How the Birmingham Stallions became a USFL power: 'We wanted to build a dynasty'

Fox Sports ^ | RJ Young

[Mean Daddy]

Following the Birmingham Stallions' dominant 47-22 win against the New Orleans Breakers in the South Division Championship Game on Sunday, Stallions coach Skip Holtz fielded a question from a media member that he’s grown used to answering.

"Despite all the roster turnover that you've seen this season, with injuries and absences keeping key people out of the lineup, how do you, as a coach and your staff, just keep the ball rolling, no matter who’s in the lineup?" Holtz was asked.

It was a perfectly reasonable question. The Stallions have won despite enduring a host of injuries. The best example of that is quarterback Alex McGough, who was not the Week 1 starter but turned out to be the league’s presumptive MVP after an injury forced quarterback J’Mar Smith to miss the season.

"There's a couple pieces to that puzzle that make that work," Holtz responded. "It starts with Zach Potter, who is our personnel guy. He goes and finds them and coordinates the steps involved in evaluating them and bringing them in here."

Put another way: Zach Potter is the best-kept secret in pro football.

[Mean Daddy]

Before people criticize a sports story, read the online article. Tonight at dinner, my daughter was telling us about a young man that she went to school with from grade school thru high school and at 22, he's the GM of a USFL team. He was basically homeless at age of 16 and with little or no home support. Thru his efforts and hard work, he's making a difference.

I thought it was an inspirational story & wanted to share as there is still hope as there are kids out there willing to put in the effort. I hope he makes it to the NFL.

[willk]

Another story is their QB, Alex McGough. He has cost me $60 in bets but the guy is a fighter who is better than most of the NFL QBs.

[willk]

So is Skip any relation to Lou? Everytime I see an interview of Lou I think that is the nicest human being ever.

[political1]

I’ve watched both the XFL and the USFL, and the USFL is better quality football. It is fun to watch. There is a niche for spring football, but two leagues won’t survive.

[the OlLine Rebel]

XFL at least looks like it fills the stadium.

Meanwhile, despite now having 4 stadia, still only Birmingham fills half of it. The others there is nobody there.

BTW, I’m sure having been the home team all the time helped BIRM. Funny how that works.

[Mozzafiato]

Skip is his son

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Cool story - I remember the original USFL from my teen years, and the Birmingham Stallions were also one of the teams back then. So were the Oakland Invaders, but Oakland doesn’t even rate a USFL team anymore. Still - fun to see a spring football league operating again.

[Theophilus]

Football is in the water down here in Alabama!