Alternate History Sports / The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)

**Posted by QCS** 5/31/2025 2:05 am

DEC 5, 1974, BIRMINGHAM, AL - World Football League founder and commissioner Gary Davidson announced at the conclusion of World Bowl 1 that the fledgling football league had been acquired by Charlotte, NC-based Supernova Corporation. Supernova will act as the financier of the league but promised complete neutrality, allowing teams to operate individually without the financial concerns that plagued the WFL's 1974 season. When asked what motivated the purchase, Supernova's chair, Alex Ryder, responded simply "I love the World Football League."

Davidson reported that he and Supernova are in the process of determining the locations that are best suited for a WFL franchise and that the twelve teams that will make up the new, stabilized football league will be revealed over the coming days.

Last edited by QCS (6/30/2025 10:07 am)

**Posted by Sevsdast** 5/31/2025 8:50 am

Ooh, this is going to be GOOD.

**Posted by QCS** 5/31/2025 3:35 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Today, the first franchise of the 1975 WFL season was revealed. The reigning World Bowl champs will remain in Birmingham, but with a new name. The former Americans are now the Vulcans, named for the statue in downtown that represents Alabama's steelworking industry. The new Birmingham franchise will retain the Americans' championship-winning jerseys with small tweaks and a new V logo on the helmet.

"The Americans had a fantastic, unique look and we wanted to keep that look around for fans," said Alex Ryder, chair of Supernova Corporation, the new owners of the WFL. "The Americans name, while fitting, was simply too broad; we wanted a name that fans in Alabama could really rally behind."

The Vulcans will continue playing out of Legion Field in Birmingham as they attempt to defend their title. Birmingham is led by QB Matthew Reed with RB Art Cantrelle right behind him. The defense is anchored by DB Jim McKinney, who is a rookie looking to prove his worth to the team.

Last edited by QCS (5/31/2025 6:36 pm)

**Posted by Steelman** 5/31/2025 4:54 pm

Looking forward to this!

**Posted by QCS** 5/31/2025 7:11 pm

MEMPHIS, TN - The second of the WFL's 12 franchises has been announced. The Memphis Southmen, popularly known as the "Grizzlies", will remain in the Liberty Bowl for the second season of the new league. Memphis had a tumultuous path to the league, as the franchise was originally intended to play in Toronto, Canada, under the name Northmen, before pressure from the Canadian government led to the shift to Tennessee.

The Grizzlies will see no change to their duds from the 1974 season. "The orange and brown is a great look. I think it's something that fans really liked last year and we intend on keeping that consistency," remarked Alex Ryder, owner of the WFL and major decision-maker for these franchises.

As stated earlier, the Southmen will play in Memphis' Liberty Bowl, sharing the stadium with the University of Memphis Tigers. Players to watch on the Grizzlies this season are WR Ed Marshall, who caught 19 touchdowns in 1974, and CB Dave Thomas, who picked off 10 passes in his rookie campaign, good for best in the WFL.

**Posted by TheEnigmaticOne** 5/31/2025 8:14 pm

Id be interested to see if the Chicago Fire will return or if they create the Winds. Another cool idea, if the Winds exist, is to sign Joe Namath like they planned.

**Posted by QCS** 6/01/2025 3:18 pm

PHILADELPHIA, PA - WFL commissioner Gary Davidson and owner Alex Ryder held a press conference today at Franklin Field to announce the return of the Philadelphia Bell for the 1975 WFL season. "Philadelphia fans were great last season and we're glad to be able to reward that with another season of spring football," Commissioner Davidson told reporters.

The Bell will don the same duds as last season, sporting classic Philly colors of athletic gold and blue. Of note is the blue facemask on the gold helmet, which makes Philadelphia, along with reigning champs Birmingham, the only WFL teams to paint their facemasks. The Bell were actually the first professional team to do so last season, beating the NFL's San Diego Chargers by two months.

Philadelphia will play home games at Franklin Field, sharing the historic stadium with the Penn Quakers. The Bell are headed by QB Bob Davis, who played for the Oilers, Jets, and Saints of the NFL, and spent last year in Orlando leading the Florida Blazers to a runner-up appearance in the World Bowl. On the defense, CB Bill Craven will look to best his two picks from 1974.

**Posted by QCS** 6/01/2025 8:25 pm

HONOLULU, HI - Pro football has returned to the Aloha State! The World Football League announced in a press conference today at Aloha Stadium that the Hawaiians franchise would return for the 1975 season. The team played out of the aging Honolulu Stadium last season but will become one of the first tenants of the brand-new coliseum, along with the Pacific Coast League's Islanders and the University of Hawaii Rainbows football team.

The team will remain in the same uniforms from the 1974 season, including the oversized printed names on the backs of jerseys. They are the only team in the WFL to wear brown jerseys.

The Quarterback of this team will be Sonny Sixkiller, who played for the Philadelphia Bell in the 1974 season. Leading the team on defense is hometown hero DB Hal Stringert, who is from Honolulu and played for the Rainbows.

**Posted by QCS** 6/02/2025 5:01 pm

ORLANDO, FL - Spring football fans in Central Florida can breathe a sigh of relief - the Florida Blazers of the World Football League will return for the 1975 season. The team, which finished the 1974 season as the runner-up to the Birmingham Americans (now Vulcans), faced uncertainty before the acquisition of the WFL and its teams by Supernova Corporation. "We wanted to give Orlando and the Blazers a chance to run it back and I'm glad we could make it work," said Alex Ryder, the new overseer of the WFL.

The Blazers will once again don their red and blue jerseys from the 1974 season. "We didn't want to cause too many changes between seasons," said Ryder. "We want to keep things consistent and established for our fans."
(Author's Note: You're seeing that right, the Blazers wore navy helmets, despite officially using royal blue as their color. It's just like the Giants - for whatever reason, royal blue helmets weren't available back then.)

The Blazers will play in the Tangerine Bowl, near downtown Orlando. Important players for Florida include WR Matt Maslowski, who caught for 850 yards and 7 touchdowns to help led the franchise to World Bowl 1 in 1974, and DB Billie Hayes, who grabbed 6 picks last season.

Last edited by QCS (6/07/2025 2:09 pm)

**Posted by QCS** 6/02/2025 5:44 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC - In a press conference at Supernova Corporation's headquarters in Uptown Charlotte, World Football League commissioner Gary Davidson and WFL overseer Alex Ryder unveiled the sixth of the WFL's twelve franchise for its 1975 season. Despite their chaotic 1974 season that saw the team relocate from New York to Charlotte in the middle of the season, the Charlotte Hornets will return. "Charlotte is my hometown, and I know first-hand how passionate the fans here are. I'm so excited to have the Hornets back."

The Hornets are the first WFL team to make major changes to their uniforms. Instead of their previous athletic gold duds, now they'll don black jerseys with gold helmets and pants to compliment. A brand-new hornet icon replaces the plain C from last season's set. "The old jersey set was a holdover from the shift from New York. We want to give Charlotte fans their own team to cheer for," explained commissioner Davidson.

Charlotte's WFL entry will continue playing at American Legion Memorial Stadium, the bowl just southeast of Uptown. Players to watch are the Hornets' signal-caller Tom Sherman, the AFL veteran who was responsible for 21 total touchdowns in 1974. On defense is CB Larry Shears, who intercepted 7 passes last season, including one for a touchdown.