USFL Teams: Tampa Bay Bandits

By Wikipedia

The Tampa Bay Bandits was a franchise in the United States Football League and competed in all three of the seasons of that league's existence.

At a glance... Franchise Facts Established 1982 Located Tampa Bay Owners John Bassett Stephen Arky Burt Reynolds Records   W L T % 1983  11 7 0 .611 1984  14 4 0 .778 1985  10 8 0 .556 Postseason/Titles 1984 Lost to Birmingham 36-17 1985 Lost to Oakland 48-27 Nicknames Tampa Bay Bandits Stadium Tampa Stadium (76,891)

They played their home games at Tampa Stadium. They were coached by former Heisman Trophy winner and National Football League punter and quarterback, Steve Spurrier.

See also: 1983 Bandits, 1984 Bandits, 1985 Bandits

The team was owned in part by Hollywood mainstay Burt Reynolds, at that time one of the most popular motion picture actors in the world; the team's majority owner was Canadian businessman John Bassett. On the field, the Bandits were far more successful than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFL team that Spurrier had once quarterbacked, and with whom they shared their stadium. In addition, their memorabilia outsold that of the Buccaneers in the Tampa Bay area during the time of the team's existence. As pitiful as Buccaneer teams of this era were, it is hard to say who would have won a game between the two professional teams in Tampa. The 1987 Buccaneers featured no fewer than seventeen former Bandits on their roster.

The Bandits seemed to be one of the USFL teams that would have had a realistic chance for long-term success if the league overall had been more soundly and realistically managed.

Single Season Leaders

Rushing Yards: 1206 (1985), Gary Anderson
Receiving Yards: 1146 (1983), Danny Buggs
Passing Yards: 4183 (1985), John Reaves

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!