With only two weeks left in training camp before the United Football League commences regular season play the Sacramento Mountain Lions coaches are taking their final looks before deciding on their final roster. Coaches yelled instructions during practice and the players went through the drills at the Harvard Corporate Center. Around my work there’s been a lot of fantasy football talk as the National Football League begins league play next Thursday and the excitement is in the air. UFL games will be played on Saturday evenings so, if you like football you can watch professional football games at least 3 different nights a week. Some people might think that’s too much but I tend to differ with that opinion.

Nick Cronenwett, assistant to Public Relations Director Russ Edmondson, was very helpful in lining up interviews for media representatives. He also suggested some interesting particulars regarding some players. I told him I was interested in interviewing a local player. Nick, a Christian Brothers graduate, was very helpful and was doing all he could to give a wide range of information regarding players and coaches.

As players got ready for practice they separated into offensive and defensive squads. The offense wore white jerseys while the defense wore black jerseys.There was another handful of players that stayed together and they turned out to be the kickers, they also wore white jerseys. Coaches stood on the sidelines while others were in the middle of the squads giving directions and guidance to the players. The Mountain Lions squad will go from a little less than 70 players to a handful above 50 by next week. I watched the offensive squad for a while noticing that Daunte Culpepper can still throw the football with accuracy and distance. Liam O’Hagan, the Harvard quarterback also looked pretty good on the field. Every so often the whistle blew and players moved from one drill to another.

The defensive squad seemed a bit more vocal and did more trash talking than the offensive squad. “Don’t play with those guys from SC” one player yelled. As some players from the defensive line came off the field and another squad replaced them. I could hear one of the players say “Okay here comes the Men’s League”, as he came on to the field with some other players.

Special teams took to the field to conduct their own practice. Aaron Woods, one of the smallest players on the field, ran some simulated kicks back. The strong and agile player was impressive as a run back specialist and wide receiver. He’s one of those players that you root for when you see him amongst all the much bigger players out on the field. His athleticism is quite remarkable and I feel confident he’ll be on the squad opening day. As he, and other players ran back the simulated kicks you could hear them yell “me, me, me!” before catching the kick and as soon as they caught the football shouts of “go, go, go!” told the receiver to start moving up the field.

As a whole the Mountain Lions look like they will have a good first season in Sacramento. They open their season on September 18 as they travel to play against the Hartford Colonials. Their first game at Hornet Field will be on September 25 when they host the Florida Tuskers.

When practice ended Nick Cronenwett set up an interview for me with Alonzo Durham a Jesuit graduate from the class of 2005. Alonzo is a very well spoken, polite young man who played for and graduated from the University of Nevada Reno. He came to the Lions squad recently “I joined the club after getting a training call on Tuesday” Alonzo noted. “I’m actually quite excited to be here.” answered Alonzo when asked how he felt to be back in Sacramento. He still has family here noting his grandma and some aunts and uncles still live in the area. He also indicated that he keeps in touch with Joe Rost and some of his friends from the Jesuit football team. Alonzo played on both the defensive and offensive line while at Jesuit. Rost and Alonzo were two of several Jesuit players named 2004 All-League Players. He followed by saying that he was feeling good about his changes but is taking everything “one day at a time, I feel blessed to be here. God willing, I’d like to be with this team in the long run.” He has the right attitude and his commitment to the sport will help him in the long run. His mom, Lisa was a teacher in Sacramento and Cronenwett indicated she had been his teacher in sixth grade.

Look for number 73 when the Mountain Lions take the field. Players can move to the NFL up until the UFL’s regular season starts. The UFL is a great opportunity for many players to showcase their abilities and excel to hopefully make the jump to the NFL. Last year over 40 UFL players went to the NFL after the UFL season ended. The UFL 2010 season will end in November. The UFL will add more teams in the next few years and already has at least one team (in Virginia) ready to join in 2011. Other pictures from Friday's practice can be seen in this short video.