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Several Miami Hurricanes Alums played in XFL

By Alan Rubenstein

3 Oct 1997: Quarterback Ryan Clement of the Miami Hurricanes hands the ball off to tailback Trent Jones (left) during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State won the game 47-0. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
3 Oct 1997: Quarterback Ryan Clement of the Miami Hurricanes hands the ball off to tailback Trent Jones (left) during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State won the game 47-0. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /
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The XFL is coming back. WWE CEO Vince McMahon announced today that his organization is bringing back the infamous football league that played one season in 2001. Several Miami Hurricanes played in the league’s only season.

Three of the league’s eight teams featured Miami Hurricanes on their roster. The most well known Miami alum to play in the USFL was former Hurricanes quarterback Ryan Clement. Clement was the primary starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Outlaws. The Outlaws finished 4-6 and in last place in the XFL’s Western Division.

Clement completed 78 passes in 138 attempts for 805 yards nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Before playing in the XFL, Clement played for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe.

In four seasons at Miami, Clement completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 6,004 36 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. The majority of his playing time with the Hurricanes came in his last three seasons.

Clement’s best collegiate season came as a Junior when he completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,257 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Clement had to battle for playing time with Scott Covington and Kenny Kelly. Kelly lost the starting quarterback job later in his career to Ken Dorsey.

Running back Carlo Joseph also spent time with the Outlaws, but never got into a game. At Miami, Joseph had 310 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving with five total touchdowns from 1995-97.

The Orlando Rage had two Miami Hurricanes on their roster. The Rage finished with the XFL’s best regular season record at 8-2. The Rage were upset by the San Francisco Demons 26-25 in the first round of the playoffs.

Linebacker James Burgess had 57 tackles, three sacks and an interception in 11 games for the Rage. Burgess led the Rage in tackles and with 11 tackles for loss. He was named first-team all XFL following the season. Burgess was drafted by the Rage as a territorial draft pick.

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    • Burgess’ teammate with the Rage was his former Miami Hurricanes teammate Tony Gaiter. Gaiter was not all the Rage as a wide receiver with Orlando. He had four receptions for 62 yards and one punt return for four yards.

    Gaiter didn’t make an impact at Miami until his final season in 1996. He recorded 30 receptions for 671 yards and seven touchdowns. Many of those receptions came from Clement. In his first two years with the Hurricanes Gaither caught five passes for eight yards.

    The Chicago Enforcers matched the Rage with two Miami Hurricanes alums. Kicker/Punter Andy Crossland and offensive guard Eric Schnupp played the one season with the Explorers.

    Crossland finished fourth in the league in field goals made and field goal percentage. He made eight of his 14 field goals for 57 percent. Crossland was sixth in the league with a 36.8-yard punting average. Crossland’s 44 career field goals are eighth in Miami history.

    Next: How five star CB Tyson Campbell fits with Miami Hurricanes

    With the XFL two years away there are several Miami players are former players that could be candidates to play in the league. As with any football league, the U made an impact. Burgess was one of the best players in the league. Clement played fairly well with a better than two to one touchdown to interception ratio.

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