Only in the XFL: Former Ole Miss LB signs autographs, gives in-game TV interview after getting ejected
By SDS Staff
Published:
From the start of its 2020 season, the rebooted XFL has sought to demonstrate ways the league is different from the NFL. They were on full display Saturday.
In the fourth quarter, former Ole Miss LB DeMarquis Gates came up with a key fumble recovery for the Houston Roughnecks.
HOUSTON HAS IT!@Y_DGates comes up with it and the @XFLRoughnecks defense once again comes up CLUTCH
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/eWGyo56wRw
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) March 7, 2020
With the Roughnecks, Gates has shown an impressive knack for making game-clinching plays this season, but, this time, he was ejected for punching a player in the pile. In the NFL, Gates would have been escorted to the tunnel. In the XFL, he remained on the sidelines, signing autographs for fans and giving an interview to an ESPN reporter.
If you assumed the XFL is unhappy with Gates, guess again. The league promoted the post-ejection interview on its official Twitter account:
Interviewing a player as he gets thrown out of the game?
THIS is the XFL.
📺 @ABCNetwork
🖥 https://t.co/M4IcV16pYI pic.twitter.com/EDMsKZO90T— XFL (@xfl2020) March 7, 2020
FOX’s XFL account also approvingly shared a video of the post-ejection autograph signing:
😂 @Y_DGates just got ejected and is signing autographs on his way out for @XFLRoughnecks fans
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/eCrUyARqBS
— XFL on FOX (@XFLonFOX) March 7, 2020
It will certainly be interesting to see if the XFL’s attitude toward ejected players boosts the league’s appeal to football fans.
Gates’ teammates held onto their lead to beat the Seattle Dragons 32-23 and remain unbeaten.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
