STAMFORD CONN – Exactly one year after Vince McMahon unveiled his vision for a new professional football league that would at the same time return the game to its glory days and move it forward into the 21st century the XFL kicks off its inaugural season this Saturday February 3 with a pair of games in Las Vegas and Orlando. The next day the league concludes the first week of its 10-week regular season with action in San Francisco and Birmingham. (See below for game information.)

Plans for the league were initially announced on February 3 2000 at a press conference at the WWE New York entertainment complex in New York City’s Times Square.

"It’s been a whirlwind twelve months " said XFL President Basil V. DeVito Jr. "But we’re ready for the curtain to go up and I can’t think of a better place for a curtain-raiser than Las Vegas and then we’ll debut pro football at Pac Bell Park on Sunday."

Of course much has already been reported about the XFL and there has been much speculation about it. On Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. ET before a full house in Sam Boyd Stadium and a national TV audience on NBC the speculation will end and the XFL will be out there for everyone to experience.

In the meantime we can reveal a few things. First and foremost the XFL will be a fans’ football league. Whether in attendance at a stadium or watching on TV XFL fans will drive the league’s success and because of that XFL fans will be treated like stars. For example anyone attending an XFL game will experience such in-stadium enhancements as heightened visual and audio presentations and pyrotechnics normally seen only on the Fourth of July.

The XFL experience will be no less exhilarating for people watching at home as TV viewers will be treated to an "all-access pass" that will for the first time take them inside the game they are watching. Through the extensive miking of players and coaches the propitious placement of cameras and with announcers truly telling it like it is the TV audience will feel like they are part of the action. Indeed for the millions watching on TV the XFL will be a live reality show inside America’s most popular game.

Then there’s the XFL game itself — football with attitude. XFL football will be fast-paced and hard-hitting; league rules have eliminated the sport’s predictable and boring plays; and XFL players who are paid to play but paid more to win will emerge as true heroes of the gridiron athletes with whom fans can relate. And it all begins this weekend.

Today’s release marks the first of a series of XFL Weekly News Releases which will go out Wednesday from the XFL Corporate Communications department via fax and e-mail. The release will feature news preliminary injury reports game previews and more. To be added to either distribution list please call 203-328-2570.

NY/NJ HITMEN @ LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS
Saturday February 3 2001 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Sam Boyd Stadium
TV: NBC
Announcers: Matt Vasgersian Jesse Ventura Fred Roggin Mike Adamle

NY/NJ HITMEN
HEAD COACH: Rusty Tillman
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Charles Puleri RB Keith Elias RB Dino Philyaw DE Dwayne Saab LB Ron Merkerson.
ON THE BALL: The Hitmen will put the ball in the hands of Bronx native Puleri who has starred in the CFL AFL and NFL Europe. Coach Tillman will stress special teams and rightfully so under XFL rules and what better foot soldier than Keith Elias to lead the charge.
DIGGING IN: Hitmen RB coach Joe Lombardi is the grandson of coaching legend Vince Lombardi.

LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS
HEAD COACH: Jim Criner
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Ryan Clement LB Kurt Gouveia C David Diaz-Infante DT Carl Simpson DB Brandon Sanders.
ON THE BALL: Criner’s modified west-coast offense will favor the pass over the run especially with a versatile trio of wideouts in Mike Furrey Todd Floyd and Nakia Jenkins. Look for RB Rod Smart to do the work when the Outlaws go to the ground game.
DIGGING IN: Chuck Clements was poised to start at QB for the Outlaws before suffering a sprained right (throwing) shoulder in the pre-season. Ryan Clement takes over the starting reigns as Clements is expected to return for week two.

CHICAGO ENFORCERS @ ORLANDO RAGE
Saturday February 3 2001 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Citrus Bowl
TV: None (NBC will provide cut-ins during the NY/NJ-Las Vegas game)
Announcers: Jim Ross Jerry Lawler Jonathan Coachman

CHICAGO ENFORCERS
HEAD COACH: Ron Meyer
PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB John Avery RB LeShon Johnson QB Tim Lester LB Jamie Baisley S Ray Austin.
ON THE BALL: Operating out of a one-back set the Enforcers will feature the talented John Avery but will also use another NFL vet LeShon Johnson. Look for the running game to set up the aerial attack to Ryan Yarborough and Aaron Bailey as well as TE Tyji Armstrong underneath.
DIGGING IN: With some inexperience at the QB position look for Meyer to possibly make a switch to Paul Failla or Kevin McDougal if Lester falters on Saturday.

ORLANDO RAGE
HEAD COACH: Galen Hall
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Jeff Brohm RB Derrick Clark WR Mario Bailey WR Kevin Swayne LB Joe Cummings.
ON THE BALL: The Rage wants to run first and will do so with bruising RB Derrick Clark out of a one-back set. The passing game will be possession-oriented with the experienced Jeff Brohm working out of short drops and timing patterns but WR Mario Bailey can stretch the defense.
DIGGING IN: After running big Derrick Clark look for the Rage to come back with the pass-catching ability and break-away speed of RB Michael Black especially on third downs.

LOS ANGELES XTREME @ SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS
Sunday February 4 2001 – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Pac Bell Park
TV: UPN
Announcers: Chris Marlowe Brian Bosworth Michael Barkann Chris Wragge

LOS ANGELES XTREME
HEAD COACH: Al Luginbill
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Tommy Maddox RB Rashaan Shehee WR Jermaine Copeland WR Darnell McDonald DE Jamal Duff
ON THE BALL: May be the XFL’s most potent offense with Maddox at the helm and Copeland and McDonald leading a dangerous receiving corps. While LA will use many four- and five-receiver sets Shehee will keep defenses honest from the tailback position. Xtreme also has QB Scott Milanovich pushing Maddox.
DIGGING IN: Copeland held the pro football record for most reception in a single game (19 with the Barcelona Dragons) until Terrell Owens’ 20 catches this season in the NFL.

SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS
HEAD COACH: Jim Skipper
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Mike Pawlawski RB Vaughn Dunbar WR James Hundon LB Craig Powell CB Dwayne Harper.
ON THE BALL: A former RB coach in the NFL Skipper will look to pound the ball through Dunbar and FB Jamie Reader out of one-and two-back sets. When the Demons go to the air they will look to the speed of Hundon as well as underneath to TE Brian Roche one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league.
DIGGING IN: While not a starter the Demons like the versatility of RB Juan Johnson who can excel at both the tailback and fullback positions.

MEMPHIS MANIAX @ BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS
Sunday February 4 2001 – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Legion Field
TV: None (UPN will provide cut-ins during the LA-San Francisco game)
Announcers: Craig Minervini Bob Golic Lee Reherman Kip Lewis

MEMPHIS MANIAX:
HEAD COACH: Kippy Brown
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Marcus Crandell RB Rashaan Salaam WR Alvin Harper LB Paul Lacoste DE Marvin Thomas
ON THE BALL: Another former RB coach Brown’s offense will focus on the ground game and why not with Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam in the backfield. Salaam will run behind a fullback and two tight ends most of the time. QB Marcus Crandell brings athleticism to the QB position and has a strong stable of WRs in Alvin Harper Kevin Prentiss Charles Jordan and Darryl Hobbs.
DIGGING IN: You may see Beau Morgan just about everywhere for the Maniax as the former Air Force star could see time at RB WR QB DB and will also be the holder on field goals.

BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS
HEAD COACH: Gerry DiNardo
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Casey Weldon QB Jay Barker OT Ed King LB James Willis S Calvin Jackson.
ON THE BALL: The Bolts will run a West-Coast offense built around Weldon mainly a one-back offense featuring RB James Bostic. Weldon’s vertical passing attack will take what the defense gives him but he will not be afraid to look down the field to WRs Stepfret Williams and Quincy Jackson.
DIGGING IN: Weldon will need to perform to keep hometown hero and backup QB Jay Barker a former University of Alabama star on the sidelines.

XFL WEEK ONE PRELIMINARY INJURY REPORT: (WILL BE UPDATED EVERY FRIDAY)

PROBABLE: 75% chance of playing
QUESTIONABLE: 50% chance of playing
DOUBTFUL: 25% chance of playing
NOTE: These lists include injuries for the 45-man roster and do not include players on injured reserve.

BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS: PROBABLE: Ryan Thomassie (knee) Scott Thompson (knee).

CHICAGO ENFORCERS: OUT: Steve Conley (quad). QUESTIONABLE: Jason Chorak (lower leg). PROBABLE: Tyji Armstrong (thumb) John Avery (back) Aaron Humphery (quad) Chris Perez (hamstring) Roell Preston (hamstring) William Tate (ankle).

LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS: PROBABLE: Jon Blackman (ankle) Keith Jennings (quad) Patrick Kesi (calf) Kevin Scott (calf) Marcel Willis (shoulder and ankle).

LOS ANGELES XTREME: QUESTIONABLE: Matt Keneley (ankle) Nate Miller (calf). PROBABLE: Terry Billups (hamstring) Curtis Eason (hamstring) Leomont Evans (shoulder and foot) Frank Leatherwood (shoulder) Larry Ryans (achilles/finger).

MEMPHIS MANIAX: PROBABLE: David Brandon (groin) Deon Cooper (knee) Charles Jordan (hip flexor) Kevin Peoples (knee) Roosevelt Potts (hip flexor) Tim Seymour (ankle).

NY/NJ HITMEN: DOUBTFUL: Chris Brantley (Hamstring). PROBABLE: Lamont Bryant (thumb) David Camacho (knee) Kirby Dar-Dar (groin).

ORLANDO RAGE: DOUBTFUL: Sedrick Clark (groin). QUESTIONABLE: Ken Anderson (quad) Michael Black (hand) SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS: OUT: Sam Manuel (hamstring). PROBABLE: Michael Kiselak (knee) Jermaine Miles (calf) Dave Thomas (groin).

THE BUZZ: WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE XFL

As the XFL kicks off this weekend much has been said about the league leading up to the opening weekend. Following are some excerpts from what has been written about the launch of the XFL:

"The XFL will tweak football game rules to allow more action and it will allow TV cameras to go anywhere. But the real sell will be attitude."
USA Today

"Viewers raised on MTV will feel right at home tuning in to the XFL. The NBC telecasts will feature more cameras than Michael Douglas’s wedding with key combatants miked to amplify every grunt and taunt."
Newsweek

"The XFL will feature shall we say a more wide-open style than the between-the-uprights National Football League. The action will be unscripted the players will be miked and filmed from every angle … "
U.S. News and World Report

"Cameras and microphones will catch all the action – in the huddles on the sidelines in the locker rooms in the stands and among the cheerleaders."
The Associated Press

"Reality TV invading Grit Sport."
ESPN Magazine

"The Salaries are refreshingly sane."
TV Guide

"Football’s Newest Rage"
College and Pro Football Newsweekly

"The entire sports licensing industry is buzzing about the new football league the XFL. The XFL is aimed at being a hipper more relevant football league that can reach out to current football fans as well as new younger fans waiting to be introduced to the sport in a fun and exciting way."
The Licensing Book