SACRAMENTO MOUNTAIN LIONS
High Expectations!

A swarming team defense has kept the Lions more than competitive. Photo: Sacramento Mountain Lions.

The Sacramento Mountain Lions, the West Coast franchise of the United Football League, opened their season Sept. 17 at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium against the Las Vegas Locomotives. The Lions were formerly the California Redwoods, when the team debuted in San Francisco two years ago. They're stocked with former NFL players, icluding linebacker Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings) and defensive backs John Busing (Bengals, Texans) and Jermaine Phillips (Buccaneers). Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green is the team's head coach and general manager, and the majority owner is Paul Pelosi of San Francisco. The league was conceived of and founded by William Hambrecht, also of San Francisco.

The UFL has four franchises playing in markets where the NFL has no current presence. The league consists primarily of players that have at one time or another played for an NFL team. While the league has no connection with the NFL, some have speculated that it could become a minor or "developmental" league for the NFL.

Sacramento went 4-4 in 2010 and averaged about 18,250 fans for its home games. Mountain Lions home games air on Comcast SportsNet California and include Sacramento sportscasters Grant Napear and Mike Lamb, former NFL coach Jerry Glanville, former Cal and NFL quarterback Mike Pawlawski and radio personality Dan Dibley. Season tickets and individual tickets are on sale now at sacmountainlions.com or by phone at 916-383-5466.