Buckley: Showboats are working to earn Memphis’ trust. It’s a tough job
Memphis Showboats Vinny Papale (13) and Ezra Gray (11) celebrate after a touchdown during the Showboats game against the Birmingham Stallions, Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Tim Buckley
Tim is a veteran sportswriter who graduated from CBHS in Memphis and the University of Missouri. He previously covered LSU sports in Baton Rouge, and the University of Louisiana football and basketball for The Daily Advertiser/USA TODAY Network in Lafayette, the NBA’s Utah Jazz for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, and West Texas State basketball for the Amarillo Globe News in Texas.
“We understand the hesitancy to buy in,” Daryl Johnston said as the new UFL’s Showboats, who play in Memphis but practice in Texas, prepare for their home opener.
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Memphis Showboats UFL Steve Macy John DeFilippo Daryl Johnston Subscriber OnlyThank you for being a subscriber to The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
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Showboats part of new UFL league
The Showboats were announced Monday, Jan. 1, as one of eight teams in the United Football League, a newly formed merger of the USFL and XFL spring pro football leagues.
How the USFL-XFL merger landed John DeFilippo with Showboats
Former Breakers coach John DeFilippo accepted the Memphis Showboats head coaching job after New Orleans wasn’t awarded a spot in the new UFL, whose first dispersal draft is Friday.
How the Showboats fared in the UFL dispersal draft
More than half of the 20 players Memphis drafted came from the New Orleans Breakers’ roster. The Showboats also selected Case Cookus, one of the USFL’s top quarterbacks last season.
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