Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL)

Las Vegas Outlaws
Founded 2001
League XFL
Team history Las Vegas Outlaws (2001)
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada
Arena Sam Boyd Stadium
Colors Black, Gold, Red[1]
              
Head coach Jim Criner

The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL. They played in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax. They played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Outlaws hosted the first nationally televised XFL game on NBC against the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.[2]

History

Background

Outlaws Helmet Logo

Before the 2001 season began there was already question if Las Vegas could support a professional sports team due to past failed attempts with: Las Vegas Americans (Soccer-MISL- 1984-85), Las Vegas Dustdevils (Soccer-CISL-1994-1995), Las Vegas Posse (Football-CFL-1994) Las Vegas Quicksilvers (Soccer-NASL-1976-1978), Las Vegas Seagulls (Soccer-ASL-1979), Las Vegas Sting (Football-Arena Football League-1994-1995) and Las Vegas Thunder (IHL-1993-1999)[3] The Outlaws were sponsored by Cox Communications, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Station Casinos, PacifiCare Health Systems and Findlay Toyota. Just like the Posse (and the later Locomotives), the Outlaws had a difficult time selling tickets. For the home opener against the Hitmen 13,700 tickets were sold for a stadium that seats 36,000. There were only 7,000 estimated season ticket holders. Compared to the rest of the league, the Outlaws' attendance was about average, at 22,000 fans per game. They were one of two teams (the league-leading San Francisco Demons being the other) to consistently play in a stadium that was more than half full.

Players

Among the team's players were the XFL's most well-known, Rod Smart (later with the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, and the Oakland Raiders), who went by the nickname of "He Hate Me", which appeared on the back of his jersey. (He was originally going to put "They Hate Me", but there wasn't enough room.) Coached by former Boise State and Scottish Claymores head coach Jim Criner, the Outlaws competed in the XFL's only season, held in the spring of 2001. The team encouraged their fans to come up with a nickname. They selected the "Dealers of Doom Defense". After a strong start, the Outlaws lost their last three games to finish in last place in the division with a record of 4-6-0, just one game out of a playoff spot.

Despite having a two-year contract, NBC announced shortly after the season that it was getting out, as the season's later games had garnered the lowest ratings for a major American television network since the Nielsen ratings had begun tracking them, and the league folded shortly afterwards.

The team was the centerpiece of the 2003 book about the XFL, Long Bomb: How the XFL Became TV's Biggest Fiasco. It was written by Brett Forrest of Details magazine.

Famous Las Vegas Outlaws players

Season-by-season

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
2001 4 6 0 4th Western --

Personnel

Staff

2001 Las Vegas Outlaws staff
Front Office
  • Vice President/General Manager – Bob Ackles
  • Director of Player Personnel – Don Gregory

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Vince Alcalde
  • Running Backs – Ron Dickerson, Jr.
  • Receivers – Scott Criner
  • Tight Ends/Offensive Line – Mike Rockwood
   Defensive Coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Mark Criner
  • Defensive Line – Kevin Peoples
  • Linebackers – Tom Mason
  • Secondary – Rashid Gayle

[4]

Standings

Western Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA STK
Los Angeles Xtreme 7 3 0 .700 235 166 W1
San Francisco Demons 5 5 0 .500 156 161 L1
Memphis Maniax 5 5 0 .500 167 166 W2
Las Vegas Outlaws 4 6 0 .400 169 143 L3

[5]

Team leaders

References

  1. ↑ "Team Colors – XFL". SSUR.org. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ Las Vegas Outlaws still working to corral ticket buyers. Las Vegas Business Press [serial online]. January 29, 2001;18(5):6.
  3. ↑ Las Vegas Outlaws still working to corral ticket buyers. Las Vegas Business Press [serial online]. January 29, 2001;18(5):6.
  4. ↑ 2001 Las Vegas Outlaws Media Guide. XFL. pp. 4–11.
  5. ↑ "XFL Standings". USA Today. May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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