LAS VEGAS, Nev. (January 25, 2000) – For all intents and purposes, the San Francisco Demons conclude its four-week grind of pre-season training camp Friday with a game-type scrimmage with the Las Vegas Outlaws.
The Demons do have a short workout slated here for Saturday before departing for San Francisco Sunday, but the scrimmage is the last opportunity for the 56 players remaining on the roster to make their pitches for being on the squad for the season opener a week from Sunday at Pacific Bell Park.
The scrimmage originally was slated to be played at Sam Boyd Stadium, but the turf at the Outlaws’ home field would benefit from inacitivity until Las Vegas opens its season a week from Saturday against the New York-New Jersey Hitmen. The Demons and Outlaws will square off at Silverado High School at 1:00 p.m. PST.
“We have some very difficult decisions to make in the next 72 hours,” Coach Jim Skipper said Thursday after the Demons’ last pre-scrimmage workout. “When you have to cut players who could have played for you, you know you must be doing something right. We will be waiving some excellent players Sunday.”
Two players who basically have nothing to worry about are former California quarterbacks Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes. After No. 3 signal caller Kevin Feterik was lost for two months with a broken thumb a week ago, the ex-Bears are the only quarterbacks remaining in the San Francisco camp. The Demons will sign an emergency quarterback over the weekend or early next week.
The Demons must cut loose 11 players from its roster Sunday following the last scrimmage. A squad of 45 will begin practice Tuesday at Diablo Valley College and only 38 of those will be on the active roster for the opener against Los Angeles.
The Demons open the 2001 season against the Los Angeles Xtreme Sunday, February 4, at Pacific Bell Park, at 1:00 p.m. Season and individual-game tickets are available by calling 1-888-4XFLTIX or at www.sfdemons.com or www.tickets.com on the internet or in person at Pacific Bell Park or Giants’ Dugout stores.
ROAD TRIP: The Demons play at Orlando and Memphis is back-to-back weeks following its season opener. San Francisco will travel to Memphis Sunday after the Saturday night game in Orlando and practice in the Tennessee city the week before meeting the Maniax Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl at 5:00 p.m. PST.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Demons will practice Tuesday-Saturday prior to meeting Los Angeles at Pac Bell Park. Practices will be at Diablo Valley College Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Demons will definitely conduct its pre-game walk-through at Pac Bell Saturday and are tentatively slated to work out in downtown San Francisco Wednesday, weather permitting.
