On March 9, 1975 the Internal Revenue Service auctioned off fifty-nine player and coaches contracts in an attempt to retrieve $200,000.00 in owed taxes. By this time, WFL President Chris Hemmeter had assured Burgess that a newly incorporated league would operate and that Putnam would not have inclusion. At this, Burgess, a respected businessman with assets in construction, real estate, and coal production formed a partnership with Weil, a banking consultant and committed to the new league for 1975. After the New League, Inc. DBA The World Football League was incorporated approximately a month later, they had their team, the newly formed and newly named Birmingham Vulcans. The Vulcan of course was the Roman god of fire and metal-working, and a name used to denote an ironworker or blacksmith, a fitting symbol for a city built upon the steel industry. Thus the team took on the symbolism of hard working, blue-collar men toiling to represent the city with pride. One of the smartest moves that Burgess made was to insure that Fred Sington was part of the ownership group. Putnam and his business were Atlanta-based and one of his complaints throughout 1974 was that he could not secure more local investment. Burgess and Weil were “local” and Sington was one of the greatest sporting figures in Alabama history. As an All American tackle at the University Of Alabama in 1929 and 1930, Knute Rockne called him “the greatest lineman in the country” and at 6’2” and 215 pounds, he cut a rugged, dashing figure. He is the only Bama athlete to be named to the University’s All Century Team in both football and baseball and upon graduation, turned down an opportunity to play professional football to instead play major league baseball, enjoying a six-year career with the Washington Senators and Brooklyn Dodgers. He did not leave football too far behind as he became an assistant football coach at Duke University until serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 through 1946 as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Upon his discharge he founded Fred Sington Sporting Goods in Birmingham and within a short period of time expanded to six other Alabama cities. He was a member or director of almost every civic and/or business organization in Birmingham and many state wide organizations and was one of the most respected and well-liked businessmen in the state. Even to this date the Fred Sington Award is presented to the Outstanding Male and Outstanding Female Collegiate Athletes in the State of Alabama. Having him as a behind-the-scenes part owner was vital to securing concessions from the City Of Birmingham, creditors of the Americans, and the State.

The coaching staff underwent a change when the very successful Jack Gotta was moved upstairs to the position of Vice President and General Manager. Obviously no slight due to his successful World Bowl Championship year of 1974, it was assumed that this move was meant to prepare Birmingham for possible expansion selection by the NFL. Defensive coordinator Marvin Bass, the former head coach at the University Of South Carolina was moved to the head coach spot and linebacker coach Ardell Wiegandt was promoted to Bass’s old position as coordinator. Lynn Amedee, Wayne Grubb, and Billy Tohill all returned from the 1974 staff and Pride Ratteree, a former guard with the Chicago Cardinals came on board as the lone newcomer. Ratteree was a long time associate of Bass, serving as his Assistant Head Coach at South Carolina. 

Greenwood, Toomay, and the remainder of the so-called futures chose to pass on their WFL contracts and with a sigh of relief, the New League WFL Vulcans were glad to let them pass. Quarterback Matt Reed became the first Vulcan to sign the percentage based contract proposed by the Hemmeter Plan and Alabama hero Johnny Musso signed with the team on June 16^th. Through the efforts of Burgess and Sington, the Vulcans signed two more contracts of note: they reached agreement with Sears And Roebuck to utilize their many area stores as a ticket outlet and they secured the use of Legion Field for all home games. Musso of course was the big story in Alabama. As the original “Italian Stallion” and nicknamed long before Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, Musso was an All American and legendary Bama running back in one of the most potent Wishbone attacks ever. Two time All America, three time All SEC, Co-SEC Player Of The Year, a title he shared with Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan of Auburn, Musso was selected in the third round of the 1972 draft by the Bears, but instead opted for a larger contract with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL. He played there for three years, being named All CFL in 1973. A knee injury resulting in surgery in 1974 limited him and he wanted to return to his hometown area to continue his career. As one of the greatest high school stars in the state at Birmingham Banks High School, considered to be a “football factory” in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, the residents of the area were at fever pitch at the prospect of seeing their hometown boy team up with 1974’s mainstay Art Cantrelle from LSU. With the retirement of former Bengal and Oiler Paul Robinson who had led the team in rushing, and the move of Jimmy Edwards to Shreveport, the fans were anticipating great things from an All SEC backfield. They delivered too with Cantrelle finishing the shortened season ranked third in league scoring and second in rushing. Musso was sixth in rushing and showed enough to finally report to the Bears to complete the ’75 NFL season and then play in 1976 and ’77. Dennis Homan, another Alabama great and Alfred Jenkins had led an effective Birmingham passing corps in 1974. With Jenkins in camp with the Atlanta Falcons, the glory was left to Homan who teamed up with San Diego State’s Nate Fergerson to lead an offense that carried the team to a 9-3, first place record. The leader of the offensive firepower was Matt Reed, returning to the Birmingham team after a disappointing trail through the NFL. As a backup in 1974 he became a local favorite by winning five games within the last three minutes! Reed had an arm like a cannon and at times, the same type of inaccuracy but he was an exciting, flashy, dependable player who competed hard to win. Another southern favorite, Denny Duron out of Lousiana Tech where he succeeded Terry Bradshaw, was used at both quarterback and wide receiver by the Americans but was exclusively Reed’s 1975 backup. The offensive line, as it was in 1974, was anchored by tackle Paul Costa who had been a standout at Notre Dame and with the Buffalo Bills as both a tight end and offensive tackle.

Yet another former and productive member of the Buffalo Bills boosted a defense that did not share the level of name recognition that the Vulcans offense had. Bob Tatarek had been an All American at the University Of Miami and a second round pick of the Bills in 1968. An effective defender, the 270-pounder was solid against the run and pass and was a regular until traded to Detroit in 1972. Playing little in 1973, Tatarek was released. The Pennsylvania native must have taken to the warm weather of Florida because he jumped at the chance to play for the Jacksonville Sharks in ’74. When the Sharks folded their tent before the end of the season, he finished with the Birmingham Americans but was then acquired in a trade between the Vulcans and the New League WFL Jacksonville Express who still owned his rights. Thus, as part of the George Mira trade that sent him back to the Sunshine State and to the Express, Tatarek was able to return to the Birmingham franchise for a second season. 1974 standout linebacker Warren Capone returned to patrol the middle. He was the big play defender, notching four interceptions and one touchdown for the Americans and leading the team in tackles. Small and mobile, he covered the entire field. He had been an All America at LSU and their Most Valuable Defensive Player his senior year and throughout the SEC was known as an extremely hard hitter. When the league folded he signed for the final five games of the season with the Cowboys. This Baton Rouge Catholic product played out his career with the Saints in 1976. Free Safety Larry Willingham was also a Birmingham Banks High School product and a teammate of Johnny Musso. Playing at Auburn he had a superb career culminating in his pick as a consensus All American. He was a fourth round choice of the Cardinals playing through 1971 and ’72. Recognized as one of the league’s hardest hitters, he held the defensive backfield of the Americans in place during the 1974 season despite suffering a significant neck injury. Continuing his NFL role as a punt and kickoff return man, Willingham performed both chores in 1974 but his neck injury made it prudent to have him remain exclusively at safety for the 1975 season.

The Birmingham Vulcans were recognized as the World Football League champions again in 1975 by virtue of their 9-3 record and mastery over the Memphis Southmen who had the league’s second best mark at the time the season was prematurely ended. Birmingham, like Memphis believed that it was a viable expansion option for the NFL and many agreed. They had excellent fan support and a contingent of fans that were knowledgeable, vociferous, and passionate about their team. Even today the Americans and Vulcans can boast of a thirtieth year reunion, an active fan club, and the ongoing sale and trade of memorabilia. Popular items are the Americans and Vulcans helmets and jerseys. The Vulcan helmet was similar to the ’74 Americans version but instead of the stylized “A” on each side, the Vulcan helmet displayed a blue “V” with the flame of a forge or iron manufacturing mill atop it. Like the Ams helmet, there was a blue center stripe flanked by red stripes and in keeping with some of the 1975 WFL helmet changes, the center stripe was not as wide than that of ’74 and perhaps not as distinctive. The blue jerseys with red and white sleeve stripe combination again had a resemblance to Auburn jerseys of the period and remained different from the rest of the WFL with a wider holed mesh. To the team’s credit, the Birmingham franchise always put a professional looking team that played entertaining and fundamentally sound football on the field.  BACK...