Birmingham Stallions Win USFL Title

Believe it or not the United States Football League finished its season as the Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars 33-30 to take the championship in Canton, Ohio.  This is the first spring league to actually finish their season since the first version of the XFL did it in 2001.  

Birmingham linebacker Scooby Wright sealed the win when he returned an interception 40 yards in the final three minutes to give the Stallions a 10-point lead.  The Stars came back to score when KJ Costello hit Chris Rowland to cut the lead to 33-30 with 1:33 left.  Instead of the conventional onside kick, the Stars elected to attempt a 4th-and-12 play from their own 33 but a pass attempt was broken up.  The Stars got a final chance when they forced the Stallions to punt but another interception allowed Birmingham to run out the clock to win the game.

Birmingham receiver Victor Bolden was named the game’s Most Valuable Player with 64 yards and a touchdown in the game along with some big kickoff returns to put the Stallions in good starting field position.

The Stallions took a 20-9 lead at halftime, but Philadelphia rallied for 14 points to take a 23-20 lead.  In the fourth quarter, both starting quarterbacks left the game with injuries.  

Birmingham finishes the season at 11-1.  Philadelphia completes the season at 7-5.

The Birmingham Stallions in the first version of the USFL never made it to the championship game.  

Dude’s Commentary

I have to admit that this game was more entertaining than I expected it to be.  Honestly, it was the only game I watched from beginning to end.  I have caught a quarter here and there throughout the USFL’s 10-game schedule.  I’m actually surprised that the league actually finished the season where the two previous attempts by other leagues failed.  It also looks pretty certain that the league will return next spring.  The latest word is that the league will return with the same eight teams and playing in one or two “hub” cities.  The league played all of their regular season games in Birmingham this season.  

If the league is intent on playing in hub cities and not playing in the host cities for the eight teams, I think they should drop the city names and just go with the team names.  Also, I think a better hub city or cities would be better - maybe one with a domed stadium.  I'm not sure that Birmingham is the ideal place.   

The other factor for next spring is that the XFL also plans to return for a third time and will begin their season a week after the Super Bowl which will give them a head start on the USFL’s second season.

It is encouraging that the USFL might make it as long as they remain patient and stick with their plan.