Keep calm and ride a Unicorn

Two more games down and two more victories for the Unicorns! After a disappointing loss to the Franken Knights we bounced back with a dominating performance against the Rhein-Neckar Bandits at home in front of the Unicorn faithful. Both sides of the ball played better as the offense put up 51 points and the defense allowed only 13. The two areas that hindered us against Franken were penalties (14) and turnovers (5). We improved in both aspects against the Bandits as we were able to play a more disciplined football game with only two turnovers and eight penalties. It felt great to get the “W” and get our season back on track with our sights set on the Munich Cowboys!

It was another solid win (37-3) for the Unicorns at home against the Munich Cowboys this past weekend! The sun was out and the fans were in full force for a great day of football. From beginning to end the Unicorns defense was stingy and swarming, allowing a total of only 229 yards of offense with only three of those yards by way of the Cowboy rushing attack (or lack thereof).  Offensively, it took us a quarter of football before we began to start clicking, but once we did there wasn’t much stopping us as we put up 500 yards of total offense to go along with 37 points. Again, we kept our turnovers at two and cut our penalties down to five. This team is heading in the right direction and as long as we can keep building upon each victory, learning from our mistakes and our successes, there is no limit to what we will be able to accomplish. Next up on the schedule is an away game in Switzerland against the reigning Eurobowl champions the Calanda Broncos. The winner will advance to the Eurobowl semi-finals. This game will be our biggest test thus far and we are all looking forward to the challenge of taking down the champions!

Side note: Drew is leading in the interception battle 3-1 as he pulled one down against the Cowboys this weekend. He also had a would be pick six against the Bandits if not for a defensive off-sides penalty. And I forgot to bring my hands with me to the Munich game and let a couple balls slip through my grasp.

Aside from football the past three weeks we have been mostly hanging out around town and with our teammates.  Although it has not been a typical warm May around here, it hasn’t stopped us from enjoying the festivals that have been taking place.  Schwäbisch Hall had their annual Salt Festival celebrating and displaying how the historic salt economy functioned. “Hall” in German refers to drying something by heating it, thus tying the city’s name with its main economic resource.  The parades and shows were neat to see but the food, beer, live music, and carnival rides were what had us acting like a four year old on Christmas morning. 

Along with the festivals we were fortunate enough to be joined by the company of our QB Ryan’s parents for the week.  They were kind enough to snap thousands of pictures of us at our games as well as join us to our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.  This place was awesome.  It was a little mind blowing at times wondering how a castle like this was built in such a location let alone how it is ever constructed in the first place.  Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the castles Disney modeled Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Disneyland after.  Long story short; King Ludwig II was filthy rich and wanted a new castle built on this hill next to a waterfall, the foothills of the Alps, and an amazing view.  We took the opportunity to tour the inside of the castle where the majority of the structure has not been touched.  In no way does one man need such a sanctuary to reside in, but none the less it was an incredible display of life over 100 years ago for one man.      

Go Unicorns,
Taylor and Drew

FOOTBALL!!!!

The past couple weeks have been spent playing the greatest game brought to earth.  Its bitter sweet to write about, as the Unicorns went 1-1 over the past two weeks.  To sum up last week’s game against Amiens, France in a couple words, we kicked there butt 52-12.  This is the same team we played in our season opener.  The home/away games with them were a Euro Bowl qualifier to go play the defending Euro Bowl champions in Switzerland.  I am very much looking forward to the competition and travel experiences that this team brings to the table.  Playing on the home field in Schwäbisch Hall is something I am excited to do all year.  Great field, great atmosphere, and even a little rain doesn’t stop the fans from using the obnoxiously awesome noise makers all game.  To paint a picture of the home field for folks it starts with well groomed grass surrounded by a track and long concrete stands that extend from end zone to end zone.  One of my favorite features is Debi’s restaurant and beer garden that overlooks the corner end zone.  Beer and pizza AND the best seat in the house for games?? I know where I’d be all game if I weren’t on the field.    

One thing I have been looking forward to since I knew I was coming here to Schwäbisch Hall is give it my best shot to be on “Wear in the World”.  “Wear in the World” (http://www.nba.com/blazers/fans/blazers-fans) is a segment during Portland Trailblazer games where fans submit a picture of themselves with their Blazers apparel on wherever they are in the world.  I have seen people standing next to pyramids in Cairo, scaling the Great Wall of China, and even scuba diving in their Batum jerseys, but nobody has been warming up before a game in Schwäbisch Hall in their Unicorn uniform with a Blazers shirt!  The Blazers hold a special spot in my heart and although they ended the season on a 13 game losing skid, I am proud to show off my red and black on the other side of the world. 

Mike Rice and Mike Barrett would be proud.  Rip City baby!

This past weekend the Unicorns took on the Franken Knights in Rothenburg.  This game went back and forth all the way until the end and unfortunately ended in a one point loss 34-35.  Although it is a tough pill to swallow, quality competition and close games are what we live for.  It’s where you get to prove how much more you want it than the person lined up across from you in a different uniform.  14 penalties and 4 turnovers had major implications on the overall scoreboard but in the end we still had a shot to win.  After scoring with 45 seconds left on the clock, head coach Sigi decided to go for two and win the game rather than risk ending in a tie.  There is no overtime until the playoffs start and I had full confidence that this was not only the right decision, but we would win the game.  After failing to convert the 2, we successfully pounced on the onside kick and had one last chance to get into field goal range but came up short.  It will be great to prepare for and play these guys again in a few weeks on the Schwäbisch Hall home turf.  For being back to back German Bowl Champions there is certainly a degree of high expectations for the season.  This ultimately brings a couple of scenarios to the table.  First off, every team in Germany and Europe not only wants a shot at the Unicorns, but wants to beat us.  Our Unicorn career has only been brief; however, after competing for quality programs in the past you know the feeling of playing somebody that has the mentality of it’s their Super Bowl when the Unicorns are in town.  It will be great to have a bounce back game at home this week, and hopefully this will be a learning point for the rest of the season.

 

Go Unicorns,

Drew          



***Side note***    The side interception contest between Skore and I is at 2-1 in my favor.  Had the refs not thrown a penalty on both the receiver and Taylor last game for pass interference when he got his interception we would be even at 2-2