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With the decision made to fold the World
Football League, Birmingham officials are
already at work trying to secure a future in the
National Football League.
Birmingham Vulcans general manager Jack Gotta
left this morning for Memphis where he will meet
with Southmen owner John Bassett to formulate a
plan for a two franchise request for the NFL. "I
think our chances of getting in the NFL are the
best of any city in America which doesn't have a
franchise already. We have all the necessary
ingredients... ownership, the greatest fans in
football and a stadium that seats 70,000. The
last two years have proved people here will
support professional football. The fact we did
close down in October means we will make
application for the 1976 season, but we're not
in control of anything and we'll have to abide
by whatever timetable the NFL decides on," Gotta
said.
George Siebels, Birmingham's Mayor, announces
he will telegraph the NFL's Commissioner, Pete
Rozelle, immediately to petition entry to the
league.
Vulcans head coach Marvin Bass said, "I don't
look at it as an ending. I look at it as the
beginning of something big. I'm psychic in some
ways and that's the way I feel." |
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A. E. (Pee Wee) Burgess, who was heavily
involved as an owner of the
Birmingham Vulcans, Richard Cohn and Ed
Friend meet with Rozelle in New York for "get
acquainted" session. Rozelle was interviewed
on Monday Night Football and would only say that
he has been contacted by Birmingham and Memphis.
Earlier in the week, Rozelle informed all
team owners that they were forbidden for the
rest of the season from signing any World
Football League player that is currently under
contract. |
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The National Football League did expand,
however, Birmingham was not to be a part of it.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle
Seahawks both began play in 1976.
Two of the old World Football League cities,
Charlotte and Jacksonville, made it into the
league in 1995 when the Carolina Panthers and
the Jacksonville Jaguars began play.
Memphis also tasted the sweetness of the NFL,
if only for a few years. The Houston Oilers
temporarily move to Memphis in 1997 and become
the Tennessee Oilers. In 1997 the franchise
moves permanently to Nashville and becomes known
as the Tennessee Titans.
Houston receives a replacement
franchise in 2002 to replace the Oilers, the
Houston Texans. |
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