The USFL is back? Why?

[Aragorn]

They said they "distributed" 40,000 tickets for the game and had 17,500 in attendance. I don't buy either of those numbers, and honestly, there's a big part of me that doubts the 3 million viewers on Saturday night.

Nobody in the stands for today's game either. It's a really bad look for TV. If only the Birmingham team gets a crowd while the other three games get 30 fans, that's not sustainable. Sure they're saving a ton of money with no travel, but can you be a fan of your "home team" if they play six states away from you?

There's a pro lacrosse league that plays all their games in one location at a time, but they're a traveling league and move from week to week, and they don't give the teams city names.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

Crowd noise is not a problem tonight. The crickets are a little deafening, though.

Touchdown [checks notes] Bandits!

 

[BillJ]

If only the Birmingham team gets a crowd while the other three games get 30 fans, that's not sustainable.

There can’t be more than 100 people there, I imagine the teams players and staffs outnumber the fans. Who knows if they actually paid for tickets? And how long will merchants want to be part of this with no one to sell their wares to in the stadium.

 

[BillJ]

Crowd noise is not a problem tonight. The crickets are a little deafening, though.

Touchdown [checks notes] Bandits!

I’ve been a fan of the original USFL for a long time, so I know all the logos.

 

[Aragorn]

Birmingham also had an AAF team. I wonder if the fans there are just expecting the USFL to fold too and not even bothering with it.

 

[BillJ]

Birmingham also had an AAF team. I wonder if the fans there are just expecting the USFL to fold too and not even bothering with it.

If they had 17,500 paying fans, then that wouldn’t be a terrible start. I just think they may have papered the house some.

 

[BillJ]

Maulers seem to be running an offense from the early-1970’s.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

And they're sticking with it for reasons that escape me.

 

[BillJ]

And they're sticking with it for reasons that escape me.

I wonder if Kirby Wilson has no faith in his QB’s and receivers?

 

[Jack Wolfe]

That one pass looked fine to me.

 

[BillJ]

4th and 3, down 10 within FG range. Let’s go for it!

 

[Aragorn]

They've been running a one-hour special that shows the forming of the USFL teams. One player got cut for wanting pizza instead of chicken salad. Not sure why that was included in the special, considering how poorly it reflects on the coach and the league.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/20...star-deveon-smith-cut-usfl-team-food-incident

 

[BillJ]

They've been running a one-hour special that shows the forming of the USFL teams. One player got cut for wanting pizza instead of chicken salad. Not sure why that was included in the special, considering how poorly it reflects on the coach and the league.

https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/20...star-deveon-smith-cut-usfl-team-food-incident

They did a follow up that there were three team violations over a 24 hour period. Whatever went on with the pizza was supposedly the final straw.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

Pittsburgh has the self-sabotage strategy working well.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

4th and 11, and Pitt picks up the 1st down. Gutsy move.

And I shouldn't have praised them. 4th down in the red zone, the receiver makes the catch near the line to gain and LOSES yards on the scramble. Tampa gets the ball back.

 

[Jack Wolfe]

The Maulers' D is hanging tough. Impressive.

Tampa's kicker just Blair Walsh'ed a field goal.

 

[BillJ]

4th and 11, and Pitt picks up the 1st down. Gutsy move.

And I shouldn't have praised them. 4th down in the red zone, the receiver makes the catch near the line to gain and LOSES yards on the scramble. Tampa gets the ball back.

Defense for Pittsburgh has played well, offense is putrid.

If they had kicked the two FG’s when they had the chance, this is a one possession game with 2 minutes left.

 

[BillJ]

Panthers vs. Generals, Friday at 8 on USA Network.

 

[BillJ]

In case anyone cares, here is the Week 2 schedule...

Panthers vs. Generals, Friday at 8pm on USA Network.
Maulers vs. Stars, Saturday at Noon on FOX.
Stallions vs. Gamblers, Saturday at 7pm on FS1.
Breakers vs. Bandits, Sunday at 3pm on NBC.

 

[Aragorn]

I just come across something called the American Spring Football League, and they want to play in 2023. Imagine how great the QB play will be if the ASFL, XFL and USFL all exist and play at the same time.