WASHINGTON – The debut of the second incarnation of the XFL had a punt blocked for a touchdown, a juiced-up crowd roaring for big plays and a player cursing during an in-game television interview.
The actual football was hit and miss. Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones, who won a national championship with the Buckeyes, was the biggest star on the field and took the microphone to address fans before the kickoff of the professional league, which ultimately flopped 19 years ago in its lone season before returning Saturday.
“This is for the love of football,” Jones said. “Enjoy.”
Jones’ D.C. Defenders beat the Seattle Dragons 31-19 Saturday afternoon in an opener that provided plenty of entertainment in person and on television. It’s far too early to tell if the XFL can take a foothold where its previous incarnation and the recently unsuccessful Alliance of American Football failed, but executives are willing to wait and see.
“For us, if the fans who attend and watch at home feel as though it was a good football game and they had a fun time either watching or being in this awesome venue with us, that’s success,” XFL chief operating officer Jeffrey Pollack said. “We’re taking a long term view in this. Success ultimately will not be measured in the first game or the first weekend or the first season.”