UFL’s Omaha Nighthawks: Passion, Play
This past weekend, I had the good fortune to be a guest of the UFLs Omaha Nighthawks for their scrimmage which was opened in appreciation only for season ticket holders and and media. Somehow I got in there. There was so much that happened, that more pieces will follow in the coming days, but knowing what was coming Sunday and announced yesterday, I thought it best to wait for that to be announced first.
Before I go any further, let me thank Kat Welch, Public Relations Director of the Nighthawks. She truly defined class, efficiency and graciousness in accommodating my wife and I with access, positioning and an overall sense of being fully welcomed. Her professionalism spoke volumes alone, but it only got more impressive from there.
The first thing I thought upon arriving at this session was of all the conversations I had had over my lifetime about “old school football” with my mom, Uncle Jerry, my cousin Doug, and my brother. Mostly about the Denver Broncos back in the day and the Nebraska Cornhusker tradition. I also hearkened to a recent conversation I had with my father-in-law about his own time spent in Minnesota watching Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings running all around Metropolitan Stadium. Few frills, but e-v-e-r-y player out there putting it on the line for two simple reasons:
1) Passion
2) To simply play the game
The session Saturday was held amidst a scorching Omaha, NE day. There were no oscillating misters for players to run to in order to counteract the heat. No benches for players to rest upon. Their cooling systems were made using compressed air pushed through water barrels with PVC piping that had holes for the water to escape. The drinking water was provided in air-compressed coolers with hoses fixed upon them. No frills. Just well executed football played by men of skill who love the game.
For those of you who know Denver Broncos history…think Hilltop Stadium. In some ways this day had an almost college ball feel to it. Not the performance on the field, but the feel. Some of it was the location of the field, Papillion La-Vista High School, right across the street from a convenience store and an Applebees.
They will play their games in Johhny Rosenblatt Stadium, but the organization chose to do their “fan appreciation” in the heart of the community. This speaks volumes to me, and to those in attendance as well!
The Nighthawks show a tie to this community that is not “fan/team” as much as it is “community/family”. The players are greeted warmly and with respect, like the new neighbors on the block.
Perhaps the best example? Ahman Green (30). One time star running back for the ‘Huskers. Former Pro Bowl running back for the Green Bay Packers. He would surely have a team assigned “fan buffer” for his adoring Nebraska fans right? Not at all. He took a seat 4 or 5 feet down the way from my wife and I, where he shared embraces with friends and family alike. No fan who approached him was turned away when asked for an autograph. He even welcomed a handshake and kind exchange of words with yours truly before the session began.
Defensive line coach Carl Hairston even noticed my wife’s Las Vegas Locos shirt she acquired last year at the 1st ever UFL Championship Game in Las Vegas. Coach Hairston reminded us that he was the D-line coach for the Locos’ opponent in the Championship game, the then-unbeaten Florida Tuskers and that we needed to “…get the right gear on in Nighthawk country!” When we told him we were at the championship last November he laughingly agreed to give us a pass, but reminded us playfully that it would be “Just this once!” I cannot prove it, but I think my Broncos hat brought out his old spite…being a former Kansas City Chief assistant coach and all. I know the rivalry runs deep, so I’ll let it slide…but just this once Carl!
I could go on with such examples. The moment when a young child realized that “the man in the mask” waving at him was his daddy, wide receiver Keith Eloi (17). The time former Prow Bowl quarter back Jeff Garcia spent to snap a picture with me…even though he was being told to move on to the next part of the function. The way former Colorado School of Mines quarterback (and 2010 School of Mines Hall of Fame inductee) Chad Friehauf’s (15) eyes lit up when my wife revealed to him that she too was a former ‘Oredigger‘. Former Bronco offensive-lineman P.J. Alexander (69) repeatedly asking the crown directly if they were enjoying themselves, asking them to let him hear it. Even coming over to me after I finished talking to Friehauf simply because of my Denver Bronco hat to talk some Bronco football!
Family feel. “Old time” style football. These men are here for a myriad of reasons. Some want back to the show…the NFL. Some want a few more snaps before the body says “no more”. Whatever the reason, for the Omaha Nighthawks, (heck…the entire UFL for that matter!) it comes down to only two things:
1)Passion
2) Play
It was a hard vibe not to buy into.
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