The Continental Football League was formed in 1965 with hopes of being a "minor" league counterpart to the major leagues at the time, the NFL and AFL. The league did it's best to adopt a "professional" appearance. Rules were standardized, with 36-man rosters and 5-man taxi squads for each team. The league followed the NFL rules closely, except for a "sudden death" overtime to break ties. Teams were required to meet a $5,000 franchise fee and to post a $25,000 letter of credit. The original teams came mainly from two semi-pro leagues, the United Football League and the Atlantic Coast Football League. In 1966 the league began to move away from league autonomy towards working alliances with the AFL and NFL clubs. When the league moved in this direction, Commissioner Chandler saw it as moving away from the charter for which he signed up and resigned in January after 10 months. Sal Rosen, owner of the Newark Bears and league secretary was his replacement. The "new" tool of television, created a flurry of failed attempts in the preseason to get the Continental Football League games televised. Expansion to the west coast happened with the absorption of the Pacific Football League. San Jose featured a young up-and-coming junior college coach by the name of Bill Walsh. In 1967 teams could carry 36 players on their active roster and a 5 man taxi squad. The season didn't go too well with teams folding before and during the early parts of the season. In order to become more "Continental" the league merged with the Professional Football League of America which brought in the Central Division teams like Omaha. With the absorption of the Texas Professional Football League in 1969, the CFL looked poised to take over as the largest football league in the country and began bidding for USC star OJ Simpson. The merged AFL-NFL owners opened their pocket books for the 1970 season and began paying salaries the CFL couldn't compete with and the league disintegrated as backers pulled out seeing the writing on the wall. 1967 CFL Pacific Division All-Stars: Joe Peyton, SE - Seattle Bruce Smith, SE - Orange County Jerry Knoll, T - Seattle Steve Smith, T - San Jose Jim Killman, G - Eugene Mike Giers, G - Orange County Larry Metevia, C - Orange County Rhome Nixon, TE - Orange County Jerry Otterson, QB - Orange County Les Mueller, HB - Seattle Bob Jackson, FB - Orange County Dick Tatley, PK - San Jose Len Frketich, P - Eugene Bill Ford, FL - Eugene Rob Berger, DE - Orange County Walt Johnson, DE - San Jose Skip Diaz, DT - Eugene Terry Oaks, DT - San Jose Jack O'Billovich, LB - Eugene Tim Casey, LB - Eugene Dick Degen, LB - Orange County Fred Forsberg, LB - Victoria Ron Fowlkes, DB - Orange County Jim Jackson, DB - San Jose Milt Jackson, DB - San Jose Darrell Hoover, DB - Orange County 1968 Continental Football League All-Stars: Joe Wynns, SE - Indianapolis Mike Capshaw, T - Norfolk Dick Fitzgerald, T - Omaha Sam Works, G - Orlando Dwight Little, G - Indianapolis Tom Mitrakos, C - Spokane Rhome Nixon, TE - Orange County Junior Edge, QB - Norfolk Eugene Wren, HB - Indianapolis Bob Jackson, FB - Orange County Don Floyd, FL - Norfolk Bob McAdams, DE - Orlando Bob Hoskins, DE - Seattle Rich Zecker, DT - Sacramento Joe Critchlow, DT - Charleston Leroy Adams, LB - Chicago Ron Sbranti, LB - Sacramento Frank Galloway, LB - Charleston Ron Fowlkes, CB - Orange County Pete Athas, CB - Orlando Joe Hightower, S/PK - Norfolk Darrell Hoover, S - Orange County Jim Hollingsworth, P - Charleston Cornell Champion, KR - Orlando 1969 CFL Pacific Division All-Stars: Rhome Nixon, SE - Portland (Southern University) Steve Van Sinderen, OT - Portland (Washington State) Rex Pitts, OT - Seattle (Los Angeles State) Ray Miller, OT - Spokane (Idaho) Rich Zecher, OG - Sacramento (Utah State) Bob Webb, OG - Las Vegas (Mississippi Southern) Ron Vrlicak, C - Seattle (Washington State) Joy Peyton, TE - Seattle (University of Puget Sound) Jerry Ahlin, TE - Spokane (Idaho) Hugh Oldham, FL - Sacramento (Oregon) Dewey Warren, QB - Las Vegas (Tennessee) Noki Fuimaono, HB - Spokane (Arizona) Bob Jackson, FB - Portland (New Mexico State) Ron Miller, PK - Sacramento (California) Hugh Oldham, KR - Sacramento (Oregon) Nick Kuklica, DE - Sacramento (San Francisco State) Mike Martin, DE - Seattle (Washington State) Larry Cox, DT - Las Vegas (Abilene Christian) Bruce Norton, DT - Sacramento (None) Mike Hibler, LB - Sacramento (Stanford) George Jugum, LB - Seattle (Washington) Mike Foote, LB - Las Vegas (Oregon State) Leroy Harris, CB - Sacramento (Idaho State) Mason Mitchell, CB - Seattle (Washington) Henry King, S - Sacramento (Utah State) Al Worley, S - Seattle (Washington) Ron Miller, P - Sacramento (California) Dave Danish, PR - Seattle (Washington)

1965 West Division