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TD Ameritrade Chairman takes up the coaching reins again

Wednesday, November 10 – TD Ameritrade Chairman JOE MOGLIA was announced as the President and Head Coach of the Virginia Destroyers expansion team that will commence play as the sixth United Football League franchise in 2011.

The former Dartmouth Defensive Coordinator has reestablished himself in the world of college football by joining the University of Nebraska staff as an Executive Advisor to the Head Football Coach. In the business world, both at TD Ameritrade and at Merrill Lynch, Moglia has led, strategized, and executed world-class plans in an extraordinary way for almost two decades on a national and global scale.

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UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE NAMES  JAY GRUDEN HEAD COACH OF FLORIDA TUSKERS

ORLANDO (February 9, 2010) – At a press conference today at Rosen Shingle Creek, UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue announced Jay Gruden as Head Coach of the Florida Tuskers. Gruden previously served as Offensive Coordinator for the Tuskers. The Tuskers finished the season with a 6-1 record and an appearance in the UFL’s Championship Game.

“Jay Gruden was the natural choice as the next head coach of the Florida Tuskers,” said Commissioner Huyghue. “Under Coach Gruden’s guidance, the Tuskers’ offense led the League in all categories and helped secure the team a spot in the Championship Game mid-way through the season. Coach Gruden’s recent success on the field, coupled with his local appeal, bodes well for this Florida franchise moving forward.”

“I am honored to take on the role of Head Coach of the Florida Tuskers and grateful to the UFL for this opportunity,” said Coach Gruden. “Our first season was a great success. Coach Haslett created a solid foundation that the team can continue to build upon. I am proud of the way Orlando has embraced the Tuskers’ dedicated players and coaches and I am excited to get to work preparing for season two.”

The Florida Tuskers was the dominant team of the UFL’s “Premiere” season under the leadership of Gruden and former Head Coach Jim Haslett, who was recently named Defensive Coordinator for the Washington Redskins. In Gruden’s first season with Florida, his potent offense propelled the Tuskers to an undefeated regular season (6-0) and a spot in the Championship Game. Under Gruden’s guidance, QB Brooks Bollinger led the league in passing yards (1,825), touchdowns (16) and earned the title of UFL Player of the Year.

Prior to coaching in the UFL, Gruden spent 17 seasons in the Arena Football League, acquiring six Championship titles and consistently rewriting the league’s history books. As starting quarterback in Tampa Bay, Gruden led the Storm to an unprecedented four ArenaBowl titles in six seasons. During his playing career, Gruden racked up two All-Arena selections and grabbed the 1992 MVP honors.

As head coach of the Orlando Predators (1998-2001, 2004-2008), Gruden led his team to four ArenaBowl appearances with two championships and ranks sixth overall in AFL wins with a 82-54 regular-season record. As a head coach, he is 93-61-0 and ranks in the top 10 overall in coaching wins and winning percentage. He is one of only five AFL coaches with two or more ArenaBowl championships. As a quarterback, he ranks in the top ten with more than 20,000 passing yards and close to 400 touchdowns.

Gruden’s success as a coach is not confined to Arena Football. For seven seasons, he served as an offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. In that capacity, Gruden earned his seventh professional championship ring when the Bucs won the 2002 Super Bowl.

About The UFL:

The UFL was developed to fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. The United Football League debuted in October 2009 with four teams in Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and San Francisco for its “Premiere” season. The UFL’s offices are in New York, N.Y. and Jacksonville, Fla. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue and is being funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the UFL’s 2010 season, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

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PRESS RELEASE

Brooks Bollinger Named Motorola MVP &

Jim Haslett Named Men’s Wearhouse Coach of the Year

JACKSONVILLE, FL (December 2, 2009) – The United Football League announced today that Florida Tuskers QB Brooks Bollinger was selected as the 2009 Motorola Season MVP and Florida Tuskers Head Coach Jim Haslett was chosen as the 2009 Men’s Wearhouse Coach of the Year.

Despite falling short of a perfect season with a loss in the Championship Game, the Florida Tuskers, led by Coach Haslett and Bollinger, had an extraordinary season.  Under Coach Haslett’s tutelage, Florida proved to be the dominant team in the UFL in the regular season, compiling a perfect 6-0 record and leading the team in both offense and defense. For the season QB Brooks Bollinger led the UFL in passing yards (1,825), passing TDs (16), completion % (63.8%) and completions (143).

“We congratulate Jim Haslett and Brooks Bollinger on their success this year and for being named Coach of the Year and League MVP, respectively,” said UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue.  “The Florida Tuskers had an outstanding season and, despite losing in overtime in the Championship Game, their unbeaten regular season record is a tremendous accomplishment.  Coach Haslett did an incredible job with the team while also balancing administrative roles traditionally not handled by the head coach.  Brooks Bollinger is a remarkable athlete and leader and is an asset to any professional football team.  We commend the fans on their selection of Coach Haslett and Brooks Bollinger to receive the UFL’s top honors.”

In 2000, Coach Haslett guided the New Orleans Saints to a 10-6 regular season record, its second NFC West Division Championship and its first playoff victory in franchise history.  A former NFL Head Coach of the Year, Haslett remained in New Orleans for six seasons.  Haslett became the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator to start the 2006 season before advancing to interim head coach in 2008 and winning his first two games.

“Coaching in the UFL was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every minute of it, but the last one,” added Coach Haslett. “Seriously, from the beginning, I was confident that the overall talent available would provide quality football to the fans and opportunities to players who wanted to further their career.  I am proud to be named the League’s first Coach of the Year.”

Prior to signing on with the Tuskers, Bollinger, a sixth round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2003, completed 211 of 360 passes for 2,226 yards and nine touchdowns over six years in the NFL. Bollinger was one of seven Big Ten Conference quarterbacks to win games in a career and ranks second at the University of Wisconsin with 414 completions of 771 passes for 5,627 yards and 38 TDs.

“Being named the first MVP, especially as voted by the fans, is a tremendous honor and is a bittersweet ending to an almost perfect season,” said Brooks Bollinger.  “I was very fortunate to be part of the Tuskers’ offense and would never have received this award without their support.  I share this honor with my team and a great coaching staff led by Jay Gru (Gruden) and Jim Has (Haslett).”

During the UFL’s “Premiere” season Championship Game this past Friday, DeDe Dorsey was named Title Sports Drink Championship Game MVP.  Dorsey finished the game with 98 total yards from scrimmage, including 66 on the ground and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 32 yards.  Las Vegas Locos QB JP Losman’s touchdown pass to Adam Bergen during Week One of the season was voted as StubHub’s Fan Favorite Play of the Year.  Fans voted online and via text messaging for all of the UFL’s season-end awards.

About The UFL

The UFL was developed to fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players.  The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide.  The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. The UFL just completed its “Premiere” season on November 27^th where the Las Vegas Locos defeated the Florida Tuskers 20-17 in overtime.  The UFL’s headquarters is in New York, N.Y. and has satellite offices in Jacksonville, Fla. and Rutherford, N.J. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue, COO Frank Vuono and is being funded by a consortium of private investors.  For more information on the UFL, please visit www.ufl-football.com.

NEW YORK – If you had said to me three years ago that a new professional football league would start up and play games during the fall, when the NFL and College Football (not to mention High School Football) were in full swing, I would have suggested some sort of substance abuse recovery program.

Two years ago if you were one of the co-founders of this joint venture and you would have polled veteran sports media types, weather traditional print, or electronic/new media, someone might have said ” it might work for a year or two, but it will go the way of the USFL and XFL.” Six Months ago I might have said to you “If the economy were different….”

With many in the business world saying that the worst of the financial down turn could be over before the end of the coming holiday season, it just might be the perfect time to launch a new pro football league. So today, myself and a small but experienced group of football journalists, along with several executives involved with the UFL came together for their first New York based press conference at the Cornell Club in Midtown Manhattan. Commissioner Michael Huyghue opened the media meet and greet with about 6 or so minutes of information commentary, after which he turned it over to the New York franchise’ head coach, Ted Cottrell.

Don’t let Cotrell’s calm business like demeanor fool you. This man is excited to finally have a shot as a head coach, something it looked like he would never get in the NFL, even with 24 years of experience as a position coach and defensive coordinator. To say that he got a raw deal in his last two stops (with San Deigo & the NY Jets) would be an understatement. He warmed up the crowd almost instantly with, “Only in NY would a head coach get a round of applause before he’s coached a game.” He stated that he was truly honored to be in this position.

“If you ask me what kind of team we will have in NY, it will be the kind of team that gives you it’s all on the field today.”

“I expect to see players playing hard from start to finish, that’s what I expect”

Later he told a smaller group of us. ” We are trying ti watch the age of the Veteran players we bring in, with the concern that players get worn down”

On Being in NY: ” Aside from this being the team I was assigned, I love it here. I was here for three years with the Jets, and as an assistant with Rutgers for nine years, plus I worked in the NFL offices for a year.”

On Being a 3-4 Defensive Guru and innovator: “Well, this year we will run the 4-3  based on the fact that we want to change things up a bit.”

On his assistants: “I had to find a group of guys I could trust, guys I knew well. with the exception of one coach, everyone on this staff has worked with me before.”

On His Offensive coordinator: “Wes Chandler” (That’s good enough for me!)

Chandler played 11 seasons in the NFL, and was a big part in the 1981 “Epic in Miami” playoff game (6-106-1TD  on a 56 yd. punt return). His coaching career includes stops in NFL Europe, and in the NFL with Dallas, and most recently with Cleveland.

We also heard from the NY franchise owner Bill Mayer, the Founder of Park Avenue Equity. Probably the most interesting thing Mr. Mayer let drop is that he was a former NY Jets season ticket holder, and that after a few years of traveling to New Jersey for games, he was just plain fed up. “This team will play somewhere east of the east river,” said Mayer. Hmmmm…do the math. The New Facility at Citi Field would be perfect, but it’s playing surface is just not set up for football. That leaves…Hmmm…That college in Hempstead, NY when the Jets used to hold their training camp and practices. We think Hofstra would be a great place, but we will have to wait for a formal announcement.

Final Notes: Every good sports endeavor needs a good P.R. person, and the  UFL has a very good one In Rachel Gary. She was fantastic today, and so far in every contact this reporter has had with her.