Get Ready For The Alliance
The 2018 - 2019 NFL season is just six days away from being complete and the only football rated thing you have left until the 2019 kick off is the NFL draft in April, right? Wrong.
The Alliance of American Football or "The Alliance" kicks off Saturday with two games, one being on prime time on CBS, and follows with 2 games on Sunday, one at 3:00 and another on at 7:00 on the NFL Network.
Here is a little information about each team (click on the team for the official AAF site) and 5 reasons you should watch "The Alliance":
- HEAD COACH: Rick Neuheisel
- GENERAL MANAGER: Phil Savage
- STADIUM: Sun Devil Stadium
- HEAD COACH: Kevin Coyle
- OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Micheal Vick
- GENERAL MANAGER: Bill Devaney
- STADIUM: Georgia State Stadium
- HEAD COACH: Tim Lewis
- GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Pendry
- STADIUM: Legion Field
- HEAD COACH: Mike Singletary
- GENERAL MANAGER: Will Lewis
- STADIUM: Liberty Bowl
Listen to Memphis Express reporter Dylan Rubino talk about the Express below...
- HEAD COACH: Steve Spurrier
- GENERAL MANAGER: Tim Ruskell
- STADIUM: Spectrum Stadium
- HEAD COACH: Dennis Erickson
- GENERAL MANAGER: Randy Mueller
- STADIUM: Rice-Eccles Stadium
- HEAD COACH: Mike Riley
- GENERAL MANAGER: Daryl "Moose" Johnston
- STADIUM: Alamodome
- HEAD COACH: Mike Martz
- GENERAL MANAGER: David Boller
- STADIUM: SDCCU Stadium
5 REASONS TO WATCH THE ALLIANCE OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL
1. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!? IT IS MORE FOOTBALL!!!
via GIPHY
You may be the type to say, "It won't be the same," or "The league is going to fail so why waste my time?!" But I say why not give it a try? Why be such a...
via GIPHY
2. THE PLAYERS
There are a few of players in The Alliance that you already know and many that you will soon know. The talent of these players is what scouts consider 2nd team NFL players and that means the skill level is legit. Here are some numbers: 30% of the CFL players left the league to join the AAF. 70% of the AAF players were on a NFL roster in some form or another in the last 18 months.
3. THE COACHES
Although some talking head have said the coaches are the "real star power" in the league, it could not be further from the truth. The truth is that there are some very well respected coaches in this league. Not to mention, the names in the front office that are helping to run the league.
4. THE RULES
There are some different rules than the NFL and I think many football fans will enjoy them:
- There is a 35 second play clock. five seconds shorter than the NFL.
- There are no television timeouts and coaches are limited to tow challenges per team.
- There are no kickoffs. The ball will be placed at the teams own 25 yard line.
- There are no onside kicks. If a team wishes to onside a kickoff, they will receive the ball at their 28 yard line and it will be a "4th and 12" situation. Convert and the ball is yours. Fail and the opposing team takes over possession on downs.
- There are no extra point kicks after touchdowns, only 2 point conversion attempts
- In overtime, each team will start at the 10 yard line and 2 point conversions are still required.
5. THE SEASON
The Alliance football season will start on February 9th and will run for 10 straight weeks. No bye weeks. There are two weeks of playoffs: semi-finals and the championship to be held in Las Vegas on April 27th.
Pick a team, enjoy football in the Spring and hold on. This is going to be an incredible ride.!