Month: February 2018

The XFL pokes fun at the NFL on Superbowl Sunday

Posted on by Mark Nelson

It’s been just over a week that the XFL has announced plans to re-launch in 2020, and they’re already attempting to take on the NFL. Not to mention showing moxy, by poking fun on Superbowl Sunday, the NFL’s biggest day of the year.

The XFL twitter account @XFL2020 posted three videos, all poking fun on nuances of the NFL that they feel makes the game less exciting to watch: Confusion over when a catch is a catch, the slow pace of the NFL game, and rules in the NFL that are confusing.

In the XFL, a catch is a catch.

Less stall, more ball.

Simpler rules.

The XFL Kicked-off Seventeen Years Ago Today

Posted on by Mark Nelson

On February 3, 2001, the XFL kicked off with two Saturday night games broadcast live in prime time, split into east and west games.

In the west, the Las Vegas Outlaws hosted the New York/New Jersey Hitmen. Moments before the first ever scramble for the red-and-black football, Vince McMahon stood at the 50-yard line of Sam Boyd Stadium, and announced, “This is the XFL!” The sellout crowd was deafening.

The XFL’s quirky scramble for the ball, which replaced the traditional coin toss to determine who would have first choice of possession was the first change the fans witnessed. In the western matchup, Jamel Williams of the Las Vegas Outlaws came up with the ball over Donnie Caldwell of the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.

In the east, the Chicago Enforcers visited the Orlando Rage where fans witnessed Orlando’s Hassan Shamsid-Deen receive a separated shoulder in the opening scramble for the ball. An injury which unfortunately ended his XFL career. The game also saw receiver Kevin Swayne receive a deep pass from Quarterback Jeff Brohm, and score the first ever touchdown in XFL history.

Because of the XFL’s connection to the WWE, there was a notion that wrestling matches might break out. No wrestling took place… just hard-hitting football, played by journeymen who were largely participating for the love of the game.

XFL 2020 Frequently Asked Questions

Posted on by admin

Why is the XFL launching?

An opportunity exists to re-imagine America’s favorite sport by putting fans at the center, while leveraging a changing media landscape and evolving consumer viewing behavior.

Who owns and runs the XFL?

Vince McMahon is personally funding this venture through Alpha Entertainment, a new private entity.

Will teams be owned by the league or will teams be owned and run by independent entities?

The new XFL is a single entity structure with plans for eight teams at launch, all of which will be owned by the league.

When is the XFL launching?

The new XFL is scheduled to launch in early 2020.

Where will teams be located?

The selection of cities will take place over the coming months, and a mix of major and mid-major markets in all regions of the U.S. are possibilities.

Have team nicknames been determined?

Team identities and logos will be revealed after cities are selected.

When will games be played?

Games are being planned for Sundays.

How many games will be played? What’s the postseason structure?

Plans include each team playing a 10-game regular season, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal games followed by a championship game.

How big will team rosters be?

Active rosters will have approximately 40 players.

What will players’ salary structure look like?

The players’ salary structure is still in development, but players will be paid to play, and paid more to win.

Will there be testing for illicit drugs and PEDs?

The XFL’s comprehensive player health and wellness policy will include drug testing.

Reference: XFL.com