[21] He was released on October 27. Though most fans assumed the Bandits name was a reference to Reynolds popular movie franchise, Bassett said hed named the team after his granddaughters dog. The Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League is currently playing the 2022 season with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses, placing them third in the USFL's South Division. Next week, the Bandits (1-1) will take on the Houston Gamblers on Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. After transferring from East Mississippi CC, the Fort Lauderdale native went to Auburn to play QB and then eventually to FAU where he became a receiver. He only played eight games of the 1983 season because of a wrist injury. Jordan Ta'amu #10 of Tampa Bay Bandits looks to pass the ball in the third quarter of the game against the New Orleans Breakers at Protective Stadium on April 24, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. Five, in our opinion, have especially flourished. Todd Haley, who led the Bandits to a 4-6 record last spring, will coach Memphis. [5][6], Rookies in italics Akron Zips. Searching for answers, Ta'amu was later replaced by quarterback Brady White, who didn't provide much of a spark. calling plays and QB Kyle Trask Feb. 22 Sports . Bassett was initially skeptical about getting into another football venture. For three scintillating years at the outset of the MTV era, the Bandits totally upstaged their creamsicle counterparts. Sloter was dominant in his second career USFL game despite popping his groin. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound QB has an athletic frame with excellent size and better football speed than his 40-yard dash of 4.77 suggests, getting to top speed quickly with his long strides that make him a legitimate dual-threat nightmare for defenders. The Tampa Bay Bandits (2-1) face the Birmingham Stallions (3-0) in Week 4 of the USFL schedule. . The Bandits arguably have the best quarterback-head coach duo in Jordan Ta'amu and Todd Haley. 5 Rate. The Breakers' defense held Tampa Bay to just 97 yards passing and Bandits quarterback Jordan Ta'amu was pressured throughout the contest. That drive also saw wide receiver Jonathan Adams make an incredible one-handed catch for 29 yards. Though they never won a league title, the Bandits made the playoffs in two of their three years, and boasted the highest average attendance (43,760) during that brief history of the original USFL. We go over some of the best betting options for Wednesdays matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/USFL/Getty Images). Hell be playing WR for the Bandits. With the Bandits stepping foot on the field once again, the Tampa Bay area could become a triple threat in football by 2023. Mark Perry; November 22, 2021. Former USF rush end/linebacker Greg Reaves, a breakout player for the 2022 Bandits, said he intends to play for Memphis next spring. Initially, each team carried a 38-man active roster and a 7-man practice squad, but the rosters were increased to 40 active players and 50 total in May, 2022. . [5] He finished the season ranked second in SEC passing yards, behind Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, who played in three more games. Retrieved December 15, 2018, Proposed new football league plans game in Tampa | Tampa Bay Times, "Spring pro league scraps showcase game at Ray-Jay", "Based on Trademarks Which USFL Teams Could We See Return In 2022", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tampa_Bay_Bandits&oldid=1112262986, This page was last edited on 25 September 2022, at 13:11. [29] As his condition worsened, Bassett decided to sell the team. The USFL also is using the same red, white and blue stars-and-stripes logo it did from 1983-85. + Show More. [ICON SPORTSWIRE | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images], Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! [32], In August 1985, minority owner Lee Scarfone, a local architect, agreed to purchase Bassett's and Arky's stakes and field a team in the USFL for the fall 1986 season, with Tony Cunningham coming on as an additional partner. All rights reserved. The double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! 6, 2022 at 3:41 PM PDT. The league initially played a spring and summer schedule but was scheduled to be played in the fall and winter beginning in 1986 directly competing against the National Football League. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. [2], On November 15, 2022, it was announced that the Tampa Bay Bandits would not play during the 2023 season and would instead be on a temporary hiatus. With an enclosed setting, 200-foot-long field and six players to a side (including the goalkeeper), the sport seems a hockey-soccer hybrid. We now go to their biggest competitors for the title, per preseason odds: the Tampa . The Bandits did not overspend on player contracts, keeping the franchise stable but making it difficult to compete with the USFL's higher-spending teams, despite making a very good account of themselves on the field. He jumped to the now-defunct XFL a few months later, starring for the St. Louis BattleHawks. The USFL is relaunching in 2022, four decades after the spring football leagues short-lived run that featured such stars as Reggie White, Herschel Walker, Steve Young, Jim Kelly and future president Donald Trump. Visit ESPN to view the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team depth chart for the current season [26], Ta'amu signed with the Detroit Lions on August 17, 2021. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. [1] Bassett had a part-time home in the Tampa Bay Area, and when the USFL announced its twelve charter franchises in May 1982, Bassett was introduced as the majority owner of the as-yet unnamed team in Tampa along with Miami attorney Steve Arky. The size of the contracts, particularly Clark's contract, led Spurrier and other team officials to question whether Bassett was acting or thinking rationally. 1983 Tampa Bay Bandits Roster. This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 16:53. [30] He was released on January 4, 2022. [4], Initially, each team carried a 38-man active roster and a 7-man practice squad, but the rosters were increased to 40 active players and 50 total in May, 2022. ET: The Bandits are on the board! He finished the season with 1,682 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Please play responsibly. After eight first-round quarterbacks were selected, the 12th round also saw another eight signal-callers head to new teams. Forgive us if we greet it with more than a smidgen of skepticism. View the 2022 Tampa Bay Bandits draft results. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Each USFL team will carry a 38-man active roster plus a seven-man practice squad, and players will receive base compensation . You've now found the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits t-shirt of your wardrobe. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 0. ET Sunday. [14] After the XFL's season was cut short, Ta'amu was placed on the reserve/other league list on April 2, 2020, in order to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. Football is in our DNA and the return of this innovative and iconic league is a fantastic addition to our robust slate of football programming, Shanks said. With the second pick of the 2022 USFL Draft on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Bandits selected quarterback Jordan Ta'amu from Mississippi. Hes bounced around the NFL, switching between WR and DB and recently earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. Can feather the ball over the top, as well as hang it on a line, demonstrating the pure passing talent needed to make every throw in the playbook. He won a Super Bowl in 2018/2019 season with the New England Patriots. [2][3][4][5] He also rushed for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. (Guess he hasnt seen the game tapes), US Supreme Court refuses to block Florida execution of Donald Dillbeck, Red-hot USF women close out home schedule with explosive offensive showing. From a skill position standpoint, Tampa Bay's backfield is made up of Juwan Washington (2,699 rushing yards, 25 TDs with San Diego State from 2016-19) and BJ Emmons (564 yards from scrimmage with . Void in ONT. Tampa Bay Bandits QB Jordan Ta'amu. This list excludes our mainstream, major-sports franchises (Bucs, Lightning, Rays) as well the Rowdies (who still exist and have survived several incarnations). . Game log for the match-up between Bridgewater Jr. Bandits vs. New Hampshire Jr. But attendance had bottomed out by then (as low as 295 for one game), and new owner John Tuschuman moved the team to South Dakota before the end of the third season. Showboats games will be played at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (formerly known as the Liberty Bowl). The team played their 2022 home games at Protective Stadium and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, which also hosts the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers. This article is about the second edition of the USFL. 40 active, 5 inactive, 10 practice squad. Market data provided by Factset. Former USF rush end/linebacker Greg Reaves, a breakout player for the 2022 Bandits, the Sports Business Journal that the USFL, Ill-advised leaps aside, Bucs receiver Scotty Miller finally is back on his feet. or redistributed. White was intercepted by Mike Stevens in the fourth quarter, and he finished the game completing just 3 of 10 passes for 34 yards and one interception. On December 30, 2021, Ta'amu was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad. Bandits players and coaches from last season now will represent the Memphis Showboats, a franchise in the original USFL (in existence from 1983-1985) that is re-joining the league for 2023. At the same time, co-owner Steve Arky's wealth was raided by the Securities and Exchange Commission on fraud charges, triggering the savings and loan crisis; Arky committed suicide not long after. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The Tampa Bay Strikers, fielding both mens and womens teams in the second-year National Indoor Soccer League, debuted Sunday (the women won, the men lost) before a sparse audience at Yuengling Center on USFs campus. Later-year rosters included current USF softball coach Ken Eriksen, but by then the Bucs, Lightning and other entities had arrived, and the Bombers were an afterthought. After both teams failed to score during the third quarter, the Breakers went on a 10-play 55-yard drive, which was capped off by a MacGinnis field goal to give them a 24-3 lead to start the fourth. Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When the Pittsburgh Gladiators (one of Arena Football Leagues four original franchises) relocated to Tampa at the dawn of the 1990s, a diminutive dynasty was born. "I run this s--t!" With the Bandits, he led the 2022 USFL season in passing yardage and touchdowns. [1], On January 6, 2022, it was announced on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley was named the head coach and general manager for the Bandits. Tampa Bay's special teams brought the Bandits within two points when Rashard Davis returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-12 with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter. 7 John Reaves QB 9 Zenon Andrusyshyn K-P 12 Mike Kelley QB 15 Jimmy Jordan QB 20 Tim Groves FS 21 Greg Boone RB 22 Leon Williams CB 23 George Ragsdale RB 25 Alvin Bailey SS 26 Roy Eppes S 28 Doug Beaudoin SS 29 Sam Platt RB 32 (27) Glen Edwards FS 32 Carl Franks RB 33 Jeff George CB 34 Willie Wilder RB 35 Richard . The Michigan Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Philadelphia Stars and . 3:58 p.m. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kyle Lowry headline NBA injury report for Wednesday, March 1, Senators acquire D Jakob Chychrun from Coyotes, The Jake Paul boxing experiment is not dead (yet), How to bet on Kevin Durants player props for Suns debut Wednesday vs. Hornets. Weve ranked them right here. Our main criteria for these rankings: on-field (or on-court) success, popularity and longevity. Tampa Bay starting quarterback Jordan Ta'amu paced the Bandits' offense, completing 17-of-33 passes for 225 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Here we rank the Round 12 quarterback selections. The Tampa Bay Bandits' majority owner were Canadian businessman John Bassett (who was still in litigation against the NFL over his previous Memphis . [3][4][5][6] Reynolds was prominently involved in the Bandits' early marketing campaigns, and the cover of the team's first media guide featured a photo of the actor wearing a Bandits jacket and trucker hat. This magical run for the Phillies has been attributed to outstanding play from all Before unleashing his Fun n Gun offense on the SEC, Steve Spurrier tried it out here in the greatest non-NFL pro football league this nation has ever known, and it flourished. Market data provided by Factset. Get breaking news and the latest XFL news. The Bandits led the league in average attendance over their three years, outdrawing the Buccaneers, who also played at Tampa Stadium. In April 1985, the USFL (led by New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump[24][25]) voted 122 to switch to a fall schedule for 1986, hoping to compete directly with the NFL and possibly force the more established league to accept a merger. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM. The former University of Florida star and NFL 1st round draft pick was 67 years old. Ta'amu will be starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bandits when they face the Pittsburgh Maulers in the final game of the USFL's opening weekend at 8 p.m. While Haley's name isn't as big as some of the other coaches in the USFL, the players on his roster are big names in many circles. [31], Ta'amu was assigned to the DC Defenders of the XFL on January 6, 2023. The Bulls came back to tie the game, but the Bandits won when Zenon Andrusyshyn kicked a field goal to give Tampa Bay a 2825 lead. Tight ends/special teams - Frank Gansz Jr. The Bandits were one of the most successful teams in the short-lived spring football league both on the field and at the ticket booth. Headquartered at the original Jack Russell Stadium on North Greenwood Avenue, the Bombers had success, star power and an electric home atmosphere. The Philadelphia Phillies are in the World Series for the first time since 2009. (Photo by Jamie Squire/USFL/Getty Images). Coached by Bill Musselman, whose journeyman career included stints as coach of the NBAs Cavaliers and Timberwolves, the Thrillers won the league title each of their three seasons in the area, though few noticed. The Bandits began play in 1983 in Tampa Stadium, and were immediately more successful than the area's NFL franchise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom they shared a home field (though the Bucs played in the fall and early winter while the Bandits played in the spring and early summer). Neutral Media. The Bandits' mascot gallops around Tampa Stadium (FOX 13 / file). Always among the league leaders in attendance, the Bandits employed a daring, risky offense featuring trick plays and gimmickry. ET on NBC and Peacock. 100% ring-spun cotton. He has spent time with the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers, showing the skills that helped make him the No. Tampa Bay Bandits full roster for the 2022 USFL season, Kevin Durant returns to game after briefly going to locker room Wednesday vs. Hornets. Bassett, who had registered one of the two "nay" votes, immediately declared his intention to pull the Bandits out of the USFL and organize a new spring football league. The USFL featured rules innovations, helped usher in underclassmen being drafted by the NFL and pushed the league to pay bigger salaries and create real free agency. [30][31] Before his death, he unsuccessfully tried to merge the Bandits organization with the Orlando Renegades (whose owner Donald Dizney had previously held a stake in the Bandits, but rejected the merger out of loyalty to Orlando) and Jacksonville Bulls (whose owner Fred Bullard expressed interest, but only if the Bandits owners stayed on as investors in the merged team). The Tampa Bay Bandits will be one of the eight teams to play this season in the USFL. TAMPA, Fla. - Are you ready for some Bandit Ball? The team made the playoffs in two of their three seasons and played an exhibition game in London in 1984. Jordan Ta'amu #10 of Tampa Bay Bandits looks to pass the ball in the third quarter of the game against the New Orleans Breakers at Protective Stadium on April 24, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. The first day of the draft will start by position with quarterbacks getting selected in Round 1 followed by edge rushers and . A great athlete similar to quarterback De'Andre Johnson, Martinez ran a 4.7 40-yard-dash and put up very solid numbers in college. (Getty photo / Bettmann contributor). Bandits quarterback Jordan Ta'amu comes into this game off his best performance of the year including a pair of touchdown passes . [13] He had another productive game in Week 2 against the Houston Roughnecks, with 316 combined yards of offense and four total touchdowns, but threw 2 interceptions as the Battlehawks lost 2428. The Official Site of the United States Football League | The USFL.com The leagues rules and style of gameplay were similar to the NFL, but one notable innovation was the introduction of instant replay in 1985. [23], Ta'amu was signed to a reserve/future contract on January 12, 2021. All on FoxSports.com. The new USFL announced Thursday it will play next spring with a minimum of eight teams and deliver high-quality, innovative professional football to fans., Although those teams, along with the cities, head coaches and schedules wont be announced until later, the league said it retains the rights to key original team names.. The Bandits stormed back to take a 2518 lead. [28] The team began signing mediocre players, most infamously defensive back Bret Clark, to large contracts, and plans for a new spring football league were abandoned. John Reaves triggered the . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Buoyed by that revolutionary offense, an A-list minority owner (Burt Reynolds) and an ensemble of NFL-caliber talent (John Reaves, Gary Anderson, Nate Newton), the Bandits routinely drew crowds of more than 40,000. Eric Truvillion lead the receivers with 1,044 yards on 70 catches and nine touchdowns. Stallions odds with USFL picks, predictions and bets.. To the contrary, Tampa Bay just might lead the nation in fledgling sports franchises. The eight USFL teams will be split into two divisions. The Bandits were also successful off the field. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only 9,932 showed up at Raymond James Stadium for the Mutinys final game, a 2-1 loss to Columbus on Sept. 4, 2001, to cap a 4-21-2 season. [11] Due to these factors, the Bandits are considered one of the few USFL teams that had the potential to be a viable venture had the league been better run. Problem was, the team (owned by the league) never could secure local ownership and hemorrhaged money. Injuries pounded Tampa Bay's roster in 1985, but Spurrier's team continued to fight, this time for a championship for . Manajer Buccaneers, Jason Licht, mengaku senang timnya bisa mengamankan jasa pemain berusia 30 tahun tersebut untuk musim baru NFL . The Breakers (2-0) will play the Birmingham Stallions in a matchup of unbeaten teams later in the day at 8 p.m. Sign up for the Bucs RedZone newsletter to get updates and analysis on the latest team and NFL news from Bucs beat writer Joey Knight. Jacksonville, led by former Jets and Broncos quarterback Matt Robinson, raced out to a 120 lead. Click the College Football Today RokFin live image below to learn more about top football recruits that have received offers from ACC football programs and visit the top 2022 quarterback recruits database to view scouting data on 2022 UNC QB Commit Conner Harrell & 2022 Louisville QB Commit Khalib Johnson! This American football team article is a stub. They were coached by Steve Spurrier, who was a former University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner who went on to great success as Florida's head . By 2017, however, the AFL had dwindled to five teams, and then-owner Jeff Vinik made the tough decision to pull the plug. [29][34], Rushing Yards: 1206 (1985), Gary Anderson, Receiving Yards: 1146 (1983), Danny Buggs, This article is about the first edition of the USFL. The Florida stars up-tempo, aggressive offense which earned the nickname Bandit Ball was usually among the best in the league. [20] He was removed from the COVID-19 list on October 21. Howd that go? Kickoff is 7 p.m. Pete Times Forum/Tampa Bay Times Forum/Amalie Arena (1997-2017). David Aaro is a Reporter at Fox News Digital. They nabbed quarterbacks Jordan Taamu, who was a legend in the XFL, and Brady White who was one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Memphis football. Tampa Stadium hosts the first Bandits game (FOX 13 / file). [2], After it was decided that the franchise would play in Tampa, several minority owners bought stakes, among them Hollywood star Burt Reynolds, a former college football player at Florida State who was one of the most popular motion picture actors in the world. The Breakers' defense will have to put pressure on Bandits' quarterback Jordan Ta'amu. Letsgetstarted. by. While they were owned by Canadian businessman John Bassett, actor and former Florida State player Burt Reynolds bought in as a minority owner and became a big part of the teams marketing. After coaching for a decade in the Mariners' organization, McLaren was named Seattle's manager on July 1, 2007, replacing Mike Hargrove. The Breakers were up 21-3 by halftime, and they didn't allow the Bandits to score any points for the rest of the game. While Tampa Bay failed to score a touchdown, they finally got on the board with a 22-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Rausa. At Spurrier's introductory press conference, Bassett joked that the he knew that he'd found the right coach when he discovered that the Spurrier family also had a dog named Bandit.[4][8]. The Tampa Bay Bandits' primary founder was Canadian businessman John F. Bassett, who was still in litigation against the NFL over his previous Memphis Southmen franchise from the World Football League in the mid-1970s. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY. Kyle Sloter #10 of New Orleans Breakers looks to pass the ball in the third quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Bandits at Protective Stadium on April 24, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. Could the Tampa Bay Bandits, whose popularity in the 1980s rivaled that of the Bucs, be among them? 2 pick by Tampa Bay. Memphis Showboats, a franchise in the original USFL (in existence from 1983-1985) that is re-joining the league for 2023. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FOX SPORTS, SPEED, SPEED.COM & 2023 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Ta'amu played at the New Mexico Military Institute for two seasons, passing for 3,014 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore. It's made of 100% ring-spun cotton and is soft and comfy. HIGHEST RATED. Fox Sports, which has a minority equity stake in the company that owns the new USFL, will serve as the leagues official broadcast partner.