The AAF may not have stuck around long enough to have played a postseason, but that’s not stopping Steve Spurrier from claiming the title of champion.
Spurrier was head coach of the Orlando Apollos, which put together the league’s best record at 7-1 through eight games. The league announced Tuesday that they had suspended the rest of the season, leaving no chance for teams to compete for the title.
When speaking with the media in Orlando, Spurrier declared his Apollos the league champs.
.@aafAPOLLOS Steve Spurrier speaks after the #AAF suspended all football operations.
Spurrier says he feels for the players who put the work in and that it's sad the league ended this way.
"We gotta be the champs, right?" @SpecSports360 pic.twitter.com/AHyuJ5BVr4
— Luke Hetrick (@LHSportsTV) April 2, 2019
Spurrier’s comments prompted a response from Rick Neuheisel, the coach of the Arizona Hotshots. Neuheisel’s squad went 5-3 and handed Orlando its only loss, leaving the coach to claim the title as champs since they had beaten Orlando.
Ricky Neu, too much tequila for you! Apollos 7-1, Hotshots, San Antonio and B-Ham all 5-3. Congrats on second place!
— Coach Steve Spurrier (@SteveSpurrierUF) April 3, 2019
You gotta love Spurrier telling them they were all in second place.
For Spurrier, this was a nice way to cap his career as a coach. Although he did incredible work at South Carolina, he blamed himself for leaving the program a “mess” upon stepping down. The AAF job gave him a chance for redemption, and he feels he took advantage of it. And he’s going to hang onto the title of 2019 AAF champions whether Neuheisel likes it or not.
