. Creaney 1-15, S. Johns 1-3.

Charlotte Hornets; Passing - T. Sherman 11-23-168-1t-1i; Rushing - J. Sykes 13-94, D. Highsmith 18-60, L. Jolley 5-27, M. McGee 6-7, L. McGriff 1-2, B. Dowling 1-2, T. Sherman 2-10; Receiving - J. Thompson 3-35-1t, D. Whyte 3-44, L. McGriff 3-66, T. George 2-23.

Sun Too Hot For Steamer

Southern California Sun 39, Shreveport Steamer 30

anaheim. ca.; Sensational rookie Anthony Davis, the WFL's leading rusher, scored twice, added two action points and gained more than 100 yards for the seventh time this season to lead the Southern California Sun to a 39-30 victory over the Shreveport Steamer. Davis, the WFL's scoring leader, ran his point total to 118 and increased his rushing total to 1,091 yards by carrying the ball 25 times for 139 yards. Benny Ricardo kicked field goals of 41, 43, and 34 yards to help the Sun improved its record to 6-5 before 10,505 fans at Anaheim Stadium. The Steamer managed 15 fourth quarter points to make the game close, as quarterback Edd Hargett completed 18 of 31 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jimmy Edwards added two touchdowns of 5 and 12 yards for the Steamer in a losing effort. This game was played on Sunday, October 12. (pictured above, Sun RB Anthony Davis escapes the grasp of Steamer DB Richmond Flowers, and scores one of his two touchdowns).

Southern California: Passing- M. Ernst 13-25-148-0t-1i, A. Davis 1-3-18-0t-0i; Rushing- A. Davis 25-139-2t, G. Dixon 9-31-1t, B. Ferrell 6-19-1t, M. Ernst 2-8, B. Kramer 3-6, K. Denson 1-3; Receiving- A. Davis 5-47, T. Lindsey 4-66, B. Ferrell 2-3, C. Bradley 1-18, D. Williams 1-18, K. Denson 1-15.

Shreveport Steamer: Passing- E. Hargett 18-31-216-2t-1i.; Rushing- J. Nance 11-67, J. Edwards 16-34-2t, H. Brandon 1-1, E. Hargett 3-11; Receiving- R. Eber 5-59-1t, R. Scales 3-43, D. Winslow 3-32-1t, J. Odom 3-30, D. Davis 1-35, J. Nance 1-12, H. Brandon 1-9, J. Edwards 1-4.

Hawaiians Block Field Goal Attempt, Hold On To Defeat Bell 14-13

Hawaiian TE Mike Donahue hauls in a Rick Cassata pass for a TD

honolulu, hi.; Hawaiians defensive back Lem Burnham blocked a last second field goal attempt and crowned an inspired defensive effort which lifted the Hawaiians to a 14-13 win over the Philadelphia Bell before 10,789 on the island. Trailing 10-0 at halftime, the Hawaiians marched 89 yards in eleven plays, with Rick Cassata passing to tight end Mike Donohue for 13 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Karl Lorch intercepted a Bob Davis pass and returned it 41 yards for the go-ahead score. The Bell outgained the Hawaiians in every category; passing yards (180 to 93), rushing yards (232 to 90) and first downs 25 to 11), but in the end the Hawaiians won their fourth game of the WFL season.

Philadelphia Bell; Passing - B. Davis 16-30-180-1t-1i; Rushing - C. Watts 21-117, J. Land 19-105, H. Strickland 6-15, B. Davis 2-5; Receiving - T. Kwalick 5-55-1t, B. Hawkins 4-67, C. Watts 4-43, H. Strickland 2-16, J. Land 1-1.

Hawaiians; Passing - R. Cassata 8-18-66-1t-1i, S. Sixkiller 1-2-7-0t-0i; Rushing - W. Wingard 14-51, A. Davis 4-20, C. Heath 3-11, R. Cassata 4-9, V. Clements 3-4, S. Sixkiller 1-5; Receiving - M. Donohoe 3-57-1t, J. Moseley 2-12, T. Delaney 1-9, V. Clements 1-7, W. Wingard 1-4, A. Davis 1-4.

WFL Week Eleven MVPs:

Ike Thomas, Charlotte Hornets

WFL Week Eleven Top Performers:

Passing - Danny White, Memphis Southmen 16-32-206-2t-0i

Rushing - Anthony Davis, Southern California Sun 25 carries, 139 yards, 2 touchdowns

Receiving - Ed Marshall, Memphis Southmen 4 receptions, 68 yards, 2 touchdowns

WFL Standings (Overall):

*Suspended Operations

WFL Standings (Fall Season):

WFL Transactions:

NOTE: This page was researched and written by Jim Cusano and Richie Franklin. This page appeared on the former World Football League Hall of Fame Web site and is used with permission. The WFL transactions were researched and compiled by Mark Speck and Tod Maher.