MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo–After the pandemic interrupted the successful return of pro football to St. Louis in 2020 for three seasons, coaches for the reincarnated XFL Battlehawks found another obstacle Wednesday as they attempted to reconnect with fans ahead of next month’s return to play.
Head Coach Anthony Becht, Defensive Line Coach La’Roi Glover and Wide Receivers Coach Ricky Proehl were trying to get from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, where the league’s teams will train and practice for the season before playing games-in market, to St. Louis for public appearances.
The problem? The FAA ground stop, later determined to have been caused by a computer glitch, threw a temporary wrench into the plan.
Proehl said the trio started to come up with a social media strategy on the fly to apologize for missing the trip, which included a stop at Cardinal Ritter High School, The Armory and a meet and greet at Syberg’s in Maryland Heights, before the halt was lifted and planes got back in the air.
Coaches in this era of the XFL appear to understand and embrace the idea that they aren’t just coaching–they’re heavily involved in the grassroots marketing of a football product.
“At the end of the day the game is important to us. We’re going to do whatever it takes for this game to be successful, and so here we are, we’re doing that,” said Glover, who played for the Rams from 2006-2008 in St. Louis.
“This city deserves a professional football team and I know it’s not the NFL but we’re gonna put a good product on the field. I love St. Louisans. I love being here, it makes me feel like home,” Proehl, who will always be remembered for his catch in the NFC championship game for the Rams in the season that ended with a Super Bowl title after the 1999 season. “This place is special to me and I have so many great memories. My kids growing up here, being here for five years was a special time and it’s great to come back, it’s great to be here and I’m looking forward to seeing those fans back in that dome and giving them what they deserve.”
Proehl will have the chance to coach his son Austin, who caught the first touchdown in XFL history in 2020 for the Seattle Dragons.
"I know Ricky and La’Roi were really having fun just looking out the window talking, this wasn’t here, that was here…we used to hang out here, this is the spot,” said Becht, who overlapped with Glover in 2008, Becht’s only season playing for the Rams. “It’s good to bring those guys back. I know the fanbase here, they know and love ‘em and what they did here for this city is really important. I’m glad they’re on my staff.
By the end of the day, the trio was back on a plane for the Dallas Metroplex, where players have been getting oriented and working out on their own, going over their playbooks ahead of the first official day of practice Saturday
Single-game tickets went on sale Thursday morning. The season kicks off Feb. 19 against San Antonio, with the home debut at The Dome at America’s Center being a March 12 matchup against the Arlington Renegades at 3 pm.
