Although the Spring League only started back in 2017, there’s already been a lot of hype surrounding it. So much hype in fact that several new teams have joined recently. Although it doesn’t pay a wage in the same way that the other leagues do, it serves as a brilliant platform to show off emerging football talent. We’re going to explore all the information on the newest teams to join the league right here, so if you want to be in the know, keep reading.
Las Vegas Hughes
Whilst Las Vegas casinos and Las Vegas buffets are likely what you currently associate most with this city, it might not be long before the Las Vegas Hughes are added to that list as well. This team is a brand new addition to the Super League and judging by their namesake, they’ve got big boots to fill. Howard Hughes is who the team was named after and was a revered businessman, philanthropist, and record-breaking pilot. He lived his later years in relative solitude in Las Vegas and seemed a good fit for the name of the team. However, during last year’s season, the team decided on a rebrand to the Aviators, making a more subtle nod to Howard’s high-flying history. Unfortunately for the Aviators, it looks as though that rebrand has not seen them reaching the dizzying heights of their previous namesake and they currently sit bottom of the table with six losses from six.
Linemen
The Linemen was a team that was only announced just in time for this year’s season and they have been performing well so far. This announcement came at the same time as Fox announced it would be showing a game from The Spring League once a week, every week. Trained by head coach Hal Mumme, The Linemen could not be in more capable hands. Hal had a career as an undergraduate at a couple of universities before realizing that his true calling was coaching. He became a head coach at Aransas Pass High School in 1979 and hasn’t looked back since then. Other than the Linemen his most recent position was back in 2018 as head coach to the XFL team the Dallas Renegades. The Renegades did achieve some success under Mumme, but during the 2020 season had an unfortunate collision with a player on the pitch sidelines and stepped down to become an advisor. However, with five wins already this season it looks like that incident hasn’t upset Mumme’s coaching style for a moment, letting the Linemen make it to the top of the table.
Sea Lions
The Sea Lions were the other team that was announced just in time for the 2021 season, taking the number of teams in The Spring League to eight for the first time since its inauguration. Their head coach Larry Kirksey is similarly experienced to the Linemen’s coach, with a staggering 22 years of coaching under his belt and an additional 17 of them at a league level. Although he’s only had a couple of months with the Sea Lions, it’s been a slow start for the team. They’ve won one game out of six, so there’s certainly room for improvement. However, if their coach’s career is anything to go by, they should start clawing their way up the table soon.
