2009 UFL season
Encyclopedia
The 2009 United Football League season -- referred to by the professional American football league as the UFL Premiere Season -- was the inaugural season of the United Football League. The regular season featured 4 teams playing 6 games each (twice against each of the other teams), and both began and ended at Sam Boyd Stadium
in Las Vegas
(where the Las Vegas Locomotives
defeated both the California Redwoods 30–17 on October 8 and the New York Sentinels
41–7 on November 20). Sam Boyd Stadium was also the site of the 2009 UFL Championship Game
on November 27, a game that saw the Locomotives defeat the previously unbeaten Florida Tuskers 20–17 in overtime.
. Training camps for the players began on September 9 in Casa Grande, Arizona
for the Western teams and September 10 in Orlando, Florida
for the Eastern teams.
The league announced its game schedule in the first week of August, a schedule that features games in teams' primary cities as well as secondary sites (a few of which are potential future UFL homes). Certain game sites were not finalized, however, and changes were made both before the schedule's release and after play had begun:
During the week of August 10, the four team names and their uniform jerseys were revealed. Each of the uniforms (and the team logos and helmets that were unveiled on October 2) incorporated the UFL's signature color scheme into their designs, including silver (primary color for the Las Vegas Locomotives), blue (Florida Tuskers), black (New York Sentinels), and lime green and white (California Redwoods). Each of the team jerseys had the same design template, complete with a horizontal arc across the top front that resembles the arc on the UFL's logo.
33-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining in the 1st quarter were the first points in league history, while a 5-yard run by Redwoods' quarterback Shane Boyd
was the league's first touchdown. The Locos, who trailed 14–3 at one point in the 2nd quarter, rallied for the win via 2 touchdown passes by quarterback J. P. Losman.
The top team during the regular season was the Florida Tuskers; with a roster of players including quarterback Brooks Bollinger
and receiver Taye Biddle
, the Tuskers finished the season with a perfect 6–0 record, officially securing a berth in the UFL Championship Game
with an October 30 win over Las Vegas
. The Locomotives clinched 2nd place and the other title game spot with a November 14 win over California.
, featuring the New York Yankees
. Other factors—including the lack of a season ticket
package, large-scale college football in Florida, the death of UConn football player Jasper Howard
and Tim Lincecum
's Cy Young Award
press conference just prior to a Redwoods home game—hampered attendance severely.
Though Florida Tuskers' coach Jim Haslett
was among those expressing some disappointment in the league's marketing approach for the season (a possible cause of low attendance), league commissioner Michael Huyghue
was among league and team executives who countered that rather than heavily marketing the UFL, the league's premiere season was ment to be a "dress rehearsal" -- start small, promote modestly, emphasize quality of product, and take the results and lessons learned from the season in determining the league's plans for 2010 and beyond.
) with the championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium
in Las Vegas. The matchup between the Florida Tuskers and Las Vegas Locomotives
was dominated by defense until the 4th quarter, when a total of 24 points were scored, highlighted by 2 touchdown runs by Locos running back DeDe Dorsey
. A 33-yard field goal by Graham Gano
in overtime (the first overtime game in UFL history) gave Las Vegas the championship (and denied Florida an undefeated season) by a 20–17 score. The final score of the game was set up by a Locos takeaway deep in Tusker territory on Florida's first overtime possession.
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in Las Vegas
Whitney, Nevada
Whitney is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,273 at the 2000 census.-Background:...
(where the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
defeated both the California Redwoods 30–17 on October 8 and the New York Sentinels
New York Sentinels
The New York Sentinels and Hartford Colonials are a currently inactive professional American football team that played in the United Football League in its 2009 and 2010 seasons...
41–7 on November 20). Sam Boyd Stadium was also the site of the 2009 UFL Championship Game
2009 UFL Championship Game
The 2009 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's Premiere Season. The game was staged at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, November 27, 2009 , and was won by the Las Vegas Locomotives, who defeated the previously unbeaten Florida Tuskers 20–17 on a...
on November 27, a game that saw the Locomotives defeat the previously unbeaten Florida Tuskers 20–17 in overtime.
Pre-season and off-field preparations
Preparations for the UFL Premiere Season kicked off in the summer with player signings and a draftUFL Premiere Season Draft
The UFL "Premiere" Season Draft was the inaugural draft of the United Football League. The results of the draft were announced via press release on June 19, 2009....
. Training camps for the players began on September 9 in Casa Grande, Arizona
Casa Grande, Arizona
Casa Grande is a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 48,571...
for the Western teams and September 10 in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
for the Eastern teams.
The league announced its game schedule in the first week of August, a schedule that features games in teams' primary cities as well as secondary sites (a few of which are potential future UFL homes). Certain game sites were not finalized, however, and changes were made both before the schedule's release and after play had begun:
- The season opener, originally planned for San Francisco, was played instead in Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan areaThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
. - James M. Shuart StadiumJames M. Shuart StadiumJames M. Shuart Stadium, formerly known as Hofstra Stadium, is a 15,000-seat multi-purpose stadium on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. It first opened in 1962, and was known as Hofstra Stadium until August 29, 2002. It is the home field of the Hofstra Pride lacrosse teams...
in Hempstead, New YorkHempstead (village), New YorkHempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
was considered a probable game venue before the schedule's release, but the league did not set a game for that site until moving the New York Sentinels' November 4 home game that was originally set for Citi Field in Flushing, a move that was announced on October 22. - Sacramento'sSacramento, CaliforniaSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
Hornet StadiumHornet StadiumHornet Stadium is a 21,195 seat football stadium in Sacramento, California. It is located at Sacramento State. It was completed in 1969. It is the home football stadium of the Sacramento State Hornets and Sacramento Mountain Lions...
and San Jose'sSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
Spartan StadiumSpartan Stadium (San Jose)Spartan Stadium, located in San Jose, California, is the official stadium of the San José State University Spartans athletics teams. It is currently the home of the Spartan football and soccer teams....
were also mentioned as potential playing venues. The league did not choose Hornet Stadium for a site in 2009, and did not set a game for Spartan Stadium until moving the Redwoods' November 14 home game from AT&T ParkAT&T ParkAT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
, a move also announced on October 22. (The Redwoods would relocate permanently to Sacramento in 2010.) - The November 20th regular season finale, originally set for Home Depot Center in the Los Angeles areaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, a candidate for UFL expansion in 2010, was moved back to Sam Boyd StadiumSam Boyd StadiumSam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
, the Las Vegas Locomotives' regular home. It was the first of the in-season venue change announcements made by the league, which publicized the change during week 2 of the season. - Secondary market games were played as scheduled at Tropicana FieldTropicana FieldTropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
in St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, where Florida defeated Las Vegas on October 30, and Rentschler Field in HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, where the Tuskers defeated New York on November 12. (The New York Sentinels moved to Hartford following the 2009 season.)
During the week of August 10, the four team names and their uniform jerseys were revealed. Each of the uniforms (and the team logos and helmets that were unveiled on October 2) incorporated the UFL's signature color scheme into their designs, including silver (primary color for the Las Vegas Locomotives), blue (Florida Tuskers), black (New York Sentinels), and lime green and white (California Redwoods). Each of the team jerseys had the same design template, complete with a horizontal arc across the top front that resembles the arc on the UFL's logo.
Regular season
The UFL launched play on October 8, 2009, with the Las Vegas Locomotives defeating the California Redwoods 30–17 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Locos' kicker Graham Gano'sGraham Gano
Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State...
33-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining in the 1st quarter were the first points in league history, while a 5-yard run by Redwoods' quarterback Shane Boyd
Shane Boyd
Shane Boyd is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
was the league's first touchdown. The Locos, who trailed 14–3 at one point in the 2nd quarter, rallied for the win via 2 touchdown passes by quarterback J. P. Losman.
The top team during the regular season was the Florida Tuskers; with a roster of players including quarterback Brooks Bollinger
Brooks Bollinger
Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and receiver Taye Biddle
Taye Biddle
RaTavious Anton "Taye" Biddle is an American football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was previously with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, the Tuskers finished the season with a perfect 6–0 record, officially securing a berth in the UFL Championship Game
2009 UFL Championship Game
The 2009 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's Premiere Season. The game was staged at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, November 27, 2009 , and was won by the Las Vegas Locomotives, who defeated the previously unbeaten Florida Tuskers 20–17 on a...
with an October 30 win over Las Vegas
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
. The Locomotives clinched 2nd place and the other title game spot with a November 14 win over California.
Attendance
Sparsely attended games were a noticeable part of the UFL's regular season, with announced crowds ranging from as low as 4,312 for California's November 14 home game in San Jose to as high as 18,187 for the October 8 inaugural game in Las Vegas, (though media observers at the game suggested the actual in-house attendance for that first game was considerably less). The twelve regular-season contests drew a total of 116,132 fans, or an average of 9,678 a game. Florida led the league in average attendance (13,225), while California (5,836) and New York (6,637), hampered in part by shifts in game sites and competing in major markets with an NFL presence, brought up the rear in attendance average. Further, two New York home games were held the same nights as Games 2 and 6 of the 2009 World Series2009 World Series
The 2009 World Series was the 105th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Philadelphia Phillies, champions of the National League and defending World Series champions, and the New York Yankees, champions of the American League...
, featuring the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Other factors—including the lack of a season ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
package, large-scale college football in Florida, the death of UConn football player Jasper Howard
Jasper Howard
Jasper Tyrone Howard , was a cornerback for the University of Connecticut Huskies from 2007 to 2009. He was fatally stabbed on October 18, 2009, hours after UConn's win over the Louisville Cardinals.- Early life :...
and Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
's Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
press conference just prior to a Redwoods home game—hampered attendance severely.
Though Florida Tuskers' coach Jim Haslett
Jim Haslett
James Donald "Jim" Haslett is an American football coach and former linebacker. He is currently the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Previously, he served as the head coach for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League, and the New Orleans Saints and St...
was among those expressing some disappointment in the league's marketing approach for the season (a possible cause of low attendance), league commissioner Michael Huyghue
Michael Huyghue
Michael L. Huyghue is a sports lawyer and businessman who is the current commissioner of the new United Football League, having served in that capacity since the league's founding in 2007. He was previously a member of the legal department of the NFL Players Association before joining the NFL...
was among league and team executives who countered that rather than heavily marketing the UFL, the league's premiere season was ment to be a "dress rehearsal" -- start small, promote modestly, emphasize quality of product, and take the results and lessons learned from the season in determining the league's plans for 2010 and beyond.
Chart
| Team | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Total | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Redwoods | — | 6,341 | — | — | — | 4,312 | 6,837 | 17,490 | 5,830 |
| Florida Tuskers | 11,203 | — | 12,021 | 11,354 | — | — | — | 34,578 | 11,526 |
| Las Vegas Locomotives Las Vegas Locomotives The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and... |
18,187 | 12,160 | — | — | — | — | 13,306 | 43,653 | 14,551 |
| New York Sentinels | — | — | — | 10,818 | 4,392 | 5,201 | — | 20,411 | 6,804 |
| League total | 29,390 | 18,501 | 12,021 | 22,172 | 4,392 | 9,513 | 20,143 | 116,132 | — |
| League avg | 14,695 | 9,251 | 12,021 | 11,086 | 4,392 | 4,757 | 10,072 | — | 9,678 |
California Redwoods
Las Vegas Locomotives
Championship game
The UFL's Premiere Season concluded on November 27, 2009 (one day after ThanksgivingThanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
) with the championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in Las Vegas. The matchup between the Florida Tuskers and Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
was dominated by defense until the 4th quarter, when a total of 24 points were scored, highlighted by 2 touchdown runs by Locos running back DeDe Dorsey
DeDe Dorsey
DeDe Dorsey is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
. A 33-yard field goal by Graham Gano
Graham Gano
Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State...
in overtime (the first overtime game in UFL history) gave Las Vegas the championship (and denied Florida an undefeated season) by a 20–17 score. The final score of the game was set up by a Locos takeaway deep in Tusker territory on Florida's first overtime possession.
| Date | Kickoff | Teams | Final score | Game site | Attendance | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 27 | 3:00 p.m. ET | Las Vegas Locomotives vs. Florida Tuskers | Las Vegas, 20–17 (OT) | Sam Boyd Stadium | 14,801 | Versus |
Statistical leaders
Note: Statistical numbers cover both the regular season and Championship Game| Team | |
|---|---|
| Points scored | Florida Tuskers (234) |
| Total yards gained | Florida Tuskers (2,604) |
| Rushing yards | Las Vegas Locomotives (761) |
| Passing yards | Florida Tuskers (1,898) |
| Fewest points allowed | Las Vegas Locomotives (117) |
| Fewest total yards allowed | California Redwoods (1,766) |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | California Redwoods (496) |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | New York Sentinels (1,187) |
| Individual | |
| Scoring | Graham Gano Graham Gano Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State... , Las Vegas (59 points) |
| Touchdowns | DeDe Dorsey DeDe Dorsey DeDe Dorsey is an American football running back for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006... , Las Vegas (6 TDs) |
| Most field goals made | Graham Gano Graham Gano Graham Gano is an American football placekicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State... , Las Vegas (13 FGs in 16 attempts) |
| Rushing yards | Cory Ross Cory Ross Cory Ross is an American football running back for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Nebraska.-Early years:Ross attended Thomas Jefferson High School. While in high... , California (462) |
| Passing touchdowns | Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft... , Florida (16 TDs) |
| Passing yards | Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger Brooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft... , Florida (1,825) |
| Pass receptions | Taye Biddle Taye Biddle RaTavious Anton "Taye" Biddle is an American football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was previously with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006... , Florida (30) |
| Pass receiving yards | Taye Biddle Taye Biddle RaTavious Anton "Taye" Biddle is an American football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was previously with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2006... , Florida (525) |
| Punt returns | Willie Andrews Willie Andrews Willie Thedric Andrews is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... , Florida (14 returns for 164 yards, 11.7 yard average) |
| Kickoff returns | B. J. Sams, California (22 returns for 375 yards, 17.0 yard average) |
| Interceptions | Nick Turnbull Nick Turnbull Nick Turnbull is an American football safety for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2006... , Las Vegas (3) |
| Punting | Danny Baugher Danny Baugher Erle Daniel Baugher, IV [] is an American football punter for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006... , Las Vegas (30 punts for 1,301 yards, 43.4 yard average) |
| Tackles | Teddy Lehman Teddy Lehman Teddy Lehman is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft... , Las Vegas (43.5) |
| Sacks | Darrion Scott Darrion Scott Darrion Scott is an American football defensive end who is currently a member of the Washington Redskins. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft... , Florida (3.5) |
Awards
- MotorolaMotorolaMotorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
Season MVP: Brooks BollingerBrooks BollingerBrooks Bollinger is a retired American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, Quarterback, Florida Tuskers - Men's WearhouseMen's WearhouseMen's Wearhouse is a men's dress apparel retailer in the United States. The company is based in the Westchase area of Houston, Texas, and it is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange...
Coach of the Year: Jim Haslett, Florida Tuskers