Week 13 - 1983: Tampa Bay Bandits at Michigan Panthers

Gridiron America USFL Radio

Monday, May 30, 1983. Tampa Bay Bandits (9-3) at Michigan Panthers (7-5). Attendance: 23,976. TV: ESPN.

[Note: If you want to skip all the pregame talk, you can forward to about the 4:00 minute mark where the kickoff is set to begin]

Terry Miller might have surprised some of the folks around the United States Football League with his two-touchdown performance for the Michigan Panthers. Don't include Panthers Coach Jim Stanley in that group. Miller, acquired from the Denver Gold last week, rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries with TD runs of 5 and 10 yards to lead Michigan to a 43-7 tout over the Tampa Bay Bandits before a crowd of 23,976 in the Silverdome at Pontiac.

"I've known what Terry can do for many years," said Stanley, who recruited Miller out of high school and had him at Oklahoma State from 1974 to 1978. "We already had some good backs here, but when he became available, I felt he could help us, too." The Panthers also got a boost from quarterback Bobby Hebert, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, and a fired-up defense that forced four fumbles, blocked a punt and recorded six sacks for 48 yards. "All year long, we'd make mistakes, but our defense would bail us out," said Tampa Bay Coach Steve Spurrier of his club's play. "We couldn't do it today. Michigan got up early and never quit"

Michigan's 43 points was the highest of any team in the USFL as the Panthers raised their record to 8-5 in the Central Division. Tampa Bay and Chicago share the Central lead with 9-4 records. Tampa Bay's lone touchdown came on Jimmy Jordan's 37-yard pass to Eric Truvillion in the third quarter.