Locomotives reflect on championship, look to next season

A belated celebration is better than no celebration.

The Las Vegas Locomotives, who won the inaugural United Football League championship in November, are back in town this week to commemorate their victory.

They hosted a free fan fest Sunday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium and will receive their championship rings in a private ceremony Monday night.

"What's really fun about this is seeing all the guys again," Las Vegas coach Jim Fassel said at the fan fest. "I haven't seen them. After the championship, there was a party and then everyone was gone."

Most of the Locomotives' roster returned for the events and spent Sunday with fans signing autographs, playing catch and directing kids through drills.

It was important for the Locomotives to start connecting with the community, tight end Adam Bergen said. Unlike last year when UFL teams were housed in a central location and traveled for every game, they will live in their home cities in 2010.

The Locomotives will report for training camp in the summer and stay in Las Vegas through the end of the season.

"I can't wait to play again out here in Vegas and get everyone excited," Bergen said. "Hopefully we'll be able to sell out a few games this year. The more visible we are, the better it will be for everyone."

Fassel has split his time between Las Vegas and his home in Southern California since the end of the season.

He said the league nearly has finalized plans for where the Locomotives will practice and live next season. He's also on the verge of buying a home here.

To Fassel, the fan fest was a beginning of an era for Locomotives football.

"We're here now," Fassel said. "And this is where we want to be."

Fassel will also release the Locomotives' protected roster later this week. With the league expanding from four to six teams — the new franchises will likely land in Omaha, Neb., San Antonio or Salt Lake City — the original teams can only hold on to 20 players while the rest will be available in an expansion draft.

But Fassel assured the UFL would have no shortage of players. He said interest has skyrocketed after people got a chance to see the league in its first year.

"Last year, we had to sell players and agents on this league," Fassel said. "This year, they are trying to sell us because they want to play for us."

Cornerback Wale Dada should have no worries about being protected. Dada established himself as a leader last season by topping the team in tackles.

He said he couldn't wait for the Locomotives to compete for another championship and share it with the city,

"We better win it," Dada said. "Anything short of that is not what we're looking for."

But Dada didn't want to get ahead of himself. This week is about the championship the Locomotives have already won.

"I've talked to all of my friends who are coaching in the NFL and everywhere else and they all say the same thing and I know it's right: At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if it's high school, college, pros, NFL or here, when you win a championship, it's a special feeling," Fassel said.