Many people either know about the XFL or are just confused about what the XFL even is. The XFL is a professional American football league owned by Vince McMahon‘s Alpha Entertainment. Yes, it’s the same Vince McMahon who owns the WWE.

Vince first started the XFL in 2000 but the first game wasn’t played until 2001. On February 3^rd, 2001 the opening game took place at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was less than one week after the NFL’s Super Bowl XXXV. The New Jersey Hitmen and the Las Vegas Outlaws were the first two teams to play an XFL game and the Las Vegas Outlaws came out with a 19 to 0 victory over the New Jersey Hitmen. For it’s 2020 reboot the XFL as of now has 8 teams 4 in the West and 4 in the East conference. In the West conference include, New York Guardians, Louis BattleHawks, Tampa Bay Vipers, and the DC Defenders. The East conference includes, Seattle Dragons, Los Angeles Wildcats, Houston Roughnecks, and the Dallas Renegades. St.

While the XFL was first mentioned in 2000 it didn’t last more than one season (10 games.) The XFL collapsed after the first season and this was due to the poor planning and communication of the owner/s. Even though the first game pulled in 54 million viewers the XFL didn’t hold up to the viewers expectations throughout the season. The whole concept was rushed to fast, Vince McMahon proposed the XFL and made the news of the XFL coming, but he didn’t even have players, coaches, teams, stadiums, or support staff ready at all. The XFL officially went bankrupted due to McMahon poor planning and poor management of funding.

In 2001 the XFL went for a harder hitting type/style of football. McMahon promised to give the viewers, “faster, more violent tackles, creative new rules, a brash attitude and scantily clad cheerleaders” in the XFL. On opening day for the XFL (February 3^rd, 2001) Vince McMahon said, “”We welcome you to our brand of football” he then continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the XFL.”

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“If the National Football League stands for the No Fun League, the XFL will be the extra fun league!

— Vince McMahon

If you want to see what the XFL’s major and severely different rules from any other football league were in 2001 be sure to check, xflnewshub.com or search the XFL’s rules in 2001.

However, way back in May 8^th of 2018 Vince McMahon released a video of him stating that the XFL was coming back in 2020. Vince McMahon held true to that statement because on Saturday, February 8^th, 2020 the first XFL game was played after it’s nearly two-decade absences. There were two games played on February 8^th and two on February 9^th, the SEA Dragons and the DC Defenders played against each other on the 8^th. Also, the LA Wildcats and the HOU Roughnecks played each other on the 8^th. While the TB Vipers and NY Guardians, and the STL BattleHawks and the DAL Renegades played one another on the 9^th. To see the scores of these games and future games and scheduled game look at XFL.com.

I think that the XFL back in 2001 was too much for its own good. There were to many different rule changes that were never seen before, but the concept was good. If it was introduced a little differently and not rushed, hyped so much then I think that it would’ve still been a league and not have to take a 20-year break. The vision that McMahon had was great in my opinion, because the NFL is getting to the point where there are to many rules and they are taking away the fun aspect of the game. While they say its for the players safety and health they could take a whole didn’t path and still keep the fun in the game. But we are here to talk about the XFL not the NFL. If McMahon took his time and tried to make the league last and not just pushing “product” out for viewers then it would’ve been really great.

However, with the reboot of the XFL for the 2020 season and seasons to come, McMahon hired many people that know all about football, and they help make the rules and make sure that the new league doesn’t go to far out of proportion. One of these people is Oliver Luck, yes Andrew Luck’s father. Oliver Luck is the CEO/Commissioner of the XFL, while Vince McMahon is still the owner.

I think that the changes that the XFL made are great because not only have they hired the right people and taken their time to make the league work. They also have made great rule changes like for example during the kickoffs, “the kicker kicks from the 30-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone. The coverage team lines up on the return side 35-yard line and the return team lines up on the 30-yard line. Each team must have exactly 3 players outside the hash marks on both sides of the ball and cannot move until the ball is caught by the returner. Out of bounds kicks and kicks that fall short of the 20-yard line will result in an illegal procedure penalty, taking the ball all the way out to the kicking team’s 45-yard line. Players can move when the ball is touched by the returner or 3 seconds after the ball touches the ground (when the official waves his hand down).” According to xfl.com/rules.

In my opinion this kickoff rule change gives the game a different style and tempo. I think that it is a great way to keeping the players safe while still for the most part keeping the fun and “danger” in a kickoff.

While the XFL folded after its first season in 2001, I think that the XFL will stick around longer than one season if they continue to do things right and not rush it this time. With the rule changes they made from the 2001 season to the 2020 the XFL has a great chance at sticking around for a long time.