Arena Football Team Will Scout Talent in Orange County

Although one pro football team is ready to skip town, another from Northern California will venture to Orange County this weekend looking for local talent.

The San Jose SaberCats, a first-year franchise in the Arena Football League, will scout players at a one-day tryout camp from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Saddleback College.

“At most open tryouts there are 200-250 players to scout,” said Walsh, a sports consultant based in Laguna Hills. “At this one there will only be 50 players. We’ve done some of the recruiting work for (San Jose).”

Among the players expected to participate in the invitation-only event are former Ram receiver Derrick Faison and quarterbacks Troy Kopp (Pacific and Mission Viejo High) and David Lowery (San Diego State and Trabuco Hills High). The public can watch the workout at no charge.

According to the SaberCats, their coach, Todd Shell, a former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, and staff will make evaluations at the camp but will likely make no immediate personnel decisions.

The SaberCats could invite some of the players to training camp or sign them at a later date. The AFL season runs from May through August and each team may have 30 players in training camp. Each of the 14 teams can carry 23 players on its roster.

Walsh offered to showcase some of Orange County’s best players to Terry Malley, the SaberCats’ director of football operations who formerly coached at Santa Clara. Walsh, who played at San Jose State and later with the Seattle Seahawks, and Malley are old acquaintances.

Arena football gives many of Walsh’s clients, including Fullerton College’s all-time leading rusher, Jeff Andrews, another professional option.

“All some of these guys need is an opportunity,” Walsh said.

There is a chance arena football could come to Orange County as early as next year. John Nicoletti, public relations manager of the Pond, said the league previously contacted the Pond about moving an expansion franchise to Anaheim.

According to an AFL source, the league would like to add four expansion teams for the 1996 season. Anaheim is under consideration along with Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, Denver and Philadelphia.