Stoops doesn't worry about XFL's viability
The Alliance of American Football is two weeks old, and already we're wondering if the spring league will survive.
The Athletic reported that the AAF was “quickly” running short of cash, and Tom Dundon, owner of hockey's Carolina Hurricanes, infused the league with a $250 million investment this week. The AAF bravely said Dundon's money was not related to a payroll problem — some players didn't get paid on time — and that the snafu was the result of switching payroll companies.
Whatever. Just normal drama from startup football leagues, be it the XFL of the 2000s or the USFL of the 1980s or the World Football League of the 1970s.
Whatever describes Bob Stoops' attitude, since he signed on with the new XFL, another spring startup scheduled to kick off next February. To much pomp, Stoops was introduced two weeks ago as the coach/general manager of the XFL's Dallas franchise.
This week, Stoops claimed no concern over the financial viability of the XFL or its rival Alliance of American Football.
“Well, I'm going to go do my job,” Stoops said with a chuckle. “Someone else is going to worry about the finances. I'll worry about mine in my own home, but someone else is going to be in charge of that. All I can do is hopefully put a really
exciting, fun product down for people to watch in the Dallas area.”
Startup football leagues rarely last long. In the last half century, Arena Football has been the only sustained venture, and it has been gasping for several years. And that includes the original XFL, which wrestler promoter Vince McMahon founded with a mix of football and wrestling theatrics.
The original XFL lasted only a year, 2001, and folded after broadcast partner NBC bailed. The XFL was known for nicknames (“He Hate Me”) on the back of jerseys and suggestively-dressed cheerleaders and rule changes designed to spice up the game (“no fair catches” became an XFL marketing slogan). Not every XFL innovation was nonsense — aerial cameras have become NFL staples.
But McMahon this time promises more football and less showmanship. Stoops said that's the only way he would have signed on.
“It's going to be quality football and play,” Stoops said. “I wouldn't have had any part of something that wasn't. That's just not my style. Not something I would have been interested in. Hey, fine, it is for some other people, that's OK. Just wouldn't have been what I would have been looking for.”
Stoops was looking for a football fix. He admits to some boredom after retiring in June 2017 after 18 seasons as the Oklahoma coach. Stoops said he wanted his own time and got it.
The XFL allows Stoops to straddle the fence. He'll be full-time January through April. Part-time the rest of the year.
“I wanted to keep my affiliation with Oklahoma and (athletic director) Joe Castiglione, and the athletic department has allowed me to do that, for part of the year, anyway,” Stoops said.
“So this just seems to fit an opportunity to be back on the field but still be a part of our community here and at a certain time of the year as well. So hopefully it will be an exciting adventure, and hopefully some of you will be traveling down to watch us.”
Some have suggested that the XFL is a bridge back to a big-time coaching job for Stoops. That's silly. He had a big-time coaching job. If he wanted another, all it would take is a phone call, and Stoops would be back at a Southern Cal or Texas A&M or Florida State. Or even in the NFL.
“I say this humbly.” Stoops said. “I've been asked plenty over the last couple of years. I didn't need a bridge to get anywhere else. This is strictly, like I said, for my family and me at this point in my life and where I'm at, it fits really well. And life changes, so we'll see where it goes from here, but for this point in my life and my career, it fits really well.”
Stoops' mentor and friend, Steve Spurrier, left retirement to coach the Orlando Apollos of the AAF. Stoops has talked with Spurrier and spent some time with him in Orlando; Spurrier didn't discourage Stoops from trying a spring football league.
The XFL sounds like just what Stoops needed, for however long it lasts. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-7608080 or at btramel@ oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok. com/berrytramel.