Reggie Barlow Remains With New 'United Football League'; Limited Options For HBCU Players

HOUSTON – 2024 brings in the new year and new football league. The newly announced United Football League resulted from the XFL and UFL merger. Only eight football teams in two conferences, USFL and XFL, will compete in the UFL's inaugural season, which will kick off on March 30, 2024. Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson made the announcement on ESPN's College GameDay Built by The Home Depot.

The new conferences are as follows:

USFL Conference: Memphis Showboats, San Antonio Brahmas, Michigan Panthers, St. Louis Battlehawks
XFL Conference: Birmingham Stallions, Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, D.C. Defenders

The D.C. Defenders head coach, Reggie Barlow, is a former HBCU head coach at Alabama State and an alumnus of the Hornets. He will be joined by Skip Holtz (Stallions), Bob Stoops (Renegades), CJ Johnson (Roughnecks), John DeFilippo (Showboats), Wade Phillips (Brahmas), Mike Nolan (Panthers), and Anthony Becht (Battlehawks).

Curtis Johnson and Barlow are the two black head coaches in the league. Last season, Barlow guided the D.C. Defenders to the 2023 XFL Championship Game. Unfortunately, the team lost 35-26 to the Arlington Renegades, making his bid to become the first black head football coach from an HBCU to win a championship fall short.

Johnson was the Houston Gamblers head coach, but the new league rebranded the Gamblers into the Roughnecks. After Hines Ward's resignation last week, Wade Phillips moved to the San Antonio Brahmas from his former position as coach of the Roughnecks.

HBCU football players will have limited opportunities, with only eight teams compared to 16 combined teams of the XFL and USFL. The Spring leagues were great developmental training grounds for HBCU players with professional leagues, leading to several players being signed by NFL squads.

The UFL will have a 10-game regular season starting on Saturday, March 30, 2024, with a battle of the 2023 champions: Birmingham Stallions (USFL) vs Arlington Renegades (XFL). Players will report to training camp in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Tickets for the upcoming season are on sale now. Season Ticket Members with money already in their account for 2024 will have the first opportunity to select their seats once a stadium location is announced. Visit www.theufl.com to learn more.

Reggie Barlow's XFL Run Should Boost HBCU Coaching Ranks, Open Eyes of NFL

Published Jan 1, 2024

KYLE T. MOSLEY

I am Kyle T. Mosley, the Founder, Managing Editor, and Chief Reporter for the HBCU Legends, Saints News Network, and Pelicans Scoop on FanNation a Sports Illustrated team channel since October 2019. Morehouse Alum, McDonogh #35 Roneagles (NOLA), Drum Major of the Tenacious Four. My Father, Mother, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles were HBCU graduates! Host of "Blow the Whistle" HBCU Legends, "The Quad" with Coach Steward, and "Bayou Blitz" Podcasts. Radio/Media Appearances: WWL AM/FM Radio in New Orleans (Mike Detillier/Bobby Hebert), KCOH AM 1230 in Houston (Ralph Cooper), WBOK AM in New Orleans (Reggie Flood/Ro Brown), and 103.7FM "The Game" (Jordy Hultberg/Clint Domingue), College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt), Jeff Lightsly Show, and Offscript TV on YouTube. Television Appearance: Fox26 in Houston on The Isiah Carey Factor, College Kickoff Unlimited (Emory Hunt). My Notable Interviews: Byron Allen (Media Mogul), Deion Sanders (Jackson State University, Head Coach), Tomekia Reed (Jackson State Lady Tigers Basketball Coach), Taylor Rooks (NBA Reporter), Swin Cash (VP of Basketball - New Orlean Pelicans), Demario and Tamala Davis (NFL Player), Jerry Rice (Hall of Famer), Doug Williams (HBCU & NFL Legend), Emmitt Smith (Hall of Famer), James "Shack" Harris (HBCU & NFL Legend), Cris Carter (Hall of Famer), Solomon Wilcots (SiriusXM NFL Host), Steve Wyche (NFL Network), Jim Trotter (NFL Network), Travis Williams (Founder of HBCU All-Stars, LLC), Malcolm Jenkins (NFL Player), Cam Jordan (NFL), Demario Davis (NFL), Allan Houston (NBA All-Star), Drew Brees (Former NFL QB), Deuce McAllister (Former NFL RB), Willie Roaf (NFL Hall of Fame), Jim Everett (Former NFL Player), Quinn Early (Former NFL Player), Dr. Reef (NFL Players' Trainer Specialist), Nataria Holloway (VP of the NFL). I am building a new team of journalists, podcasters, videographers, and interns. For media requests, interviews, or interest in joining HBCU Legends, please contact me at kmosley@hbcusi.com. Follow me:

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