San Francisco Demons
Encyclopedia
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
.
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). The fans had a cheering section nicknamed "The Hellhole"
The team was coached by Jim Skipper
, former offensive coordinator for the NY Giants.
, 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 concept 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
, also 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
.
|2001 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 2nd Western || Won Semifinals (Orlando
)
Lost Million Dollar Game (Los Angeles
)
|-
!Totals || 6 || 6 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team based in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. This team was part of the failed XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
begun by Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
of World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, a major television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
network in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
, Las Vegas Outlaws
Las Vegas Outlaws
The Las Vegas Outlaws were an American football team in the short-lived XFL in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, San Francisco Demons and Memphis Maniax...
and Memphis Maniax
Memphis Maniax
The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
.
The team played in Pacific Bell Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco; despite having the smallest stadium in the league, they also had the highest average attendance (34,954). The fans had a cheering section nicknamed "The Hellhole"
The team was coached by Jim Skipper
Jim Skipper
Jim Skipper is an American football coach. He is currently the running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-Early Years:...
, former offensive coordinator for the NY Giants.
History
In their first and 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 RageOrlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
, who had the best regular season record (8-2), by a score of 26-25. In the XFL's Million Dollar Game
Million Dollar Game
The Million Dollar Game was the XFL's championship game at the end of its only season in 2001. At first it had no special name, then was going to be called "The Big Game at the End," but eventually received the name it ended up with because a pot of one million dollars was to be split among the...
, which was the league championship game and last game in its history, the Demons were defeated by the Los Angeles Xtreme
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
38-6.
NBC dropped the XFL concept after the first season (2001
2001 in sports
2001 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Janica Kostelić, Croatia-American football:...
) due to dismal ratings, and the league folded soon afterwards. The Demons played their home games in what was then Pacific Bell Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
, also the home of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
The most notable Demons players were Mike Pawlawski
Mike Pawlawski
Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski (born July 18, 1969 in Los Angeles, California is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, Arena Football League, and XFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
and Pat Barnes
Pat Barnes
Pat Barnes is a retired National Football League quarterback. He played from 1997 to 2003 in the NFL, XFL, and CFL....
. Both played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Demons in 2001. Pawlawski and Barnes both played for the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
. Pawlawski was signed by the Demons after playing Arena Football for the Albany Firebirds
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
. Barnes had been invited to training camp by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Season-by-season
|-|2001 || 5 || 5 || 0 || 2nd Western || Won Semifinals (Orlando
Orlando Rage
-Statistical leaders:* Rushing yards: 387, Derrick Clark* Receiving yards: 659, Dialleo Burks* Passing yards: 998, Brian Kuklick-Awards:-Honors:...
)
Lost Million Dollar Game (Los Angeles
Los Angeles Xtreme
The Los Angeles Xtreme was a professional American football team based in Los Angeles, California. The team was a member of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States. The team played its home games in the Los Angeles...
)
|-
!Totals || 6 || 6 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Staff
| 2001 San Francisco Demons staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Keith Millard Keith Millard is a former American football defensive tackle who played nine seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1985 to 1993 in the National Football League.... Special Teams Coaches
|
|||||
San Francisco Demons players
- 21 Wendell Davis CB college (Oklahoma) Davis played with the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
for a little over three seasons. Davis played with Dallas for two full seasons (1996-97) before being sidelined for the 1998 season and part of 1999 season with the Cowboys.
- 18 Pat BarnesPat BarnesPat Barnes is a retired National Football League quarterback. He played from 1997 to 2003 in the NFL, XFL, and CFL....
QB college (California) Barnes played two seasons in NFL EuropeNFL EuropeNFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
with the Frankfurt GalaxyFrankfurt GalaxyThe Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. Barnes led the Galaxy to a World BowlWorld BowlThe World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
championship in 1999 and also saw a career highlight of 30 TD passes in his two years in NFL Europe. Barnes saw playing time in 1999 with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Barnes also pre-season action with the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and later the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
after the XFL folded
- 99 Eric England DE college (Texas A&MTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
) England played three season in the NFL with the Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1994-1996) before embarking on a career in the CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
with the BC LionsBC LionsThe BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in 1997-2000. In 2000 England was part of the Grey CupGrey CupThe Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
champion BC Lions
- 84 Brian Roche TE college (San Jose State) Roche played nearly four season in the NFL. Roche played two years in San Diego with the Chargers 1996-97 before joining the Kansas City Chiefs for a season (1998) and a part of another (1999)
- 26 Juan Johnson RB college (Utah) Johnson played in the CFL with the BC Lions in 1999 and in five games with the NFL Europe's Amsterdam AdmiralsAmsterdam AdmiralsThe Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
in 2000 before joining the XFL
- 89 Brian Roberson WR college (Fresno State) Roberson played in the Indoor Football LeagueIndoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
in 2000 with the Fargo FreezeFargo FreezeThe Fargo Freeze is a now-defunct arena football team from Fargo, North Dakota. They were a 2000 expansion team of the Indoor Football League. They managed to win only one game during their one-year existence, which was a Week 8 home game against the Minnesota Purple Rage . After the 2000...
before joining the XFL
Team leaders
- Rushing Yards: 228, Kelvin AndersonKelvin AndersonKelvin Anderson is a retired professional gridiron football player. As a running back, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons in the Canadian Football League, a league record...
- Receiving Yards: 390, Jimmy CunninghamJimmy CunninghamJames "Jimmy The Jet" Cunningham was a former return specialist and wide receiver in the Canadian Football League and the XFL.-References:...
- Passing Yards: 1484, Mike PawlawskiMike PawlawskiMike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski Mike Pawlawski (born July 18, 1969 in Los Angeles, California is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, Arena Football League, and XFL. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the eighth round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
- Final team regular season stats available at all-XFL