A Brief History of the Tampa Bay Bandits
by Paul Reeths
December 10, 2021 - United States Football League (USFL)
Tampa Bay Bandits
Original Tampa Bay Bandits logo
(Tampa Bay Bandits)
On November 22, the FOX television network unveiled the teams which will comprise the new United States Football League when the circuit hits the field in 2022. Though FOX's USFL is a completely new entity, all its team names were initially used in the original USFL which played from 1983 to 1985.
Below is a brief history of the first Tampa Bay Bandits franchise.
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The Tampa Bay Bandits proved to be one of the USFL's most entertaining teams, and the fans of Tampa embraced them. Always among the league leaders in attendance, the Bandits employed a daring, risky offense featuring trick plays and gimmickry. Banditball was a true reflection of coach Steve Spurrier and maverick owner John Bassett, the league's most experienced owner having fielded the Memphis Southmen or the World Football League a decade before among other sports endeavors.
Following a suprisingly strong regular season and poised for a playoff position in 1983, the Bandits fell apart down the stretch, losing four of their last six games to finish one game out of the postseason. The loss of quarterback John Reaves to a wrist injury hampered the scintillating, unpredictable offense. Typically, the Bandits offense had no trouble keeping up, but the defense encountered problems. Tampa Bay topped the league with 4,580 yards passing, but their QBs tossed 36 interceptions to 26 touchdowns. Wideout Danny Buggs finished second in the league with 76 catches for 1,146 yards, and Eric Truvillion caught 66 passes for 1,080 yards. Defensive tackle Fred Nordgren ended the season second in the USFL with 15 sacks.
The Bandits fielded perhaps their best team the following year in spite of the league's growth to 18 teams. The offense cruised to third in the league, and the defense improved to average. Dangerous Gary Anderson highlighted a retooled running game with 1,008 yards and 19 touchdowns and added 66 catches for 682 yards. Reaves threw for 4,092 yards and 28 scores, and Truvillion had 70 receptions for 1,044 yards while tight end Marvin Harvey caught 70 balls for 938 yards. None of that was enough, though, to overcome five turnovers in their first-round 36-17 playoff loss to the Birmingham Stallions.
Injuries pounded Tampa Bay's roster in 1985, but Spurrier's team continued to fight, this time for a championship for ailing owner Bassett. Anderson ran for 1,207 yards and 16 TDs and topped the squad with 72 catches, while Reaves threw for 4,193 yards and 25 scores. Larry Brodsky caught 69 passes for 1,071 yards. Once again, however, the Bandits came up short in the playoffs, this time by a 30-27 margin to the Oakland Invaders.
Bassett was the biggest opponent of the league's announced move to the fall for 1986, and even threatened to pull Tampa Bay out of the USFL and start his own circuit if the league followed through on its plans to change seasons. Unfortunately, Bassett died of cancer on the eve of the USFL's antitrust trial against the NFL.
Their Finest Hour: It was week three of the 1984 season, and new in-state rival Jacksonville Found itself at Tampa Stadium for a visit. The Bandits knew they were in for a tough one because the Bulls had already whipped the Washington Federals and nearly knocked off the New Jersey Generals. Jacksonville jumped out on top, 12-0, on a Matt Robinson touchdown pass (kick failed) and Larry Mason scoring run (conversion failed). Gary Anderson's two-yard TD brought Tampa Bay within 12-7 before Alonzo Johnson blocked a Jacksonville punt out of the endzone to make it 12-9. Robinson drove the Bulls down and snuck in from the one, but the Bandits scored the next 13 to take their first lead. First, Zenon Andrusyshyn kicked a field goal to close the first half. Then in the third period, Reaves hit Truvillion for a score and Greg Boone rambled nine yards to put Tampa Bay up, 25-18. The Bulls bounced back to tie the game, however, on a Willie McClendon TD scamper early in the fourth. Neither team could break through for the rest of the quarter until the Bandits mounted a late drive. Andrusyshyn nailed a 30-yard field kick with just two seconds left to give the home team a 28-25 victory.
Years of existence: 1983-1985
Owner: John Bassett
Stadium: Tampa Stadium (76,891)
Colors: Red, silver, black and white
Overall Regular Season Record: 35-19 (.648)
Overall Playoff Record: 0-2
Yearly Standings and Average Home Attendances
1983: 11-7 (39,896)
1984: 14-4 (46,158)
1985: 10-8 (45,220)
Adapted from USFLsite.com.
Interested in learning more about the United States Football League? Buy The United States Football League, 1982-1986.
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United States Football League Stories from December 10, 2021
- A Brief History of the Tampa Bay Bandits - OSC Original by Paul Reeths
- A Brief History of the Tampa Bay Bandits - OSC Original by Paul Reeths
- A Brief History of the Tampa Bay Bandits - OSC Original by Paul Reeths
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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