XFL offers new take on professional football

JAKE GAY, Reporter

The XFL and league owner Vince McMahon has introduced a completely new way for fans to watch professional football. McMahon stated, “while it [the league] would share its name and trademark with the previous incarnation, it would not rely on professional wrestling-inspired features and entertainment elements as its predecessor did, instead aiming to create a league with fewer off-field controversies and faster, simpler play compared to the NFL.”

The inaugural season started on February 8 and has given fans unbefore seen access to the sport of football with innovations including in-game interviews with coaches, and according to the XFL“missed field goal interviews,” which occur immediately after the failed attempt.

Senior Dylan Kapustensky watched the opening week and commented, “It was a good time, although for me nothing beats the NFL. The rule changes were interesting, although not seeing, you know, the stars like Tom Brady and names we know like that, makes it less fun.”

Another innovation the league has made to the game is during “the most dangerous play in football, the kickoff”, according to SBNation.com. The XFL has players line up as they would in the NFL but have the kicker kick from a much further distance ensuring a kick return and not a touchback.

XFL officials commented on the change, “with a goal to eliminate safety issues with kickoffs, the NCAA and NFL created more opportunities for touchbacks. The increase in touchbacks naturally leads to fewer returns which means fewer meaningful plays. The XFL’s proposed rule change will encourage more kick returns while making the play less dangerous by eliminating the 30-yard sprint to collision.” For a complete list of rule changes fans can visit XFL.com/rules.

Currently, there are eight different teams in the XFL with a ninth soon to be unveiled. The players filling the sidelines are athletes anywhere from foreign players to former College Football Playoff winner Cardale Jones. The league has marketed their attempt to put “Fans above all, for the love of football.” Along with sideline interviews the fans have access to XFL.com and the official XFL app.

The league’s outreach has been criticized, as they have had limited commercials and promotional videos. Freshman Mason Berk hadn’t heard about The XFL. He commented “it probably could rival the NFL, it’d really have to come down to the fan base though. Also, I think they’d have to advertise the games more; personally, I don’t know much about the actual league itself because the lack of it [advertising].”

North Harford Alumni Sam Macatee attended the inaugural week cheering for the hometown team the DC Defenders. He commented with encouragement stating that he “highly recommends going to and attending the football  games; being in the stands is unlike anything else, and I really had fun.”  During week 3 of the season, XFL tickets averaged at a cost of 100 dollars per seat, this is opposed to The NFL’s median ticket price standing at 151 dollars per seat.

Overall, attendance to The NFL games remains exponentially higher than those of the XFL. Analysts and reporters are not quick to conclude their views on this as many think that “the numbers will really fall into place as the years go on for the infant league. It’s hard to tell if people are just latching onto something new, or if they really like what McMahon and the league is putting out.” David Portnoy Barstool.com founder.