Tag: Pittsburgh Maulers

WATCH: Reuben Foster discusses playing against Birmingham Stallions in USFL championship

Reuben Foster, an Alabama native, will be playing against Birmingham’s USFL team in the league’s championship game. He talks about how he feels.

Reuben Foster is a native of Alabama and is a Crimson Tide legend after serving as the team’s standout linebacker from 2013-2016. Now, he’s playing for a USFL championship as a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers.

The Maulers are looking to take down the defending champions, the Birmingham Stallions, which has Foster feeling a mix of emotions.

Foster found himself in the USFL after a short NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders franchise. He was drafted in 2017 and was out of the league in 2020 following a series of injuries and off-the-field issues.

In a video recently shared to Twitter by Johnny Congdon of ABC 33/40, Foster talks about his close ties to the state of Alabama and what it’s like having to face the team from Birmingham.

“It’s going to feel super weird because I’m a big Alabama guy,” says Foster, who goes on to talk about how he’ll still play hard against them. “It’s kind of weird to play them, but it’s also going to be competitive.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Foster as he continues to progress in his professional career.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

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 AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM. 

Maulers win USFL North in mind-boggling overtime clash

The USFL North Division championship game was … insane.

The USFL packed a season’s worth a highlights into the final minutes of the fourth quarter, and overtime, of Saturday’s North Division title game between the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers.

Last thing first: The Maulers downed the Panthers 31-27 in overtime to earn a spot in the championship game against either New Orleans or Birmingham, who played on Sunday for the South crown.

The Panthers and Maulers did the league proud, as 27 points were scored in the fourth quarter and two two-point conversions connected in overtime.

The final quarter saw:

    • A 59-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt gave Pittsburgh a 20-17 lead.
    • An E.J. Kelly touchdown pass of 55 yards to Trey Quinn appeared to give Michigan the lead. However, a penalty flag was thrown for a facemask. Mike Pereira in the review booth overturned the penalty and said the touchdown would stand.

  • Then, the Maulers drove the field and scored a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal in the final minute to go up 27-24 after the PAT.
  • Not to be outdone, Michigan got a 47-yard field goal by Cole Murphy as time expired to tie the game at 27 and force overtime.

On to the shootout:

  • After the Maulers scored on their first two-point attempt in the best-of-three shootout, the Michigan running back attempted to reach the ball over the goal line. He fumbled it into the end zone and it was recovered by a Panther.

  That brought Mike Pereira and the review center back into the discussion. It was ruled the back had lost possession prior to the ball breaking the plane and like in the final two minutes of a half it could not be advanced, So, the two-point attempt failed.

https://twitter.com/USFL/status/1672811205084192770?s=20

  • The Maulers converted their second two-point conversion and were on their way to the USFL title game when a Kelly pass was batted down on Michigan’s second attempt.

 

Football meets baseball when USFL North championship hits overtime

The term innings, which is associated exclusively with baseball, made its way into a USFL overtime coin toss

If viewers of the USFL North Division coin toss were confused by the rules explanation prior to overtime, imagine how the players felt.

The referee of Saturday’s game between the Pittsburgh Maulers and Michigan Panthers gave the captains a detailed look into the best-of-three shootout overtime rules.

However, when he referred to the segments — each team had a possible three chances at two-point conversions — he called them innings.

This could have been the first time the word inning was tied to football.

The Maulers scored in their first and second “inning.” The Panthers had their first score nullified by a replay review of Mike Pereira.

Their second attempt saw an E.J. Kelly pass batted down.

And, after two innings and four points — runs??? — the Maulers had a 31-27 victory and a spot against either Birmingham or New Orleans in the USFL championship game.

A quick look at the USFL rulebook doesn’t provide the word inning, but it worked.

Overtime will be a best-of-three-play shootout. Each team’s offense will alternate plays against the opposing defense from the two-yard line. Each successful scoring attempt will receive two points. The team with the most points after three plays wins. The subsequent attempts become sudden death if the score is tied after each team runs three plays. The overtime period will extend until a winner is declared.

Effect: Both teams have an equal chance of winning.
Reason: Create more excitement and fairness with a designed shootout overtime period.

Pittsburgh Maulers’ Matt Mengel crushes 83-yard punt in USFL action

Pittsburgh Maulers punter Matt Mengel with an amazing boot

One of the highlights of the USFL season came off the foot of Pittsburgh Maulers’ punter Matt Mengel on Saturday.

Mengel flipped the field against the Michigan Panthers as he walloped this punt 83 yards.

If this is an audition for the NFL, Mengel made a striking impression.

Former Alabama LB Reuben Foster named USFL Defensive Player of the Week

Former Alabama linebacker and current Pittsburgh Mauler Reuben Foster was named the USFL Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 3.

Pittsburgh Maulers linebacker Reuben Foster was named the USFL’s Defensive Player of the Week following an impressive performance in Week 3. Foster recorded 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception in the Maulers win over the Philadelphia Stars.

Foster formerly played linebacker at Alabama from 2013 to 2016. As a senior, he was a member of the First-Team All-SEC and was named as a Unanimous All-American. Foster also won the Butkus Award which is given to the nation’s best linebacker.

He was most commonly known for his tenacious hits against opposing SEC teams. Foster was an impactful player for the Tide as he ended his career with 223 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.

After several different stints in the NFL, Foster opted to try out the USFL. He is currently performing at a high level and looking to prove himself enough to eventually return to the NFL in the future. It will be interesting to see if a team gives Foster an opportunity following the season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama football players competing at the professional level.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[mm-video type=video id=01gzckm1zf2rvn75zmng playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gzckm1zf2rvn75zmng/01gzckm1zf2rvn75zmng-4dbe2581534e8325f7fc34bfddeca2bd.jpg]

MSU football DL Jacob Slade selected in USFL draft

The Pittsburgh Maulers have selected Jacob Slade in the USFL draft:

Michigan State defensive lineman Jacob Slade has been selected in the 2023 USFL draft. The Pittsburgh Maulers have selected Slade with the 65th pick in the 9th round of the draft.

Slade still has aspirations of getting drafted in the NFL draft later this year, which is a very real possibility, but the Maulers have given Slade a professional opportunity by selecting him in the USFL draft.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Reuben Foster signs with USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers

Reuben Foster joins USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers

Former Alabama Crimson Tide LB, Reuben Foster, hasn’t played professional football since suffering a torn ACL and LCL in a workout with the Washington Commanders back in May of 2019.

After over three and a half years away, Foster returns to football. He will be signing with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. This will be the second season of the UFSL and the league is only going to get bigger each year.

Foster has had some issues staying on the field since college, but he is still a former unanimous All-American and Butkus Award winner. If things go well for Foster in the USFL it will be fun to see if he can ever get back to the NFL because he is still only 28 years old.

[mm-video type=video id=01gqjjz6yw96ds2y4kg2 playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01f1jz1vgtfhzk6ner image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gqjjz6yw96ds2y4kg2/01gqjjz6yw96ds2y4kg2-5a0b9192fa864151a57229700d9f77e7.jpg]

[listicle id=62142]

[listicle id=62607]

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!

WATCH: Former Michigan State football TE Matt Seybert scores USFL TD

Matt Seybert found the endzone during the Pittsburgh Maulers season finale on Sunday:

Matt Seybert was back on the gridiron for the first time in a long time. After an injury kept him from participating in the USFL this spring, he was finally cleared and given an opportunity to play for the Pittsburgh Maulers in their last regular season game of the year.

In his debut as a whole, Seybert caught 3 of his 4 targets for 19 yards and his day was capped off with a fourth-quarter touchdown.

You can watch Seybert’s score on the Maulers Twitter:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

 

USFL player gets wisdom tooth knocked out with devastating hit

Isiah Hennie of the Pittsburgh Maulers lost a wisdom tooth on a jarring hit

The Pittsburgh Maulers took another USFL loss on the field in Week 9 of the season.

Wide receiver Isiah Hennie lost more than the game.

Check out the hit Cody Brown puts on the 5-foot-7, 160-pound wideout from Sacramento State.

And when Hennie headed to the sideline he revealed the loss of a tooth, a wisdom one no less.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin RB Garrett Groshek’s stiff arm in the USFL

Watch former Wisconsin RB Garrett Groshek’s stiff arm in his second USFL game:

On Saturday afternoon, former Wisconsin running back Garrett Groshek played in his second game for the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL. Groshek recorded over 77 yards rushing and showcased a strong stiff arm that left his defender on the ground in their 30-23 loss.

Related: Wisconsin is one of two teams to drop out of ESPN’s latest Way-Too-Early Top 25

The Amherst Junction, Wis., native was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2021 but was later cut during training camp. After spending last season on the Vikings’ practice squad, Groshek was drafted in the 27th-round of the USFL Draft by the Maulers this year.

It is impressive to see the former Badgers making the most of his chances at the next level, and hopefully, this opportunity with the USFL can propel Groshek to another shot on an NFL roster.