"Marion Stirs Memories of WFL"

In the June 29th, 1980, Montgomery Advertiser, John Cargile saw cause to feel nostalgic about the WFL's 1.5 seasons. It read like a nice summary of the league's presence in the magic city and therefore share-worthy here.

1975, Oct 19th: Memphis Southmen 00 @ Birmingham Vulcans 21

The article below is from the October 20th, 1975, Birmingham Post-Herald. This was the Vulcans' final game and they went out in style.

2023: New Jersey Generals 10 @ Birmingham Stallions 27

The last Stallions post (current version of the team) involved the 2022 divisional championship game. Since that was added, a page specific to that year's league championship was added to the banner above as well.

Today we're looking back at the 2023 season opener for the Stallions. The text is from Fox Sports College Football writer RJ Young, while the photography was, as is usually the came, copied from social media and therefore uncredited.

The Stallions forced a turnover on the Generals’ first possession of the game after Nate Holley knocked the ball free from Braeden Bowman.

Then, with their first offensive play of the 2023 season, Stallions quarterback J’Mar Smith hit USFL newcomer Austin Watkins for a 61-yard TD throw and catch. It was Watkins' only catch of the game, but it set the tone.

...things didn't get much better for the Generals. Their next four possessions ended in punts, and they converted just four of their first 12 third downs into first downs.

Generals quarterback Dakota Prukop was solid in splitting time with starter De'Andre Johnson, completing 13 of his 17 passes for 148 yards. But in the third quarter and trailing just 17-10, Prukop surrendered a fumble that changed the game. 

After the Stallions recovered, they hit New Jersey with an explosive play, with Stallions quarterback Alex McGough rushing for a 29-yard TD to put Birmingham ahead 24-10.

While the Generals made four trips inside the Stallions' 20, they scored on just one of them.

With 6:49 left to play, the Stallions let kicker Brandon Aubrey put the game out of reach at 27-10 with a 49-yard field goal, his field goal of the evening.

In last season's opener between these teams, McGough was forced to leave the game due to injury after just eight offensive snaps. 

On Saturday, he came off the bench in place of Smith late in the second quarter, putting the Stallions up 17-10 just before the half with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jace Sternberger.

McGough ended up completing 7 of 11 passes for 68 yards and also led the Stallions in rushing yards with 52 on just five carries, scoring twice on the ground. His ability to extend plays and manipulate the middle of the defense with his speed created an advantage for the Stallions and a headache for the Generals' defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.

With Sternberger, along with wideouts Davion Davis and Myron Mitchell, Holtz’s passing attack demonstrated the strength of the team’s depth, depending on three newcomers to carry them offensively while their run game produced just 88 yards on 21 carries.

Sternberger caught all five of his targets for 62 yards and his first USFL TD from his roommate, McGough. Sternberger's contributions demonstrated the kind of talent on display in the USFL, and just how difficult it can be to make a roster in this league.

The Stallions won despite dealing with significant injuries on offense and defense.

Last year’s leading receiver, Marlon Williams, tore his right Achilles tendon, left the game just before halftime, and is likely out for the season. Linebacker Scooby Wright was forced to the sideline early in the first half and for the remainder of the game with a calf strain that hampered him all week in practice. Smith left the game in the second quarter after dislocating a finger on his non-throwing hand.

But the Stallions managed a resounding win while down multiple starters against one of the toughest teams in the North Division from last season.  

2012, Sept 1st: LaGrange College 14 @ BSU 41

It may be just a matter of time until the Birmingham-Southern Panthers website disappears now that the school has closed, so from time to time I'll copy portions of game summaries here so that they are not lost forever.

We'll get started with the opening game of the successful 2012 season. Photo not credited.

The 24th-ranked Birmingham-Southern football team got the 2012 season off to a strong start with a 41-14 victory against LaGrange College, Saturday, at home in Panther Stadium.

BSC now leads the series 3-2 against LaGrange, with today's win the biggest margin of victory in series history.

The BSC Panthers got on the board less than five minutes into the first quarter when LaGrange turned the ball over on their own 20-yard line and it was recovered by BSC senior Robert Nelson, Jr. Sophomore halfback Marquis Pratt snuck across the goal line on fourth-and-goal to put BSC up 6-0 with 10:19 left in the quarter.

Birmingham-Southern found the end zone again at the 8:56 mark of the second quarter on a 79-yard pass from senior quarterback Jimmy Stainback to senior tailback Shawn Morris. The extra point was good by junior Ryan Laughlin, putting the Panthers up 13-0.

The Panthers added one more touchdown before halftime after a LaGrange interception was called back due to pass interference, giving BSC another chance from the LaGrange 10-yard line. Stainback made the 10-yard run, and sophomore Bee Hall's extra point attempt was good to give BSC a 20-0 lead at the half.

At the end of the second half, severe weather moved into the area and the game was delayed due to lightning for an hour and 45 minutes. The game resumed at 4:15 p.m.

LaGrange scored its first touchdown of the game at the 7:54 mark of the third quarter on a 13-yard pass from Ed Russ to Kent Gibson. Will Jeffcoat's extra point was on the mark to cut BSC's lead to 20-7.

BSC responded a little over a minute later, using only three plays to make it back to the LaGrange end zone and scoring on a 19-yard pass from Stainback to sophomore Sam Vermilyea. Laughlin made the extra point to put the BSC Panthers back up 27-7.

On the next drive, senior defensive back Jeffery Steele intercepted a Russ pass to give the ball back to BSC, and Morris made a 23-yard run on the next play to score his second touchdown of the game and put the Panthers up 34-7 after Laughlin's extra point was good.

With 10:37 left in the fourth quarter BSC scored yet again when junior tailback Joseph Moultrie ran 69 yards and Hall's kick was good, increasing the BSC lead to 41-7.

A seven-yard run by LaGrange's Michael Jones, and a good extra point by Jeffcoat, cut it to 41-14 with 2:29 left in the game for the final points of the day.

Stainback led the team with 89 yards rushing on 17 carries, and was 7-of-12 with 165 passing yards and no interceptions. Morris led with 79 receiving yards.

...

LaGrange had 18 first downs to BSC's 14, but BSC racked up 253 yards rushing to LaGrange's 156, and 165 passing yards to LaGrange's 157. In total yards, BSC led 418-313.

Sophomore LaPrintence Gunn led the BSC defense with eight total tackles (six solo, two assisted), followed by sophomore Austin Hansard and senior Andrew Shannon with six apiece. Senior Cory Corcoran had two sacks.

"Often Knocked Down But Never Out, Starling Thomas V Continues To Fight"

The text below is a partial version of this article from Zach Gershman for azcardinals.com from July 31st. 

Aside from the fact that Thomas played his high school ball at Ramsay and his university ball at UAB, the Birmingham native was also a draft pick of the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL's 2023 college draft. Presumably that still holds now that the USFL and XFL have merged into the UFL. 

Regardless, Thomas has some business to take care of in Arizona first. 

...During his freshman season at UAB, on the road against Texas A&M, Thomas played his best game. As he was walking off the field, thrilled with his performance, Thomas was pulled to the side and told that his mother, Stephanie Williams, lost her battle to breast cancer during the game.

"I just broke down crying and I couldn't believe it because I just saw her the day before and told her that I was going to be back," Thomas said. "It took a toll on me. But at least she left me while I was doing something that I love to do and that she loved watching me do."

Williams was diagnosed during Thomas' senior year of high school. Only given six months to live from doctors, Williams ended up surviving for a year-and-a-half. Her determination has been a driving force for Thomas in his NFL career.

The Cardinals plucked the undrafted rookie off the waiver wire last season. Ultimately earning a starting role midway through the season, Thomas had 38 tackles and five pass deflections.

...

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V covers New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave during an NFL preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

If perseverance was a person, it'd be Thomas. In 2019, his second year at UAB, Thomas tore his ACL. Yet he didn't miss the season, not even missing a game. He put a brace on his knee and played in eight consecutive games with the injury.

"I'm a fighter, bro," Thomas said. "When they told me that it was torn, I told them that I worked too hard for it to be taken away that easy. Whatever I got to do, I'm going to go out there and do it."

Thomas had a solid support group in college, a family-like atmosphere helping propel him through the hard times. His whirlwind rookie beginnings, with an offseason with the Lions before being claimed by the Cards, meant the Alabama native had to mesh on the fly.

Cardinals safety Budda Baker, a captain who saw a need, invited Thomas over to his house to celebrate Thanksgiving.

"I know a lot of the rookies don't have their families, so for me, it was just a matter of inviting those guys over if they needed a house to stay at and just be with my family, eat good food, and have good family time on Thanksgiving," Baker said. "I love that guy. He's a very hard worker, controls what he can control, and plays football at a high level."

...

Thomas was a sprinter in high school and his quickness on the field allows him to close out on receivers that are downfield. It'll be a critical aspect of his game as he competes for snaps.

But there's a meaningful reason that gives him a boost, both on and off the field.

"My mom is the one that helps me run fast," Thomas said. "Her wings are on my cleats."

"Fire's McGowan a Small Wonder"

The article below, about Birmingham Fire linebacker Paul McGowan, is from the April 8th, 1992, edition of the Birmingham Post-Herald.

I was very pleased to come across this article. McGowan was a big part of my becoming a fan of the Fire in 1991. His biographical information doesn't tend to mention it, but he played with my hometown Ottawa Rough Riders prior to joining Birmingham.

Having that familiar face on the roster drew me to following the Fire instead of the Montreal Machine, even though that team played just a couple of hours down the road.

It's funny to read about McGowan maintaining that he is six feet tall as other guys tease him about his height, or lack thereof. The gentleman who issued the CFL's Jogo cards either agreed that it was plausible, or was kind enough to play along, because that's the exact height listed on the back of McGowan's. 

Wikipedia, meanwhile, has him at 6'2".

Following the Fire's demise, McGowan continued to play for several years with the Arena League's Orlando Predators.  

Sept 3rd: "Gates Earns SWAC Football Weekly Honor"

A Birmingham native was named his Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week following the Alabama State's season opening game against North Carolina Central.  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State's AJ Gates was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for Sept. 3, 2024.

Gates had two kickoff returns for 89 yards and one touchdown against North Carolina Central at the Orange Blossom Classic. Trailing 21-0, the Birmingham, Ala., native returned kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown to get the Hornets on the scoreboard.

Gates also had four carries for 10 yards and caught one pass on the afternoon.

In 2023, Gates played in five contests, catching 10 passes for 64 yard and a touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 50 yards and returned two kicks for 55 yards with a long of 33. He played his high school ball at Mountain Brook. 

The 1960 BUS Knights

Birmingham University School began operations in 1922 until its merger in 1975 with Brooke Hill School to form what is now Altamont. It ran a football program in the late 1950s and into the early 1960s. 

The images below are from the 1961 yearbook and therefore refer to the 1960 team that played in the previous fall (as the football in front of #23 will confirm). 

They were not particularly successful. The victory referred to in the action was the only win they generated that year, in five contests.