The Brahma Bulletin Gunslinger Report

By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid

2024 is shaping up to be a trailblazing year for spring football in San Antonio.  The San Antonio Brahmas are set to begin their inaugural season in the newly formed United Football League (UFL), a league born as a result of the merger of the USFL and the XFL.

Not to be outdone, the San Antonio Gunslingers are also about to embark on an epic adventure into an unknown frontier in a new league, the Indoor Football League (IFL), having left the National Arena League after two years.  The IFL, unlike the UFL, is an established league, about to begin their 17th year, the longest consecutively running indoor/arena football league.  The Gunslingers posse, lead by their fearless sheriff, Tom Menas, will begin collecting their bounties on April 1, 2024.   Let’s take a look at some notable wanted enemies.

San Diego Strike Force

The Gunslingers begin their task of cleaning up the IFL’s most wanted by taking on the San Diego Strike Force.  If there is a team for the Gunslingers to face to ease their way into a new league with new rules and against new foes, San Diego is a good one.  Historically towards the bottom of the standings since their inception in 2019, the Strike Force began 6-1 at home that year. Since then, they have slumped along, amassing a  4-12 record in the last three seasons.  

Northern Arizona Wranglers

San Antonio hosts the Northern Arizona Wranglers in their home opener Week 4 at Freeman Coliseum.  Since their inaugural season, 2021, the Wranglers have compiled a 24-26 record;  9-16 on the road.   Their second meeting comes week 15, when the Gunslingers travel to Findlay Toyota Center.  The Wranglers fare slightly better at home, where they are 14-10.

Frisco Fighters

The Frisco Fighters are considered one of the best teams in the IFL.  They began in 2021, and that year posted their worst record, 11-4. Since then, they have notched a 40-10 overall record; 22-4 at home; 18-6 on the road. They will prove to be a formiable foe and the Gunslingers will need everything in their arsenal to collect this bounty.

Tulsa Oilers

The Tulsa Oilers are the  youngest franchise in the IFL, with just one season under their belt.  The Oilers had the worst record in the league, 2-13 overall; 1-7 at home; 1-6 on the road. The Gunslingers cannot let their guard down, and cannot underestimate the Oilers.  Anything goes in the wild west of the IFL, and a team can go from the bottom of the well, to oil tycoons.

Bay Area Panthers

A perfect example of going from worst to first in one year, is this enemy. The Gunslingers will face off against the defending IFL champions and the Bay Area Panthers.  The Panthers had an incredible turnaround, going 1-15 in their first year to 13-5 and winning the championship last year.  The Panthers are proof that previous results are not indicative of future results.

Arizona Rattlers

Perhaps the most consistent team that San Antonio will face will be the Arizona Rattlers.  Since they began in 2017, Arizona has racked up 79 wins and 20 losses.  2023 was a “down” year for Arizona, posting a franchise low 11 wins, tying their lowest mark set in 2018 and setting a franchise record for most losses with 5.  The Gunslingers will need to be wary of being bit by these snakes as their venom has proven deadly.

The six IFL teams that the Gunslingers will not line up against are the  Duke City Gladiators, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Quad City Steamwheelers and the Sioux City Storm.  These teams are safe from facing the wrath of the Gunslingers, at least for this season.  The complete Gunslingers schedule can be found at www.goifl.com.

As the Gunslingers prepare to mount up on their trusted steeds and hunt down their valuable bounties, they face dangerous terrain, unknown ambushes, fearsome wild creatures and enemies bent on escaping the law. This season is guaranteed to be full of excitement and entertainment.  Come out to the shootout at Freeman Coliseum and cheer on your San Antonio Gunslingers.  Don’t forget to bring your cowbells, and most important of all, keep your Gunz Up!