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to the Demons Games? Visit the KNBR kiosk on the Promenade.
The San Francisco Demons
Going to the Demons game this Sunday at Pacific Bell? Be sure and stop by the KNBR Kiosk on the Promenade Level for your free Demons' Thunderstick, courtesy of Castrol.
San Francisco Demons (2-1) vs. Las Vegas Outlaws (2-1) Sunday, February 25th, 2001, 1:00 PM PST Pacific Bell Park
To purchase tickets, call toll-free: 1-866-4-XFL-TIX.
GAME NOTES
THE COACHES San Francisco, Jim Skipper (First Year in XFL) - CAREER PROFESSIONAL RECORD: 2-1 (.667, One Year) Las Vegas, Jim Criner (First Year in XFL) - CAREER PROFESSIONAL RECORD: 28-35 (.444, Seven Years)
California native Jim Skipper is back in his home state for the first time since 1979 to guide San Francisco's XFL fortunes. Las Vegas' Jim Criner is a veteran coach who has an abundance of experience as a head coach at the collegiate level and on behalf of the NFL in Europe, authoring a successful story in Scotland over the last six years.
Skipper hails from Brawley and coached his formative years at San Jose State among other in-state institutions before branching out to Oregon and then the professional ranks, mostly east of the Rocky Mountains. The opportunity with the Demons is his first gig as a head coach.
Criner has been with the Claymores in NFLE since 1995 and captured a World Bowl title in 1996 with the franchise. Skipper was coordinating the offense in general and the running backs in particular for the 2000 season with the NFL's New York Giants in training camp when he was tabbed by the XFL. Criner completed the NFLE season in June and finished with a 6-4 record in 2000.
He also coached at Boise State (1976-82) and Iowa State (1983-86). Skipper departed the Giants' organization prior to the start of the regular season. While Skipper only coached with one member of his staff (Ron DeMonner) previously, Criner's entourage in Las Vegas is somewhat of a family affair. Criner's son Mark is the Outlaws' defensive coordinator and nephew Scott tutors receivers. Three members of the current Demons' roster played for Criner in Scotland, including San Francisco's starting right guard Steve Scifres. The others were members of the 1999 Claymores' squad: top fullback Jamie Reader and back-up defensive tackle Emile Palmer.
DEMONS ROSTER
The San Francisco Demons were forced to make several roster moves early this week after the season-ending injury to tight end Brian Roche, who was placed on injured reserve. San Francisco picked up a third quarterback by claiming Oteman Sampson from the player pool and assigning him to the practice roster and also traded its first-round draft selection in 2001 to New York-New Jersey for the Hitmen's No. 1 position last week on the waiver priority list. With that consideration, the Demons were able to obtain receiver Travis Moore, a five-year Canadian Football League standout, with certainity. Here is a rundown of Demons' roster moves since the opening of training camp in early January:
1- 6: Traded C David Diaz-Infante to Las Vegas for OT Harvey Goins 1-12: Waived K Ignacio Brache 1-18: Acquired WR Floyd Turner, WR Jimmy Cunningham and WR J.T. Thomas, Placed WR Mike Adams, OT Ben Nichols and DT Barry Mitchell on injured reserve 1-21: Waived CB Steve Johnson, OT David Walden, LB Eric Quarles and DT Ken Talanoa; Placed TE Sean Manuel and QB Kevin Feterik on injured reserve 1-27: Waived CB Derrick Gardner, LB Kevin Jefferson, LB Barrin Simpson, CB Cordell Taylor, CB Lee Cole, WR Floyd Turner, WR Darran Hall, WR Lee DeRamus, FB Ryan Christopherson and DT Pene Talamaivao. Placed C Curtice Macfarlane and WR J.T. Thomas on injured reserve; Designated RB Terry Battle, RB Derek Brown, TE Joe Kavanaugh, LB Sam Manuel, OT Harvey Goins, DT Albrey Battle and WR Tydus Winans for the practice squad 2- 2: Re-activated WR Calvin Schexnayder from the Failed to Report list; Activated DT Albrey Battle from practice squad, placed DT Emile Palmer on practice squad 2- 3: Claimed and activated K Mike Panasuk from player pool; Waived K Frank Biancamano 2- 9: Activated WR Tydus Winans and OT Harvey Goins from the practice squad, placed WR Brian Roberson and OT Josh Kobdish on the practice roster 2-11: Claimed QB Oteman Sampson and placed him on the practice roster; Placed TE Brian Roche on injured reserve. 2-13: Claimed WR Travis Moore and placed him on the practice roster; Waived TB Derek Brown from the practice roster and QB Kevin Feterik off injured reserve. 2-16: Activated TB Terry Battle and WR Brian Roberson off practice roster; Placed DE Jomo Cousins and WR Tydus Winans on the practice roster.
THE SCHEDULE
The XFL's tidy 10-week schedule advances to Week Four. This weekend's games are the second consecutive slate of four inter-division tussles. The Western Division holds a 3-1 advantage over the Eastern teams after three weeks of the season. The games of March 10-11 are the first of three straight weeks of all intra-division match-ups.
THE XFL - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
The major rule changes adopted include:
THE MOST EXCITING FOURTH DOWN IN FOOTBALL: No fair catches are permitted, but the returning player is granted a 5-yard protected area or 'halo' where a member of the kicking team may not encroach until the ball is touched, and the kicking team may not cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted. At the same time, any punt traveling more than 25 yards past the line of scrimmage is a live ball and can be recovered by either team.
POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN: There will be no kicking of extra points. Teams will run a play from the two-yard line, and will receive one point if the conversion is successful. During the conversion the clock will be running, therefore the defensive team can earn one point by returning a fumble or interception into the opponent�s end zone.
ONE FOOT INBOUNDS: As per the current collegiate rule, a receiver/defender needs only one foot inbounds on a reception or interception.
SHORTER PLAY CLOCK: Teams have 35 seconds to get a play off after previous play is ruled dead and 25 seconds following any clock stoppage.
OTHERS One man on offense may be in forward motion outside of the tackles. Defensive players may use bump-and-run tactics on offensive players down the field. Returning teams must run kickoffs back out of the end zone, unless the kick carries through the end zone. Head slaps are illegal.
- XFL.com
To contact the team:
SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS 1255 Treat Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 95002
Phone (925) 671-2516 Fax (925) 671-2593
General Manager: Mike Preacher Head Coach: Jim Skipper PR Contact: Steve Hellyer, (925) 671-2338