The Utah Pioneers of the Professional Spring Football League have opened training camp in Phoenix.
Ninety players (there were seven no-shows) gathered for dinner and a team meeting Monday night, spent Tuesday undergoing physical examinations, and held their first honest-to-goodness practice Wednesday at Maryville High School. Thursday was to be the first of 19 days of two-a-day practices, with full-contact drills starting Saturday."We've got a long way to go, but this was a good start," said coach John D'Ottavio. "We've got a team of workers, energetic guys who want to win, and that's what I want."
Pioneers spokesman Bill Kreifeldt in Salt Lake City said there were no reasons given for the no-shows. Among those missing from camp are former Utah State defensive lineman Shawn Miller and ex-Colorado running back J.J. Flannigan.
D'Ottavio hopes to cut the roster to 43, with a seven-man developmental squad, by Feb. 24. The team's first game - and the league's first - is Feb. 29 in Tampa, Fla. The home opener is March 7 in Rice Stadium against the Washington Marauders.