In the football capital of the South, Steve Spurrier is known for two things: Pioneering the Fun 'n Gun offense at Florida and being the bane of the SEC’s existence for most of the 1990s.

Spurrier spent time with the Washington Redskins and South Carolina Gamecocks after his successful run in the Swamp and is now back in the coaching business as the head coach of the AAF’s Orlando Apollos. The Ole Ball Coach is returning to Birmingham as he brings his undefeated Apollos to Legion Field for a Saturday afternoon contest against the Birmingham Iron (3-1) at Legion Field.

“Well, it’s like visiting an old friend, only one that likes to beat you up every now and then,” Spurrier said. “We coached a lot of games there, but more often than not we didn’t come out the other side too happy. The SEC title games are great memories, although I remember that first one being pretty cold.”

Birmingham will try to bounce back from last week’s 12-11 loss to San Antonio, the Iron’s first loss of the season, and hopes to draw a larger crowd than last week. The game will be televised by TNT.

Spurrier has coached eight games at the Old Gray Lady – four with the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits, two SEC title games with Florida, the 2006 Birmingham Bowl with the Gamecocks and the 1989 All-American Bowl with Duke – and has a 2-6 record. He won the 1993 SEC Championship Game with the Gators and once with the Bandits.

Spurrier coached in the USFL, a spring football league in the 1980s, which gives him a unique perspective on the AAF’s future.

He alo saw the eventual fall of the USFL after it sued the NFL over monopolization of the sport. The USFL won the case but was awarded only $1 in damages, but Spurrier believes the AAF has the potential to grow and sustain its marketability.

“Sustainability is there because of the television contracts and not overpaying players,” Spurrier said. “We’re not after the NFL superstars, but a league of opportunity. Hopefully these players will get noticed and make an NFL roster next year.”

Unlike the USFL, the AAF has made no indication of challenging the NFL or attempting to move to the fall. The latter ultimately started the decline of the USFL along with the subsequent lawsuit.

“We’ll continue to play in the spring time, and I believe the people of America love football enough to watch on television,” Spurrier said.

The Iron (3-1) welcome Spurrier and the Apollos (4-0) to Legion Field on Saturday with first snap scheduled for 1 p.m.