Some USFL Nuggets

I finally started reading Jeff Pearlman's book on the USFL, Football For A Buck. It's an excellent, often hilarious, read. I highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for professional football or even a passing interest in the short-lived league. The USFL might not have lasted long but the people that were part of it gave it a lot of personality. Here are some fun nuggets from Football For A Buck. 

Los Angeles Express linebacker John Barefield would arrive at the team's facilities with a cowboy hat atop his head and a nickel lodged in his ear. No one knew why.

At 6'9" and 280 lbs, Charles Philyaw was a freakishly sized and talented defensive end for the Oakland Raiders in the late 1970s. A knee injury limited his NFL career to a modest four years. He attempted a professional football  comeback with the Express. In what can only be assumed was an attempt to help his injured limb, Philyaw would apply WD-40 to his legs after every practice and game.

On a personal note. As a kid in the 1970s just discovering football and the NFL I was in awe of Philyaw. Even though Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones was similarly sized there was something otherworldly about Philyaw. Perhaps it was the unknown. I always thought that my awe of him might have been similar to how many viewed Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb a couple decades earlier.

Boston Breakers head coach Dick Coury invited fans to send trick plays to him. If he used the play in a game, the designer would get to stand on the sideline and hold the wires for Coury's head set.

Michigan Panthers kick Novo Bojovic wore a white glove on his left hand and stashed a clove of garlic in his right shoe for luck.

During the 1984 offseason, the Chicago Blitz players and coaches were traded for the Arizona Wranglers players and coaches. All of them. The Blitz then sent 21 of the former Wranglers to the Memphis Showboats for a late round draft pick. 20 of the 21 acquired by the Showboats were released five days later. They only kept offensive lineman Clint Davenport.

Express owner J. William Oldenburg referred to himself as Mr. Dynamite.

Upon being released by the Express, defensive end Greg "Big Paper" Fields exchanged punches with head coach John Hadl.

An entire book could be written about Big Paper.

"He wasn't as big as a popcorn fart"-Houston Gamblers defensive line coach Ray Alborn on 5'8" 160 lb receiver Clarence Verdin.

Memphis Showboats head coach Pepper Rodgers once arrived at practice in a tuxedo and football shoes. He took every rep that week as the scout team quarterback in tuxedo and cleats.

And finally, a little something from the great Reggie White during his time with the Memphis Showboats.

After being cut blocked by the Birmingham Stallions center on the previous play White went about setting things right on the next.

White was playing to the left of nose tackle Brett "the Toaster" Williams. In the huddle he told Williams they were switching positions. It was not a request, but an order. White lined up across from the center on the ensuing play, and as the two men settled into their stances, White said, "Hey, you ever meet Jesus?"
Hutt...
Hutt...
"Reggie picked that guy up where only his toes were touching the ground," said San Clancy, a Memphis lineman. "He pushed him back 10 yards and slammed him into (quarterback) Cliff Stoudt for the sack. Nobody could believe it."

That's just a sampling of the fun found in Pearlman's terrific book.