Feb. 16th, 2019: "Trent Richardson scores game-winning TD in Birmingham Iron victory"

This summary of the Iron's second contest was written by Evan Dudley for al.com. 

The Birmingham Iron earned a second straight victory, as former Alabama running back Trent Richardson scored the go-ahead touchdown in a 12-9 victory over the Salt Lake City Stallions (0-2) today at Birmingham’s Legion Field.

The Iron forced two turnovers in the game, turning one into a score near the end of the third quarter as Shaheed Salmon’s fumble recovery off a muffed punt return by Salt Lake.

“I thought defensively, we did a nice job,” Iron coach Tim Lewis said. “Our defensive coordinator wasn’t here today, so I had the honor of calling a game for the first time in a long time and we did a nice job. The guys played hard, fast and tough. They played smart and did what we asked them to do. Did a nice job finishing the game.”

“Offensively, we just grounded it out. They’re a big strong team and it didn’t shock me," he continued. "Coach (Dennis) Erickson is a heck of a coach and brought a really big salty team in here. They lost their game to Arizona and they were meaning to do business to us and we stood up to the challenge.”

Birmingham Iron wide receiver Tobias Palmer breaks away from Salt Lake Stallions linebacker Greer Martini at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. (Mark Almond | preps@al.com)

The Iron defense limited Salt Lake to 252 yards but only a single touchdown and 1-of-3 on field goals. Birmingham also tallied two sacks while putting the pressure on Stallion starter and former Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen, who finished 15-of-31 for 115 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

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Birmingham (2-0) was shut out in the first half – gaining 108 yards – and converted only 3-of-9 third-down conversions with two three-and-outs. Perez was an efficient 12-of-20 in the half but was sacked three times for a loss of 15 yards, which ultimately doomed promising drives by the Iron.

Birmingham Iron defensive tackle Casey Sayles tackles Salt Lake Stallions running back Branden Oliver at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. (Mark Almond | preps@al.com)

Perez was more on his game in the second half – finishing today 24-of-38 for 184 yards with no turnovers – and led the Iron on its game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

Richardson got his second straight start after battling a hamstring injury this week but had 31 yards on nine carries in the first half for a paltry 3.4 average. The former NFL first-round pick found little room in the second half and finished with 41 yards on 19 carries, but he scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:48 to go.

“We got back up and fought,” Richardson said. “And that’s what we did today. For me, fighting through all four quarters was a big step in the right direction.”

From that point, the Iron forced two missed field goals and a three-and-out from the Stallions while scoring the go-ahead touchdown on an 11-play, 54-yard drive that was capped by Richardson’s 3-yard touchdown.

Birmingham Iron linebacker Shaheed Salmon celebrates after Birmingham recovered a Salt Lake Stallions fumble in the endzone for a touchdown at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. (Mark Almond | preps@al.com)

The Iron appeared to seal the game on a fourth-down incomplete pass but an unsportsmanlike penalty gave the Stallions a first down at the Birmingham 31-yard line with less than two minutes to play. Birmingham managed to force the Stallions into a 48-yard field goal attempt with 1:03 to play, and the kick sailed wide left.

“They fly to the ball,” Lewis said of his defense. “They do a fantastic job, we ask them to sprint to the ball everyday in practice, and they do it. So when the ball gets free or comes open, they’re there to make the play.”

April 17th, 1975: "It's Official: Birmingham, WFL To Play Again"

The Birmingham Vulcans have entered the chat. 

I wanted to work my way through the bulk of the 1974 Birmingham Americans existence before getting into the Vulcans, the team that essentially replaced them in 1975.

We've finally reached that point. This article from the Birmingham Post-Herald was published the day after the official announcement after several weeks of build up.

Apologies for the wavey effect in the bottom half, that's not my doing. 

"Little Joey Jones Heads For Big Time"

The following article appeared in the January 21st, 1984, Montgomery Advertiser and was written by one Phillip Marshall.  

Jones would play for the Stallions in 1984 and 1985 compiling 69 receptions for 1335 yards and 13 scores. He later went into coaching, spending nine years as head coach with South Alabama from 2009 to 2017 among other stops  

Joey Jones makes a diving catch for the Birmingham Stallions in 1985. (Birmingham News file photo by Tom Self)

April 23rd, 2022: Birmingham Stallions 33, Houston Gamblers 28

The 2022 Stallions season will be gradually recorded here when the mood strikes. Click on the Stallions '22 tag at right to view past articles. 

The rather brief game summary below appeared on Fox News at this page. The photograph of C.J. Marable was taken from the team's Instagram and is uncredited.

The Birmingham Stallions capitalized on a number of critical turnovers Saturday night to defeat the Houston Gamblers 33-28 in the USFL’s highest-scoring game of the season. 

Quarterback J’Mar Smith, who reunited with former Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz, led the Stallions to their second win of the season, completing 20 of 30 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the Stallions defense that stole the show. 

Cornerback Brian Allen, a former 5th-round NFL Draft pick, had a pick-six on the third play of the game to give Birmingham the earlier lead. 

Houston would respond with a 49-yard field goal on a day when kickers seemed to struggle with the USFL’s new ball and cornerback Will Likely had a pick-six of his own just minutes later to give the Gamblers a 10-9 lead. 

The Stallions began to pull ahead early in the second half but, despite struggling in their passing game, Houston climbed back to 26-21 by the fourth quarter. 

Quarterback Clayton Thorson managed to get the Gamblers within five points of the Stallions. With less than two minutes on the clock, he secured a first down on fourth-and-10 with an 11-yard run, but Lorenzo Burns would intercept the ball with 1:13 left to end Houston’s chances of scoring.

July 9th, 2004, Birmingham Post-Herald: "Reed Overcame Racism Fears in Birmingham"

"Stallions '84: Sklar Looks Forward To Second Year"

The interview with Stallions president Jerry Sklar below appeared in the January 16th, 1984, edition of the Birmingham Post-Herald as a preview of the 1984 season.

As polite as Sklar is, generally, in regard to Trump's involvements and plans, it is rather clear that he saw the potential for trouble there well before it had ballooned. Ah well.