2019 The Spring League season

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]

2019 The Spring League season
LeagueThe Spring League
SportAmerican football
DurationApril 6 - April 11
Number of games2 per team
Number of teams4
TV partner(s)None
Season championsAustin Generals

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
For 2019, The Spring League tested rules for the XFL. Seen here is the later implemented XFL kickoff formation.

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
DateTeamscoreopponentscoreNotesRefs
April 6North6West36[8][9]
April 7Generals13East6Overtime Test Game[10][11]
April 13North31East24[12][13]
April 15Generals32West13[14][15]

Standings
Spring League 2019
Team W L PCT PF PA
Austin Generals[16]201.0004519
West[17]11.5004938
North[18]11.5003760
East[19]02.0003044

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]

References
  1. Halliburton, Suzanne (April 6, 2019). "Ex-Baylor star Shawn Oakman tries to revive career in Spring League". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  2. "XFL partners with The Spring League to reimagine football". 30 January 2019.
  3. "The Spring League finds 'secret sauce' to survival".
  4. Florio, Mike (April 7, 2019). "Spring League returns with revolutionary overtime idea". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  5. Florio, Mike (April 8, 2019). "Spring League tests XFL "tap" rule that sends players to sideline". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  6. "The Spring League Brands Team as Austin Generals in Homage to Host City". The Spring League. March 18, 2019. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  7. @TheSpringLeague (31 March 2019). "Lynn Stiles will be coaching Team North (Orange) and the linebackers at #TheSpringLeague 2019. Coach Stiles brings…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "The Spring League 2019: North Vs West Game Highlights". YouTube.
  9. "The Spring League Game Day 1: Box Scores from TSL West's Big Win Over TSL North". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21.
  10. "The Spring League 2019: East Vs Generals Game Highlights". YouTube.
  11. "The Spring League Game Day 1: Box Scores from Austin Generals Victory Over TSL East". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21.
  12. "The Spring League 2019: North Vs East Game Highlights". YouTube.
  13. "The Spring League Game Day 2: Box Scores from TSL North's Comeback Win Over TSL East". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21.
  14. "The Spring League 2019: West Vs Generals Game Highlights". YouTube.
  15. "The Spring League Game Day 2: Box Scores from Austin Generals Victory Over TSL West". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21.
  16. "2019 Austin Generals Roster". Facebook.
  17. "2019 WEST Roster". Facebook.
  18. "2019 NORTH Roster". Facebook.
  19. "2019 EAST Roster". Facebook.
  20. "Unique Revenue Streams, Elimination of Costly Expenditures Keys to The Spring League's Success". Sports Illustrated. John Wall Street. Maven. July 30, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  21. "#TheSpringLeague and the XFL are teaming up again for not one but TWO SoCal Showcases this summer". Facebook.
  22. "2019 June Showcase roster pt1". Facebook.
  23. "2019 June Showcase roster pt2". Facebook.
  24. "Rosters revealed for the Spring League July Showcase". 30 July 2019.
  25. "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt1". Facebook.
  26. "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt2". Facebook.
  27. "The Spring League September Showcase Roster pt3". Facebook.
  28. "The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Offence". Facebook.
  29. "The Spring League Showcase in Miami, Florida: Defense". Facebook.
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