with FOX as a minority partner. 8 Team league with the league retaining some of the original USFL team names. Cities still to be announced. USFL 2022 - ( New Window )
and is in talks with the CFL as far as partnering (in some way or another). There have been talks of an XFL vs CFL Championship BUT, I would think rules and field setup would have be inline in order for that to happen. The CFL plays with 3 downs and a 110 yard field- that is wider and with deeper endzones. Lots of rules different as well.
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
After having Flutie at QB, the Generals actually had Jim Kelly on the team, but the league folded before he could play with them and he went to Buffalo.
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
The XFL looked like it had a chance to take off before COVID collapsed them. The football was really watchable and the rules a breath of fresh air.
I’ve been saying this for a while, but I think the best move is to compete with college football for talent. Shouldn’t be to hard as you can actually pay them, bring in NFL coaches like the XFL did, and bill it as future stars of the NFL. Wonder how many 4 and 5 star recruits they could poach if they paid on the up and up.
RE: There just never seems to be a plan for these leagues
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
Crazy thing is I think the USFL had a reL chance to succeed on that time period. The sports market wasn't saturated yet and it was really popular in certain markets that didn't have NFL football yet like Memphis, Birmingham, Baltimore etc...spring time football could have found a niche in those days. They actually were competitive in grabbing marquee guys out of college like Herschel Walker, Flutie, Steve Young Jim Kelly, Reggie White etc...I think it had a real chance. It had a clear reason that it all fell apart, which I won't get into because In don't want to get the thread blown up and me banned. Today I don't think it has a chance because of leaguewide expansion and the saturation of the market.
as the NBA has lost a number of middle of the road viewers and will continue to do so with its current road map and MLB has been on the viewer decline for years.
I agree, if they look to snag young players away from the NCAA and look to basically become a minor league system to the NFL, they have a legit shot.
Had season tickets for one season in 1985. It was fun to watch especially the Houston Gamblers Run and Shoot with Kelly. We used to love the Saturday Night Games. They gave out a Kooltron Electric Cooler after the 3rd Quarter. They would draw seat tickets. Im at a urinal with my buddy getting rid of that vinegar Meadowlands beer. The announce the winner. All of a sudden my buddy just takes off. When I caught up he was claiming the winning ticket.We shared it and I had it for years
the USFL was about the only legitimate alternate football league. It was very entertaining because they got big name players out of college. There were a lot of legit stars in the USFL.
Giants Stadium to see football in nice weather for the Generals games.
Every time that they NFL adds bye weeks/more games they move them to January and February. I'd much rather have the season start earlier. But TV runs the league and decided that there will be no football on Labor Day weekend.
USFL was great. WLAF was minor league. XFL was junk.
Had season tickets for one season in 1985. It was fun to watch especially the Houston Gamblers Run and Shoot with Kelly. We used to love the Saturday Night Games. They gave out a Kooltron Electric Cooler after the 3rd Quarter. They would draw seat tickets. Im at a urinal with my buddy getting rid of that vinegar Meadowlands beer. The announce the winner. All of a sudden my buddy just takes off. When I caught up he was claiming the winning ticket.We shared it and I had it for years
In comment 15279403 NINEster said:
Quote:
old USFL in the '80s?
Curious about the quality of play.
I remember watching the WLAF back in '91, and getting into it a little to make up for no football.
Rooted against them after the team changed hands. They signed a bunch of names in 1984 as the new owner nurtured his fantasy of challenging the NFL, but they got crushed by Philadelphia in the playoffs anyway. That was fun. The Stars were a good team. So were the Panthers.
At the time, the NFL was in the midst of a difficult decade, marked by two strikes. The USFL had an opportunity to carve out a niche with fans. The League’s direction was unfortunately steered by one of the least competent businessmen in America.
Vince McMahon folded it and then The Rock bought it.
What a bizarre sentence. Anyways, no clue on the status.
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
There was also that whole mess with Trump signing LT to a contract to play for the Generals as he was fighting with the Giants in 1984 and he would move to the USFL in 1988. Obviously it never happened, but feel free to read the whole story. LT eventually bought out of his contract after he came to agreement with the Giants. The USFL was amazing.
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/01/sports/taylor-has-signed-pact-with-generals.html#:~:text=A%20source%20in%20the%20New,United%20States%20Football%20League%20team. - ( New Window )
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
The XFL looked like it had a chance to take off before COVID collapsed them. The football was really watchable and the rules a breath of fresh air.
I’ve been saying this for a while, but I think the best move is to compete with college football for talent. Shouldn’t be to hard as you can actually pay them, bring in NFL coaches like the XFL did, and bill it as future stars of the NFL. Wonder how many 4 and 5 star recruits they could poach if they paid on the up and up.
I think a second league would have to be played in parallel with the NFL season and act as a minor league. Another entry point could be as a competitor to the NCAA.
Crazy thing is I think the USFL had a reL chance to succeed on that time period. The sports market wasn't saturated yet and it was really popular in certain markets that didn't have NFL football yet like Memphis, Birmingham, Baltimore etc...spring time football could have found a niche in those days. They actually were competitive in grabbing marquee guys out of college like Herschel Walker, Flutie, Steve Young Jim Kelly, Reggie White etc...I think it had a real chance. It had a clear reason that it all fell apart, which I won't get into because In don't want to get the thread blown up and me banned. Today I don't think it has a chance because of leaguewide expansion and the saturation of the market.
Curious about the quality of play.
I remember watching the WLAF back in '91, and getting into it a little to make up for no football.
I agree, if they look to snag young players away from the NCAA and look to basically become a minor league system to the NFL, they have a legit shot.
In comment 15279403 NINEster said:
Curious about the quality of play.
I remember watching the WLAF back in '91, and getting into it a little to make up for no football.
Every time that they NFL adds bye weeks/more games they move them to January and February. I'd much rather have the season start earlier. But TV runs the league and decided that there will be no football on Labor Day weekend.
USFL was great. WLAF was minor league. XFL was junk.
In comment 15279403 NINEster said:
Quote:
old USFL in the '80s?
Curious about the quality of play.
I remember watching the WLAF back in '91, and getting into it a little to make up for no football.
Haha, nice....thanks!
At the time, the NFL was in the midst of a difficult decade, marked by two strikes. The USFL had an opportunity to carve out a niche with fans. The League’s direction was unfortunately steered by one of the least competent businessmen in America.