1983 USFL Championship Game

The Michigan Panthers, behind John Corker, Anthony Carter, and Bobby Herbert, beat the Philadelphia Stars 24-22 in Denver's Mile High Stadium to claim the first ever USFL Championship.

At a glance... GAME FACTS Date July 17, 1983 6:00 P.M. M.S.T. Located Denver, Colorado TV ABC in U.S. (Also carried in Japan, Canada, Italy, Spain, Thailand & England) Ratings 11.9/23% share Tickets $55 (Gold Box) $22 $14 Winnings Winners: $6000 per player Losers: $3000 per player Attendance 46,535 MVP QB Bobby Hebert, Michigan STADIUM Mile High Stadium

Some braindead self-proclaimed gunowner called in a death threat to the Rocky Mountain News before the game. The threat, which caused SWAT teams to attend the game, was against Michigan QB Bobby Hebert and suggested he would be shot with a high-powered riffle. Despite the added pressure, Hebert completed 20 of 39 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Hebert took MVP honors for his performance.

1983 USFL Championship Game Statistics 1983 USFL Championship Game Statistics Michigan 3 7 7 7 24 Philadelphia 0 3 0 19 22 SCORING Panthers: 33 yard FG Bojovic  Stars: 30 yard FG Trout Panthers: Holloway 12 yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) Panthers: Holloway 14 yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) Stars: 28 yard FG Trout Stars: Collier 21 yard pass from Fusina (Collier pass from Fusia) Panthers: Carter 48 yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) Stars: Parker 2 yard pass from Fusina (Fitzkee pass from Fusina)   1983 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP     PANTHERS   STARS 25 First Downs 24 8-156 Rushes Yards 23-117 291 Passing Yards 207 4-29 Sacks by/Yards 4-23 15 Return Yards 20 20-39-1 Passes 26-48-1 4-58.8 Punts 6-52.5 1-1 Fumbles/Lost 4-0 12-87 Penalties/Yards 5-68 31:36 Time Poss. 28:24 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS C. Miller 12-80 Lacy 15-56 Hebert 1-20 Rushing Bryant 13-89 Harvin 6-21 Fusina 4-7 Hebert 20-39-1 314 Yards Passing Fusiana 25-47-0 192 yards Harvin 1-1-0 44 Carter 9-179 Holloway 3-39 Lacy 3-23 C. Miller 3-17 Cobb 1-37 McClain 1-19 Receiving Fitzkee 5-56 Donovan 5-36 Harvin 4-24 Bryant 4-15 Collier 3-38 Folsom 3-19 Parker 2-46                                             1983 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP

USFL Bibliography
Books:
The $1 League: The Rise and Fall of the USFL by Jim Byrne
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1984
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1985
USFL Media Guides (each team published one each year)

Magazines:
Kickoff Magazine (published by league; 9 issues per year + playoffs; sold at games)
The Sporting News (regular coverage + special "preview" inserts)

These and many other USFL items can be found at eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!

USFL Bibliography
Books:
The $1 League: The Rise and Fall of the USFL by Jim Byrne
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1984
The Sporting News Official USFL Guide and Register, 1985
USFL Media Guides (each team published one each year)

Magazines:
Kickoff Magazine (published by league; 9 issues per year + playoffs; sold at games)
The Sporting News (regular coverage + special "preview" inserts)

These and many other USFL items can be found at eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!