San Francisco Demons

Last updated

San Francisco Demons
SF demons logo.png
Established2001
Folded2001;24 years ago (2001)
Based in San Francisco, California
Home stadium Pacific Bell Park
Head coach Jim Skipper
League XFL
DivisionWestern
ColorsRed, black, yellow [1]
   
League titles0
Division titles0

The San Francisco Demons (originally named San Jose Demons) were a short-lived springtime American football team based in San Francisco, California. This team was part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. Originally they were to be based in San Jose but prior to the start of the season they were moved to San Francisco. They were in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, Las Vegas Outlaws and Memphis Maniax.

Contents

The team played in Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco; despite having the smallest stadium in the league, they also had the highest average attendance (34,954). [2] The fans had a cheering section nicknamed "The Hellhole".

The team was coached by Jim Skipper, former running backs coach for the New York Giants.

History

In their only season of existence, the Demons went 5-5 to capture 2nd place in the regular season and qualified for post season play. In the first round, the Demons defeated the Orlando Rage, who had the best regular season record (8-2), by a score of 26-25. In the XFL's Million Dollar Game, which was the league championship game and last game in its history, the Demons were defeated by the Los Angeles Xtreme 38-6.

NBC dropped the XFL after the first season (2001) due to dismal ratings, and the league folded soon afterwards. The Demons played their home games in what was then Pacific Bell Park, now Oracle Park, the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants.

The most notable Demons players were Mike Pawlawski and Pat Barnes. Both played quarterback for the Demons in 2001. Pawlawski and Barnes both played for the California Golden Bears. Pawlawski was signed by the Demons after playing Arena Football for the Albany Firebirds. Barnes had been invited to training camp by the Oakland Raiders.

Season

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
20015502nd WesternWon Semifinals (Orlando)
Lost Million Dollar Game (Los Angeles)
Totals660(including playoffs)

Schedule

Regular season

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
1February 4 Los Angeles Xtreme W 15–131–0 Pacific Bell Park
2February 10at Orlando Rage L 14–261–1 Florida Citrus Bowl
3February 17at Memphis Maniax W 13–62–1 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
4February 25 Las Vegas Outlaws L 9–162–2Pacific Bell Park
5March 3 Birmingham Thunderbolts W 39–103–2Pacific Bell Park
6March 11 New York/New Jersey Hitmen L 12–203–3Pacific Bell Park
7March 18at Chicago Enforcers L 19–253–4 Soldier Field
8March 24Memphis ManiaxW 21–124–4Pacific Bell Park
9April 1at Las Vegas OutlawsW 14–95–4 Sam Boyd Stadium
10April 7at Los Angeles XtremeL 0–245–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Post-season

RoundDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
Semi-finalApril 14at Orlando RageW 26–251–0Florida Citrus Bowl
Championship Saturday, April 21, 2001at Los Angeles XtremeL 6–381–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Personnel

Roster

2001 San Francisco Demons roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

  • 10 Mike Panasuk K/P
Practice squad

Reserve

  • 72 Josh Kobdish T
  • 88 Richard O'Donnell TE
  • 67 Curtice MacFarlane C
  • 93 Emile Palmer DT
  • 84 Brian Roche TE
Rookies in italics
, 6 practice squad

Staff

2001 San Francisco Demons staff
Front office
  • Vice president/general manager – Mike Preacher
  • Director of player personnel – Greg Mohns

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Joe Paopao
  • Running backs – Thomas Coleman
  • Offensive line – Ron De Monner
  • Offensive line – Kani Kauahi
 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Tom Everest

Weekly starters

The following players were the weekly offensive and defensive game starters. [a]

OpponentLTLGCRGRTTEQBFBRBWRWR
Los Angeles Dittman Elisara Kiselak Scifres Adams Roche Pawlawski Reader Dunbar Roberson Hundon
Orlando Dittman Hunt KiselakScifresAdamsRochePawlawskiReaderDunbar Schexnayder Hundon
Memphis DittmanHuntKiselakScifresAdamsO'DonnellPawlawskiReaderDunbarRobersonHundon
Las Vegas DittmanHuntKiselakScifresAdamsO'DonnellPawlawskiReaderDunbar Cunningham Hundon
Birmingham DittmanHuntKiselakScifresAdams Manuel Barnes ReaderJohnsonRoberson Moore
NY/NJ DittmanElisaraKiselakScifresAdamsManuelBarnesReaderJohnsonRobersonMoore
Chicago DittmanElisaraKiselakScifresAdamsManuelPawlawskiReader Anderson RobersonMoore
MemphisDittmanElisaraKiselakScifresAdamsManuelPawlawskiReaderAndersonRobersonMoore
Las VegasDittmanElisaraKiselakScifresAdamsManuelPawlawskiReaderAndersonRobersonMoore
Los AngelesDittmanElisaraKiselakScifresAdamsManuelPawlawskiReaderAndersonRobersonMoore
OpponentLDELDTRDTRDESLBMLBWLBLCBSSFSRCB
Los AngelesMiles Hansen Cousins England J. Williams ThomasHaskins Harper Destefano G. Williams Davis
OrlandoMilesHansenCousinsEnglandJ. WilliamsThomasHaskinsHarperDestefanoG. WilliamsDavis
MemphisMilesNoah Battle EnglandJ. WilliamsThomasHaskinsHarperDestefanoG. Williams Kaesviharn
Las VegasEnglandNoahHansenMilesJ. WilliamsThomas Powell HarperJosephG. WilliamsKaesviharn
BirminghamEnglandNoahHansenMilesJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsHarperG. WilliamsJosephKaesviharn
NY/NJEnglandNoahPalmerMilesJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsHarperDestefanoG. WilliamsKaesviharn
ChicagoCousinsNoahPalmerHansenJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsHarperDestefanoG. WilliamsKaesviharn
MemphisEnglandNoahHansenMilesJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsDavis Wright G. WilliamsKaesviharn
Las VegasEnglandNoahBattleMilesJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsHarperWrightG. WilliamsKaesviharn
Los AngelesEnglandNoahBattleMilesJ. WilliamsPowellHaskinsHarperWrightG. WilliamsKaesviharn
  – started as third cornerback,   – started as fullback,   – started as fourth WR
  1. San Francisco Demons Million Dollar Game Media Packet - Pages 73-74

Standings

Western Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPASTK
Los Angeles Xtreme 730.700235166W1
San Francisco Demons 550.500156161L1
Memphis Maniax 550.500167166W2
Las Vegas Outlaws 460.400169143L3

[3]

San Francisco Demons players

Team leaders

References

  1. "San Jose Demons Logo Sheet". SSUR.org. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. "XFL San Francisco Demons".
  3. "XFL Standings". USA Today . May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.