1974 was the first of two seasons for the World Football League. There were a number of changes that occurred during the second half of the season. Due to financial difficulties, both the Jacksonville Sharks and the Detroit Wheels folded after week fourteen. The Houston Texans moved to Shreveport after week twelve and became the Shreveport Steamer. And finally, the New York Stars moved to Charlotte after week thirteen, and became the Charlotte Hornets. Personally, I don't have fond memories of the WFL.  Being a Miami Dolphins fan, it was very difficult to watch three of the best players from the Dolphins leave the team for the WFL. After the 1974 NFL season, Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Paul Warfield left the Miami Dolphins to join the Memphis Southmen of the WFL. Although Miami was a good team in 1975, they were no longer a serious Super Bowl contender. On the field, there were four teams that clearly were the class of the WFL:  the Memphis Southmen led the way with a sparkling 17-3 record, followed by the Birmingham Americans (15-5), the Florida Blazers (14-6), and the Southern California Sun (13-7). In the playoffs, both Memphis and Birmingham received first-round byes. Of the two wild-card teams:  the Charlotte Hornets and the Honolulu Hawaiians, Charlotte was forced to drop out due to financial difficulties, and so the Philadelphia Bell replaced them. In the first round, the Hawaiians defeated the Sun 32-14 at Anaheim, Ca., and the Blazers defeated the Bell 18-3 at Orlando, Florida. In the divisional round, the Americans defeated the Hawaiians 22-19 at Birmingham, Alabama, and the Blazers defeated the Southmen 18-15 at Memphis, Tennessee. So, the Birmingham Americans would meet the Florida Blazers in the World Bowl on Thursday, December 5th, 1974. The Birmingham Americans defeated the Florida Blazers 22-21 in
what was the World Football League's first and last championship game before 32,376 fans at Legion Field. The contest went right down to the wire with the difference being a missed 'action point' by league rushing champion Tommy Reamon. Birmingham used a devastating running game led by Joe Profit, Charley Harraway and Paul Robinson and surged to a 22-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown by Profit that was set up by a Blazer interception, a four-yard burst by Art Cantrelle and a 26-yard George Mira to Bobby Brown touchdown pass with 9:11 in the third quarter. However, the Blazers erupted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter- two on long passes by Bob Davis, and the third, a 76-yard punt return by Rod Foster. The game came down to the 'action point', and when Tommy Reamon of the Blazers went over right tackle he was stopped short of the goal line, giving the World Bowl Championship to the Birmingham Americans 22-21.