|
GOLD
TRIVIA |
| -- |
| For
1983 and 1984, the Denver Gold were aligned in
the USFL's Pacific Division, along with the
Arizona Wranglers, Los Angeles Express, and
Oakland Invaders. |
| -- |
| For
the 1985 season, the Gold were aligned with the
other surviving teams west of the Mississippi
River in the 7-team Western Conference. |
| -- |
| Despite
a 7-11-0 finish in their first season, the Gold
came within two wins of capturing the 1983
Pacific Division title. |
| -- |
| In
1984, the Gold again would finish third in the
division, but would come even closer as their
9-9-0 record was one game behind both the Los
Angeles Express and the Arizona Wranglers. |
| -- |
| In
1985 the Gold finally made it to the playoffs
thanks to an 11-7-0 record, only to be bounced
in the first round by the Memphis Showboats,
48-7. |
| -- |
| The
Gold's regular season record over the team's
three year existence was 27-27-0, making them
the only USFL team to play .500 football during
their history. |
| -- |
| Only
3 members of the Gold played with the team
throughout its three seasons: Tom Davis,
Greg Feasel, and Nate Miller. |
| -- |
| The
Gold's 1983 media guide pictured head coach Red
Miller with "Black Gold," a leopard
that served as the team's mascot. A pole
used by the leopard's handler to help control
the animal can be seen in the bottom right
corner of the picture. |
| -- |
| The
Denver Gold's administrative offices were
located in nearby Commerce City, Colorado, at
8702 Rosemary Street. |
| -- |
| Among
the Gold's 1983 coaching staff were two men who
would go on to be head coaches: Charley
Armey, who briefly took over the Gold after Red
Miller was fired, and Ellis Rainsberger, who in
1984 would take the helm of the Pittsburgh
Maulers. |
| -- |
| QB
Jeff Knappel and QB Phil Davis were the first
players signed by the Gold, on September 8,
1982. |
| -- |
| The
Gold's training camp site was North High School
in Phoenix, Arizona. |
| -- |
| By
November 1, 1982, the Gold had sold over 23,000
season tickets, by far the most in the USFL to
that point. The team ultimately sold over
30,000 season tickets in 1983. |
| -- |
| The
Gold cheerleaders were known as "Pure
Gold," which in some areas today is better
known as a chain of adult-themed clubs. |
| -- |
| The
Gold didn't reach agreement for use of Mile High
Stadium until December 3, 1982, three months
before the team was scheduled to play its first
game. |
| -- |
| The
Gold could be heard in the Denver area on KLZ-AM
560. |
| -- |
| Having
no history to fall back on, the Denver Gold's
1983 media guide used 13 of its 80 pages to
display pictures of its front office staff, 22
to give information about other teams and the
USFL as a whole, 2 more to give information
about Mile High Stadium, and one to list the
various marching bands that the team would use
as pre-game and halftime entertainment. |
| -- |
| The
highest price of a Denver Gold season ticket for
1983 was $107.10, but a fan could get a seat to
all 9 home games for $69.30 if he didn't mind
sitting in the upper tier at Mile High. |
| -- |
| Youth
tickets were available to kids for just $3.30 -
even then at the time less than the cost of
going to a movie. |
| -- |
| The
Gold's logo was explained as an alchemists
symbol for the metal, with the circle implying
"symmetry, wholeness, and unity." |
| -- |
|
| Player
Name |
Pos. |
College/University |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
| Allen,
Anthony |
CB |
Texas
Christian |
X |
X |
- |
| Arnold,
John |
WR |
Wyoming |
- |
X |
- |
| Asmus,
Jim |
K |
Hawaii |
- |
- |
X |
| Atiyeh,
George |
NT |
Louisiana
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Bailey,
Elmer |
WR |
Minnesota |
- |
X |
- |
| Baird,
Kerry |
CB |
Kentucky |
- |
- |
X |
| Balholm,
Neil |
WR |
Brigham
Young |
- |
X |
- |
| Ballage,
Howard |
WR |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Barefield,
John |
LB |
Texas
A&I |
X |
- |
- |
| Blinka,
Stan |
LB |
Sam
Houston |
- |
- |
X |
| Blount,
Tony |
S |
Virginia |
X |
- |
- |
| Brown,
Ken |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Buben,
Mark |
DT |
Tufts |
- |
- |
X |
| Bungartz,
John |
LB |
Cal
State Fullerton |
X |
X |
- |
| Calip,
Brad |
RB |
East
Central |
- |
- |
X |
| Call,
Mike |
DE |
Colorado
State |
- |
X |
- |
| Campbell,
Joe |
NT |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Canada,
Larry |
RB |
Wisconsin |
X |
- |
- |
| Cancik,
Phil |
LB |
Northern
Arizona |
X |
- |
- |
| Carswell,
Ernie |
S |
Alabama
State |
- |
- |
X |
| Choate,
Putt |
LB |
Southern
Methodist |
X |
- |
- |
| Davis,
Tom |
C |
Nebraska |
X |
X |
X |
| Delaney,
Jeff |
SS |
Pittsburgh |
- |
- |
X |
| DeRose,
Mark |
LB |
Southern
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Dirden,
Johnnie |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Downing,
Walt |
G |
Michigan |
- |
- |
X |
| Dumars,
David |
S |
Northeast
Louisiana |
X |
X |
- |
| Edwards,
Dennis |
DE |
Southern
California |
- |
X |
- |
| Elisara,
Matt |
NT |
Washington
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Evans,
Vince |
QB |
Southern
California |
- |
- |
X |
| Feasel,
Greg |
T |
Abilene
Christian |
X |
X |
X |
| Fisher,
Mike |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
X |
| Ford,
Glenn |
RB |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
X |
- |
- |
| Gabbidon,
Earl |
TE |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Gagliano,
Bob |
QB |
Utah
State |
- |
X |
X |
| Garcia,
Bubba |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Gerhart,
Todd |
RB |
Cal
State Fullerton |
- |
- |
X |
| Gerken,
Greg |
LB |
Northern
Arizona |
X |
X |
- |
| Goosby,
Darryl |
TE |
Cincinnati |
X |
- |
- |
| Gortz,
Steve |
P |
Nevada
- Las Vegas |
X |
- |
- |
| Greene,
Sammy |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Harper,
Jeff |
LB |
Colorado
State |
- |
X |
- |
| Harr,
Ricky |
S |
Colorado
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Harris,
Leonard |
WR |
Texas
Tech |
- |
X |
X |
| Harris,
Lonnie |
WR |
North
Carolina A&T |
- |
- |
X |
| Harris,
Nate |
S |
Tulsa |
- |
- |
X |
| Hemphill,
Darryl |
S |
West
Texas State |
- |
X |
X |
| Hicks,
Victor |
TE |
Oklahoma |
- |
X |
- |
| Hill,
Norman |
RB |
Texas
Tech |
- |
- |
X |
| Hirn,
Mike |
TE |
Central
Michigan |
- |
X |
- |
| Hobart,
Ken |
QB |
Idaho |
- |
X |
- |
| Hood,
Kevin |
LB |
Colorado |
- |
X |
- |
| Hope,
Neil |
LB |
Southern
California |
- |
- |
X |
| Hoppock,
Doug |
T |
Kansas
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Irvin,
Terry |
LB |
Colorado |
- |
- |
X |
| James,
Victor |
WR |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Jenkins,
Keith |
DB |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Johnson,
Bill |
RB |
Arkansas
State |
- |
X |
X |
| Johnson,
Kelley |
WR |
Colorado |
- |
- |
X |
| Johnson,
Ken |
QB |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Johnson,
Richard |
RB |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Johnson,
Steve |
DE |
Oregon |
- |
X |
X |
| Johnson,
Troy |
WR |
Southern |
- |
- |
X |
| Jones,
Lloyd |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Jones,
Tim |
WR |
Kansas |
X |
- |
- |
| Kalil,
Frank |
C-G |
Arizona |
- |
- |
X |
| Kilkenny,
Tom |
LB |
Temple |
- |
- |
X |
| Kimmel,
Jon |
LB |
Colgate |
- |
X |
- |
| Knapple,
Jeff |
QB |
Northern
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Knapton,
Bob |
LB |
Northern
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Lewis,
Marc |
WR |
Missouri |
- |
- |
X |
| Lewis,
Will |
CB |
Millersville
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Lobert,
Greg |
G |
California |
- |
- |
X |
| Loveall,
Calvin |
CB |
Idaho |
- |
- |
X |
| Maher,
Tim |
TE |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Martin,
David |
CB |
Villanova |
X |
X |
- |
| Matheney,
Richard |
WR |
Utah
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Matthews,
Bill |
LB |
South
Dakota State |
- |
X |
- |
| Matthews,
Bo |
RB |
Colorado |
X |
X |
- |
| McClung,
Bill |
G |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| McKibben,
Mike |
--- |
Kent
State |
- |
- |
X |
| Mikolas,
Doug |
DE |
Portland |
- |
- |
X |
| Miller,
Matt |
T |
Colorado |
- |
X |
X |
| Miller,
Nate |
CB |
Cameron |
X |
X |
X |
| Miller,
Terry |
RB |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Mortensen,
Fred |
QB |
Arizona
State |
X |
X |
- |
| Moseley,
Dennis |
RB |
Iowa |
X |
- |
- |
| Murray,
Calvin |
RB |
Ohio
State |
- |
X |
- |
| Nease,
Mike |
--- |
Tennessee
- Chattanooga |
- |
- |
X |
| Nevens,
John |
LB |
Cal
State Fullerton |
- |
- |
X |
| Newton,
Kevin |
LB |
Texas
Christian |
X |
X |
- |
| Niziolek,
Bob |
TE |
Colorado |
X |
X |
- |
| Norfleet,
Harold |
T |
Prairie
View A&M |
X |
X |
- |
| Ogrin,
Pat |
NT |
Wyoming |
- |
X |
X |
| Payton,
Doug |
G |
Colorado |
- |
X |
- |
| Penrose,
Craig |
QB |
San
Diego State |
- |
X |
- |
| Perry,
Pete |
DE |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Phea,
Lonnel |
WR |
Houston |
X |
- |
- |
| Poremba,
Andy |
DE |
Colorado
State |
X |
- |
- |
| Preston,
Dave |
RB |
Bowling
Green |
- |
X |
- |
| Rausch,
Don |
NT |
(Unknown) |
X |
- |
- |
| Reese,
Jerry |
S |
Oklahoma |
X |
- |
- |
| Rogers,
Steve |
T |
Brigham
Young |
X |
X |
- |
| Schnabel,
Tom |
LB |
Dakota
Wesleyan |
X |
- |
- |
| Shields,
Lance |
CB |
Drake |
- |
- |
X |
| Shoop,
Mark |
DE |
Colorado |
- |
X |
- |
| Short,
Laval |
DE |
Colorado |
X |
- |
- |
| Silipo,
Joe |
G |
Tulane |
X |
- |
- |
| Smilo,
David |
S |
Eastern
Michigan |
X |
- |
- |
| Sparks,
Robert |
WR |
(Unknown) |
X |
| |
