Southern California Sun

Southern California Sun
Logo
General information
Founded1974
FoldedOctober 22, 1975
StadiumAnaheim Stadium
HeadquarteredAnaheim, California
ColoursMagenta and orange    
Personnel
OwnerLarry Hatfield
General managerCurly Morrison
Head coachTom Fears
League / conference affiliations
World Football League
Western Division

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.

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] 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

Source:[2]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 July 10 at Birmingham Americans L 7–11 0–1 Legion Field 53,231
2 July 17 Hawaiians W 38–31 1–1 Anaheim Stadium 32,018
3 July 24 at Jacksonville Sharks W 21–19 2–1 Gator Bowl 46,780
4 August 1 at Memphis Southmen L 15–25 2–2 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 25,175
5 August 7 New York Stars L 8–11 2–3 Anaheim Stadium 28,174
6 August 15 at Houston Texans W 18–7 3–3 Astrodome 31,227
7 August 21 at Philadelphia Bell W 31–28 4–3 John F. Kennedy Stadium 14,600
8 August 28 Portland Storm W 45–15 5–3 Anaheim Stadium 27,814
9 September 2 Chicago Fire L 22–32 5–4 Anaheim Stadium 27,133
10 September 6 at Detroit Wheels W 10–7 6–4 Rynearson Stadium 6,351
11 September 11 at Chicago Fire W 31–28 7–4 Soldier Field 24,837
12 September 18 Detroit Wheels W 29–24 8–4 Anaheim Stadium 12,169
13 September 25 Jacksonville Sharks W 57–7 9–4 Anaheim Stadium 22,017
14 October 2 at Portland Storm W 26–22 10–4 Civic Stadium 20,469
15 October 10 Shreveport Steamer W 25–23 11–4 Anaheim Stadium 24,223
16 October 17 Birmingham Americans W 29–25 12–4 Anaheim Stadium 25,247
17 October 23 Philadelphia Bell L 7–45 12–5 Anaheim Stadium 26,412
18 October 30 at Charlotte Hornets W 34–25 13–5 American Legion Memorial Stadium 19,436
19 November 6 at Hawaiians L 8–29 13–6 Honolulu Stadium 13,780
20 November 14 Florida Blazers L 24–27 13–7 Anaheim Stadium 28,213

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
Quarterfinals November 20 Hawaiians L 14–32 0–1 Anaheim Stadium 11,430

1975 regular season

Source:[3]

Week Date Opponent Result Venue Record Attendance Source
1 August 3 Portland Thunder W 21–15 Anaheim Stadium 1–0 14,362 [4]
2 August 9 at San Antonio Wings L 22–54 Alamo Stadium 1–1 21,000 [5]
3 August 16 at Hawaiians W 37–19 Honolulu Stadium 2–1 15,862 [6]
4 August 23 at Birmingham Vulcans W 35–25 Legion Field 3–1 32,000 [7]
5 August 29 Philadelphia Bell W 58–39 Anaheim Stadium 4–1 17,811 [8]
6 September 6 at San Antonio Wings L 8–30 Alamo Stadium 4–2 10,470 [9]
7 September 14 Charlotte Hornets L 22–30 Anaheim Stadium 4–3 13,405 [10]
8 September 20 at Shreveport Steamer L 29–38 State Fair Stadium 4–4 18,777 [11]
9 September 27 at Charlotte Hornets W 24–17 American Legion Memorial Stadium 5–4 17,000 [12]
10 October 5 at Memphis Grizzlies L 33–37 Memphis Memorial Stadium 5–5 18,129 [13]
11 October 12 Shreveport Steamer W 39–30 Anaheim Stadium 6–5 10,505 [14]
12 October 19 at Hawaiians W 26–7 Aloha Stadium 7–5 15,905 [15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.
  2. ^ "1974 World Football League Game Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  3. ^ "1975 World Football League Results". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "Sun wins opener, 21–15". Daily Sun-Post. UPI. August 4, 1975. p. 6. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Sun defense shredded". The Daily Breeze. Associated Press. August 10, 1975. p. E2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Ex-Troy pair lead Sun win". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. August 18, 1975. p. C5. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Haden leads Sun victory handing Vulcs home loss". The Selma Times-Journal. Associated Press. August 24, 1975. p. B1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Beets, Dennis (August 30, 1975). "Sun offense dazzles Bell with 58 points". Anaheim Bulletin. p. D1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Rausch, Gary (September 8, 1975). "Wings blitz Sun". Press-Telegram. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Buchanan, Joe (September 15, 1975). "Sun fails to capitalize on Wings' loss; Hornets win". Anaheim Bulletin. p. C1. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Davis gains 104 yards but Sun loses, 38–29". The Sun-Telegram. Associated Press. September 21, 1975. p. E2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sun's Davis burns Hornets". The News and Observer. September 28, 1975. p. II-11. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ McCormack, Jim (October 6, 1975). "Sun lets game slip from grasp – twice". Press-Telegram. p. C3. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Davis (who else?) leads Sun to win". Ventura County Star-Free Press. UPI. October 13, 1975. p. B2. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Suns roll over Hawaiians". The Desert Sun. UPI. October 20, 1975. p. B3. Retrieved February 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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