Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (2009)

For three glorious years, football was 365

Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? (2009) poster

In 1983 the upstart United States Football League (USFL) had the audacity to challenge the almighty NFL. The new league did the unthinkable by playing in the spring and plucked three straight Heisman Trophy winners away from the NFL. The 12-team USFL played before crowds that averaged 25,000, and started off with respectable TV ratings. But with success came expansion and new owners, including a certain high profile and impatient real estate baron whose vision was at odds with the league’s founders. Soon, the USFL was reduced to waging a desperate anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, which yielded an ironic verdict that effectively forced the league out of business. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Academy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director Mike Tollin, himself once a chronicler of the league, will showcase the remarkable influence of those three years on football history and attempt to answer the question, “Who Killed the USFL?”

Director: Michael Tollin
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 53 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Phil Hernandez, Chris Maxwell, Pete Kneser
Cinematography: Jon Tucker
Editing: Greg Parsons
Production: Triple Threat Productions
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

sports, american football, sports documentary

Trailer

Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? Trailer
More Films by Director: Michael Tollin
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? about?
In 1983 the upstart United States Football League (USFL) had the audacity to challenge the almighty NFL. The new league did the unthinkable by playing in the spring and plucked three straight Heisman Trophy winners away from the NFL. The 12-team USFL played before crowds that averaged 25,000, and started off with respectable TV ratings. But with success came expansion and new owners, including a certain high profile and impatient real estate baron whose vision was at odds with the league’s founders. Soon, the USFL was reduced to waging a desperate anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, which yielded an ironic verdict that effectively forced the league out of business. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, Academy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning director Mike Tollin, himself once a chronicler of the league, will showcase the remarkable influence of those three years on football history and attempt to answer the question, “Who Killed the USFL?”
Who directed Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL??
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? was directed by Michael Tollin.
Who stars in Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL??
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? stars Donald Trump, Burt Reynolds, Herschel Walker, Michael Tollin.
How long is Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL??
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? has a runtime of 53m (53 minutes).
What genre is Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL??
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? is a Documentary film.
Where was Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? produced?
Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? was produced in United States of America.