With the relaunch of the USFL, the once defunct Spring League has new legs, reviving the Tampa Bay Bandits along with 7 other teams from the past. Bandit Ball is back!
When the Vipers died a few years back and with a slim chance of them coming back when the XFL does relaunch, my dream of Spring Football returning to Tampa Bay was not looking good. When the now Fox owned USFL announced the Bandits would be apart of the relaunch, they had my money instantly. I always go back and watch old school Bandits footage, wishing I was back in a time when the Bandits had more attendance than the Buccaneers.
The Bandits ended up getting the 2nd pick in the inaugural USFL Drafted selection QB Jordan Ta’Amu. The former XFL standout was once someone I booed each week as he suited up for the St.Louis Battlehawks, the Vipers most hated rival in the XFL. I jumped out of my seat when I heard the Bandits picked up Ta’Amu. Being paired with Head Coach Todd Haley, the offense will definitely be rocking when the Bandits have the ball. The Bandits also picked up former Buccaneer John Franklin III at WR, but he could also get some shine at QB. Vipers fans will remember Emmanuel Beal making plays on defense, now he will be repping another Tampa Bay squad.
The Bandits by far had the best jerseys with the relaunch. I dig the modern take on the old school uniforms we know and love. The only thing I would change is make the red a bit more burgundy color like back in the day but it’s a dope update. Can’t wait to get mine in the mail, so I can rep the team around the Burg.
I really hope the new Tampa Bay Bandits start to build an identity for themselves to make them stand out amongst the other teams. Back in the day each team had their own identity and once play starts I feel it will be Bandit Ball all over again. I do hope the league does honor the past as well. It will be dope to see former Bandit greats like John Reaves and Ron Simmons get shown love for the legacy they created back in the day.
Despite all 12 weeks of games being played in Birmingham, Alabama for the inaugural season, I will follow and support the team from a distance. I hope to get some fan meet ups started in the area so fans can come together and cheer on the Bandits. Hopefully with a successful season the community will welcome the team back with open arms and support them at their own home games at Raymond James, giving all of us younger fans a taste of what Bandit Ball felt like back in the day.