Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL)

The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the 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. On February 3, 2001, The Outlaws hosted the first nationally televised XFL game on NBC against the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.[2][3]

For the Arena Football League team, see Las Vegas Outlaws (arena football).
Las Vegas Outlaws
Established2001
Folded2001 (2001)
Based inLas Vegas, Nevada
Home stadiumSam Boyd Stadium
Head coachJim Criner
LeagueXFL
DivisionWestern
ColorsRed, black, sand[1]
     
League titles0
Division titles0

History

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)[4] 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. The league-leading defense, led by Defensive Coordinator Mark Criner, was nicknamed "The Dealers of Doom."

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 suffered repeated injuries to their quarterbacks (by the midpoint of the season they were on their fourth-string quarterback) and 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.

Notable Las Vegas Outlaws players

Season-by-season
Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
20014604th Western--

Regular season
Date Opponent Result Record Game site
Saturday, February 3, 2001 New York/New Jersey Hitmen W 19-0 1-0 Sam Boyd Stadium
Sunday, February 11, 2001 at Memphis Maniax W 25-3 2–0 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Saturday, February 17, 2001 Los Angeles Xtreme L 9-12 2–1 Sam Boyd Stadium
Sunday, February 25, 2001 at San Francisco Demons W 16-9 3–1 Pacific Bell Park
Sunday, March 4, 2001 at Chicago Enforcers L 13-15 3–2 Soldier Field
Saturday, March 10, 2001 at Orlando Rage L 15-27 3-3 Florida Citrus Bowl
Saturday, March 17, 2001 Birmingham Thunderbolts W 34-12 4-3 Sam Boyd Stadium
Saturday, March 24, 2001 at Los Angeles Xtreme L 26-35 4-4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, April 1, 2001 San Francisco Demons L 9-14 4-5 Sam Boyd Stadium
Saturday, April 7, 2001 Memphis Maniax L 3-16 4-6 Sam Boyd Stadium

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

[5]

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

[6]

Team leaders

References
  1. "Las Vegas Outlaws Logo Sheet". SSUR.org. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. Las Vegas Outlaws still working to corral ticket buyers. Las Vegas Business Press [serial online]. January 29, 2001;18(5):6.
  3. "EXTINCT / NBC, WWF pull the plug on XFL after just one season of anything-goes football". SFGate. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  4. Las Vegas Outlaws still working to corral ticket buyers. Las Vegas Business Press [serial online]. January 29, 2001;18(5):6.
  5. 2001 Las Vegas Outlaws Media Guide. XFL. pp. 4–11.
  6. "XFL Standings". USA Today. May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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