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