Southern California Sun

Southern California Sun
Team logo
Established1974
FoldedOctober 22, 1975
Based inAnaheim, California
Home fieldAnaheim Stadium
Head coachTom Fears
General managerCurly Morrison
Owner(s)Larry Hatfield
LeagueWorld Football League
DivisionWestern
ColoursMagenta and orange    

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.[1] This episode aside, the Sun were one of the WFL's better-run teams and at least had the potential to be a viable venture had the WFL been run in a more realistic and financially sensible manner. A year later, they were leading the West when the league folded on October 22, 1975, in midseason.

  1. ^ Marshall, Joe. World Bowl in crisis. Sports Illustrated, 1974-12-16.