New players, new coaches, new hubs, NEW TEAM(!!!), in this new rebooted USFL season. The last outdoor league to make it to a 2nd season was the FXFL from 2014-2016 (I don't count The Spring League or XFL). So, it's nice to see a alternative league be successful even if their immediate future wasn't in doubt due to being owned by a media corporation. The biggest change I'd say is the addition of Memphis (Showboats/Gamblers), Canton (Maulers/Generals) and Detroit (Panthers/Stars) to go with Birmingham (Stallions/Breakers) as the home stadiums for these teams. At least no one is playing in a small baseball stadium here.
THE GAMES
Philadelphia Stars 24
Memphis Showboats 10
Coach Bart Andrus and his QB Case Cookus both return to the Stars to pick up where they left off as North champs. Case broke his ankle in the championship game then went on to join the NFL All No Photo Team. Now he's back in the USFL as one of my favorites to win it all. And I see former Mauler QB Vad Lee is here. Now he can experience what it's like to have a good coach.
The Showboats replaces the Tampa Bay Bandits this season (That's another spring league to turn its back on Tampa). You would think since they're in a new city, they would get a new coach but nope, Todd Haley is still here. I guess they feel Jordan Ta'amu was the reason why this team underperformed last year. Since Jordan got his mojo back in the XFL with the D.C. Defenders, former Memphis Tiger Brady White will start. I don't even remember him but he's starting because he's familiar with the offense. Yeah, give me the USFL runner up in this game.
New Jersey Generals 27
Birmingham Stallions 28
The Generals had the best record last season but lost to the Stars in the semifinals. Mike Riley returns but he will be without league MVP turned Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys KaVontae Turpin. Good thing fan favorite RB duo Darius Victor and Trey Williams returned to the team. Since Luis Perez went back to the XFL this time as the Arlington Renegades QB, last season's backup De'Andre Johnson starts over another former Mauler QB Kyle Lauletta. This rematch of last season's opener should be a good game but they will have their work cut out for them.
The USFL champion only has to share their stadium with 1 team instead of 7 this season. Skip Holtz gets back both of his QBs Alex McGough and J'Mar Smith who both played a part in their championship run. They also get former star Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough and fan favorite LB Scooby Wright. There's also a Jalen Morton here as their 3rd stringer. I guess he's the inactive emergency QB that they want to put in the NFL even though they could just have 3 active ones.
Michigan Panthers 15
Houston Gamblers 20
Mr. 7-9 is gone. Jeff Fisher stepped down in February so Mike Nolan takes the reign as Panthers coach. I can't name a single person on this roster so we're off to a bad start. At least the league's 2nd leading tackler Frank Ginda is back so that should help the defense. I don't even remember Josh Love being their QB last season due to Shea Patterson and Paxton Lynch suckiness. Whatever record they finish with, it couldn't be any worse than last year's performance.
Last season, the Gamblers had a great defense but their offense was dogshit. Curtis Johnson hopes to get lucky as he replaces Kevin Sumlin who left to be a offensive assistant with Maryland. Like with the NFL, he wants a duel threat QB so he brought back Kenji Bahar to be his starter. With Defensive Player of the Year DE Chris Odom on the Cleveland Browns and the USFL’s leading tackler LB Donald Payne on the Renegades as well, Johnson will have some big holes to fill on defense. Here's hoping he doesn't sacrifice defense for offense.
Pittsburgh Maulers 17
New Orleans Breakers 25
Kirby Wilson was a shitty hardass who blamed others for his fuckups and I'm glad he's gone. The Maulers still exist, but their colors went from purple and orange to black and yellow. How Steelers of them. As long as new coach Ray Horton doesn't start any food or body language drama, he will have no heat with me. Also none of the QBs returned but DL Boogie Roberts did.
Despite getting in the playoffs last season, John DeFilippo replaces Larry Fedora as head coach of the Breakers. I would say I'm surprised star QB Kyle Sloter didn't return to the team, then I remember he's a turnover machine. Also he defected to the XFL to eventually get cut by the Renegades. So they will instead rely on 2 randos and star CFL QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Thanks to all the other things I was doing, I'm starting off the season late. USFL is back baby!
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