Last night I attended my first live United Football League game after covering the development of the league from an idea in Bill Hambrecht’s head to a live, functioning professional league. A lot could be written about the game, well, a lot could be written about the Locos’ domination which was complete and total. Something could be written about the heart that the Sentinels showed on the sideline even as they were manhandled. I could even write about the experience of being on the field and having the opportunity to meet so many of the folks associated with the league – ranging from Doug Flutie to GM Rick Mueller.

The main theme, however, that emerged last night was that the UFL is about family. Period.

Not family in a schmaltzy, over the top way and not family in the Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles Lakers way (read: fake) where it is a hollow word echoed by a player to attempt to inject some familial feeling into a team that isn’t a family.

Last night I saw a staff that from top to bottom operates like a family, with all of the positive emotions and, perhaps, negative feelings that entails. They worked hard together, the Executives knew every member of the team, and when a mistake happened they all rushed to correct it.

And the fans last night were families. I saw one smiling father leading six or seven boys to their seats as the game was beginning and as I looked around I saw enormous collections of children and families everywhere. Those kids smiled and laughed and cheered throughout. While most of New York – and the sporting world – was focused on the World Series happening a few miles away these families were watching high level football played by recognizable players for those rarest of words in the world of sports these days – affordable.

Those children were at the game for the cost of a Coke at the overpriced temple to sporting greed where the Yankees play.

Those children are now Sentinels fans. If the league and their investors have patience those kids, and those families, will become loyalists in the same way that families of old did – not because of the second mortgage they had to take out to purchase tickets – but because they could afford to take the entire family to the game.

The other noticeable family in the stands were the family and friends of players and coaches. Late in the game those people were cheering for their sons, brothers, and boyfriends as loud as if the game were 13-10. You could see the passion on their faces for their family members and, in turn, you could see the effort from the players on the field who were working overtime to play a game they love.

And, my friends, love was present on that field. What else would explain Scott Player’s presence? He is 40, obviously not scratching and clawing to get back into the NFL, but he is playing because he doesn’t want to walk away. We were able to see Simeon Rice coaching up young players and teaching them the skills of a champion.

After the game Marcel Shipp was asked “why the UFL” and he responded with a clear love for the game. He was staying in game shape even as he approaches the expiration date for running backs by NFL standards when Jim Fassel called him about coaching and he responded with, “I want to play”.

Shipp had a solid NFL career and probably isn’t hurting for money. He is, however, hurting to continue to play a game that he has excelled at since he was a young fellow.

The attendance last night may have been meager, in large part due to the World Series, but those fans who were present enjoyed an affordable game and a solid football product. It was clear that the league is building something special, although it will take the investors to have the patience to stay to stay the course.

Oh, and one last word about family.

As I was walking to the post game press conference I stopped to watch the Sentinels players walk off of the field in defeat. They walked by family members and young fans and touched their hands and smiled even as the magnitude of the defeat clearly weighed on them.

In the scrum I noticed Bill Mayer, the owner of the Sentinels, standing with UFL Executive Ed Reynolds. Mayer was unrecognized but he stood there and slapped hands with the occasional player, encouraging them. Then I saw Coach Ted Cottrell walking off, the season clearly going in a different manner than he would like. I tensed, bracing for a tongue lashing from the owner who had his team embarrassed during a home game. Instead I saw Mayer shake hands with Cottrell, put an arm over his back, and whisper words of encouragement.

It was clear that even in defeat the Sentinels are a true family, a family that will stand together even during a rough season. That is something Daniel Snyder and the other NFL owners like him may have forgotten somewhere along the way. Football is a family sport in every sense of the word… although you may only find that in the United Football League these days.