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XFL in Their Own Words: 11 Reasons to be Excited for the Season

February 17, 2023 - XFL (XFL) News Release


The season is finally here.

This weekend marks the return of XFL with four games - two each day - between the league's eight teams. The Arlington Renegades and Vegas Vipers get things started at 3:00 p.m. Saturday on ABC at Choctaw Stadium in Texas.

There are many things to look forward to for the upcoming weekend and season and general. But there is nobody better to explain why you should watch than the people involved in the games themselves.

Here are 11 reasons to get excited for the XFL season, directly from the players, coaches, broadcasters and more involved with the league.

1. The games are going to be competitive and close

"The fact that you can tie a game if you're down by nine points, to me that's pretty cool. You're really never out of this thing, and with the play and the parity, games should be close. We all want to blow the other team out of the water, but we also know that from our talent level, it's pretty equal across the board. We all feel good about our players." - St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht

2. Coaches will get one opportunity every game to challenge any play they want

"One of the things that I know I'm most excited about and intrigued by is we're giving our coaches an opportunity to challenge anything. One time per game, it's an all-in challenge. If they have a time-out remaining, they can challenge that decision.

This has never been done before at any level of football, and something that we've talked about during my time with the NFL. Again, when you think about whether it's a pass interference call that is made or maybe it's a holding call that was not made and the coach thinks it should have been called, we're going to give our coaches that opportunity." - XFL Vice President of Officiating and Playing Rules Innovation Dean Blandino

3. It's filling a void in the sports calendar

"Spring football is essential to the sports world...Being able to have professional spring football league, it just seems right." - Vegas Vipers wide receiver Josh Badet

4. League rules will lead to safer and more exciting kickoffs

"There's nothing more exciting to me in the game of football than the kickoff. I was just at the Super Bowl as a fan. I don't think I saw one single kickoff return in that game, and that was a sensational game. Last time around, if my numbers are right, 97 percent of the kickoffs in the old version of this league were returned. That's a huge number, considering in the NFL it's one out of three, four out of ten, somewhere in that range, between 30 and 40 percent." - ESPN announcer Tom Hart

5. Teams are quickly developing chemistry that will translate onto the field

"You come into this new league and don't really know what to expect. You really don't know any of the guys on the team, what the offensive is going to be, what the scheme is going to be. Just trying to learn as much as you can each and every day...I think a really important part of that is just really good to know everybody. I think Coach Ward's has done a great job of building a family atmosphere here. I think we have a really close-knit team. I feel like the chemistry has grown each and every day throughout camp. I'm really happy with where we're at right now. We're going to just continue to get better each and every day." - San Antonio Brahmas quarterback Jack Coan

6. The schemes are going to highlight the skills of the players

"The way I've always coached - and I've been at this for a little while now -- it's about the players and not a scheme or a script you may have in your head coming in. See what you have and tailor to their strengths." - Houston Roughnecks head coach Wade Phillips

7. Players will get a chance to make a name for themselves

"I like to let players earn their own names. I don't want to go in and say this guy, this guy, that guy and whatnot. Let the let the players go out and dictate. Next week, you'll be saying that guy had a really good game, and then people will start talking about him." - Orlando Guardians defensive coordinator Tony Carter

8. Coaches want to help their players get better and reach their goals

"How can we get the most out of every player? How do we move them around and develop multiple skill sets and keep the other teams guessing? I think everybody knows like if you're an offensive lineman then you've got to play multiple positions. If at the last minute we get a guy on loan and let's say he's usually a defensive end but the scouts want to see him work against runs, we'll play him inside a little. That's what we're here for. Let's develop, put guys in positions to get noticed or expand their value or both." - Seattle Sea Dragons head coach Jim Haslett

9. There is an emphasis on a great fan experience

"We understand. They talked about the four A's and access is one of them. We want our fans to have access. We're going to do whatever we need to do to make game day and the game experience a fun one for them." - DC Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow

10. Players are getting second chances at their dreams

"With how the world has changed at the highest levels of football right now, the lack of development with fewer preseason games, the lack of development as far as the amount of OTAs are concerned, one thing that you lose as a young player are just sheer repetitions in fall camp.

The one thing that used to be extremely beneficial, NFL Europe, was something that was really good for young players to get reps and to have those game-like opportunities to go out there and put their best foot forward. I think that there is a desperate need for player development at the highest level.

So many times you'll see starters that get all the reps. I can remember going into fall camp getting one rep at practice, and that was usually a handoff.

I believe in the XFL. I'm a believer in what RedBird and obviously DJ and what Dany are doing. I believe in their message." - ESPN commentator Greg McElroy

11. The love of the game from the people involved is real.

"The beauty of this is its all just football, and I love football. I love going in and watching football. I love going to practice and when I get off the field, I don't have to go into academic meeting. I don't get a call, "Johnny missed class," or calling parents, "Johnny's home sick," or whatever. These guys don't get home sick. They don't have to go to class.

"The fact that it's just football and all these guys love football. That's the fun part of it too. You don't have to motivate them. They love it when they're on the field." - Arlington Renegades head coach Bob Stoops

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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