Orlando Renegades | |
---|---|
Founded | 1983 |
Folded | 1986 |
Relocated | 1985 |
Based in |
Washington, D.C. (1983–1984) Orlando, Florida (1985) United States |
Home field |
RFK Stadium (1983–1984) Florida Citrus Bowl (1985) |
League | USFL |
Conference | Eastern Conference (1984–1985) |
Division | Atlantic Division (1983–1984) |
Team History | Washington Federals (1983–1984) Orlando Renegades (1985) |
Team colors |
Navy Blue, Red, White |
Head coaches | 1983–1984 Ray Jauch (4–15) 1984 Dick Bielski (3–14) 1985 Lee Corso (5–13) |
USFL Championships | 0 |
Conference championships | 0 |
Division championships | 0 |
Washington Federals | |
---|---|
Founded | 1983 |
Relocated | 1985 Orlando |
Based in | Washington, D.C. |
Home field | RFK Stadium |
League | USFL |
Team History | Washington Federals (1983–84) Orlando Renegades (1985) |
Team colors |
Kelly Green, Black, Silver, White |
Head coaches | 1983-4 Ray Jauch (4–15) 1984 Dick Bielski (3–14) |
Owner(s) | 1983-4 Berl Bernhard |
Orlando Renegades | |
---|---|
Founded | 1985 |
Folded | 1986 |
Based in | Orlando, Florida, United States |
Home field | Orlando Stadium |
League | USFL |
Team History |
Washington Federals (1983–84) Orlando Renegades (1985) |
Team colors |
Blue, Red, White, Gray, and Black |
Head coaches | 1985 Lee Corso (5–13) |
Owner(s) | Donald Dizney |
Navy Blue, Red, White
The Orlando Renegades were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.
Kelly Green, Black, Silver, White
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 had 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 Federals finished 4–14, tied for the worst record in the league. However, they were far more competitive than their record indicated. Eight of their losses were by a touchdown or less. They had a fair amount of offensive talent and skill players with comparatively good depth.
More than any other team in the league, the Federals seemed dogged by inconsistency, bad timing, and terrible luck. A week before the season even began, their player personnel expert bolted to the NFL's New York Jets. The first game in franchise history was a portent of things to come; the Federals were drilled at RFK 28–7 by the Chicago Blitz, the preseason title favorites coached by former Washington Redskins coach George Allen. The game was played on March 6, 1983, just five weeks after the Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII.
The Blitz, led by former Lions and Colts Quarterback Greg Landry, raced out to a 28–0 lead. The Federals were so terrible in the game, the Blitz held Washington to only one first down, and a mere 24 yards total offense in the first half. Chicago led 21–0 before the Federals ever recorded a second first down. By that time, Landry hit 15 of his first 17 pass attempts, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to Trumaine Johnson. Kim McQuilken had a horrible debut as the Federals quarterback, and was replaced by back up Mike Hohensee. Hohensee accounted for the Federals only score, a 19-yard pass to Walker Lee.