Orlando Renegades Totally Explained

Everything about Washington Federals totally explained

The Orlando Renegades was a professional American Football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.

History

Washington Federals

1983 season

The Renegades started out in 1983 as the Washington Federals and played in Washington, D.C.'s Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium under the ownership of prominent Washington attorney Berl Bernhard. The team lured Ray Jauch to be its head coach; he'd previously guided the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to success in the Canadian Football League; at the time he was the fourth-winningest coach in CFL history. The first game in franchise history was a portent of things to come: the Federals lost at RFK to the Chicago Blitz, coached by former Washington Redskins coach George Allen, 28-7. The game was played on March 6, 1983, just five weeks after the Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. The Federals finished 4-14, tied for the worst record in the league. They were not quite as bad as their record indicated; eight of their losses were by a touchdown or less. Some of their losses were the result of terrible luck. In week 3, the Federals led the Boston Breakers 16-9 with less than five minutes in regulation. However, two bad snaps on special teams led to a 19-16 loss. In week 6, the Federals led the Arizona Wranglers 21-16, only to have a potential game-sealing drive stall on the 2-yard-line. The Wranglers' first play from scrimmage after that was a 98-yard touchdown pass--the longest in league history. The Federals were also bitten by the injury bug. Running back Craig James was sidelined five games with a fractured vertebra, and quarterback Mike Hohensee only played five games all season. At one point, all of their receivers had leg injuries. A week before the season, their player personnel expert bolted to the NFL's New York Jets.
In 1983, one of their quarterbacks was "Jefferson Street" Joe Gilliam of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers. He was way past his prime and only threw for 673 yards.

1984 season

Despite hideous attendance figures (they once drew only 7,300 people to a home game), Bernhard was committed to sticking it out. However, the 1984 season came unraveled in a hurry. Jauch was fired after the opening game of 1984, wherein the Federals were humiliated 53-14 by the expansion Jacksonville Bulls. Jauch was replaced by former Maryland Terrapins and Dallas Cowboys running back Dick Bielski. In week 2, James suffered a season-ending injury. At that point, the season became a total fiasco. It took them nine games to figure out how to win, and they even lost two games to the expansion Pittsburgh Maulers. They finally finished 3-15. Support was almost nonexistent; they only averaged 7,700 fans per game, the worst per-game attendance in league history.

Orlando Renegades

With six games left in the season, Bernhard (who once called the Federals "trained gerbils") gave up and sold the Federals to Florida real estate developer Woody Weiser, who announced plans to move the Federals to Miami. Weiser quickly signed up Howard Schnellenberger as the new coach after the season ended. However, in August, the league voted to move to a fall schedule in 1986. Not wanting to compete against the Miami Dolphins, Weiser walked away from the deal. A few days later, Tampa Bay Bandits part-owner Donald Dizney bought the Federals and moved them to Orlando as the Renegades, playing at the Citrus Bowl. Lee Corso took over as coach. After starting out looking much like the 1984 Federals, the Renegades were fairly competitive in their remaining 12 games.
In 1985, the team's offense featured running back Curtis Bledsoe and Joey Walters at wide receiver.
The Renegades were one of 8 teams selected to continue operations when the USFL elected to switch to a fall schedule in 1986, but the entire league collapsed before any fall games were played.

1985 Orlando Renegades game results

Sat. Feb. 23 - L - RENEGADES 7 @ Tampa Bay Bandits 37 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 45,045) ESPN
   Fri. Mar. 1 - L - RENEGADES 10 VS. NEW JERSEY GENERALS 20 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 32,748) ESPN
   Sat. Mar. 9 - L - RENEGADES 10 VS. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 38 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 25,831)
   Sat. Mar. 16 - L - RENEGADES 17 @ Portland Breakers 23 - 9:00 EDT (Att. 25,885)
   Thu. Mar. 21 - L - RENEGADES 31 @ Jacksonville Bulls 34 (OT) - 8:30 EDT (Att. 31,883) ESPN
   Sun. Mar. 31 - L - RENEGADES 17 @ Denver Gold 21 - 2:30 EDT (Att. 10,217) ABC
   Thu. Apr. 4 - W - RENEGADES 28 VS. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 17 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 21,223) ESPN
   Sun. Apr. 14 - W - RENEGADES 24 @ Arizona Outlaws 19 - 2:30 EDT (Att. 32,169) ABC
   Sat. Apr. 20 - L - RENEGADES 10 VS. JACKSONVILLE BULLS 31 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 34,338) ESPN
   Mon. Apr. 29 - L - RENEGADES 7 @ New Jersey Generals 24 - 7:00 EDT (Att. 38,084) ESPN
   Sun. May. 5 - L - RENEGADES 7 VS. OAKLAND INVADERS 21 - 2:30 EDT (Att. 21,085) ABC
   Mon. May. 13 - W - RENEGADES 21 VS. SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 20 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 22,404) ESPN
   Fri. May. 17 - L - RENEGADES 21 VS. BALTIMORE STARS 34 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 23,121) ESPN
   Mon. May. 27 - L - RENEGADES 17 @ Birmingham Stallions 41 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 24,500) ESPN
   Sat. Jun. 1 - W - RENEGADES 37 VS. TAMPA BAY BANDITS 7 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 26,847)
   Fri. Jun. 7 - L - RENEGADES 17 @ Memphis Showboats 41 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 23,216) ESPN
   Sat. Jun. 15 - L - RENEGADES 10 @ Baltimore Stars 41 - 4:00 EDT (Att. 6,988)
   Sat. Jun. 22 - W - RENEGADES 17 VS. LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 10 - 8:00 EDT (Att. 22,865) ESPN

1985 Orlando Renegades statistics

PASSING 10. COLLIER, Reggie - 229/427, 2,578 yds, 13 TD, 16 ICs, 53.6%
   12. GOLSTEYN, Jerry - 65/135, 647 yds, 4 TD, 7 ICs, 48.1% RUSHING 23. BLEDSOE, Curtis - 207 car./781 yds, 3 TD
   10. COLLIER, Reggie - 92 car./606 yds, 12 TD
   35. CLAITT, Rickey - 43 car./130 yds, 1 TD
   26. CRUMP, Richard - 34 car./102 yds, 0 TD
   36. ODOM, Henry - 22 car./79 yds, 0 TD
   30. PERRY, Leon - 17 car./44 yds, 3 TD RECEIVING 17. WALTERS, Joey - 58 rec./784 yds, 5 TD
   87. SMITH, Jeff - 42 rec./521 yds, 1 TD
   23. BLEDSOE, Curtis - 38 rec./247 yds, 1 TD
   89. NIZIOLEK, Bob - 36 rec./349 yds, 2 TD
   84. FLOWERS, Jackie - 30 rec./373 yds, 5 TD
   85. PARRISH, Jerry - 18 rec./314 yds, 2 TD
   35. CLAITT, Rickey - 12 rec./129 yds, 0 TD
   88. ECHOLS, Don - 12 rec./124 yds, 0 TD
   36. ODOM, Henry - 12 rec./74 yds, 0 TD

1985 Orlando Renegades roster (all players)

(provided by Jim Parcels) NO. NAME POS HT WT COLLEGE - (Games Played/Games Started) 5. BROCKHAUS, Jeff - K 6.03 200 Missouri - (18/0)
   7. SIMMONS, Ricky - WR 5.10 174 Nebraska - (2/2)
   10. COLLIER, Reggie - QB 6.03 207 Southern Mississippi - (17/14)
   11. PISARKIEWICZ, Steve - QB 6.02 205 Missouri - (1/0)
   12. GOLSTEYN, Jerry - QB 6.04 210 Northern Illinois - (18/4)
   14. CATER, Greg - P 6.00 191 Tennessee-Chattanooga - (18/0)
   17. WALTERS, Joey - WR 6.00 175 Clemson - (18/18)
   20. JACKSON, Victor - FS 6.02 205 Bowie State - (18/18)
   21. SANCHEZ, Lupe - SS 5.10 197 UCLA - (18/18)
   22. GRAY, Elbert - CB 6.00 190 Weber State - (18/18)
   23. BLEDSOE, Curtis - RB 5.11 215 San Diego State - (16/15)
   24. JOHNSON, Randy - FB 5.11 205 Texas-Arlington - (3/0)
   25. NICHOLS, Fred - CB 5.11 182 Southern Methodist - (2/0)
   26. CRUMP, Richard - RB 6.00 205 Jacksonville State - (7/4)
   30. PERRY, Leon - FB 5.11 230 Mississippi - (5/2)
   30. COLZIE, Neal - FS 6.02 200 Ohio State - (4/2)
   31. JOHNSON, Lonnie - RB/KR 6.01 206 Indiana - (6/0)
   32. HARRISON, Marck - RB 5.07 185 Wisconsin - (4/0)
   33. MILLER, William - RB/KR 5.09 190 Ouachita Baptist - (9/1)
   34. STEWART, James - SS 5.11 186 Memphis State - (10/0)
   35. CLAITT, Rickey - FB 5.10 206 Bethune-Cookman - (10/7)
   36. ODOM, Henry - FB 5.10 200 South Carolina State - (10/4)
   40. QUARLES, Cornelius - FB 6.00 220 Howard - (3/0)
   43. GEORGE, Jeff - CB 6.01 180 Illinois State - (16/14)
   44. GUESS, Mike - FS 5.11 188 Ohio State - (14/5)
   45. TOUSSAINT, Darrell - CB 6.00 175 Northwestern State (La.) - (2/0)
   48. McGOWAN, Kevin - FS 6.00 185 Bethune-Cookman - (5/0)
   49. WILSON, Lee - CB 5.09 173 San Diego State - (6/0)
   50. JACKSON, Ed - LB 6.04 225 Louisiana Tech - (18/12)
   51. GABRIELSON, Jeff - LB 6.02 240 Ripon (WI) - (7/2)
   52. MUSSELMAN, Brian - C 6.02 255 Virginia - (12/0)
   53. McCALLISTER, Fred - LB 6.01 240 Florida - (17/7)
   54. BABINI, Chris - C 6.03 260 Eastern Michigan - (1/0)
   55. ATKINS, Kelvin - LB 6.03 230 Illinois - (18/12)
   56. FREEMAN, Ron - LB 6.03 230 Pittsburg State (Ks.) - (17/15)
   57. FISCHER, Mark - C 6.04 250 Notre Dame - (16/10)
   58. WEST, Bernard - LB 6.00 220 North Texas State - (15/0)
   59. RANDOLPH, Harold - LB 6.02 215 East Carolina - (15/3)
   62. BYROM, Bruce - C/LS 6.04 240 Maryland - (18/0)
   63. DORNBROOK, Thom - G 6.02 255 Kentucky - (17/17)
   64. FULTON, Ed - G 6.03 250 Maryland - (18/17)
   65. GRIFFIN, Ike - DE 6.05 250 Michigan State - (6/0)
   66. HUTCHINSON, Scott - DE 6.04 245 Florida - (18/17)
   67. TIMES, Ken - DT 6.02 245 Southern - (8/3)
   68. GRAHAM, David - DT 6.06 250 Morehouse College - (16/15)
   69. PATTEN, Joel - T 6.07 310 Duke - (18/18)
   70. DOERGER, Jerry - T/C 6.05 270 Wisconsin - (14/13)
   71. CORVINO, Mike - LB 6.02 240 Maryland - (2/0)
   72. MURANSKY, Ed - T 6.07 277 Michigan - (14/14)
   73. CORBIN, Don - G 6.05 255 Kentucky - (4/1)
   75. SOMMERFIELD, Mike - DE 6.04 265 Central Florida - (1/)
   76. SULLIVAN, David - T 6.07 270 Virginia - (1/0)
   76. MIKOLAJCZYK, Ron - G 6.03 275 Tampa College - (10/0)
   77. SCOTT, James - DT 6.05 260 Clemson - (10/4)
   78. BROWN, Val - DE 6.05 235 Florida - (8/1)
   79. MacALENEY, Ed - DT 6.04 250 Massachusetts - (16/6)
   80. WHEELER, Tom - TE 6.03 225 Florida State - (12/0)
   81. MUT, Tom - WR 6.02 187 Rhode Island - (2/0)
   82. MORGAN, Wilford - WR 6.01 200 Bethune-Cookman - (15/0)
   84. FLOWERS, Jackie - WR 6.00 190 Florida State - (17/13)
   85. PARRISH, Jerry - WR/KR 6.00 180 Eastern Kentucky - (18/5)
   87. SMITH, Jeff - WR 6.03 175 Cal-Poly SLO - (14/4)
   88. ECHOLS, Don - TE 6.04 240 Oklahoma State - (18/2)
   89. NIZIOLEK, Bob - TE 6.04 220 Colorado - (18/13)
   94. KELLIN, Kevin - DE 6.05 260 Minnesota - (18/17)
   99. RIGGINS, Charles - DE 6.04 252 Bethune-Cookman - (12/1) INACTIVES 60. FARR, James -G 6.03 250 Clemson - (IA/18G)
   71. DOUBIAGO, Dan - G 6.04 245 Utah - (IA/1G) COACHING STAFF Head Coach: LEE CORSO; Off.Coord/Off. Line: JIM NIBLACK; Def. Coord/Linebackers: FRANK LAUTERBUR; Quarterbacks: BILL LYNCH; Receivers: STEVE MARIUCCI; Running Backs/Special Teams: BRUCE DeHAVEN; Asst. Off. Line: DOUG PEACOCK; Defensive Line: RAY SHANDS; Secondary: JIMMY WARREN

Single season leaders

Rushing Yards: 1080 (1984), Curtis Bledsoe Receiving Yards: 1510 (1984), Joey Walters Passing Yards: 2766 (1984), Mike Hohensee

Season-by-season

|- | colspan="6" align="center" | Washington Federals |- |1983 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 4th Atlantic || - |- |1984 || 3 || 15 || 0 || 4th EC Atlantic ||- |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Orlando Renegades |- |1985 || 5 || 13 || 0 || 7th EC || - |- !Totals || 12 || 42 || 0 |colspan="2"|

Further Information

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