What do you get when you cross the XFL with the USFL? Voila! You get the new United Football League!
How new is it? It was formed December 31, 2023. Yup. Almost a month ago.
That means the ink hasn't even dried on their stationery. Maybe that's the reason why the dates and times for their games have yet to be posted.. All we know is sometime in March the UFL will begin playing.
The UFL includes teams from the USFL: Birmingham Stallions, Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and the Michigan Panthers. Teams from the XFL include the Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas and the St. Louis Battlehawks. Together they form the new league.
So who are the former Huskers in the UFL? Hang on. I'm getting there.
Some of the coaches of note in the UFL include Skip Holtz (Lou's son) who is the head coach of Birmingham. Bob Stoops (former Oklahoma head coach) will lead the Arlington Renegades. Joining him as his co-OC is former Iowa QB, Chuck Long. Former Husker player and assistant, Marvin Sanders will be his CB coach.
Former NFL head coach Wade Phillips (Denver, Buffalo and Dallas) will lead San Antonio.
Note: Former Husker head football coach Mike Riley who used to coach the New Jersey Generals of the USFL is not listed on any UFL coaching rosters.
Okay, so here is a list of former Husker players currently on the UFL rosters.
Adrian Martinez (QB) Birmingham
Carlos Davis (DL) Birmingham
Freedom Akinmoladin (DE) St. Louis
Kade Warner (WR) San Antonio
Unfortunately for Husker football fans, that's it. Not too many ex-Huksers to cheer for this spring.
What I do like about the new league is unlike the USFL where almost all the games were played in Birmingham, Alabama, the games in the UFL will be played at their respective home stadiums.
The arenas vary in size from 25,000 in Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas to 67,277 in The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
Seeing Adrian Martinez playing football again should be reason enough for most Husker fans to tune into the games.
How Bout Them Huskers
Grandson Will and I just began our third year hosting our weekly podcasts about the world of Husker sports. We've been fortunate to record over 100 podcasts during that time. We've also been blessed to interview former Husker football players including Heisman winner, Johnny Rodgers, Super Bowl winner Russ Hochstein, current Nebraska football broadcaster Jerimiah Sirles and former Husker WR great Jordan Westerkamp. We also did an interview with Cole Pensick just months before his life was taken in a tragic car accident. We also got a rare opportunity to interview astronaut Clayton Anderson.
We deeply thank all of you who have taken the time to listen to our podcasts each week.
Husker fans: You are THE best!
This week's episode we opine on Michigan's new football coach and about Chubba Purdy's long and winding road to Nevada. We also talk about why Husker volleyball star Ally Batenhorst decided to transfer to Southern California. We also review Husker baseball, men's and women's basketball and the decision to move up the kickoff for the Husker Spring game to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday April 27th.
Don't miss this episode. Tell your friends, tell your enemies! Download our podcasts now!
