Usually when the second week of February begins, football is over. Everyone is thinking about next year, and what might happen in the offseason. College players looking to get their opportunity to play in the NFL are preparing for the NFL combine at different training facilities all over the country. Now that has all changed.
Alliance of American Football had their opening season games on Saturday, and I must say it was entertaining. A lot of the former players are from the area of the teams they are playing for. The head coaches are former NFL and D1 college football coaches who have coached at the highest level. This league brings in what the NFL has as well as what the NFL used to be, based off the first 2 games of the season.
The AAF allow for players to be seen by the NFL personnel, but at the same time it gives football fans something to look at. Here are some of the highlights from the AAF.
Orlando Apollos vs Atlanta Legends:
The Old Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, took the lead as the head coach of the Orlando Apollos with his fast pace offense. Garrett Gilbert, former SMU quarterback, lead the Apollos to a 40-6 beating of the Atlanta Legends. Gilbert threw for 227 yards and 2 touchdown in his first start ever as a pro. Steve Spurrier said that he will give the game ball to Gilbert. On the defensive side of the ball, Terence Garvin, lead the defense with 2 interceptions and 1 taken to the house.
One of the unique things about the AAF is the ability to hear the referees review plays. You can hear and see what they see. This gives the league the transparency fans have been craving for years with the NFL. Just imagine this transparency when the Saints played the Rams in the NFC Championship game.
Atlanta Legends started off with a disappointing loss. Quarterbacks for the Legends missed a lot of open receivers. It is hard to say the Legends won’t be a good football team after 1 game. The Legends will have their opportunity to bounce back against the San Diego Fleet.
Final attendance for the game was 20,191.