Demons
Kicker, Mike Panasuk, watches as his
field goal sails through the uprights.
The first season of XFL Demons’ football was to be their one and only. Fans rocked Pacific Bell Park with a league-high average of more than 35,000 fans. In spite of the city hosting an NFL team, the Demons fans came out in droves to support their team. The team was originally slated to play in San Jose, about 50 miles south of San Francisco, but Pacific Bell Stadium officials convinced the XFL to move the Demons there.
The Demons featured two of the best Quarterbacks in the league in Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes, and also featured Eric England on defense. The team struggled early on in the season, but then really got turned on about the middle of the season; they finished strong and not only qualified for the playoffs, but made it all the way to the championship game ("The Million Dollar Game") against the Los Angeles Xtreme.
One popular feature at home games was the "Hell Hole", at one end of the endzone. Fans packed into the Hell Hole and did their best to have the most intimidating endzone in the league.
A solid performance
endeared the team to their fans, and
the fans made the Demons into the
most popular team in the league. The
Demons set the standard for the other
teams to follow, and they will be
sorely missed.
In sport, what name or symbol could be more menacing? The long-flight home for most opponents will seem even longer after the striking red, black and gold colors of the DEMONS possess them.
General
Manager:
Mike Preacher
Head
Coach:
Jim Skipper
Team Colors:
Red, black and gold
Stadium:
Pacific Bell Park
Announced:
July 10, 2000
(San Jose Demons)
Preseason
odds to win championship:
7-1
Final
Record:
5-5
2nd place XFL West
XFL Runner-Up