The Birmingham Stallions are coming off a title in the inaugural season of the United Football League (UFL) which was good for their third straight spring football championship.
The man who has guided Birmingham since the beginning, head coach Skip Holtz, says he doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.
During an appearance with the Next Round Live, Holtz had a powerful line about what he thinks of the UFL in comparison to what the college game looks like right now.
“I believe what I’m in is the purest level of football going on right now.
Everybody’s making the same money, you’ve got guys that are here because they love the game and want to get better…”@CoachSHoltz @USFLStallions pic.twitter.com/aO6CxX14bs
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) June 19, 2024
“I believe right now what I’m in is the purest level of football going on right now. Everybody is making the same money. Colleges can’t say that, the NFL can’t say that,” Holtz said. “You’ve got guys that are in this because they love the game, they wanna play, they want film, they just love the game and wanna get better.”
He also spoke specifically on the transfer portal and NIL and how he is a fan of both individually, but that the combination of the two is destroying the college game.
RELATED: Birmingham Stallions clinch UFL championship
“I think the portal is needed, I think it’s great,” he said. It’s needed for players to enjoy this great game, if they get into a situation where it’s not what they thought it would be, different coaching changes, not getting to play or play the role they want, they can go find a home to enjoy this great game because they have a limited window to play it.”
“I think NIL is needed. There’s a lot of money being made right now at a corporate level and I think the players deserve a part of it….I think the two of them together are poison. I think players are transferring for NIL money and that’s not what it was designed to be all about….The sooner everybody can get on the same page, the better chance college football has to get on some stable footing.”
On the surface, it sounds like Holtz has no interest in pursuing another college job right now. Stallion fans will be excited to hear that Holtz would rather chase a fourth-straight title in Birmingham.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.