UFL

QUARTERBACK DAUNTE CULPEPPER SIGNS WITH THE SACRAMENTO MOUNTAIN LIONS OF THE UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2010-06-08T16:49:13Z

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper has signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League.

Culpepper will be reunited with his former Minnesota Vikings head coach Dennis Green, who will lead the Mountain Lions into the second UFL season, which kicks off this fall. Green previously selected Culpepper, who is a three-time NFL Pro Bowler and also played for the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions, with the 11th pick of the 1999 NFL Draft.

“My goal for this year was to get on the field and play football,” said Culpepper, who threw for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns during a stellar NFL career. “When the opportunity came for me to sign with the UFL and play for coach Green in Sacramento I could not resist. I am impressed with his approach to the game and to his players.

“I am also excited to be reunited with my college coach Mike Kruczek as the offensive coordinator. I am expecting to have a lot of fun running a wide-open offense and being a part of the United Football League. California here I come!”

Coach Green said: “Bringing a player of Daunte’s caliber to the Mountain Lions is a major step forward not only for the team but also for the UFL. He is a player who will excite the fans here and will be an integral part of the team we are building that we hope can bring a championship to Sacramento. On a personal note, I am delighted to be reunited with Daunte.”

Culpepper’s arrival in Sacramento will also create a rivalry with last season’s defeated UFL Championship Game finalists the Florida Tuskers. The quarterback enjoyed a standout college football career under Kruczek at the University of Central Florida, where he rewrote the UCF record books. On October 21, the Ocala, FL, native will return to his home state to face the Tuskers at the same Florida Citrus Bowl venue where he rose to prominence with the Knights.

UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue said of Culpepper joining the Mountain Lions: “We have always prioritized putting a high-quality product on the field for fans to enjoy and adding Daunte Culpepper to the Mountain Lions roster continues that trend. He is an exceptionally talented player who will bring a wealth of experience and excitement to Sacramento and the league as a whole.”

Culpepper will be presented to the media at a press conference at the Hilton Hotel (2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento, CA 95815) at 10am PST on Wednesday, June 9 when he joins Coach Green to unveil the new Mountain Lions logo.

The Mountain Lions quarterback will also suit up for the opening of Mini Camp at Grant High School stadium (1333 Grand Avenue, Sacramento, CA, 95838) on Thursday, June 10 at 9am PST. Media are invited to attend Mini Camp, which will be followed by player media availability at 11am PST.

Among his career highlights, in 2004 Culpepper passed for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Vikings-record 39 touchdowns and was named to his third career Pro Bowl. He also broke Dan Marino’s NFL record for combined passing and rushing yards, amassing 5,123 total yards. His 2,323 rushing yards from 2000-2004 also made him only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to run for more than 2,300 yards in a five-season period.

Having played sparingly his rookie year in the NFL, Culpepper was named the starter in 2000 and led the Vikings to a 7-0 mark, eventually finishing 11-5 with a berth in the NFC Championship Game, losing to Las Vegas Locos head coach Jim Fassel’s New York Giants.

Welcome the Sacramento Mountain Lions to the United Football League

2010-04-06T18:46:57Z

Sacramento, your United Football league team that will kick off the 2010 fall season at Hornet Stadium in the state capital has a new name – the Mountain Lions.

The Mountain Lions was one of the most popular names suggested by sports fans in Sacramento through a ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’ promotion to name the UFL team, which ran on the league’s official website www.UFL-Football.com in association with Northern California’s Sports Station KHTK 1140 AM.

“Again we have listened to the fans of the UFL by selecting a nickname that proved most popular in an online vote to give one of our teams a strong and regional identity,” said United Football League Commissioner Michael Huyghue. “There were many suggestions and opinions for names with a local flavor and this proved to be the most popular and the most dynamic.”

Mountain lions live in many different types of habitat in California, from deserts to humid coast range forest, and from sea level to 10,000-foot elevations. There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions in the state.

The Sacramento Mountain Lions will be led by head coach Dennis Green, who in his first United Football League season led the former California Redwoods to a 2-4 record. His returning running back Cory Ross, who is among 20 players protected by the Mountain Lions, led the league in rushing with 462 yards in 2009.

“I am excited at the prospect of running onto the field at Hornet Stadium with a vibrant name and logo of the Mountain Lions on my chest,” said coach Green. “You can come up with all the clichés you like to tell the fans in Sacramento that we will be as agile, fast, powerful and dare I say it, as predatory as Mountain Lions,and we will prove it on the field when we take on our opponents in the United Football League this season.”

Three randomly drawn entrants who were among those who suggested the Mountain Lions name will be unveiled as the inaugural “UFL Foundation Fans”. They will receive some great ‘Ultimate Fan Experience’ prizes of four suite passes, and four on-field pre-game passes for a home game, an opportunity to meet coach Green on the field during pre-game and PA recognition during the game.

Group and season tickets to Sacramento Mountain Lions games will go on sale in April and the team’s new logo and uniforms will also be unveiled in the coming months. Sports fans can call 916-233-4870 for more information about the Mountain Lions. The team will also launch a new website in April.

Social networking Mountain Lions fans eager to interact with fellow fans can do so at:
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague
http://www.twitter.com/theUFL
http://www.twitter.com/SacMtnLions

About The UFL: The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. The United Football League debuted in October 2009 with four teams in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco for its “Premiere” season. The UFL offices are in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

Hartford Colonials Head Coach Chris Palmer selects his coaching staff for 2010 United Football League season

2010-03-19T20:15:20Z

Hartford Colonials head coach Chris Palmer has assembled the majority of his coaching staff for the 2010 United Football League season.

A staff of NFL-seasoned and emerging coaches will lead the Colonials when they kick off the second UFL campaign this fall. The coaches are meeting as offensive and defensive groups in the Connecticut state capital this week to formulate the team’s game plan and prepare for a 10-game season that includes five home games at the Colonials’ Rentschler Field home stadium in East Hartford.

“We are excited to announce our staff and begin developing our football program,” said Coach Palmer. “We have coaches that have a passion for football and enjoy helping young players develop. It was good to get together and discuss football.”

Hartford Colonials Coaching Staff:

Chris Palmer- Head Coach and General Manager
Ted Daisher- Defensive Line
Oji Fagan- Running Backs
Frank Hauser- Linebackers
Jerry Holmes- Secondary
Osia Lewis- Defensive Coordinator
Dave Ragone- Wide Receivers/ Quarterback
Tony Sparano- Assistant Defensive Line
Shane Waldron- Tight Ends
Todd Washington- Offensive Line

Chris Palmer, Head Coach and General Manager: Played football at Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT, and was a quarterback at Southern Connecticut State University before a successful spell coaching at the University of New Haven from 1986-87, posting consecutive 8-2 records. Most recently, Palmer tutored Eli Manning with the New York Giants from 2007 to 2009 and ultimately won a Super Bowl XLII ring.

Ted Daisher, Defensive Line: Was the Special Teams coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and before that from 2004 to 2005. He has also coached with the Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.

Oji Fagan, Running Backs: Spent the last five seasons coaching the Hudson Valley Vikings. He was a four-year letter winner at the University of Albany and since has coached with Stonehill College in Massachusetts and worked with the New York Giants as a coaching intern.

Frank Hauser, Linebackers: A well-known local figure who coached in Connecticut with Wesleyan University for 24 years and was the head coach of the Cardinals for the last 18 seasons. He is also a physical education professor at Wesleyan.

Jerry Holmes, Secondary: Was the head coach at Hampton University in 2008 having spent five years coaching in the NFL with San Diego, Washington and Cleveland and played ten seasons in the NFL, mainly with the New York Jets.

Osia Lewis, Defensive Coordinator: Was the defensive coordinator at UTEP having coached previously at New Mexico and the University of Illinois. Following a standout college career at Oregon State, he played in the CFL and AFL.

Dave Ragone, Wide Receivers / Quarterbacks: Finished his college career as the second-leading passer in Louisville school history and was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Won NFL Europe MVP honors in 2005.

Tony Sparano, Assistant Defensive Line coach: Was a three-year letterman at the University of Albany. His father is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Shane Waldron, Tight Ends: Was the tight ends coach of the New England Patriots in 2009 having previously served as an offensive assistant with the Patriots and as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame. He played football at Tufts University.

Todd Washington, Offensive Line: Was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the University of San Diego. During an eight-year NFL career played with the Houston Texans and won a Super Bowl XXXVII ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Group and season tickets to Hartford Colonials games will go on sale in April and the team’s new logo and uniforms will also be unveiled in the coming months. Sports fans can call 860-718-0141 for more information about the Colonials.

Social networking Colonials fans eager to interact with fellow fans can do so at:
http://www.facebook.com/UnitedFootballLeague
http://www.facebook.com/HartfordColonials
http://www.twitter.com/theUFL
http://www.twitter.com/theColonials

United Football League invites Sacramento sports fans to suggest their favorite name for the city's UFL team

2010-03-18T19:18:26Z

The United Football League is inviting sports fans in Sacramento to suggest their favorite name for the new professional football team that will play in the state capital when the 2010 UFL season kicks off.

Suggestions for team names began pouring into the mailbox of UFL-Football.com following the announcement on March 3 that the Sacramento UFL team will play five home games at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State this fall.

Fans will also have the opportunity to potentially win some great ‘Ultimate Fan Experience’ prizes of four suite passes, and four on-field pre-game passes for a home game, an opportunity to meet head coach Dennis Green on the field during pre-game and PA recognition during the game.

Three entrants will be selected at random from among all eligible entries received to win the ultimate fan experience and be designated ‘UFL Foundation Fans’. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on March 17, 2010. Full details and competition rules can be found at UFL-Football.com.

“We want to empower the fans of this new Sacramento United Football League team to give us their thoughts on the name that they feel has a strong local connection and that they will be proud to chant from the stands at Hornet Stadium,” said UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue.

The UFL-Football.com website is now hosting ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’, inviting football fans to start voting for their preferred choice of team names from a shortlist of six options or to suggest a different team name:

• Sacramento Condors
• Sacramento Miners
• Sacramento Pioneers
• Sacramento Redwoods
• Sacramento Senators
• Sacramento Sting

The Sacramento team will be led by head coach Dennis Green, who in his first United Football League season led the California Redwoods to a 2-4 record and his running back Cory Ross led the league in rushing with 462 yards. As a head coach in the NFL, Green compiled a regular season record of 113–94 with the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals.

About The UFL: The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. The United Football League debuted in October 2009 with four teams in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco for its “Premiere” season. The UFL offices are in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is being funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

United Football League brings professional football to Sacramento

2010-03-18T18:36:57Z

The City of Sacramento will become home to the United Football League and its California franchise when the league’s second season kicks off in the fall of 2010.

The team, which played two home games in San Francisco and one in San Jose as the California Redwoods during the 2009 UFL Premiere season, will relocate to Sacramento for all five 2010 UFL home games, giving local football fans a team they can call their own.
Led by Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green, the team will play at Hornet Stadium at Sacramento State when the new season kicks off in September.

The UFL is inviting football fans to suggest their favorite name for the Sacramento team and announced a ‘Your Town, Your Team, Your Name – You Make The Call’ promotion being run in association with Northern California’s Sports Station KHTK 1140 AM. Fans can visit the official league website www.UFL-Football.com to take part in the naming contest.

United Football League Commissioner Michael Huyghue, team owner Paul Pelosi and Head Coach and General Manager Dennis Green were formally welcomed to the California state capital by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson at a press conference at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento on Wednesday.

“Sacramento is a natural home for the UFL in that it is a major market that we believe will support a professional football team and we are excited to be here,” said UFL Commissioner Huyghue. “We are bringing sports fans in the area an exciting and high-quality product on the field at an affordable price and hope they will embrace the team who will become a part of the local community.”

Team owner Paul Pelosi, said: “I was born and raised in Northern California and for the last quarter century have built strong personal and business relationships in Sacramento. I am excited for the opportunity to bring professional football to Sacramento and we look forward to being part of the community and appealing to sports fans in the area.”

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson added: “Welcoming a professional sports team to the city also means welcoming a positive focus for the local community. Whether it comes in the form of economic impact, the creation of jobs or simply the buzz from your city’s team winning football games, the opportunity to have a Sacramento franchise in the United Football League is an exciting proposition. I personally look forward to seeing the team in action at Hornet Stadium.”

As the California Redwoods, the relocated team posted a 2-4 record during the inaugural 2009 UFL season and running back Cory Ross led the league in rushing with 462 yards.

“I am excited that the team will be able to call the city of Sacramento home,” said Head Coach Dennis Green. “When I coached in Northern California I won a Super Bowl ring during my time with the San Francisco 49ers and I hope to bring championship success to the people of Sacramento and the fans of the team.”

Sacramento State President Alex Gonzalez said: “We are pleased to welcome the United Football League to our campus, and we are already seeing the benefits of our partnership. Thanks to the UFL, we are installing a new playing surface at Hornet Stadium without using state General Fund money. The field will allow Sacramento State to use the stadium for additional academic and student activities, as well as give us the opportunity to use it for other regional sporting events.”

Football fans eager to learn about ticket information for UFL games in Sacramento can call an information hotline: 916-233-4870. Messages can also be left regarding partner and sponsorship opportunities, player personnel, future staffing, media relations and general inquiries.

About The UFL: The UFL was developed to fulfill the needs of football fans in major markets currently under-served by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve its communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. UFL offices are located in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the 2010 UFL season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.