Try the powerful MSM search:
Selected MSM searches:
Muscle Bodybuilding Product Football Radio MMA Supplements Sports
New USFL – Spring Football Returns in 2010
Published: January 10, 2009
Rival League from the ’80s on the Table Again; All it Takes is $1 and a Dream
Are you ready for some (more) football? I’m sure the answer is ‘yes,’ especially with the “one-year hiatus” of the Arena Football League. Back from the dead comes the reincarnation of perhaps the best rival to the NFL since the AFL merger, and this time we won’t even have to deal with that annoying Donald Trump trying to be a sports guy.
Scheduled for 2010, the New USFL (www.newusfl.com) will be on the landscape. Break out the mullets and Duran Duran albums! Gridiron from the tackiest of decades will be making a triumphant return after a quarter century. And I must admit that I’m a little pumped up for it.
Games will be played in the spring and I suppose that they can use that $1 court settlement to get things off the ground when Trump and the boys sued the NFL back in 1985 to play in the fall. States awarded teams so far are: [Western Division] – California (2); Nevada; Portland; Texas; Louisiana. [Eastern Division] – Florida; Arkansas; New York; Michigan; Ohio; Alabama.
According to the league website, there will be a 16-game regular season, no touchbacks on kick-offs (ball spotted at the 15 if it goes out of the end zone), 4 points for a field goal over 50 yards, 3-point PAT from 10 yards out, one foot inbounds for a catch, no kneel downs, 4-point safeties and the ssame OT rules as in college.
Also, fans can buy stock in any of the teams. That sounds like something the United Football League has been trying, but still hasn’t gotten off the ground.
Can this work? Absolutely, as long as the league knows where it stands. The NFL will never be touched by any league in any sport in this country. So keeping that in mind, they can play a full schedule during the offseason and maintain some type of fan base.
What will be key is where the teams will play. Full-sized arenas are very important and with the shaky economy, paying rent at a 70,000-seat venue hoping to get good attendance may be too much to ask for. If teams play at small or D2 college stadiums, that will take a lot of the energy and ‘mystique’ away that this is a serious professional league. The XFL and the original USFL played in large venues, but much of the time the dreaded ‘black drape’ was part of the upper deck.
The league has set up an Advisory Committee that includes some former NFL and USFL players, Jack Youngblood (former LA Ram) being the most recognizable.
Capital was never an issue with the original league until the end and many an NFL star began his career playing in the USFL. Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie and Reggie White just to name a few. That probably will not be the case this time around.
The guys taking the field will be back-ups who have been released from an NFL team, hanger-ons, AFL and CFL players. Without NFL Europe and the likelihood that the AFL is gone for good, there will be a talent pool. The USFL can make a slight dent, as long as they stay away from the “He Hate Me” gimmicks.
Tagged with: Arena Football, Arena Football League, Buy Steroids Online, California 2, Court Settlement, Donald Trump, End Zone, Fan Base, Football Returns, Gridiron, Ot Rules, Portland Texas, Quarter Century, Rival League, Safeties, Spring Football, Texas Louisiana, Triumphant Return, United Football League, Usfl, York Michigan
Sponsored Links
13 Comments on "New USFL – Spring Football Returns in 2010"
Rob on Sat, 10th Jan 2009 3:22 pm
This can work if they can get a TV contract that covers salaries and medical. They need to have some “names” at QB, and in a few other places to draw in viewers. Imagine projected NFL 3rd Round pick Tim Tebow getting a chance in the USFL with the Orlando Renegades (yes they’re back) to play QB, since most are down on his chances in the NFL as a passer. Give him and some other known players two years in the league and they can get the experience to jump to the NFL and avoid the NFL’s ROOKIE SALARY CAP that is coming.
The USFL has to get named players or it will not survive, people won’t watch it enough if the games are unknowns–you might as well put Division II football on in the spring since no one will know who is who–or care.
The USFL could sign their star players for more than what the NFL pays mid-round picks (if they have a TV contract), plus the NFL can get a better look at these mid-round players in the USFL and offer them contracts if they show they can make it. The USFL has said they won’t hold players back from jumping to the NFL. I think it works for both leagues.
The USFL averaged around 24,000 per game, with Chicago, Boston, Washington DC and LA really skewing that number with their pathetic fan showing. The WLAF averaged 24,000 it’s first two years before taking a break to tinker with its setup. People will go–just play where football is king and avoid the baseball cities.
I’d rather watch the USFL than the NBA any time.
wes on Sat, 25th Jul 2009 11:52 pm
why is there no Denver Gold. They are the ONLY USFL team to ever make a profit. They also had the most fans sho up to the games.
tim pogar on Thu, 10th Sep 2009 6:19 am
how do we get to part of this as a team call tim pogar 240-299-7760
tim pogar on Thu, 10th Sep 2009 6:20 am
how do we get to be a team
we are a semi-pro team in ecfa now please let me know call tim pogar 240-299-7760
John Sandora on Thu, 22nd Oct 2009 9:43 pm
This time around the league is not going to be attracting the top talent because the salaries will be too low.
What the league is doing right is bringing back some of the old team names.
But, some of the proposed rule changes have me puzzled. I absolutely deplore the idea of 4 point field goals, safeties and 3 point conversions from the 10 yard line. These rules and antics remind me too much of the failed XFL-WWF’s Tom Foolery.
This is football, not failed arena league or XFL.
What makes sense for rule changes is:
1) 1 foot in bounds on pass completions.
2) Each team gets the ball at least once in overtime.
3) have 2 point conversions for the 1 yard line.
My message to the new USFL: Don’t cheapen the game!
anthony m. dominic on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 11:17 pm
u got to have most of the same teams from the old usfl or nobody will care. u have to bring back the jersey generals…tampa bandits..philly stars.. birmingham stallions …jacksonville bulls..memhis showboats…bosten breakers..and the denver gold..maybe a team from vegas and baltimore and michigan panthers..keep the old uniforms intact so fans have something to relate to.u have to have northeast rivalries i.e. philly…new jersey vs new york vs philly would be awesome…good luck im rooting for a competitive,fan friendly league.
Blake on Sun, 27th Dec 2009 12:58 am
Will Louisiana be getting a team? What do you think will be the salaries?? over 30k atleast?
Joe Pietaro on Sun, 27th Dec 2009 5:34 pm
The league was anticipating to kick off in 2010, but had to push it back a year. They are also in the process of redesigning their website so a lot of info should be forthcoming. I’m not exactly sure about Louisiana and the salary structure so my suggestion would be to keep checking here and http://www.newusfl.com. We are going to be doing a lot of work with the new league and will be posting any news as it comes in.
Rich Kirchner on Sat, 22nd May 2010 4:56 am
Nice try. Get a real reporting job. Stop inventing news.
Joe Pietaro on Sun, 23rd May 2010 1:17 pm
Hey Rich – While we appreciate all comments (positive and negative), please have the balls to at least state some proof with something such as this. Not only have I personally spoken to Michael Dwyer, Founder & Chairman of the new USFL, but we have been far from the only sports media outlet that has reported this.
What I suppose pisses me off the most are people such as yourself who feel that they know more than others who are paid professionals.
When my dentist tells me I have a cavity, I don’t question that and tell him to get “a real dental job.” If you think that we invented this, then please feel free to visit the new USFL’s official website, www. newusfl.com.
And keep the compliments coming, pal.
Randy H on Fri, 6th Aug 2010 2:05 am
Come hell or high water the New USFL will hit the field in the very near future. With the present situation in the country investors are slow to open the pocket books, with the reality any return on their investment may take three to five years, the risk is high and the reward is small.
I for one see it, believe in it and plan on doing it. See you at a game!
Randy H on Fri, 6th Aug 2010 2:07 am
Great job Joe, keep it up!
Tony M on Wed, 8th Sep 2010 12:28 pm
Hi guys, will the Chicago Blitz be returning to the field? They were my favorite team starting out. Greg Landry was awesome, and I loved George Allen’s caoching back in that time….please bring the Blitz back…can anyone tell me?