Locos Win UFL Championship Game

The Las Vegas Locomotives had to go to overtime to defeat the previously-unbeaten Florida Tuskers 20-17 in the UFL Championship Game yesterday. The Tuskers had given the Locos their only two losses during the regular season, but the Locos effectively had the home field advantage as the game was played in Sam Boyd Stadium. The Locos also had a 5 to 1 advantage in ProUtes: Jesse Boone and Lauvale Sape started for the Locos, while Josh Savage (#93, pictured at right) started for the Tuskers. Gabe Long had two tackles, Brian Hernandez returned two punts for 11 yards, and John Madsen had one catch for -5 yards off the bench. Paris Warren missed the game as he was dismissed from the Tuskers for disciplinary reasons.

During the course of the six game season Madsen and Warren each caught a touchdown pass. Hernandez averaged 20.6 yards per punt return with a long of 54 yards. On the defensive side Long and Savage both had a sack. Long was the leading tackler, while Savage forced two fumbles. Did any of these ProUtes play their way into the NFL? That doesn't seem likely. Will the UFL expand next season and add a team in Utah based on the success of these ProUtes? That is a possibility. Until that happens all I can say is Go Locos!

Go Locos!

The inaugural UFL season begins tonight, with the California Redwoods taking on the Las Vegas Locomotives. Get behind the Locos, because they have no fewer than five ProUtes on the team! Center Jesse Boone (pictured at right in practice with qb J.P. Losman) and defensive lineman Gabe Long have been joined by wide receiver Brian Hernandez, tight end John Madsen, and defensive lineman Lauvale Sape. The Locos will play in UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium, but the home school only landed one player on the practice squad in comparison. As reported in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the fledging league might want to consider Salt Lake for an exhibition game if not an expansion franchise! Even Las Vegas head coach Jim Fassel is a former coach at the University of Utah. Go Locos!

Other ProUtes playing in the UFL include defensive end Josh Savage and wide receiver Paris Warren with the Florida Tuskers. Quarterback Brian Johnson was released by the New York Sentinels.

On a side note, if there are any Savage #95 Tennessee Titans jerseys still in circulation I would be an interested buyer!

Two Birds with One Stone

Another bird team has waived wide receiver Bradon Godfrey. First the Falcons, then the Ravens. Are the Eagles next? Michael Vick could use a receiver like Godfrey to catch passes in practice. The Ravens signed Godfrey on August 15th, then waived him on August 31st to get the roster down to the mandated 75 players as of September 1st. Final cuts are this weekend, when teams have to get down to 53 players. No other Pro Utes were casualties of the 75 man roster, although tight end John Madsen and wide receivers Brent Casteel and Paris Warren were waived earlier.

I've never liked the Ravens, but they do have two Pro Utes on their formidable defense: rookie linebacker/defensive end Paul Kruger and back up defensive lineman Kelly Talavou, so I grudgingly give them credit for that.

Utah opens the 2009 season against Utah State tonight! Go Utes!