2019 The Spring League season explained

2019 The Spring League season
League:The Spring League
Sport:American football
Duration:April 6 – 11
No Of Games:2 per team
No Of Teams:4
Tv:None
Season Champs:Austin Generals
Prevseason Year:2018
Nextseason Year:2020

The 2019 The Spring League season (or TSL Austin) was the third overall in league history, which was played in Austin, Texas. 2019 season practice began March 31, 2019, with double headers on April 6 and 11, 2019. Each of the four teams played two games.[1]

The League partnered with the XFL to test potential rule adjustments, experiment with potential in-game technologies and scout talent as the league prepared for its inaugural season.[2] The XFL paid the league "six figures" for its services, a payment that allowed The Spring League to turn a profit that year for the first time.[3]

Rules

The Spring League partnered with the XFL to test rule changes the new league hoped to implement for its own 2020 season. One rule change, originally proposed by Pro Football Talk in 2017, was replacing overtime with a two-point conversion shootout occurring simultaneously at both end zones with five rounds in the TSL.[4] Also tested was the tap rule, which allows a referee to send a player to the sideline for less than a penalty level offense.[5] Both rules and the kickoff formation were later implemented in the XFL.

Teams

For the first time, one of the teams had a brand name; the Austin Generals (formerly South) was named after its host city of Austin, and used the logo and colors of the former New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.[1] [6] The remaining three teams retained their generic North, East and West brandings.

The following coaches were part of the 2019 season:

Lynn Stiles was first announced as the North head coach,[7] but did not appear on the league final roster.

Games

Date Team score opponent score Notes Refs
April 6 North 6 West 36 [8] [9]
April 7 Generals 13 East 6 Overtime Test Game [10] [11]
April 13 North 31 East 24 [12] [13]
April 15 Generals 32 West 13 [14] [15]

Standings

Spring League 2019
Team
Austin Generals[16] 2 0 1.000 45 19
West[17] 1 1 .500 49 38
North[18] 1 1 .500 37 60
East[19] 02 .000 30 44

XFL tryouts

The Spring League was hired by the XFL to hold three mini-camp style tryouts. With this revenue source, the league's revenue exceeded one million dollars and would have its first profitable year. The two leagues are in preliminary discussions of the Spring League becoming the XFL's official development league.[20]

Spring League Showcases

The league held its two "Summer Showcases" in partnership with the XFL[21] - the first on June in Mission Viejo, California[22] [23] and the second on July 30 in Long Beach, California, 2019 with 100 pay to play players in a four-day camp and a six quarter scrimmage.[24] XFL executives and coaches and ESPN and Fox staff were on had to view rule tests and in-game technologies with the broadcaster giving feedback on how it would effect broadcast coverage.[20]

A "Fall Showcase" was held on September in Marietta, Georgia,[25] [26] [27] and on November they held another showcase in Miami, Florida.[28] [29]

Notes and References

  1. News: Halliburton . Suzanne . Ex-Baylor star Shawn Oakman tries to revive career in Spring League . April 10, 2019 . Austin American-Statesman . April 6, 2019 . en.
  2. Web site: XFL partners with The Spring League to reimagine football. January 30, 2019 .
  3. Web site: The Spring League finds 'secret sauce' to survival.
  4. News: Florio . Mike . Spring League returns with revolutionary overtime idea . April 10, 2019 . ProFootballTalk . NBC Sports . April 7, 2019 . en.
  5. News: Florio . Mike . Spring League tests XFL "tap" rule that sends players to sideline . April 10, 2019 . ProFootballTalk . April 8, 2019 . en.
  6. Web site: The Spring League Brands Team as Austin Generals in Homage to Host City . The Spring League . March 18, 2019 . May 14, 2021 . May 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515153559/https://www.thespringleague.com/2019/03/18/spring-league-unveils-austin-generals-homage-host-city/ . dead .
  7. 1112468700903469058. TheSpringLeague. Lynn Stiles will be coaching Team North (Orange) and the linebackers at #TheSpringLeague 2019. Coach Stiles brings… . March 31, 2019.
  8. Web site: The Spring League 2019: North Vs West Game Highlights. .
  9. Web site: The Spring League Game Day 1: Box Scores from TSL West's Big Win Over TSL North. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421135857/http://www.thespringleague.com/2019/04/07/spring-league-game-day-1-box-scores-tsl-wests-big-win-tsl-north/ . April 21, 2019 .
  10. Web site: The Spring League 2019: East Vs Generals Game Highlights. .
  11. Web site: The Spring League Game Day 1: Box Scores from Austin Generals Victory Over TSL East. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421135852/http://www.thespringleague.com/2019/04/07/spring-league-game-day-1-box-scores-austin-generals-victory-tsl-east/ . April 21, 2019 .
  12. Web site: The Spring League 2019: North Vs East Game Highlights. .
  13. Web site: The Spring League Game Day 2: Box Scores from TSL North's Comeback Win Over TSL East. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421135935/http://www.thespringleague.com/2019/04/12/spring-league-game-day-2-box-scores-tsl-norths-comeback-win-tsl-east/ . April 21, 2019 .
  14. Web site: The Spring League 2019: West Vs Generals Game Highlights. .
  15. Web site: The Spring League Game Day 2: Box Scores from Austin Generals Victory Over TSL West. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421135930/https://thespringleague.com/2019/04/12/spring-league-game-day-2-box-scores-austin-generals-victory-tsl-west/ . April 21, 2019 .
  16. Web site: 2019 Austin Generals Roster. .
  17. Web site: 2019 WEST Roster. .
  18. Web site: 2019 NORTH Roster. .
  19. Web site: 2019 EAST Roster. .
  20. News: Unique Revenue Streams, Elimination of Costly Expenditures Keys to The Spring League's Success . February 25, 2020 . Sports Illustrated. John Wall Street . Maven . July 30, 2019 . en.
  21. Web site:
    1. TheSpringLeague and the XFL are teaming up again for not one but TWO SoCal Showcases this summer.
    . .
  22. Web site: 2019 June Showcase roster pt1. .
  23. Web site: 2019 June Showcase roster pt2. .
  24. Web site: Rosters revealed for the Spring League July Showcase. July 30, 2019 .
  25. Web site: The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt1. .
  26. Web site: The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt2. .
  27. Web site: The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt3. .
  28. Web site: The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Offence. .
  29. Web site: The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Defense. .