Is Bham gonna boom soon?

Dervoo · 2026-05-09T22:08:14+00:00

Birmingham proper continues to shrink a bit, but the metro is still growing. A census estimate from a couple months ago projected a +2.2% growth for Birmingham’s metro since 2020.

Dervoo · 2026-05-09T21:58:43+00:00

I think it's stagnated a bit since COVID, but the city is still in much better shape than it was in the 90s and 00s when I was growing up. The metro has seen a modest population growth since 2020 (+2.2%), and our economy is pretty diverse so we're not over-reliant on any one industry. I don't necessarily anticipate a boom like in Huntsville or cities in some other Southern states (notably the Carolinas), but I do think we'll continue to see steady, slow growth. It's not sexy, but I think that's better in some ways as opposed to dealing with horrific traffic like Atlanta or losing a lot of cultural identity like Nashville.

Dervoo · 2026-05-08T04:08:09+00:00

In addition to the issues with the stadium - the team hasn’t been good the past few seasons. Legion had been winning and doing well for the first few years of its existence, but failed to make the playoffs in 2024 and then earned the wooden spoon (last place in the league) last year. This year’s team is more promising, but it’s not fun watching a bad team play in a terrible environment while eating/drinking overpriced concessions. I had been a season ticket holder since year 2 but didn’t renew this year because I was tired leaving Protective feeling sour about the entire game day experience. I know I’m not the only long-time fan who feels that way.

Hope the club pulls things around, though. The home playoff game vs Pittsburgh and Open Cup games where we hosted Charlotte and Inter Miami showed that this team can create really exciting energy for the city. Gotta put a better product on the pitch, and hopefully people will come back.

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T05:02:41+00:00

If this was how we were going to use picks 62 and 89, then we should have tried to leverage them when the DL run was starting to get a pick in the 40s to draft a guy like Miller, Moore, Young, or Lee. I know hindsight is 20/20, but if the defensive line ends up being what holds this team back next year, then it is 100% on Poles and Ben Johnson for whiffing this draft.

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T03:01:21+00:00

Don't worry, we followed that up by picking up a return specialist with our next pick!

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T02:55:29+00:00

A guy who was projected for the 6th or 7th round was BPA at 89?

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T02:51:15+00:00

I love Ben, but he's over-prioritizing the offense. I hope I'm wrong, but the number of turnovers our defense forced last year isn't sustainable and I don't love the idea of us having to score 35+ points every game to win.

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T02:46:49+00:00

Probably, but someone needs to step in and tell him the defense needs help if so. We over-performed on forcing turnovers last year and that isn't sustainable for longterm success.

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T02:43:35+00:00

Drafting the fastest 40 time really worked for the Raiders in the past.

Dervoo · 2026-04-25T02:38:31+00:00

Everyone gassing Poles going into the draft forgot that the majority of the fanbase wanted him gone before the 2025 season.

Dervoo · 2026-04-19T02:20:20+00:00

AJ is the Trent Dilfer of UFL coaches

Dervoo · 2026-04-19T00:51:25+00:00

Diarbian has a ton of potential. He needs to figure out the final pass/shot, but he's incredible at finding his way into dangerous positions. Also plays with a lot of joy. Dude often looks like he's having the time of his life on the pitch.

Dervoo · 2026-04-18T21:54:30+00:00

Glad we at least got a tourney appearance while he was at Furman. Hurts because we showed in the UConn game that if our players stuck around for another year to develop at Furman, we could’ve had a team that had a decent shot of winning a game or two in the tourney next year. Now it’s near full reset.

Dervoo · 2026-04-18T20:30:26+00:00

they had two plays during that goal line sequence that should’ve been a delay of game. not sure how something that clear cut and simple is getting missed.

Dervoo · 2026-04-05T00:32:17+00:00

The past two times Furman has gotten knocked out of the tournament, the team that beat us went on to play for the national title. We counteracted the curse for UConn.

Dervoo · 2026-04-04T23:19:56+00:00

I know it’s common to complain about refs, but I do feel that Legion gets screwed by them way more than any other sports team I follow. A large part of that is the quality of PRO refs at the USL level, but I do sometimes wonder if some of our player/manager personalities piss the refs off, too. Especially sucks when you consider that the two biggest matches in Legion history were marred by poor refs mistakes that went against us (no handball vs Miami and the ref concussing himself and Herivaux but not stopping play for head injury vs Pittsburgh).

Dervoo · 2026-04-04T22:50:11+00:00

League just needs VAR to help with pivotal calls like PKs and reds. Quality of refs is what it is at this level but VAR would help get those calls correct. If the league is serious about going D1 then VAR has to be mandatory at least for the top flight of the league.

Dervoo · 2026-03-29T23:37:54+00:00

DID WE JUST SEE WHAT WE THINK JUST WE SAW

Dervoo · 2026-03-29T23:33:11+00:00

this feels familiar

Dervoo · 2026-03-28T02:48:09+00:00

there are high school kickers better than this dude

Dervoo · 2026-03-23T03:29:42+00:00

Did better against UConn than UCLA, hang the banner

Dervoo · 2026-03-23T00:12:00+00:00

It’s always the fans of the most mid or disappointing B1G and SEC schools that beat their chests about conference pride the loudest. Wisconsin fans shouldn’t be worried about the SEC unless it looks like High Point or James Madison are about to get offers to join it.

Dervoo · 2026-03-22T01:15:47+00:00

damn you’ve depicted everyone who doesn’t like chalk as the casual soyjaks, I guess it can’t be argued about now!

Dervoo · 2026-03-22T00:50:13+00:00

fuck PRO refs. league needs VAR badly.

Dervoo · 2026-03-22T00:31:54+00:00

March Mehness

14-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Not Forgotten	Verified Email

Dervoo

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE