STAMFORD, CONN. (Wednesday, April 18, 2001) – The XFL today named Los Angeles Xtreme quarterback Tommy Maddox its 2001 Player of the Year, as selected by a panel of XFL team executives, media and broadcasters.
Maddox led the XFL in passing yards (2186) and touchdown passes (18), en route to guiding the Xtreme to a regular-season Western Division championship, as well as a berth in Saturday’s “Million Dollar Game” against the San Francisco Demons (8:00 p.m. Eastern/5:00 p.m. Pacific on NBC).
An original territorial pick of the Xtreme, the UCLA product was the only XFL QB to start all 10 regular-season games. Maddox threw at least one TD pass in eight of ten games, and at least two TD passes in six regular-season outings.
Season highlights included throwing for two scores and running for another as the Xtreme blew out the previously-unbeaten Orlando Rage, 31-6, in week seven. He earned XFL Player of the Week honors for the performance.
Maddox twice threw for an XFL-record four scores in one game, the first time in a week two win over the Chicago Enforcers, and then again in week eight in a win over the Las Vegas Outlaws.
Chicago Enforcers running back John Avery was the runner-up for the award. Avery led the XFL in rushing with 800 yards (a league-leading 88.9 per game), as well as in yards-per-carry (5.3) as the Enforcers shook off an 0-4 start to earn a playoff spot.
League Leader In Passing Yards and Touchdown Passes Credits Teammates with Success
It’s official. He’s back. Tommy Maddox, who thrilled Los Angeles football fans in the early nineties as the star quarterback at UCLA, was named today the inaugural XFL Player of the Year for the 2001 season. The Los Angeles Xtreme quarterback was selected by a panel of XFL team executives, media and broadcasters.
“I strive to be the best at everything I do so its great to be rewarded for that,” said Maddox. “I don’t think I even thought of this at the beginning of the season. Right now my main concern is to win this Saturday– but this is certainly something I will cherish for a long time.”
Maddox and the Xtreme face the San Francisco Demons this Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the XFL Championship, “The Million Dollar Game.” The winning team will split a bonus pool of one million dollars. “The Million Dollar Game” will be televised on NBC. Kickoff is 5pm.
Maddox directed the XFL’s top ranked passing attack as he lead the league in passing yards (2,186) and touchdown passes (18). Maddox threw at least one touchdown pass in eight of the ten regular season games, throwing a league record four touchdown passes in a single game twice.
Earlier in the season, Maddox was also selected as the XFL’s Player of the Week in Week Seven after Maddox tossed two touchdowns and ran for another in the Xtreme’s 31-6 victory over the previously undefeated Orlando Rage.
Maddox led the Xtreme to five wins in its last six games to clinch the Western Division Title. The only quarterback to play in all ten regular season games, Maddox credits the guys up front for much of his success.
“The offensive line from day one played together as if they have played together for a long time. It’s a close group that likes to be around each other. They picked up the blitzes and stunts where the other lines haven’t.”
Xtreme Head Coach Al Luginbill has plenty of experience in bringing along awards winners. Luginbill has coached the last two MVP’s in the NFL including 1999 winner Kurt Warner with the Amsterdam Admirals and 2000 winner Marshall Faulk at San Diego St. The selection of Maddox give coach Luginbill three MVP’s in the last three years.
“Tommy has earned everything he gets,” said Coach Luginbill. “He works extremely hard. We are where we are because Tommy has been more proficient at his position than any other quarterback in the league. He’s also had some good players around him but ultimately he’s the guy that runs the ship.”
Coach has a point. The Xtreme are also blessed with the league leaders in receptions, receiver Jeremaine Copeland (67), and touchdowns, receiver Darnell McDonald (8). The Xtreme offensive line has not yielded a sack in its last two games and lead the league during the regular season with just 14 sacks allowed over ten games.
“This is a team award as much as it is an individual award,” said Maddox.
Maddox will be honored as The Player of the Year in a ceremony on Friday in Los Angeles as part of the festivities leading upon to “The Million Dollar Game” this Saturday at the Coliseum.
Chicago Enforcers running back John Avery was the runner-up for the award. Avery led the XFL in rushing with 800 yards (a league-leading 88.9 per game), as well as in yards-per-carry (5.3) as the Enforcers shook off an 0-4 start to earn a playoff spot.
