Who are you rooting for in the AAF and why?

Submitted by Eli on February 15th, 2019 at 12:54 PM

I have chosen to root for the San Antonio Commanders. The reason being, I love San Antonio and I have always dreamed as a Bengals fan that they would relocate there. This is the closest I will ever get to that dream most likely. I also like their helmets and logo, these are very cool. I could do without their color scheme, but nonetheless that is who I am rooting for and why. Atlanta having Denard perks my rooting interest, but I don’t think he’ll play enough. I also love the Arizona teams nickname. The Hotshots! Hotshots fight Forrest fires in our great country and are incredible heroes that get little credit from the masses. If San Antonio is not playing, I guess I’ll go for Arizona. Glad to have some pretty cool football to watch this weekend. 

Eli

February 15th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^

I will post here because the one time I didn’t, I was accused of hiding behind my post. I’m guessing because of the voting structure.

ijohnb

February 15th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^

I kind of want it to work.  I don't know what exactly it is about the NFL, I can't put my finger on it, but I know that I cannot watch it.  I find it really boring and really irritating.  I only watch college football.  The AAF actually looked vaguely interesting to me and kind of made me want to watch more.  It has been a long time since the NFL did that.

MaizeBlueA2

February 16th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^

I definitely want it to work, but...I want it to merge with the XFL.

There already isn't enough talent to have 2 leagues.

  • (1) 8-Team League, (2) 4-Team Divisions
  • Play everyone in your twice (home and away) + (2) home games and (2) away games versus the (4) other teams in the other league (10 regular season games - no bye weeks)
  • (1) week off before a 4-Team playoff, both division winners and the next best 2 records...head to head is the tiebreaker, then record versus the 1-seed, and so on.
  • No coin toss, high seed always gets to pick if they want to kick/receive.
  • Don't start until the first weekend in March...give us a break and let us recharge a little bit. Trying to capitalize off of the NFL Playoff wasn't smart because it's always going to feel like a downer. Give us a few weeks!
  • Championship on Memorial Day weekend.

I'd love to see one league with this format and then organically expand like the MLS. Go from 8 to 12 to 16.

Other notes:

  • No kickoffs, start on the 25 yardline.Head safety.
  • No onside kicks, you get a 4th and 15 from your 25. Convert, and you keep the ball wherever it was downed...just like a normal play. Don't covert and the defense gets the ball where it was downed...just like a normal play.

    I would even consider something crazy like no kickers or punters...no FGs or XPs, something like you can go for 1 from the 5...or go for 2 from the 10. And you either go for it on 4th or you punt with a position player. Save $ on roster size, LOL. 

Eli

February 15th, 2019 at 1:13 PM ^

So Mascending, you’re rooting for a bunch of people to be out of work? Really? Why? 

Other than the Michigan hoops game tomorrow at noon, what else is there to watch? 

Also, it gives guys a chance to make it back in the NFL by showing their skills. It also creates jobs for all of the people who will be working in the stadiums this weekend. Oh and the guys are getting paid more than they would for almost any other job. 

Reggie Dunlop

February 15th, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^

Salt Lake Stallions. Absolutely no legitimate reasoning behind it. Me and a few buddies picked squads and I liked their cool blue uniform look.

At 0-1 I'm hoping they fire the coach and tank for a better draft pick. Unacceptable.

NittanyFan

February 15th, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^

Michigan Panthers.  It's been a long 36-year-Championship drought!

(I was only 4 years old, so I don't recall it, but I've been told I was at the 1983 Championship Game in Denver)

NittanyFan

February 15th, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^

The USFL does fascinate me - I've read a number of books on it, including "the $1 league" (written by someone who worked in their corporate offices for 3 years) and the most recent one that came out this past autumn ("Football For a Buck" by Jeff Pearlman).

The primary reason the USFL failed is there was no cohesiveness amongst the owners.  Some of them were committed to spring football, some wanted fall football.  Some were fiscally responsible, some were fiscal train-wrecks.  Some owners had a more "collegial attitude", they prioritized the health of the league over the health of their franchises.  Some had a 180 degree opposite attitude.

Michigan was one of the league's premier franchises in 1983-1984.  It's fair to view Michigan as the USFL's equivalent of a Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Giants.  Al Taubman was a great owner: extraordinarily wealthy, willing to spend $ (though in a responsible fashion), and committed to making the franchise a positive force in the city.

But, once the move to the fall was announced - he wanted nothing more to do with the USFL.  He thought a move to go up against the NFL was stupid.  He pulled up stakes almost immediately.  Michigan merged with the Oakland Invaders after 1984: Oakland actually wound up playing in the last ever USFL game (lost to Baltimore, a.k.a. the old Philadelphia Stars from the 1983 title game, in the 1985 Championship game).

If the league couldn't keep an owner like Taubman, or a franchise like Michigan, happy - well, it was doomed.

TheKoolAidGuy

February 15th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^

Orlando Apollos

1. Steve Spurrier is a National Treasure

2. Deveon Smith went to my rival HS, played (quite well) at Michigan, and has always been a guy I've enjoyed rooting for

3. Their logo is Apollo shooting a mother fucking arrow, LFG

4. Blue and orange are my favorite colors

5. I have $20 riding on the outcome of their season in a pool we created at work

6. I enjoy winning, and the Apollos play their home games in the stadium of the Undefeated 2018 UCF Knights - home field advantage means a lot in football and that field stinks of victory

MGlobules

February 15th, 2019 at 1:43 PM ^

Denard. But I have to ask people who are excited about this--what do you see in it? Is it just that you love the game and like to have more of it to watch, maybe added wrinkle that they're playing around with the rules and such?

I just like college football, and rarely find the NFL compelling (though I like to see Brady overcome). 

GoBlueSean

February 15th, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^

I want to root for Atlanta because they are the closest team to Charlotte but....

1.) I hate Atlanta sports

2.) Uniforms suck out loud

So it is a toss up between San Diego Fleet and Birmingham Iron for no real f*cking reason