Southern California Sun
The Southern California Sun were an American football team based in Anaheim, California that played in the World Football League in 1974 and 1975. Their records were 13-7 in 1974 and 7-5 in 1975. Their home stadium was Anaheim Stadium. They were coached by former Rams great and Hall of Famer Tom Fears and owned by trucking magnate Larry Hatfield. The team drew national attention for their magenta and orange uniforms.
Established | 1974 |
---|---|
Folded | October 1975 |
Based in | Anaheim, California |
Home field | Anaheim Stadium |
Head coach | Tom Fears |
General manager | Curly Morrison |
Owner(s) | Larry Hatfield |
League | World Football League |
Division | Western |
Colours | Magenta and orange |
Former USC greats Anthony Davis and Pat Haden played for the Sun in 1975 along with former Oakland Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica, also known as the "Mad Bomber."
The Sun won the 1974 Western Division title, but lost their playoff game against The Hawaiians when three of their best players--Kermit Johnson, James McAlister and Booker Brown—sat out the game. The three players were owed back pay, and claimed the missed checks breached their contracts.[1] This episode aside, the Sun were one of the WFL's better-run teams, and at least had the potential to be a viable venture had the WFL been run in a more realistic and financially sensible manner. A year later, they were leading the West when the league folded on October 22, 1975 in midseason.
Schedule and results
Key: | Win | Loss | Bye |
1974 regular season [2]
Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wednesday | July 10, 1974 | at Birmingham Americans | L 7–11 | 53,231 |
2 | Wednesday | July 17, 1974 | Hawaiians | W 38–31 | 32,018 |
3 | Wednesday | July 24, 1974 | at Jacksonville Sharks | W 21–19 | 46,780 |
4 | Thursday | August 1, 1974 | at Memphis Southmen | L 15–25 | 25,175 |
5 | Wednesday | August 7, 1974 | New York Stars | L 8–11 | 28,174 |
6 | Thursday | August 15, 1974 | at Houston Texans | W 18–7 | 31,227 |
7 | Wednesday | August 21, 1974 | at Philadelphia Bell | W 31–28 | 14,600 |
8 | Wednesday | August 28, 1974 | Portland Storm | W 45–15 | 27,814 |
9 | Monday | September 2, 1974 | Chicago Fire | L 22–32 | 27,133 |
10 | Friday | September 6, 1974 | at Detroit Wheels | W 10–7 | 6,351 |
11 | Wednesday | September 11, 1974 | at Chicago Fire | W 31–28 | 24,837 |
12 | Wednesday | September 18, 1974 | Detroit Wheels | W 29–24 | 12,169 |
13 | Wednesday | September 25, 1974 | Jacksonville Sharks | W 57–7 | 22,017 |
14 | Wednesday | October 2, 1974 | at Portland Storm | W 26–22 | N/A |
15 | Thursday | October 10, 1974 | Shreveport Steamer | W 25–23 | 24,223 |
16 | Thursday | October 17, 1974 | Birmingham Americans | W 29–25 | 25,247 |
17 | Wednesday | October 23, 1974 | Philadelphia Bell | L 7–45 | N/A |
18 | Wednesday | October 30, 1974 | at Charlotte Hornets | W 34–25 | 19,436 |
19 | Wednesday | November 6, 1974 | at Hawaiians | L 8–29 | 13,780 |
20 | Thursday | November 14, 1974 | Florida Blazers | L 24–27 | 28,213 |
Playoffs
Game | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarter-finals | Wednesday | November 20, 1974 | Hawaiians | L 14–32 | 11,430 |
1975 regular season [3]
Week | Day | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Monday | August 3, 1975 | Portland Thunder | W 21–15 | 14,362 |
2 | Sunday | August 9, 1975 | at San Antonio Wings | L 22–54 | 21,000 |
3 | Sunday | August 16, 1975 | at Hawaiians | W 37–19 | 15,862 |
4 | Sunday | August 23, 1975 | at Birmingham Vulcans | W 35–25 | 32,000 |
5 | Saturday | August 29, 1975 | Philadelphia Bell | W 58–39 | 17,811 |
6 | Saturday | September 6, 1975 | at San Antonio Wings | L 8–30 | 10,470 |
7 | Sunday | September 14, 1975 | Charlotte Hornets | L 22–30 | 13,405 |
8 | Saturday | September 20, 1975 | at Shreveport Steamer | L 29–38 | 18,777 |
9 | Saturday | September 27, 1975 | at Charlotte Hornets | W 24–17 | 17,000 |
10 | Sunday | October 5, 1975 | at Memphis Grizzlies | L 33–37 | 18,129 |
11 | Sunday | October 12, 1975 | Shreveport Steamer | W 39–30 | 10,505 |
12 | Sunday | October 19, 1975 | at Hawaiians | W 26–7 | 15,905 |
References
- Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.
- "1974 World Football League Game Results". Retrieved 2015-11-11.
- "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved 2015-11-11.