Michigan 9 at Birmingham 7

1983 Week 1 - Monday, March 7, 1983
Michigan Panthers(0-0) at Birmingham Stallions(0-0)(-2)
Attendance: 38,352, TV: ESPN

BIRMINGHAM(AP) - Coach Jim Stanley had no trouble describing the United States Football League debut of his Michigan Panthers and the Birmingham Stallions, and neither did the 38,352 fans.

"It was a good defensive game first and foremost," Stanley said after the Panthers defeated Birmingham 9-7 on three field goals by Novo Bojovic, two for 49 yards and one for 48.

The hometown fans had only one chance to cheer, when Birmingham quarterback Reggie Collier skirted right end on a bootleg keeper for the game's only touchdown.

Other than that, the most cheering occurred before the kickoff when a parachutist delivered the gameball at midfield.

All the scoring occurred in the first half although Birmingham threatened twice after the intermission. Scott Norwood missed a 27-yard field goal attempt on the first play of the fourth period and later Birmingham drove from its 39 to the Michigan 32 but linebacker Ray Bentley intercepted at the 19.

Bentley was a main reason it was a good defensive game. He had another interception and led his team in tackles with 10.

Linebacker Larry McPherson of Birmingham had 12 tackles and the Stallions' Mike Raines sacked Michigan quarterback Bobby Hebert twice.

Complete Game

Highlights

MONDAY, MARCH 7 
SCORE BY PERIODS 
Michigan  .......................  6   3   0    0--9 
Birmingham  .....................  0   7   0    0--7 

SCORING 
Michigan--Field goal Bojovic 49. 

Michigan--Field goal Bojovic 49. 

Birmingham--Collier 3 run (Norwood kick). 

Michigan--Field goal Bojovic 48. 

TEAM STATISTICS 
                                         Michigan   Birmingham 
First downs  ...........................     17         15 
Rushes-Yards  .......................... 36-144     43-169 
Passing yards  .........................    115         40 
Sacked-Yards lost  .....................   2-16        1-9 
Return yards  ..........................     56         75 
Passes  ................................  11-20-0     6-14-3 
Punts  .................................   2-38.0     2-43.0 
Fumbles-Lost  ..........................   4- 2        1-1 
Penalties- Yards  ......................   2-22       2-10 
Time of possession  ....................  29:24      30:36 
Attendance--30,305. 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 
Rushing--Michigan, Ellis 20-74, Hagen 8-57, Carter 
1-9, Hargrove 2-4, Hebert 3-4, Williams 2-minus 4; 
Birmingham, Collier 13-76, Talton 19-52, Gant 9-27, 
Frederick 2-14. 

Passing--Michigan, Hebert 11-20-0--131; Bir- 
mingham, Collier 6-14-3--49. 

Receiving--Michigan, Cobb 3-39, Holloway 2-31, 
Hargrove 2-24, Hagen 2-23, McClain 1-12, Williams 
1-2; Birmingham, Mason 2-22, Talton 2-14, Gant 2- 
13. 

Kickoff RetUrns--Michigan, Williams 1-0, Ingram 
1-18; Birmingham, Kincaid 3-67. 

Punt Returns--Michigan, Carter 1-16; Birmingham, 
Kincaid 1-8. 

Interceptions--Michigan, Bentley 2-11, Corker 1- 
11. 

Punting--Michigan, Greenwood 2-38.0; Birming- 
ham, Casarino 2-43.0. 

Field Goals- Michigan, Bojovic 3-4; Birmingham, 
Norwood O- 1. 

Sacks--Michigan, Greenwood 1-9; Birmingham, 
Raines 2-16.

Archived news report
Archived news report
Archived news report
Archived news report

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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