Southern California Sun


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. A year later, they were leading the West when the league folded on October 22, 1975, in midseason.

Schedule and results

1974 regular season

Source:
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1at Birmingham AmericansL 7–110–1Legion Field53,231
2HawaiiansW 38–311–1Anaheim Stadium32,018
3at Jacksonville SharksW 21–192–1Gator Bowl46,780
4at Memphis SouthmenL 15–252–2Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium25,175
5New York StarsL 8–112–3Anaheim Stadium28,174
6at Houston TexansW 18–73–3Astrodome31,227
7at Philadelphia BellW 31–284–3John F. Kennedy Stadium14,600
8Portland StormW 45–155–3Anaheim Stadium27,814
9Chicago FireL 22–325–4Anaheim Stadium27,133
10at Detroit WheelsW 10–76–4Rynearson Stadium6,351
11at Chicago FireW 31–287–4Soldier Field24,837
12Detroit WheelsW 29–248–4Anaheim Stadium12,169
13Jacksonville SharksW 57–79–4Anaheim Stadium22,017
14at Portland StormW 26–2210–4Civic Stadium20,469
15Shreveport SteamerW 25–2311–4Anaheim Stadium24,223
16Birmingham AmericansW 29–2512–4Anaheim Stadium25,247
17Philadelphia BellL 7–4512–5Anaheim Stadium26,412
18at Charlotte HornetsW 34–2513–5American Legion Memorial Stadium19,436
19at HawaiiansL 8–2913–6Honolulu Stadium13,780
20Florida BlazersL 24–2713–7Anaheim Stadium28,213

Playoffs

1975 regular season

Source:
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordAttendance
1Portland ThunderW 21–151–014,362
2August 9at San Antonio WingsL 22–541–121,000
3August 16at HawaiiansW 37–192–115,862
4August 23at Birmingham VulcansW 35–253–132,000
5Philadelphia BellW 58–394–117,811
6at San Antonio WingsL 8–304–210,470
7September 14Charlotte HornetsL 22–304–313,405
8at Shreveport SteamerL 29–384–418,777
9at Charlotte HornetsW 24–175–417,000
10October 5at Memphis GrizzliesL 33–375–518,129
11October 12Shreveport SteamerW 39–306–510,505
12October 19at HawaiiansW 26–77–515,905