The long awaited 2011 season of European American football kicked off this past weekend in the westernmost country of the Continent in Portugal and will slowly spread north through central Europe into Scandinavia as we progress towards May. The Galiza Black Towers beat Bracara Warriors 45-20 in the opening match opening the floodgates for a spring and summer filled with action that can’t be missed. This weekend is the XVII season opener in Espana, and the Copa de Espana will serve as one of the most contested trophies on the continent this year. All teams have a revamped set of imports, and have made a lot of progress with the national talent as well. The Big 4 of the league have loaded rosters for this season, some of the more notable signings Sean Bedford, a lineman from Georgia Tech suiting up for the Osos (Spanish for Bears) in Madrid and Chad Upshaw, from the University of Buffalo and former NFL wide receiver who will play for the Badalona Dracs. Last year’s national title game was between the Pioners de L’Hospitalet and the Firebats of Valencia.
The firebats have a QB/WR duo from south of the border of the U.S. in Rodrigo Perez and Oscar Rodriguez hailing from Mexico among many other European imports I’m sure. Finally the Pioners, a team you’ll remember well from my 2008 experience where we won the XIV Copa Espana over the Firebats 36-17. The Pioners have their usual lineup of QB/WR/LB. Andrew Robinson former Orangemen QB will be connecting with John Sheffield, a WR fresh out of college from Yale University. His counterpart and college teammate Paul Rice will be the headline of the Pioners defense that has been a torture for opposing teams in the past few seasons.
The sport itself is gaining in popularity as the European Junior Championships will be played in Southern Spain for the second consecutive summer this coming July. Don’t just let me tell you all about it, as an added bonus on ‘For Love of the Game’ is the commentary of the man who makes decisions for the Pioners, General Manager, Alex Grande. He describes his thoughts on the upcoming season.
SPANISH 2011 SEASON OPENER LIVE BROADCAST PIONERS V. FIREBATS Saturday 8am Pacific Standard Time
Lastly, I'd like to enhance your online savyness for those of you who would like it. If you click on any link on this blog it will divert you to that link and you will leave the blog. However, if you hold the Control key (Ctrl) and click on any link it will open that link in a new tab and you will not lose your place on the blog site. Just a little way to make your blogging experience a little easier.
