Tag: Birmingham Stallions

Former Texas A&M All-American TE Jace Sternberger is finding his way in the USFL

Jace Sternberger reflects on his time at Texas A&M and his current resurgence in the USFL

Professional sports are for the elite of the elite, but it’s not always about the physical challenges; there are mental and opportunity hurdles that must be overcome as well. We hear a lot about athletes no longer being in love with the game, simply questioning if the grind is worth it in the long run, or just needing an honest shot at getting on the field to play. For Jace Sternberger, it came down to opportunity, and after a brief stint in the NFL, he is now making a name for himself in the USFL with the hopes of getting another crack at the National Football League.

He currently leads the league in receiving touchdowns (7), second in receiving average (15.7), and fourth in receiving yards (517). Sternberger has also proven throughout the season that he is the best tight end in the league, being named to the All-USFL Team offense. As a side note, former Aggie Avery Gennesy is also seeing a resurgence as he made the team.

In a recent interview with David Nuno at TexAgs, Sternberger gave fans an update on his journey where he is now and his hopes for the future. Below are a few of the highlights of that interview:

It has been a refreshing year. The USFL kind of reminds me of being in JUCO right before I went to A&M, especially with the way the season is going. I hadn’t played football for 18 or 19 months. I didn’t realize what I had until it was gone. This is a great training opportunity to get back into the NFL.

I remember all the things people said during the 18 months I wasn’t playing. I always appreciate the love and support, but some of the people reaching out now weren’t there in those months. Those months were rough times for me. It has never been a talent issue for me. It is all about the scheme and fit

For a deeper insight, visit TexAgs to listen to the entire interview. Also below are highlights from Jace’s record-setting year in the USFL.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

Todd Haley ticked at Skip Holtz after Showboats are crushed by Stallions in USFL

Todd Haley was not happy with Skip Holtz after his Showboats were crushed in USFL play

The Birmingham Stallions clobbered the Memphis Showboats, 42-2, Saturday in Week 2 of USFL play.

The Stallions’ final touchdown came in the last two minutes with the team leading by 33.

Michigan coach Todd Haley took exception and made sure to deliver a message to Birmingham coach Skip Holtz after the drubbing.

Holtz took the high road.

For those of you awaiting the rematch, it takes place in Week 10 of the USFL season on June 17 in Memphis.

10 former Eagles are signed to USFL teams

We’re looking at ten former Philadelphia Eagles who are making their debut during the 2023 USFL season

The revived USFL kicked off its second season on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium as the Philadelphia Stars visited the Memphis Showboats.

Some familiar names exist, like former Alabama star running back Bo Scarbrough,embattled linebacker Reuben Foster, and many others.

The league will feature four new head coaches, one new team, and an expansion to playing games in four “hub” cities for its eight teams.

With kickoff underway, we’re looking at ten former Eagles who are set to make their USFLL debuts.

Former Tiger signs with new pro team

A former Clemson standout has signed with a new professional team. The Birmingham Stallions, who won the inaugural USFL Championship this year, announced this week that they have signed former Tiger cornerback Mark Fields. Fields was waived by the …

A former Clemson standout has signed with a new professional team.

The Birmingham Stallions, who won the inaugural USFL Championship this year, announced this week that they have signed former Tiger cornerback Mark Fields.

Fields was waived by the San Francisco 49ers in August 2021 after the 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Houston Texans in March 2021.

Fields originally entered the NFL after signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 6, 2019. After spending training camp with the Chiefs, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 31, 2019. He appeared in Minnesota’s first game of the season prior to being waived on Sept. 14, 2019. Fields was later signed to the Vikings practice squad on Sept. 16, where he spent the rest of the season.

In 2020, Fields spent time on the Vikings practice squad and saw action in two games for the team prior to being waived on Dec.16, 2020. He was claimed off waivers by the Texans the following day and saw action in two games for Houston. He was waived by the Texans on March 2, 2021.

A native of Cornelius, N.C., Fields played at Clemson from 2015-18, when he recorded 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, quarterback pressure, an interception returned 42 yards and 13 pass breakups in 963 snaps over 48 games (six starts) in his career.

Come out to support Clemson softball at Dear Old Clemson’s second event which is set for August 27 at the Madren Conference Center.  Clemson returns one of the top teams in the nation and adds some new talent to the mix.   If you sign up for certain club levels you get free access to all Dear Old Clemson events or purchase your tickets today at Dear Old Clemson.

Birmingham Stallions surge past Philadelphia Stars for USFL championship

The Birmingham Stallions got two touchdowns in 16 seconds in the fourth quarter and won the USFL championship

The Philadelphia Stars had Birmingham on the ropes in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s USFL Championship Game at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Stallions coach Skip Holtz was unfazed, telling backup quarterback Alex McGough they were going to win.

And they did, 33-30, capturing the title in the first USFL championship game in this incarnation of the league with two touchdowns in 16 seconds.

McGough had thrown an interception after replacing an injured J’Mar Smith and got into a heated discussion with his coach before getting the wisdom.

McGough regained his composure and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Victor Bolden that gave Birmingham a 26-23 lead.

After the kickoff, the Stars’ K.J. Costello, replacing Case Cookus who had been carted off after being injured at the end of Philadelphia’s previous drive, threw a pass that was turned into a pick-six by Scooby Wright, who returned it 46 yards. It would wind up as the game-winning score.

Cookus suffered a broken fibula on the hit that knocked him from the game.

Costello was able to rally after the pick-six, throwing a 12-yard TD pass to Chris Rowland with 1:43 left.

That marked 20 points in a span of 3:09 of the final quarter. Overall there were 28 points scored in the game’s final quarter.

The Stars opted for the make it/take it onside option and had a fourth-and-12 to try and keep the football after the TD.

The pass was incomplete and Birmingham had the ball and a chance to burn the rest of the clock but was unable to get a first down. The Stallions punted to Philadelphia and the ball went into the end zone for a touchback.

On the second play, Costello could not find an open receiver and threw an interception to Christian McFarland and 16 seconds later the Stallions were USFL champions.

Wright spoke about what it meant to be on a championship team after being part of two failed spring leagues.

WATCH: Mic’d up Bo Scarbrough scores go-ahead touchdown in USFL Championship

Bo Scarbrough puts Stallions ahead in USFL Championship

Former Crimson Tide stand-out running back, [autotag]Bo Scarbrough[/autotag], has made his impact in the USFL felt since he joined the Birmingham Stallions mid-season in the league’s inaugural year.

Today, Scarbrough continues to do his thing as he scores a go-ahead touchdown in the first quarter of the USFL Championship. The score gives the Stallions a 10-3 lead over the Philadelphia Generals. You can hear Scarbrough overcome with excitement as he carries the ball nearly 40-yards to the house.

Scarbrough continues to make the state of Alabama proud and looks to bring home another championship.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

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Former Clemson wide receiver is headed to the USFL championship game

A former Clemson pass-catcher that was a part of the 2016 and 2018 national championship teams will now play in the USFL championship game.

One of Clemson’s former wide receivers is headed to the United States Football League (USFL) championship game.

Playing in the semifinals on Saturday, Diondre Overton and the Philadelphia Stars defeated the New Jersey Generals, 19-14, to advance to the final against the Birmingham Stallions, which will be played on July 3. The Stars and the Stallions played once in the regular season when the Stallions defeated the Stars by 13 points.

In the win over the Generals, Overton finished with two receptions for a team-high 65 yards, 50 of which came on this bomb which set up a field goal attempt that was missed.

Overton spent four seasons at Clemson from 2016 to 2019, winning two national championships. In his last season, he was fifth in receiving yards for the Tigers with 352 on 22 receptions while playing in 11 games. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports Composite.

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Big plays propel Birmingham Stallions to USFL Championship Game

Birmingham topples New Orleans to gain the USFL Championship Game.

A couple of huge plays and a time-consuming drive powered the Birmingham Stallions to victory in a USFL semifinal on Saturday at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Oh.

The Stallions were the best team in the South Division during the regular season and they reinforced that by downing the New Orleans Breakers, 31-17.

Birmingham struggled early but got a pick-six and a kickoff return to take control of the second semifinal.

Birmingham, which is coached by Skip Holtz, will meet the Philadelphia Stars on July 3 in Canton for the USFL championship. Earlier, the Stars eliminated the New Jersey Generals, 19-14.

The big plays for Birmingham were courtesy of the pick by DeMarquis Gates, who returned it 71 yards, and the kickoff return by Victor Bolden, who took it back 90.

The pick-six:

Gates, by the way, plays with a floss pick in his mouth.

The kick-six, if you will:

The game-sealing drive devoured 87 yards and 15 plays before J’Mar Smith scored on a 2-yard run with 45 seconds left.

One player on New Orleans worth noting was tight end Sal Cannella, who had a dozen receptions for 154 yards. Do not be surprised if he turns up in an NFL camp later this summer.

 

WATCH: Bo Scarbrough’s first TD as Birmingham Stallion

Bo Scarbrough scores first touchdown in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions!

Former Alabama running-back [autotag]Bo Scarbrough[/autotag] signed with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions on May 9th. In less than two weeks he is already making his presence felt.

Scarbrough recorded his first score in the USFL tonight with a fourth quarter scamper to improve the Stallions to 6-0 on the season. The 6’1, 236 pound mammoth is going to be a problem for the rest of the league.

With a great spring season, Scarbrough could potentially be looking at a leap back into the NFL. However, for now he will remain a fan favorite in his home state of Alabama.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Jeff Fisher’s ripped-jeans, skater-shoes look before USFL game screamed ‘how do you do, fellow kids?’

He was a Sk8(-9)er boy.

While I would hardly call Jeff Fisher a football icon, he is something of an anomaly in the football space continuum.

Fisher has never coached a championship team. In a 20-plus-year NFL career, he’s  .500 in the playoffs as a coach. Yet, we love the guy. Everything he seems to do is funny — perhaps unintentionally funny — but funny nonetheless.

Think about it. How many coaches could lean into a meme that essentially makes fun of how mediocre your teams are? Fisher almost seemed to take pride in “7-9” year after year. That takes some thick skin, blissful ignorance, or a combination of the two.

On Saturday afternoon, with Fisher’s USFL Michigan Panthers set to face off against the Birmingham Stallions (-6.5), pro football’s favorite everyman made himself a walking (no pun intended) meme again.

This time, it was Fisher’s fit that made him seem like he came straight out of a 30 Rock skit with Steve Buscemi:

Look at those ripped light blue jeans. Those skater shoes (Vans? Converse?). The sweater that says ‘I’m chilled out’ and ‘I also think it’s 2005 when it comes to fashion.’

Even if Fisher doesn’t understand the humor behind this, it doesn’t appear he cares much. I can’t fault someone for unabashedly being themselves, especially when it’s not really harming others. Huh, now I like him more! How simply uncanny.

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