Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?

Director: Mike Tollin (Radio, Coach Carter, Varsity Blues)

First things first: I love me some Varsity Blues, and I don't care who knows it.

There's nothing better than Dawson Leary telling his daddy, "I don't want yer life" in a bad accent before eventually winning the game on the old hook-and-ladder play with Billy Bob.

Additionally, Jon Voigt calling Billy Bob "William Robert" is classic too. I'm probably going out to buy Varsity Blues tomorrow.

You're welcome for my small contribution to your royalties, Mr. Tollin.

The USFL is one of those things I had heard about in bits and pieces as I started to become a football fan, but I didn't really know much about the league prior to watching this film.

I knew future NFL stars like Herschel Walker, Reggie White, Jim Kelly, and Steve Young all got their start in the short-lived league, but beyond that, I was clueless.

Having watched Small Potatoes twice now — once prior to starting this project, and again last night prior to writing this piece —  I see a lot of parallels between the USFL and the upstart organizations that have come and gone in mixed martial arts over the last few years.

For those that didn't know, I'm a freelance MMA journalist in my professional life, so there is a good chance that there will be some MMA references throughout this series.