Citadel Football

The XFL's inaugural reboot season only began last month, but the innovative league is already making an impression.

Citadel head coach Brent Thompson told Jeff Hartsell of the Post and Courier on Monday that his team will be implementing the XFL's kickoff format for its 2020 spring game Saturday. 

"The last two weeks I've been watching the XFL, and I really liked a couple of aspects of it," Thompson said. "One thing I really like is the kickoff. During a spring game, you don't usually do a kickoff, because it can be a dangerous play. But the way the XFL does it is pretty safe, and it was a chance to get a special teams play executed."

The league's official website explains the kickoff rule:

"The kicker kicks from the 30-yard line and must kick the ball in the air and in play between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone The coverage team lines up on the return side 35-yard line and the return team lines up on the 30-yard line. Each team must have exactly three players outside the hash marks on both sides of the ball and cannot move until the ball is caught by the returner."

Thompson also disclosed that quarterback Brandon Rainey and linebacker Willie Eubanks III will serve as head coaches and draft players to make up the two teams for the spring game. 

According to the program's official website, the game's first half will feature a normal format before using a running clock in the second half.

The annual Blue-White game will be at Summerall Field on Citadel's campus in Charleston, South Carolina, while the team's normal home, Johnson Hagood Stadium, is undergoing turf installation.

Game Preview

This game will not be pretty. In fact, it will be downright ugly.

The game isn't even going to be televised on most cable packages because there are much better games to televise.

If other games on Florida's schedule are road bumps, this game with the Citadel amounts to the bug that gets smashed on your windshield. Florida will win the game without much effort, in what amounts to a glorified scrimmage, before next week's rivalry game with Florida State.

And, for those fans who complain about schools playing FCS teams, keep in mind that undefeated Texas Tech has played two FCS schools this season

Thank You, Seniors

Thank you to each and every senior Gator that will suit up for their last home game. Thank you for the 2006 SEC and National Championships. Go get another one. You will be missed.

What to Look Forward to in '09 and Beyond

The starters probably won't play more than a half, but here are some players you may not have seen that much this season who will get their first significant playing time:

John Brantley—Quarterback

Emmanual Moody—Running Back

Brandon Frazier—Wide Receiver

Cade Holliday—Wide Receiver

Deonte Thompson—Wide Receiver

Corey Hobbs—Offensive Line

James Wilson—Offensive Line

Will Hill—Safety

Justin Williams—Safety

Brandon Antwine—Defensive Tackle

Torrey Davis—Defensive Line

Jaye Howard—Defensive Tackle

Lorenzo Edwards—Linebacker

Game Prediction

Florida 77, Citadel 0