Same Old Locos

While his brother Matt Asiata is breaking in with the Minnesota Vikings, Shawn Asiata is trying to make an impact with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL. Utah fans know full well the type of bone-jarring impact the big fullback can make as a lead blocker, and how well he catches the ball out of the backfield. So far he has one reception for 11 yards for Sacramento (0-3). Another new player in the UFL is Clint Mower, a long snapper for the Virginia Destroyers (1-2). So far the season has belonged to veterans Jesse Boone and Lauvale Sape of the Las Vegas Locos (4-0).

BLOCK THAT KICK!

Brandon Burton's block of Mitch Payne's field goal attempt to seal Utah's 17-16 victory over BYU wasn't the only resounding blocked kick on Saturday; the Las Vegas Locomotives also got a blocked FG to preserve their 23-20 win in the second UFL Championship Game! The Locos defeated the Tuskers for their second consecutive title. Las Vegas has a dynasty! Congratulations to former Utah head coach Jim Fassel and ProUtes Jesse Boone, Brian Hernandez, and Lauvale Sape on winning back-to-back championships!

For an amusing wrap up of the UFL season, see DJ Gallo's Page 2 column on ESPN.com.

New Look Locos

The Locos are back for their second season in the UFL with new uniforms, a new starting quarterback, and a new roster with only three ProUtes. The fledgling league overhauled its image between seasons, an upgrade so drastic it apparently required a fashion show. Stay tuned for America's Next Top Football Model! I mock, but at least one of my predictions came true: last year's merchandise has become obsolete.

Some teams changed their monikers along with their uniforms. The California Redwoods are now the Sacramento Mountain Lions and the New York Sentinels became the Hartford Colonials. The league is also expanding, adding the Omaha Nighthawks this season and a team in Virginia later.

No ProUtes parlayed their play into a second stint in the NFL (a second accurate prediction), although John Madsen came close. He and Gabe Long have not returned for year two. That leaves Las Vegas with Jesse Boone, Brian Hernandez, and Lauvale Sape on the roster.

The new look did not avail the Locos as they lost to the Florida Tuskers in the season opener.

Louie Sakoda was released today by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He signed with Winnipeg after being dropped by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but an injured calf prevented him from suiting up.

Savage on the Move

Josh Savage has played for a number of teams in his career: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Florida Tuskers. Add to that list the Omaha Nighthawks, which selected him in the recent UFL expansion draft.

Omaha also took a pair of defensive tackles from the Las Vegas Locomotives, which could spell more playing time for Lauvale Sape and Gabe Long. The Locos protected Jesse Boone and Sape (who is currently playing with the Utah Blaze of the AFL) from the expansion draft. Long is a free agent following his workout with the Detroit Lions in December.

Tight end John Madsen also had a workout with the Lions last week, but was released on Friday and remains a free agent.

I'm a few seasons behind, but I finally got my #95 Josh Savage Titans jersey!

Utah Man in the Arena

Arena Football returns to action tonight, but I have to say I'm not as excited to follow the Utah Blaze now that I can no longer find Jason Boone or Derrek Richards on the roster. The only connection to the University of Utah on the team is Brett Elliott, the quarterback who lost his starting spot to Alex Smith due to injury. Elliott then transferred to Linfield, a Div. III school where he excelled, winning a national championship and setting all kinds of records. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent, then joined the AFL. Now that the league is back Elliott is back in Utah.

Tommy Grady, a qb who did not enjoy similar success after transferring from Oklahoma to Utah, returns to his roots as a member of the Oklahoma City Yard Dogz.

The player I'm most excited to see back on the field is Steve Fifita, one of the heroes of the Fiesta Bowl. Fifita spent a couple of years with the Miami Dolphins but didn't have the size for the NFL. He does have a non-stop motor, which may be a better fit for Arena Football anyhow! He plays for the Alabama Vipers.

One player who will not be returning with the revived AFL is Phil Glover, but that's probably for the best. Some guys don't know when to walk away from the game while they still can!

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!