Nighthawks Nation

The UFL Top Five – Nighthawks Position Groups

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:32:29 +0000

By Dusty Sloan

The Omaha Nighthawks have gotten younger as a whole in Year 2 in the United Football League, but there still are plenty of proven veterans who are a part of the team’s best position groups.

Here is a look at the Nighthawks’ top five position groups as 2011 training camp heads into its first full week:

Running backs - One of the major weaknesses in Omaha in 2010 was a running game which averaged just more than 20 attempts and 73 yards per game, as well as a league-low 3.5 yards per attempt and one touchdown. Don’t look for a repeat of that in 2011, thanks to a stable of talented running backs who all bring something different to the table.

The headliner is Maurice Clarett, who by the end of his first professional season last fall looked like a back who could shoulder the load in 2011. Then there is Shaud Williams, who has been one of the UFL’s top all-purpose threats and was one of the league’s top return specialists last fall. The newcomers are led by rookie Noel Devine, who is third in WVU history with 4,315 rushing yards. Also on hand are ex-Nebraska all-purpose threat Marlon Lucky, late of the New York Sentinels two years ago, and rookie Daniel Borne.

Quarterbacks - If you are looking for players to run American professional football’s first foray into a full-time spread offense, you could do much worse than the quartet of Eric Crouch, Jeremiah Masoli, Daryll Clark and D.J. Shockley. While none of them have an extensive professional football history, each one brings exciting possibilities to the Nighthawks’ attack.

Crouch, an Omaha native and 2001 Heisman Trophy winner at Nebraska, brings a competitive fire, a hunger to prove himself and a desire to bring a winner to his hometown. Masoli, a rookie, wants to work his way back to the National Football League after spending some training camp time with the San Francisco 49ers. Clark had two highly-productive seasons at Penn State and spent 2010 in the Canadian Football League. Shockley was a backup in Omaha last year after spending four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

Defensive ends - Thanks to the defensive rules in the UFL, pass-rushing defensive ends are even more vital, and the Nighthawks look like they have a very good group of those. Jay Moore was Omaha’s sack leader a year ago (3½), and the ex-Cornhusker had a solid season overall. Also coming back is 2010 backup Kevin Basped, who had two sacks among the eight Nighthawks DEs had a year ago.

The newcomers include ex-CFLers Claude Harriott and Khari Long, who had 10 sacks for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats just two years ago, ex-Indianapolis Colt Curtis Johnson and rookie Christian Anthony, who had a dominant 2009 season at Grambling (five interceptions, 76 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries).

Cornerbacks - Professional football is a pass-happy proposition these days. Omaha knows this, and has eight cornerbacks looking to make the 2011 Nighthawks roster. The returnees include three veterans - Ricardo Colclough, who also was the UFL’s top kickoff returner in 2010, DeMarcus Faggins and Eric Green.

The newcomers all have a mix of professional experience, ranging from ex-Tennessee Titan Reynaldo Hill, former Detroit Lion Keith Smith, ex-NFLer and CFLer Dovonte Edwards and Arena Football League standouts Virgil Gray and Tanner Varner.

Punters - It’s always a good thing to have the option of choosing between two good punters. Omaha has that luxury thanks to the return of Justin Brantly and the addition of Eric Wilbur.

Brantly was tied for second in the UFL in 2010 with a 41.4-yard average, and his net average of 35.7 was second-best. Wilbur averaged 43.0 yards a punt with the Tiger-Cats last year, and boasted a net of 38.1.

UFL Training Camp Tee Up – On To The First Full Week

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:42:35 +0000

By Dusty Sloan

The roster tweaking continues: United Football League teams continue to make moves to improve themselves as training camp moves into its first full week.

The Sacramento Mountain Lions officially have resigned 2010 UFL Offensive Player of the Year Cory Ross, a running back who is the league’s all-time leading rusher and receiver. Ross joins a crowded tailback group in Sacramento, which includes ex-Hartford Colonial Andre Dixon and 2010 Mountain Lion backups John David Washington and Steve Baylark.

An intriguing new running back to the UFL is former Wisconsin standout P.J. Hill, signed by the Las Vegas Locomotives. Hill finished his Badger career with 3,942 yards and 42 touchdowns and the ground, and 39 catches for 358 yards and two more scores. A bigger back at 5-foot-10 and 218 pounds, Hill will compete for time in the backfield with former Arizona Cardinal J.J. Arrington, third-year Loco Marcel Shipp and second-year Loco Hakim Hill.

The Virginia Destroyers added wide receiver Keenan Burton, who caught 25 passes for the St. Louis Rams just two years ago; linebacker Diyral Briggs, who saw action in seven games last year for the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, and made four tackles, and defensive end Rodney Hannah out of Houston.

The Omaha Nighthawks added rookie Indiana guard Cody Faulkner, who, according to the Hoosiers’ Web site, retired after playing two games during his senior year in order to focus on academics, and rookie wide receiver Jessie Poku, the top receiver in Eastern New Mexico

Quick hits: Is anyone surprised that the Nighthawks had 3,500 people at their season-ticket-holder event over the weekend? It will be quite an atmosphere on September 15 at TD Ameritrade when Omaha and Virginia go at it… I like the move by Omaha to switch former Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher to wide receiver, even though that now gives the Nighthawks 10 wideouts to sort through before final cuts… The Locos have a quality competition brewing between ex-Nebraska rookie Zac Lee and journeyman Chad Friehauf for the No. 2 quarterback spot behind starter Chase Clement. “This is exactly what you want to create in camp, a competitive environment. Boy, we sure do have one underway," said Locos Head Coach/General Manager/President Jim Fassel…. Sacramento has a very good running-game situation with four quality backs so that whomever starts at quarterback won’t have to shoulder the entire load early in 2011... Burton adds to a very stacked Destroyers wide receiver corps, and he adds an NFL pedigree that was lacking in the group beyond ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneer Dexter Jackson.

Further reading: Here is a sampling of UFL-related stories from local markets from over the weekend:

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110828/SPORTS/708289854/1001

"He's shown signs of explosiveness, and he's a real shifty, a real nifty kind of back. He's also shown a willingness to learn. We've put a lot on the guys early and it tends to be a little more complicated than your average system.” - Nighthawks Running Backs Coach Brock Olivo about rookie running back Noel Devine.

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/worldly-bell-eager-to-put-down-roots-with-locos-128550848.html

"He is what our team and league are all about. We work hard at finding guys -- really hard." - Fassel on offensive tackle Joel Bell.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/27/3864947/gfdgf-g-fgf-dgfdgf.html

"I thought Tafralis looked great, and Colburn looks good, too. Those guys are going to have a good battle." - Mountain Lions Head Coach/General Manager Dennis Green on quarterbacks Adam Tafralis and Ryan Colburn.

UFL Training Camp Tee-Up – All Four Teams Getting Started

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:46:16 +0000

By Dusty Sloan

What’s on tap today: All four United Football League teams will practice today, as 2011 UFL training camps now are in full swing. Each team’s active-roster count looks this way - Las Vegas Locomotives 69, Omaha Nighthawks 70, Sacramento Mountain Lions 68 and Virginia Destroyers 67. Each team can have as many as 70 players during training camp before cutting down to 50 for the regular season by Friday, September 9.

Omaha gets them started: The Nighthawks were the first UFL team to begin practices, getting underway Thursday at the Kroc Center. The coaches and players went through two practices, and it was the first training camp workout under new Head Coach/President Joe Moglia.

"On one hand, I'm incredibly excited," Moglia told the Omaha World-Herald. "On the other hand, to put a team on the field that Omaha is going to be proud of is a real responsibility. I take that responsibility very seriously. So while I'm pretty jacked up about this, I'm also pretty intense about the challenge that is ahead of us."

Masoli adds to Nighthawks QB intrigue: The Nighthawks’ 70th and final training camp spot went to a name well-known in college football circles - former Oregon and Mississippi rookie quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Masoli returned to Omaha following a training camp stint with the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers. He joins a crowded group looking to not only be one of the three quarterbacks on the opening-day roster, but be the opening-day starter on Thursday, September 15 against the Virginia Destroyers while guiding the Nighthawks’ spread offense.

Masoli, who threw for 5,930 yards and 42 touchdowns and ran for 1,930 yards and 29 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons, and was considered a Heisman Trophy contender two years ago with the Ducks, will compete with 2001 Heisman winner and hometown hero Eric Crouch, 2010 backup D.J. Shockley and young newcomers Daryll Clark, a two-year starter at Penn State who was in the Canadian Football League a year ago, and Dwight Dasher for Omaha’s starting spot.

Teams continuing to tweak camp rosters: One of the fascinating aspects of UFL training camp is how quickly things can change roster-wise.

In Las Vegas, the Locos signed 2010 Hartford Colonials starting center Keith Gray, who will compete with two-year starter Jesse Boone. Las Vegas also signed ex-Colonial cornerback Gerard Lawson, who not only could offset the loss of 2010 UFL Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Trufant to the NFL, but also could help Eddie Drummond on kickoff returns.

An intriguing signing in Sacramento was former New England Patriots linebacker Shawn Crable. Crable, a standout at the University of Michigan, played six games for the Patriots in 2010, recording four total tackles and a half-sack. The Mountain Lions also brought back guard Erik Robertson, who started half of 2010 on the right side, and added offensive lineman Ramon Chinyoung.

In Omaha, the Nighthawks signed wide receiver Glen Fox and cornerback Virgil Gray, both of whom are coming off the 2011 Arena Football League season with the Arizona Rattlers (Gray with a team-high 10 interceptions), and Virginia signed ex-Hampton offensive lineman Michael Ola.

Ex-Loco Wallace praises UFL: In a feature story in the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Chargers and former Locos safety C.J. Wallace had nothing but praise for the 2010 championship season he spent in the UFL.

“The UFL brought my confidence back,” said Wallace, who started the entire season for Las Vegas at strong safety, had 42 total tackles, four pass breakups, an interception and a half-sack in the regular season and added six total tackles and two pass breakups in the UFL Championship Game. “I went there for the opportunity to finally play safety for a whole season, was able to work on my tools and came here on a high horse. I think being there really helped me a lot.”

Further reading: For more stories on UFL teams from their home-market newspapers, go to:

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/locos-set-to-finally-get-started-128451318.html?ref=318

"We've got a lot of depth and talent," Locos Head Coach/General Manager/President Jim Fassel told Steve Carp. "We have six new receivers to go with our veterans (Andrae Thurman, Tab Perry and Samie Parker), and I expect some real battles there. Same with the offensive and defensive line. We're substantially better on both sides of the line, and when you've got competition with good people pushing each other, it brings out their best, and it ultimately makes you a better football team."

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/26/3862724/5-questions-as-dennis-green-opens.html

"I think everyone is excited to get started," Mountain Lions Head Coach/General Manager Dennis Green told Mark Billingsley. "Guys are coming in and will start competing right away. I love this time of year."

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110825/SPORTS/708259696/1001

"It was great, although it was a little sloppy in spots," Nighthawks running back Maurice Clarett told Steven Pivovar. "At the end of the day, though, everyone was pretty much crisp. We're all learning and we're coming together for the first time. I thought things were well organized, and when you have organization, it becomes a matter of just tightening things up."

Jeremiah Masoli Signs With Nighthawks

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:52:16 +0000

By UFL Press

Former Ole Miss and University of Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli agreed to terms with the Omaha Nighthawks. Masoli had participated in the team's Mini Camp in June prior to signing with the San Francisco 49er's on July 27.

During his time with Oregon, Masoli led the team to a 2008 Holiday Bowl win over Oklahoma, a 2009 Pac-10 Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. In his first year with the Ducks, he set a record 714 rushing yards for quarterbacks and in 2009 he had 2,815 yards of total offense. Masoli accumulated 2,583 total yards of offense for Mississippi in 2010. Jeremiah was honored with the 2010 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club at the Ole Miss spring game. He also competed in the Eastham Energy All-Star Game following his final season with the Rebels where he threw for 229 yards and a touchdown.

“Jeremiah has a unique skill set for the quarterback position and it fits with what we do on offense," said Rick Mueller, General Manager. "He is a competitor and winner and we are excited to have him officially wearing a Nighthawk jersey.”

Masoli joins 2001 Hesiman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, D.J Shockley and newcomers Daryll Clark and Dwight Dasher as the quarterbacks on the team.

To see who will have the starting job on opening day, call 402-403-3776 or visit http://www.nighthawkstickets.com/ today to get your season or single-game tickets.

Explosive Potential Comes With Nighthawks’ Spread Offense

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:54:58 +0000

By Dusty Sloan

The spread offense in professional football?

It’s coming, and it’s coming to Omaha, Nebraska, and the United Football League this fall.

The Nighthawks are going to utilize an offense that is innovative in pro football circles - one that leans on a quarterback’s legs and feet as much as his arm. To that end of having a quarterback with dual-threat capabilities, the Nighthawks have four such pivots in camp - 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, 2010 Omaha backup and ex-Atlanta Falcon D.J. Shockley, ex-Penn State standout Daryll Clark and rookie Middle Tennessee State product Dwight Dasher.

Crouch both ran and passed for more than 1,000 yards during his Heisman season 10 years ago, Shockley passed for 2,588 yards and ran for 322 more as a senior at Georgia in 2005, Clark went for 3,003 and 211 as a senior in 2009 and Dasher was a 1500-500 player last fall as a senior (1,550 passing yards, 543 rushing yards).

But while all four fit the bill of what Offensive Coordinator Bart Andrus is implementing, there is the matter of them combining for no starts as a quarterback in an American professional regular-season

Helping the cause will be a stacked stable of running backs and a talented mix of wide receivers. At tailback, returnees Maurice Clarett and Shaud Williams, rookie Noel Devine, ex-Cornhusker Marlon Lucky and recently-signed rookie Daniel Borne all are potential workhorses. Clarett came on at the end of last season, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in his last two games, Williams has been one of the top all-purpose backs in the UFL, Lucky was one of the top all-purpose backs in Nebraska history, Devine is coming off three highly-productive seasons at West Virginia and Borne was Alabama-Birmingham’s third-leading rusher last fall.

At wide receiver, Omaha has brought in newcomers Chris Davis (ex-Tennessee Titan), Chad Lucas, ex-Husker Maurice Purify, Fred Rouse, a former top high school recruit out of the state of Florida, rookie Aubrey Quarles and former Kansas City Chief Jeff Webb to compete with returnees Roy Hall (16 catches in 2010), Mike Hass (14) and Andrew Brewer (five).

In 2010, the Nighthawks were last in the UFL in total offense and points scored. In 2011, the Nighthawks hope their spread offense attack will flip those numbers on their head.

United Football League Teams Open Training Camps

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:01:17 +0000

By UFL Press

The four teams of the United Football League are opening training camp with three weeks to prepare for the 2011 season opening games.

The Omaha Nighthawks, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Virginia Destroyers and two-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives will kick off training camps August 25 and 26.

The gauntlet has already been laid down by the Locos.

“Our goal is clear and we are not shy in letting the entire league know it,” said JIM FASSEL, the Locos head coach, president and general manager. “We want and expect to win a third straight championship and I know that we have the players to accomplish that goal. The league is filled with lots of great talent this season, and I look forward to the challenge the other teams will present throughout our schedule.”

Coach Fassel and his squad will hit Star Nursery Field at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday, August 26. Practice times can be found at www.LasVegasLocos.com. Locos camp will include a team scrimmage at Sam Boyd Stadium, which is open to the public, on Friday, September 2 at 8pm.

Teams may take a maximum of 70 players to training camp and will cut down to 50-man rosters for the season on Friday, September 9.

United Football League Training Camp Venues and Dates:

Omaha Nighthawks

Kroc Center

2825 Y Street, Omaha, NE, 68107

Thursday, August 25

8.30am - 10.30am

3.30pm - 5.15pm

Las Vegas Locos

Sam Boyd Stadium

7000 E. Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV, 89122

Friday, August 26

Sacramento Mountain Lions

Sacramento City College

3835 Freeport Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95822

Friday, August 26

8.15 - 10.15am

11.30 - 12.30pm

Virginia Destroyers

Princess Anne Athletic Complex

4001 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, 23456

Friday, August 26

8am - 11am

The Mountain Lions will practice daily from 8.15am to 10.15am and again from 11.30am to 12.30pm. “All our players and coaches are excited about finally getting started in training camp,” said Mountain Lions head coach DENNIS GREEN. “We have a lot of players who have played for us returning in their same roles. In addition, drafted players, free agents and some players we claimed from Hartford in the dispersal draft give us a well rounded team.”

Veteran NFL head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER takes his Virginia Destroyers to the Princess Anne Athletic Complex in Virginia Beach on Friday, August 26 from 8am to 11am.

“There have been considerable preparations made to arrive at this point and we are excited to get the players on the field,” said coach Schottenheimer. “There will be competition at every position and we are looking for the best players. For the first couple of weeks, coaches will focus on teaching technique and fundamentals. In the business to be successful you have to build a team that is prepared to perform.”

The Omaha Nighthawks were the first UFL team to open training camp action on Thursday, August 25 at the Kroc Center in Omaha.

“We are excited by the caliber of player we’re bringing to training camp,” said Omaha Nighthawks head coach JOE MOGLIA. “This is another opportunity for us to work together as a team and coaching staff in preparation for the season, and we are confident that Omaha will be proud of the final product they will see on the field.”

The third United Football League season kicks off on Thursday, September 15 when the Omaha Nighthawks play for the first time at their new TD Ameritrade park home against the Virginia Destroyers. Each team plays six games during a seven-week season that culminates in the UFL Championship Game on November 4 or 5.

Nighthawks To Hold Party For Season Ticket Holders

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:05:10 +0000

By UFL Press

The Nighthawks are hosting an exclusive event on Saturday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the team's practice facility, the Salvation Army Kroc Center, located at 2825 Y Street.

The event was organized to recognize the team's great fan base of season ticket holders, who will be able to pick up their tickets, as well as their special gift - a collector's edition Nighthawks mini-helmet.

"This event is our way of thanking our season ticket holders for their loyalty," said Mike Wierzbicki, Director of Ticketing. “Hosting an event for our season ticket holders to meet the players, coaches, and staff is an opportunity to give back to our most supportive fans.”

Those in attendance will also be able to catch a glimpse of what they can expect to see on the field this season. Practice will complete at approximately 11:35 a.m. with players and coaches spending time interacting with the fans following practice.

For more information, please contact the Nighthawks Ticket Office at 402-403-3776.

Nighthawks Training Camp Preview – Omaha Reloaded For Bear

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:08:19 +0000

By Dusty Sloan

The Omaha Nighthawks are bound and determined, from top to bottom, to be an organization that both the city and the United Football League can be proud of.

On the field, that means trying to erase a second half of the 2010 UFL season in which the Nighthawks went 0-4 and were outscored 123-37 following a 3-1 start to their expansion campaign.

Enter first-year Head Coach/President Joe Moglia, who already has succeeded in changing the culture within the organization. Starting September 15 at TD Ameritrade Park against the Virginia Destroyers, Moglia and the rest of the Nighthawks have the chance to make Omaha fans forget the end of last season.

Offense

The Nighthawks have plenty of options at quarterback for guiding Offensive Coordinator Bart Andrus’ new-look offense. The biggest name, of course, is 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, the Nebraska Cornhusker legend who will look to be a full-time starting quarterback for the first time in 10 years while playing in his hometown. The rest of the quarterback field - 2010 backup D.J. Shockley, ex-Penn State standout Daryll Clark and rookie Dwight Dasher - also is green when it comes to professional quarterbacking experience.

Omaha was last in the UFL in 2010 in total rushing yards and yards per carry. It’s unlikely that will happen again in 2011 thanks to the tailbacks currently under contract - returnees Maurice Clarett and Shaud Williams, rookie Noel Devine and ex-Cornhusker Marlon Lucky. Clarett came on at the end of last season, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in his last two games, Williams has been one of the top all-purpose backs in the UFL, Lucky was one of the top all-purpose backs in Nebraska history and Devine is coming off three highly-productive seasons at West Virginia.

The Nighthawks boast an intriguing mix at wide receiver. The team has brought in newcomers Chris Davis (ex-Tennessee Titan), Chad Lucas, ex-Husker Maurice Purify and Fred Rouse, a former top high school recruit out of the state of Florida, to compete with returnees Roy Hall (16 catches in 2010), Mike Hass (14) and Andrew Brewer (five). The tight ends currently on the active roster are 2010 backup Lee Vickers and newbie Leroy Banks.

Along the offensive line, just one 2010 full-time starter - left guard Damion Cook - returns. A big part of the O-line overhaul is at tackle, where ex-Hartford Colonial stalwart Orrin Thompson was added, along with Nebraska rookie Mike Smith, Nick Hennessey, Shannon Boatman and Chris Pino. Mitch Erickson, a part-time starter in 2010, is back at guard, and will work with newcomers Darryl Hicks, Harrison Lingenfelter and Greg Ryan. Looking to start at center are Garrett Anderson and Zachary Kendall.

Defense

Omaha’s defensive line has the potential to be a strength. At end, sack leader Jay Moore (3½) returns, as does Kevin Basped (two). The newcomers include alternative football veteran Claude Harriott, rookie Christian Anthony and ex-Indianapolis Colt Curtis Johnson. Dusty Dvoracek (24 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack) returns at tackle, and is joined by veteran Walter Curry, DeMarcus Granger, Justin Mincey and rookie Keenan Mace.

Veterans Patrick Thomas (team-high 46 total tackles in 2010) and Morlon Greenwood (25 total tackles) return to the Omaha linebacker corps, and the newbies include ex-Buffalo Bill Angelo Crowell, Nebraska-Omaha product Jeff Souder, J.R. Bryant, Derrick Byrd, Matt Wenger and Michael Wilhoite.

The Nighthawks have quite a bit of quality depth in the secondary. Cornerbacks Ricardo Colclough (seven passes defensed, one interception), DeMarcus Faggins (five passes defensed) and Eric Green (two passes defensed, one interception) all return, and will be pushed by former Titan Reynaldo Hill, ex-Detroit Lion Keith Smith, ex-Minnesota Viking Dovonte Edwards and Arena Football standout Tanner Varner. Both Stuart Schweigert (45 total tackles) and Clinton Hart (team-high two interceptions) return to the Omaha secondary, and are joined by Jeremy Kellem, former Jacksonville Jaguar Chad Nkang and Aaron Weathers.

Special teams

Omaha has two punters on the active roster - 2010 standout Justin Brantly (41.4-yard average, 35.7-yard net average) and former Canadian Football Leaguer Eric Wilbur. Omaha also returns UFL veteran long snapper Matt Overton. Colclough was the UFL’s leading kickoff returner in 2010 (22.9-yard average), and Williams was a top kickoff (21.1) and punt (10.5) returner last fall.

The Nighthawks do not have a kicker on the active roster.

Outlook

A four-team league means the Nighthawks will need to get out of the gates as fast in 2011 as they did in 2010. The offense should be much-improved over last year thanks to a stable of running backs and an upgraded offensive line, but who is the starter at quarterback, and how long will he last in an offense which is new to American professional football?

Omaha has the makings of a title contender thanks to its running game, depth along the defensive line and in the secondary, and its special teams. If one quarterback emerges, stays healthy and produces, watch out.

Nighthawks Single Game Tickets On Sale August 23

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:15:07 +0000

By UFL Press

With less than a month before the Nighthawks open their season, single game tickets will be made available starting at 10:00 a.m on Tuesday, August 23.Nighthawks games are fun and affordable with single game tickets starting at just $15.

"We sold out all four home games last year," said Josh Roehr, Director of Ticketing. "We expect the same for this year so we're encouraging our fans to buy their tickets as soon as they can."

Fans can purchase tickets by one of three ways; by calling the Nighthawks Ticket office at 402-403-3776, visiting http://www.nighthawkstickets.com or by going to the CenturyLink Center Box Office.

Season tickets are still available starting at $45. A limited number of club seats are also available. For more information on club seats, please contact the ticket office.

The Nighthawks home game schedule is as follows:

Thursday, September 15, vs Virginia Destroyers at 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 15, vs Las Vegas Locos at 7 p.m.

Friday, October 28, vs Sacramento Mountain Lions at 7 p.m

Omaha Nighthawks Sign Noel Devine

nighthawksfanclub@gmail.com (T. J. Brumfield) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:19:14 +0000

By UFL Press

The Nighthawks have signed former West Virginia Running Back Noel Devine, increasing their strength at the back position with names like Maurice Clarett, Shaud Williams and Marlon Lucky.

"Noel is an exciting football player," said Rick Mueller, General Manager. "We are happy to have him

with the Nighthawks."

Devine led an outstanding college career. During his senior year with the Mountaineers he played in all 13 games and recorded 934 rushing yards on 208 attempts with six touchdowns. He was also West Virginia's third-leading reciever with 34 caught passes for 258 yards. Devine had back-to-back 1000-yard rushing seasons his sophomore and junior years.

Noel joins the Nighthawks after spending time in the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles training camp.

You can see Noel and the rest of the Nighhawks play when they take the field against the Virginia Destroyers at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 15 at TD Ameritrade Park. Season tickets are still available by calling 402-403-3776.