The Alliance of American Football's debut weekend was a smashing success. Thanks to a bunch of awesome rules, memorable players and high-profile coaches, it's easy to see why the league's inaugural weekend was well-received.
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Trent Richardson is back in Alabama taking handoffs and scoring touchdowns for the Birmingham Iron. Former Aggie Trevor Knight quarterbacks for the Arizona Hotshots. Even punter Brad Wing is booting balls for the Memphis Express.
But no one increased the AAF's entertainment level this weekend like Steve Spurrier did. The former Florida Gators and South Carolina Gamecocks coach is now the head coach of the Orlando Apollos, and he was everything you could ask for on the sidelines during Orlando's first game against the Atlanta Legends on Saturday night.
Here are four reasons why:
1. A 73-Year-Old Mic'd Up is Glorious
"Tell him to catch it this time."
Some sound advice from Steve Spurrier. 😂 pic.twitter.com/sNI09aadlW
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019
"Tell him to catch it this time" sounds like something straight out of a movie. Everyone knows Spurrier has a great sense of humor. We're all just lucky enough to experience it while he coaches.
Imagine if we got to listen in on Bill Belichick tearing a player apart for fumbling on the goal line. The AAF also mic'd up its replay reviewers, which provides a great look at the human element of the process. The NFL could take a few transparency pointers from this new league.
2. TRICK. PLAYS.
THE ORLANDO SPECIAL! pic.twitter.com/BKztnVXWO1
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 10, 2019
Related: The Alliance of American Football Has Arrived. Here's Why You'll Love This League.
You thought Spurrier, THE Head Ball Coach wasn't gonna pull something out his bag of tricks? I'm kicking myself for not placing money on him running something like this.
Apollos quarterback Garrett Gilbert better be ready for flea flickers and more double reverses the whole season, because Spurrier isn't afraid to call any play at any time. And yes, the Orlando Special sounds better than the Philly Special. Better yet, let's just call it the Spurrier Special.
3. Spurrier = Scoring
Steve Spurrier could really just be a synonym for scorer, because he's done a lot of that while coaching football teams.
He implemented the "Fun 'n' Gun" passing offense that turned Florida into a scoring juggernaut in the 1990s, and he's off to a similar start with the Apollos. Orlando won 40-6, but he had 50 points in sight.
SPURRIER IS BACK LIKE HE NEVER LEFT
"We didn't score 50 but 40 was enough" pic.twitter.com/jY4H5rtMhj
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy__) February 10, 2019
He's also never lost a season opener as a new head coach across four different leagues — the USFL (Tampa Bay Bandits), NFL (Washington Redskins), AAF and NCAA football. I can confirm that is #good.
And because he's Steve Spurrier, he had to throw in a zinger about one of those teams. Spoiler: it was the Washington Redskins.
Steve Spurrier remains undefeated in season openers with new teams.
1983: Bandits beat Breakers (a classic, it appears)
1987: Duke beat Colgate
1990: Florida beat Oklahoma State
2002: Redskins beat Cardinals
2005: South Carolina beat UCF
2019: Apollos beat Legends— Will Sammon (@WillSammon) February 10, 2019
So @SteveSpurrierUF said this Saturday night after his 40-6 victory with the AAF Orlando Apollos left him 6-0 for his career in debut coaching games: “I even won with the Redskins, and that’s not easy to do.”
Don’t ever change, HBC. #Gators
— Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) February 10, 2019
4. The Visor is Returning
The answer we need. Why was @SteveSpurrierUF not in a visor last night??? He says it won't happen again pic.twitter.com/TOnvuwQVjh
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphy__) February 10, 2019
The most prominent question surrounding HBC was where was his signature visor? Thankfully, it sounds like we'll get to see it next game.
Phew.
