Based on fan attendance, TV ratings and an overall lack of publicity, the XFL and USFL don’t appear to be much.

The Pittsburgh Maulers are playing their home games at the Hall of Fame stadium in Canton, Ohio, as are the New Jersey Generals. I suppose that’s one flaw right there.

But make no mistake.

The players love these leagues.

They give them another chance to show off their skills in a last-ditch effort to find their way into an NFL training camp sometime soon. Unless they went to the Canadian Football League — which can take only so many players — such a chance would not exist.

Two former Slippery Rock University standout gridders can attest to that.

Cinque Sweeting, a productive receiver for The Rock, would have seen his football career come to an end if not for the XFL. He signed on with the XFL’s Vegas Vipers and caught 21 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns.

Former SRU running back Wes Hills had a cup of coffee with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions, scoring two touchdowns for Detroit. He spent the 2022 season with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL, gaining 384 yards on 69 carries and catching 11 passes for 105.

A free agent after the CFL season, Hills hooked on with the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers. In five games, he’s got 427 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.

Whether these guys get another NFL shot is not yet know. But they would likely have no shot without these professional spring leagues.

Griffith among best

With one track and field meet remaining in his junior season, Butler senior Drew Griffith is closing the curtain on a remarkable run — numerous runs, in his case.

Just in the past year, he won the WPIAL cross country title, took second at the PIAA meet, won the XC Northeast Regional, became a national All-American, won the WPIAL 1,600 and 3,200 meter titles, including setting a meet record in the 1,600.

Numerous stellar cross country and track and field athletes have come through that school, including a number who have gone on to Division I college programs.

Griffith's accomplishments match up well with any of them.

Regardless of how things go for him at Shippensburg University (PIAA Championships) next weekend, here’s saluting an incredible high school career.

No more 1-and 1’s

High school basketball is dropping the 1-and-1 free throw set-up across the country next season.

Instead of the seventh team foul in each half resulting in sending a player to the line having to make the first free throw to get the second opportunity, players will get two free throws after the fifth foul and on in each quarter.

This sounds like a minor change. But it will likely make for less physical play. We shall see.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle