The nicknames are familiar to those with long memories: the New Jersey Generals, the Philadelphia Stars, the Tampa Bay Bandits. So is the league name: the U.S.F.L.
But its new leadership says that despite the nostalgic team and league names, this iteration of the U.S.F.L., which starts play on Saturday, wants to distinguish itself from the league that operated for three seasons in the mid-1980s. That predecessor launched the professional football careers of Heisman Trophy winners like Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie, and future Hall of Famers like Reggie White, Jim Kelly and Steve Young. Its colorful history culminated with a hollow court victory over the N.