UFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

by ed bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

24 hours after the NFL produced three of the biggest mistaches in the history of pro football on Thanksgiving day the UFL produced one of the best competitive games in my long long lifetime.

The new fledging league completed its first season in Las Vegas with a title game the football world can cherish forever.

Las Vegas 20 Florida 17 in overtime...the game had every element to include two outstanding competitive well coached pro football teams.

Most events have to have a hook to be attractive....this one just provided an outstanding football game....it takes two and two showed up on this day.

The UFL answered the question about how to start a new league. Obviously good players with NFL futures and or pasts are available under proper management and coaching !

You don't get a play by play here...you should have gone to the game or watched on Versus TV.

Nonetheless I am touching on some events that made this special. The players appear to respect each other and at this point, no arrests, no drug issues, no lawsuits and no dog fights ! When a player is injured both teams gather around him on the field as if they really care...I think they do.

The championship game was full of elements....not the least of which was excellent football on both sides of the ball by both teams...terrific entertainment with endless big third down plays. They had fireworks...OK...the halftime... first class with Las Vegas Strip show Matsuri at the Imperial Palace doing 13 minutes ?
Again the football very crisp with lots of outstanding plays on both sides of the ball and of course it was competitive all the way to the end especially so to get to overtime. The overtime here allows both sides a possession and when you throw an interception on the first series of overtime in your own end it leads to the winning overtime field goal....IT DID ! Not a touchdown every play...boy I love defense and this game provided the perfect mix ! Play calling on both sides of the ball one of the biggest factors in successful football...excellent super difficult work here for both sides to the effect you could consistently see the affect.

Replay...what a difference this makes...and with a new league and their own rules the interreptations today came into play often, referee Dave Cutaia gave me the impression he was working his way thru lots of it and being an official myself I was on his side. Some monumental changes of possession appeared on the replay screens in the press box and they were clearly unclear and subject to the replay read and added an interesting element to the game....on home on TV this night replays showed
questionable replays of the tying touchdown...again the officials do not decide these games only this game provided lots of tough calls for them to make !

Interseting that the first overtime in the league would come on this field in the championship game...the first college overtime appeared on this field in the Las Vegas bowl in 1995 with Toledo beating Nevada 40-37...boy was it cold that night!

For entertainment value... here is top of the line football now soliciting your support in 2010....the league plans to return in the fall of 2010 with more teams and more games and hopefully the same brand of football.

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