The UFL Can Make It, Maybe...

The USFL, World League, NFL Europa, XFL, Arena Football...

American football history is littered with failed professional football leagues. In fact the only league that succeeded is the American Football League, which was then merged with the old NFL and evolved into the NFL we all know and love today.

When I first heard about the UFL I dismissed it as another upstart league that will be, along with the Seattle Pilots, Timmy Smith, and Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland, just an answer to a trivia question. Then they truncated the league from eight teams to four and I thought my feelings were reinforced.

But then I watched the game last night between the Las Vegas Locomotives, or as they would like it shortened, the Locos, and the Florida Tuskers. I really enjoyed it and I think the UFL could catch on.

Here are 5 reasons why the UFL can last:

1. They are not competing with the NFL for players - The UFL has said from the beginning that they want to be a league that feeds into the NFL, almost like a minor league. They want to provide players who don't make an NFL roster a chance to continue playing football, earn some money, and develop and showcase their skills on national tv. (Well sort of, if you have Versus and HDNet that is.) They also want to give former NFL players a second chance at playing in the premier league. Players should be able to develop in this league because of good coaching. Three of the four head coaches in the UFL were successful NFL coaches (Jim Haslett, Jim Fassell, and Dennis Green) and the other was a long time defensive co-ordinator (Ted Cottrell).

2. Scheduling - The UFL will be playing it's games on the off days during the weeks of the NFL season. The UFL has scheduled their games to be in our idea of a football season, but not to compete with the NFL. One big mistake many of the previous leagues made was trying to "fill the football gap" by having their season take place during the NFL off-season. What we have learned from them is that there is a definite football "season" in the American psyche. Part of the reason the NFL does so well is because of their well defined season that avoids overload. Professional football in May and June just does not feel right. Also, the UFL games will be on Tuesdays, Wednesday, or Fridays, so as not to compete with the NFL which plays games every other day of the week at some point in the season.

3. Many of the names are recognizable to NFL fans - Other professional football leagues had an occasional name that was recognizable to NFL fans, and a few more names someone might know the from college game. Because the UFL is a second-chance league, as well as an alternative professional league, many more names will be known to NFL fans. In last night's game alone both quarterbacks were recently starters in the NFL, J.P. Losman and Brooks Bollinger. Running back Dede Dorsey was in training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals and featured on HBO's Hard Knocks. There was even a Super Bowl MVP, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Dexter Jackson. NFL fans are much more likely to tune because instead of the occasional "Hey, it's that guy!", there are names all over the field that they will know.

4. Marketing - Lets face it. Sports fans love to wear their team pride. The UFL is already selling t-shirts, shorts, replica and authentic jerseys, mini-helmets, etc. There were plenty of fans in the stands last night already wearing these items, jerseys especially. Also, the prices at www.getufl.com are a little less than www.nflshop.com for similar items.

5. Lastly, and most importantly, the game was loose and fresh. - The game last night was a lot of fun to watch. The action was fast. The players were having fun. I think this fun and loose atmosphere was there for a few reasons. One, the veteran NFL players probably realize this is their last rodeo and want to have a good time with it. Second, the new guys are trying to prove something, but probably think this season is a one-off and are going to have fun. Third, and this can't be trivialized, they allow celebration. Score a touchdown and you're allowed to dance, fist pump, jump around, and most importantly, do all of this with your teammates. The NFL has so severely limited these type of outbursts that players do nothing for fear of Big Brother fining them. Hell, last week after Denver's game their coach, Josh McDaniel, was jumping around the field celebrating, and the next day people were questioning whether or not that was appropriate. That question should have never been raised. Let the guy be happy. There is a reason the NFL is called the "No Fun League." There is too much of a stodgy business-like approach to the game in that league, which makes the fun of the UFL all that much more appealing.