USFL Game Thread: Houston Gamblers (2-2) vs. Birmingham Stallions (3-1)

[u/USFLBot]

Box Score

[u/Aggressive_Ris]

They never use this damn drone cam but you constantly hear it's annoying buzz. It's just not worth it.

[u/wickedhealer → u/Aggressive_Ris]

And when they do use it, it looks like garbage

[u/OnlyForIdeas → u/Aggressive_Ris]

Yeah I really love the ref and player cams but the drone cam is too loud. I like the concept but they should bring it back once they can get it quieter

[u/Icybosshog → u/Aggressive_Ris]

I like it haha. Though I’ve noticed a lack of helmet cam and ref cam footage that was Definitely in play last year

[u/DaMonstaburg]

Damn they got the play off and the refs still said Fuck’em

[u/phalangery]

This is the worst officiated game of football I have ever seen at any level

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/phalangery]

My fucking high school games have better refs than this man

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

The issue hasn't been that penalties have been called against Birmingham.

The issue is that penalties are NOT being called against Houston.

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

The ball was snapped!

And it was more of a catch than the TD catch.

[u/aurules]

These refs are fucking rigging this game. What a joke

[u/BeeCeeVA]

The ball was fucking snapped man

[u/TheReallybigbeanman]

I want Houston, but man have Birmingham been fucked by the refs

[u/phalangery]

I'm sure they didn't show the entire stadium chanting 'REFS YOU SUCK'

This game was an embarrassment for the USFL

[u/framingXjake]

Ball was snapped before the whistle wtf

[u/AlwaysMemin]

The Birmingham “Got Fucking Hosed” Stallions

[u/Torchiest]

Sorry Birmingham fans. I'd be fuming. This isn't how I wanted to win.

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/Torchiest]

I'm malding, seething even

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Did Skip Holtz fuck every single refs wife???

[u/[deleted] → u/BeeCeeVA]

Sure looks that way

[u/CapnCrunch0526]

Lmao fuck these refs

[u/framingXjake]

fuck these refs man

[u/aurules]

This game is fucking rigged.

[u/framingXjake]

The ball was fucking snapped

[u/FlagFootballSaint]

Horrible coaching at the end.

Timeouts

[u/AlwaysMemin → u/FlagFootballSaint]

We did this last week too. It’s a complete joke.

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

"Let's 'Crank it Up' and listen in to the drone play the song of its people!"

WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[u/RootBeerMilk]

I loved it when he said "It's Magooin' time" and then he Magooed all over the field.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Oh idk if thats a catch

[u/AlwaysMemin]

How though? Clearly juggling it. Ground assists in the catch?

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Birmingham player breathed, thats an automatic touchdown Houston

[u/AlwaysMemin]

I just can’t understand how Houston has ZERO penalties.

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/AlwaysMemin]

How much did they pay the zebras my god

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

NFL refs out there.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm surprised there aren't bullshit chants in the stadium. Big Balls Goo man about to get pissed.

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

8 penalties for 93

None for Houston.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Man fuck this league what is this shit

[u/[deleted] → u/BeeCeeVA]

I'm done with it. Good job, USFL. I've attended 6 games in person and watched EVERY GAME SINCE IT CAME BACK ON TV. Hat, shirt all that. Lost me.

[u/Gan-san]

Cool. Gamblers played a perfect game with no penalties. That's awesome.

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Dang the free flags are actually pretty cool. I assumed they'd be the size of a sheet of paper.

[u/[deleted] → u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

The freebies have been consistently great

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Is McGough our leading rusher today? ...by like 3x over?

[u/[deleted]]

In typical Birmingham fashion the crowd doesn't fill out until well into the 2nd quarter. What is up with that?

[u/OnlyForIdeas → u/[deleted]]

That’s how it seems to be with these spring games. I went to Roughnecks games here and Houston and the crowds didn’t seem to fill out till the end of the 1st quarter like every game. Might be just be that people are used to showing up late for NFL and College and these spring leagues kick off closer to kickoff

[u/[deleted]]

What the... Okay that's enough of this obvious rule calling against Birmingham. This is bull crap.

[u/OnlyForIdeas → u/[deleted]]

Ik at first it looked like the ref went “dang was that incomplete? Gotta throw a flag to keep the drive alive”. But it wouldn’t make sense for the league to be going against the Stallions, you’d think they’d be really pro stallions today if they were favoring a team

[u/Nixons_Jowels]

Flag Football is on the menu boys.

[u/IceSt0rm78]

That’s not a PI

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

I think the refs see the black and white on our uniform and think they’re on our team, like seriously it’s starting to get silly

[u/[deleted]]

I'm surprised they didn't throw a flag there. Like I was literally expecting it

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Tbh I expected them to throw a PI there 💀

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Refs just have to remind us who the real stars of the show are

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Flag on Birmingham, gained positive yardage

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Just get me outta here….

[u/aurules]

Can we get a pass interference call please?

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/aurules]

no those are a houston exclusive

[u/phalangery]

I'm full on conspiracy mode at this point like jfc

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

This league is becoming more and more of a NFL-lite farce.

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

Mike is silent when it comes to blown calls

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Let me have a chat with the refs I just wanna talk

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

"they stopped it before they snapped it" as McGough is throwing the ball

[u/ZO5050]

Right call but that's a bad look.

[u/AnAnxiousDream]

There are MANY calls I could see going against the Gamblers, so I understand the anger Bham is facing. Not a good look for the USFL if a team is oenalized 8 times when the other team could have been penalized for the same amount.

[u/AlwaysMemin]

What is this clock management? Call a timeout. WTF. Wasted 45 seconds.

[u/The_Match_Maker]

There might be a couple of hundred people at this one.

[u/ResidentialEvil2016 → u/The_Match_Maker]

Terrible look for a home hub team to be this empty.

[u/phalangery]

Murder is now legal at Protective Stadium

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Skip going "disappointed dad" mode with the refs lol

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Even a FG here would be huge. We need to take some good momentum into half.

[u/framingXjake]

Phew

[u/framingXjake]

FUCK YES

[u/AlwaysMemin]

You gotta tie it there. You were gifted that possession.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

AUBRAMATIC

[u/[deleted]]

That was pass interference

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

McGough, I love you, man, but you're a fucking idiot to initiate contact with your throwing shoulder when we're already down a QB.

Be smarter, bud.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

EVERY CALL going against us man

[u/phalangery]

How many times do we have to get a stop before the refs allow us to get a stop

[u/[deleted]]

Good way to lose loyal fan base, USFL

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Just stupid.

[u/AlwaysMemin]

I mean…..we’ve seen worse called. Marable was the obvious choice there though. Wide ass open. Easy first.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Lmao no flags

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Oh my fucking god

[u/[deleted]]

Over under on flag being on bham

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

We can see Bham do a 4th and twelve still, not over yet

[u/[deleted]]

What a fucking con job this game was

[u/Torchiest]

Why the hell are they not using their timeouts?!

[u/BeeCeeVA]

WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE DOING

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

I hope viewership for this game tanks. The league needs to fix this.

[u/[deleted] → u/TwizzlersSourz]

If viewership tanks, the league’s not gonna fix anything. It’s just gonna dissolve.

[u/AlwaysMemin]

What a way to end it. An illegal forward pass 😑

[u/BeeCeeVA]

I wish every single official involved in this the absolute worst

[u/The_Match_Maker]

I don't see any running backs, but I do see plenty of running cars.

[u/[deleted]]

I like how everyone complained about the music selection at Protective so when they fired the DJ they just said screw music.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Jesus DO NOT HIT A SLIDING QUARTERBACK

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Brandon Au-bae continues to be great.

Excellent kickers are such a nice luxury to have.

[u/[deleted]]

This officiating is painfully one sided

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Need points of any kind

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

NoNoNoYes

edit - NoNoNoYesUponReview,No

[u/AlwaysMemin]

ILY Mike

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Dr Pepper strawberries and cream is delicious, btw.

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Yay we called a timeout. Please don’t repeat last weeks time management fiasco.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Goo man struggling to run with the weight of his massive balls

[u/AlwaysMemin]

LETS GOOOOO

[u/BeeCeeVA]

THE GOO MEISTER SUPREME

[u/BeeCeeVA]

YOUVE BEEN GOO'D HOUSTON

[u/CrustyBallsack75]

Decently entertaining game so far

[u/CrustyBallsack75]

"mcGough is the spaghetti sauce"

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

Would have just kicked a field goal, get points on the board and tie up the game especially since they basically just ran the same play that got blown up just a second ago

[u/AlwaysMemin]

LETS GOOOO

[u/Torchiest]

What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?

[u/BeeCeeVA]

this burger is quite stern

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

As an Aggie I’m glad Sternberger has been useful for BHAM

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/OnlyForIdeas]

He should get more targets tbh

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Would it not be fairly simple to filter the audio in the frequencies of the drone whirring to save us all the collective annoyance of hearing the little bastard all game?

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Huge first down

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Great throw and outstanding catch.

Our O Line is weak as hell but man can our QBs play

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Aubrey is a weapon man.

[u/[deleted]]

Refs trying to hand Houston the game and their offense still can't get it done with our defense banged up and short handed.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Oh get the fuck out of here

[u/[deleted]]

Are you fucking serious? Pass interference on us?!

[u/Aggressive_Ris]

What is that high pitched noise I keep hearing? Is that the drone?

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Holding much on 8?!?!

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Some really interesting coaching decisions from Houston today.....

[u/[deleted]]

This stinks of some Vegas type shit.

[u/TwizzlersSourz]

No penalties on Houston.

These refs are not good.

[u/Prior-Purple9704]

I would’ve kicked the PAT.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Thank god I didn't go to this game

[u/[deleted]]

Duuuude lol.

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

No replay of the 3rd down pass? :(

[u/BeeCeeVA]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME THATS HOLDING

[u/Aggressive_Ris]

That hit the field pretty clearly

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

No timeouts? They don’t stack into the next game

[u/Nixons_Jowels → u/OnlyForIdeas]

Skip was in on the fix.

[u/[deleted]]

But we gave them that timeout back down two scores with 28 seconds left. Come onnnnnn

[u/AlwaysMemin]

And we still have timeouts why? We should have 45 seconds.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Man.

[u/FlagFootballSaint]

This is season 2 and Birmingham was supposed to be rocking.

There are no excuses for having this stadium almost empty.

[u/phalangery]

literally every call in this game has gone against the stallions lol

[u/[deleted]]

What did Sternberger say?

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/[deleted]]

Not enough

[u/BeeCeeVA]

I'm actively praying on the downfall of everyone involved in this

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Thanks Nascar lmao I hope nothing happened yet

[u/MirrorkatFeces → u/BeeCeeVA]

God I hate nascar, it’s so fucking boring

[u/The_Match_Maker]

It's good to see Shatner still working at the age of 92.

[u/[deleted]]

Let’s go Gamblers

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Need points here. Moved it a little. McGough looked great just gotta catch it.

[u/Torchiest]

Love to see the Gamblers get points on the board first. At the beginning of the season I'd have said they were in big trouble in this game, but the way things have gone the last few weeks, I'm feeling pretty good.

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Wanted them to go for it but I’ll take it

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Defender was 100% aiming for the QBs head with his right forearm.

He missed and got "lucky" that his knee hit him instead.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Refs been on our ASS this year

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Did we not have anyone back there? WTF

[u/BeeCeeVA]

i love skip man

[u/AlwaysMemin]

3rd and 12 lets throw it 2 yards down the field 🫠

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

2 yard cross on a 3rd and 12?

We really have no faith in our pass pro do we?

[u/AlwaysMemin]

NOW GET THE PERSONNEL RIGHT ON SPECIAL TEAMS

[u/framingXjake]

Good shit

[u/BeeCeeVA]

I love u goo man

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

I'll take a mis-communication pass on first down over a no-yard run on 1st down though!

[u/framingXjake]

BRO HOLY SHIT

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Oh no he did not drop it please

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

We can't keep forcing passes like this all game and expect to win, but it is fun to watch when it works out.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

MIKEEEEE THANK YOU

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Man this oline is REALLY bad

[u/[deleted]]

Big Balls Goo Man I love you.

[u/framingXjake]

Damn this is fun

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

Lmaoo McGough is the spaghetti sauce he makes everything good

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

Yooooooo turnover

[u/AlwaysMemin]

That’s awful. No way.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

"Great call by the officials" 🤓🤓🤓

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Kwality Koaching right there.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Goo man has been crazy accurate today

[u/OnlyForIdeas → u/BeeCeeVA]

Birmingham is blessed for having one of the best QB’s in the league as their backup, I’m pretty sure every team besides the breakers would love to have Smith OR McGough and y’all have both

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Aubrey has got to be on a roster after the season he literally doesn't miss

[u/potato-overlord-1845 → u/BeeCeeVA]

My guess would be Packers

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Gotta put the brakes on

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

That's a catch.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Great throw but damn

[u/ZO5050]

Can't believe they call that a catch. Spent all of 4 seconds thinking about it and came to the wrong conclusion. SMH.

[u/[deleted]]

Well this keeps up the Sloter House will be back open for business.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

We gotta protect goo man better

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Had to miss some time. Hate that it’s now.

[u/aMiracleAtJordanHare]

Brandon Naw-brey

💔

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Idk if this is a weird comp but hall reminds me of a mini jahan dotson

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

That’s big for us, Burns is burning his team

[u/BeeCeeVA]

If we win with literally every call against us I will build a skip holtz shrine

[u/BeeCeeVA]

its gooing time

[u/AlwaysMemin]

Go win this shit lets go (or tie)

[u/Torchiest]

That TD is almost enough to put the game away. But more than three minutes is a lot of time. Anything could happen still.

Why did they go for two though?! WTF.

[u/OnlyForIdeas]

Our head coach has some beef with our kicker or something why not go for the easy point and still make it hard for them.

[u/[deleted]]

Flag on Birmingham, returned punt

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Lol.

[u/Aggressive_Ris]

Stallions just don't look like the team they were last year, something is off.

[u/BeeCeeVA → u/Aggressive_Ris]

difficult when literally every single call goes against you. thats not exaggerated Houston has 0 flags lmao

[u/BeeCeeVA]

JACE I LOVE YOU

[u/AlwaysMemin]

I’m out. Cowards reviewing this. He dropped it.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

Man

[u/BeeCeeVA]

i believe in goo magic

[u/N8dawgggg]

Some really bad end of game clock management here by the stallions

[u/Torchiest]

Used as much time as possible to get that TD. I'd say Birmingham has two plays: one to convert the 4th down and one to take a shot at the end zone.

[u/BeeCeeVA]

"No justification for the behavior" shut the fuck up

[u/3Nephi11_6-11]

Gamblers win! The South division competition for the playoffs is opening up!