SaberCats open camp Saturday
January 31, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 31, 2008) - The defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats begin their repeat journey for the Foster Cup on Saturday, February 2, as training camp opens at the team's practice facility in Sunnyvale.
In 2008, the SaberCats hope to become the first repeat AFL champions since the '95-'96 Tampa Bay Storm. It would mark the first time San Jose has won back-to-back league titles, something the franchise has failed to accomplish two times (2003, 2005) before.
"It's difficult to win football games at any level, but we are ready for the challenge (of trying to repeat)," remarked head coach Darren Arbet. "There hasn't been a repeat champion in this league in a number of years and we are anxious to get the season going. We've been in this position before but this might be the time we get it done."
Arena Football teams are allowed to construct a training camp roster of 37 players. At the conclusion of camp, three weeks after reporting, the official team roster will be cut down to 24 names.
"Healthy competition brings out the best, or sometimes the worst, in every athlete," Arbet divulged. "We've got some new guys in here that are hungry for a spot on the team so it should be an exciting few weeks of football."
Saturday and Sunday will allow coaches to lay the groundwork for the season through meetings and introductions. Beginning Monday, all 37 rostered players will hit the field for a double practice session.
Week One Practice Schedule
Mon., Feb. 4 8:15 am - 10:45 am 2:45 pm - 4:50 pm
Tue., Feb. 5 8:15 am - 10:45 am 2:45 pm - 4:50 pm
Wed., Feb. 6 8:15 am - 10:45 am
Thu., Feb. 7 8:15 am - 10:45 am 2:45 pm - 4:50 pm
Fri., Feb. 8 8:15 am - 10:45 am 2:45 pm - 4:50 pm
Sat., Feb. 9 8:15 am - 10:45 am
Sun., Feb. 10 OFF DAY
CAMP PRACTICE INFORMATION
All practice sessions are open to the media and public. Times are subject to change. In the event of inclement weather practice sites may vary. Contact the SaberCats media relations department for up-to-date practice information. Players and coaches will be made available for interviews at the conclusion of each practice session. San Jose's practice facility is located at 1095 Dunford Way in Sunnyvale.
The SaberCats open the 2008 season in the national spotlight with an ESPN2 Monday night game against the Chicago Rush at 6:00 p.m. (PT). The SaberCats home opener is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 15 against former SaberCat coach Kevin Guy and the Arizona Rattlers.
2007 SaberCats Training Camp Roster
No. Name Position Ht. Wt. DOB College Exp.
1 Brett Elliott QB 6-3 210 06/11/82 Linfield R
2 Jermaine Jamison WR 6-3 210 04/09/83 Fresno State R
3 Jason Geathers WR/LB 6-2 202 09/08/80 Miami (Fla.) 2
4 Trestin George DB 5-9 190 08/24/83 San Jose State 1
5 Toure Carter WR/DB 5-10 183 10/15/80 Ashland 4
6 Joshua Richey WR 6-2 187 07/16/81 Northeastern State R
7 Scott Rislov QB 6-1 222 06/29/80 San Jose State 1
8 Clevan Thomas DB 5-10 199 04/06/79 Florida State 6
9 James Roe WR 6-1 197 08/23/73 Norfolk State 8
11 A.J. Haglund K 5-8 175 07/24/83 Central Oklahoma 1
14 Omarr Smith DB 5-9 186 04/07/77 San Jose State 8
15 Cleannord Saintil WR 6-1 190 02/11/84 Middle Tennessee State 1
16 Mark Grieb QB 6-2 215 05/23/74 UC Davis 11
17 Rodney Wright WR 5-9 181 11/28/79 Fresno State 3
18 Ryan Hoag WR 6-2 200 11/23/79 Gustavus Adolphus R
19 Marquis Floyd DB 6-2 192 03/17/80 West Georgia 2
23 Ron Jones DL 6-4 283 09/17/81 Southern Mississippi 2
24 Tyrone Sanders DB 5-10 188 02/22/81 TCU 1
27 Brian Johnson FB/LB 6-2 280 04/06/79 New Mexico 4
31 Phil Glover LB 6-0 265 12/17/75 Utah 5
34 Steve Watson LB 6-3 250 04/09/82 Missouri State 1
37 Shawn Willis FB 6-2 286 01/28/83 Oklahoma State 0
40 Frank Carter FB/LB 6-1 260 10/17/77 MacMurray 6
44 James Hodgins FB 6-1 275 04/30/77 San Jose State R
55 Kendrick Office DL 6-5 270 08/02/78 West Alabama 0
62 Nick Mihlhauser OL 6-3 288 07/06/84 Washington State R
70 Demoine Adams DL 6-2 252 08/17/80 Nebraska 0
76 Chris Pino OL 6-5 315 08/18/82 San Diego State R
77 Patrick Afif OL 6-7 335 03/20/83 Washington State 1
87 William Obeng OL 6-7 335 04/14/83 San Jose State 1
90 Garrett McIntyre DL 6-3 270 11/26/84 Fresno State 1
91 Dan Loney OL 6-1 292 12/07/77 Cal Poly (SLO) 6
92 Jeff Littlejohn DL 6-2 313 02/14/83 Middle Tennessee State 1
93 Julius Gant OL 6-3 305 01/14/82 Middle Tennessee State 2
95 Andrew Browning DL 6-1 268 01/29/84 Boise State R
97 George Williams DL 6-4 314 12/08/75 North Carolina State 6
99 Alan Harper DL 6-2 291 09/06/79 Fresno State 2
Updated bios on all 37 players on the training camp roster can be viewed on the team's official website www.sanjosesabercats.com.
A premiere franchise in the Arena Football League, San Jose has won three ArenaBowl championships and captured seven Western Division titles, eight consecutive playoff appearances and owns the league's best regular season record this decade. The SaberCats begin defense of their AFL title on March 3 in Chicago on ESPN2.
Season tickets for the 2008 season are now on sale. Contact a SaberCats' account executive at (408) 573-5577 to reserve your seats today. Individual game tickets will go on sale Friday, February 1, at the HP Pavilion box office and all Ticketmaster locations. More information is also available on the team's official website www.sanjosesabercats.com.
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