HDNet Announces Broadcast Team for UFL Game Coverage

Published on September 30, 2009 under United Football League (UFL 1) News Release

DALLAS (September 30, 2009) HDNet today announced its broadcast team for the network's upcoming coverage of UFL Football. The UFL is a new professional football league that features high quality football in under-served markets at affordable prices. HDNet's UFL broadcast team is made up of four experienced broadcasters who have covered pro football, in addition to many other sports on a national level. Longtime football announcer and former Buffalo Bills great Paul Maguire will join HDNet's own Kenny Rice in the broadcast booth, while Ron Kruck will cover duties as sideline reporter, along with Natalie Taylor.

"This is an amazing broadcast team with an incredible amount of football knowledge," said Mark Cuban, president and co-founder of HDNet. "Their high level of both experience and enthusiasm will add depth to our broadcasts and excitement for our fans."

"The UFL is extremely pleased to have five of our games broadcast on HDNet and to have such a talented group of broadcasters working with us," added Frank Vuono, COO of the UFL.

Paul Maguire followed a stand-out career in the AFL with nearly 40 years in television, including covering four Super Bowls (XXIII, XXX, XXII, XXVII) and serving as a member of NBC's lead NFL broadcast team with Dick Enberg. Maguire also provided his candor and insight to NFL Sunday Night Football on ESPN, and worked as an analyst for college football on ABC. Maguire played in six AFL Championship games with the San Diego Chargers ('60-'63) and Buffalo Bills ('64-'70) during his eleven-year career as a punter and linebacker. He was a member of three championship teams ('63,'64,'65) and was named to the Bills Silver Anniversary All-Time Team in 1984 as a punter. Maguire still holds the Bills' season punting average record (42.1). He is one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire existence. His outstanding collegiate career at The Citadel includes leading the nation in touchdown receptions his senior year. Maguire is in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame,

An award-winning sportscaster, Kenny Rice hosts the popular HDNet program, Inside MMA. Rice has called play-by-play for Harvard-Yale football and both the Wooden Classic and Wooden Tradition college basketball tournaments, plus boxing and MMA - all for HDNet. For NBC, Rice covers the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and has covered the 2004 (boxing) and 2008 (equestrian) Olympics as well as the US Olympic Trials in both Triathlon and Equestrian. Rice has reported on the NFL for NBC's Football Night in America and has called track and field, rugby and basketball for the 2008 Paralympic Games. He has also called the Pro Bull Riders World Finals. He hosted horse racing for ESPN ('97-'06) including the Irish Derby and was a co-host of college basketball Midnight Madness for the debut of ESPNU.

Ron Kruck is an integral member of HDNet's ground breaking MMA coverage, interviewing the sport's biggest stars, in addition to breaking stories and special features from Kruck's Korner on Inside MMA. He has also covered boxing and college football for the network. Kruck has reported on the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs, Major League Baseball and the NBA Playoffs as well as the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, US Olympic Trials, the Fiesta and Orange Bowls. In addition, Kruck covered University of Colorado football and basketball.

Natalie Taylor is co-host of SEC-TV for Fox Sports South and hosts SEC College Football & Basketball Previews for Sports South. She has worked for HDNet as a pit and feature reporter for NASCAR's Camping World Series and a sideline reporter for the network's college football and basketball broadcasts. She's also reported on Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons for Comcast Sports Southeast.

HDNet will broadcast five games from the "Premiere" season of the United Football League beginning on October 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET when the Florida Tuskers take on the New York Sentinels at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. Each live telecast will be produced and aired in true high definition. The complete schedule for UFL games on HDNet follows:

Saturday, October 10 Florida Tuskers vs. New York Sentinels 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, October 17 New York Sentinels vs. California Redwoods 9:00 p.m. ET

Friday, October 30 Las Vegas Locomotives vs. Florida Tuskers 7:00 p.m. ET

Saturday, November 14 Las Vegas Locomotives vs. California Redwoods 9:00 p.m. ET

Friday, November 20 New York Sentinels vs. Las Vegas Locomotives 9:00 p.m. ET

The United Football League is a new professional football league that will kick-off its "Premiere" season this October. Featuring high-quality traditional football played by world-class athletes and former NFL coaches, the UFL's "Premiere" season teams include the California Redwoods, Florida Tuskers, Las Vegas Locomotives and New York Sentinels. The UFL's goal is to provide fans with affordable, innovative and entertaining game-day experiences. The UFL's games, which will be broadcast live on VERSUS and HDNet, will culminate with a Championship Game on November 27th in Las Vegas. Tickets are now on-sale in all markets and can be purchased by calling 877.UFL.2009 or visiting www.ufl-football.com.

United Football League Stories from September 30, 2009

• UFL Personnel Transaction Notice - UFL 1
• HDNet Announces Broadcast Team for UFL Game Coverage - UFL 1

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