- 1983
- 1985
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Invaders Team Formation
Oakland had been without a football team after the Oakland Raiders relocated to Los Angeles before the 1982 NFL season. The Invaders stepped in to fill the void; the similar name was no accident. The team was originally owned by Bay Area real estate magnates Jim Joseph and Tad Taube. However, after the original owner of the USFL’s Los Angeles ... -
Adding Michigan Panthers
Taube then approached the Michigan Panthers, who had been one of the league’s strongest teams during its first two years and had by reckoned by some observers as an NFL-quality team. However, Panthers owner A. Alfred Taubman was a strong supporter of spring football and was not willing to go head-to-head with the Detroit Lions. Taubman and Taube quickly reached ...
The Oakland Invaders were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League (USFL) from 1983 through 1985. Based in Oakland, California, they played at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
The team can trace its history to 1977 when they played in the California Football League as the Twin Cities Cougars and won four league championships (1979-1982). During that time, they played their home games at the Marysville High School field.
Oakland had been without a football team since the Oakland Raiders relocated to Los Angeles before the 1982 NFL season. The Invaders stepped in to fill the void; the similar name was no accident. One of the Invaders' first player signings was former Raider and 49er Cedrick Hardman, who came out of a one-year retirement to serve as player coach.
The team was originally owned by Bay Area real estate magnates Jim Joseph and Tad Taube. However, after the original owner of the USFL's Los Angeles franchise, Alex Spanos, bought the San Diego Chargers instead, Joseph and Taube flipped a coin to decide who would buy the Los Angeles rights. Joseph won the toss, selling his stake in the Invaders to Taube. As it turned out, Joseph was forced to move his team to Phoenix, Arizona as the Arizona Wranglers.
Established
1983
City
Pontiac – Oakland
League History
1983 – 1985 / United States Football League
Team History
1983 – 1985 / Oakland Invaders
1983 – 1984 / Michigan Panthers
Nickname
Invaders – To enter by force in order to conquer or pillage. A group that invades a country, region, or other place.
Original USFL Team
Yes
Final USFL Team
No
Team’s Final Outlook
Despite reaching the championship game, the team’s attendance fell again, to a barely sustainable 17,509. Combined with massive financial losses, the Invaders announced they would suspend operations for the 1986 season.
Championship
USFL Championship 0
1983
Stadium
1983 – 1985 / Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
*Michigan*
1983 – 1984 / Pontiac Silverdome
Owner
1985 / A. Alfred Taubman and Tad Taube
1983 – 1984 / Tad Taube
*Michigan*
1983 – 1984 / A. Alfred Taubman
Coaches
1985 / Charlie Sumner(15 wins – 5 losses – 1 tie)
1984 / Chuck Hutchison (7 wins – 8 losses)
1983 – 1984 / John Ralston (9 wins – 12 losses)
*Michigan*
1983 – 1984 / Jim Stanley (24 wins – 15 losses)
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Accomplishments
1985 / USFL Championship Game (vs Baltimore Stars 24 – 28)
1983 / USFL Champions (vs Philadelphia Stars 24 – 22)
1985 / Conference Champions (vs Memphis Showboats 28 – 19)
1985 / Division Champions (vs Tampa Bay Bandits 30 – 27)
1984 / Division Championship Game (vs Los Angeles Express 21 – 27 OT)
1983 / Division Champions (vs Oakland Invaders 37 – 21)
Averaged 31,211 in 1983, 23,644 in 1984 and 17,509 in 1985 (56,057 seat stadium)
*Blue is this team’s history