San Antonio Wings - Florida Blazers (1974)

Florida Blazers (1974)

The Blazers began in 1974 when oceanographic engineer E. Joseph Wheeler bought the WFL rights to the Washington, D. C. area. The team was originally called the Washington Capitals, but the NHL expansion team of the same name objected, forcing him to change the name to the Washington Ambassadors. Wheeler wanted to share RFK Stadium with the Washington Redskins, but negotiations hit a snag over financing. He then flirted with playing in Baltimore or Annapolis, prompting him to change the team's name to the Washington-Baltimore Ambassadors. When it became apparent that Wheeler could not find a suitable stadium in the Baltimore-Washington area, he moved the club to Norfolk, Virginia as the Virginia Ambassadors. By this time, however, it was obvious that Wheeler's supposed $2-3 million of financing existed only on paper.

League president Gary Davidson got Wheeler in touch with former New England Patriots player and executive Rommie Loudd, who was fronting for a group of Orlando businessmen who had recently failed in their bid to get an NFL expansion team (what became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Wheeler agreed to sell the team to Loudd's group, who moved the team to Orlando. The team was originally named the Orlando Suns, but due to objections from the Southern California Sun the name was changed once again, to the Florida Blazers. They were the first big-league team based in Central Florida.

Loudd became managing general partner and president, making him the first African-American senior executive of a major-league team in North America. David L. Williams, owner of the Holiday Inn franchise in the Orlando area, was majority owner.

The team set up shop in the Tangerine Bowl. Under coach Jack Pardee, quarterback Bob Davis (Joe Namath's former backup), running back Tommy Reamon and a dominating secondary, the Blazers ran away with the Eastern Division, finishing with a 14-6 record. They then upset the Memphis Southmen, owners of the league's best record, to advance to the World Bowl against the Birmingham Americans. Early in that game, Reamon scored what appeared to be the game's first touchdown, only to have it ruled a touchback because the officials believed that he fumbled the ball out of the end zone. Replays clearly showed that Reamon lost the ball after it broke the plane of the goal line. The missed call proved to be the difference, as the Blazers lost 22-21.

However, the franchise was unraveling off the field. The Blazers never drew well, leading Loudd to make noises about moving the team to Atlanta in the middle of the season. The players and coaches also went three months without being paid. During the playoffs, Williams and Loudd agreed in principle to sell the team to Cocoa Beach financier Robert Prentice for $100 million. However, the initial $1.5 million payment never arrived.