USFL.info - Jacksonville Bulls

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May 11 - At "21" in New York City, the USFL announces its intent to play spring football beginning in 1983 with 12 franchises.

October 9 - Fred Bullard forms JAX Professionals, Inc. in an effort to secure a USFL expansion franchise for Jacksonville.

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Spring - JAX Professionals is one of 24 groups that submit expansion franchise applications with the USFL.

June 14 - JAX Professionals and Fred Bullard are awarded an expansion franchise for Jacksonville, to begin play in 1984.

September 6 - The Bulls participate in the USFL Expansion Draft, selecting 36 players.

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Bulls timeline, visit the
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Timeline of the USFL

Years Played in USFL:	1984, 1985
Club Owner(s):	Fred Bullard
Playing Site:	Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida
Head Coach(es):	Lindy Infante
Overall Record:	15-21-0
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Year	Head Coach	W	L	T	Pct.	Finish	Post-Season Notes
1984	Lindy Infante	6	12	0	.333	Southern Div.	Failed to Qualify
1985	Lindy Infante	9	9	0	.500	Eastern Conf.	Failed to Qualify
Team Totals		15	21	0	.417	---	-

Bulls Front Office	Bulls Trivia
Bulls Team Colors	Bulls Photo Gallery
Bulls Home Stadium	Bulls Single Season Record Holders
Bulls Logos, Memorabilia and Documents	Bulls All-Time Roster
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1984 Collegiate Draft Selections	1984 Territorial Draft Selections
1985 Collegiate Draft Selections	1985 Territorial Draft Selections
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1984 Statistical Leaders	1984 Week by Week Game Results
1985 Statistical Leaders	1985 Week by Week Game Results

If there were any success stories in the United States Football League in terms of its teams, the Jacksonville Bulls certainly would meet that definition. The Bulls were perhaps the most successful team in the USFL in off-field terms, and there's little question in the minds of many that the team paved the way for the National Football League to expand there in 1995.
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From its inception owner Fred Bullard intended to build a professional football team Jacksonville could be proud of, and fans responded by turning out in record numbers by USFL standards. Hiring Lindy Infante as the team's head coach and bringing in Larry Csonka, first as a consultant and the team's chief scout (and later as General Manager), Bulls fans quickly became excited about their team, drawing over 100,000 fans to the team's first two home dates in 1984.

The 1984 season on the field wasn't spectacular in terms of its record (6-12-0) but it was hopeful: six of the team's twelve losses had come by a margin of 7 points or less. The outlook for 1985 was promising, particularly after the team acquired the contracts of former NFL MVP quarterback Brian Sipe (from New Jersey) and Heisman Trophy winning running back Mike Rozier (from Pittsburgh).

The Bulls second season in the USFL was a hit with the fans as the first had been, with the team leading the league in attendance for a second consecutive season, averaging roughly 45,000. The product on the field improved as well, despite a career-ending injury suffered by Sipe that put Ed Luther in charge of the team's offense.

The Bulls 9-9-0 record was an improvement, but unfortunately one game short of Houston and Tampa Bay for the USFL's eighth and final playoff spot. The team's outlook for going head to head with the NFL in 1986 seemed to be the strongest in the USFL thanks to a post-season merger with the Denver Gold, but the decision in USFL v. NFL ensured that Bulls fans would be left wanting more.