NEWS ARCHIVE: 1-14 February 2001
XFL
TV Ratings Blasting Should be Reconsidered
XFLBoard.com
- 2001.02.14
The
ratings for last weekends XFL Game 2 have been confirmed. "NBC
XFL Football: Chicago at Los Angeles" placed 79th overall with
a 4.6 share. This places the XFL, the top sporting event
in the ratings, on par with weekday prime-time shows such
as "Bette"(4.7), "Futurama" (4.6), "Whose Line is it Anyway?"
(4.4), "Two Guys and a Girl" (4.3) and "Norm" (4.2). So what
is so wrong with these ratings anyways?
Coach
Dinardo Speaks at Bolts Press Conference
Bamaslammer
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.14
...The
most interesting questions revolved around two goal line plays
during the Birmingham/New York Game. Birmingham had a 4th and
goal call, Dinardo and Casey spoke on the sideline about a sneak.
As per XFL norm the cameras were prying into the conversation.
As a fan watching on TV I was delighted. I assumed however that
this conversation was not being broadcast on the big screen.
According to local Birmingham media who were at the game they
heard the call at the field level. This would of course mean
that the Hitmen defense did as well. Weldon almost lost his
head on that play when a Hitman linebacker shot the gap and
hit him right in the chops. ...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
Announces Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week
XFL Press Release
- 2001.02.13
The
XFL today named Los Angeles Xtreme WR Jermaine Copeland as its
Offensive Player of the Week and Orlando Rage S Omar Brown as
its Defensive Player of the Week for week two. Copeland caught
17 passes for 190 yards and a score to help rally the Xtreme
from a 12-point deficit in the final three minutes and lead
Los Angeles over the Chicago Enforcers, 39-22, in overtime.
...
Click Here for More Information
The
Fans have Spoken, Again!
XFLBoard.com:
Players of the Week - 2001.02.13
In
the past 42 hours XFLboard.com has received 5,215 counting votes
for XFL Players of the Week. The votes have been tabulated and
here are the results... XFL Offensive Player of the Week, Tommy
Maddox, Quarterback, Los Angeles Xtreme, 42.1% of Fan Vote...
XFL Defensive Player of the Week, Kurt Gouveia, Linebacker,
Las Vegas Outlaws, 47.7% of Fan Vote... Shante Carver,
Defensive End, Memphis Maniax, 20.7% of Fan Vote... Stepfret
Williams, Punt Returner, Birmingham Thunderbolts, 77.1%
of Fan Vote. ...
Click here to View all the Players of the Week
TNN
Scores X-Cellent Ratings
XFL - 2001.02.13
The
premiere of the XFL on its exclusive cable home, TNN: THE NATIONAL
NETWORK, was a huge success, scoring a 2.4 rating on Sunday,
Feb. 11 (4:00 - 7:00 PM, ET), a 336% increase over TNN's typical
time period performance in the First Quarter 2001 to date. More
than 1.9 million households were tuned in to the debut telecast
of XFL on TNN, 335% more than the number of households tuned
in during 4:00-7:00 PM, ET, in the First Quarter of 2001 to
date. The XFL on TNN was watched by more than 2.9 million viewers,
359% higher than the number of viewers who have watched TNN
during the timeslot in the First Quarter 2001 to date. TNN experienced
dramatic growth among Adults 18-49, TNN's target audience, which
grew 579% for the XFL over this quarter's time period performance
to date. "XFL's scored again - this time in its debut on cable,"
said Diane Robina, General Manager, TNN. "Clearly, the fans
want more football, and they find that the XFL feeds their hunger
for the sport."
Weldon
is tough enough
The Birmingham
News - 2001.02.13
Casey
Weldon was miked Sunday. What a waste of money and technology.
Even without the amplified sound, Weldon, the Birmingham Thunderbolts
quarterback, could be heard throughout Giants Stadium. For that
matter, from Newark to Wall Street, just across the Hudson River.
Bam! Ugh! Pow! Ow! At age 32, Weldon has wisely invested much
of his earnings from eight years in the NFL. Good move. Because
if he continues to take the beating he has taken in the Bolts'
first two games, Weldon may only have the minimal XFL salary
- and the inevitable concussions - by which to remember the
new league. ...
Click Here for More Information
NY-NJ
Hitmen GM Drew Pearson Comments on the XFL
By The Masked
Prognosticator - 2001.02.13
For
those out there who think the XFL has not gone mainstream should
have listened to the Mike and Mad Dog Show on New York's top
rated sports talk station, WFAN 660-am on Monday. Despite the
Big Apple featuring eight major league sports teams, including
two that won a title and one that fell short of such, the talk
of the town was obviously the New York-New Jersey Hitmen. The
main attraction of today's show was NY-NJ GM Drew Pearson. Pearson,
who called in, is a former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro receiver who
started a very successful sports headwear company upon retiring.
...
Click Here for More Information
Coliseum
Cope-Land Where Receiver Handles Challenge for L.A.
David Curtis
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.12
Last
week Jeremaine Copeland’s biggest play cost his team recovery
of a punt when he was illegally downfield. This week his big
plays down the field cost Chicago a victory it apparently had
in the bag, and he made them look so easy that defenders probably
wondered if these shouldn’t have been illegal as well.
The wideout converted a fourth down on each of two touchdown
drives in the final minutes of regulation, then outdid himself
by scoring twice on last chances in overtime. ...
Click Here for More Information
Demons
Starting Tight End Roche Lost for the Season
San Francisco
Demons - 2001.02.12
Brian
Roche, the San Francisco Demons' starting tight end for its
first two XFL contests, has been lost for the season with a
torn right Achilles tendon suffered Saturday night in the 26-14
loss at Orlando. Roche was placed on the injured reserve list
and surgery is scheduled to be performed in Houston later this
week. Concurrently, the Demons have claimed a third quarterback
and former Florida A&M standout Oteman Sampson will begin practice
with San Francisco here Tuesday morning. ...
Click Here for More Information
Puleri
may be First Hitman to get Whacked
NY Post
- 2001.02.12
For
the second straight week, the Hitmen offense sputtered at times
and failed to get the job done. For the second straight week,
the Hitmen lost with Charles Puleri at quarterback - a fact
not lost on those in the stands with signs and words calling
for the removal of the quarterback from The Bronx. Sitting at
0-2 after falling to the Bolts, 19-12, Hitmen head coach Rusty
Tillman paused for a minute before answering the question regarding
the people he puts on the field. "We're talking about personnel,
I got to take a look at the film," Tillman said. "I don't want
to say anything until I see the film and then I'll have a much
better idea, talking with coaches and talking with the players.
We're gonna get better." ...
Click Here for More Information
Bolts
use big plays to earn first win
The Birmingham
News - 2001.02.12
The
weather was frigidly old school. The atmosphere screamed New
York. But the performance was purely XFL. In a game that began
raggedly and closed ferociously, the Birmingham Thunderbolts
overcame the Arctic blast and their own miscues, pulling out
victory with one big play after another to defeat the host New
York/ New Jersey Hitmen 19-12. That outcome, sealed on a final
Charlie Puleri pass incompletion inside Bolt territory with
a minute left, obviously didn't please the frozen locals. Yet
an impressive crowd of 36,458 that filled the lower confines
of Giants Stadium despite a game-time wind chill of 6 degrees,
provided the heat at the end - jeering the Bolts on the sidelines
with verbiage even Vince McMahon wouldn't let on the air.
...
Click Here for More Information
Many
happy returns for Outlaws
MSNBC -
2001.02.12
Jason
Kaiser and Kurt Gouveia scored on long fumble returns and Las
Vegas’ defense also set up a field goal as the Outlaws
beat Memphis 25-3 on Sunday night in the XFL. Kaiser scored
on an 80-yard return in the second quarter, and Gouveia had
a 100-yarder in the third quarter. The victory left Las Vegas
as one of only two XFL teams undefeated through the first two
weeks. Orlando is the other. ...
Click Here for More Information
Demon's
Commit Costly Turnovers - Lose First game
San Francisco
Demons - 2001.02.11
In
a battle of unbeaten XFL teams, San Francisco's margin for error
on the road was slim. Then the Demons committed the mistakes
that reduced their chances to none. After San Francisco meticulously
marched 90 yards for a touchdown on its first possession, Orlando
Rage capitalized on two massive plays to score the next 26 points
and cruise to a 26-14 victory. The Rage have now won two in
a row to start the season at home. The Demons lost for the first
time after a season-opening triumph over Los Angeles at home.
...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
Ratings Drop 50 Percent
Associated
Press - Yahoo.com - 2001.02.11
NBC's
second XFL broadcast drew about half as many viewers as tuned
in for the debut of the fledgling football league owned by the
network and the World Wrestling Federation. Tellingly, NBC finished
last among the four major networks in prime time on Saturday
one week after beating ABC, CBS and Fox with the opening of
the part-spectacle, part-sports program. The preliminary overnight
rating for Saturday's XFL show was 5.1, meaning an average of
5.1 percent of television homes in the country's largest 49
markets tuned in at any given time. That's a steep drop from
the 10.3 preliminary Nielsen number for last week, and reminiscent
of the viewer erosion experienced by the U.S. Football League
when it started in the 1980s. ...
Click Here for More Information
Rage
roll past S.F. to go 2-0
Orlando Sentinel
- 2001.02.11
The
buzz at the Citrus Bowl was turned down a couple of decibels
from a week ago when the Orlando Rage made their successful
XFL debut in front of a capacity crowd against the Chicago Enforcers.
Thankfully for Coach Galen Hall and an anxious crowd of 25,049,
Orlando free safety Omar Brown managed to turn his game up a
notch just in time on Saturday night to help lead the Rage to
a 26-14 win over the San Francisco Demons. ...
Click Here for More Information
NBC
Has Power Problems
Associated
Press - 2001.02.11
A
power generator problem with an NBC truck at the Los Angeles
Coliseum caused TV viewers to miss most of the first quarter
of Saturday night's Los Angeles Xtreme home debut against the
Chicago Enforcers. NBC lost its feed from the Coliseum just
1:45 into the contest. The network switched to the San Francisco
at Orlando game, before restoring power to the truck at the
Coliseum. NBC rejoined the Xtreme-Enforcers game with 4:30 left
in the first quarter. The contest was the first significant
pro football game in the Los Angeles area since the Raiders
and Rams left following the 1994 season. The crowd for the first
XFL game in L.A. was estimated at 35,000.
Maddox,
Xtreme Win in OT
Washington
Post - 2001.02.11
Former
UCLA and NFL quarterback Tommy Maddox completed 38 of 65 passes
for 412 yards and four touchdowns, the final one coming on Los
Angeles' second possession of overtime, leading the Xtreme to
a 39-32 win last night over the visiting Chicago Enforcers.
A loud, slightly rowdy crowd of 35,813 watched as the Xtreme
evened its record at 1-1. The Enforcers fell to 0-2. After bringing
Los Angeles back from a 25-13 deficit with two fourth-quarter
scoring drives, Maddox capped his performance with a 20-yard
scoring pass to Darnell McDonald in the second overtime. Chicago
failed to score on its ensuing possession, as Tim Lester's final
pass fell incomplete in the end zone. ...
Click Here for More Information
The
Drivel Report
XFLBoard.com
- 2001.02.10
Some
may call it bad press or negative publicity but we call it "drivel".
Why? Because most of it is based on bad information and/or quotes
from the mis-informed. The latest drivel comes from Phil Mushnick
of the NY Post, who reportedly went to the retirement home of
Chet Simmons, the first ever president of NBC Sports, to get
a cutting edge opinion of the XFL. And guess what - Chet Simmons
did not like the XFL! We decided to some research of our own.
...
Click Here for More Information
Xtreme
challenge for Enforcers
Chicago Daily
Herald - 2001.02.10
The
Chicago Enforcers may be the worst team in the XFL, as Las Vegas
suggests, but they are playing with the most exciting single
athlete in the league, as last week's results suggest. Running
back John Avery earned the XFL's inaugural offensive player
of the week honors. He was the best thing from an Enforcers
standpoint in the season-opening 33-29 loss to the Rage at Orlando,
Fla. Avery gained 157 rushing yards and scored a touchdown,
then added 93 yards in receptions and 1 touchdown.
...
Click Here for More Information
Maniax
march toward goal of 30,000 tickets
The Commercial
Appeal - 2001.02.10
The
Memphis Maniax are getting closer to their goal of selling 30,000
tickets for their inaugural home game Sunday against Las Vegas.
The XFL reconfigured the seating capacity of Liberty Bowl Memorial
Stadium so that it would seat approximately 30,000. As of Friday,
Maniax vice president of sales and marketing Steve Becvar said
there were approximately 24,000 tickets sold. ...
Click Here for More Information
Xtreme
returns pro football to the Coliseum
Orange County
Register - 2001.02.10
Matt
Keneley has been to the L.A. Coliseum more times than he can
remember. The Santa Ana native and Mission Viejo High grad used
to go to games there as a kid. He played his college ball for
USC. But Keneley's never played in the Coliseum as a professional
football player. And he's never played there as a member of
the XFL. "There's going to be a different vibe," Keneley said.
"I'm used to coming out there and seeing Traveler and the 'SC
band." When he runs out of the tunnel this evening for the Xtreme's
home debut, Keneley will see scantily clad cheerleaders, a huge
video wall and even a hot tub. Welcome to pro football, XFL-style.
...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
Players Aren't Kings on the Road
San Francisco
Chronicle - 2001.02.10
On
their first road trip of the season, the San Francisco Demons
encountered a slight glitch. They arrived in this central Florida
city on Thursday night, but their equipment didn't. It was on
a truck somewhere, being transported across the country. "There
are some kinks that need to get out," Demons quarterback Mike
Pawlawski said. "It's the first year (of the XFL), you have
to expect it, but things are getting better every day."
...
Click Here for More Information
Brohm
hoping Demons will be blinded by Rage
Orlando Sentinel
- 2001.02.10
Jeff
Brohm admits to being a little nervous last weekend when he
made his XFL debut as starting quarterback of the Orlando Rage.
It had nothing to do with the boisterous crowd at the Florida
Citrus Bowl, which was sold to capacity. Nor did it have anything
to do with Orlando's season-opening opponent, the Chicago Enforcers.
Instead, Brohm was a little jittery because it had been a while
since he played in a professional football game that counted.
Before last Saturday, his last game action had taken place four
years ago when he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
...
Click Here for More Information
The
Eyes of the Nation Watch the Enforcers
QumarChicago
- XFLBoard.com Team Reporter - 2001.02.10
After
a tough inaugural game against the Orlando Rage, and the practices
in Orlando, the Enforcers finally leave Orlando. This time they
are heading to battle the Los Angeles Xtreme. The Enforcers,
after losing 33-29 on Feb. 3 to the Orlando Rage, will battle
another winless team. The Xtreme lost their inaugural game on
the road against the San Francisco Demons, 15-13, by a game-winning
field goal. This game will tell which team is really the worst
team in the XFL. Someone will get back to .500 and the other
will be 0-2 looking up at the the other 7 teams in the league.
...
Click Here for More Information
Demons
Leading Receiver Roberson Out
San Francisco
Demons - 2001.02.09
Brian
Roberson, the San Francisco Demons' leading receiver in their
season opener last Sunday, was placed on the practice roster
Friday and will not be available tonight when the Demons continue
the XFL season at Orlando. Roberson damaged his right foot in
practice last week and the injury did not respond to treatment
as rapidly as had been hoped. Calvin Schexnayder, who caught
a 32-yard touchdown pass last week against Los Angeles in San
Francisco's 15-13 triumph, will start in Roberson's flanker
position and Tydus Winans was activated as the Demons' fourth
receiver for the 5:00 p.m. PST contest with the Rage.
...
Click Here for More Information
Raw
Raw Rah!
Entertainment
Weekly - 2001.02.09
Feminism,
schmeminism. Like any good ol' girls, the XFL cheerleaders know
how to stand by their men, outfitted in little more than super
watt smiles and bodacious... personalities. EW.com gets down
to the business of what it really takes to root a tough guy
on with Bonnie-Jill, a member of the L.A. Xtremes, who take
to the field on Saturday. Don't forget to watch the the Xtreme
Cheerleaders on NBC Saturday night. ...
Click Here for More Information
Smart,
media forming love-hate bond
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.09
Stand
next to Trey Fitz-Gerald, the Las Vegas Outlaws' director of
communications, during one of the team's practices and you'll
notice one thing quickly: His cellular phone never stops ringing.
Many of the calls this week have come from members of the media
trying to arrange interviews with Outlaws running back Rod Smart.
While Smart had a solid game Saturday in the Outlaws' 19-0 victory
against the New York-New Jersey Hitmen, prospective interviewers
haven't been so much interested in Smart's output as his outfit.
...
Click Here for More Information
Bolts
Face Critical Road Game
Bamaslammer
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.08
The
Bolts and Hitmen have both been down on the mat early in the
XFL season. The Hitmen spent the first half of Saturday's game
getting pummeled by the Las Vegas squad and only fought to a
draw in the second half. The Bolts were knocked down early by
the Maniacs but led a furious comeback that was cut short by
their own mistakes. ...
Click Here for More Information
Chicago
Seeks to Escape Xtreme Frustration
David Curtis
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.08
With
all three of their division rivals winning last weekend, the
Xtreme can’t afford another misstep in their home opener.
And this week’s task appears more daunting. Chicago, their
upcoming opponent, is also 0-1, but looked more impressive losing
to Orlando than San Francisco did beating L.A. ...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
Announces Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week
XFL Press Release
- 2001.02.08
The
XFL today announced their players of the week, naming Chicago
Enforcers RB John Avery as its first-ever Offensive Player of
the Week and Orlando Rage LB Shawn Banks as its inaugural Defensive
Player of the Week. Earlier this week the "Fans" at XFLBoard.com
had already recognized Avery as their choice as Offensive Player
of the Week. ...
Click Here for More Information
Cunningham
looks forward to next challenge
Contra Costa
Times - 2001.02.08
Even
though he's 0-1 in the coin toss challenge, Demons wide receiver
Jimmy Cunningham hopes he will get another chance to do it in
Saturday's game against the Orlando Rage at the Florida Citrus
Bowl. Cunningham lost to Todd Doxson of the Los Angeles Xtreme
in the 20-yard dash for the ball before Sunday's opener. Cunningham,
at 5-foot-8 the Demons' shortest player, said he got the word
from coach Jim Skipper on Thursday that he would draw the assignment.
"I really had no problem with it. When your number is called,
it's time to perform," Cunningham said after Tuesday's practice
at Diablo Valley College. "Actually I like doing it. It's something
different to this game, another element to this game that makes
it more exciting." ...
Click Here for More Information
XFL:
Brady wants focus on field
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.08
Utilizing
the tight end was a major part of what the Las Vegas Outlaws
tried to do offensively in their opener Saturday, a 19-0 victory
over the New York-New Jersey Hitmen before a sellout crowd at
Sam Boyd Stadium. That did nothing but put an ear-to-ear grin
on Ricky Brady's face. It's the other stuff that went on around
the first game in XFL history that was most troubling to Brady.
Brady caught a touchdown pass from Ryan Clement, though he dropped
another that would have been a score as well as a point-after
conversion. But Clement was looking for the tight end all night
and Brady, a former star at Oklahoma, had a big game.
...
Click Here for More Information
Diving
for the DL
National Post
- 2001.02.08
Hassan
Shamsid-Deen had always hoped to leave his mark on the field
-- just not the shoulder-sized divot that made him the first
victim of smashmouth football, XFL-style. "I guess my name is
out there, but not like how I wanted," said Shamsid-Deen yesterday.
"Not in a good way." On the league's inaugural weekend, the
fleet-footed cornerback for the Orlando Rage met Chicago Enforcer
Troy Saunders in the pre-game duel -- a 35-yard sprint for the
ball -- that replaced the flipping of a silver dollar. Unfortunately,
he emerged from the battle with a dislocated shoulder, prompting
press box staff to make an historic announcement: "No. 30, Hassan
Shamsid-Deen, was injured on the coin toss." ...
Click Here for More Information
Don't
Get Defensive
XFL Fantasy
Doctor - FantasyRef.com - 2001.02.07
The
two hardest predictions before week one were TE and defense.
I won the "Race for the Ball" and choose to start on D. A couple
of things surprised me about the XFL debut. First, it seems
every team is airing it out on offense. Except the Maniax and
Enforcers, the other six were content passing on almost every
play. Maybe it's the Arena League influence or the pressure
to entertain the audiences, but the XFL teams decided to ignore
the added bump-and-run rules and throw the ball anyway.
...
Click Here for More Information
It's
the Look in his Eye
Mark Nelson
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.07
Darryl
Hobbs is a smart man. His intelligence is on the field of football.
Darryl Hobbs learned how to play football early. He is from
a football family with cousins like Arthur Wittington, Michael
Bates and Mario Bates. Only one can imagine the intensity at
family barbecues. Darryl Hobbs didn't even know that the Liberty
Bowl was now nicknamed "The Asylum". Why? Because the recent
nickname given to the stadium that has nothing to do with the
game on the field. The "football" is Darryl Hobbs' focus.
...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
OPENING WEEKEND AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
XFL Press Release
- 2001.02.07
The
XFL had a strong start to its season, exceeding the league's
attendance and TV ratings expectations for the first weekend,
and delivering an entertaining product to fans. The league is
today releasing the official numbers from last weekend and they
speak for themselves: Attendance: 140,461, an average of 35,115
for each of the league's four games. Ratings: A 9.5 on NBC on
Saturday night and a 3.1 on UPN on Sunday afternoon for a cumulative
12.6 with a stunning cumulative 13.5 among males 12-34, 18-34
and 18-49. In total, more than 54 million unique viewers watched
the XFL last weekend. "It was a great kickoff for our first
season and it gives us a strong foundation on which to build,"
said XFL President Basil V. DeVito, Jr. "We've got 11 more weeks
of football ahead of us and everyone associated with the league
is truly energized." ...
Click Here for More Information
Unnecessary
Roughness
MaddMax - XFLBoard.com
- 2001.02.07
What
a weekend for the XFL! Vince McMahon's brainstorm has television
network executives turning their heads. Whether you are for
or against the XFL, you have to hand it to Mr. McMahon, the
opening weekend ratings were better than you can imagine.
...
Click Here for More Information
Outlaws
safety Sanders tackles notion XFL players lack ability
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.07
The
ability of the players in the XFL -- or more appropriately,
given the tenor of some of the comments, the lack of ability
-- has been a topic of much debate in the media after the league's
opening weekend. ESPN showed a highlight package on XFL games
that featured not the great plays, but a collection of gaffes
and missteps. Many columnists lambasted the league for placing
style over substance and dismissed it as a gimmick. But to all
those who doubt the ability of the players in the XFL, Brandon
Sanders begs to differ. The Outlaws safety spent the 1999 season
as a reserve with the New York Giants, starting two games. New
York coach Jim Fassel said Sanders was the team's best special-teams
players in 1999. ...
Click Here for More Information
On
the Cover of Sports Illustrated
CNNSI -
2001.02.07
Vince
McMahon must be pretty happy about this - no matter what they
say about him and his new league inside. The XFL has made the
cover of the February 12th issue of Sports Illustrated magazine
with an article titled "The X Factor -The XFL started big, but
can it roll on with its mix of bombast and so-so football?"
The article is by Leigh Montville. You can't beat this kind
of publicity.
Xtreme
Flatter Themselves, Get Flattened
David Curtis
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.06
The
Los Angeles Xtreme’s Saturday walk-through apparently
focused more on trash-talking than fundamentals. Understandable,
perhaps, in a league building its reputation on pizazz, but,
as the team discovered Sunday afternoon, not exactly a recipe
for success. Despite being the oddsmakers’ favorite to
win a championship, L.A. and its superior offensive talent fell
to the self-destructing San Francisco Demons, 15-13.
...
Click Here for More Information
The
XFL Kicks off on TNN
XFL Press Release
- 2001.02.06
TNN
kicks off its live XFL coverage on Sunday, Feb. 11 (4:00 PM,
ET) with a match-up featuring the Birmingham Thunderbolts and
the New York/New Jersey Hitmen at Giants Stadium. Former NFL
defensive lineman Bob Golic serves as TNN's color analyst for
the inaugural season of XFL football. Golic is joined in the
broadcast booth by veteran announcer Craig Minervini. Former
Detroit Lion Kip Lewis and former Miami Dolphin Lee "The Hawk"
Reherman round out TNN's announcing team as sideline reporters.
...
Click Here to View the Official XFL Press Release
XFLBoard.com
Players of the Week - Week 1
XFLBoard.com
- 2001.02.06
The
fans have spoken! In the past 36 hours, we've had over 6,000
votes for our XFL Players of the Week. Our Offensive Player
of the week is John Avery of the Chicago Enforcers. Avery had
157 rushing yards and two touchdowns Saturday at the Citrus
Bowl. Avery dashed to a 64-yard touchdown run and also reeled
in a 68-yard scoring strike from quarterback Tim Lester. Avery
also caught three passes from Lester for a total of 94 yards
on the night. ...
Click here to View all the Players of the Week
It's
Real Football
Sonny Sanders
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.06
Birmingham
Bolts Team Reporter Sonny Sanders is a football fan who has
been watching the rise of the XFL with some trepidation. If
the XFL wasn't going to provide "real football" he was definitely
going to be dissapointed. Now that week one is complete Sonny
is happy to report that this is real football. ...
Click Here for More Information
UPN
Ratings Released
UPN Metered
Markets - 2001.02.05
UPN’s
first game of "XFL Football", featuring the Los Angeles Xtreme
and the San Francisco Demons, premiered with a solid 4.2 rating,
8 share in the metered markets on Sunday afternoon, 4:00pm EST,
ranking UPN third in the time period among all network affiliate
groups. ...
Click Here for More Information
XFL
Weekend Stats
XFL - 2001.02.05
It
was a fabulous inaugural weekend marked by many great individual
performances. Click
here to vote for the XFLBoard.com XFL Players of the Week.
Also if you want to see who hit the mark this past weekend,
use the link below to view the current XFL Leader Stats.
...View
the XFL Leader Stats
XFL
debuts in San Francisco
Los Angeles
Daily News - 2001.02.05
The
record book will state that the Los Angeles Xtreme's first foray
into XFL play ended when opposing kicker Mike Panasuk made a
33-field goal as the clock struck zero to give the San Francisco
Demons a 15-13 victory Sunday. The stories beyond the record
book will detail a noisy gathering of more than 38,000 at Pac
Bell Park and a kicker who didn't join the team until the day
before the game and hadn't kicked in a contest since his college
days at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich. ...
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Maniax
beat Bolts with ground game
The Commercial
Appeal - 2001.02.05
As
a former player at then Memphis State, Maniax head coach Kippy
Brown is well aware of what it's going to take for the city
to get behind its latest professional football team. After Sunday's
22-20 win over the Birmingham Thunderbolts in front of 35,321
at Legion Field, Brown felt like the Maniax did just what they
needed to do. "You know Memphis,'' Brown said. "Memphis embraces
a winner, so we get a chance to go home with a victory and hopefully
the crowd next week will be a big plus for us when Vegas comes
in." ...
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If
opening-night TV ratings continue, this could be big
Orlando Sentinel
- 2001.02.05
Like
it or not, the XFL laid the smack down on the competition Saturday
night by posting a startling 10.3 TV rating during its debut
telecast on NBC, making it the network's highest-rated night
since the final night of competition at Sydney Olympic Games
on Sept. 30. The rating -- a preliminary number based on the
49 leading national markets (about 65 percent of the viewing
nation) by Nielsen Media Research -- means that 10.3 percent
of the nation's TV sets were tuned to the game at some point.
The XFL also had a "17 share," which means 17 percent of the
sets in use were tuned to the game. ...
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Mayday
Mayday! Field Goal! Field Goal!
Nstarz Ha -
XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.05
With
the clock ticking down the final seconds of the game, and the
were Demons down by a single point in their franchise opener
at Pac Bell Park. It's the final down, and the Demons need a
score, a TD, a FG anything! Demons kicker, Mike Panasuk, was
up to kick the winning field goal with time against him. The
entire Demon's team was confused, with both special teams and
offense in the field with 5 seconds remaining. My heart was
pounding, hoping this wouldn't become an ugly loss, like the
Raiders losing the ball when they were confused 4th down with
3rd down. ...
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The
House Wins Big in Vegas
TheGrandonGang
- Las Vegas Team Reporter - 2001.02.05
What
a club the Las Vegas Outlaws are. What heart. So many players
more than just diamonds in the rough. And now they can use a
spade to bury the once highly touted, now heavily routed NY/NJ
Hitmen. No cherries on the slots for the Hitmen; they spun the
roulette wheel and it came up "0". The house wins in Vegas.
Ok, enough gambling analogies. Everyone saw the game on TV so
you already know that the Outlaws rocked and the Hitmen sucked
in the XFL debut. ...
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Memphis
Runs Past Birmingham in League Debut
Bamaslammer
- XFLBoard.com Bolts Team Reporter - 2001.02.05
Popular
sports radio jock Paul Finebaum had predicted 15 or 20 thousand
people would be at the game. He even suggested he would skip
it all together. Paul was wrong on both counts as the Birmingham
ThunderBolts opened the season Sunday against the Memphis Maniacs.
Paul's luminous head was spotted in the press box and more than
35 thousand fans showed up to watch. ...
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Birmingham
Succeeds in the Stands
Sonny Sanders
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.05
In
their XFL debut the Birmingham Thunderbolts failed to succeed
on the field but in the stands they surpassed all expectations.
On an absolutely beautiful day the Bolts faced off against the
Memphis Maniax. It was all that it was promised and more. The
Maniax took an early 19 to nothing lead and appeared to be setting
up a rout. The 35,331 Bolts' fans were getting anxious and after
a Weldon interception that led to a Maniax field goal the fans
started calling for local legend Jay Barker. But Casey was at
the bat and refused to strike out. ...
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Enforcers
flash star power in defeat
ChicagoSports.com
- 2001.02.04
The
Enforcers were down just 27-22 and had the ball with six minutes
left to play. But Orlando's Shawn Banks intercepted a pass from
quarterback Tim Lester and set up Dialleo Burks' touchdown.
Chicago managed one more score on Lester's 16-yard pass to Willie
Tate but was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick. "We
made a ton of mistakes and those mistakes will be corrected,"
Enforcers coach Ron Meyer said. "But I was encouraged we had
a comeback opportunity on the road before a hostile environment."
...
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XFL
debut draws impressive TV rating
New Jersey
Online - 2001.02.04
The
XFL and NBC must be X-cited about the strong TV rating for the
fledgling football league's debut broadcast. Mixing guerrilla
television tactics and shots of scantily clad cheerleaders with
mediocre on-field action, the XFL's inaugural broadcast on Saturday
drew a preliminary rating of 10.3 with a 17 share. That means
an average of 10.3 percent of U.S. TV homes were tuned in at
any given moment for the game between the Las Vegas Outlaws
and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen. The highest-rated single
market for the broadcast was Las Vegas, where the game was played,
with a 17.7. Minneapolis -- where viewers were drawn to watch
their governor, Jesse Ventura, work as an XFL announcer -- was
next at 14.9. ...
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OUTLAWS
19, HITMEN 0: Opener a smash hit
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.04
It
wasn't the NFL, but the 30,389 fans who filled Sam Boyd Stadium
for the first game in XFL history certainly didn't seem to mind.
Of course, it didn't hurt that the Las Vegas Outlaws put on
a show on the field that matched all the hype surrounding the
debut of the new league, the brainchild of wrestling impresario
Vince McMahon. The Outlaws came as advertised, with a dominating
defense and a smart, efficient offense in rolling to a 19-0
victory over the New York-New Jersey Hitmen before a raucous
crowd at Sam Boyd as well as a national television audience
on NBC. ...
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Splashy
show
CNNSI -
2001.02.04
Moments
before the XFL's first red-and-black football was kicked into
the desert night, Vince McMahon stood alone at the 50-yard line
of Sam Boyd Stadium. Deafening cheers poured down from the packed
stands. "We welcome you to our game!" McMahon shouted. "Thank
you for the privilege of competing before you tonight!" Both
sport and entertainment, both circus and sideshow, the XFL muscled
its way onto the national sports scene with its first two games
Saturday night. Though the quality of play wasn't much better
than that of NFL Europe or the CFL, the game was only part of
the spectacle. ...
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The
Big Game at the Start of the Season
XFLBoard.com -
2001.02.03
Are
you ready for some smashmouth football? Tonight at 8PM Eastern
the Las Vegas Outlaws take on the NY/NJ Hitmen on NBC. Also
tonight the Chicago Enforcers are at Orlando to meet The Rage.
On Sunday, the San Francisco Demons will host the LA Xtreme
in a sold out Pac Bell Park, UPN at 4PM Eastern. Also the Birmingham
Thunderbolts and the Memphis Maniax will tangle at Legion Field
in Birmingham, available in Canada on the Score (Headline Sports).
Let's all watch the birth of a phenomenon!
The
Rage Uncaged
Orlando Sentinel
- 2001.02.03
The
Orlando Rage have a pretty good idea what to expect from the
rambunctious crowd tonight at the Florida Citrus Bowl for their
XFL debut against the Chicago Enforcers. That's more than Rage
Coach Galen Hall can say about the game itself, particularly
considering the limited film he has available on the Enforcers,
whose coach, Ron Meyer, has been out of football since 1994."You
have to try to prepare for everything, because you're not sure
where they are going to settle or what is going to be successful
for us," Hall said. "So it's probably a game where you go in
with a much broader arsenal than you normally would with someone
that you've seen on film playing an actual game against someone."
...
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Demons
Fill Final Roster Spot
San Francisco
Demons - 2001.02.03
Calvin
Schexnayder, one of the Arena Football League's most productive
all-time pass receivers, was re-activated by the San Francisco
Demons Friday and and will join three other wideouts on the
roster when San Francisco opens the first-ever XFL season Sunday
at Pacific Bell Park. Schexnayder was the Demons' 29th draft
choice in the original player selection process in October,
but had not been able to work out with San Francisco previously.
The graduate of Washington State reported to camp this week
and began practicing with San Francisco Friday. ...
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We
Will Miss out on Some Great Football
QumarChicago
- XFLBoard.com Team Reporter - 2001.02.03
This
will definitely be a big part of the XFL. Now, on the inauguration
day of this new league, there will be 2 games. The headliner,
NY/NJ Hitmen vs. Las Vegas Outlaws, will have all of America's
eyes on NBC. BUT, the other game, Chicago Enforcers vs. Orlando
Rage, will be taken out of the spotlight, because of one little
storyline. There is now football in the Sin City. ...
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Bubba
Cam gives fans look inside huddle of XFL games
Seattle Times
- 2001.02.03
The
Bubba Cam is a small camera mounted on a pole that will be carried
by a man who lines up on the field right behind the players.
The cameraperson will be dressed in black and will wear a hockey
goalie's mask, shoulder pads and football cleats. The cameraperson
will take a spot behind the running back on offense or the middle
linebacker on defense. And as the play develops and the players
pile into each other, he will be right there, a couple of steps
away, trailing the action - looking almost like a 12th player
on the field. ...
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Let
The Madness Begin
Axman - Maniax
Team Reporter - 2001.02.03
The
time has finally come. It is the start of the XFL season, which
means the Maniax, have escaped from the asylum. The hype will
be all over come Sunday night and the war will have begun. With
what appears to be the best defense in the league and a very
strong running attack, it looks as though the Maniax will be
very difficult to beat. Coach Kippy Brown has taken the approach
that you win championships with defense. While the other XFL
teams appear to put together strong passing attacks the Maniax
are going with rushing and defense. ...
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Las
Vegas is Gonna Take a HIT
Jordan E. Kanter
- XFLBoard.com Hitmen Team Reporter - 2001.02.02
"Hit
me". That's what heady gamblers say at the card tables in Vegas
when they're looking to win some cash. But that phrase will
take on a far more menacing meaning on Saturday, February 3,
when the Outlaws go bust against the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.
After this game, no Outlaws player will ever hear the words
"Hit Me" again without a shudder in remembrance of the beating
they took that night. The Outlaws are looking for Black Jack
this weekend but Black and Blue is what they're going to get.
...
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Contrasting
Styles on Display in Xtreme-Demons Matchup
David Curtis
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.02
Season
openers call for more than the usual guesswork when game planning,
and this is of course particularly true in a new league. Teams
haven’t yet established their own identities, so determining
a competitor’s can be a problem. Still, certain personnel
decisions provide obvious clues. Going into Sunday’s contest
at Pac Bell Park, the Los Angeles Xtreme have three running
backs and eight wide receivers, while the San Francisco Demons
carry six backs and only four receivers (Frank Leatherwood,
listed as a fullback for the Xtreme, is really more of a tight
end). As a group, moreover, the Demon receivers are much shorter,
lighter, and faster than their L.A. counterparts. What all this
suggests is that the Xtreme anticipate moving the chains with
a short and intermediate passing game, whereas San Francisco
will complement a strong running attack with downfield, play-action
throws. ...
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Rage
to Begin XFL's Inaugural Season .vs. Chicago
David "D.C."
Coughlin - XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.02
The
No Fun League is a Pro Bowl away from finality, and Vince McMahon's
XFL is about to receive center stage. On February 3, 2001, the
XFL will begin its first season, with the Orlando Rage and the
Chicago Enforcers being one of the first games of the year.
One of the more critical things for both teams to accomplish,
in this inaugural game, is a sense of momentum. Despite having
scrimmaged against each other, most XFL team only have a remote
grasp of the complicated offensive and defensive schemes of
the other teams within the league. This is mainly due to not
having any true game film to solidify a scouting effort, which
will be solved as the season goes on. ...
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WILL
PUBLIC BUY XFL? PLAYERS ARE TRYING TO
Chicago Tribune
- 2001.02.02
Instead
of selling players and coaches, the XFL plans on selling an
anti-establishment image and a show--colorful uniforms, cheerleaders
and new rules. The question is whether the public is ready for
Saturday night football from February through April 21, the
day of the title game, which happenes to be the same day as
the NFL draft. ...
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Shay
set for some XFL fun
Topeka Capital-Journal
- 2001.02.02
Brian
Shay understands your skepticism. He knows the name Vince McMahon
invokes images from the theatrical world of professional wrestling.
He knows, too, why eyebrows were raised when McMahon first turned
his attention to professional football. ...
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Hitmen
Lock & Load
New York Daily
News - 2001.02.02
He
served as the backup quarterback to Kurt Warner with the Arena
Football League's Iowa Barnstormers. He's had stints in the
Canadian Football League and NFL Europe. And he spent last offseason
training with the Dallas Cowboys, until Randall Cunningham's
signing led to his release. Now, 30-year-old Charles Puleri
is the first-string quarterback for the New York/New Jersey
Hitmen. The team's first draft pick debuts with the Hitmen at
8 p.m. tomorrow in Las Vegas, a game that will be televised
by NBC during the XFL's inaugural weekend. ...
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Outlaws
confident in offense
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.02
"Our
offense will move the ball, and our offense will score points,"
he said. "Our offensive line is very deep and very strong. I
wouldn't hesitate to compare our group of receivers to any group
in the league. (Quarterback) Ryan (Clement) is a capable young
man who has a lot of talent, and I think you'll see one of those
backs step up the way they did last week in the scrimmage."
...
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Scott
Adams - "A Little Bit of Both"
Mark Nelson
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.01
The
XFL has a new reason to covet Scott Adam's talents - He fits
the mold of an smashmouth football player. When the XFL decided
to put microphones on all their players Scott Adams was exactly
what they had in mind. When asked what the fans will hear from
his microphone, Adams had this to say: "They are going to hear
a lot. I do a lot of talking. I am a very vocal individual.
I am not necessarily a trash talker, but if I get a guy who
I think can get him out of his game by talking to him I will."
--Photo Bounty! The first fan that sends us a new, clear,
head and shoulders .jpg photo of Scott Adams will get a free
t-shirt. The photo must be taken using legal means and with
Scott's permission. ...
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Hitmen
GM Takes Name Literally
New York Post
- 2001.02.01
Yesterday,
the "player's GM" turned into a strong safety during Hitmen
practice when a play floated towards the sideline, where he
and several photographers and Hitmen staffers were watching.
That's when his football instincts took over. While others ran
for cover, Pearson, 50, connected with former Syracuse standout
Kirby Dar Dar, who was coming straight for him, with a forearm
shiver that sent the wide receiver to the ground. Welcome to
the XFL. ...
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Criner
not extreme as Outlaws coach
Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 2001.02.01
One
of the exhibition games NBC taped as a test was between the
Los Angeles Xtreme and the Las Vegas Outlaws at Sam Boyd Stadium.
At halftime, as Ebersol described it, one coach was emotional
and highly animated, and the other was matter-of-fact and said
little. Ebersol never said which was Los Angeles coach Al Luginbill
and which was Outlaws coach Jim Criner, but anyone who has been
around the 62-year-old Criner for any length of time would know.
...
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Lester
finds work
Detroit News
- 2001.02.01
In
October, Tim Lester was teaching a math class and coaching football
at his former high school in Wheaton, Ill. On Saturday night,
he'll be quarterbacking the Chicago Enforcers in their inaugural
XFL game, parts of which will be shown on national television
via NBC's "breakaway" coverage. "Our public-relations guy just
called me and asked me, 'Do you want your last name on your
jersey or a nickname?'" Lester said with a laugh Monday from
Orlando, Fla., where the Enforcers are preparing for their season
opener against the Orlando Rage. "I didn't know what to tell
him. I mean, I don't even have a nickname." ...
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Thunderbolts
TV debut
Bamaslammer
- XFLBoard.com - 2001.02.01
The
Thunderbolts will be taping the first installment of their weekly
TV show tonight (02/01/01) and every Thursday at 7PM at Wings
Sports Grill on Highway 280. Hosts for the show are Quarterbacks
Casey Weldon and Jay Barker with local NBC affiliate sportscaster
Jim Dunaway. Dunaway also serves as the sideline reporter for
the Thunderbolt radio network. The much talked about but rarely
seen Birmingham Cheerleaders will be there for the taping. The
show will air locally just before the Saturday night XFL broadcast
on NBC. In other developments the "Rick & Bubba" army has scored
another concession on the Bolts. The discounted tickets in the
Rick & Bubba section can now be purchased on a game-by-game
basis. The discounted ticket is $20, which is $5 off the regular
price for that section. In addition to the discounted tickets
advertisers like Golden Flake are lining up to provide free
stuff to the patrons of this section. If you’re interested
in tickets you had better hurry. According to Bolt's GM, Tim
Berryman, ticket sales are moving fast and furious this week.
Quarterback
Combos
David Gonos
- FantasyRef.com - 2001.02.01
More
advice for the Fantasy Football Fanatic... In our last article,
we mentioned grabbing a couple of QBs from the same team to
ensure your team will almost always have a starting QB on the
roster. Well, we realize that can be a difficult thing to do.
So here's some tips on some players you want and don't want
depending on your combinations. ...
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Demons
Announce a Sellout
San Francisco
Demons - 2001.02.01
The
San Francisco Demons, the XFL leader in ticket sales since shortly
after Halloween, have declared a sellout of their 2001 season
opener Sunday against the Los Angeles Xtreme at Pacific Bell
Park. "We are grateful to the football fans of the Bay Area
for making this happen for us," said Michael Preacher, vice-president
and general manager of the Demons. "This is a feather in the
cap of Pacific Bell Park and Giants Enterprises with whom we
formed a partnership for this endeavor. ...
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