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United Football League's Third Season Kicks Off Today In Omaha

September 15, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1) News Release


JACKSONVILLE, FL - The United Football League kicks off its third season today when the Omaha Nighthawks welcome the Virginia Destroyers to TD Ameritrade Park at 7pm CT / 8pm ET.

Then two days later in Sacramento, the Mountain Lions host two-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives at Hornet Stadium at 10.30pm PT / 7.30pm ET.

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BIG NAMES ENTER UFL FRAY

The United Football League once again has succeeded in acquiring top-notch talent in both the player and coaching ranks, including names very familiar with college and professional fans alike.

MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER is the Head Coach / General Manager of the Virginia Destroyers. Schottenheimer, the sixth-winningest Head Coach in National Football League history, makes his UFL coaching debut tonight in Omaha.

BRIAN BROHM was a record-setting quarterback at the University of Louisville before playing three seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills. Brohm now is the backup quarterback for the Locos.

Omaha boasts a pair of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks in ERIC CROUCH and TROY SMITH. Crouch won the prestigious award in 2001 as a senior at Nebraska, while Smith won the trophy in 2006 as a senior at The Ohio State University.

Rookie running back NOEL DEVINE is looking to prove himself at the professional level with the Nighthawks after a stellar career at West Virginia. The 5-foot-8, 180-pounder has the potential to provide excitement as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner.

Mountain Lions wide receiver REGGIE WILLIAMS is in his first season in the UFL after spending five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a former first-round selection. Williams caught 10 touchdown passes for the Jags during the 2007 season.

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THREE TO WATCH

The improved talent on UFL rosters is undeniable. Here are three players to keep a close eye on as the 2011 season begins - one on offense, one on defense and one on special teams:

LAS VEGAS LOCOMOTIVES: Running back DEDE DORSEY is the UFL second all-time leading rusher (742 yards) and third all-time leading receiver (46 catches)... Linebacker TEDDY LEHMAN is the UFL all-time leader in total tackles (104)... Punter DANNY BAUGHER is the UFL all-time leader in gross punting average (44.2).

OMAHA NIGHTHAWKS: Running back MAURICE CLARETT ran for 100 yards on 16 carries in his final two games last season... Defensive end JAY MOORE led the Nighthawks in sacks in 2010 with 3 1/2... Kicker JEFF WOLFERT led the UFL in field goal accuracy in 2010 (9-for-10, 90 percent).

SACRAMENTO MOUNTAIN LIONS: Running back CORY ROSS is the UFL all-time leading rusher and receiver, and was the 2001 UFL Offensive Player of the Year... Defensive end JOSH SAVAGE was fourth in the UFL with 4 1/2 sacks in 2010... Return specialist AARON WOODS had the UFL first punt-return touchdown (60 yards) last season.

VIRGINIA DESTROYERS: Running back DOMINIC RHODES scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games last season... Defensive end JOE CLERMOND led the UFL in sacks with 6 1/2 last season... Return specialist CLIFTON SMITH made the Pro Bowl in 2008 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2011 UFL STANDINGS

TEAM W L PCT. PF PA HOME ROAD

Las Vegas Locomotives 0 0 .---- 0 0 0-0 0-0

Omaha Nighthawks 0 0 .---- 0 0 0-0 0-0

Sacramento Mountain Lions 0 0 .---- 0 0 0-0 0-0

Virginia Destroyers 0 0 .---- 0 0 0-0 0-0

UFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE (All times local)

Thursday, Sept. 15

Virginia at Omaha, 7 p.m. CDT

Saturday, September 17

Las Vegas at Sacramento, 7:30 p.m. PDT

UFL WEEK 1 PREVIEWS

Virginia Destroyers (0-0) at Omaha Nighthawks (0-0), 7 p.m. Central

ALL-TIME SERIES: First-ever meeting.

BROADCAST: Nighthawks Radio, 1620 The Zone, http://1620thezone.com/

Destroyers Radio, ESPN 94.1, http://www.espnradio941.com/

NOTES: The Destroyers play their first-ever game tonight... Quarterback CHRIS GREISEN is 3-0 as a UFL regular-season starting quarterback... Middle linebacker TONY TAYLOR intercepted two passes in 2010, tied for most among UFL linebackers... Long snapper RYAN SENSER is in his second UFL season after playing with Florida in 2010... Of the 51 players on Virginia's roster, 27 have previous UFL experience... Omaha plays its first-ever game at TD Ameritrade Park tonight... Tackle ORRIN THOMPSON starts his third UFL season in a third different city (New York 2009, Hartford 2010)... Linebacker PATRICK THOMAS paced the Nighthawks last season with 46 total tackles... Cornerback RICARDO COLCLOUGH was the UFL leading kickoff returner a year ago (22.9-yard average)... Of the 51 players on Omaha's roster, 22 are back on the team from 2010.

Las Vegas Locomotives (0-0) at Sacramento Mountain Lions (0-0), 7:30 p.m. Pacific

ALL-TIME SERIES: Las Vegas 3, California / Sacramento 1.

LAST GAME: Sacramento 27, Las Vegas 24 (November 6, 2010).

BROADCAST: Mountain Lions TV, Comcast SportsNet California, On-Demand

Ch.1

Locomotives TV, Cox Cable CBS Las Vegas, Channel 12

Live web stream, UFL website, www.UFL-Football.com

Mountain Lions Radio, KHTK 1140, http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/

Locomotives Radio, FOX Sports 920, http://werlv.com/

NOTES: Las Vegas will begin its quest for a UFL three-peat Saturday night... Quarterback CHASE CLEMENT was the 2010 UFL Championship Game Most Valuable Player... Defensive end ERIC HENDERSON has six career UFL sacks... Return specialist EDDIE DRUMMOND was a 2004 Pro Bowler with the Detroit Lions... The Locos are 1-1 all-time in season-openers... This will be the Mountain Lions' second season in the California capital... Quarterbacks RYAN COLBURN or MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON will become the first rookie to ever start at quarterback for the franchise... Linebacker DONTARRIOUS THOMAS has 89 total tackles in his first two UFL seasons... Kicker FABRIZIO SCACCIA has a UFL-record-tying 54-yard field goal to his credit... The California Redwoods/Sacramento Mountain Lions franchise is 0-2 all-time in season-openers.



United Football League Stories from September 15, 2011


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