Stallions’ holtz says hold off on dynasty talk…for now.

JUNE 12, 2024 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

By Steve Irvine

Satisfaction over Saturday’s come-from-behind UFL Divisional Playoff win over the Michigan Panthers when Birmingham Stallions head coach Skip Holtz faced a doozy of a question that concluded his postgame press conference. The question centered around talk of the Stallions being considered a spring football dynasty if they can win a third consecutive league title.

Holtz met the question with a combination of smile and grimace.

“Let's talk about that next week when we win,” Holtz said. “That would be a great question for the press conference, and I have a week to think about my answer. But until then, it doesn't matter. Until then, if we don't win, it doesn't matter.”

The Stallions opponent for the UFL Championship Game is the San Antonio Brahmas who defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks on Sunday night in the XFL Championship game. The Stallions and Brahmas will meet this Sunday in the inaugural UFL title match.

On Saturday, though, Holtz took a minute to look back at his part in building a team that is flirting with yet another spring league title. Now, to be honest, he was looking back only because he was asked to do so in the press conference.

“I love the thought of spring football,” said Holtz, who is 31-4 as the Birmingham Stallions head coach. “I love the direction that it's gone. It's only gotten better and better every single year. But I remember that first year. Hell, I just wanted to beat New Jersey. You know what I mean? We played right here in Protective Stadium. We're playing the Generals. I was scared, definitely, we were going to get beat by 100 points. I'd never been through this. It's my first experience in pro ball. We've got 42 players active. I mean, I've got seven offensive linemen. I'm used to 17. You know, I mean, and you're like, how in the world are we going to make this happen? And you know what, we didn't, we just started out to win that game and then the next one, and then the next one.”

Each of the three seasons have a different script. There were key personnel moves needed for each team and critical injuries to overcome. Holtz, general manager Zach Potter and the coaching staff kept finding ways to succeed.

“Here we are three years later, just trying to win the next one,” Holtz said. “And that's what we got to do. When all this is over, we will all get an opportunity to look back and to celebrate and maybe get excited about some of the things that we've been able to accomplish here for the last three years.”

No matter what happens this weekend, it’s certainly been a special ride for Holtz.

“The city of Birmingham has been awesome,” Holtz said. “USFL, the XFL, the UFL, all the leadership in place, I can't mention everybody, they've all been great. It has been an awesome experience for me. I think it has given a lot of players a second opportunity that they need, that they deserve. And I have said this time and time again, I think it's the purest brand of football being played right now. Everybody makes the same thing. Players love the game. They just want film. They want to keep playing this game. And it is, you just have such an incredible group of young men that are just looking for their second opportunity.  I am incredibly grateful for the platform and the sacrifices and commitments everybody made to so many people to give these young men an opportunity. So glad that I could be a little part of it.”