Maybe the UFL does belong in the Fall
The UFL made a lot of questionable decisions heading into, and during their inaugural season. However it seems like they used that season as a Beta test, and are quick to point out that they made those mistakes, and moving forward hopefully the league has learned what works and what doesn’t. If they did than this league is going to be here for a while. The first concession made by this league is that the uniforms were a mistake, and they are right the uniforms were pretty awful in year one. The powers that be amongst the UFL promise that the uniforms will evolve in year two.
Since they are willing to make that concession, I and many other sports writers should give this league a break about their fall schedule. While football fans seem to be screaming for a viable spring league, the UFL is determined to make their fall schedule work. In this regard the UFL may have a point. Instead of taking on the NFL, they are trying to establish themselves as an unofficial minor league to the NFL, and regardless of what the league offices may say, no one is going to stop NFL scouts from finding NFL ready talent. So far a lot of that attention in 2009 is going to those who played in the UFL.
If the UFL can establish itself as a proving ground for viable NFL talent, then its product will remain strong and the fans will come. Since the end of the UFL season no less than 16 UFL players have signed with NFL clubs. While many of them were signed to the practice squads, about half of them are now active on NFL rosters. That means the UFL is providing a service to the NFL and it ensures its long term survival.
The greatest strength of the UFL is the quality of its competition, and if they can continue to find players looking to make a name for themselves, for future NFL gigs, this league is going to be here. Having hungry players, playing for a NFL job insures the quality of the UFL product. It will not be hard to market that to a country full of rabid football fans.
