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Why Did I do This?
The one and only World Bowl Trophy at The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
This is a labor of love. A labor that has gnawed at me for several years. Not because it’s something that I didn’t want to do, no, not even close to that. Its because it is something that I longed to do, but never really felt that I had the time to do it right, or the talent to do in a manner that would be a testament to those of which I write. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a writer. I am a Respiratory Therapist. But there is something inside of me that longs to tell this story, even though several have chronicled these events during the time in which they occurred. I tell it not only for the players who played the games, although it is in tribute to them that I do. I tell it for the fans that watched and cheered. For those who became enamored with and made room in their hearts for the Birmingham Americans and Vulcans. The WFL existed less than two full seasons. But it created heroes and fan favorites whose names still are permanently placed in our football minds.
For one glorious season the “Ams” were the darlings of Birmingham and the state of Alabama. They did not win every game, however they came close. And the manner of which they won endeared them to fans of all ages. The original “Cardiac Kids” won several games with last minute heroics that could be described in terms from sheer determination to miraculous. They simply would not lose a game played at Legion Field. Their overall record of 17 – 5 included 13 wins at home. They absolutely owned Legion Field, although they did seem to generously share it for three quarters from time to time. The comebacks became such that when they did lose finally in week eleven to Memphis, after forging a 10 – 0 start, it was almost as if every fan could finally exhale. It would be the only time that a WFL Birmingham team would fall to Memphis. They never lost at home in 1974 and fell only once in ’75.
I have many memories of the 1974 WFL inaugural season, but I’ll attempt to limit those and stick to the telling of the events of that first professional football team in the State of Alabama. I’ll never forget Channel 6 sports anchor Tom York announcing on the evening news that Birmingham had a WFL franchise, which would be called the Americans, with the red, white, and blue “A” with the star inside of it, on the screen behind him. I recall going to see Birmingham trounce Memphis in the first professional football game I had ever attended. I remember being soaked to the skin watching Matthew Reed rescue the Ams from certain defeat against the Florida Blazers. Paul Robinson slapped my outstretched hand after the game and I was glad to have stayed throughout the downpour. I’ll never forget begging for permission to stay up to watch the World Bowl, even though it was a school night. And seeing Birmingham sprint to a 22 – 0 lead, and then hang on for dear life as the Blazers furiously fought back. I also remember not being able to stay awake at school very well the next day. But it was worth it, because I was able to put “World Bowl Champions” on the homemade Americans schedule I had posted in my room, with all of the scores dutifully recorded.
While the WFL was “minor league” to the NFL elitists, we loved them and felt proud to have them as ours. The Ams typified what the football fan in Alabama appreciated in a team; solid defense, hard-nosed running attack, sound coaching, and a pair of fearless quarterbacks. There were players whom we were not familiar with, but yet they became household names. Mira, Brupbacher, Reed, Capone, Brezina, Leonard, Matlock, Tatarek, Truax, Cantrelle, Robinson, Jenkins, Harraway, O’Donnell, Kregel, Andrews, and Duron. Then there were the familiar names sprinkled in to insure a hometown flavor with names like Homan, Willingham, Brown, and Williams. With a promise that more names, like Stabler and Musso would soon follow.
In 1975 Johnny Musso did come back to Birmingham to play, even though the name of the team was changed to the Vulcans. Jack Gotta moved to full time general manager and Marvin Bass became head coach. While the excitement wasn’t at the fever pitch it was in 1974, the Vulcans still stood and delivered quality football. When the plug was abruptly pulled on the World Football League in October of 1975 Birmingham was leading the league at 9-3. While the League never officially recognized a champion in ’75, the good people of Birmingham and vicinity dubbed them 1975 Champs anyway.
In the movie “Titanic”, the string quartet continues to play on the deck of the doomed vessel, even as it was sinking, the scene one of panic and confusion playing all around the musicians. So, too, did the Ams continue to play, despite weeks going by without being paid, despite other franchises folding around them, and despite shrinking attendance. The WFL listed, and sunk fast in a sea of red ink before the 1975 season concluded. But somehow the Birmingham Americans played through it all to make the season of 1974 in Birmingham a thrilling ride while the promise of the 1975 Vulcans and the WFL ended all too soon. |
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