Champion Thunder Opens 2003 Season
April 2, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Berlin Thunder News Release
The two time defending World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder (0-0) open the 2003 NFL Europe League regular season Sunday April 6, as they travel to Glasgow, Scotland to face the Scottish Claymores (0-0). The Thunder are attempting to make it four straight victories against the Claymores and two in a row in Scotland. Last season the Thunder finished as the World Bowl X Champions with a 6-4 regular season record, while the Claymores finished 5-5.
TV:
Sunday's contest will be broadcast in the United States on Direct TV at 10:00am EST. The play-by-play will be handled by veteran Fox Sports Northwest broadcaster Rich Cellini, with color commentary coming from former San Antonio Riders and current New York Giants quarterback Jason Garrett. Kick-off at Hampden Park is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. local Scotland time.
THE SERIES
With Berlin sweeping the 2002 season series with victories of 31-23 and 24-23, the team's record against the Claymores improved to 5-3. This is the first time in the franchise's five-year history that the Thunder has opened the regular season against Scotland.
Berlin's Largest Margin of Victory: 18; 28-10 (May 30, 1999) in Scotland
Scotland's Largest Margin of Victory: 39; 42-3 (May 7, 2000) in Scotland
Most Recent Tie: There has never been a tie
Current Winning Streak: Thunder 3, (June 2, 2001- Present)
LAST TIME VS. SCOTLAND
The Thunder, led by quarterback Todd Husak, overcame a 23-10 fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Claymores 24-23 at Scotland's Hampden Park on June 9, 2002. The Thunder kept their World Bowl hopes alive after beginning the season 0-3. Berlin scored twice in the final period, once on a Husak 9-yard pass to wide receiver Dane Looker and another on a 1-yard run by running back Anthony White.
The Claymores opened the game by marching right down the field with the help of a 36-yard scamper by running back Herbert Goodman. The drive was stalled by the Berlin defense and Scotland settled for a 49-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes, his longest of the season. The game went back and forth and Scotland held a 23-17 advantage when things started to go Berlin's way in the fourth quarter. The Thunder were given a chance to take the lead when Scottish quarterback Scott Dreisbach was intercepted by safety Lelan Brickus at the Thunder 33-yard line. Brickus returned the ball 39 yards into Claymore territory and another 14 yards were tacked on when Dreisbach drew his second personal foul of the game.
After moving closer to the Claymores end zone with an 8-yard pass to wide receiver Ramondo North, Berlin faced a crucial 4th down and 3 at the 7-yard line when Husak drilled a 6-yard completion to German wideout Jörg Heckenbach.
One play later, White bulled his way into the end zone to tie the score at 23-23. Axel Kruse's conversion gave Berlin a 24-23 lead with 4:31 left in the game.
Scotland quarterback James Brown entered the game and led his team down the field, but a 52-yard field goal attempt by Tynes fell short with 1:18 to go and the Thunder pulled off their second straight victory against the Claymores in as many weeks.
A THUNDER VICTORY WOULD...
- Improve Peter Vaas's career coaching record to 17-14 in the regular season and to 5-2 against the Claymores.
- Improve the franchise overall record to 22-21.
- Give the Thunder the first opening game victory in franchise history.
HEAD COACHES
PETER VAAS: Peter Vaas completed his third season as head coach of the Berlin Thunder by leading his squad to the team's season best-tying record at 6-4 and their second consecutive World Bowl title. Vaas finished his fifth year of coaching in NFL Europe, having joined the league in 1998 as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for the Barcelona Dragons. In 1999 as offensive assistant he helped the Dragons to a league best 7-3 record and a World Bowl berth. Under his guidance running back Lawrence Phillips rushed for 1,021 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named the league's Offensive MVP. Vaas began his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant at Allegheny College and from 1979-85 worked as offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire. In 1986, Vaas returned to Allegheny as their head coach, guiding a team that had not posted a winning record in seven years to two North Coast Athletic Conference championships. In his second season he led the Gators to an undefeated 9-0-1 regular season record. Vaas went on to become running backs and then quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. There he coached players such as Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, and Ricky Watters, all of who became top-flight NFL players. He was head coach at Holy Cross from 1992 to 1995 before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League. Peter Vaas is married to Rosann and they have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly and reside in Hampton, New Hampshire.
GENE DAHLQUIST: Gene Dahlquist enters his third season at the helm of the Claymores after succeeding long-running head coach Jim Criner in 2001. The 60-year-old head coach brings 30 years college coaching experience to the Claymores and, before moving to NFL Europe, most recently held the position of Offensive Passing Game Coordinator at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. A native of Mount Prospect, Illinois, he has a strong reputation for his development of quarterbacks and has been instrumental in developing the talents of National Football League quarterback JEFF GEORGE, running back RICKY WILLIAMS and former World League and NFL quarterback DAVE ARCHER. He commands considerable experience as a former Offensive Coordinator with five major college football programs in the United States. Gene is married to Toni and the two are parents to four - Stacey and Bret Dahlquist, Nicole Rudolph and Devin Crane. He and his wife currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.
FROM COACH VAAS
(on what he is looking for in the first game)
"The first game is always interesting because it is discovery time. You try to discover what your players may do in game situations. Right now everything has been practice; once the real thing starts, people react differently. I would like to think that our players will react in a very positive vain, but that is going to be a challenge in itself playing against a solid Claymore team right off the bat. I am sure the Scotland crowd will be excited, but that is something that our players will have to prepare for and learn to handle."
(on the keys to the game)
"There are a lot of keys. Traditionally the key is who turns the ball over and who functions well in the kicking game. But one of the keys we are concerned with in this game is how we handle traveling, how do we handle a hostile environment. Do we come together as a team in the early part of the season or do we get flustered by the things that happen to us and around us? I would like to think that we will handle everything well."
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK FROM THE CLAYMORES
The Scottish Claymores enter the 2003 season led by quarterback Craig Nall (Green Bay Packers) and an impressive defense that shut down most teams during training camp with the help of free safety James Rooths (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and linebacker Isaac Keys (Green Bay Packers). Claymores Coach Gene Dahlquist would like to establish a running game early with running back Ken Simonton (Buffalo Bills) and then let Nall air it out to talented receiver Edell Shepard (Chicago Bears).
THUNDER OFFENSIVE NOTES
-Quarterbacks Henry Burris (Chicago Bears) and Phil Stambaugh will split time during the first game, Coach Vaas decided following a closely contested battle throughout training camp.
-Both Burris and Stambaugh looked impressive in Tampa and were therefore rewarded with leading the team every other quarter. Burris will play during the first and third quarters and Stambaugh will get the nod for the second and fourth periods.
-Running backs Sedrick Irvin (Miami Dolphins) and David Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) provide the ground game with an effective variety of styles. Irvin is a power runner that can get the team those much-needed extra yards while Allen uses his quickness to make opposing defenders miss and has great breakaway speed.
- Wide receivers Elijah Thurmon (Chicago Bears) and Sean Scott (Philadelphia Eagles) led the team in receptions throughout the training camp scrimmages. The most impressive catch of camp came on a 30-yard snag by Scott against Amsterdam in which he leaped up over two defenders, took a brutal hit that sent him crashing to the ground, and still held on to the ball.
-Center Josh Warner (Chicago Bears) and tackle Freddie Moore return for their second seasons with the Thunder and will help anchor one of the biggest offensive lines that the organization has had in its five years of existence.
-German national wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach returns for his seventh year in the league and fifth with the Thunder. He finished with 12 catches for 205 yards in 2002, including a 66-yard reception.
THUNDER DEFENSIVE NOTES
- Free agent acquisition Salem Simon has stood out at defensive tackle throughout the first few weeks together with his new teammates. The 6-3, 273 pounder from Northwestern will play a key role for a defensive line that has already suffered several injuries. - Cornerbacks Tim Carter and Foad Ajdir, safety Lelan Brickus, and linebacker Joe Wesley are all returning to the Thunder defense for the 2003 season. Carter, Ajdir, and Brickus in 2002 and Wesley in 2001. Brickus, a German national in his fourth season with Berlin, was named NFL Europe National Player of the Week in week 8 for his performance against Scotland last season.
THUNDER SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
-Kicker Axel Kruse looks to extend his consecutive PAT streak to 76.
-Kicker J.R. Jenkins (Baltimore Ravens) has been impressive in practice kicking several field goals from 50 yards-plus.
• Discuss this story on the National Football League Europa message board...
National Football League Europa Stories from April 2, 2003
- Claymores Kick off Season at Site of 2003 World Bowl - Scottish Claymores
- Admirals Kick off 2003 Season Against Rhein Fire - Amsterdam Admirals
- Week One Injury Report - NFLE
- Champion Thunder Opens 2003 Season - Berlin Thunder
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