October 1973

Davidson is best known as the man who founded the American Basketball Association in 1967 and co-founded the World Hockey Association in 1973. He was also the first President of each league.

December 1973

Citing economic factors as his decision, Falkenburg says he just couldn't make the numbers work. An earlier group negotiating for a National Football League expansion team could get no concessions or parking rights from the city for Legion Field. Rent of the stadium would have been ten percent of the gate; most NFL teams pay only one or two percent. Falkenburg said that anyone bringing a a team here should expect to lose $1 million the first year.

"They're shooting to try and get (Joe) Namath," Falkenburg said. Namath, former University of Alabama and current New York Jets quarterback, could be involved as a player, owner or both.

Gerald Wallace, brother of Alabama Governor George Wallace, is reportedly interested in rights to the franchise.

In a separate announcement, Davidson names New York, Chicago, Southern California, Toronto, Boston, Florida, Honolulu, Birmingham and Washington, DC as likely franchise cities.

Putnam has met with Park and Recreation Board officials and applied for the use of Legion Field on Wednesday and Thursday nights during July through November of this year. After a tour of the stadium, Putnam said, "We were very impressed. All the facilities are outstanding. Birmingham calls itself the 'Football Capital of the World'. What we've seen makes us believers. It'd take $40 million elsewhere to duplicate Legion Field. Birmingham has football interest, it has the stadium and it's logical to me that pro football should be here. I think this city has the most potential of any franchise in the WFL."

With a strong and diverse background in professional sports, Putnam's resume looks impressive. In the late 1950's, Putnam served on the Board of Directors of the NFL's New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and the National Basketball Association's Baltimore Bullets. After leaving the J.P. Morgan Company in 1965, he moved to Los Angeles to became the Executive Vise President of Jack Kent Cooke Enterprises and was instrumental in acquiring the site and building the Forum along with helping establish the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings. He was also responsible for the purchase and early operation of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers franchise for Cooke. In 1966 he founded and became President of the NHL's expansion Philadelphia Flyers. Putnam sold the Flyers in 1970. The next year, Tom Cousins brought Putnam to Atlanta and he became President of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He then purchased an expansion franchise in the NHL, the Atlanta Flames. He also served as President of the Omni sports complex in Atlanta. He sold his interests in the Hawks and Flames in September.

Joining Putnam at the press conference was the team's President, Carol Stallworth. Mrs. Stallworth is an executive administrative assistant of First American Innkeepers, Inc., licensee of Days Inns of America.

Putnam claims to have been working with Davidson since September in setting up WFL cities. Boston, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Vancouver, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Jacksonville and Birmingham are current front-runners. "Several other places are reasonable prospects to join; Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Northern Ohio (either Columbus or Cleveland), Milwaukee, Phoenix and Portland," Putnam said.

"Somebody suggested 'Alabama Bears' (as a team name) but we weren't quite ready to formalize on the whole name," Putnam said. However, he did indicate the team would probably use the state's name and not the city's name.

Putnam says he will seek some local investors to invest in the team.

The Board will be meeting on January 2, 1974 to negotiate a lease with the WFL franchise, who has asked for exclusive rights to Legion Field.

Frank W. Thomas, Jr., who represents the NFL investment group, requests the Board delay the meeting until after the NFL holds its annual meeting in late February of 1974. "We believe the NFL is considering Birmingham as an expansion city, although we have no commitment," Thomas said.

January 1974

The city will get ten percent of gross gate receipts after taxes or a $10,000 minimum per game. They will also waive concession and parking rights to the team.

Birmingham, Memphis, Florida, New England, Toronto, New York, Southern California, Philadelphia, Hawaii, Chicago and Washington, DC were the eleven cities named. The last franchise will be chosen from Detroit, Boston and Portland.

A team in Mexico City, Mexico is planned but will be a year away.

Costello and Putnam had agreed on terms, "but on Wednesday night Vince called me and said he had been offered the Miami job. I didn't stand in his way," Putnam said. Putnam had interviewed five other candidates for the job.

The league names Washington, DC as the twelfth and final franchise.

February 1974

Gotta led the Rough Riders to the CFL's Grey Cup game the last two years, with them winning the championship last year. Gotta was also voted the CFL's Coach of the Year the past two years. His coaching career started when he received a position with the CFL's Saskatchewan Rough Riders in 1965. In 1968 he left to become an assistant at Ottawa. He became head coach in 1970, where he remained until stepping down to take the position here.

"Sometimes, the time to be moving is when you're winning. We had some good players in Ottawa, but it's difficult to get them. We have the import restrictions and bidding with the NFL is tough. I've had the opportunity before, but I'd rather go where everybody's getting out of the gate at the same time, where there's an opportunity to win. The opportunity is great here to have a winning football team. I'm glad to be a part of it from the first," Gotta said.

The original New York franchise will be sent to Portland, Salt Lake City, New Orleans or Mexico City.

Birmingham's public relations director, Tommy McCollister, declined to confirm or deny the name and said, "we will have an announcement of the team name and colors in two weeks."

The WFL announces they have signed a contract with TVS to televise twenty-three selected games throughout the year for $1 million. The games will consist of thirteen national games and ten limited broadcast games to top television markets throughout the United States.

"We felt so strongly about our chances that we reserved a copyright on the name Alabama or Birmingham Vulcans," Thomas said.

"The expansion situation was really cut-and-dried. The committee actually met last Saturday. The press conference announcing the five prime cities was held before Harold (Blach) and I met with commissioner Pete Rozelle. We were still stunned by this thing, especially after what we had been told and what the situation had been concerning Birmingham. I don't think the NFL is through with expansion. But I do think we're dead in Birmingham this decade. I do look for the league to further expand in the 1980's," Thomas said.

March 1974

"Its an exciting thing. And if anybody had any doubts about our league, I think this pretty much tends to erase them," Putnam said. The Americans are making progress with players of a similar stature, but Putnam won't name them. "The one's we're getting don't want to announce until after the 1974 season," Putnam said.

Kiick indicated the other eleven WFL teams put up $1 million for the deal to go through.

April 1974

"I'm as happy as can be. Getting with a super organization and the financial benefits were key factors, but the biggest thing to me is getting back home. Getting to play before the people in the South is where it's at for me. In two years I'll be in Birmingham if I have to hitchhike, Stabler said.

Stabler, who will report to the Americans in 1976, is also a former quarterback of the University of Alabama. "If I can do for the WFL what Joe Namath did for the AFL, I will feel that I have really accomplished something. I was born in the South and raised in the South and played football in the South. Oakland could have offered me as much money as Birmingham but they couldn't have let me play in the South," Stabler said.

May 1974

June 1974

"The new rule de-emphasizes the kicking game and puts more offense in the game. What the league is trying to do is satisfy demands of the fans. They want action on every play. We're continuing to add offense to the game rather than kickers, " Gotta said.

Gotta was angry when he heard the season ticket controversy. "I'd ask our ticket people how things were going and they'd tell me fine. I made a talk to a civic club in Birmingham Tuesday and told them we'd sold 20,000 season tickets. Now I understand it's much less than that. This makes me look like a jackass. Something like this, where there's deceit, is not right. Publicity gimmicks are one thing, but deceit is something else. Things like that can harpoon your program," Gotta said.

Meanwhile, Putnam is still searching for local investors. Putnam claims he has already invested $800,000 in the team and any local investors that join him will own thirty-five percent of the franchise. "The mistake I made was thinking I was going to raise money in Birmingham in February and March. Birmingham is more conservative, investment-wise, than I thought," Putnam said. Along with his fifty-two percent stake, Putnam is already joined by Atlanta investors Cecil Day, Lon Day, Don Smith, Irv Gack and Irv Plesko, who own thirteen percent.

Don Newton, executive vice president of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, arranged a meeting with local businessmen via letter. The letter contained three alternatives for the team; 1) the club could fold; 2) the club could be sold to outside investors and moved to another city; or 3) capital or credit could be secured locally "to assure the success of the club". However, Putnam said the first option is ridiculous and the second option isn't likely to happen. The franchise is worth $4 million, according to Putnam, and "If I wanted to sell it for that I could" but the club isn't for sale.

July 1974

September 1974

"Gary (Davidson) and I were in Mexico City recently, and there's a good possibility we'll have a franchise there next year. We might test the market with an All-Star game there in December. There are two excellent stadiums. Aztec, which seats over 100,000 and Olympic, with over 50,000 seats available to us. And the population in that area is over 12,000,000," Anderson said.

Putnam announces he has sold five percent of the Americans for over $250,000. After going after some big-name investors, Putnam turned to season ticket holders A. E. (Pee Wee) Burgess, Harry D. Ruffin, William Parker, James B. Price, Max Price, Edwin Ashton and Neal Andrews. Putnam says he was "stupid" for wasting time going after the big guns. "If a man is not willing to spend two or three hundred bucks to see the team play, how could I figure he'd want to invest in it's stock," Putnam asked.

Bassett believes the Detroit and Houston franchises should fold if they can't overcome their financial troubles. "If some of these teams can't get going let's fold them. If somebody's not found to take over those teams in the next two or three weeks, I'm going to be standing up on the table and saying, 'Kick 'em out of the league - we'll play with ten teams'," Bassett said.

Unsure of how the Houston team would do in Shreveport, Bassett hopes it could be as successful as the Americans are in Birmingham, who lead the league in attendance. "Maybe that will happen in Shreveport. Football in Louisiana and Alabama - that's like booze to an alcoholic," Basset said.

Basset said the league has faced some "very grave and serous problems", but nothing expected. Money from the other clubs are going to Detroit and Houston to help support them. "I don't see why the people of Memphis, who have been given a first class operation, should be propping up some promoter in another town who's trying to make a fast buck. The league owes us a lot of dough. That's a debt to us and I would hope we would get it, " Bassett said.

October 1974

Davidson announces the Detroit and Jacksonville clubs are not folding but has removed them from the remainder of the league's schedule.

Davidson's departure was triggered by the Chicago Fire's owner Tom Origer's threat to drop out of the league immediately. Earlier in the season, Origer had tried to strip Davidson from the commissioner's post, saying he spread the league's operations too thin financially with less than suitable franchise investors.

"I feel I can be of more assistance to the league as a club operator and as chairman of the expansion committee. I prefer the selling rather than administrating," Davidson said.

November 1974

Gotta also confirmed the Admiral Benbow Inn has asked the coaches to vacate their offices because their bills haven't been paid.

Gotta went on to cite three main reasons for the Americans situation; the team paid huge bonuses to the NFL veterans who will join the team in the future, the failure to secure local financial investors and when the numerous other teams began sinking the franchise made contributions to the league to help keep them running.

Putnam also went as far as saying there was a behind-the-scenes movement to keep potential investors away. "I think there are people who would like to get rid of us. I know certain people have put out the word to potential investors. These people want an NFL team, but I guarantee you we have a much better club than an expansion team would be," Putnam said.

"We've had a successful year at the gate. We took in approximately $2.3 million. That would leave us only $300,000 short of operating the club, but we've paid out $1.2 million in bonuses to future players. The mistakes I made were picking 1974 to start and paying out all the bonus money," Putnam said.

The Internal Revenue Service has filed a suit against Putnam for $160,676.96 for unpaid Federal taxes of $236,691. Birmingham Trust National Bank is also calling in their loan for $789,416.99.

The Americans could host a second round playoff game if details can be worked out with the state and local tax agencies. The Americans will be idle for the first round of the playoffs.

"I'm very heartened by the meetings. I think the Hemmeter Plan can put the league on a sound financial basis. I don't agree with his proposal, but the basic idea is sound," Putnam said.

In response to rumors that the league will fold, Bassett said, "I think the outlook for 1975 is just fine. I'm sure we'll have a league. Under proper financial control and proper screening of future owners, it will be a healthy league. There is nothing wrong with the WFL that strong leadership won't cure."

December 1974

Gotta was stunned by the player's actions. "There have been high days and low days for me in football, but this has to be my lowest. I really don't know what the players are thinking. When you're competing for a championship, everything else, including dollars, is secondary. They're not hurting me or the staff, or Bill Putnam. They're hurting themselves. And football. They're crucifying football, and no player comes out unscathed who tries to crucify football. To compete for a championship is something few people have an opportunity to do, and when that opportunity comes you'd better focus on it 100%," Gotta said.

After the game, Gotta heaped praise on his team, which overcame many obstacles just to get to the league championship. "A lot of excellent football players dedicated themselves to this and paid a tough price to get where they are tonight. This night will live long in their memory. I know it will mine. I believe like I have all along. The best team won. It's a great feeling. We had to beat a good football team. It's great for the players. I had hoped this would end on a positive note, and I feel our league benefited by tonight. The good thing about tonight is we won the championship for this city and these fans. We now have thirteen straight wins at home, and nobody's ever had that many before," Gotta said.

The Americans had the ball at the Blazers' one yard line when time expired. "One point was just perfect," Gotta said. Entering the fourth quarter, the Americans led 22-0 and had to hold on for dear life. The difference in the game as a failed action point run by Florida.

Everything was not perfect, however. Immediately after the game, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department stormed the winner's locker room and confiscated uniforms and playing equipment on behalf of Hibbett's Sporting Goods. In an attempt to retain mementos from the game, a few Americans players were seen smuggling their uniforms and helmets out the front door while others passed theirs out the windows to waiting family members.

January 1975

Potential investors met with Hemmeter during World Bowl week and will meet again this week when Hemmeter comes to Birmingham.

February 1975

The group will evaluate the franchise's $2 million of debt before deciding what course to take.

Fan support will be critical to the city's future, and not just in football. "We're looking down the road at hockey, basketball and possibly baseball on a major league scale, and if we don't support this football team we have no chance of getting the others," Weil said.

Weil says his financial group isn't concerned with Putnam. "We're not going after the franchise Mr. Putnam had. We don't want it. Ours is a new franchise. We'll have a new name and new policies. We have nothing whatsoever to do with Mr. Putnam. Legally, the franchise has never been taken from Alabama Football, Inc. I have attended every meeting of the World Football League and there has never been a motion passed, or introduced, to take the franchise. As far as I'm concerned, Alabama Football still owns the Birmingham Americans," Weil said.

March 1975

Gotta said he is sure that the players and coaches would be happy for the IRS to take over their contracts and pay them all the back money owed them by the Americans. "I'm happy to know that the federal government wants to do something else with its money besides giving it to Cambodia," Gotta said.

Still believing he has a team to actually sell, Putnam also claims there is an individual that is interested in keeping the Americans in Birmingham. "They mailed me a copy of the minutes from a meeting January 16, and that was supposedly when the franchise was revoked. I also received a copy of the minutes from a meeting in Toronto February 13, supposedly reaffirming Alabama Football, Inc. was in default and has until March 31 to correct it. I wasn't at that meeting," Putnam said.

Epilogue

Putnam never found investment partners or buyers for his franchise.

A few years later, he was involved with the Super Soccer League, an indoor soccer league slated to begin play in 1978. The city was to have a franchise in the proposed league, the Birmingham Bandits, but the league never played a single game.