Onside Kick

Ezine Spring 2023

Cover Image Credits: Left Image: Chensiyuan, CC-BYSA-4.0, Right Image: 2C2K Photography, CC-BY-2.0

Meet the Editors!

Hi, my name is Liam Patel and I am a freshman at LASA High School. I have been a fan of Manchester United, a soccer team in the English Premier League, since I was very young. While I love watching soccer, I also really enjoy playing it as I have been playing since I was 4. Although soccer is my main love for sports, I also really enjoy watching football. I have been a fan for the Dallas Cowboys since I was around 8 or 9. Off the topic of sports, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and drawing. Throughout the span of this project, I have really enjoyed learning more about InDesign and Photoshop and working with my teammates to create an amazing magazine. This project has also taught me the skills of interviewing people I’ve never met before which turned out to be a great skill to have and a fun part of the project.

Hello, My name is Axel Gomez and I am a Freshman at LASA. I enjoy playing sports such as soccer and basketball. I come from a family of 6, I have 3 other siblings that I enjoy spending time with. Overall I have been having a great time at LASA, I hope the next few years stay the same. Taking this course has been fun, I have learned many new things, and have enjoyed working with my team.

My name is Samuel Robinson, and I am a Freshman at LASA writing about football for Onside Kick. I’ve been watching football since I was five years old and am a diehard fan of the Dallas Cowboys. When I’m not writing or watching football, I enjoy reading a good book. I’ve really enjoyed interviewing experts across the country and designing the layout for my story, as well as working with my team to create the finished product.

My name is Elijah Moon and I am a freshman at LASA and I wrote about the safety of football for my feature story. I have been very enthusiastic about football for a while and used to collect football cards and watch football since I was in elementary school. When I got to high school, I started playing football and wanted to get really good. Another hobby I have outside of football is track which I first joined in order to work on my sprinting and conditioning for football. This last semester has been very fun to me as I have gotten to learn so much about digital art and design and learning how to create a story by getting interviews and using photography. I have also learned to work well with my team and I am very satisfied with our final product.

Dear Readers,

Our magazine aims to teach you more about American Football, following with topics like the different Leagues in American football and famous football players. Another topic that will be discussed in this magazine is soccer, how it has become world wide known, with many soccer players that are famously known for changing the game, including a feature story all about the famous soccer team; Manchester United. Anyone with an interest in sports such as American football or soccer are welcome to read this magazine. Focusing on both the most popular sport in America and the most popular sport worldwide.

Within this magazine we share great stories and interviews that help you understand the 2 different sports of our magazine even more. I hope you enjoy reading our magazine and have a great time looking at the different photographs and infographics we share throughout the magazine

From Liam Patel, Axel Gomez, Samuel Robinson, and Elijah Moon.

Soccer, a sport known and played across the world and easily claims its title as the King of Sports. It is constantly a joy to watch because of the dribbling, passing, playmaking, and goals being scored from where nobody thought was possible. Millions upon millions of people watch soccer everyday for its excitement and thrill.

Although the end of the Premier League is near, there is plenty of soccer to be played all over the world. In this edition of Onside Kick, we will be diving into one of the biggest clubs in the world, Manchester United and discussing their newly signed stars. We will also discuss some old stars known across the world who have achieved great things in the sport and stapled themselves in soccer history forever.

Devils and the Details

New signings and old starts strive to get a spot in Champions League

By: Liam Patel

Credit: Getty - Manchester United

The Reds took the field against their opponents Newcastle at Wembley Stadium. The game kicked off and Newcastle started off strong with many attacking chances but the defense handled the threats very well. They got an attacking chance in the 33rd minute with Antony, United’s Brazilian winger, sprinting down the right side with the ball. He played a beautiful ball into the box which Casemiro, United’s newest center defensive midfielder, had struck perfectly, rippling the back of the net putting United ahead 1-0. The game had restarted with Newcastle in possession of the ball. They had a chance to level the game in the last 10 minutes before the half but sailed it over the goal. United’s goalkeeper, David De Gea, played a beautiful ball to Bruno Fernandes, a United center midfielder. Fernandes took all the open space to dribble down the field and eventually spotted Marcus Rashford, United’s star left winger, running into the box. Fernandes played the ball right to his feet and Rashford curled it into the top right corner for a goal in the 39th minute of the game. Wembley was on fire after he had scored as the fans started cheering and dancing in the stands. After the wonderful goal from Rashford, there wasn’t a goal from either side which resulted in Manchester United winning the Carabao Cup.

This is just one of Manchester United’s six Carabao Cup wins,

but this trophy is especially special because this is the first trophy for United under management of Erik Ten Hag. Ten Hag joined in April 2022 and we won the Cup in February 2023. With him, the season has definitely gone better than our past seasons because of the multiple new signings United had this season and last season. Mike Pearson, co-founder of MUFC Chicago Fan Club, explains how a top four placement would be huge for Erik Ten Hag’s first year at Manchester United.

"Everybody now kind of assumes that we have to get top four but we need to put it into context that that would be huge for Ten Hag’s first season and this team as well to get back into Champions League football."

One of the superb signings they’ve had this year is

Manager of One

say that he has been the most impactful signing United has had in a while.

Pearson compares Casemiro to John Carrick, one of United’s greatest center midfielders.

"I think Casemiro is probably the standout one. I think he’s brought structure to the team. I think specifically for that position, it’s something we’ve lacked since Carrick retired, at least at that level of control

Casemiro. Pearson and Devin Walker, Socials

United

Everybody now kind of assumes that we have to get top four.

Casemiro chips ball past the keeper to put United up aganist Reading. Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United

and knowing where to be defensively to help the back four out."

Devin Walker expresses how United has needed a better center defensive midfielder for a long time and how Casemiro could solve that problem.

"We were really lacking in the defensive midfielder position, but we just took care of that with a signing this year, and he’s been probably the best defensive midfielder in the league potentially in the world. His name is Casemiro."

Casemiro has had a great season so far with 2 goals and 3 assists in only 19 league appearances. Despite his assists and goals, he is known to be a very aggressive player on the ball and has great passing. Although he has great skills, he is becoming old and has played since 2011, so his retirement is sure to come in the near future. Pearson offers a potential solution to the situation.

"We need a young Casemiro replacement who can learn from Casemiro. We need a good box to box player to play next to him, somebody who’s good in the first phase of getting the ball off the back four, turning and driving up the pitch."

Pearson also gives an idea of which players could be great future signings that could fit the role perfectly.

"In terms of who, there’s probably a couple that I would love us to go and get. I would love Declan Rice. I don’t think we’re gonna get him. I think he’ll stay in London somewhere, but I do think he’s a great player and then I like Agarte from Sporting Lisbon. I think when you watched him against Arsenal, he ran all over their midfield. Created, he’s got a snap and an aggression about him that we miss. So I think one of those two would be a dream for, you know, two players who’ve been kind of recognized across the top leagues this year."

Pearson says that with their current popularity in the football world and their young age they will be in the league for a while.

Another great signing for United is Lisandro Martinez, an Argentinain center back, who joined United this season from Ajax, a team in the dutch league. Mike Pearson for the Chicago Fan Club believes Martinez is a defensive masterclass.

"I think he’s given us a level of aggression that the team needed. He’s on the front foot all the time. He can pass a lot better than most of the center backs that I’ve seen us have over the last probably decade out from the back. He’s very composed on the ball and I think the pair [between Lisandro and Casemiro] have brought a winning mentality that’s been missing from that dressing room for quite a while."

Lisandro Martinez tries to create an attacking chance for his team. Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United

Wout Weghorst celebrates his first ever goal for United. Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United

He's been probably the best defensive midfielder in the league, possbily the world. His name is Casemiro.

“

“

Wout Weghorst, a Dutch striker, is one of United’s new signings that United have on loan from a team called Burnley, an English Championship League Team. Pearson shares his opinion about Weghorst.

"If we hadn’t signed him in January then we wouldn’t have had a front three that we could have relied on every week. At least he’s been fit, he presses, he doesn’t cause any problems

in the dressing room. He feels grateful to be there."

Weghorst has produced 2 goals and 4 assists for United which shows United his true talent but they run into the same problem they are facing with Casemiro, his age. Pearson also comments about this.

"I think moving forward, I’m not someone I’d wanna rely on at his age every week."

With Weghorst being 30 years old at the moment, he will, like Casemiro, be eying retirement soon. Walker gives his input of who could be reliable replacements for the near future.

"There’s two names that I have in mind that are at the top of my list. So the first one will be Harry Kane from Tottenham and the second one is a

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Harry Kane is primarily proven obviously because he has not signed a new contract with Tottenham yet and Victor Osimhen is probably now getting into his peak years of his career. I’ve seen him in the Champions League and he has been playing very well."

Martinez, Casemiro, and Weghorst were definitely the main three signings but there were others decent signings as well.

Tyrell Malacia is United’s backup left back from the Netherlands. He recently just got more playing time due to United’s primary left back Luke Shaw leaving the game against Brentford on April 5, 2023. Pearson shares his opinion on

Malacia’s performance.

"I think Malacia was a smart sign. I think we needed cover for Luke Shaw. I think he showed today, he came in, Shaw went off injured early and Malacia came in and was good for the most part. I mean, he does not have the attack and experience and capabilities of Luke Shaw but he is aggressive in the tackle." The Dutch left back had 17

If everything goes well, we'll continue to invest in you.

I think he's given us the level of agression that the team needed.

Casemiro celebrates after scoring his first ever goal for United in the FA Cup. Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United

appearances for United. Despite all of them being goalless and with no assists, he did however have 5 clean sheets out of his 17 appearances which is great considering he’s the backup.

Christian Eriksen is Manchester United’s Danish center midfielder who just recently joined this season. Although he is slowly reaching the end of his career, he has made a significant impact on United. Pearson goes more into detail about his performance at the club so far.

"He may not be the best defensively. We keep the ball a lot more when he’s playing and create a lot more chances. I think even in today’s game, we struggled to carve Brentford open with real chances. And, if Eriksen plays, I think we have a lot more balance in the midfield and somebody who’s getting a head up to play forward. Although Eriksen hasn’t been our most impactful center midfielder (Casemiro being the best), he has definitely moved the ball and created chances well. He’s had 20 appearances for United with one of them having a goal scored and two assisting his fellow Red Devils."

Antony is Manchester United’s Brazilian left winger who joined early on this season. Pearson describes his performance over the course of the season.

"I think, you know, he’s produced big moments. The

goal away at Fulham to win us the three points was huge. Those three points could be key at the end of the season. The assist against City for Rashford was huge. He’s an exciting talent. Who, if he keeps his feet on the ground, could be really important for us in the next few years. He’s definitely got something, a directness that the other wingers don’t have."

Antony has had 17 appearances 3 goals and 2 assists. He creates a lot of key plays on the left side produced by a lot of passes from the left back

next year? Pearson shares his prediction.

"I think in terms of the league, if we can get top four, I think it would be a huge success. I think if you look back, it’s easy to forget at the start of the season, Chelsea were to have a great season, Liverpool had got to the Champions League last season and just missed out on the league. They were to have a great season and top four seemed like a real achievement when we talked about it at the start of the season."

to the left wing. That link up between the two positions has produced 1 of Antony’s assists and 2 of Antony’s goals. Although the new signings have been big to United’s success, will their impact be enough to put them in contention for a guaranteed spot in Champions League

Chelsea and Liverpool, two world class teams, have moved down the ranks a lot which means that United could use that to their advantage and boost the likelihood of making the top four.

Although new signings help bolster the team, Manchester United can also boost talent through their home grown players.

Ali

The whole goal of this project was that they can do something that is more positive based around soccer.

Hanif, former assistant coach and goalkeeper for

Old Trafford on a sunny Sunday morning ready for the game to start Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United

Manchester United, shares his amazing story on how Manchester United accepted

licenses, they paid for everything that I might need, and they invested in me and me coming from a background of a single mom didn’t have a lot of money and I was very, I was in a very lucky situation that the club decided to do this for me."

him into the club.

"I got into the club and it took an interest to me, first of all as a player and I was a goalkeeper and they thought if everything goes well, we’ll continue to] invest in you so I ended up going into development centers and getting looked at and then eventually getting a chance to train with the academy and I was very fortunate that I was around some very talented players."

As he did get noticed by the club as a player, he also got noticed as a potential assistant coach in the future years. Hanif shares his story about the transition from player to coach.

"I was in a very unique situation where the club decided we’re gonna invest in this person, so they’ve got me into coaching and they’ve got me, they paid for my coaching

During his coaching years at Manchester United, Hanif also managed a project done by the club to help the youth community in the Manchester area. Hanif explains this project more in detail. "The whole goal of this project was that they can do something that is more positive based around soccer. This project was called the Kicks Project."

Although this is done at every club, it is very vital in the Manchester area due to their being the largest population of soccer fans in England compared to any other soccer team in the league.

Hanif sums up his overall experience of his coaching experience at United and his experience out of the country.

"I’m 30 right now, so I’ve been coaching since I was 15 years old. It all started from a tiny soccer field in Old Trafford that right now is, you know, so many kids I’ve got to play on and then I, you know, 15 years later, I’ve ended up in America and living in California. I’m married and you know, my wife now is three years we’ve been together and two dogs and, and yeah, just a different, very different life to what I thought it might look like."

All and all, Manchester United has a lot of great talent in our old stars and our new signings as well but we can’t forget the amount of talent and importance in our current and past coaches who have left a great impact on the club.

Red Devil Marcus Rashford skips past Spainsh midfielder Gerard Moreno to create a scoring chance for his country. Image Credit: Kirill Venediktov

It all started from a tiny soccer field in Old Trafford.

Wout Weghorst celebrates scoring his first ever goal for the team putting United 3-0 against Nottingham Forest. Image Credit: Getty - Manchester United.

A Devilish Quiz

By: Liam Patel

Welcome! You have reached the Devilish Quiz! You will test your knowledge by answering these 6 questions below. Good luck!

1.

Who is the all time leading scorer for United?

2.When was the last time United won a Premier League title?

3. How many times have United won the UCL title?

5. Who is the leading scorer this season (2022-2023)? Marcus Rashford

4. Who is the all-time assist leader for United? Paul Scholes Ryan Giggs Rio Ferdinand Kenny Dalglish

6. Which goalkeeper has the most clean sheets in United history? Peter Schmichell Petr Cech

ANSWER KEY

If you got none right, you should keep reading to learn more about the team

If you got one right, you know a tiny bit about United, but you’re no expert!

If you got 2 right, you are considered just below the average fan who started supporting United about a couple of months ago.

If you got 3 right, you are considered the average United fan who has been supporting for a 1+ years. Congrats on being average!

If you got 4 right, you are just above the average fan and have been supporting for 2+ years.

If you got 5 right, you are officially considered an expert when it comes to United and have been supporting them for 3+ years!

If you got all of them right, you, my friend, are a Manchester United Superfan and you have probably been supporting them for about 5+ years!

Messi and Ronaldo: Greatest Rivalry in Soccer

The Two Soccer Legends Continue to Define the Era and Push the Limits of the Sport

By Axel Gomez

As two of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have captivated football fans across the world with their skill, talent, and recordbreaking achievements. Their rivalry on the field has been the stuff of legends, with each player pushing others to new heights of excellence. But beyond their impressive footballing accomplishments, Ronaldo and Messi also represent different approaches to the game and embody different values.

As we explore the lives and careers of these two footballing giants, we will dive into their upbringing, their personal and professional challenges, and their defining moments on and off the field. We will examine the impact that they have had on the sport and the wider world.

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5th, 1985, in Madeira, Portugal, Ronaldo’s passion for football began at a young age. His parents recognized his talent early on and supported him throughout his career. Today, he is an icon in the sport and a role model for millions of young athletes worldwide.

Ronaldo’s journey to greatness has been nothing short of remarkable. He began his professional career at the age of 16, playing for Sporting CP in Portugal. His skill and talent on the field

quickly caught the attention of scouts from some of the world’s biggest clubs. In 2003, he signed with Manchester United, where he spent six seasons, winning three Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup. In 2009, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for a thenworld-record transfer fee of 94 million euros. He spent nine seasons with the club, becoming their all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances. During his time with Real Madrid, Ronaldo won four UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and two FIFA Club World Cups.

In 2018, Ronaldo transferred to Juventus, he marked a new beginning to the football club and led the team to strive for greatness. Despite being in his late-thirties, he continues to be one of the best players in the world. His dedication to training and his exceptional work ethic have earned him the nickname "The Machine"

or "El Bicho"; in Spanish.

Luca Filiponne is a Juventus fanatic and currently the President of the Juventus fan club in Dallas. Luca has information and his own perspective on the effect Ronaldo left in the football community. As the President of the Juventus Fan club in Dallas, Filiponne has served as a reason to increase the Juventus brand. "Ronaldo was an important marketing’s action for Juventus. He increased the image and popularity of the team around the World" Filippone said. "After Ronaldo had joined the club named Juventus, Ronaldo left a new understanding to the football community. He raised many stakes and followed with his journey.

Luca also exclaims how he follows Ronaldo’s steps on not only becoming a great football player but as well as a great person himself, "As a football fan, the greatness of Messi and Ronaldo has left an indelible mark on

Photo Credits via Pixabay.

my life. Their extraordinary skill, unmatched work ethic, and sheer determination to succeed have inspired me to push myself to be the best version of myself both on and off the field."

Throughout his career, Ronaldo has faced criticism, but he has always maintained his focus and determination. He has proven time and time again that he is one of the best football players of all time, and his legacy will undoubtedly continue for years to come.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s is an inspiration to millions of people around the world, and his contributions to football and society as a whole are immeasurable. As he continues to play at the highest level, fans eagerly anticipate what he will achieve next.

Cristiano Ronaldo as well has some rivalries including the famously known football player; Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi is a name that is synonymous with football. Born on June 24th, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, Messi’s talent and skill on the field were evident from a young age. His journey to become one of the greatest footballers of all time is an inspiring story of determination, hard work, and natural talent.

Messi grew up in a humble household in Rosario, and his love for football was evident from a very young age. He joined his local club,

Grandoli, when he was just five years old. Later on his talent caught the attention of scouts from FC Barcelona, and he was offered a place in their youth academy, La Masia.

Messi’s rise to fame was meteoric. He made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 17, and within a year, he had become a regular starter for the club. In his first full season with the club, he scored 17 goals in 36 appearances. Over the next few years, Messi’s talent shone brightly, and he became one of the most dominant players in the world.

Oscar Rebano; a press office supporter and director at Camp Nou, explains how Messi makes a brand for himself, and is one of the best players in the world. Oscar Rebano places new information on the campaign before, during, and after Messi joined FC Barcelona. Rebano says, "Messi is such

a talented player, he can dribble, shoot, and pass to his teammates, I believe that with all he can do as a football player inside the pitch he is superhuman"

Rebano believes fans respect Messi on a whole new level.

"I think that Messi’s biggest accomplishment is enriching in the program, with all his talent and the amount of work he puts into the game"

Rebano indicates that Messi gave people what they wanted and gave the sport of football a new way it should be played. We can see this as he shares that he inspires him, "As I said, Messi is such a big player, he inspires many; including me. Messi learns from his mistakes and thrives from them, he has created such a big legacy for this football club."

Messi has won numerous accolades throughout his career, including seven Ballon d’Or awards, four UEFA Champions League titles, and ten La Liga titles. He has scored over 700 goals for club

Photo Credits via FC Barcelona’s Photo Gallery.

and country, making him one of the most prolific scorers and players in football history.

The story of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s is one of talent, hard work, and perseverance. Both players became the greatest footballers of all time, inspiring millions of people around the world with their skills and dedication to the sport. Both players have impacted the football world in many different ways, as we see that through fans and

so much on and off the field, they have created a legacy to all the teams they have played for." Carvajal explains that both players have not only affected him as a fan but the different clubs these players have been to. This shows that Messi and Ronaldo can be seen as players that show respect to the world and can be seen as the best players in the world. "Messi and Ronaldo created a whole new understanding of the game, they created new skill moves

playstyles through Messi and Ronaldo, their performances has helped shape his way of playing football at Lonestar, "Watching their performances has given me a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the game and has fueled my passion for football. They have not only shaped my love for the sport, but have also taught me invaluable life lessons about perseverance, discipline, and humility."

The most common sentiment expressed by fans is their admiration for Messi and Ronaldo’s skills on the football pitch. Fans express gratitude for the fact that they have been able to witness the careers of Messi and Ronaldo. They see them as once-in-a-generation talents and feel privileged to have been able to watch them play.

football fanatics.

The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most intense in the history of football. Both players have legions of fans who are fiercely loyal and passionate about their favorite player. While some fans are die-hard supporters of one player over the other, others appreciate both players’ talents

Santiago Carvajal, a player for the Lonestar club here in Austin, shares his opinion on why he is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Carvajal says; "Messi and Ronaldo have experienced

and amazed the world with their playing skills. As I said before, I think that no other player has reached Messi and Ronaldo’s potential." As of now Santiago has experienced many different components involving

Fans of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are united in their admiration for these two football legends. While for many fans, the careers of Messi and Ronaldo have been a reminder of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and talent.

“Messi and Ronaldo’s biggest accomplishment is enriching in the program, with all their talent and the amount of work they put into the game, makes them the Best Football Players in the WORLD.”

Photo Credits via Unsplash

Comparison between the 2 Best Professional World

Lionel Andres Messi

Born: June 24, 1987 Rosario, Argentina

1023 Games Played

805 Goals

356 Assists

Teams Played for:

Awards/Trophies Won:

1 World Cup 7 Ballon d’Ors

3 UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi is a football icon who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He is known for his exceptional dribbling skills, lightning-fast acceleration, and incredible precision in passing and shooting. He has won numerous individual awards, including a record seven Ballon d’Or titles, and has helped his former club, Barcelona, win numerous league titles and Champions League trophies.

Overall Stats

Professional Football Players in the World

Cristiano Ronaldo

Born: February 5, 1985

Funchal, Portugal

835 Goals

1163 Games Played 236 Assists

Teams Played for:

Cristiano Ronaldo is a world-renowned Portuguese footballer who has made an indelible impact on the sport. He is known for his incredible skill, speed, and agility, as well as his ability to score goals from seemingly impossible positions on the field. Ronaldo has won numerous individual and team awards, including the Ballon d’Or, European Golden Shoe, and UEFA Champions League multiple times.

Awards/Trophies Won:

5 Ballon d’Ors

5 UEFA Champion Leagues

1 European Championship

Across the country, fans have flocked to football for its hard hits, feats of athleticism, and inspiring stories. There are few moments that match the excitement of a close game. It is by far the superior sport of America, and millions of fans look forward to the weekend to see their favorite team play.

Although it is the offseason, there is plenty going on in the football world. This edition of Onside Kick features an in depth look into the evolution of player safety, including interviews from coaches of several football programs, and the details on how new spring football leagues are trying to attract fans and stay financially afloat.

Football Football

The Fight for Fans

By Samuel Robinson

Spring football leagues struggle to attract fans and avoid collapse

Image Credit: San Antonio Express News

The crowd was stunned. They had just watched their team give up a commanding lead with less than two minutes on the clock. The stadium, which had been rocked by cheers all game long, was silent. But this comeback was different from the typical football collapse. It had taken a three point conversion and a 4th and 15 onside kick. And this game was not being played on a beautiful fall day, nor was it at a rustic college campus or sparkling NFL stadium. Rather, it was the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks spoiling the San Antonio Brahmas’ home opener in late February.

This type of moment is one that the XFL, and its rival, the USFL, hopes to happen many times this season. Both leagues play in the spring, and if they hope to attract fans, exciting games are a must. Nobody wants to watch boring games, especially if there are plenty of other sports on TV. Attracting fans has been the devil of every spring football league. In the past 40 years, nearly all spring football leagues have failed without a second season, with low attendance and TV ratings often being the culprit. The USFL has finally broken this trend, after their successful season last year. However, even if fans can be secured, financial challenges abound. The Alliance of American Football (AAF), a league from 2019, had seemed popular before a sudden collapse of funding forced them into

bankruptcy after only eight weeks. Although the XFL and the USFL have a similar onfield product, each has a different business model and strategy to keep costs as low as possible, as they hope to create a sustainable spring football league, something no league has ever done before. In the past, spring football leagues have tried and failed to serve as direct competitors to the NFL. However, they often had far worse quality of play. In the more recent years, startup leagues have tried to gain a role as developmental leagues for the NFL, though without the NFL’s backing. Michael Huyghue, former commissioner of the now defunct United Football League, which played in the fall from 2009-2012, says that this is because college football already serves as a

developmental league.

"The NFL really does not need a second developmental league as college football already fills that void. Thus far the NFL has just simply watched from the sidelines as the spring leagues continue to pop up."

This means that the rosters of these leagues are filled with players who may have missed their first shot at the NFL, but consider these leagues to be opportunities for making an NFL roster. Huyghue explains that players consider the NFL to be the ultimate goal.

"There are only a limited number of job opportunities for athletes in the NFL. The minor leagues offer an opportunity for athletes to get a second look or potentially hone their skills to create an opportunity to advance to the NFL. In many ways these athletes treat it as a developmental league."

Although being an official minor league for the NFL, with a system similar to minor league baseball or the NBA G-League in place, would provide much needed stability to these leagues, it is unlikely that it will ever happen. Mark Perry, who runs a network of websites about minor league football, says that although players may use the league as a minor league, the relationship is never going to be official.

"It’s never gonna be a minor league system, like baseball, but everybody wants to play in

Brandon Sebastian of the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks chases down a San Antonio Brahmas receiver. Image Credit: San Antonio Express-News

the NFL one day."

Still, even if the football isn’t as good as the NFL, Perry says there are plenty of football fans out there who could be eager to watch.

"Even if you get 20% of the audience that watches the NFL, it’s still a huge amount of people."

Perry also says that the popularity of football helps these leagues compete against other sports.

"Unless people decide that they don’t like football anymore and would rather watch pickleball or baseball or some other sport somehow takes over the consciousness of the country, at least for the next 10 years, football is king, so definitely there’s room."

Huyghue says that many fans

want more football in the spring, and that TV networks are willing to give it to them.

"The spring is that time where football fans still interestingly want to see more football and the networks typically have content to fill."

Huyghue explains that getting that TV revenue is essential to the survival of a football league.

"The key to a professional football or amateur football league is television revenue" However, Huyghue also notes that these leagues aren’t only competing against other sports.

"Without any significant television revenue these leagues have to compete as alternative entertainment going up against things like movies, restaurants, concerts etc."

Another worry these leagues face is that football fans may just be sick of football, and stop watching, especially with two leagues in the spring. However, Huyghue doesn’t believe this will happen.

"Many experts say there is a saturation point of where the audience will say enough. I am not sure that is true though. I think the audience certainly diminishes substantially over the spring but there is definitely still an audience of hard core fans that will always want to see more football."

Even with a large pool of potential fans, in order to convince fans to support these leagues, they must have stability. In this aspect, the USFL has a bit of an advantage because they are owned by Fox, which uses the league to provide filler television. Perry says that this allows Fox to move staff into other shows in the USFL offseason.

"The nice thing about the USFL is they can take people, have them work and then during the off season they can put them in some other Fox property because Fox owns the USFL"

Conversely, Perry says that the XFL has to pay staff all year.

"They have all these people in there right now working, that

Devin Gray of the Philadelphia Stars catches a touchdown pass against the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL championship game. Image Credit: Brian Fisher - The News Herald of Willoughby, Ohio

Riko Jeffers of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas celebrates against the Arlington Renegades. Image Credit: San Antonio Express-News

they’re gonna have to pay year round."

Another advantage the USFL has is the completion of a full season, which helps them get established fans. However, their season was a little unorthodox. Instead of having each team play in a different city, all eight teams played the season in a hub in Birmingham. Tony Paul, a sportswriter for the Detroit News says that this was a good strategy.

"I thought they were pretty smart last year not trying to bite off more than they could chew."

However, Paul notes that the hub system may have decreased fan support.

"Last year they weren’t playing in the market, I don’t think the fan support was huge"

Paul says that the USFL didn’t have much of a footprint in the cities its teams claimed to represent.

"I thought they’d open like a team store or something like that. But there really wasn’t any [footprint]"

That being said, Paul explains that fan support wasn’t the primary goal last year. "I think last year was all about proving that the football was good and if you can prove the football is good, then you can expand into these markets"

numbers. They’re still happy with those numbers because something on Fox Sports 2 is some repeat that’s probably getting 10,000 views"

This season, the USFL has a new model, where there are four hubs and two teams per hub, and attendance is more of a concern, with league president Daryl Johnston having stated that the USFL wants 15,000 fans at every game. Paul believes that the home teams playing in their home cities will increase fan support.

"Once they announced they were coming to Detroit back in late January, that made them pretty relevant here."

Still, Paul notes that the price must be low to get fans to go to these games.

Within fan support, TV viewership was valued far more than attendance. The USFL was happy to play in empty stadiums as long as people were watching on TV. Perry said that Fox was happy with the viewership numbers the USFL was getting.

"When they were on Fox and NBC, it was 1.2 to 2 million, somewhere around that range and when they started moving them into cable, like Fox Sports 2, that’s when you get the lower

"They’re marketing it as a family friendly, affordable event and when the ticket prices are cheap. But a lot of it’s gonna depend on how much parking is and how much concessions are, because the USFL controls the ticket prices, but they don’t control the parking prices and they don’t control the concession prices."

Paul also says that if the USFL can’t attract fans, Fox may be forced to pull the plug.

"This year and next year are gonna be more about making money in these markets. And if they can’t do that by the end of next year, they’re gonna have

The national anthem is sung before the USFL Championship Game. Image Credit: USFL

“

This year and next year are gonna be more about making money ”

a hard time convincing Fox to continue to pour money into it."

Perry explains that the XFL considered going with the hub model, but ultimately decided not to.

"We had heard that the XFL was leaning towards doing the same thing in Texas, but when word got out, when it was released by us at XFL News hub, our main man, Mike Mitchell, threw it out there, and fans were like, no, no, no, no, no."

Instead of a hub system, the XFL has a hybrid model where all of the teams practice in Arlington, TX, and then travel to their home city for games. Greg Luca, a sportswriter for the San-Antonio Express News says that this system helps keep the XFL financially stable.

"It helps to have all the teams centralized in one place. It minimizes what they’re having to pay in terms of expenses, compared to having training facilities in eight different cities."

Luca notes the football leagues are expensive, and that the XFL has tried to find ways to cut unnecessary costs.

"They’ve tried to find a way to make it sort of feasible and manageable where it’s not putting a huge strain on them financially. A football league’s never gonna be cheap, but I think from all the other leagues that have come before,

they’ve been able to figure out a way to do it in a way that’s as sustainable as possible for them."

The XFL does have some staff on the ground in its home cities, but Luca notes that it’s a very limited presence.

"It’s a minimal group, but they do have some people on the ground here in San Antonio to try to build local connections"

This is not San Antonio’s first foray into minor league

football. The AAF had had a very successful team in the city before it collapsed, called the Commanders, and Luca says there have been 13 teams in San Antonio before the XFL.

"13 teams that we’re aware of now in the city that have come and gone without lasting more than a couple of years in these different leagues, whether it’s an arena type team or whether it’s an outdoor team like the Alliance or the XFL, they have come and gone and have never had that staying power."

Pregame festivities before a game between the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and the St Louis Battlehawks. Image Credit: Hunter von Czoernig

For most of those teams, it was the league, rather than the team, that failed. Luca says this is because football leagues aren’t very profitable.

"It’s just been the money issue with every different league. That’s kind of typically where they’ve always gone under. And that’s not that surprising because it’s a venture that’s not necessarily that profitable and it takes a huge amount of equity to get a football league off the ground but all of these different things that have come and gone, it’s been stories about players and their paychecks not coming through. Guys scrambling to try to make it work and not having the resources available and maybe the facilities are falling apart and

did to try to get on people’s radar and to build that connection and whether it was at autograph signings or they were at different sporting goods stores, bars, and restaurants, it felt like everywhere you went there was some kind of Commander’s thing."

However, Luca notes that he hasn’t seen that level of involvement from the XFL, primarily due to the lack of staff on the ground.

attributable to many tickets being given away for free.

"UTSA season ticket holders got in for free, essentially. Either that or the, the tickets were steeply discounted, so there was a lot of different ways that they kind of pumped up [the attendance] number"

the equipment is not what it should be."

Luca believes that the success of the Commanders was helped by their community outreach efforts.

"The Commander’s side, they were always in the community. There was so much that they

"The guys haven’t been here. They did one thing at a brewery the week before the home opener, and they’ll be in the markets probably every home week just for one or two events here or there. But it’s not the same level of connection."

The San Antonio Brahmas still had strong attendance for the home opener, but attendance has since dropped off. Luca believes that their sold out opener may have been

Luca also believes that the decline in attendance is likely due to when the games were scheduled, and the Brahmas’ poor on field performance. "San Antonio has had a couple of bad draws in terms of the timing of the two most recent home games, with a late kick on a Sunday night and then an Easter Sunday game. The losing, of course, is also a factor. I know from the comments on Twitter that some people are specifically turned off by the offense, which ranks near the bottom of the league in most categories and struggles to

Players line up for an XFL kickoff in St. Louis in front of a crowd of more than 35,000. Image Credit: Nathan Rubbelke - St. Louis Business Journal

Hines Ward, head coach of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas, celebrates during a game against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Image Credit: San Antonio Express-News

put up points. The style of play just isn’t fun to watch." Luca explains that many people in San Antonio are driven to support minor league teams in the hopes that it could attract a major league team.

"If San Antonio throws their full weight behind it, and if they’re ending up getting 30,000 or 40,000 people in the Alamodome somehow for this, then that’s sort of a symbol that an NFL team could be worthwhile to put here."

However, the decline in San Antonio’s attendance could be catastrophic for the XFL. Mark Perry has identified San Antonio and St. Louis as the critical markets for the league to succeed in.

"San Antonio, and the Battle Hawks in St. Louis, they need to have strong teams to fill up those stadiums."

St. Louis has the highest

attendance in the league, with over 35,000 fans at each game, but after 24,000 people attended the Brahmas’ opener, they’ve regressed to around 12,000 people, which is what most of the other XFL teams are averaging.

Although many XFL crowds have been low, San Antonio Brahmas’ head coach Hines Ward says he was impressed by the intensity of the fans.

"The stadium was awesome, the atmosphere, the fans really got into it. We heard the boos coming out on the field and things like that."

Ward believes that the quality of play is high, and that the games are fun to watch.

"The game doesn’t take forever. The game is probably over in less than three hours. You’re going to see some hard hitting, you’re going to see some

exciting plays."

Still, similar to the USFL, selling tickets is only part of the puzzle, and TV broadcasting plays a very important role. Perry says that the XFL’s deal with Disney is unique, because unlike other minor football leagues in the past, the XFL is getting paid for its broadcasting rights.

"Supposedly the XFL has gotten money from Disney to put games on ESPN and ABC. So the pendulum has shifted and that kind of gives them more stability"

Luca says that the XFL has added features to their broadcasts that give fans an inside look of the teams in order to help bolster ratings.

"You can hear everything the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator are saying, and they have the quarterback’s microphone on the whole time and you hear a lot of different things that Hines Ward is saying within the game. It’s interesting

Sal Cannella of the New Orleans Breakers attempts to catch a pass against the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Semifinals. Image Credit: Brian Fisher - The News Herald of Willoughby, Ohio

Fans of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas cheer during a game against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Image Credit: San Antonio Express-News

that they provide that level of transparency, and you see why people can get engaged with it"

Perry believes that with these strategies for attracting fans, both in person and on TV, it will take both leagues about three years to gain a solid foundation of fan support, and reach their peak strength. "The leagues need three years to maximize their value."

Currently, both the USFL and the XFL own all of their teams. However, Perry explains that

another level of complexity."

Perry says that right now, the USFL holds a slight advantage over the XFL, owing to the fact that they have lower costs.

"If I was prognosticating, I would give 51% to the U S F L right now because they’re not spending a ton of money."

However, Perry believes that the XFL may have a slight long term advantage if they can make it to a stage where they are selling franchises.

"If the XFL can make it past a year or two, which I think they will, I think the XFL might have a little bit more valued franchises".

after three years, the leagues will start moving to a franchise model.

"The goal of all of the leagues is to demonstrate that this is a profitable business, that this is a good business to get into. Find somebody willing to pay 50 million or a hundred million for a franchise, and then they take care of the rest."

However, Perry also notes that the franchise model, though lucrative, isn’t without its problems.

"The problem is then you start getting more people making decisions and, and you have to pass it with the owners. It adds

However, it may not matter who has the advantage. Perry says that the leagues will eventually merge instead of competing with each other.

"All the fans think at some point in the next four to five years they’re gonna have to merge"

However, Paul thinks that the leagues are fundamentally incompatible, and won’t merge.

"I think they’re two different products, and, I think that [the USFL] honestly is a little bit more about football. "

Regardless of whether or not they merge, Perry believes that right now is the make or break moment for spring football.

"If this doesn’t work, if neither

of these two leagues make it happen, then spring football will never work."

However, Perry is optimistic that the leagues will be able to pull it off.

"Everybody that I talk to is like, yeah, this is gonna work."

It is certainly a very exciting time to be a football fan. At the moment, it is possible to watch football year round. However, whether or not fans want that will be the ultimate decider of the fate of the leagues. The success of the leagues during this spring and summer, which will be the first time where the leagues will be competing against each other, will likely tell us whether or not these leagues will be able to survive, or whether they will suffer a dramatic collapse.

“ Everybody that I talk to is like, yeah, this is gonna work ”

Mike Tverdov and Jack Koerner of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas celebrate during a game against the Arlington Renegades. Image Credit: San Antonio Express-News

ONE COUNTRY

By Samuel Robinson

Blue = XFL Red = USFL

Note: Teams will be placed where their home stadiums are. Teams playing in a home stadium in a different city than where they claim to represent (such as the Philadelphia Stars playing in Detroit) will have a dashed line connecting them to their claimed city.

No California Gold Rush

Although it has many large media markets, there are no teams from either leagues in California. Although the XFL had a team in LA in its 2020 iteration, the Wildcats, they had some of the lowest attendance and TV numbers in the league. Instead of California, the XFL has designated Seattle and Vegas to be its teams out west.

TXFL

The XFL has put three teams, a high proportion of their eight team league, in Texas. This makes sense given that the league is headquartered in Arlington, where all of the teams practice, and the teams travel every week to the city they are playing in. Putting three teams in Texas cuts down on travel costs, which are a major cost for any football league, while also attracting fans with regional rivalries.

Las Vegas

Seattle

TWO LEAGUES

Both the XFL and the USFL, the two major spring football leagues in America, are trying to win the hearts of fans across the country. In this competition, leagues need to consider both appealing to fans throughout the country and cutting crucial costs when choosing team locations.

Entirely in the East

The USFL does not have a single team west of Houston, and the westernmost hub is Memphis. The closer proximity of the hubs cuts down on travel costs, but it risks alienating western fans.

Houston, we have football

Houston is the only city with both an XFL and a USFL team. This, plus its NFL team means that Houston gets football almost all year round. However, all of these teams make it a hotbed for competition. The status of this “battle for Houston” will likely be an indicator of which league is winning the nationwide competition for fans. However, only the XFL team, the Roughnecks, plays in Houston, with the USFL team, the Gamblers, playing several hours away in Memphis.

By Elijah Moon

Around 100,000 concus sions occur each year across America from high school football players. Half of these concussions go undetected and unnoticed leading students to high risk of potential permanent brain damage and CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a fatal brain disease caused from repetitive head contact and injuries. The scary fact about CTE is that it progressively gets worse as you get older and potentially leads to memory loss, confusion, dementia, suicidality, and people can lose their ability to speak.

Football is an impact sport and very prone to injuries especially in the head. Injuries have greatly decreased by 24% since 2010, though the amount of injuries is still high. But how have the rules and regulations changed over time to keep athletes much more safe?

Over the years, safety rules and regulations have evolved significantly to address concerns around player safety and reduce the risk of injury.

Coach Derrick Lewis, former NFL player and a current head coach of a high school football team. He has known football for a while and how the game has changed throughout the years. "Well the biggest change has been the way that athletes are taught to tackle," says Coach Lewis. In the sport of rugby, concussions aren’t as prevalent as in American football because of the helmet to helmet contact.

"Rugby style tackling is executed with the shoulder and not the head. This technique has reduced the number of head injuries in football by 30%."

Coach Osorio played football in college and is a current high school track and football coach. He has similar thoughts to Coach Lewis and states, "As for tackling techniques, In the past, players were taught to lead with their heads when making a tackle, which often resulted in head and neck injuries. Today, coaches are taught to teach players to tackle with their shoulders and chest to reduce the risk of injury."

Coach

with his kids Dominique, Derrick Jr, Darius, Demante, and Dejon.

In the past, players were not allowed to make contact with kickers and punters, who were considered defenseless. As far as new rules, this applies to any player in a position in which they cannot protect themselves from contact. Coach Lewis shares his opinion on this rule, "This rule has been the biggest change that has dramatically impacted the game."

Another large factor that contributes to player safety are

helmets. In the past, helmet safety standards were different and football helmets were not designed with safety as the primary concern and many players wore outdated or poorly fitted helmets. Today, helmets must meet safety standards set by the National Operating committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) and be reconditioned and recertified regularly.

Although all these changes were made to keep student athletes and professionals safe, some people are not happy with these changes and say the game is "becoming soft." Coach Lewis says that, "Any regulation that will keep an athlete safe is definitely beneficial and necessary. We as spectators watch these sports for the violence, boxing, MMA, football, car racing, and taekwondo, etc. These are all sports which capture our imagination because of the potential for injury. The problem is that spectators are not the ones performing the act and therefore have no risk."

Coach Osorio agrees, "The safety of players should always be the top priority, and the changes made in recent years have helped to reduce the risk of injury and

Derrick Lewis

improve player safety."

risk of injuries to players.

While some of these changes may have been met with resistance at first, the evidence has shown that they are necessary for the health and safety of players. By prioritizing player safety, we can help ensure that football remains a fun and exciting sport for players and fans alike, while minimizing the risk of long-term health consequences.

participating in the sport, and protocols for dealing with head injuries such as concussions.

Another thing that has helped improve player safety is the introduction of concussion protocols which has helped to ensure that players receive proper medical attention and are not at risk by returning to play too soon after a head injury.

The limitations on full-contact drills during practice have helped to reduce the risk of head and neck injuries, which are often the result of repetitive contact. Additionally, changes to tackling techniques and the introduction of stricter penalties for dangerous hits have helped to reduce the

The rules and regulations for players are very similar from high school athletes to college athletes to NFL players. The NFL first makes the new rules and Coach Lewis explains that these new changes will later trickle down to college and high school ball. However, there are some differences and particular states may have different safety regulations than other states. The UIL, NCAA, and NFL all have regulations in place to protect players from injuries. The UIL limits the amount of full-contact practice time allowed during the week, requires players to undergo medical evaluations before

The NCAA also has regulations in place for tackling and blocking, limitations on contact during practices, and mandatory medical evaluations for players. The NFL has the strictest regulations in place, including restrictions on certain types of hits, mandatory use of protective equipment, and advanced medical protocols.

These regulations are designed to reduce the risk of injuries, and to ensure that players are properly educated about the risks and how to protect themselves.

If a player gets injured during a game or practice, they can only return to the field under certain conditions. The University Inter scholastic League (UIL), which governs high school sports in Texas, has specific policies and procedures regarding the return to play of athletes who have suffered an injury during competition.

The safety of players should always be the top priority, and the changes made in recent years have helped to reduce the risk of injury and improve player safety.

Coach Lewis giving a speech in the team huddle before the game.

"In the case of concussions, for example, UIL requires that any athlete who has been diagnosed with a concussion must be evaluated and cleared by a medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions before they can return to play. This evaluation must be conducted according to the Concussion Oversight Team (COT) and Return to Play Protocol established by UIL," Coach Osorio explains.

All high schools have sports trainers and medical professionals in order to help athletes with injuries and will determine whether they are recovered from the injury. Coach Lewis says, "They must be cleared by the trainer. No player can reenter competitions without a thorough examination from a doctor and school trainer."

In addition to concussions, UIL also has policies and procedures in place for other types of injuries. For example, athletes who have suffered a sprain or strain must have a medical release form signed by a physician or licensed athletic trainer before they can return to play.

Overall, the goal of these policies and procedures is to ensure that athletes are not returned to play too soon after an injury and that they are fully healed and cleared

by a medical professional before they resume competition. This helps to minimize the risk of further injury and ensures the safety and well-being of the athletes.

There are also limitations on the

greater emphasis on coaching and education, with more coaches being trained in proper tackling techniques and players being educated on the risks associated with the sport," Coach Osorio adds.

Some of the specific improvements in football include the adoption of concussion protocols, stricter rules and penalties for dangerous hits, and the development of better equipment, such as helmets and pads. Additionally, there has been a growing movement towards reducing contact in practice, as well as increasing the amount of recovery time between games.

However, there are still some challenges and issues that need to be addressed to make football an even safer sport. For example, Coach Osorio says that, "There are still concerns about the longterm effects of head injuries, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and more research is needed to fully understand the risks and potential solutions. Additionally, there are still some disparities in the resources and education available to different schools and teams, which can impact the safety of players."

while the sport is still very fun to play and watch. With the increased focus on player safety and advancements in sports medicine and technology, there are now more resources available to manage injuries.

"Additionally, there has been a

While there is still work to be done, the improvements in football in recent decades have been significant and have helped to make the sport safer for players.

A day

in the Life Of a

What does an NFL Player do

SATURDAY MORNING (DAY BEFORE A GAME)

TEAM MEETINGS

Players wake up at 7 or 8 in the morning and usually eat breakfast with the team. After that, they go for a lift and workout in the morning.

Positions will meet separately and have a meeting to analyze receive coaching and information. will discuss what to do how to beat a type of defense. players will meet with the defensive players will meet in order to discuss

GAME ANALYSIS

BEDTIME

The players now sleep at 9:30 to be rested for the game.

After the meetings, players will either get in a good mental state before they go to bed or watch film and analyze.

an NFL player

do the day before a game?

MEETINGS

WALK-THROUGH

separately with their position coach analyze game and practice film and information. The coaches and players against certain offensive plays or defense. Sometimes, all offensive the offensive coordinator, and all meet with the defensive coordinator, discuss the game plan.

MORE TEAM MEETINGS

The team will have a team walk-through. This is where the team will practice basic plays and realistic procedures. This doesn’t take more than an hour and the team is usually finished around noon.

The team has more team meetings at the hotel.

The players have some free time after the walk-through, but on the occasion of an away game, the team hops on a a plane to check in to the hotel at around 6:00 P.M.

PLANE

Back Cover Image credits: Top left: Chris Moore - iStock/ unsplash. Bottom left: pngkit.com. Top right: Fanny Scherzter, CC-BY-SA-3.0, Bottom right: Kirill Venediktov, CC-BY-SA-3.0 Onside Kick