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2001 Archives On the eve of Kickoff 2001 the SSL is buzzing with questions. Do the Waterford Muskrats have the firepower to repeat as league champions? Can team president Bobby "The Brain" Heenan keep his mouth out of trouble? How will off season turmoil affect 2000 runners-up Utah Stixx Boyzz? What exactly is conduct unbecoming a Stixx Boyy? Can the Island Park Landslide gel in time to take advantage of their obvious talent? How will rookie head coach Roy Roy cope with life in the "Great White South"? Will the Omaha Fireflies break out of their offensive slump? What impact will the new insoles have on team performance? How will the West Jordan Worms fare in their first year in the league? Will the Worms play as well as they dress? How quickly will the Pittsburgh Bison adjust to their new surroundings? Will the league assist in paying the Bison franchise's roaming charges? Will 2001 go down in a Blaze of Football Glory for the Idaho Desert Demons? What will the Demons name their mascot? Is this finally the year for the Wisconsin Whippin Wizards? Why are they the only team in the league without a slogan? These questions, and many more, will be answered over the next 20 weeks.

The teams below are seperated by conference and printed in predicted order of finish.

Western Conference

1. Island Park Landslide
Offense: If this unit stays healthy they should dominate the league. However, lack of team depth can hurt over the course of the season. Second string will have to play tough if the Slide will compete.

Defense: A workman like unit. What it lacks in production it makes up in consistency.

Intangibles: Roy Roy bring enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the game. Beginner's luck won't hurt either.

Outlook: The Landslide have all the talent they will need to win a championship. Coaching will have to guide this team if potential will become reality.

2. Utah Stixx Boyzz
Offense: The Stixx Boyzz field an explosive unit. They shows great consistency. The Boyzz also boast best tight end in the league.

Defense: The Stixx Boyzz have a solid defensive unit. They could use a playmaker to make them special.

Intangibles: Off season woes will take their toll. Tom Green may have family connections but can he coach?

Outlook: If this team bounces back from adversity they can challenge for the league title. If not, last year's bridesmaid is this year's . . . bridesmaid.

3. West Jordan Worms
Offense: The Worms arguablty boast the best quarterback tandem in the league. Coupled with their workhorse at running back this team should score a lot of points.

Defense: This veteran unit can be productive . . . or not.

Intangibles: The Worms have not endeared themselves to other teams in the league but they have the right attitude to ride out the storm. Coach Felix is still a solid X and O man.

Outlook: The Worms are a sleeper team in the 2001 season. This team will surprise a number of squads this year. If the defense can produce this team could be the most balanced team in the league.

4. Idaho Desert Demons
Offense: Although the Desert Demons return the league's top quarterback and other highly ranked starters 2001 will be a year to prove 2000 was not a fluke.

Defense: The strength of the team. The Desert Demons return playmakers at every defensive position.

Intangibles: Observers would prefer to see more dedication to player management as opposed to the other focuses of the organization. Name the mascot????

Outlook: If the Demons get serious they can have an impact on the 2001 season. Only time will tell if this team becomes a collection of superstars of a group of one-hit-wonders.

Eastern Conference
1. Pittsburgh Bison
Offense: The Bison are best running team in the league (go figure). They will need production in the passing game to put opponents away early.

Defense: This unit could be made up of the best defensive players you have never heard of.

Intangibles: Tired of playing third fiddle in the Milwaukee metro area this team will establish their own identity in their new home. This renewed enthusiasm will translate to renewed success on the field.

Outlook: This could be the year for the Bison. Milwaukee metro area fans will wish the Muskrats and Whippin Wizards relocated.

2. Waterford Muskrats
Offense: The Muskrats' first unit is a wrecking machine; they need to be, the second unit shows little depth.

Defense: As the only franchise to protect a defensive player from the draft the Muskrats have high expectations for this unit. They should not be disappointed.

Intangibles: Even with the name change, the Muskrats are still the defending league champions. If someone else wants to take that title from them they will have to earn it.

Outlook: The Muskrats are right where they want to be: a talent team that people are overlooking. If they get the breaks they can be defending the league championship again next fall.

3. Omaha Fireflies
Offense: The Fireflies bring a talented, yet injury prone unit to the field in 2001. Team chemistry is still uncertain.

Defense: The defensive unit is injury prone as well. If they stay healthy this unit could produce.

Intangibles: Enthusiasm has never been higher in Fireflies camp. This could be a breakout year for last year's underdogs.

Outlook: The Fireflies are another sleeper team. By any standard 2001 should be a success for this franchise.

4. Wisconsin Whippin Wizards
Offense: The Wizards offensive unit is injury plagued. Second team players will need to arise to make this franchise a contender.

Defense: The defense will carry the Wizards through the first part of the season. Some of these players may be trade bait later in the season.

Intangibles: The Wizards could use some magic to keep their players healthy. Injuries destroyed any chance this franchise had to win last season.

Outlook: If this team can get healthy the Whippin Wizards will play everyteam in the league close.

Syssa Stars League Champion
Island Park Landslide
The 2000 SSL was dominated by expansion teams; 2001 should be no different.

A 73-73 loss?

The Idaho Desert Demons dropped to 1-1 on the season after a come-back bid that fell short. Trailing 50-4 after the first quarter, the DD ralied to score 69 points in the final 45 minutes to pull even with the defending conference champion Waterford Muskrasts. The DD lost the contest in overtime on a tiebreaker.

"I'm really proud of this football team." said DD head coach Marvin Muckler after the teams monday night loss. "We never give up. Waterford was lucky to walk away with a win tonight. We cannot wait to play this team on our turf."

The Desert Demons look to regroup this sunday against the expansion West Jordan Worms.

Desert Demons Picked Fourth in the Conference

The Idaho Desert Demons were predicted to finish in fourth place in the Syssa Stars League Western Conference in the 2001 season. The Entertainment Weekly 2001 Syssa Stars League preview picked the expansion Island Park Landslide to win the SSL Western Conference and the Pittsburgh Bison to win the SSL Eastern Conference.

Desert Demon personnel were split on how they handled the news. "I really don't give a d@mn where they rank us." said Demons coach Marvin Muckler. "We need to prove ourselves on the field not on the cover page."

Others in the organization did not take the news so matter-of-factly. "I think it sucks." said an unnamed team offical. "We are the only team in the conference that returns the same coaching staff and management in tact. Coach Muckler was not cruising the neighborhood looking for packages, he was not fighting prosecution with his son/nephew at his side, he was not coaching in CANADA! This just plain sucks."

"We are hanging that article up next to the Athlete's Foot Sock Hop poster." said an unnamed DD player. "Coach Muck will not let us forget what was printed about us."

The Desert Demons may not like their preseason ranking, but they can take out their frustration on projected conference champion Island Park Landslide on September 9th.

Muckler holds first press conference of 2001

Idaho Desert Demons head football coach Marvin Muckler met with the assembled media today at the team's press facility.

During the 45 minute press conference Muckler answered a host of questions and unveiled his overall plan for the 2001 season. Muckler anouced that he has refined his "Balanced Attack" philosophy.

"The (2000 SSL champion) Wolverines won a championship with offense and the (2000 NFL champion)Ravens won a championship with defense; we are going to do both." Muckler stated. Citing careful statistical analysis Muckler noted that his team was undefeated when they scored more points than their opponents; conversely, his team lost each time they failed to outscore their opponents. (Editor's note: the Desert Demons are 1-0 when scoring the same number of points as their opponents). Muckler is confident that this new approach will help the Desert Demons improve on their third place finish from a year ago and put themselves in a position to win the SSL championship.

Desert Demons Announce Partnership with X- Terminators

The Idaho Desert Demons would like to announce a new partnership with the Parts Unknown X-Terminators of the Syssa Stars Developmental League.

"This provides a great opportunity for both organizations." said DD Director of Football Opporations Blair Kiel. "The Demons will have a new club to develop talent, coaches, and executives and the X-Terminators will have access to some of the best football resources in the region."

SSL officials, however, are not sure what to make of the new partnership. League president Benjamin "Ben" Gordita was quoted as saying "I don't know if I would trust the people of Parts Unknown. Everyone in the town wears a mask to conceal their identity and most people refuse to enter a room until their theme music is played. This partnership is truly an experiment."

Name The Mascot Contest

The Idaho Deset Demons have begun the 2001 season with an exciting promotion: the Name the Mascot Contest. Fans will have the chane to send in a name for the Desert Demons' scorpion mascot. One lucky winner will win an Official Desert Demons Mini Pocket Helmet and will have their name published in the Desert Demons web site. Entries will be accepted at idaho_desert_demons@hotmail.com between the dates of July 17 - August 31 2001. Chances of winning depend on number of entries recieved.

The Idaho Desert Demons have parted ways with DL Grady Jackson and TE Desmond Clark.

Jackson did not crack the starting lineup this week in the DD victory over Island Park. He was released to allow for the acquisition of free agent DL Kabeer Gbaja-Baimila, the number one ranked defensive lineman in the young SSL season. Gbaja-Baimila is a second year man out of Sandiego State University. The D lineman is expected to start at DL for the DD next game.

Desert Demons Shuffle the Deck

Desmond Clark, a reserve tight end, was also released on 9/12/01. In his absence the DD have signed a familiar player to Alyssa Heights fans. Cam Cleeland, a third year man out of Washington, returns to Alyssa Heights (Cleeland played for NFL Ferret champion Ice Dragons in the 1998 season). Cleeland is expected to make an immediate impact at the tight end position.

A Blaze of Football Glory.

You are invited to embark on a journey of epic proportions. The Idaho Desert Demons have devoted the 2001 season to returning to the glory which eluded them last year: a league championship.
Join the Desert Demons as they work to make 2001 go down in a blaze of football glory.

Name the Mascot Winner Announced

The Idaho Desert Demons have announced the name of their new mascot: Lefty. The name was submitted by Erich Pew. Erich lives in a suburb of Alyssa Heights, Idaho.

Erich will recieve a mini replica (gumball) Idaho Desert Demons Helmet.

The Desert Demons organization would like to thank everyone who entered the Name the Mascot Contest. Watch for other great promotions in the future.

Countdown to the SSL Draft

On the eve of the SSL draft war rooms are being assembled, scouting reports are being compiled and each of the eight Syssa Stars League teams are locked in a first place tie. Draft day marks the beginning of another exciting year of SSL football.

"Draft day is the most important day of the year...unless you count championship sunday...I really like christmas too." said league president Benjamin "Ben" Gordita. His words could not be more true. On Monday August 20th each franchise will take their first step toward an SSL Championship.

Some have made this journey too many times to count. "We're still detailing our helmet phone for the war room. I guess we'll have to formulate our draft card pretty soon though." said Blair Kiel, Idaho Desert Demons Director of Football Operations. Others make this journey for the first time. "I really don't know what is going on here. I just want to win" said an unnamed Landslide team official.

"A draft does not make or break you, your success is more dependent on your week to week management." said Waterford head coach the ghost of Tom Landry. Who can prove him wrong? Landry won the SSL championship last year with an impressive record. So how important is draft day? We will start to answer that question August 20th.

(Editor's Note - Please watch for the 2001 SSL Preview following the SSL Draft.)

Hungry for Competition the Wolverines Enter the SSL

On August 26, 2000, SSL President Benjamin "Ben" Gordita welcomed the Waterford Wolverines into the Syssa Stars League. The Roger Morris owned franchise becomes the sixth team to join the upstart eight team league. At press time it has yet to be determined where the Wolverines will play their home games.

"As I stand here in beautiful Waterford, Wisconsin I am reminded of the SSL slogan 'Where the present meets the not so distant future.'" league president Benjamin "Ben" Gordita stated at his August 26 press conference. "There are a lot of similarities between the SSL and Waterford, except our game is more violent, and probably more animated that this serene backdrop; but the core message is still present."

The Wolverines are the first SSL franchise to announce a corporate partnership; in fact two corporate partnerships; Home Depot will be the official ticket outlet and merchandise distributor for the club, and Cousins Subs will provide concessions for the stadium. One or both of the corporations may lend their name to the Wolverines' stadium.