County to Get Taste of Pro Football

The International Football Federation, an off-season professional league, will begin play in February with 12 teams, including franchises in Orange County and Los Angeles, its founder said Wednesday.

Fullerton businessman Dennis Murphy, who helped found the American Basketball Assn. and the World Hockey Assn., is expected to unveil plans for his new venture, the IFF, Friday in New York.

Three divisions are planned. Orange County, Los Angeles, Denver and San Jose make up the Western Conference. New York, Florida, Connecticut and Boston will play in the Eastern Conference. Chicago, Toronto, Texas and Detroit will be in the Central Conference.

The three conference champions and three at-large teams with the best overall records will participate in the playoffs, which will culminate with the league championship game July 9.

Murphy said he hopes to negotiate a deal to have the Orange County team play at Edison Field. More likely, he said, Cal State Fullerton would be the site, at least for the first year. The Los Angeles entry is expected to play at the Coliseum or the Rose Bowl, according to Murphy.

Cal State Fullerton financial officer John Jentz confirmed that Fullerton has had discussions with Murphy and said the university would welcome the team into the stadium if the dates are available.

Murphy said the league could install temporary bleachers in the end zones at Fullerton to increase seating capacity from 10,000 to about 22,000.

Several rules variations are planned for the new league. Kickoffs, for instance, will be from the 20-yard line and instant replay will be used on a limited basis.

In creating another professional sporting league, Murphy, the former mayor of Buena Park, has leaned heavily again on his USC roots, as well as friendships he made during past endeavors.

For instance, businessmen Saul Burakoff and Rocky Kalish, who was a minority owner in the WHA, are expected to own the Los Angeles franchise. Former USC standout Rod Sherman, who originally sought the Orange County franchise, has purchased the rights to San Jose, and San Diego businessman Leonard Bloom, who ran the WHA’s Los Angeles Sharks, will be a partner with singer Dionne Warwick in the Orange County franchise.

Craig Fertig, former USC quarterback and assistant coach, has been hired as the league’s director of football operations.

A national search to find a commissioner is expected to be completed by September, according to Murphy. Among the names he mentioned is former Ram and Seattle Seahawk Coach Chuck Knox.

“Right now, we have 14 solid ownership groups for only 12 slots,” Murphy said.

A television deal is in the offing, he said.

Murphy added that by starting up next year, the IFF would get a jump on NBC, which has announced that it is exploring the idea of creating its own pro football league.