Locos Station

Return Of Locos Station And Future

2011-01-26T04:56:00.000-08:00

Hello Locos fans! It has been a while since there was an update. Some games came and went, and the Las Vegas Locos made it to their second consecutive UFL Championship! Not to mention, they won it in dramatic fashion against their biggest foes, the Florida Tuskers. If you'd like to watch the game in it's entirety, do so here at the Official UFL website.

Since the end of the season, there has been quite a few changes going forward for the United Football league. For instance:

- The Florida Tuskers have ceased operations.
- The Tuskers' staff and players have relocated to the Virginia Destroyers.
- Coach Joe Moglia has relocated from Virginia to coach the Omaha Nighthawks (replacing ex-head coach Jagodzinski).
- Many 2010 UFL players have been picked up by NFL teams (including Locos star Isaiah Trufant who played for the Jets in the playoffs).
- Locos Head Coach/Manager Jim Fassel will take over Business & Marketing for the team as well.
- With speculation that the Locos might end up playing at Cashman Field this upcoming season, it has been confirmed via the Locos' facebook, that they will be playing at Sam Boyd Stadium

There will be a Championship event in the coming months to celebrate the Locos' second Hambrecht Trophy win. We will keep you posted for any and all information. We will also keep you posted on any and all ticket information for the 2011 season, player losses/additions, coaching changes, events, promotions, cheerleader info, and anything else Locos related.

Please excuse the absence of Locos Station for the past few months. There has been some internet issues that has prevented us from updating the site. But these have been solved, and we're back on track (get it?)! The domain name will be re-updated soon, but for now, you can find us here at http://locosstation.blogspot.com

Thanks, and let's get the Locos to a THREEPEAT this year!

Drew Willy Interview With ESPN Radio 1100

2010-10-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

Mitch Moss and Dug Dugless with ESPN Radio 1100 got a chance to watch the Locos practice today, and Mitch did a quick interview with newly appointed starting quarterback Drew Willy. It's worth a watch, check it out here.

Locos Express News 10/19

2010-10-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

As always, if you've missed any past episodes of Locos Extra on Sundays, you can catch up on the episodes here via KTNV channel 13.

The game on Saturday is themed "Kid's Rule," so all kids 12 and under are free. All UNLV students with valid student ID are free too! There will be a fan fest that starts at 10AM with bounce houses, face painters, BMX riders, skateboarders, and more.

The 2010 UFL Championship game site has been announced. It comes as no surprise that Omaha will be hosting the game. They've been selling out, and their fans are very enthusiastic. Hopefully Vegas can catch up!

Safety Lewis Baker and kicker Steven Hauschka won UFL defensive/special teams players of the week due to their contributions to last weeks game. Daunte Culpepper should've won offensive player of the week, for throwing it to us so many times. Barker had two tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception against Sacramento, while Hauschka hit four field goals ranging from 36-47 yards during the game.

Tim Rattay Placed On IR - Out For The Season

2010-10-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

Starting quarterback Tim Rattay has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the 2010 UFL season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon that he injured in last weeks game against Sacramento. Drew Willy was recently announced the starter for the upcoming home game against the Hartford Colonials. Willy played college ball at the University of Buffalo, and was a college stand-out. Willy holds almost every passing record for UB and took Buffalo to their first MAC Championship game in history and handed a heavily favored team the upset. He has been on the Baltimore Ravens roster, as well as the Indianapolis Colts.

The Locos have re-signed Russ Michna who was with the team last year, and was cut earlier in the year due to an injury he sustained while playing for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He will serve as the third string quarterback under Willy and Chase Clement.

What about JP Losman? Well the quarterback that took us to the UFL championship last year hasn't been in contact with the team at all. Coach Fassel said that he had considered trying to bring Losman back, but has trust for the young guys that are on the team.

Late Game Updates

2010-10-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

I've been pulled away from the blog for a while, but I'm working on being back on top of things full time. Anyway, here's some quick blurbs for the previous two games against Omaha and Sacramento.

Omaha Nighthawks @ Las Vegas Locos
A couple weeks ago, the Omaha Nighthawks flew into town. It looked like a long game after a bad first series, and a quick Omaha touchdown. But after shutting down the Omaha offense in the second half of the game, the Locos came through with a victory. The Locos defense forced a few turnovers, two interceptions belonged to Isaiah Trufant. The Locos ran the ball well throughout the game, and Tim Rattay did pretty well too. Tight end Adam Bergen left the game in the second quarter due to a knee injury. The Nighthawks will be eagerly anticipating the rematch next week when they play the Locos at their home field Rosenblatt Stadium. FINAL: Locos 22 Nighthawks 10

Las Vegas Locos @ Sacramento Mountain Lions
Coming off a good game and securing a first place title (tied with Omaha)last week, the Locos traveled to Sacramento to take on Daunte Culpepper and the rest of the Mountain Lions. A good size crowd of about 19,000 fans showed up to watch the game. The Las Vegas defense once again shut down the offense and confused another veteran quarterback. There were 6 forced turnovers (including Wale Dada's 58 yard interception touchdown return late in the 4th), and a great fourth quarter in which the team racked up 17 points. The first half of the game was a field goal battle in which newly acquired kicker Steven Hauschka kicked three field goals. The bad news was that Tim Rattay went down in the 4th quarter with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Locos are at the top of the league, but can they keep the momentum without Rattay? We'll see. FINAL: Locos 26 Mountain Lions: 3

Game Analysis: Las Vegas 20 @ Florida 17

2010-10-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the fifth meeting between rival teams the Florida Tuskers and the Las Vegas Locomotives. The Locos have played the Tuskers 5 times in only 9 total games in UFL history, so the teams definitely know each other.

The game came just two weeks after Florida beat Las Vegas at home in the season opener 27-20. The Locos had a bye week last week, and Florida lost a close game to the Sacramento Mountain Lions 20-24.

The game eerily started off similarly to the game two weeks ago with the Locos gaining an early 10-0 lead. Tim Rattay had a perfect first quarter which included a 68-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Parker. Kicker Parker Douglass kicked a field goal in the 2nd to bring the Locos up to 10. He also missed a kick earlier in the game.

The Tuskers started to come back, much like they did during the last time the two teams met when the Locos were up 10-0. The Tuskers had the game tied into the fourth quarter, and took the lead when Brooks Bollinger threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Cortez Hankton with 6:36 to go in regulation.

Tim Rattay answered the Tuskers touchdown with a fast drive which spanned about 70 yards and ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Andrae Thurman. That tied the Locos up with the Tuskers with about 4 minutes left in the game. It wouldn't have been possible without returning running back DeDe Dorsey's 47 yard run on a crucial 3rd down situation.

The Tuskers got the ball next, and the Locos defense forced the Tuskers to punt the ball. Tim Rattay hit a few nice passes, and the Locos running backs helped the team move 60 yards to set up Parker Douglass' 21 yard game-winning field goal as the game clock ran out bringing the Locos to a 1-1 record.

The Las Vegas Locos outplayed the Tuskers throughout the first half of the game, and should have had more points on the board leading into half time. A missed field goal, and a Tim Rattay interception were two important issues that ended up costing the team points. The Locos defense played very well, and recorded 5 sacks in the first half.

The team still had problems with penalties, and needs to try their best to eliminate stupid penalties like holding, false starts, offsides, and pass interference penalties.

Even though he threw an interception, Tim Rattay looked great on the field today. He seemed a lot more comfortable than he did two weeks ago, and the numbers speak for it. He completed 27 of 36 pass attempts for 324 yards and two touchdown passes.

It's safe to say that the Locos wouldn't have won the game without returning running back DeDe Dorsey. Dorsey rushed for 99 yards on just 14 runs. He was a big target for Rattay too, and caught 7 passes for 105 yards bringing his total offensive yardage to 204. Running back Marcel Shipp ran for 65 yards on 19 attempts.

Florida Tuskers QB Bollinger threw for 196 yards (the lowest amount ever against the Locos) connecting on 19 of 30 pass attempts.

Tomorrow will be a big match-up when Daunte Culpepper and the Sacramento Mountain Lions travel to play a SOLD OUT Omaha Nighthawks team. Coverage on that game will be brought to you by HDNet and will start at 5:30 PM PDT.

The Locos will play again at home next Friday October 8, at 7:00 PM PDT versus Jeff Garcia, Ahman Green, and the rest of the talented Omaha Nighthawks. If you can't make it out to Sam Boyd Stadium to watch the game, you can watch it on HDNet or streaming via http://www.ufl-football.com

Locos Express News 10/01

2010-10-01T04:54:00.000-07:00

For anyone who missed Locos Extra on Sunday, you can check out the videos of the episode here via KTNV.

Mayor Oscar Goodman will sign a ceremonial contract with the Las Vegas Locos this afternoon 10/01 at 4:00 PM as a tight end on the 3rd Street stage at the Fremont Experience. Along with Locos players and cheerleaders, coach Jim Fassel will present a jersey to Mayor Goodman. Fans are welcome to come hang out and meet the team, staff, and cheerleaders.

Starting within the next few days, Zia Record Exchange (with two locations in town on S. Eastern and also on W. Sahara) will be supporting Locos TE Adam Bergen's charity 87 PLAYS. If you make a purchase at either location, you'll have the opportunity to donate the cost of your plastic bag to 87 PLAYS or two other charities if you choose not to take a bag.

Locos Station News Alert!: DeDe Dorsey Returns

2010-09-24T03:22:00.000-07:00

Axios Sports Management's official facebook page has announced that UFL Championship MVP running back DeDe Dorsey has returned to the Las Vegas Locos.

This is great news, and should help the team out tremendously when they travel to Orlando to play the Tuskers again next week.

Watch The First Episode Of Locos Extra On KTNV + More News

2010-09-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

Locos Extra is a half hour show hosted by Doug Kezirian that is dedicated to the Las Vegas Locos and is aired on Sundays from 6:30-7:00 PM on KTNV Channel 13. For those of you who missed it this past Sunday, you can watch all 3 parts here. Just scroll to the right hand side of the screen.

While the Locos drew under 10,000 fans for the home opener, Hartford drew over 14,000 fans for their inaugural game. The best news is that Omaha has SOLD OUT the first Nighthawks game for Friday night. It should be a great crowd, and a great game to watch on HDNet. They'll be playing the Colonials. The Florida Tuskers will be in Sacramento to play the Mountain Lions on Saturday that will be aired on Versus.

Analysis: Tuskers 27 @ Las Vegas 20

2010-09-23T04:48:00.001-07:00

This is coming later than most would expect, but it's better late than never right? So this past Saturday 9/18, the Florida Tuskers came to Las Vegas for the second game of the 2010 UFL season. Earlier in the day the Hartford Colonials beat the Sacramento Mountain Lions 27-10.

My friend and I showed up to Sam Boyd stadium about an hour before kick-off. We were a little too late to partake in the pre-game festivities, but the remains were still there. There were games, inflatables for the kids, food, and even a few people tailgating. After we looked around, we headed into the stadium.

First of all, if you'd like to watch the game right now, you can stream it online at UFL-Rootball.com on this page here.

The stands were starting to fill in with just about a half hour to go, and we found our third row seats at the 50 yard line. Our section seemed pretty full, and more fans were showing up. When it came closer to game time, the Florida Tuskers were introduced to Sam Boyd Stadium. After that, with some build-up and coming through an inflatable helmet, the Las Vegas Locos were announced. They were greeted with great applause.

The Tuskers won the coin flip and took the ball first. After the kick-off, the game was an exciting roller coaster ride that kept every fan on their toes until the end. Here are some observations from the game:

Both teams had their ups and downs. Brooks Bollinger the Florida QB and returning league MVP looked pretty good throughout the night. He was picked off in the Tuskers' second possession by Teddy Lehman whom returned the pick for a 25 yard touchdown. After the interception, Lehman was out for the rest of the game due to a rib problem. Thankfully, the x-rays showed no fracture to his ribs. Tim Rattay of the Locos got off to a slow start, but started finding somewhat of a rhythm before two crucial interceptions thrown in the 4th quarter.

The Locos wide receivers seemed to have problems catching the ball at times, costing them yardage and even touchdowns. They'll need to be talked to by coach Fassel during the bye week. Rattay had some protection problems throughout the night that the offensive line can hopefully work out.

The most controversial, and outright wrongly called play of the night came in the second quarter when the Locos recovered a fumble from the Tuskers on a running play on their own 3 yard line. There was no flag on the play, but the review official in the booth called an Illegal Blitz penalty on the Locos. The UFL rulebook states that only 6 players can rush on pass plays. The rule is designed to protect the quarterbacks in the league. The rule is void on run plays, and so the call was completely wrong. Coach Fassel argued with the referees to the point where he had to apologize to those who heard his language on TV. The Tuskers scored a touchdown on the resulting play which was a turning point in the game. In the aftermath, the UFL admitted that the call was wrong in a statement to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

There were a multitude of penalties and missed opportunities for both teams. Both teams missed a field goal, both teams missed some crucial first down opportunities, and both teams suffered some injuries. Sammie Parker of the Locos left the game due to injury, but his x-rays came back negative, so hopefully he'll be alright in about a week when we travel back to Orlando to face the Tuskers.

Turnovers were another issue for both teams. Bollinger threw one interception, while Rattay threw 2. Locos' Wally Dada picked up a fumble from Tusker Cortez Hankton that was forced out by Loco Trey Young. Loco Andre Thurman was hit hard by Tusker Odell Thurman who forced a fumble that the Tuskers turned into a field goal.

There were, however, some good parts for the Locos on Saturday. TE Adam Bergen was a stud like usual, and had a lot of nice passes. The Locos defense was hard hitting, and had great tackling skills. They just need to work on their pass defense. Tad Perry caught a great 24 yard pass in what looked to be a touchdown on an important third down situation. Perry happened to be out of bounds, but the Tuskers were called on a pass interference play which put the ball on the 1 yard line. Tim Rattay found FB Bobby Rome on the next play for a touchdown.

On a good drive in the 4th after some great passes, Rattay threw to Tab Perry in the endzone, but Simeon Castille intercepted the pass that could've kept the Locos alive. When the Locos got their last chance at a comeback with a little bit over 2 minutes to go, Brian Hernandez had a great punt return to the Tuskers 32 yard line. Unfortunately Lewis Baker of the Locos was called on an illegal block to the back, so the ball was taken back to the Locos 32 yard line. Then with two minutes to go in the game, Tim Rattay was intercepted by Tuskers defensive powerhouse Odell Thurman which sealed the Tuskers' win.

That's it for the first Locos Station game analysis for the first Locos game of the season. The team could have won the game if the offense and defense meshed a little bit more, but since there is no pre-season, this will all take a little time. And even though Tim Rattay looked a little bit shaky, I think he still has the potential to be a great starter for the team. He'll just have to get over the nerves, and be able to pull through late in the games when the team needs him the most. Hopefully the UFL referee corps can get all of the rules down correctly so they don't just hand points to teams on completely wrong penalty calls.

It's kind of bittersweet that the first two Locos home games are against the rival Florida Tuskers. The Tuskers are 7-0 in the regular season, but still lost the game that counted last November. Almost every Locos - Tuskers game has been close, and I imagine that will continue to happen. The Tuskers have made themselves an easy team to hate after beating the Locos in close games, losing in overtime in the championship, and Brooks Bollinger acting like a complete jerk during the half-time locker room show while pushing away cameras that are part of the UFL contracts that each team signs for the TV broadcasts. So it's cool that we get to see the teams face off twice early this season, but a bummer that we won't see them play eachother in both teams' prime towards the end of the season. Unless of course, they both make it to the UFL Championship game again.

GAMEDAY 9/18/2010 TUSKERS @ LOCOS

2010-09-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

Today is the day we've been waiting for for 303 days. It is the start of the 2010 UFL Season. There are two great games to watch today. The Sacramento Mountain Lions will be in Hartford to take on the Colonials. That game airs on NESN at 11:30 Pacific time.

The second game features the UFL championship rematch between the Las Vegas Locomotives against the Florida Tuskers. This is the game that a lot of UFL fans have been waiting for. Will the Tuskers claim revenge for the Locos taking away their perfect season? Or will the Locos start their championship defense in dramatic fashion?

Both teams have made changes over the past 9 months. The Locos will be starting Tim Rattay at QB who has taken over the spot from JP Losman from last year. Some Locos players are returning, but there are a lot of new faces as well.

Florida's league MVP Brooks Bollinger will be returning as the Tuskers' starting QB. Their team has a few new faces as well, including new head coach Jay Gruden who was their offensive coordinator last year who has taken over for ex-head coach Jim Haslett. Haslett is now the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins.

Who are the favorites to win? I've heard that the Locos are 2.5 favorites on the betting lines, but on the UFLAccess.com forums, most fans are favoring the Tuskers.

Both teams have a lot of great players returning for this season, with many new more talented players to add to the skill level of each team. Head coach Jim Fassel is returning to coach the Locos, and has a lot of experience behind him. The official UFL site posted an article on how strong the Locos' defense should be here. The Florida Tuskers should have strengthened their already strong offense from last year through training camp. Both teams have talked about how they've had more time to prepare and come together this year over last year. The game at this point, seems like a toss-up. Hopefully Locos QB Tim Rattay can prove himself on the field as a leader and a strong passer against the Tuskers defense. Having coach Fassel return is great for the Locos' chances as well. Even though Jay Gruden is a proven successful head coach, most of his experience comes from coaching the Arena Football League. Yes he was a big factor last year for the Tuskers by being their offensive coordinator, but being an offensive coordinator and a head coach on the gridiron are two totally different things.

This should be an exciting, close, and a VERY competitive opening home game at Sam Boyd Stadium in a few hours. These two teams have the first real UFL rivalry, and both teams will be out for blood. It's going to be a great game, and one for other UFL teams to compare themselves to. If you can't make it out to the game tonight, please watch it on HDNet at 8:00 Pacific time. You don't have HDNet? Well that's okay, because you can stream the game for FREE on UFL-Football.com.

Follow http://twitter.com/locosstation on twitter for pre-game, game, and post-game updates all day.

GO LOCOS!

Pre-Gameday Information for 9/18/10 Locos Vs. Tuskers

2010-09-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

Here is some pre-gameday info. I'll probably write another blog before the game with my opinions on the match-up, but here's a few things to look forward to:

Entertainment:

The popular rock band Sugar Ray will be performing at the half time show on Saturday. The local classic rock cover band Yellow Brick Road will be performing before the game. There will also be tailgating events and inflatables for the children. B.O.B. is performing in Hartford, and I'm sure entertainment will continue to be announced for the other games.

Giveaway:

The Las Vegas Locos facebook page posted the following message: "As a special gift to our Loco family: come by the West Concourse Sales Table on Saturday to receive a very special gift honoring opening weekend. Tell the person manning the table that "I'm Loco..." or something similarly inspired and you will redeem your gift! We only have a limited number so come early."

Locos Station Coverage:

Throughout the game, I'll be live-tweeting from the stadium. The Locos Station twitter hasn't been too active lately, but that will be changing tomorrow. Please follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/locosstation.

LOCOS & TUSKERS RIVALRY:

Every Locos fan has a special place in the furthest depths of the hearts for the Florida Tuskers. After the Tuskers' undefeated season and disappointing loss to the Locos, we know that both teams will be out for blood. Check out this video below.

Locos Local TV and Radio Shows!

2010-09-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

Here is some awesome news!

Every Sunday night on Channel 13 KTNV, Doug Kezirian will be hosting Locos Extra from 6:30PM - 7:00PM. Stay tuned.

Also, not only will KWWN ESPN 1100 broadcast our home and away games, but the Locos will have their very own show on Tuesday nights from 6:00PM - 7:00PM hosted by Dave Cokin and Paul Howard.

Official UFL Store

2010-09-17T03:12:00.000-07:00

The official UFL store is now open. They have jerseys, shirts, hats, accessories, and more for each team. There's a lot of great stuff. Check everything out and buy some stuff here at http://shop.ufl-football.com!

Locos Express News 9/17

2010-09-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, welcome to the first Locos Express News. This will be a recurring feature where I gather a multitude of information, and post it all in the same thread. In this edition, we'll be discussing a lot of info for the upcoming season. Including webcast info, official UFL pick 'em games, and more below.

Game Webcasts:

All VERSUS and HDNet games will be simulcast on http://www.ufl-football.com for those that don't have those channels. All NESN games will be available on-demand online a few hours after the games air. More info will be provided once it's announced.

Official UFL Pick 'Em Contest:

All fans are invited to join the official Pick 'Em games at the official site. All you need to do is create a profile and play!

HDNet and VERSUS Ads:

Both HDNet and Versus have started airing ads during their programming for the upcoming season. Check out the HDNet promo here. Check out the VERSUS promo here.

Awesome Fan-made Locos Commercial:

Locos fan David Simpson made a really cool fan-made Locos Commercial. It hits close to home for those of us that loathe the Tuskers. Check it out!

Season Ticket Holder Package:

All season ticket holders should soon be receiving a special package with some cool Locos gear. Including a gift sling backpack, a Locos frisbee, a Locos mouse pad, a Locos key chain, a Locos bracelet, and a Locos helmet sign to hold up to cheer with during games. There was also a letter to fans explaining that we should receive our seat cushions soon!

Locos 52 Man Roster

2010-09-17T01:53:00.000-07:00

The 52 man roster is all set for the season. Check it out at the official UFL site here. It's very in-depth with pictures and bios of every player.

UFL 2010 Season TV Schedule

2010-09-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since Locos Station has been updated, and there is a lot of stuff to catch up on! One important thing is the upcoming UFL television schedule. All games this year will be televised on HDNet, VERSUS, and NESN. Check out the schedule below.

Week 1:

Saturday 9/18: Sacramento @ Hartford 2:30PM EDT NESN
Saturday 9/18: Florida @ Las Vegas 11:00PM EDT HDNet

Week 2:

Friday 9/24: Hartford @ Omaha 8:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 9/25: Florida @ Sacramento 11:00PM EDT VERSUS

Week 3:

Thursday 9/30: Las Vegas @ Florida 6:00PM EDT VERSUS
Saturday 10/1: Sacramento @ Omaha 8:30PM EDT HDNet

Week 4:

Friday 10/8: Omaha @ Las Vegas 10:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 10/9: Florida @ Hartford 3:00PM EDT VERSUS

Week 5:

Friday 10/15: Las Vegas @ Sacramento 11:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 10/16: Omaha @ Hartford 3:00PM EDT NESN

Week 6:

Thursday 10/21: Sacramento @ Florida 7:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 10/23: Hartford @ Las Vegas 3:30PM EDT VERSUS

Week 7:

Thursday 10/28: Las Vegas @ Omaha 8:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 10/30: Hartford @ Sacramento 11:00PM EDT VERSUS

Week 8:

Friday 11/5: Omaha @ Florida 8:00PM EDT HDNet
Saturday 11/6: Sacramento @ Las Vegas 11:00PM EDT VERSUS

Week 9:

Thursday 11/11: Hartford @ Florida 7:00PM EST HDNet
Saturday 11/13: Omaha @ Sacramento 11:00PM EST VERSUS

Week 10:

Friday 11/19: Florida @ Omaha 8:30PM EST HDNet
Saturday 11/20: Las Vegas @ Hartford 3:30PM EST VERSUS

Official HDNet Promo Ad

2010-08-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

For anyone with HDNet, you should start seeing this ad. Hopefully Versus and NESN will have their own ads soon. Check out the ad here.

New UFL Logo?

2010-08-25T04:44:00.001-07:00

There were two UFL nationwide promos that "leaked" recently. The links for the promos can be found below. At the end of each one, a tweaked UFL logo is shown. As of right now, no clarification from the league has come out whether or not this logo will be used.

Leaked UFL Promo "Closer"

Leaked UFL Promo "Knee Caps"

Las Vegas Locos Newspaper Articles

2010-08-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Check out these pieces the Las Vegas Review Journal has done regarding the Locos training camp!

Locos Focus On Chemistry In Season 2

Locos Sharp In Opening Practice

Locos Safety Young Tries To Help Prep Athletes Catch Coaches' Eyes

It's nice to see Las Vegas' biggest newspaper starting to support the Locos!

Las Vegas Locos Training Camp

2010-08-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

The Locos opened training camp on Wednesday August 18th. All practices have been open to public, and continue to be. The UFL website has been updating the site frequently with information from the practices. Check out these articles:

Locos Training Camp Day 1: Hartwell Excited To Be Back In Las Vegas

Locos Camp: Young Receivers Look To Challenge Veterans. Owner/League Founder Bill Hambrecht Visits Camp

Locos Camp Day 4: Turnbull Returns As Vocal Leader To Locos Strong Secondary

Locos Camp Day 5: Special Teams Unit Looks To Repeat Last Year's Success

Locos Camp Day 6: Players Get Physical

Keep checking out Locos Station and the official UFL website for more Locos information.

Single Game Tickets Onsale

2010-08-13T02:18:00.001-07:00

As of Monday, the single game tickets are on-sale. You can buy them here. Season tickets are still available.

Fassel & Bergen On KTNV Ch. 13's Morning Blend

2010-08-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

Locos head coach and general manager Jim Fassel joined by tight end Adam Bergen were special guests on Friday's Morning Blend on KTNV Channel 13. They sat down with Shawn Tempesta and talked about the Locos' upcoming season, as well as Adam's charity 87 Plays. Please check it out here.

Locos Upcoming Community Events Schedule

2010-08-05T04:19:00.000-07:00

A new blog has been posted at UFL-Football.com with an upcoming schedule of Locos appearances in Las Vegas. Check out a complete listing below.

August 5th -- Thursday -- Las Vegas Locos Coaching Clinic -- Coach Fassel and the Locos coaching staff will be giving a coaching clinic to local high school and youth coaches at Green Valley High School form 5pm - 7pm.
August 5th -- Thursday -- Adam Bergen will be throwing out the first pitch for the Las Vegas 51s game (the Las Vegas Triple A team). It is also dollar beer night.
August 6th -- Friday -- We are sponsoring the United Football League 7 on 7 Passing League Tournament at Green Valley High School from 7am - 2pm. We are providing Under Armour clothing to the participants and the winners will get Under Armour cleats. Coach Fassel will address the participants at 11am on the football field. The UFL is having UFL officials referee the games.
August 6th -- Friday -- Coach Fassel will be on the Morning Blend on Channel 13, ABC at 9am.
August 7th -- Saturday -- The Locos will be at the ESPN 1100 9th Annual Hack N Snack Tournament at Silverstone Golf Course. The LocoMotion dancers will be at three different holes giving out prizes throughout the tournament. Also, Adam Bergen, Locos tight end, will be playing in a foursome with winners of Las Vegas Locos contests.
August 7th -- Saturday -- Adam Bergen and the sales team will be at the International Baby Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 10am - 12pm. Adam will be signing autographs and we will be giving away Family Packs to the opening game versus the Tuskers.
August 10th -- Tuesday -- Coach Fassel will be the Guest Speaker at the Vegas Young Professional's Bigwig Lunch hosted by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. Coach Fassel will speak from 12:00pm - 1:00pm about his path in coaching, the skills/tools that helped him succeed, in addition to offering a Q&A session from 1:00pm - 1:30pm.
August 12th -- Thursday -- Coach Fassel will be giving a Football 101 talk to CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women of Southern Nevada).
August 14th -- Saturday -- The marketing team and LocoMotion dancers will be at Country Fest at the Orleans Arena taking pictures and conducting ticket giveaways.
August 16th -- Monday -- The LocoMotion dancers will be doing a photo shoot at the Encore Beach Club at Surrender inside of Encore from 5:30pm - 7:00pm.

Keep up on all Locos events here at Locos Station, UFL-Football.com, and the Locos Facebook Page.

Locos To Help Fund Local High School Football Tournament

2010-08-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

On August 6th, 2010, The Las Vegas Locos and the UFL will host the inaugural UFL Seven On Seven Passing Tournament. It will take place at Green Valley High School, and will begin at 7:00am.

The tournament will encompass eight teams of local high school students that will engage in the seven on seven tournament.

Eight teams comprised of local area high school students from Clark County will showcase their skills in this “seven-on-seven” football tournament. The UFL has helped fund the High School Hall of Fame Game for the second year in a row.

Commissioner Michael Huyghue had this to say, "We are delighted to again partner with the schools in Las Vegas and provide an opportunity for young football players from the local community to play the sport we all enjoy. Youth participation is key to the success of all sports and we hope the athletes taking part in this tournament enjoy themselves and also become Locos fans."

This is just another example of how the UFL and the Locos are trying to prove that they are part of the community.

Picture: Joseph From Locos Station With Rattay And Bergen

2010-07-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of tight end Adam Bergen, quarterback Tim Rattay, and me. You can also see a good glimpse of the new uniforms in the picture. Special thanks to Sherri Lokken, the Train Gang Fan Club President for taking the picture. Make sure you all join the Official Locos Fan Club, The Train Gang.

My Experience At The 2010 UFL Uniform Unveiling

2010-07-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Ever since the league announced that all of the new uniforms for all 5 teams would be unveiled yesterday here in Vegas, I was anxious about how it would turn out. We all know that the uniforms from last year were temporary and too similar. Here, you'll learn about what I experienced at the event.

I barely made it to the Fashion Show Mall in time for the event. It took me a while to find a parking space in the underground garage. But when I made it to the Grand hall, I saw tons of people, at least a few hundred.

The event stated off with the UFL Sizzle Reel previously posted here. It was met with great applause.

I saw familiar faces such as Sherri Lokken, the President of the Train Gang fan club, Travis Cochan, the Locos Grassroots Event Manager, UFL Communications Director Michael Preston, and UFL Digital Media Director Nation Hahn. Everyone was excited about the unveiling.

I noticed a few people who were obviously tourists who hadn't heard of the league, that became hooked just from the event today.

After the sizzle reel, the event started. Here is the order of the each teams' uniform unveiling.

FLORIDA TUSKERS:
The first team showcased was the Florida Tuskers. The Tuskers were the only team from the Premiere Season last year whose colors stayed the same. Dominic Rhodes took the cat walk and showcased the new Tuskers home uniform. It is a black jersey, with Tusker blue highlights numbers. The Tuskers away uniforms were white with black numbers and blue highlights. The pants are black with a white accented blue stripe "tusk" shape. Above the numbers on the front of the uniform, the team name is featured. You can see a picture of both below. You can also see the official UFL PDF file of the uniform art here.

HARTFORD COLONIALS:
After the Tuskers had left the stage, it was time for the Colonials to show off their new uniforms. Andre Dixon took the stage with the navy blue home uniform. The Colonials' uniforms are the most traditional, and look great. The secondary colors are white and gold. The pants are gold with a white/blue stripe sequence. Above the numbers on the front of the uniform, you can see the text COLONIALS. You can see a picture of the home and away uniforms below. You can also see the official UFL PDF file of the uniform art here.

OMAHA NIGHTHAWKS:
The Nighthawks uniforms are quite plain. The home uniform is black with white piping and white numbers. The away uniform is white with black numbers. The pants are black. The word mark above the numbers on the front of the jersey reads Omaha Nighthawks. Below you can see the photos. You can also see the official UFL PDF file of the uniform art here.

SACRAMENTO MOUNTAIN LIONS:
Next to the Locos uniforms, these are definitely my second favorite. First of all, the crowd went nuts when Daunte Culpepper was announced. He came out in the white away jersey. The home jersey is great though. The home jersey is gold, black, and white, and is very sharp. The pants are white with gold and black accents. The pictures below don't do the home jersey justice. You can also see the official UFL PDF file of the uniform art here.

LAS VEGAS LOCOS:
Here's the moment we've all been waiting for. It's time for the Las Vegas Locos' new uniforms. Announced first, wearing the white away jersey, was QB Tim Rattay. The jersey is white with silver sleeves, black numbers, and the words LAS VEGAS spelled out above the numbers on the front of the jersey like the famous "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. Rattay was met with a lot of cheer, as was tight end Adam Bergen who came out in the Locos' home uniform. The uniform is red with silver sleeves and black numbers. The Locos have the best pants in the league. The pants are silver with the locomotive helmet stripe down the side of the pants, with red socks. The Locos uniforms are the most unique compared to the rest of the teams' uniforms. They all look great though. Check out the Locos' uniforms below! You can also see the official UFL PDF file of the uniform art here!

All of the teams' uniforms are manufactured by SFC Inc. which is based here in Las Vegas. The UFL is showcasing All-American uniforms, that are all handmade. SFC did a great job. Check out their website.

Also unveiled were the new UFL referree uniforms. They're more traditional than last year's but still have a uniqueness to them. They were shown off by the lovely Locomotion dance squad.

After the unveiling of all of the new and improved uniforms, the players took time to sign autographs and take pictures with the fans. There were so many fans present that the players signed for over an hour. I was lucky enough to get autographs from most of the players including Adam Bergen, Daunte Culpepper, Ahman Green, Dominic Rhodes, and others. You can check out my autograph card below. I also got a picture with Locos Adam Bergen and Tim Rattay. That will be posted at a later time.

Before I left the event, I was introduced to Commissioner Michael Huyghue. Everytime he's on camera, he seems like the nicest and most charismatic guy around, and I can vouch that it's the truth. He was so kind, thankful, and really cares about all UFL fans. My interaction with him made me proud to be supporting the league.

Replica jerseys and more merchandise will be available from the league within the next couple weeks. I for one, can't wait to get my Locos jersey!

If you haven't bought your season tickets, you should do so soon! You can buy them here at unlvtickets.com

Check UFL-Football.com for more media concerning the unveiling, and stay tuned to Locos Station for all things Locos. This season is going to be great!

UFL Uniform Unveiling In Las Vegas On 7/28/2010

2010-07-26T03:56:00.001-07:00

Here's some big news concerning not only the Las Vegas Locos, but all of the UFL teams. All teams' uniforms will be unveiled at a big event at the Fashion Show Mall here in Las Vegas on Wednesday July 28th from 1pm to 2pm.

Commissioner Michael Huyghue will be joined by two players from each team at the event which is open to football fans, the public, and the media. The players will be modeling the new uniforms.

Daunte Culpepper and Cory Ross will be representing the Sacramento Mountain Lions. The Omaha Nighthawks will be represented by Ahman Green, and Gary Stills. Dominic Rhodes and Chas Gessner will be in attendance for the Florida Tuskers. The Hartford Colonials will be sending Andre Dixon and Asaph Schwapp to the event. The hometown Locos uniforms will be worn by Tim Rattay and Adam Bergen.

The players will showcase the uniforms on the runway in the Grand Hall of the Fashion Show Mall. The whole event will be broadcast outside on the strip on giant video screens for all of the thousands of visitors to see.

The uniforms of all teams will be manufactured by SFC USA, a 40 year old apparel manufacturer based in Las Vegas.

The new referee uniforms will be unveiled as well.

All 10 players will hold an autograph session at 2pm following the unveiling. Wednesday night, there will be a VIP Player Reception that is also open to fans and media at "The Pub" at the Monte Carlo Hotel. They will host a Locos Happy Hour from 7pm to 9pm. Fans have the opportunity to get autographs from the players of the Locos and the other teams, as well as the possibility to win tickets to the games this season.

UFL Sizzle Reel

2010-07-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

The UFL released a very well done video this week. It's a little bit over 4 and a half minutes, and showcases highlights from the Premiere Season, with clips from coaches and UFL executives. It was put together really well, and really makes fans pumped for the 2010 season. If you know anyone who loves football, but is skeptical of the league, you should show them this video. Check the video out after the jump.

Locos Backup QB Michna Injured

2010-07-26T03:26:00.000-07:00

Russ Michna who currently plays for the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League, but was also a backup QB last season for the Locos and was slated to come back this year has a broken rib. He was hurt during a game, and is out for the rest of the AFL season. It's unknown how this will affect his chances at returning to the Locos. He had the highest percentage of completed passes this season in the AFL.

UFLAccess Interview With Locos FB Bobby Rome

2010-07-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

Recently, former UNC fullback Bobby Rome signed with the Locos. UFLAccess.com did an interview with him last week. It's very informative, and you can read it here. You can read about his upcoming sports combine with 1st String Sports in Virgina Beach, Virginia, and his thoughts about the UFL.

Las Vegas Locos Provisional Roster

2010-07-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

You can see the current provisional roster of the team at ufl-football.com right here. What is a "provisional roster?" Well, it represents 20 players that were protected by the team from the 2009 season, 12 players selected in this year's draft, and free agents that aren't signed to any other pro teams. The rosters may have a maximum of 70 players and will change as players sign, get assigned, or become waived.

Locos Station Exclusive: Adam Bergen Interview

2010-07-17T00:22:00.000-07:00

On early Friday morning, I got a chance to meet up with Travis Cochran, the Grassroots Events Manager for the Locos, and Championship winning tight end Adam Bergen. We sat down, shared some coffee/tea, and had a little chat. Below, you can read the interview.

How did it feel when you guys won the championship in November, after having lost to the Florida Tuskers twice during the season - with them being the team to beat?

Obviously anytime you win a championship, it's a great feeling no matter if it's pee wee, high school, or college. But losing to them twice during the regular season and being able to come back and beat them in the championship game was a lot of redemption on our part. It was a great feeling. We felt confident going into the game. We were saying the whole week we were gonna beat them, and we felt that we would. And it came true, now we're the champs.

Was the team close with eachother? I know there wasn't a lot of time to prepare before the season, but did you guys mend pretty well?

Being out at Casa Grande like we were, everyone lived together. We were all in a hotel with a lot of guys from all over the place. No one really had cars so everyone was hanging out together the whole time. Which really helped us out. You know, everyone says their team is like a family but with the way things were and the UFL last year how it was the first year, a lot of guys were just helping each other out. So it really was like a family. A lot of guys got really close, and became really good friends and everything, and I think that also helped our team out because we were such a tight-knit unit. Everyone was playing for each other.

How do you think mini-camp went this year?

I think mini-camp went real well. We've got a lot of guys returning. But at the same time, we've got probably half of the team who are guys who are new to the team. So there was a little bit of a learning curve, but for the guys who were there last year, you could really see that we were building ourselves like we did in the previous season. Which is good to see, because anytime you go out there, you want to get better, you don't want to be taking a step back. I think this first mini-camp was a step in the right direction. I feel we looked good on offense, we had a good understanding. Obviously some guys need to get more reps to be more comfortable, but that's what training camp is for. So once we go into training camp, I think we'll be fine. And as long as Tim (Rattay) wants to keep throwing me the ball, I'm cool with that too.

Haha. How do you feel about the talent level in the league this year so far?

With all of the reports that have come out, you know, Daunte Culpepper, Dominic Rhodes, and Ahman Green, these are guys that have won championships, been all-pros in the NFL, and it just helps the league out a lot. I feel it almost gives the league instant credibility to the fans. Because there are players that people know. People own Daunte Culpepper jerseys, so there's going to be fans going to see the games to see him play. So I think the big name signings, all it's going to do is help the league out in the long run, on the field and off the field. So I think it's great with the people that have signed lately.

Speaking of fans, yourself and the league has been very fan friendly. Right now in Vegas, we're working on gaining fans. What you guys have done so far, can only be good for the team and league. I've never seen a league as fan friendly as the UFL. What do you think of the way the league has embraced their fans?

With us being an upstart league last year, it was like a soft opening, you know, the Premiere Season. Attendance wasn't exactly where we wanted it, but that was expected. You know, because there has been a lot of teams in Vegas that have come and gone. So of course the fans are going to be reluctant to show up. So it's good that we're out in the community, showing our faces, just showing the fans that we are here. This is going to be their team in their city. We're not something that's just going to come and leave the next day. But I think that's why people have been so accessible to the fans, and the league has been so accessible because they want to show that they care and that they want to be here, and that they are excited to be here.

I know you started a charity recently, 87 Plays, tell me a little bit about that.

The charity I started is 87 Plays, the website is http://www.87plays.org. Basically the goal of my charity is to help raise money for the youth sports in Las Vegas. As a lot of people know, because of the tough economic times, one of the first things that is being cut back is athletics at the high school level and the youth level. A lot of JV and Freshman sports have been taken away from schools. So we just want to try to raise money to help bring those programs back. To give kids a chance to play sports. I know growing up, that my whole life has been sports. From peewee football and little league to now playing professional football. You just don't want to see a kid who is interested in sports not get the opportunity because of tough economic times. So we're just trying to help out any way we can in the community and give back.

87 Plays has their first event coming up in November right?

Yep, correct. November 13th at the Red Rock Bowling Alley.

What's the event called?

Strikes For Sports. Our motto is "Saving sports one strike at a time."

All opportunities to be a part of the event can be found on 87plays.org?

Correct. All the information is on the website. There's a couple different tabs up at the top to click through to search through the site. And there's a place to donate if people can't make the event. There's plenty of donation links if anyone would like to help our cause.

Alright, just one last question for ya. What are you looking forward to this season?

I'm looking forward to winning another championship! I think that we've got a team that we can get back there and win it again. Hopefully the championship game is in Vegas, but that's yet to be determined. You can always hope. But I'm just excited to be playing in Vegas. Last year, we commuted a lot. Flying back and forth from Arizona for home games. It's just going to be good to be in the city of Las Vegas. We are Las Vegas' professional football team now. Last year we were, but we really weren't. We were just kind of here and there. So this year, living in the city and being back here is what I'm most looking forward to. And obviously starting up camp in a couple weeks to get everything underway. It'll be great.

Alright Adam, thanks a lot. Have a great season.

Appreciate it.

I'd just like to extend my thanks to Adam Bergen, Travis Cochran, and the Las Vegas Locos franchise. It's great for a player to take the time out of his busy schedule to be interviewed. Everyone should support Adam, 87 Plays, and the team.

Stay tuned to Locos Station for all upcoming Locos news, and analysis. More interviews will hopefully be coming soon.

Locos Fan Club Name

2010-07-17T00:17:00.000-07:00

The Las Vegas Locos fan club is launching very soon. I met up with a few other core members and Fan Club President Sherri Lokken to discuss ideas at the fan event at Sierra Gold the other night. The official name of the Locos fan club will be The Train Gang. A lot more information and surprises are coming soon.

The fan event was a lot of fun and we got to hang out with the LocoMotion and Locos tight end Adam Bergen. No spoilers, but just know that the uniforms will be unveiled SOON, with a big unveiling event TBA.

Locos Radio Partner

2010-07-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Head coach Jim Fassel and Locos tight end Adam Bergen made a big announcement on ESPN Radio 1100 KWWN on Thursday July 15th. The team has partnered with the radio station here in Las Vegas to broadcast all home and away games live during the 2010 UFL season.

Mitch Moss will be the play by play announcer with Doug Marsh as the color analyst. If any conflicts arise with UNLV football or MLB playoffs, the broadcasts will switch to Fox Sports 920 KBAD.

This is great news! For the full press release, check out the UFL site here.

Spot The Commissioner Contest - This Friday 7/9

2010-07-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

Spot the Commissioner this Friday while he is visiting Las Vegas between 11am-4pm to win. A lucky winner will win 2 on-field pregame access passes and 2 tickets to the Las Vegas Locos home opener vs. the Florida Tuskers (2009 Championship Game rematch) - and a t-shirt signed by Locos head coach Jim Fassel.

All you have to do is take and post his photo and details of where and when you saw Commissioner Huyghue on Friday to the Locos facebook page. Or post on the facebook page details of where and when you saw him - and to make sure you're not cheating, tell us the color of his suit and tie.

The Commissioner will draw a winner at random from all entries at the end of the competition.

You must be signed up to the Locos facebook page http://www.facebook.com/LasVegasLocos and following the Locos on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/LasVegasLocos to be eligible to win. Don't forget to sign up there first!

Visit the Locos facebook site to get hints on where he will be in Las Vegas and also follow along on the Locos Twitter and http://www.twitter.com/UFLMikePreston for stronger hints as the day unfolds.

Locomotion Cheerleaders Press and Tryouts

2010-07-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a good week for the local marketing of the Las Vegas Locos. I saw the first Locos billboard I've seen all year the other day in a prime location. The Locomotion Cheerleaders made two appearances on local news broadcasts this week. Here is a video from when they were on KTNV Channel 13 News. Here is a video from when they were on KVVU Fox 5 News. Both videos are great, and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of the Locomotion within the next few months. They've already got a few local appearances under their belt. Last week they were at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, First Friday, and the 4th of July Celebration at Lake Las Vegas. With plenty more coming!

There's another Locomotion tryout scheduled for Saturday July 17th. Anyone interested must be over 18, take a resume, headshot, and a $25 application fee. The tryout will be conducted at the Las Vegas Sports Park in Summerlin.

UFL Expansion Team Number 6 And Beyond

2010-06-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

It has been announced that Norfolk, Virginia has been granted a conditional expansion team beginning in 2011. Jim Speros will be the team's owner, Speros owned the Baltimore Stallions who were the only American team to ever win the Canadian Football League Grey Cup in 1995. MVP of Super Bowl XXII and Redskin QB Legend Doug Williams will be the team's general manager.

Commissioner Michael Huyghue tweeted that the UFL is considering Portland, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Austin, Los Angeles and Hawaii for 2011 expansion. It is expected that the UFL will add two more teams besides Norfolk for next season for a total of 8 teams.

Locos Mini-Camp Recap

2010-06-26T06:25:00.001-07:00

It's been a little while since Locos Station has been updated, and I apologize for that. Anyway, last weekend was the Locos mini-camp, and according to coach Fassel, it was a success. A few fans showed up to the fan fest, and some season tickets were sold. The picture above is from the Las Vegas Sun slideshow you can find here. There's some good pictures there that show the cool practice uniforms. Here is a good article from the Las Vegas Review Journal about mini-camp.

Las Vegas Locos Mini-Camp Roster

2010-06-17T03:49:00.000-07:00

Check out the team roster that will be participating in Mini-Camp this weekend. A lot of great players returning, and new players showing their skills. Chicago Rush players QB Russ Michna and WR Samie Parker will miss the Rush game to attend mini-camp. Looks like the players are taking the team very seriously. That's great, let's bring another championship back to Vegas where it belongs!

You can find the roster on the official UFL site here.

Locos Mini-Camp Featuring A Fan Fest

2010-06-17T03:36:00.000-07:00

Mini-Camp is fast approaching for the Locos. Here's the schedule:

Friday June 18th 2:15 - 4:30pm
Saturday June 19th 8:00am - 2:15pm
Sunday June 20th 8:00 - 10:15am

All fans are invited to view the practices from the stands.

Most fans will probably want to attend the Saturday Select-a-seat Fan Fest that will be going on from 8:00 - 11:30am. Fans will be able to watch the team practice for a couple hours, and then get to meet and greet the players and coaches. There will also be football activities on our home field! Come meet players new and old on Saturday. Come say hi to Locos Station's very own Joseph. I'll be wearing a Locos shirt and LV cap. Everyone can watch the practice from any seat at Sam Boyd Stadium, and fans are invited to purchase season tickets from whichever seats they'd like.

You can read the UFL article on the Fan Fest and Mini-Camp here.

Omaha Nighthawks and Sacramento Mountain Lions Logos Unveiled

2010-06-10T03:02:00.000-07:00

The logos for the Nighthawks and Mountain Lions were released recently by the UFL. The Nighthawks had an unveiling that was open to the fans, while the Mountain Lions had a press conference with their newly signed quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER! Pretty awesome. Check out the logos below.

I like both of the logos. The league is really coming together, and it's nice to see the direction they're heading. We've seen all of the teams' logos now (considering that the Tuskers logo isn't changing much at all from last year), and now await uniforms and rosters!

OFFICIAL: Las Vegas Locos New Branding

2010-06-03T21:13:00.003-07:00

Today was a good day for the Locos. After the successful draft yesterday, today the Locos were featured on a local news station. KTNV Channel 13 here in Las Vegas had Kim Diaz (The Director of the Locos Cheer & Dance Team) on to talk about the tryouts for the cheer/dance squad. During the interview with Kim, the news station had a big screen with the new Locos wordmark/logo featured. You can watch the interview online here via KTNV.

Corresponding with that, the UFL put out the official logo package for the Locomotives. It included the new logo/wordmark, an updated helmet style, a new helmet stripe, and a support logo. All of the logos are very cool, check everything out!

You can download the logo guide as a PDF file here, and download the image above with the logos in high quality here.

I'll be working on an updated version of the site tonight that features the new branding! Check back soon!

2010 UFL Draft

2010-06-03T20:46:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the 2010 UFL Draft. There were 12 rounds, which produced 60 total picks for the league. Below, you can find all of the Locos' picks along with some cool links from local newspapers.

1. LB Dominic Paynev
2. CB Michael Ray Garvin
3. DE Brian Coulter
4. OT Ryan Considine
5. WR Jovonte Taylor
6. FB Russ Weil
7. OT Cliff Washburn
8. WR Eddy Newton
9. S Tony Parrish
10. S Lewis Baker
11. RB Alex Henderson
12. DT Gabe Long

Congrats and good luck to all of the draftees! The two local newspapers here in Vegas both did stories on the draft. Both of the stories are worth a read and share more info about some of the players. Check out these links:

Las Vegas Review Journal

Las Vegas Sun

New Logo Analysis

2010-05-30T05:53:00.001-07:00

The new Locos logo has a few new elements that were added to the original to make it look better. Here, I'll analyze the new additions, and explain where I think that each new addition came from.

The most notable change is that the blue that used to accent the logo has now been replaced with red. Changing from blue to red is great for the team. It strays away from the same 4-color palette used last year and shows that the teams are all developing their own brands and identities. The red also matches with the home stadium's field paint and seats since the UNLV Rebels also use red in their uniforms.

The "LOCOS" primary logo takes the form of an old locomotive cow catcher, keeping with the train theme. Behind that logo, you'll notice a diamond shaped background with the words "LAS VEGAS" featured. This new addition to the logo is an homage to the famous Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Below you can see the original sign, and compare it with the Locos logo. This is something that helps build the team's credibility as a Vegas team, and it's something all Vegas residents are familiar with.

You'll see in the picture above that a star extends from the Fabulous Las Vegas sign. At the top-center of the LV Locos logo, you'll see a star as well. Not only does the star stem from the Fabulous Las Vegas sign, but you can also see a star in the official UFL logo. Also, if you look at the William Hambrecht Trophy that the team won in the championship game, you'll notice that the trophy also looks like the featured star. So this is a nice addition to the logo that keeps with the local theme, and familiarizes with the league as well.

All in all, I think the league and designers did a great job updating the Locomotives' logo. I can't wait to see logos for the other teams now that we've seen the ones for the Hartford Colonials and the Las Vegas Locos. Most importantly, I can't wait till the season starts! As always, Locos Station will keep you posted on all of the newest Locos info and important news regarding the UFL.

UFL IS NOT A D-LEAGUE

2010-05-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

After an e-mail surfaced yesterday claiming the UFL to be a developmental league for the NFL, the UFL quickly dismissed that claim. The UFL will continue to remain independent, and have top notch talent, and best of all GREAT FOOTBALL. I just wanted to clear that up.

UPDATED: New Las Vegas Locos Logo?

2010-05-27T15:44:00.001-07:00

Here seems to be the new official Locos logo. As I suspected, it looks like the colors will be black, red, and silver. ~~There is no confirmation on any of this info from the league yet, but I'll keep ya posted.~~

UPDATE:

Here is an official response from UFL PR Director Michael Preston to UFLAccess.com

"As always, the fans on UFL Access are quick to find every mention of the UFL, and never cease to impress us. We hope those of you on the forum enjoy the new-look logo, which is being kept under wraps in Vegas for an official unveiling next week."

Las Vegas Locos Fan Club

2010-05-26T03:03:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to share that the Locos Fan Club is getting off the ground. Today was the first time that a few of us who are interested in getting the fan club up and running spoke for the first time. We have a diverse, talented, and dedicated group right now that have big plans for the future of the team. Stay tuned to Locos Station for more updates and all announcements about the fan club. We have some great things coming your way.

One of the people that I'm working with on this project is Travis Cochran. He's a great guy, and a huge Locos fan. He has a Locos blog that is great, and has a TON of exclusive footage and interviews with players. We're pleased to announce that we fully support eachother's blogs, and will be working together with the fan club. Please check out his blog the Vegas Locos Local's Page.

If you're interested in joining the fan club, please e-mail me at admin@locosstation.com.

The Locomotives' New Colors?

2010-05-25T05:29:00.001-07:00

Last year, all four UFL teams used the same color pallet. The colors that were used were the colors of the UFL logo, and were used to raise awareness and branding for the league.

This year, all bets are off for team colors. So far, the UFL has been pretty quiet on information regarding the subject. The only thing we've heard is that the Florida Tuskers will be keeping their "Tusker" blue. Coach Jagodzinksi of the Omaha Nighthawks mentioned that their colors may be black, silver, and white. The Locos have been using the same shade of blue as the Tuskers in their uniforms and logo. If the Tuskers are keeping the color, then that would probably mean that the Locos will be changing their scheme to stray away from the original shared color pallet.

So what colors should the Locos use? When are we going to learn and see the new colors and uniforms? Will there be an updated logo? Unfortunately, these questions have yet to be answered, but I feel that the league has already been giving hints towards the Locos branding going forward.

Now before I continue, I just want to make sure that it's clear that this is 100% complete speculation. This is in no way information gained from the UFL or any UFL employees or players. This is just observational.

So here goes my theory. About a week or two ago, the UFL posted information for cheer/dance squad tryouts for all teams. There were flyers made for each team's auditions. On the flyers, there's important information for each audition, a cheerleader, and a distinct color pattern on each flyer.

Now yesterday, the Hartford Colonials debuted their team colors and logo. Check out this flyer for the cheer/dance auditions:

If you click on the photo and look at the colors towards the top left, you'll see dark blue, gold, and light blue. Interestingly enough, those are the three colors that were unveiled for the Colonials yesterday.

So now let's take a look at the flyer that the UFL are using to advertise the Locomotives cheer/dance squad:

You'll notice that the colors on the flyer are red, black, and silver. This would make absolutely no sense to use for the Locos if our colors were to stay silver, blue, and white. So it looks like these will be the team colors for the new Locos branding. I think that if this were the case, that it would be great for the team. The team would match Sam Boyd Stadium, be easier for UNLV fans to relate to, and stand out from the other UFL teams.

For fun I made a mock-logo for Locos Station using this color scheme.

Anyway, this is all just in good fun, and in no way is official. I guess we'll find out sooner than later. All of the teams' branding are set to be announced soon. We'll keep you posted on all important league news.

Hartford Colonials Logo & Colors Debut

2010-05-25T05:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday morning the Hartford Colonials team colors and logos debuted. The team colors are dark blue, metallic gold, and light blue. You can see how the logo looks, it's a lot different than the logos we saw last year (even though they were all designed by the same team). It features an eagle whose wings form the shape of an "H" that is holding a football.

Initial reaction from fans are positive, and most think that the logo is classy and a step up from the logos from last year. There's a few fans though that think that the art-deco sunburst makes the logo look to busy, and that the splitting of the word Hartford looks awkward.

There are more versions of the logo available on the UFL website that feature a stripped down version which features 13 stars which are probably an homage to the 13 colonies. The helmet stripe also features 13 stars. The helmet is metallic gold, and the uniforms have yet to be debuted. If you'd like to see all of the logos and a preview of the Colonials' helmet click here.

Locos Station Exclusive: Mike Fassel

2010-05-21T16:24:00.001-07:00

Mike Fassel who works in Football Operations with the Locos took the time to let Locos Station know a few details going on with the team. He talks about the coaching staff, JP Losman, and Tim Rattay.

1. Is the coaching staff from last year pretty much staying the same?

The coaching staff is staying the same for the most part. Here are a couple of changes.

1. Sam Garnes left to coach for the Panthers, replaced by Larry Marmie, former head coach of ASU and asst at Seattle.

2. Gregg Brandon added as a Off Asst coaching the TE

3. Dennis Therrell added as a Def asst coaching LB’s

2. As of right now, is Tim Rattay the Locos starting QB?

With JP signed by Seattle Tim would be the #1 quarterback but that will be determined at training camp.

3. Coach Jagodzinski from the Nighthawks mentioned that their colors will be silver, black, and white. And Coach Gruden from Florida mentioned the fact that the Tuskers will keep their unique shade of blue. Can you shed any light on what the Locos colors for 2010 will be?

There will be some announcements about colors but I’m not sure when that will be.

Thanks for getting the word out there.

GO LOCOS!

I'd like to just say thank you to Mike Fassel for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions. The Locos and UFL have great personnel, and I think the right people to make the league succeed.

More Info Regarding Cheer Tryouts

2010-05-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

For general info on all of the teams, you can check here.
Prelims

Here's the info for the prelims, some of this has already been posted:

Date: June 5th, 2010
Registration Time: 1:30 PM
Location: The Rock Center for Dance
Address: 700 East Silverado Ranch Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89123

Cost: $25
Contact UFL: locoscheer@gmail.com

The signup page can be found here.

Locos Dance/Cheer Auditions

2010-05-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone that is interested or knows anyone that is interested in being a Las Vegas Locos cheerleader, here is the first information on how to get on the team.

-Team members must be 18 years of age the day of Preliminary Auditions, June 5, 2010. (there is no maximum age limit).
-Participants must be at all phases of the audition process.
-Team members must be able to commit to the Las Vegas Locos Dance Team schedule, including rehearsals, personal training, special events, appearances and games.
-Team members must have a reliable means of transportation.

Date: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: The Rock Center for Dance
Address: 700 East Silverado Ranch Blvd. Las Vegas, NV

Stay tuned to Locos Station and http://www.ufl-football.com for more information that will be available soon. If you're in need of more information now, feel free to e-mail locoscheer@ufl-football.com

Losman Signs With Seattle Seahawks. Daunte Culpepper signs with UFL's Mountain Lions

2010-05-18T17:54:00.000-07:00

It was announced today that J.P. Losman, the starting Locos QB last season has signed with the Seattle Seahawks. More info here.

Does this mean that since it's highly unlikely that Losman will be returning to the Locos that Tim Rattay will be our starting quarterback? Or do you think Jim Fassel and the coaches are going to try to find someone else? I hope they give Rattay a shot. I saw him play against the Sentinels last year, and he still looked pretty good.

Also today, there are a lot of reports emerging that Daunte Culpepper is heading to the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions. This is big news for the league! Hopefully there will be more big name signings to discuss soon.

TE John Madsen Signs With Detroit Lions

2010-05-11T18:30:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since we've reported a Loco heading to an NFL team, but today it has been announced that the Lions released receiver Kole Heckendorf and signed tight end John Madsen. You can read more at Detriot News.

UFL Omaha's Team Name

2010-05-10T06:06:00.001-07:00

After another Name The Team contest, UFL's 2010 expansion Omaha team finally has a name. The name of the team is...

The Omaha Nighthawks! The team will be coached by Jeff Jagodzinski. Coach Jagodzinski mentioned in an interview that the teams colors will be black, silver, and white. I can't wait to see the Nighthawks later this season!

2010 Schedule Announced!

2010-04-29T07:09:00.001-07:00

Today the UFL announced the 2010 schedule. The schedule is for 5 teams, and it's a ten week schedule with two byes per team. Each team will have 4 home games. Many fans are going to be confused because the league has talked about having two expansion teams. After the indifference towards the league in San Antonio, the league decided to focus on what they've got and work on further expansion next year. It will still be a great on-field product, and I can't wait to see you all at Sam Boyd for all of the Locos home games!

Here's the season info for the Locos. For the full schedule, click here.

Week 1:
Friday September 17th
Florida Tuskers at Las Vegas Locomotives

Week 2:
BYE

Week 3:
Thursday September 30th
Las Vegas Locomotives at Florida Tuskers

Week 4:
Friday Oct 8th
UFL Omaha at Las Vegas Locomotives

Week 5:
Friday Oct 15th
Las Vegas Locomotives at Sacramento Mountain Lions

Week 6:
Saturday Oct 23rd
Hartford Colonials at Las Vegas Locomotives

Week 7:
Thursday October 28th
Las Vegas Locomotives at UFL Omaha

Week 8:
Saturday November 6th
Sacramento Mountain Lions at Las Vegas Locomotives

Week 9:
BYE

Week 10:
Saturday November 20th
Las Vegas Locomotives at Hartford Colonials

Championship Game:
November 26th/27th
Venue and date to be confirmed

All info from UFL-Football.com

Omaha Expansion

2010-04-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

I'm reporting this quite late, but Omaha is now a UFL city. The UFL held a Name The Team contest, and had it's biggest turnout yet. The name will be announced soon.

Las Vegas Sun Article About Fan Fest

2010-04-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

The Las Vegas Sun wrote a great article about the Fan Fest this past weekend. Make sure you check it out by clicking here.If you haven't read my fan experience at Fan Fest, read it here.

YOUR FIRST LOOK: Locos Championship Rings

2010-04-13T01:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the Locos received their Championship Rings for being the Premiere Season Champs in a private VIP ceremony. The picture posted above was posted by Locos linebacker Marcus Riley via twitter.

LOCOS SEASON TICKETS ON SALE

2010-04-13T01:46:00.000-07:00

The Locos season tickets have gone on sale, and the prices are extremely affordable. As of right now, the tickets range from $60-$120 for the whole season. How great is that?! Anyway, you can buy your tickets here from UNLVTickets!See ya at game 1!

New UFL Website

2010-04-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, the new UFL-Football.com has launched. It looks amazing, and a lot better than the old website. More features will be rolling out soon. Check it out!

Fan Fest Experience

2010-04-13T01:11:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I went to the Locos Fan Fest this past Sunday and would like to share the experience with all of you.

I showed up at about 3:45 PM after leaving early from work and walked into the stadium. At first I sat down on the bleachers just to take a look at everything that was going on. There was an emcee that was from a local radio station I believe who acted as the announcer throughout the event. He talked about how local radio stations will be covering the Locos all year long, and then introduced a dance number by a group of talented dancers who were there to help promote the future Locos dance team and to help girls of all ages at the Fan Fest with cheer techniques.

After talking with a young man about season ticket pricing and availability, I went down to the field to interact with some players. As I got to the field, there were free team pictures that fans could have that were very nice quality. I gladly took one, and went down the row of seated Locos who were more than happy to sign every fan's team picture. The players were of good morale and character and were very personable and happy to be a Las Vegas Loco. Everyone was willing to take time to talk to the fans, and it didn't feel like they were just forced to be there. It felt like they wanted to be there.

After the autograph session, I looked around and noticed a lot of kids having fun with the activities. Players were running drills with kids, and letting them try on Locos gear to see what it feels like to be a professional football player. The dance squad that had performed earlier were showing girls choreography and giving tips on how to become a better cheerleader.

At this point the announcer came back onto the field and addressed all of the fans and then turned the mic over to a couple league officials who were so optimistic and proud of the future of the UFL. Rick Mueller who acted as the GM for all teams last year talked about the upcoming season and mentioned that head coach Jim Fassel is now the team's GM as well as head coach. Eventually coach Fassel took the mic and addressed the crowd. He was humble, polite, and talked about the league in a very positive way. He mentioned that when they saw that the championship game was going to be played in Las Vegas, that "We WOULD be there." He mentioned that the team will be housed and practicing in Las Vegas and fans would be able to interact with the team more. He seemed excited and anxious to defend the title this season.

Jim Fassel eventually shifted gears and started talking about a young boy named Oscar Rodriguez who is in elementary school and served as a translator for victims in a dangerous bus crash in Arizona not far from where the Locos practiced last year. Oscar showed an incredible amount of bravery and was honored by coach Fassell with his very own Locos Jersey with his name on the back. He is such an awesome kid and someone we can all look up to.

After the coach was done, I figured I'd get going. I wanted coach Fassel to sign my team picture along with the players I had gotten to sign earlier. But he was busy talking to league officials, and I didn't want to bother him. Eventually I just walked up to him and said, "Excuse me coach, but would you be willing to sign this for me?" He smiled and said enthusiastically, "Of course I will!" I said thanks, and told him that I couldn't wait for the upcoming season, and he thanked me for my support, and shook my hand. What a stand-up guy.

This was when I left the Fan Fest and returned home to my family. On the way out I ended up buying a Locos Championship shirt, and left with a big smile on my face. While there wasn't thousands of people at this fan fest, everyone that made it had a great time. I have a feeling that once the local community latches onto the team, that the Locos will be very successful and have a devoted following.

I'll post a scan of the team picture within a few days. Thanks for reading, and help support the Locos!

List Of Players For Fan Fest Revealed!

2010-04-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

There will be a lot of familiar faces at Fan Fest this coming Sunday April 11th from 3-5pm. Remember, it's a free event for fans of all ages to partake in activities and meet & greet coach Jim Fassel and team. Here's a full list of players attending:

8 – Danny Baugher – Punter – Arizona
League-leading punter with 30 punts for 1,301 yards… highest average with 43.4 yards per kick… recorded 3 touchbacks.

87 – Adam Bergen – Tight End – Lehigh
His 30 catches for 242 yards was second highest for the 2009 Locos and seventh highest in the League… averaged 10.5 yards per carry and had 2 touchdowns… recorded 43 receptions for 381 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and 2006.

65 – Martin Bibla – Offensive Guard – University of Miami
Led the offensive line for the Locos in 2009… spent 3 years with Atlanta Falcons before he earned All-Arena honors with the Philadelphia Soul in 2008.

79 – Jesse Boone – Offensive Center – University of Utah
Was the starting center for the 2009 Champion Locos.

24 – Wale Dada – Defensive Back – Washington State
Finished the 2009 season with 37.5 tackles, the second most for the Locos as well as second overall in the League… also had 2 interceptions.

53 – Frank Davis – Guard – South Florida
Started every game for the Locos in 2009… first Panamanian to earn a spot on an NFL active roster… became the first Panamanian to start and play in an NFL game in 2006.

66 – Robbie Felix – Offensive Line – UTEP
Started at center in the first game of United Football League’s “Premiere” Season… was a first team All-Conference USA honoree while at UTEP.

89 – Casey Flair – Wide Receiver – UNLV
Played on both sides of the ball…had 1 reception for 6 yards for the Locos in 2009… made 2 tackles on defense.

94 – George Gause – Defensive Tackle – South Carolina
Made 3.5 tackles for the Locos in 2009… recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

84 – Brian Hernandez – Wide Receiver – University of Utah
Recorded 3 catches for 14 yards during the Locos 2009 season… was the leading punt returner with 7 returns for 114 yards… second most yardage in the League.

78 – Ross Kolodziej – Defensive Tackle – Wisconsin
Made 6 tackles for the Locos in 2009… forced a fumble and recorded a fumble recovery.

27 – Greg Laybourn – Safety – Oregon State University
Had 1 tackle and 1 assist for the 2009 Locos defense.

54 – Teddy Lehman – Linebacker – Oklahoma
Led the Locos defense with a League best 43.5 tackles and 1 sack… selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions…only rookie linebacker to start all 16 games in 2004… finished the 2004 season with 102 tackles, the second most tackles on the team.

12 – Russ Michna – Quarterback – Western Illinois University
Finished with 6 of 8 completions and 55 passing yards… has the second most passing yards in Western Illinois history with 6,434.

56 – Brandon Moore – Linebacker – Oklahoma
Posted 32.5 tackles and 1 sack in 2009… seventh most tackles in the League and tied for the most forced fumbles with 2 and 1 forced recovery… spent 2002-2007 with the San Francisco 49ers… made 244 total tackles and 15 sacks in 6 year NFL career.

52 – Ronnie Palmer – Linebacker – Arizona
Made 7 tackles on the Locos defense.

13 – Tab Perry – Wide Receiver – UCLA
One of the Locos leading receivers with 12 receptions for 212 yards and 1 touchdown… made 1 tackle on defense… second in kick returns with 11 for 249 yards…

57 – Marcus Riley – Linebacker – Fresno State
Made 2 tackles for the Locos defense in 2009… spent time with the Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears before playing in the UFL.

26 – Marcel Shipp – Running Back – UMass
Ranked fourth in the league with a team-best 81 carries for 291 yards… Scored 3 touchdowns… caught 2 passes for 14 yards… spent 7 season with the Arizona Cardinals where he had 605 carries, 2, 197 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

84 – Andrae Thurman – Wide Receiver – Southern Oregon
One of the top receivers in the League… made 16 catches for 235 yards and 1 touchdown… had 1 carry for 4 yards… made 1.5 tackles on defense…

36 – Isaiah Trufant – Defensive Back – Eastern Washington
Made 12.5 tackles in the 2009 season… his 1 interception came in the Championship game and set up the game winning field goal against the Florida Tuskers.

21 – Nick Turnbull – Defensive Back – Florida International
Key component of the Locos defense with 28 stops… had 3 interceptions for 20 yards to lead the League… had 2 fumble recoveries which was the League best as well.

31 – Trey Young – Defensive Back – University of Montana
Completed 12 tackles in the “Premiere” Season… had 2 interceptions for 82 yards… forced 1 fumble.

You can check out the official press release here.

Championship Ring Ceremony

2010-04-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

According to the official Locos twitter, the 2009 Champion Locos team will all be receiving their championship rings! Hopefully we can see a picture of what the rings look like. We'll be sure to post a picture if one arises.

California Redwoods Name Change

2010-04-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, the new team name for the relocated California Redwoods was announced. When the Redwoods were relocated from San Francisco to Sacramento California, the UFL had another "Name The Team" contest with a few possible choices and a write-in option. The name of the team is now...

The Sacramento Mountain Lions!

I've heard a few mixed reactions from fans about the name. I'm pretty indifferent about it. But some fans think that it's inevitable that they'll be nicknamed the 'Lions and that's a problem because of the Detroit Lions. A lot of people aren't fond of multi-word team names either. At any rate, we have a newly named foe for the 2010 season.

Signups Now Live For Locos Supporter Group

2010-03-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

A couple posts down we talk about the Locos Supporter Group and all of the perks that come with being a member. Well this morning, the signups went live on the official UFL site. You can sign up for FREE right here!

Locos Fan Day! [UPDATED]

2010-03-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

From 3pm-5pm on Sunday April 11, 2010 coach Fassel and some Locos players will be in attendance for the first ever Locos Fan Day! There will be many activities for Locos fans of all ages. This is an open celebration for the champs to celebrate with their fans, and to look forward to the oncoming season.

There's more info to come, but so far we know of these fun and exciting activities:

- Opportunities for autographs and pictures with the coach and players

- Mini-Combine for fans to get a taste of what the players have to go through including a 40-yard dash, broad jump, passing drill, and field goal attempts

- A chance to feel like a Loco by getting the opportunity to try on UFL equipments and helmets.

- Face painting for the kids, or those big Locos fans who are just young at heart.

- Cheerleading clinic for those aspiring cheerleaders of all ages who'd like to be future Locos cheerleaders.

- Season tickets on-sale (my personal favorite!)

We'll keep ya updated on all of the upcoming info. You can check out the official announcement here at the UFL site.

Announcing The Las Vegas Locomotives Supporter Group

2010-03-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

The UFL has announced recently that there will be Supporter Groups for all teams. Supporter groups are full of dedicated fans that sit together, and create an exciting and fun stadium experience. Members of the supporter groups will have access to exclusive merchandise and more chances to meet players and coaches. Check back soon, because Locos Station will provide ALL the info for the supporter group, and when signups are available

New Article Up On UFL Website With Mike Fassel

2010-03-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

On the official UFL site, there's a new article by Nation Hahn (Director of Digital Media, and all around good guy) who recently spoke with Mike Fassel of the Las Vegas Locos. He works in Football Operations with the team, and talked about what's been going on with the Locos recently.

He talks about team meetings, and activities the coaches are working on for the Locos playbook, and player prospects. He also talks about open tryouts and the good relationship the Locos have with UNLV. For the whole article, check it out here.

UFL Hartford Team Name

2010-03-15T02:57:00.000-07:00

Today the UFL unveiled the official name of the new Hartford team. The team name will be...

The Hartford Colonials!

I like it, but some folks think it's too similar to the New England Patriots. I figure as long as the team colors are different, and they come up with a cool logo, everything will be just fine.

Las Vegas Locomotives Open Tryouts

2010-03-15T02:51:00.000-07:00

Do you think you've got what it takes to play for the UFL Champion Las Vegas Locos?

If your answer is yes, then you should walk the walk, and try out! Coach Fassel and the Locomotives are holding open tryouts.

Tryouts will take place in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday April 17th, 2010. To register or find out more information, check out the official UFL site here.

Shaun Smith Signs With KC Chiefs

2010-03-11T05:12:00.001-08:00

According to KansasCity.com the Chiefs have signed former Locos' defensive lineman Shaun Smith to a one year deal. This reunites him with Romeo Crennel who is now the Chiefs' defensive coordinator, but was Smith's former head coach when he played for the Browns. You can read the full article here.

Locos TE Adam Bergen Interview @ UFLAccess.com

2010-03-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

Dusty Sloan from UFLAccess.com posted a cool interview with Locos tight end Adam Bergen. He seems really excited about his experience with the league, and the upcoming season. He also talks highly of the city of Las Vegas. Check out the interview here. Good luck this upcoming season Adam!

Locomotives Social Media

2010-02-26T03:21:00.001-08:00

Keep up with the Locos with the new Twitter and Facebook accounts! You can find the Twitter at

http://twitter.com/LasVegasLocos.

And you can find the Official Locomotives Facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Las...Locos/193564664980.

Q&A With Coach Fassel

2010-02-26T03:11:00.000-08:00

There's a new Q&A on ufl-football.com with coach Fassel that's pretty interesting. He shines more light on what he's been doing this off-season, and also on his thoughts on winning the first UFL Championship, player relations, and general thoughts on the UFL. It's definitely worth checking out! Read the Q&A here!

Coach Fassel Blogs

2010-02-26T03:02:00.000-08:00

Coach Jim Fassel wrote an interesting blog this week on ufl-football.com. He gives us all insight on what he's been up to as the Locos' general manager along with being the head coach. There's a lot of info about bringing all aspects of the team to Las Vegas. From securing practice fields to player housing, and more. Check it out here.

NY Sentinels Relocation To Hartford

2010-02-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

After weeks of speculation, the UFL has announced the relocation of the New York club to Hartford, Connecticut. The news comes after a press conference this morning. The new team will not be using the Sentinels team name, but fans will be able to vote for the team name at the UFL website. Chris Palmer will be the team's head coach.

Coach Fassel makes appearance at Sports Illustrated Event

2010-02-14T02:05:00.000-08:00

The girls of the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition were in town this past week. On Thursday the girls did a signing at Paris Las Vegas, and also hung out at Lagasse's Stadium, and Vanity nightclub.

In attendance at Vanity Nightclub was none other than our own Locomotives coach Jim Fassel.

Who knows why he was there, but hopefully this is just the beginning of the Locos having a local presence around town.

He is mentioned in this article from the Las Vegas Sun.

UFL Championship MVP DeDe Dorsey signs with Detroit Lions

2010-02-14T01:54:00.000-08:00

According to DeDe Dorsey's twitter update a few days ago, he has been signed by the Detroit Lions.

Here's the tweet: "3-D fans.....I am the newest member of........The Detroit Lions....Motown here I come! I can't wait to get out there and do my thing!!! 3-D"

Congrats to DeDe!

Jim Fassel Interviewd by Raiders' Al Davis

2010-01-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Reportedly, Tom Cable will still be the Raiders' head coach for the 2010 season.

From SFGate.com

Raiders owner Al Davis has interviewed prospective head coaches for more than two weeks, two league sources told The Chronicle, in the event he decides to fire Tom Cable.

Two people on his interview list have been identified as former Giants coach Jim Fassel, who now coaches UFL champion Las Vegas, and former Raiders offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, the head coach of CFL champion Montreal.

49ers Interview Larry Mac Duff

2010-01-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mac Duff was the Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams coach for the Locomotives. He was interviewed by coach Mike Singletary for the 49ers special teams coordinator position, which he has already held in the past. For more info, check out Sign On San Diego.

NY Jets sign Ezra Butler

2010-01-08T03:02:00.000-08:00

Former Locos Linebacker Ezra Butler has been signed by the New York Jets. You can find more info from The Jets Blog.

Atlanta Falcons Sign Former Locos Punter

2010-01-02T04:57:00.000-08:00

According to Pro Football Talk, Danny Baugher (P) has joined the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.

Joe Porter signed by NFL team

2009-12-30T18:01:00.000-08:00

CB Joe Porter who played for the Las Vegas Locomotives was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad according to NFL Fanhouse.

Former Locos Players Signed To NFL Teams

2009-12-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

UFLAccess.com has posted information regarding UFL players that have signed to NFL teams. There has been quite a few Locos players so far that have signed contracts. Here's a list of players that have signed to NFL teams or practice squads so far:

NT Shaun Smith to Cincinnati Bengals, active roster

QB J.P. Losman to Oakland Raiders, active roster

OT Jason Capizzi to Cleveland Browns, practice squad

TE Jake Nordin to Detriot Lions, active roster

K Graham Gano to Washington Redskins, active roster

TE Jake Nordin to Detriot Lions, practice squad

Besides those that have been signed to NFL teams, there are also some players that have earned workouts with NFL teams including:

P Danny Baugher

RB DeDe Dorsey

DE Eric Henderson

LB Teddy Lehman

DT Gabe Long

T Jeremy Parquet

RB Cory Ross

For more information, please see the article from UFL Access here.

Good luck to all of these players!

About LocosStation.com

2009-12-29T19:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to LocosStation.com, a blog featuring news and information regarding the Las Vegas Locomotives (or "Locos" for short) of the United Football League. I've been a fan of the leage since a few weeks before the premiere season. I posted a blog entry on my personal blog, and I had so much fun talking about the Locos and the UFL that I decided to start Locos Station. Read my original blog post after the jump, and thanks for reading!

Have you ever heard of the new pro football league the UFL? If not, that's okay, a lot of people haven't. The United Football League is a new start-up league that had it's "Premiere" first season this year. It was a short season with a small amount of teams, and very little marketing. The UFL commissioner likened this season to a dress-rehearsal before the full launch next season.

There were four teams playing a 6 game schedule each for the premiere season. The teams being: Florida Tuskers (mainly stationed in Orlando), New York Sentinels (who played in NY and a game in Hartford), California Redwoods (San Francisco, San Jose), and the Las Vegas Locomotives.

Being a football fan in Las Vegas, I'll take any professional football I can get. I'll admit that at first, the team name Locomotives or "Locos" for short, striked me as pretty lame. But the name has grown on me a lot. The UFL got big name coaches, and a lot of players with NFL experience. Jim Fassell (ex-NY Giants head coach) was named the coach for the Vegas team. JP Losman (ex-Buffalo Bill) was named the Locomotives starting quarterback. The other teams had some familiar names and faces too.

After finding out about the league a few weeks before the inaugural game, I decided I'd follow the games and see how I liked them. The first game was the California Redwoods playing at Las Vegas. The game was fun to watch, and the Locomotives won the game 30-17.

Over the course of the short season, I became a fan of the local team and of the league in general. A friend from work, and I went to a Locos game against the NY Sentinels at Sam Boyd Stadium (which is the UNLV Rebels' stadium, but the Locos play there too). We were offered a VIP treatment from the league, and there were a lot of perks. We got to hangout on-field pre-game, they gave us concession vouchers, and we both got two free shirts and hats. Not to mention that we creamed the Sentinels 41-7.

At the end of the 6 game season, the top two teams met at the Championship at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The final standings were as follows: NY Sentinels 0-6, CA Redwoods 2-4, LV Locomotives 4-2, FL Tuskers 6-0.

Florida had beat Vegas twice during the season, but they barely won the second game. That score was 27-24. A lot of people thought Florida was gonna sweep the perfect season at the championship game, set for the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27th.

My brother-in-law and I went to the championship game, and we had a ton of fun. The first 3 quarters were mostly a battle of defenses. But the 4th quarter was intense. And by the end of regulation, the score was 17-17. Overtime! Unfortunately, I had to be at work right after the game, so we were forced to leave before overtime for me to make it to work on time. Overtime in the UFL is different than the NFL due to the rule that both teams get a possession. A couple plays into Floridas first OT possession, their QB Brooks Bollinger threw an interception that set up Loco Graham Gano's Championship winning field goal. Las Vegas, with the home crowd behind them, pulled off the upset.

Now that the season is over, we wait for year two. The good news, is that year two is already guaranteed unlike the XFL, which folded days after their championship game. Two expansion teams will be added for season 2. New York might relocate to Hartford due to poor attendance. The UFL is trying to stay away from markets with an NFL team. Places high on the expansion list are Portland, San Antonio or Austin, Salt Lake City, and Omaha. We also get to look forward to color/uniform changes (each team used the same style uni and color palette), and local presence (which was lacking in season 1 due to LV/CA practicing in Arizona and NY/FL practicing in Florida). The league made it through the first year by not spending too many millions that were unnecessary. But the marketing should get better in year two, as well as team individuality.

Whatever happens, you can count on me being in the stands cheering the Locos on!

This blog will be updated with as much Las Vegas Locomotives news as I can find. So bookmark it, and if you'd like to help out, please e-mail me at admin@locosstation.com

-Joseph