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25
August 2000
'Outlaws' to prey on XFL
The Las Vegas team in
the new professional football league reveals
its nickname and logo.
By Kevin Iole - Las Vegas Review-Journal
The XFL likes to brag that its football television broadcasts
will be state of the art when the league, jointly owned by the
World Wrestling Federation and NBC, kicks off in February.
But judging by Thursday's announcement of the eight team nicknames
and logos, which was done simultaneously in Las Vegas and the
other XFL cities, there is a lot of work to do.
As general manager Bob Ackles and consultant Rich Rose announced
that the Las Vegas entry would be known as the Outlaws, they
were plagued by a poor sound system that screeched and crackled
each time they tried to speak.
But the technical glitches hardly dulled the enthusiasm of those
connected with the Outlaws, whose primary color is gold -- Las
Vegas Gold in WWF-ese -- with black and red trim.
"This name really tested well, and we think it fits well
with the town," Rose said at a news conference at Gordon
Biersch Brewing Company. "I think we have a great logo,
and now people can put a name to the face. We really want to
be Las Vegas' team, and this gives us a connection with the
town now."
The helmets are gold with a black facemask and an interlocking
LV in gold with a red and black background. The uniforms will
be unveiled later, though Rose said the road jersey will be
white. He said several combinations still are being considered
for the home jersey.
In addition to the nickname and logo, the Outlaws announced
several additions to the coaching staff. Joining coach Jim Criner,
offensive coordinator Vince Alcalde and defensive coordinator
Mark Criner will be linebackers coach Tommy Mason and defensive
line coach Kevin Peoples.
Ackles said the Outlaws will hire three more coaches.
Tickets will go on sale Oct. 2, and the league will have its
draft Oct. 28.
The Outlaws will bring 70 players to camp Jan. 2 at Sam Boyd
Stadium, with an active roster of 38 per game plus a seven-player
taxi squad.
In addition to training camp, the Outlaws will have two minicamps,
with the first scheduled to begin in November.
Also, the Outlaws hired Trey Fitz-Gerald as director of communications
and former Las Vegas Stars announcer Jon Sandler as vice president
of sales and marketing.
Fitz-Gerald most recently was the director
of information/new media for Major League
Soccer.
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