On July 3rd, 2022 the Philadelphia Stars had a lead in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on in a loss to the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL title game.
After The Loss
The disheartening loss has been a driving source of motivation for head coach Bart Andrus during the offseason. The Stars lost starting quarterback Case Cookus to a broken ankle in the fourth quarter, which impacted the team’s ability to consistently move the football late in the game.
Cookus is now fully healed, and head coach Bart Andrus is hopeful to get him back for a second season. The Northern Arizona product spent time on the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad this past season. Cookus became the starter in 2022 when then-starting quarterback Bryon Scott was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Scott is now in the XFL with the LV Vipers.
2023 Season
The Stars will join the Michigan Panthers in the Detroit hub, playing their home games at Ford Field this season. The league played all its games in Birmingham Alabama last season. This season Memphis TN. Canton Oh. Detroit MI. and Birmingham AL. will serve as the hub cities.
The Stars will renew their rivalry with the New Jersey Generals who they will face twice this season. The Generals were the favorite to win the North last year and held on to first place throughout the season. The Stars took the Generals down in the playoffs. Cross-state rivals Pittsburgh Maulers will also face the Stars twice as they look to improve on a 3-win 2022. rn More
The Stars open their season on the road against the Memphis Showboats on April 15. The Showboats an original USFL team did not play in the league in 2022. They entered the league this year as the Tampa Bay Bandits folded.
In 2023 the stars will hopefully continue an impressive run in the USFL. Since the league’s inception back in 1983 The Stars have appeared in every USFL Championship game played (4). They sport an overall 2-2 record in Championship play.
The Stars are returning 19 players from their 2022 roster. After the season 23 Stars players spent time on NFL rosters during the 2022 season. In the second year of the USFL reboot the Philadelphia Stars look to make the next step. Let’s hope they are the brightest stars in the USFL Universe.
Give The USFL A Chance
In 2023 the Stars, Generals, Maulers, Stallions, Breakers, Panthers, Gamblers, and Showboats will kick off year two of the USFL reboot. The overall 5th season of the USFL. This season could be the breaking point for the future of the USFL. Success will bring more teams to the league. Success could also bring all the teams back to their host cities in 2024. A very important year hangs in the balance for the USFL as the spring/summer football league continues to fight for its place in our living rooms.
Matt Bednarczyk is your host of Talking Philly Sports With Matty B. He is a proud retired US Army Sergeant First Class, he is also a combat veteran with over 80 months served in Afganistan, and Iraq . Huge Hockey Fan. Matt is a lifelong 4 for 4 Philly sports fan. Born and raised on the Mayfair and Tacony neighborhood lines of Northeast Philly. He brings over 40 years of Philadelphia Sports passion and provides a realistic look at our Major Sports Teams and the most passionate sports fans on the planet. Look for his show live on Edge of Philly Sports.
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