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Huyghue has served as Commissioner of the United Football League since its inception and oversaw all three seasons of on-field competition in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“I am proud of the quality product we were able to put on the field and the overwhelmingly positive fan response,” said Huyghue.  “While new professional football leagues have struggled to find a niche historically, I believe the UFL exceeded those other attempts.

“The UFL has experienced funding issues and at this juncture it seems most prudent that I step aside while the owners work to raise the necessary funds to conduct a fourth season.”

UFL owner and founder BILL HAMBRECHT said: “We are greatly indebted to Michael for taking an idea and turning it into a reality against very challenging circumstances.  We remain committed to taking the league forward and are moving ahead to fund a fourth season, but we would not be here today without his steadfast leadership.”

Chairman of the UFL owners group BILL MAYER added: “I want to personally thank Michael for providing the steady leadership needed to launch the UFL and take it to it’s current position.  It was not an easy task.  The owner group is committed to go forward with the league and play our fourth season this fall.”

Prior to joining the UFL, Huyghue was CEO and founder of Axcess Sports & Entertainment, where he represented a number of NFL, NBA and PGA TOUR players. The Sports Business Journal has twice named Huyghue to the “Forty Under 40″ Top Sports Business Executives.

At the age of 29, he became the youngest general manger in professional football when he joined the NFL’s World League in 1989.  Huyghue joined the Detroit Lions as Vice President and General Counsel, before becoming Senior Vice President of Football Operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the team’s inaugural NFL season.  During Huyghue’s tenure with the Jaguars, the team became the winningest franchise in expansion history, achieving two AFC Central Division Championships and an unprecedented two AFC Championship appearances.

About The United Football League: The UFL provides high-quality professional football during a traditional fall season while embracing innovation and fan interaction. The UFL serves its local communities with pride and dedication, and aims to provide every fan with an exciting and memorable game experience. The inaugural 2009 champion Las Vegas Locos won a second championship in 2010, lifting the William Hambrecht Trophy with a second win over the Florida Tuskers. The 2011 season champion Virginia Destroyers defeated the Locos in the Championship Game.  The four-team competition featured the Locos, Destroyers, Omaha Nighthawks and Sacramento Mountain Lions. The UFL is funded by a consortium of private investors.

By David Levy-Fan Experience Reporter-FRO

The New York Jets controlled the big apple during the post season over the last two years. In fact, Jets fans like myself anticipated that the team would finally be the Kings of New York instead of the Giants. After all, since 2008 the Giants hadn’t come close to returning to the Super Bowl, while their former weak sisters nearly went there twice.  The Jets had control for once in New York.

But a whole new season can make a really big difference, considering where New York’s two teams are right now. Not only have the Jets free fallen into the murky abyss, they may have lost their chance to seize control of New York permanently at this rate while the Giants approach another Super Bowl.  Both teams were in control of their destiny this season.  The Giants took control while the Jets let control slide from their hands.

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By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Executive Editor-Football Reporters Online

Image via Wikipedia

It was 1995, and I had just gotten back into coaching after a 7 year absence to obtain 2 graduate degrees. I had just gotten an assistant coaching position (part time) at my old High School where I played 3 seasons and started 2 of them as the teams’  Punter & Kick off man. I had wanted to be a special teams coach but the position available was to assist the Head Coach with the Offensive Line and the Tight Ends.

Because the Head Coach had been my Head Coach, he was going to teach me how to coach the Offensive Line. Not hard for him since he had been an NFL OL for 6 seasons. “Bill, I’m going to send you to a coaching clinic this spring” he told me. “You’ll get basic schemes there.” He also got me a Book of OL & DL skills.

The clinic was on a Saturday In March In a suburb of Philly but on the New Jersey side. All of the coaches speaking that day were successful NCAA and/or NFL Line coaches. A few told jokes to loosen up the crowd of mostly 20 & 30 something aged High School coaches.  Finally we had the keynote speaker, a former Nebraska Assistant who was now working at Penn State. “Wow” I thought “ this guy coaches for Jo PA, and used to work with Osborne!” I thought to myself.

After he finished his presentation he did the “Oh just one more thing” that Apple’s Steve Jobs would later become famous for. He introduced his Boss!! Out of a side room came the “Little big Man” who was larger then life to all of us in the Biz…

“I don’t have much to add to what you learned here today,” he said crisply. “But I will tell you this. Never forget who you are, and always take the time to listen to others around you, no matter if they are your student athletes or other coaches you work with. You learn just as much by listening as you do by studying.”

Afterwards we were introduced. “Oh your from the Bronx! He exclaimed. Only been up to Arthur Avenue (the Bronx’s Little Italy) a few times but great food up there” he smiled. I thanked him and his assistant for speaking to us that day. I had shook hands with a legend.

Years later the legend would become embroiled in a scandal caused by one of his trusted close friends and assistant coaches. As Educators we are taught to spot students in crisis, all kinds of crisis. In the NYC schools where I worked for more then 25 years, we constantly got training on how to spot kids in sexual crisis.

Where was this training at Penn State?  Even if the coaching staff and for that matter, the entire athletic department, had been given the proper training and follow up, would they have known about the predator in their midst? Did the coach follow his own advice years later when confronted with the issue of Jerry Sandusky’s Darkest behavior?

My one great memory of Coach Paterno was of that early spring day close to 20 years ago. It’s a shame that many others will only remember him for the events of the last several months.

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By Anthony Carillo-contributing writer-Football Reporters Online

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford,

2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor,

3. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma St.

4. Ryan Tannehill, Texas AM

5. Nick Foles, Arizona

6. Kirk Cousins, Michigan St.

7. Ryan Lindley, San Diego St.

8. Kellen Moore, Boise St.

9. Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

10. Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois

This quarterback draft class may have set the most records over their respective careers. You have Kellen Moore breaking the record for most wins as a starting quarterback, you have Robert Griffin III becoming the first Baylor football player to win the Heisman trophy, and you have Case Keenum, who shattered pretty much every passing record in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

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By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner/Executive Editor Football Reporters Online

(photo-Coughlin & Reese at the Met Life Stadium naming event in August 2011)

The Giants are one win away from another Super bowl appearance. Let’s let that statement sink in for a moment. The team that few if any gave a chance to in August, September, October, November & December….Is again making noise In January, much like the 2007 Giants. Or are they more like the 1990 Giants?

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Media Release-Football Reporters Online-Cottonwood Az.                                     1/17/2012

Today Football Reporters(FRO) Announces the Move of it’s headquarters from Long Island NY, to Cottonwood Arizona, in the Verde Valley region of the central part of the state. “The move came 6-12 months early, but it’s time to expand operations westward” commented Managing Partner Dr. Bill Chachkes. “While we will continue to cover east coast and mid-atlantic Football at the H.S. & college level, it’s time for us to recognize the same level of football athletes in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, & Utah, as well as coverage of the Arizona Cardinals NFL franchise & the Las Vegas Locos of the UFL. The FRO leadership team looks forward to taking on these new challenges. A quick note on the Radio broadcasts: they will continue to be broadcast on Eastern Time.