Two coaching legends will face off against each other for the first time at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday when Dennis Erickson and his Salt Lake Stallions (1-2) host the Orlando Apollos (3-0) and Ol’ Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier.
With the AAF a new league, there has been an adjustment period for everyone, but the two teams started the season in two completely different directions — the Stallions finally got their first win last week, while the Apollos are undefeated and an early league favorite.
Early on, the Apollos offense has undoubtedly been more potent than the Stallions. However, Erickson’s crew is finally starting to get healthy, as they received a much needed boost with the addition last week of former Utes wide receiver, Kaelin Clay. The speedster who spent parts of three seasons in the NFL, saw his first AAF action last weekend and he couldn’t be more happy to be back at his college stadium.
“It’s a big deal for me, because I love this place,” said Clay. “I love Utah and there’s something about this place that has just taken my heart over.”
SALT LAKE STALLIONS VS. ORLANDO APOLLOS
At Rice-Eccles Stadium
When • Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV • NFL Network
With all of their combined years of coaching experience, especially in the state of Florida — Spurrier rode to fame coaching the Florida Gators, Erickson the Miami Hurricanes — it’s shocking to think that this is the first-ever meeting between the two. But Spurrier and Erickson are close friends and are very familiar with each other’s coaching style. Because of this, it’s no surprise to Erickson that the Apollo offense has gotten off to a fast start.
"[Spurrier has been] doing a lot of the same things he’s done for years,” said Erickson. “He’s added some things like we all do. Some of the new things that are [considered] innovative in football. We all do a little bit of that — he’s done some of that. A lot of things they’re doing [scheme wise] are things that he and I did, in our separate ways on offense. A lot of the same things. He can fling it — that’s what he likes to do. He likes to throw.”
To combat the Apollos’ potent attack, Clay believes it’s important for the Stallions to sustain drives, in order to keep their defense fresh.
“We just have to stay on the field on third downs and keep doing what we’re doing in the red zone,” said Clay. “We’re a very good red zone team, but we have to get down into the red zone so that we have those opportunities to score.”
Clay believes that the Stallions can go score for score with the Apollos, but that’s also not a situation they want to get into with a team that can pass the ball up to 70% of the time. That being said, he has the utmost confidence in his defense.
Come Saturday night, one of the two coaching legends will have bragging rights. And if the Stallions have their say, Kaelin Clay could be the difference.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Arizona's Robert Nelson (21) wraps up Salt Lake's Kaelin Clay (11) as the Salt Lake Stallions host the Arizona Hotshots, Alliance of American Football in Salt Lake City on Saturday Feb. 23, 2019.