2012 Omaha Nighthawks

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 6:25 pm

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120905/S ... on-s-start

The United Football League will delay the start of its season by one week, a person with knowledge of the situation told The World-Herald on Wednesday.

The person was speaking anonymously because the UFL has not announced the delay but intends to do so, perhaps as early as Thursday.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:58 am

Workers comp insurance issue? Huh...figured that would be out of the way long ago. :/

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:55 am

Saw on Mavpuck.com that MECA wants the Nighthawks to pay for their lease up front, and Las Vegas does not have a place to play. Â Sounds like some big hurdles still remain.

Greg

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:47 am

Greg S wrote:Saw on Mavpuck.com that MECA wants the Nighthawks to pay for their lease up front, and Las Vegas does not have a place to play. Sounds like some big hurdles still remain.

Let's see if I get this right ...

We have a pro football team wanting to play here in Omaha and MECA is futzing around with them as if they have a whole bunch of other people lining up wanting to rent this otherwise-empty stadium. Am I understanding this correctly?

I kind of assume it's the same with Las Vegas and Boyd Stadium, but they probably do have more events which want that facility.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:17 pm

Well, it's not like there are no costs to MECA to open the doors for the Nighthawks. Â Someone has to install goalposts, stripe the field, and sell tickets. Â Staff the building, etc. Â

But MECA shouldn't be an obstacle to bringing something like this to town either.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:44 pm

Omababe wrote:
Greg S wrote:Saw on Mavpuck.com that MECA wants the Nighthawks to pay for their lease up front, and Las Vegas does not have a place to play. Sounds like some big hurdles still remain.
Let's see if I get this right ...

We have a pro football team wanting to play here in Omaha and MECA is futzing around with them as if they have a whole bunch of other people lining up wanting to rent this otherwise-empty stadium. Am I understanding this correctly?

I kind of assume it's the same with Las Vegas and Boyd Stadium, but they probably do have more events which want that facility.

With the Nighthawks/UFL not finishing their schedule last year I think MECA took a loss. Â They're just trying to protect themselves if things don't work out this year. Â With the UFL's troubles paying bills I can't really blame them.

Greg

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:57 am

Greg S wrote:
Omababe wrote:
Greg S wrote:Saw on Mavpuck.com that MECA wants the Nighthawks to pay for their lease up front, and Las Vegas does not have a place to play. Sounds like some big hurdles still remain.
Let's see if I get this right ...

We have a pro football team wanting to play here in Omaha and MECA is futzing around with them as if they have a whole bunch of other people lining up wanting to rent this otherwise-empty stadium. Am I understanding this correctly?

I kind of assume it's the same with Las Vegas and Boyd Stadium, but they probably do have more events which want that facility.

With the Nighthawks/UFL not finishing their schedule last year I think MECA took a loss. They're just trying to protect themselves if things don't work out this year. With the UFL's troubles paying bills I can't really blame them.

Greg

I do not blame Meca AT ALL. Â There are operating costs for these games and they need to make sure this league is actually going to happen.

Post by **nebugeater** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:37 am

MECA want their money up front for the same reasons, just a different scale, that I WILL NOT by season tickets this time around. Game by game if I go.

EDIT( and the IF I go is based on ticket cost and quaility of product)

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:46 am

nebugeater wrote:MECA want their money up front for the same reasons, just a different scale, that I WILL NOT by season tickets this time around. Game by game if I go.

EDIT( and the IF I go is based on ticket cost and quaility of product)

Dont blame you at all I will be doing the same thing, walking up to games and buying tix at the box office or online game by game.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:39 pm

According to the poster on their facebook they will be playing at TD Ameritrade.

Post by **Coyote** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:36 pm

Meet a nighthawks rep at the airport today (must have been picking up a player at the airport - their Facebook page posted a picture of luggage) he said the tickets may be available by tomorrow. I suggested that they were delayed because of the contract with TDA, but he intimated that there were many more issues preventing their release.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:46 pm

Coyote wrote:Meet a nighthawks rep at the airport today (must have been picking up a player at the airport - their Facebook page posted a picture of luggage) he said the tickets may be available by tomorrow. I suggested that they were delayed because of the contract with TDA, but he intimated that there were many more issues preventing their release.

I talked to someone last night that had inside knowledge of the situation. Â The holdup is because of the Sacramento team's workman's comp insurance. Â Apparently the state wants them to have x dollars and the team/league thought that number was too high...

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:38 pm

Looks like the Roster is out for training camp starting Friday

http://www.omahanighthawks.com/2012-roster/

Five Former Huskers
No Iowa or Iowa St players

# POS LAST FIRST SCHOOL HT WT DOB
47 LB AKPUNKU BRANDON NORTH TEXAS 6’1 245 3/20/90
43 LS ALBRITTON SCOTT COLORADO STATE 6’4 250 11/25/87
73 OT ALLEN TRAY TEXAS 6’4 310 9/7/88
99 DE BASPED KEVIN NEVADA 6’6 250 5/19/88
95 DT BLACK LUKE FAIRMONT STATE 6’6 265 6/4/88
17 QB BOLTUS JASON HARTWICK COLLEGE 6’3 217 8/21/86
19 WR BREWER ANDREW NORTHWESTERN 6’3 220 9/27/86
32 RB BROWN PRESTON ARKANSAS ST./TENN ST. 5’10 200 6/5/87
66 OC BROWN TERENCE BRIGHAM YOUNG 6’4 312 2/19/86
55 LB BUSSEY NATHAN ILLINOIS 6’2 225 2/20/89
58 OC CAPUTO MIKE NEBRASKA 6’1 290 5/2/89
6 K COUTU BRANDON GEORGIA 6’0 195 9/29/84
5 WR DAVIS CHRIS FLORIDA STATE 5’10 190 1/23/84
53 LB DENSON BRANDON MICHIGAN STATE 5’11 240 7/22/87
52 LB DICKSON JOJO IDAHO 6’2 240 7/13/89
16 QB DIEKER CHRIS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 6’5 235 7/22/87
50 LB DILLARD PHILLIP NEBRASKA 6’1 246 12/10/86
28 DC EDWARDS DOVONTE NORTH CAROLINA STATE 6’0 186 10/17/82
61 OG ERICKSON MITCH SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 6’4 285 5/14/85
26 DS ESTRADA MATT NORTHERN ARIZONA 5’11 190 10/20/88
38 DC FAGGINS DEMARCUS KANSAS STATE 5’11 185 6/13/79
30 DC FENELUS ANTONIO WISCONSIN 5’8 190 1/15/90
80 TE FORD CAMERON WAKE FOREST 6’3 243 12/16/88
71 OT GAY DAN BAYLOR 6’4 315 8/29/86
77 OT GIBBS JOE TENNESSEE MARTIN 6’4 310 3/25/88
76 DE GREEN WILLIAM FLORIDA 6’3 255 7/17/78
56 LB GREENWOOD MORLON SYRACUSE 6’0 240 4/28/90
34 RB GRIFFIN JOHN UMASS 6’0 210 12/17/88
86 WR HARDY JAMES INDIANA 6’6 225 12/24/85
83 WR HARPER ROD MURRAY STATE 6’0 202 3/26/85
23 DC HARRELL JAMES ARKANSAS – PINE BLUFF 5’9 193 10/7/89
93 DE HARRIOTT CLAUDE PITTSBURGH 6’3 250 4/8/81
85 WR HARRIS MARCUS MURRAY STATE 6’1 188 3/1/89
84 TE HOPKINS CHRISTIAN TOLEDO 6’5 270 2/26/85
92 DT JASPER MICHAEL BETHEL 6’4 390 10/8/86
74 OT JONES JARVIS OKLAHOMA 6’7 300 2/28/88
75 OT JORDAN GERSHOM TENNESSEE STATE 6’5 310 1/23/88
24 DC JUSTIN TYRONE WASHINGTON STATE 5’11 163 6/28/89
48 DS KELLEM JEREMY MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 5’10 195 6/6/89
11 WR KENNEY CAMERON OKLAHOMA 6’1 205 5/21/89
4 QB KINNE GJ TULSA 6’2 225 12/1/88
88 WR KINNIE BRANDON NEBRASKA 6’3 220 12/27/88
91 DT LEWIS TREY WASHBURN 6’3 310 5/23/85
57 LB MCBRIDE ERIC RICHMOND 6’2 245 3/14/88
44 DE MOORE JAY NEBRASKA 6’5 265 8/16/83
51 LB OCTAVIEN STEVE NEBRASKA 6’0 257 11/25/84
18 P OHNESORGE CORY OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE 6’4 210 5/22/84
96 DT OKAM FRANKLIN TEXAS 6’5 350 10/16/85
81 TE OORDT SCHUYLAR NORTHERN IOWA 6’6 255 5/26/89
68 OG PALMGREN JAYSON MISSOURI 6’3 300 4/11/89
21 S PETERS BRIAN NORTHWESTERN 6’3 218 10/31/88
87 WR PFLUGRAD AARON ARIZONA STATE 5’10 180 12/19/85
33 RB PITTMAN ANTONIO OHIO STATE 5’10 210 9/24/88
82 WR ROBINSON ANTONIO NICHOLLS STATE 6’1 195 11/30/85
37 P SCHMITT RICKY SHEPHERD 6’3 215 8/17/85
20 DS SCHWEIGERT STUART PURDUE 6’2 210 6/21/81
27 DC SMITH CHRIS NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5’10 195 6/23/87
45 TE SMITH GREGORY TEXAS 6’5 255 1/13/88
25 RB SPANN CHAD NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5’9 206 8/4/88
89 WR TOWNSEL DERRICK MURRAY STATE 5’9 177 7/12/88
31 DC WEATHERS AARON NORTH TEXAS 6’0 205 5/17/85

Post by **Coyote** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:58 pm

Tickets are now on sale, and they are now lining the field at Â TDA

Post by **Brad** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:18 pm

Saw on FB they won their first game.

Post by **nebugeater** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:32 pm

Brad wrote:Saw on FB they won their first game.

Ya. Â Didn't get to see it but it looked like it was a come from behind win.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:29 pm

Anyone heard how ticket sales are not next weekend's home game?

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:15 pm

@Eric_Edholm
Omaha Nighthawks GM Matt Boockmeier of UFL on reports his team hasn't paid players this wk, players sitting out: "No comment at this time."

MadMartin8 · Post by **MadMartin8** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:18 pm

They just need to stick a fork in this. It's done.

Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:13 pm

Can't watch this game anymore. 3-31 halfway through the 2nd. No comeback tonight.

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 6:39 am

Coyote wrote:Can't watch this game anymore. 3-31 halfway through the 2nd. No comeback tonight.

So you didn't want to hang in their to see another field goal? Â Looks like the final was 41 - 6

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:11 am

I tuned in briefly just after the Great Debate.

Unfortunately it was looking like a train wreck.

(Both the game and the debate.)

jag42 · Post by **jag42** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 7:40 pm

how much longer is the UFL going to go...I am reading that players haven't been paid...and only 3500 at the Omaha-Las Vegas game in Las Vegas....yeesh...hate to say it, but would not be surprised if the plug is pulled on this in the next week or two.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:58 pm

In addition to not paying the players and coaches yet (they are now 2 checks behind), we've also learned that they are indeed paying the production costs for CBS. Â Player salaries are now only 25k which is probably closer to where they should have been from the start. Â Stability and the lower salaries are I imagine why you don't see the name players in the league like we used to.

Will be interesting to see if they do play next week here in Omaha and if they make it through the season.

Greg

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:22 am

This league is a trainwreck.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 8:18 pm

From the pics I've seen, attendance is abysmal tonight. They are going to get a home win though, which is more than can be said for last season.

From their FB page:

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:07 pm

3,563 reported attendance tonight. Â If the league couldn't pay their bills with 20K+ in the stands I have no idea how they will with 3500.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:33 pm

Nighthawk Setup:

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:41 am

It certainly looks fantastic. Â Lets hope they can get a better attendance number tonight.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:43 am

iamjacobm wrote:It certainly looks fantastic. Lets hope they can get a better attendance number tonight.

Wednesday night with bad weather... Â Its going to be tough!

riceweb · Post by **riceweb** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:48 pm

Actually, the weather should be about perfect tonight, with the wind letting up and the rain moving out. Good football weather.

That said, no way they draw a large crowd. Too many burnt bridges and not enough time to build new ones. They're basically a zombie league this year. Nonetheless, zombie football is better than no football.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 12:55 pm

riceweb wrote:Actually, the weather should be about perfect tonight, with the wind letting up and the rain moving out. Good football weather.

That said, no way they draw a large crowd. Too many burnt bridges and not enough time to build new ones. They're basically a zombie league this year. Nonetheless, zombie football is better than no football.

I don't expect a large crowd by any means. Â I might go tonight, expecting around 5000.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:05 pm

We gave out tickets away for tonight. Â Just way too much going on to go.

cp jay 07 · Post by **cp jay 07** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:21 pm

So Friday night 6 PM game with good weather drew 3,000 and now it's a Wednesday night game with bad weather and a 8 o'clock start in a town where they light fireworks off at 7 so kids can get to bed early. Yeah I am expecting about 2,000 actual in house, 4,000 announced.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 3:26 pm

cp jay 07 wrote:So Friday night 6 PM game with good weather drew 3,000 and now it's a Wednesday night game with bad weather and a 8 o'clock start in a town where they light fireworks off at 7 so kids can get to bed early. Yeah I am expecting about 2,000 actual in house, 4,000 announced.

It is also following a win and is actually a second game in a row that is going off as scheduled. Â Both of those have been rarities for the Nighthawks.

cp jay 07 · Post by **cp jay 07** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 1:16 am

Damn a couple hundred off of my 2,000 guess. It was a fun game to be at though. I really wish they could get their sh!t together cause it wasn't bad football and these guys have talent, at least Las Vegas does.

Although it is fun when it's so empty to hear the players talking on the field, can't get that in the NFL.

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:01 am

2234 is what the story in the OWH says for attendance on Wed night.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:59 am

nebugeater wrote:2234 is what the story in the OWH says for attendance on Wed night.

Not to be a total snot here, but they should be able to realize that they will never get a good crowd out on a weeknight! It really needs to be a Friday or Saturday night affair!

Post by **nebugeater** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 7:31 am

Omababe wrote:
nebugeater wrote:2234 is what the story in the OWH says for attendance on Wed night.
Not to be a total snot here, but they should be able to realize that they will never get a good crowd out on a weeknight! It really needs to be a Friday or Saturday night affair!

My guess is they know that but I would bet anything the TV deal they cut to get any coverage at all dictated when the games would be played to fill programing needs. Â Kind of ironic too since the UFL seemd to be paying the production costs. Â For what it is worth year 1 had a Thur night game at the Blatt with 23,000 people at it. Â

KInd of amasing how this team and league has achived going from the event to be at in Omaha to the ugly step child. Â Too bad, it could be soo much more.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:00 am

I don't think the weeknight would be a problem if it was an established and winning program. Â Creighton has no problem drawing 17,000 to a basketball game on a weeknight. Â People sell out concerts on weeknight all the time too.