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The USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers and Other Remarkable Turnarounds in Sports
The USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers have achieved a remarkable turnaround, going from last place in their division to finishing the 2023 regular season in first place and advancing to the USFL title game. But they are not alone in experiencing such a dramatic transformation. Over the past few years, there have been several memorable worst-to-first turnarounds in different sports.
NFL: 2019 San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers had been going through a multi-year rebuild under head coach Kyle Shanahan. In 2019, everything finally clicked for them. With a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback and a formidable defense led by rookie pass-rusher Nick Bosa, the 49ers finished the season with a 13-3 record and claimed the first place in the NFC West. They went on to secure the NFC title but fell just short of winning the Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs.
MLB: 2023 Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds made an impressive turnaround in the 2023 season. After enduring a 100-loss season the previous year, they defied expectations and currently sit in first place in the NL Central with a record of 41-36. The Reds have been able to revitalize their fan base in Cincinnati, thanks in part to the outstanding performances of 21-year-old phenom Elly De La Cruz and the veteran presence of franchise icon Joey Votto.
College Football: 2022 TCU
TCU experienced a drastic turnaround in the 2022 college football season. After a disappointing 5-7 record the previous year, the team went through a coaching change, with Sonny Dykes taking over. Dykes implemented a creative and risk-taking approach to the game, utilizing the air raid offense. TCU’s surprising rise culminated in a historic upset in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, where they defeated Michigan to become national runners-up with a remarkable 13-2 record.
FIFA Men’s World Cup: 2022 Morocco
Morocco defied expectations in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. After finishing last in their group in the previous tournament, few predicted that they would make a significant impact this time around. But Morocco exceeded all expectations by winning their group, which included strong teams like Croatia and Belgium. They continued their impressive run by upsetting both Spain and Portugal in the knockout stage, becoming the first African nation to reach the men’s World Cup semifinals. Their magical journey came to an end against the defending champions, France.
NBA: 2020-21 Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns had been irrelevant in the NBA for a decade before their remarkable turnaround in the 2020-21 season. Their undefeated run in the NBA Bubble convinced the front office to acquire star point guard Chris Paul. Alongside Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, and DeAndre Ayton, the Suns enjoyed a resurgence, finishing the regular season with an impressive 51-21 record. They went on to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993, beating strong teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers in the process.
Men’s College Basketball: 2022-23 Fairleigh Dickinson
Tobin Anderson’s appointment as head coach of Fairleigh Dickinson University came as a surprise, considering the team’s poor record of only four wins the previous season. However, Anderson instilled a belief in his players and led them to a historic upset. After winning the First Four game, the 16th-seed Fairleigh Dickinson went on to shock No. 1 Purdue in the NCAA tournament, creating history and proving that anything is possible in college basketball.
Women’s College Basketball: 2021-22 Utah
The Utah women’s basketball team emerged from a challenging season affected by the pandemic and made a significant turnaround in the 2021-22 season. They defied expectations by reaching the Pac-12 tournament title game, ultimately losing to powerhouse Stanford. The Utes received their first NCAA tournament bid in over a decade and won their first-round game against Arkansas. In the following year, they narrowly missed defeating eventual national champions LSU in the Sweet 16, showcasing their growth and potential for future success.
These are just a few examples of remarkable turnarounds in recent sports history. They serve as a reminder that with the right leadership, determination, and talent, any team can overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
