Gladiators get early acid tests

Adam Candee

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004 | 10:21 a.m.

2005 Gladiators

(all times Pacific)

New Gladiators coach Ron James wants to eliminate the early-season drama that nagged his team in both of the past two years, but Las Vegas' schedule could make that a tough task.

Released Wednesday by the Arena Football League, the 2005 schedule begins with the Gladiators hosting Los Angeles on Jan. 30 at the Thomas & Mack Center in one of just three Sunday home games. The following week, Las Vegas travels to San Jose to face the ArenaBowl champion SaberCats.

Two tough division foes in two weeks mean the Gladiators must come out of camp ready to go in order to avoid starting 0-2 for the third consecutive season.

"You always want to get off to a good start," James said.

The eight-game home slate at the Thomas & Mack sees Las Vegas playing on Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon and Monday night. That is partly because of building availability and partly because of the league's attempts to get games not featured on the Sunday NBC broadcast onto regional cable affiliates.

It makes for some screwy off periods between games, ranging from just five days between a Sunday, April 3 date at Colorado and a Friday, April 8 game vs. Grand Rapids to a full two weeks around the late-season bye.

James is not worried about the players, who can be notorious creatures of habit, adjusting to the on-and-off schedule.

"It doesn't make any difference preparation-wise," James said.

Outside of the brutal Western Division -- where the Gladiators' 8-8 mark earned them last place in 2004 -- the schedule looks favorable. Excluding San Jose, Los Angeles and Arizona, the Gladiators' opponents combined for a record of 64-80 (.444) last year. Overall, Las Vegas went 5-7 last year against this season's opponents.

James is pleased that Las Vegas will only make one East Coast trip, for an April 17 game at Philadelphia. The Gladiators also get the benefit of playing four of their first six games at home.

And while looking forward on the schedule is fun, James cautions that winning those first two games is the key to all of Las Vegas' possibilities.

"It's very important for us to get off to a strong start in our own division," James said. "We've got to clean up our own backyard."

Training camp opens Jan. 5 in Las Vegas.