<P> The team made a big splash by signing Heisman Trophy - winning underclassman Herschel Walker, a running back from the University of Georgia . While the USFL had followed the NFL's lead in banning underclassmen from playing, league officials were certain that this rule would never withstand a court challenge . In an even more ominous development, Walker did not sign a standard player contract . Rather, he agreed to a three - year personal - services contract with Duncan . The contract was valued at $4.2 million--more than double the USFL's salary cap of $1.8 million . Nonetheless, the other owners knew having the incumbent Heisman winner in their fold would lend the USFL instant credibility, and allowed the contract to stand . Eventually, nearly all of the other teams jettisoned league founder David Dixon's original blueprint and began signing star players to expensive contracts--a step which ultimately proved to be the league's undoing . </P> <P> Despite the signing of Walker, who rushed for 1,812 yards and 17 touchdowns, the Generals finished their inaugural season with a 6--12 record . This was largely due to a porous defense which gave up the third-most points in the league (437). </P> <P> At 66 years old, Duncan soon tired of flying 2,000 miles from Oklahoma to New York to see his team play . After the 1983 season, he and Fairbanks sold their interest to real estate mogul Donald Trump . Trump tried to lure legendary coach Don Shula from the Miami Dolphins . It was said that Shula asked for a condominium in Trump Tower as part of his deal and Trump balked at the prospect . Once Shula declined, the Generals hired former New York Jets head coach Walt Michaels . The Generals responded to their poor 1983 showing with an influx of veteran NFL talent for 1984, including wide receiver Tom McConnaughey, quarterback Brian Sipe, defensive back Gary Barbaro, and linebackers Jim LeClair and Bobby Leopold . Both Walker and fullback Maurice Carthon rushed for over 1,000 yards (Walker 1,339; Carthon 1,042) as the Generals went 14--4, defeating the eventual champion Philadelphia Stars twice for that franchise's only two losses of the season . The Stars defeated the Generals 28--7 in a first round playoff game . </P> <P> The 1985 season saw the heralded signing of Heisman Trophy - winning quarterback Doug Flutie of Boston College . Despite Flutie's inexperience, the Generals traded Sipe to the Jacksonville Bulls to ensure Flutie would start . Flutie struggled at times but played well overall until he suffered a broken collarbone against the Memphis Showboats in the season's 15th game and did not play again . The 1985 Generals finished 11--7 behind Walker's pro-football record 2,411 rushing yards but lost again to the Stars (transplanted to Baltimore) in the first round of the playoffs, 20--17 . </P>

Who owned the new jersey generals of the usfl during their final two seasons