XFL Impresses in League Debut

Football fans were gifted everything they could have wanted in the XFL’s opening weekend. From kickers being sideline interviewed shortly after missing a field goal to wild trick plays, the XFL brought their game. With a fan first mentality, the XFL’s fanbase will seemingly skyrocket over time. Common sense rules and a quicker pace, the XFL should be around for a long time.
8-teams divided into two divisions, East and West, will play a 10-week regular season and a two-week postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game on April 26. The teams and cities representing the East are the New York Guardians, St. Louis Battlehawks, DC Defenders, and the Tampa Bay Vipers. Out West the XFL presents the Los Angeles Wildcats, Seattle Dragons, Dallas Renegades, and Houston Roughnecks. If the inaugural season keeps its success, we might just see the league expand if not double in size.
There truly isn’t much to dislike about the XFL so far. Fox and ABC have broadcasted a great product with top tier broadcasting, including ESPN’s Steve Levy for the first official XFL game, and countless camera angles and their professional crews. There wasn’t a lack of talent on the field either, no feeling of a ‘minor league’ product. Players with NFL and Division I history and talent scattered the field and on every sideline. The XFL has created so many jobs and second chance opportunities for players, coaches, and staff looking to revitalize their careers. Ultimately, it’s more of what we as Americans want to see, more football.
The XFL claims to be built on three core principles, fan-first, ultra-accessible, and true to the game. With revamped and fresh rules to football, so far they are staying true to these principles. As the XFL’s motto goes ‘For the Love of Football’, they’ll have myself and many other football fanatics coming back every weekend for more and more of this short 79-day season.