"Goode job: Miles gets first win for new head coach"

Chris Goode's first victory at the head of the Golden Bears program seemed noteworthy, so we've copied the bulk of Miles' own summary of the game below.

Unfortunately, images have been difficult to come by, for some reason. The on Miles' website names TaRon Williams, but I was unable to find a website or social media account to link to.

The game took place on October 11th. Miles has won both games played since after a rough start to bring their record to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the SIAC.

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Brinley Vandiver threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and Miles never trailed en route to its first victory under head coach Chris Goode with a 23-13 win over Lane Saturday at Lane Field. The Golden Bears (1-6, 1-3 SIAC) broke a seven-game losing streak behind a defense that held the Dragons to 246 total yards, forced two turnovers and had four sacks.

Miles has had solid starts to games for most of the season and it was not much different against the Dragons. On the first two drives of the game, the Golden Bears were able to find the end zone to open a 13-0 advantage. Javontae Cooper forced a fumble on Lane's first drive of the game that was recovered by Ashton Whitfield. The offense methodically converted that turnover into points by going 57 yards in 11 plays, converting two third downs and a fourth down on the drive, which culminated in a 15-yard scoring pass from Vandiver to Marquez Mobley. 

Lane would drive the ball to the Miles 3-yard line in the second quarter but facing fourth-and-goal at the 5, the Dragons were stuffed when Jaylon Ruffin got a big tackle for loss on running back John Christian that turned the ball over to the Golden Bears.

The offense, again, responded with a long drive, going 91 yards in 10 plays. Vandiver hit three big pass plays - 18 yards to James Gatewood, 36 yards to Glen Williams, and 27 yards to Mobley - before running back Roderick Thomas capped the drive with a 2-yard scoring run. His fifth touchdown of the season gave Miles a two-touchdown lead with 4:47 left before the half.

The Dragons would get a late touchdown for a 13-6 halftime score but Miles struck big to start the third quarter. Vandiver connected with Williams for a 40-yard touchdown pass to up the lead to 20-6 at the 10:41 mark. It was the fourth consecutive game with a touchdown reception for Williams, all of them for at least 40 yards, and he finished with three catches for 96 yards, which broke his string of 100-yard receiving efforts at three games.

Lane continued to battle, getting a receiving touchdown by Christian early in the four quarter. But Miles Tory connected on a 30-yard field goal with just more than eight minutes remaining to make it a two-possession game.

The defense finished the job on the final two possessions, getting a combined sack by Khalil Golden and Christian Lee to force a turnover on downs, then a game-sealing interception by Curtis Bryant with less than a minute remaining to close out the Dragons.

Mobley had eight catches for a career-high 102 yards, Robert Williams had eight tackles (five solo) and 1.5 sacks, and Carson Pritchett added seven tackles (all solo) for Miles.

2012, Sept 29th: No. 13 Birmingham-Southern rolls past Austin College, 49-21

Today, we continue on with recording the results of Birmingham-Southern's highly successful 2012 season. The victory below brought the team to a 5-0 record and set numerous team records. It was BSC's fourth-straight win against Austin College, who were 1-3 coming in.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Stainback threw for 250 yards today and a single-game record three touchdown passes, going 12-17 with one interception.

Sophomore Sam Vermilyea also broke the single-game receiving yards record with 153, and an 83-yard pass from Stainback to Vermilyea in the first quarter broke the longest pass reception and longest pass completion records.

Junior kicker Ryan Laughlin also broke the single-game record for most extra points with seven, and junior Joseph Moultrie broke the record for longest kick return with an endzone-to-endzone touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

BSC scored the first three touchdowns of the game, all in the first quarter, beginning with a seven-yard run by Moultrie at the 3:52 mark. Vermilyea's 83-yard catch from Stainback came at the 652 mark, followed by a 74-yard punt return by junior Tyler Johnson, putting the Panthers up 21-0.

Austin got on the board at the 11:49 mark of the second quarter on a one-yard run by Bruce Murphy, but BSC responded with another Moultrie touchdown, this time on a six-yard scamper with 8:04 left in the half. The 'Roos put up another touchdown with 55 seconds left on a nine-yard run by Sean Sweeney, putting the score at 28-14 in favor of the Panthers at halftime.

Vermilyea caught a 64-yard pass from Stainback for the lone touchdown of the third quarter, and Austin scored its final TD of the game with 7:03 left in the fourth quarter on a 59-yard Murphy run.

Moultries 100-yard kick return happened on the ensuing kick-off, and Johnson caught an eight-yard pass from Stainback with 4:56 left in the game to put the Panthers up 49-21.

Birmingham-Southern recorded 410 total offensive yards (250 passing, 160 rushing), while Austin had 370 (103 passing, 267 rushing). The 'Roos had three more first downs than the Panthers with 19, and held the ball 17 minutes longer than BSC.

Moultrie led with 96 rushing yards on 15 carries, and Vermilyea led with his record 153 yards on three catches. Moultrie also led with 248 all-purpose yards.

Seniors Nick Gordon and Jeffery Steele led the Panther defense with 10 tackles apiece, and Steele led with two tackles-for-losses as well as an interception. Senior Zack Lambert also had a sack for a loss of 12 yards late in the game.

2023, June 3rd: Stars 24 @ Stallions 27

The UFL earlier today announced the three teams that would be joining the league following the demise of the Michigan, San Antonio, and Memphis clubs. Louisville, Orlando, and Colombus join the fun, while the Houston team rebrands back to the Gamblers name and the Arlington franchise is now known as the Dallas Renegades.

A lot to take in, and it all puts us in a mood to look at back at another game in the Stallions brief but successful history. The summary, image, and video below all look back on the team's early June 2023 victory against Philadelphia in week 8 of that season. 

Mark Inabinett for al.com:  The Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars by three points in last year’s USFL Championship Game, and they did it again on Saturday in a clash between the league’s division leaders.

Tight end La’Michael Pettway caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex McGough with 28 seconds remaining to lift the Stallions to a 27-24 victory over the Stars on Saturday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Deon Cain #85 of the Birmingham Stallions stiff arms Samuel Akem #84 of the Philadelphia Stars during the first quarter of a game at Protective Stadium on June 03, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/USFL/Getty Images for USFL)

After Pettway’s touchdown, Birmingham cornerback Nate Brooks intercepted Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus’ long throw on the final snap of the game to end the only fourth-quarter possession that did not finish with points.

The Stallions took a 17-14 lead five seconds into the final period on McGough’s 10-yard TD pass to tight end Jace Sternberger. A 71-yard completion from McGough to wide receiver Davion Davis set up the score.

Philadelphia had to settle for a tying field goal of 25 yards by Luis Aguilar with 7:25 left after reaching first-and-goal at the Birmingham 9-yard line. Brandon Aubrey’s 41-yard field goal with 4:35 remaining put the Stallions up 20-17.

Three consecutive completions by Cookus moved the Stars 52 yards and back into the lead with 3:05 to play, with running back Dexter Williams scoring on a 7-yard reception.

A 23-yard McGough-to-Sternberger connection on fourth-and-8 with 46 seconds to play pushed Birmingham to the Philadelphia 12-yard line to set up the winning score.

McGough completed 24-of-35 passes for 333 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Davis had four receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Stallions to sign WR Julian Hicks

Now that the UFL has announced which teams are relocating or folding, I guess it's safe to get into the Stallions again. It had previously been stated by new league investor Mike Repole that the team would return, but I was concerned about a last minute swerve. 

The league's free agency period began a few days ago. Damned if you'd ever know it judging from the lack of communication from the teams or the league.

There have been a couple of signings, apparently. LB Jordan Williams is said to be coming over from the relocating San Antonio Brahmas, another linebacker has been acquired in former Carolina Panthers draft choice Michael Barrett, and defensive tackle Shakel Brown, who played collegiately at Troy is on board for 2026 as well.

But I found this one to be the most interesting (so far).  

The young man has had a bumpy road. The text below is from this article by Bill Huber following Hicks' signing with the Packers.

As a graduate student at Albany in 2023, Hicks caught 50 passes for 820 yards (16.4 average) and 11 touchdowns. A big chunk of the production came in back-to-back game against New Hampshire and Rhode Island, with four catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns and seven catches for 188 yards and two more touchdowns in those games.

...

Albany reached the FCS semifinals; in the season-ending loss to eventual national champion South Dakota State, he caught seven passes for 76 yards.

At pro day, he measured 6-foot-1 7/8 and 201 pounds, with a 4.53 in the 40 and a 36 1/2-inch vertical.

It was a circuitous route to the NFL for Hicks, who played at Central Michigan in 2018 and Akron in 2019 in 2020. In 2018, the Chippewas went 1-11 and changed coaches. In 2019, the Zips went 0-12. In 2020, he caught two passes during the COVID-shortened season.

From there, he transferred to Albany. In 2021, he missed the start of the season due to thumb surgery. In his season debut, he stepped on a defender and tore a ligament in his ankle, which ended his season.

...

In 2022, he caught 24 passes for 345 yards. He had the only touchdown in a loss at powerhouse Baylor and scored the game-winning touchdown on the final play against Maine.

He seems like exactly the kind of player that the UFL is for; those that for whatever reason just need another opportunity to showcase their ability. Already looking forward to seeing how he does!

2025, Sept. 8th: "Brown Receives Multiple Player of the Week Honors"

I hadn't paid much attention to this blog throughout the summer, so I'll be doing some catching up over the next few days. 

The graphic and (abbreviated) text below are from Alabama A&M's website. 

Alabama A&M University redshirt senior quarterback Cornelious Brown IV earned multiple weekly honors on Monday, including being selected the STATS Perform HBCU National Player of the Week.

Brown, who also earned Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Offensive Player of the Week, BOXTOROW HBCU National Co-Player of the Week, and HBCU Legends Co-Player of the Week honors, racked up 329 yards of total offense and was responsible for five touchdowns as the Bulldogs defeated Alcorn State 41-31 in the Louis Crews Classic.

The Birmingham, Ala., native completed 25-of-34 passes for 260 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed the ball seven times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. His seven-yard touchdown run with 2:43 remaining in the first quarter broke a 14-14 (tie)...

We may be seeing Brown's name a whole lot more on here in the coming weeks; he was named the SWAC's co-offensive player of the week on September 15th as well.

"Entering second season with Birmingham Stallions, former WSU DB Daniel Isom maintains NFL dream"

The article below, released yesterday, was written by Stephen Hunt for the the Spokesman-Review as part of their coverage of Washington State football. You can read the full version by clicking this link. I'm unsure as to who gets credit for the photo, however. 

ARLINGTON, Texas – Last season, Daniel Isom showed little rust in playing his first football in two years with Birmingham of the United Football League.

Isom, a defensive back who played at Washington State from 2019 through 2021, had 11 tackles and one interception in 10 regular-season games (five starts) – including a key 48-yard game-tying interception return for a touchdown in a come-from-behind win over Michigan in the UFL semifinals.

His Stallions won the inaugural UFL championship game a week later, beating San Antonio 25-0 in the city where Isom was born and raised, St. Louis – the perfect ending to a great season for the 27-year-old.

“Yeah, I think the first year (in the UFL) was really good. I was really thankful for the opportunity to get my feet back under me,” Isom said. “I had dealt with some issues that led me to not play for two years, so it was good to get out and play ball again. Obviously, we had a great year as a team. We ended up winning the championship. We came together as a team and were able to get it done. This year, we’ll focus on doing the same thing, taking it day by day and coming together to win games.”

Prior to landing in Birmingham, the defensive back’s last on-field action had come with the Los Angeles Rams, a short stint in the NFL which was truncated by injury.

“It was a good time, a good opportunity. I ended up unfortunately getting hurt and having to leave, but it was a good time,” Isom said. “I learned a lot about the game of football, about myself. It’s led me to the opportunity I’m at now.”

Being away from football for two years showed him how much he’d missed the game and maybe even increased his love for the sport.

“I definitely gained some sort of extra appreciation from being away from the game and coming back and being able to accomplish all the things we were able to accomplish as a team,” he said.

With the Stallions, he’s playing for Skip Holtz, son of Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz. Skip Holtz took over as Stallions head coach prior to the 2022 season. It’s an experience he’s enjoying.

“I love his approach to the team. He wants us to be comfortable in our position on the team, never be too high or low,” Isom said. “We’re always worried about going 1-0 and what’s in front of us. The way he leads the team, he gives us a good way to lead our lives and worry about what we can take care of now.”

Isom arrived at Washington State in 2019 after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Northern Illinois and Iowa Western. He started the first five games that season before then-coach Mike Leach dismissed him from the program for “a violation of team rules.”

The following season, Leach’s replacement, Nick Rolovich, reinstated Isom, who was named Pac-12 honorable mention his senior season.

"Play It Again, Samford!"

My access to past high school and university yearbooks will come to an end soon, so I may do a run on that type of content in the coming days. 

The following images are snips from Samford's 1985 yearbook, the first following the program's return in 1984. 

"Tailback Greg Switzer goes off tackle for a long gain against Arkansas Monticello"

"Quarterback Tommy Bledsoe prepares to discharge the football down field while a fellow team(mate) protects him against the sack."

2011, Nov. 13th: "Doormat No More: Miles Wins Inaugural Title Game"

Not much to add here. The image comes from the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. The article did as well, originally, but I copied the version displayed in the Birmingham News because the layout was better suited to the task.