Category: Alternative Football

The United Football League’s game of the year (to date) takes place on Saturday when the Birmingham Stallions (6-0) host the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-1) in a late afternoon matchup at Protective Stadium.

Yet, while there’s no mystery who’ll lead the visitors into battle – that’ll be former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron – the home team’s starter is TBA.

Adrian Martinez has started the last two games for the Stallions, but has been part of a rotation with Matt Corral. Getting the first snap in back-to-back games is a first for a Birmingham signal caller in 2024.

Whether Martinez goes three-for-three, well, that remains to be seen.

“You know, when you guys see that depth chart, it’s around the time we find out,” Martinez said earlier today. “We’ll compete each week, continue to get better, push each other to be better and when (Stallions coach Skip Holtz) makes that decision, he’ll make it.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a consistent timeline and sometimes those things change, so stay light on your feet.”

Martinez is the only player in the UFL to throw for over

300 yards in a game this season. He put up 334 against Memphis in Week 3 and in last Saturday’s rematch he lit up the Showboats for 368 yards and four TDs.

His passing stat line reads 62-105-1 for 971 yards and seven touchdowns.

He’s also the circuit’s second-leading rusher with 327 yards and a TD.

Corral has also acquitted himself well, going 36-62-2 for 494 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s a 1-2 QB punch any UFL club would love to have.

But aside from the competition, Martinez is simply enjoying playing the game.

“I’d say this is the most fun I’ve had and it’s part of what this league is about and something that I really wanted to challenge myself to do,” Martinez said. “You know, enjoy it. We don’t know if it’s gonna be my last time playing ball, so just have gratitude. Go out there and enjoy it, have fun.

“I mean, that’s what the game is about. We’re out here playing a child’s game, so just have fun with it.”

McCarron wouldn’t disagree, but he also knows his return to Alabama is a business trip. It’ll be the first time he’s played football in the Magic City since helping St. Paul’s win the Class 5A state championship game against Briarwood Christian, 14-13, on December 7, 2007 at Legion Field.

“Listen, it’s just another game and that’s all I want it to be,” McCarron said. “But Birmingham is a great city and I love to go there. I have a bunch of friends there and just about all of my doctors are based there, so I spend a lot of time there.

“I appreciate all the support and love, but I want to just stick to this normal routine and not do anything out of the ordinary.”

McCarron is 135-199-2 for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 13 aerial scores are far and away a UFL best after six weeks – and a big reason St. Louis has won five consecutive games.

McCarron has spent time with six different NFL teams and is 113-179-3 for 1,192 yards and six touchdowns in big league action.

The 33-year-old is as known for his composure as he is his ability, and he credits that with his time playing under Nick Saban.

“Going into my first year starting, (Saban) was playing a ton of mind games that spring and really just messing with me,” McCarron explained. “I didn’t understand, being young, and it was pissing me off more than anything. And I remember him bringing me in his office and saying, ‘Listen, if you can handle the mind games that I put on you and the pressure that I put on you – whether it’s in practice, scrimmages, whatever, going out in front of 102,000 people will be nothing.’ And so that was one thing that always stuck with me.”

Martinez, 24, remembers watching McCarron during his college days.

“A.J., shoot, I grew up watching him play at Alabama,” he said. “I know he’s had a long career and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s won national championships and has a lot of accolades that you don’t bat an eye at.

“He’s a very good player.”

Saturday’s game is set for 3 pm. Saturday and will be televised on FOX.

And whether McCarron’s counterpart will be Martinez or Corral, the Battlehawks field general knows his team is in for a tussle.

“Birmingham’s a very well-coached team,” McCarron said. “They’re in the right spots, they do the right things. And then, just like all teams, if they mess up, you’ve got to make them pay. You’ve got to capitalize on those opportunities.

“It’s gonna be a good challenge for both teams, and we’re excited about the challenge.”

What do the Birmingham Stallions have to do to put more backsides on the bleachers?

I’m genuinely asking – not wagging my finger. How people spend their own time and money is their business, and I have no business sticking my nose in it.

Still, I wonder, especially with the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-1) bringing their high-octane attack to town on Saturday against the Birmingham Stallions (6-0).

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little bit more excitement and energy and enthusiasm in the building right now,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “The players’ mindset, the questions being asked, their attention to detail … everybody’s zoned in and everybody’s focused in on what we’ve got to do.

“We know we’re playing a very talented team.”

Although the Magic City has claimed to be the “Football Capital of the South” since Legion Field opened in 1927, Birmingham’s fans-in-the-stands support of professional football has been lacking in recent years.

The Birmingham Thunderbolts of the 2001 XFL averaged 17,002 fans, which was next to last in the eight-team circuit.

The Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football pulled in 14,307 per contest during the ill-fated 2019 season, one that ended after eight weeks.

And the 2022-23 Stallions of the modern USFL? Other than the 17,500 figure that was released for the inaugural game between Birmingham and the New Jersey Generals, officials didn’t announce attendance.

I can tell you, though, that it ranged from not great to awful.

And I just don’t understand, because alt-football is in our DNA, or at least it used to be.

Up until fans realized the World Football League was a house of cards, the Americans drew great crowds. Proud to say I was one of the 54,000-plus in attendance for the Ams’ 58-33 victory over Memphis.

Even though that game was nearly 50 years ago, it still stands as my most memorable in-game experience.

And the original Stallions of United States Football League 1.0 lured 62,500 to their home opener against the New Jersey Generals in 1984.

“But, Scott,” you might say, “those were major league teams … that’s why fans showed up.”

Yes, the WFL and USFL Prime were aspirational in their desire to stand with the NFL, although neither lasted long enough to climb that mountain.

Yet that attendance argument doesn’t hold up.

Jump to 1991 and the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American Football. Opening night at Legion Field – against the Montreal Machine – 52,942 people paid for the privilege to watch the NFL developmental league.

No way to prove it, but I’m pretty sure the best teams in the United Football League could’ve beaten the best teams in WLAF – soundly and regularly.

Which brings us to Saturday’s showdown between the Stallions and Battlehawks at Protective Stadium.

This is easily the marquee matchup of the UFL’s inaugural regular season. It features the Stallions, who sit atop the USFL Conference, and the XFL Conference-leading Battlehawks, winners of five in a row.

“This has got the makings of a great game,” Holtz said. “I’m just glad we have the chance to play in Birmingham, that we get a chance to play a game of this magnitude at home. I know with St. Louis having the largest crowds in the XFL (in 2023) and in the UFL right now, I think Birmingham has an opportunity to show our support and how much we’re enjoying playing in the UFL.

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”

St. Louis has averaged more than 35,000 fans for their 2024 home games in The Dome.

On the other hand, a crowd of 12,265 saw Birmingham play its UFL home opener against Memphis, and only 7,262 came out when the Stallions hosted DC.

Maybe I could understand if they were a motley crew of bumbling misfits who can’t win a game.

Instead, they’re 27-3 through just over two and a half seasons of their existence, won back-to-back USFL crowns, and own the longest winning streak in the history of Birmingham-branded pro football teams with 13 consecutive conquests.

And the weather forecast for Saturday’s 3 p.m. start? Clear skies and 75 degrees at kickoff and 65 by the end of the game.

I believe the technical term for that is “Chamber of Commerce Weather.”

Look, I realize the world has changed since I used to spend so much time at Legion Field cheering for the Birmingham Whatevers. There’s more to do, more ways to do it, and anyone interested in watching the UFL can do so from the comfort of their home.

There’s a lot to be said about having a TV, fridge and restroom only a few feet away.

But I keep thinking about some little boy or little girl who has never been to a pro football game, and how cool it would be for them to go to this one – especially if a crowd of 30,000 or so showed up.

Part of being a fan is the fan experience, and trust me – there are some football games you just never forget.

“We have to be able to overcome the circus and the noise that’s going on outside the game, and I love it … I don’t want to lose it. Part of what makes football great is the pageantry and the excitement.

“That’s why we all talk about the more people that can come out and support the game this weekend and support the Stallions and support the UFL and support Birmingham, which is one of the select eight teams in the country that has a (spring) football team, the more electric the atmosphere is, which is what we all want.”

Do what you like, but showing up and showing off on Saturday is something worth considering.

And who knows?

You might even help make Birmingham the “Football Capital of the South” again.

Note: Stallions cornerback Lorenzo Burns, who suffered a frightening injury in Birmingham’s 39-21 victory over Memphis on Saturday, is “on the road to recovery,” according to Holtz.

The coach said Burns will not play against St. Louis but is expected back later in the season.

The Memphis Showboats were 0-2 against the Birmingham Stallions during the 2023 United States Football League season.

Both teams are in the United Football League this year, but the results remain the same.

Birmingham completed a season sweep of Memphis today in front of 5,609 fans at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, taking a 39-21 decision to improve to 6-0. With the result, the two-time defending USFL champions locked up a USFL Conference playoff berth.

“It’s always great to win,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “As I told our team in the locker room, winning is hard and it takes a total team effort from Sunday all the way through Saturday … I mean Saturday is where we see the result. But the way this team has worked the way that they have, and really done a great job of staying humble, going out and executing – I think they’ve been playing at a really high level together as a team.”

Memphis falls to 1-5 and hasn’t tasted a “W” since Week 1. The Showboats lost to the Stallions 33-14 at Protective Stadium in Week 3.

“I told them this was kind of a trap game,” Holtz said. “This was a team that we had beat in game one. We’re playing on the road, playing an early game … we’ve got to kind of bring our own energy.”

Memphis scored first but Birmingham scored more, shaking off a 6-0 deficit after one quarter to take a 22-9 lead into halftime.

Taco Charlton’s strip-sack of Case Cookus just before intermission helped set-up the winners’ third TD, one that put John DeFilippo’s team in a tough spot with 30 minutes to go.

It got tougher when a third quarter field goal made it a 25-9 game, and Adrian Martinez’s 79-yard TD toss to Kevin Austin Jr. basically gave the contest a “not who, but by how much” vibe entering the final frame.

It was the usual suspects getting it done for Holtz’s team, with big offensive plays combining with key defensive stops to whip up another recipe for victory.

Martinez went the distance behind center, going 23-36-0 for 368 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

He has alternated with Matt Corral as starting quarterback, and made the most of his latest opportunity.

“For me, I’m very fortunate to continue to play this game,” Martinez said. “You come to it from a standpoint of gratitude. I’m thankful to get this opportunity and my end goal is to get into the NFL.

“We have a great quarterback room with J’Mar Smith and Matt Corral, and we all share similar goals and we understand it’s tough. A lot of times only one guy can play. We’re all helping each other get to that end goal. We all want to win and we all want to enjoy this experience.”

Kevin Austin Jr. stepped up among receivers, catching four balls for 108 yards and a TD. Marlon Williams was on the paydirt end of two touchdown passes and C.J. Marable reeled in another.

Martinez found 10 different pass catchers on the day.

“I can go to sleep on the plane feeling alright, you know,” Martinez said. “I don’t want to look over my shoulder and go ‘Man, I didn’t get him the ball at all.’ I’d feel bad about that.”

Birmingham outgained Memphis, 466-220.

On defense, Kyahva Tezino once again led the way in total tackles with seven and had three solo. Nevelle Clark finished with six individual takedowns and the unit recorded three sacks and forced three turnovers which were ultimately converted into 14 points.

“Proud of the defense,” Holtz said. “We did a really good job of keeping them out of the end zone for the most part, except there at the end. I believe this was the first game we’ve given up over 20 points.”

Memphis QBs Cookus and Troy Williams each threw TD passes, but combined for just 161 yards.

The Showboats’ ground game was limited to 59 yards.

“We’re now six games into it and 6-0 is quite an accomplishment,” Holtz said. “We’ve still got a pretty strong test ahead of us with the four teams that we have remaining. I believe three of them have a winning record. So, we’ve just got to keep banging that rock and as we’ve said, we don’t want to be result oriented.

“We want to make sure that we are going to be as good as we can be and we’ve got to keep getting better.”

Scoring plays: Memphis, Sage Surratt, 10-yard reception from Case Cookus, 1:28 first quarter, 1-point conversion failed, Showboats 6, Stallions 0; Birmingham, Ricky Person Jr., 5-yard run, 11:55 second quarter, 2-point conversion, Adrian Martinez pass to Jordan Thomas, Stallions 8, Showboats 6; Birmingham, C.J. Marable, 4-yard run, 3:58 second quarter, 2-point conversion, Martinez pass to Thomas, Stallions 16, Showboats 6; Memphis, Matt Coghlin, 47-yard field goal, 1:45 second quarter, Stallions 16, Showboats 9; Birmingham, Marlon Williams, 28-yard pass from Martinez, :23 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 22, Showboats 9; Birmingham, Ramiz Ahmed, 45-yard field goal, 6:16 third quarter, Stallions 25, Showboats 9; Birmingham, Kevin Austin Jr., 79-yard pass from Martinez, 2:45 third quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 31, Showboats 9; Memphis, Coghlin, 45-yard field goal, 13:06 fourth quarter, Stallions 31, Showboats 12; Birmingham, Williams, 12-yard pass from Martinez, 5:21 fourth quarter, 2-point conversion, Martinez pass to Thomas, Stallions 39, Showboats 12. Memphis, Dee Anderson, 34-yard reception from Troy Williams, 2:29 fourth quarter, 3-point conversion, Williams pass to Anderson, Stallions 39, Showboats 21.

Standout stat: 13 – the number of consecutive games the Stallions have won dating back to 2023. With each victory, they break their own record.

Next up: The Stallions host the St. Louis Battlehawks next Saturday in a marquee matchup.

The game is set for 3 p.m. and will be televised by FOX.

Scary moment: Stallions DB Lorenzo Burns was injured with 6:08 left in the third quarter. He was strapped to a backboard and taken away via ambulance. While no report on his condition has been released, he did gesture to fans before he was loaded into the vehicle.

Tuning in: Although in-game attendance (with the notable exception of St. Louis) leaves much to be desired, couch potatoes seem to be enjoying the UFL.

Numbers released by the league earlier in the week show that the 18 UFL telecasts through Week 5 averaged 845,000 viewers. That’s 25 percent better than 2023’s average for all regular season USFL and XFL games through week 5, and a 38 percent increase over last year’s USFL and XFL regular season average across all linear networks.

Viewership in the coveted 18-49 demographic is up 33 percent from the USFL’s second season and the XFL’s first.

Network broadcasts are averaging 958,000 viewers, games on cable average 680,000.

OTD in 1991: The Birmingham Fire of the World League of American Football lost to the Barcelona Dragons, 11-6, in a game played before 31,490 fans at Montijuic Stadium in Barcelona.

The Fire – victimized by five turnovers and a safety – fell to 3-4 with the loss.

Barcelona scored on the game’s first scrimmage play when linebacker Eric Lindstrom tackled Birmingham running back Elroy Harris in the end zone for a safety.