Football season isn't over: Why I'm excited for the AAF, and you should be too
After the Super Bowl last Sunday night, I somberly tweeted a meme from the SDS account about how sad I was that the football season was “officially over.” Shortly after the official account of the Birmingham Iron, one of the 8 new AAF teams, tweeted back, “Hey SDS, want to enjoy more Saturday’s Down South with us this season?” and included a list of the 5 former SEC schools from which 23 players on their roster were from.
That’s right 23 former players on their roster alone. And, not just average players, former starters, All-Conference players and SEC record-holders. Like a lot of SEC fans, I enjoy basketball season, but a majority of the Spring and Summer months are spent pining for football.
The AAF starts Saturday with 2 games, followed by 2 more Sunday, and unlike other offseason football leagues, this league should produce an actual familiar and quality product on the field. The field dimensions will be the same, Vince McMahon won’t be involved, and a large amount of the players will be from your favorite conference: the SEC.
https://twitter.com/aafiron/status/1092274758891261952
Of the 8 teams that make up the AAF, there are 73 players from all 14 teams in the Southeastern Conference. You’ll get to see former 5-stars, former Heisman finalists, and one coach with a penchant for the passing game and visors. Steve Spurrier, Zach Mettenberger, Trent Richardson, Trevor Knight, Zac Stacy, and a certain DB/Kick-6 returner (Chris Davis) will all be on the sidelines this Spring. Below is a list of the total SEC roster players for each AAF team and from each SEC school.
AAF Teams
- Arizona Hotshots (5), including Trevor Knight, Trenton Thompson
- Atlanta Legends (6), including Aaron Murray, Quincy Mauger
- Birmingham Iron (23), including Blake Sims, Trent Richardson
- Memphis Express (22), including Zach Mettenberger, Damore’ea Stringfellow
- Orlando Apollos (9), including Austin Appleby, Josh Evans and HBC Steve Spurrier
- Salt Lake Stallions (3), including Austin Allen
- San Antonio Commanders (3), including Trey Williams
- San Diego Fleet (2), including Ron Brooks
SEC players in the AAF
- Alabama (11)
- Arkansas (4)
- Auburn (5)
- Florida (7)
- Georgia (4)
- Kentucky (1)
- LSU (9)
- Ole Miss (5)
- Mississippi State (4)
- Missouri (2)
- South Carolina (4)
- Tennessee (7)
- Texas A&M (8)
- Vanderbilt (2)
For the 73 former SEC players the league will hopefully prove to be more of a minor league football system rather than an offseason novelty. Only time will tell, but it should be a fun season of AAF football regardless!
Cover photo via @TheAAF
Thank you for posting this story, SDS. I was beginning to feel football withdrawal coming on, but this just might hold me over until things start to pick up again in College Station. I guess I’m a Commanders’ fan now….
So glad to see L’Damian Washington on a team here, if you don’t know his story it’s an incredible one, there is no more deserving a young man in America than he, to be on a team.
YES! I will be tuned in! It will help with my withdrawals. It’s definitely worth a look!
I am a huge fan of Murray and Mauger. Even more reasons to cheer for the Legends. I know full well teams from the state of Georgia cause a rollercoaster of emotions, but I’m all in.
I know the Legends didn’t look great last night, but with only a month of prep, it was a pretty good showing overall. No surprise that a lot of support for these teams will come from us college football fans supporting players we followed in college. No surprise I’m partial to the Orlando Apollos. Good to have more football just as we’re starting to suffer withdrawals. I’ll definitely watch the league and enjoy. It’s also nice to not be as invested in a particular team and just enjoy the sport. I wonder whether they can or will maintain the “regional” player aspect of the teams going forward. I think that really helps in gaining traction.
Watching a Spurrier coached team dominate the team I was cheering for was as unpleasant as I remembered and something I thought I was finished with. But, kidding aside, I am happy the debut of the AAF went well and it was really good to be watching football in February. I sincerely hope the popularity can continue. And I completely agree with you about maintaining the “regional” player aspect.
LSU fans have to pull for Memphis. Geaux Express!!
Legends fan here, let’s home these teams are more interested in football than politics.
In ATL we trust
*let’s hope….
Let’s go Atlanta Legend!
Looks like the Legends are trying to run off their fans from the start. Awful game tonight.
Orlando looked absolutely dominant the whole game. It was an impressive first game for them.
Atlanta on the other hand really has their work cut out for them this week in practice.
Go Iron!
Looks like good football so far.