Category: Alternative Football

Once the final horn sounded on Birmingham’s 27-20 victory over Memphis today at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, it marked the end of the regular season for both United States Football League teams.

That’s significant.

Until this evening, an outdoor pro grid team in Birmingham hadn’t made it through two consecutive seasons since the World League of American Football’s Birmingham Fire (1991-92).

Spring leagues tend to fall, and whenever one can make it to – and through – its sophomore year, well, that’s noteworthy.

And encouraging.

“I just think it speaks volumes that not only is there a lot of competition in the USFL, there’s a lot of equality in this league,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said after his team improved to 8-2. “There’s a lot of competitive nature in this league. But also, I would tell you that I think the USFL has proven that it’s here to stay.”

Maybe the football people behind the FOX-owned USFL have finally figured out that the best way to make this non-NFL thing work is to give it time to work. If nothing else, they’ve helped me morph from being cynical to hopeful – even optimistic.

And as you probably know, I’m not prone to optimism when it comes to such ventures. Having lived through all the leagues that have come and gone through the years, I just assumed the shelf life of this one would be short.

History tends to repeat itself, especially when it comes to this particular endeavor.

Perhaps it would make it until the end of its first season, I thought. But bad TV ratings and a mountain of debt would cause the network to shut it down just as it would any TV program that failed to find an audience.

And make no mistake – the USFL is as much a TV series as it is a sports organization.

But the circuit has found an audience – and apparently Nielsen families like what they’re seeing.

The presentation, whether on FOX, NBC or the league’s other outlets, is top-tier. Admittedly, I’m not as enamored with the drone and helmet-cams as some people, but I can certainly appreciate the tech.

And the entertainment is being provided by good football players, most who are trying to level up.

“These 50 young men that I am blessed to have the opportunity to coach every week … if they didn’t have this opportunity, what would they be doing now?” Holtz said. “And to know that out of this league, 70 guys are in (NFL) camp and getting another shot at their dream and what they want to do.

“Some guys are just here because they continue to love to play the game. They may not get another shot and they know that, but they’re here because they love the game. They love the camaraderie, and that’s what it’s all about. And I think that’s why it’ll work. I think it’ll work not only because I think it’s a proven product right now, but I think it’ll work because it’s here for the right reasons.”

There are those who look down their nose at “minor league” sports, but the USFL (and XFL) have shown there are hundreds of talented athletes not currently on NFL or CFL rosters.

And having dealt with several of them this year (mostly Stallions and New Orleans Breakers players due to the Birmingham hub) there are also some pretty good people in the league, too.

As much fun as I’ve had watching, the general consensus is that they’re having even more fun playing.

“I have never had more fun than I have this season,” Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough told me earlier this week. “This is the best year I’ve had of playing football. It’s just fun … it’s like, you go out there and you’re so loose and so confident because you’ve done it before, and the coach believes in you.

“All the guys are really good and we have such a great chemistry with each other that it makes it that much easier to go out there and play.”

While there’s an ebb and flow when it comes to TV viewership, for the most part the USFL continues to perform well enough to satisfy its stakeholders. In-game attendance leaves a lot to be desired (I’m ready for all the teams to have their own homes), but perhaps that’s a side effect of having a product that is so enjoyable to watch from the comfort of your home.

Ultimately, as long as the people paying the bills think it’s worth it, those bills will continue to be paid.

Speaking of being paid … that’s another major plus. To the best of my knowledge, the players, coaches, and staff members of the teams are not missing any paydays, nor are the USFL’s vendors.

Bounced checks, locked stadiums and broken dreams are an alternative football tradition, and it’s nice to see that tradition being ignored.

For the Stallions, there is at least one game left before the curtain falls on the 2023 campaign.

For the Showboats, their focus turns to next year.

And I firmly believe there will be a next year for the modern version of the USFL. In fact, Birmingham and Memphis are already taking season ticket deposits for 2024. I think those are safe investments, because I’m quite confident the league is returning. Honestly, I never thought I’d ever say that about a professional spring football league.

There’s still some heavy lifting to be done once the regular season ends, but the Birmingham Stallions are able to exhale in Week 10.

While a tight race in the United States Football League South Division is coming down to the wire, Birmingham already knows it’s playoff-bound regardless of what happens this weekend.

And what happens for the Stallions (7-2) is a rematch with the Memphis Showboats (5-4), who still technically have a shot at earning a postseason berth.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with FOX providing TV coverage.

But just because the defending USFL champions have already punched their playoff ticket thanks to a 38-15 drubbing of Houston in Week 9, it doesn’t mean they’re overlooking the next team on the schedule.

“I know a lot of people say this game doesn’t mean anything, but you wouldn’t know it by the practices we’ve had this week,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “We’ve had a great week of practice, and I think this game is an opportunity for us to roll into the playoffs on a hot note. Any time we put the ball on the tee, we want to win.”

As for resting starters, that’s been a non-issue.

“I said to the players anyone that wants to sit, come see me,” Holtz said. “If this is something you need mentally, physically or emotionally before the playoffs, come see me. I haven’t had a single player come see me.”

Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough makes his case for MVP week after week, and currently leads the USFL with 18 passing touchdowns and 138 points. He’s thrown for 1,822 yards and also has five rushing TDs.

His roommate – tight end Jace Sternberger – paces the league in receiving touchdowns with six, and Davion Davis has the most Stallions receiving yards with 461.

C.J. Marable is tops in the circuit in all-purpose yards with 1,019 – 469 of them coming on the ground.

As a team, Birmingham averages a USFL-best 324.7 yards per game as well as a 50 percent third down conversion rate.

“We have a strong O-line, I think that’s what sets things off,” McGough said. “We can run, we can pass-block, we can do a lot of things. When they give me a few seconds back there, I can usually find someone to go to because we have so many good receivers.”

Defensively, the Stallions are led by safety Christian McFarland’s 49 tackles, while tackle Willie Yarbary has recorded 3.5 sacks. And fan favorite Scooby Wright is healthy enough to get back in the lineup at linebacker this week.

“I’m super excited to be back out there,” Wright said. “And I’m really proud of the team and the guys for stepping up and playing so well while I was gone. I’m just excited to go out there and contribute to my teammates.”

Although punters sometimes get lost in the shuffle, Colby Wadman has been a major contributor to Birmingham’s success. He tops the league with a 40.6-yard net average on 26 punts.

“I call Colby ‘Gus,’ our kicking mule … he averaged 57 yards a punt last week,” Holtz said. “He’s done an unbelievable job.”

There’s little doubt the homestanding Boats will have plenty of motivation after getting drilled by Birmingham, 42-2, earlier in the season at Protective Stadium.

QB Cole Kelley has passed for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns with Vinny Papale accounting for 337 of those yards and two scores.

DB Troy Warner leads the Showboats defense with 70 tackles and defensive end Jordan Williams has contributed 5.5 sacks.

Todd Haley’s team started out 0-3 but then put together five consecutive victories – the longest streak of the year in the USFL this season – before falling to New Orleans last week, 31-3.

“I love our team and I love our guys, but we have to play a lot better than that to think of anything beyond the regular season,” Haley said.

As for Holtz, he simply hopes his team stays the course.

“It’s taken us a while to gel, but I think we’re starting to play well together, communicate … I like the way they’re working. They’ve got great attitudes.

“They like to have fun and like to joke around, but when it comes time to work, they’ve been really focused and dialed in.”

PLAYER STATUS (via Stallions Twitter)

Free Agent Signing: LB Damon Lloyd.

Transferred Player to Active Roster: WR Austin Watkins, CB Bryan Mills, LB Scooby Wright, OG Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: WR Adrian Hardy, CB Lorenzo Burns, LB Damon Lloyd.

Transferred Player to Injured Reserve List: OT Jahmir Ross-Johnson

Suspended List: LB Quentin Poling.

Game status: OL Jahmir Johnson: Out (R Shoulder), DL Jonathan Newsome: Out (R Knee), S Christian McFarland: Probable (R Hamstring, R Shoulder, L Thumb), S JoJo Tillery: Probable (L Knee), RB Ricky Person Jr.: Probable (L Hip), LB Elijah Sullivan: Probable (R Knee), LB Rashad Smith: Probable (L Knee), DB Tyree Robinson: Probable (R Thumb, R Wrist), WR Davion Davis: Probable (L Ankle), LB Scooby Wright: Probable (L Calf), OL Matt Kaskey: Full Go (R Thumb).

PLAYER STATUS (via Showboats Twitter)

Transferred Player to Active Roster: RB Ezra Gray, S Lamont McPhatter II, LB Jeff McCulloch, DT Frank Herron, OG Kwan Stallworth.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: RB Kerrith Whyte, LB Aaron Hansford, S Antonio Reed, OC Jordan McCray, DT Sulaiman Kamara.

Game status: DB Quenton Meeks: Out (R Ankle), OL Lukayus McNeil: Out (L Knee), S Kyree Woods: Out (Concussion), OL Jordan McCray: Out (L Leg), RB Kerrith Whyte: Out (R Ankle), S Antonio Reed: Out (L Wrist), OL Matt Burrell: Probable (Illness), LB Aaron Hansford: Questionable (R Ribs), LB Jeff McCulloch: Questionable (L Foot), DL John Atkins: Probable (R Shoulder), S Lamont McPhatter: Probable (L Ankle), DT Frank Herron: Probable (L Knee).

Notes, quotes and numbers from Birmingham’s playoff-clinching 38-15 rout of Houston on Sunday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis …

HOW THEY SCORED

The teams swapped turnovers in the first quarter, and Houston was the first to capitalize on a miscue. After taking over at the Birmingham 30 following an Alex McGough fumble, Houston’s offense could muster only a yard of forward progress.

UAB product Nick Vogel still put points on the board, kicking a 47-yard field goal at 3:07 of the first to move the Gamblers in front, 3-0.

Houston was back in business after Deon Cain fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, setting the Gamblers up at the Stallions’ 26.

Again, the defense held and again, Vogel was called upon to salvage points. His 24-yard effort split the pipes, and it was 6-0 at 14:17 of the second quarter.

A botched punt by Houston’s Hunter Niswander resulted in a fumble, giving the Stallions first-and-10 at the Houston 20.

However, they couldn’t find paydirt, either, so Brandon Aubrey did the scoring honors with a 24-yard field goal 6:36 before halftime.

The 3-point trend continued in the waning moments of the second when Vogel was good from 36 yards at the :57 mark, and the Gamblers were up, 9-3.

A 41-yard McGough to Jace Sternberger connection put Birmingham in scoring range, and a 26-yard toss to C.J. Marable moved the markers down to the one.

A sack pushed the ball back to the six with 18 seconds left but McGough hit Sternberger on a 4-yard scoring play at :13 of the frame to account for the day’s first TD.

Aubrey kicked the extra point and a five play, 68-yard drive ended with the Stallions in the lead, 10-9.

Birmingham opened the second half in style, moving 67 yards in just four plays. McGough threw a perfect strike to Cain for a 38-yard touchdown at 13:03 of the third quarter, and Aubrey kicked the score to 17-9.

Houston answered with a methodical march but it fizzled short of the goal line. Vogel made it four-for-four with a 34-yard field goal at 5:56 of the third to cut the deficit to 17-12.

The Gamblers were on offense again quickly after McGough was picked off, scrimmaging from the Stallions 41.

They got as close at the four before it was time for Vogel, and the sidewinder’s 29-yard kick was right down the alley.

With 3:16 remaining in the third, Birmingham’s lead was down to 17-15.

Early in the fourth quarter, it was up to 24-15.

Marable cashed in an eight play, 47-yard march with a two-yard rush, and the kick had the Stallions ahead by nine with 14:19 to play.

The defending champions wrapped things up with 8:53 left.

Gamblers QB Kenji Bahar was scrambling for extra yardage when he lost the ball and it was snagged mid-air by recent free agent signee Matt Hankins, who rambled 32 yards for a touchdown.

The kick made it 31-15, and Birmingham (7-2) was playoff-bound while the Houston (5-4) needs a win over New Orleans next week to stay alive.  

The winners added insurance 4:12 from the finish when McGough called his own number and scored on a 16-yard scamper to cap off a five play, 43-yard journey to paydirt.

Aubrey kicked the final to 38-15.

BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …

“I’m just really proud to get to seven (wins). And the goal at the beginning was, let’s be as good as we can be. And I think we can be pretty good.”

HOUSTON COACH CURTIS JOHNSON SAID …

“I think when you play in this game, you’ve got to know who you’re playing against. That’s a great football team and they were the champs last year. You know, if you don’t score a touchdown to put them away pretty early, it’s gonna come back to haunt you.”

STANDOUT STATS

McGough finished 13-21-1 for 208 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 34 yards and another score to lead the team.

“I just think we kind of got into our rhythm after that two-minute drive (late in the first half) where we stopped thinking so much,” McGough said. “I think we stopped trying to do everything perfectly, and we just started playing football like we know how to play.”

Sternberger paced the Stallions’ receiving corps with three catches for 58 yards and a TD.

Quentin Poling had 10 tackles – eight solo – as well as an interception, half sack and two tackles for loss.

The defense limited Houston to 232 yards of total offense, and the Gamblers converted just four of 16 third down conversions.

“The real winner today is the way that defense played,” Holtz said. “I mean, the job they did with the poor field position, the job they did in the red zone. Five field goals, I mean, they did an unbelievable job in the red zone. I’m just really proud of the way the defense played.”

NOW THEY’RE EVEN

Heading into Sunday’s game, Houston was the only team in the USFL with a winning record against Birmingham. The teams split their two 2022 meetings, and the Gamblers won back in Week 5 of 2023.

The Week 9 outcome now puts the modern USFL series mark at 2-2, with the possibility they could also meet in the playoffs on June 25.

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1983, the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League defeated the Boston Breakers, 31-19, in front of 20,500 fans at Legion Field.

Birmingham quarterback Bob Lane ran for a TD and hit Gary Anderson on a TD pass, while Lonnie Johnson rushed for two more Birmingham touchdowns.

The Stallions improved to 8-7 with the victory.

NEXT UP

Birmingham returns to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Saturday to face the Memphis Showboats. TV coverage begins at 3 p.m. on FOX.