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F.C. Barcelona Dragons Game Notes

May 21, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
F.C. Barcelona Dragons News Release


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
F.C. BARCELONADRAGONS(5-2) VS. FRANKFURT GALAXY (4-3)

Series Record: Frankfurt holds an 11-9 series advantage
The Last Time: Barcelona 13 at. Frankfurt 15 (4/5/03)
Last Time in Barcelona: Barcelona 14 vs. Frankfurt 54 (4/20/02)
Last Dragons Win: Barcelona 31, @ Frankfurt 10 (5/25/02)
Who's Hot?: The Galaxy have won two of the last three meetings between the teams.

Series: The Dragons and Galaxy have faced each other 20 times,with Frankfurt holding an 11-9 series advantage.

Did you Know?:
* Barcelona has faced the Galaxy more times (20) than any other active NFLEL team.
* The last three seasons,the teams have split with each team winning one game and losing one game each year.
* The longest winning streak of the series is five games by the Dragons spanning the 1998-2000 seasons.
* Frankfurt won the first ever meeting between these two teams 10-3 in 1991.

A Dragons Win Would:
* Improve the Dragons season record to 6-2
* Allow Barcelona to not be swept by the Galaxy, the last time the Galaxy swept the Dragons was in 1997
* Improve the Dragons all-time defecit to Frankfurt to 10-11
* Improve Barcelona's 2003 home record to 3-1
* Better their home record against Frankfurt to 5-6
* Give the Dragons a 60-48 all-time record.

MEET THE HEAD COACHES

Jack Bicknell (59-48 , 2-4 post season, 11th Year)

Bicknell returns in 2003 for his 42nd year of coaching as the only NFLEL head coach to have been with the same team through the history of the league. He has won more NFLEL regular season games (54) than any other coach in the history of the league. He is also the only coach to have made four World Bowl appearances in league history. "Cowboy Jack" served as head coach at Boston College for 10 seasons (1981-1990). He led the Eagles to a 10-2 mark in 1984 as his quarterback, Doug Flutie, won the Heisman Trophy. His 45-28 victory over Houston in the Cotton Bowl marked the first time in school history that the team participated in three consecutive bowl games. Bicknell also guided the Eagles to the 1982 Tangerine Bowl, 1983 Liberty Bowl and 1986 Hall of Fame Bowl. He was also selected to coach the 1985 Hula and Japan Bowlss and the 1990 East-West Shrine Bowl. Prior to his time with Boston College, Bicknell served as the head coach at the University of Maine (1976-1980).

Doug Graber (13-14, 3rd Year)

Graber became the fourth head coach in the history of the Frankfurt Galaxy on September 18, 2000, succeeding Jack Elway (1991-92), Ernie Stautner (1995-97) and Dick Curl (1998-2000). He recorded a 3-7 record in his first season in charge. From 1990 to 1995, Graber was the head coach at Rutgers University and from 1987 to 1989 he was in charge of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. In 1998, the Bucs boasted the best rushing defense in the NFL. As defensive secondary coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to 1986, he formed a secondary that led the NFL with 120 interceptions in a four year period. In 1982, he was head coach of Montana State University. From 1978 to 1981, he was the defensive secondary coach at the University of Wisconsin and from 1976 to 1977 he worked as defensive secondary coach at Ball State University. Graber has also held defensive coaching positions with Eastern Michigan University and Michigan Technological University. He started his coaching career at St. Francis Cahrini High School, where he was head coach from 1967 to 1968, during which time the team was unbeaten and won two championships.

LAST WEEK

The F.C. Barcelona Dragons rebounded from last week's loss to avoid a two-game losing streak defeating the Berlin Thunder 23-20 in Berlin. After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Dragons offense was forced to punt after three plays. The Dragon defense then repaid the favor and forced the Thunder to punt after a three-and-out. Barcelona's offense then acted quickly finishing a six-play, 60-yard drive with a 42-yard Seth Burford-to-Kerwin Cook touchdown pass down the sideline. Jesus Angoy missed the point after attempt to give the Dragons a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. On their ensuing possession, the Thunder offense could not move the ball against Barcelona's defense and was forced to punt after three plays. The Dragons gained one first down the next time they had the ball and were forced to punt. Berlin cut their deficit to 6-4 after J.R. Jenkins kicked a four-point, 50-yard field goal. Barcelona was forced to punt again after three plays, giving the Thunder the ball to start the second frame. The Thunder wasted no time, and on the second play of the drive, Phil Stambaugh hooked up with Elijah Thurmon for an 80-yard touchdown pass on a post and a 11-6 Thunder lead. The teams traded punts on the next three possesions and the Dragons forced the Thunder to punt, but the punt was blocked by Sean Morey and recovered by Tito Rodriguez who returned it 36 yards for the score. Once again, the teams traded punts on the next two series until Berlin took nine plays, 54 yards to set up Axel Kruse for a 31-yard field goal and an 14-13 Berlin lead at halftime. On the first possession of the second half, Berlin increased their lead to 17-13 after Kruse connected on a 30-yard field goal. Barcelona answered right back when Zek Parker returned the kickoff 40 yards to Berlin's 46-yard line and Burford found Cook once again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown pass to cap off a four-play drive and give the Dragons a 20-16 lead midway through the third quarter. The teams traded punts on the next three possessions then Berlin was threatening to take the lead before Marcus Smith intercepted Stambaugh's pass intended for Pierre Brown in the endzone. Burfod then threw his first interception of the season ending the drive for the Dragons leading to Kruse's fourth field goal - from 19 yards - to tie the game at 20-20. Parker then returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to setup Jason Witczak's 40-yard game-winning field goal midway through the fourth frame. The Dragons forced Berlin to punt on their next possession before driving for the final 4:51 to preserve the 23-20 win.

FAMILIAR FACES

Jesus Angoy -Missed his first PAT of the season while connecting on another attempt. Finished with a team-high 54 points connecting on all 24 point after attempts and 10-of-12 field goals last season. He was three-of-three from 40-49 yards in 2002.

Matt Cercone - Added a reception for 10 yards last week. Tight end returning to Barcelona after playing with the Dragons in 2000.

Cedric Cotar - Tallied his first tackle of the season last week at Berlin while seeing continued action on special teams. French national player returning for his third year. Finished the 2002 season with three tackles, a pass defensed and one sack.

Renard Cox - Placed on injured reserve after spraining his knee against Amsterdam. Played in the Dragons secondary through the 2002 season. He tallied 37 tackles and four passes defensed while adding eight tackles and a blocked punt on special teams.

John Feugill - Started at left tackle in 2001. Samyr Hamoudi - Picked up four tackles in the win at Berlin. French national safety returning for his fifth season with the Dragons. He finished the 2002 season tying for the team lead with two interceptions and six passes defensed.

Rashad Harris - Posted three tackles last week.. Returns for his second season in Barcelona. Finished the first with 34 tackles and eight special teams tackles.

Marco Martos - Added a rush on a reverse for two yards last week. Returning for his seventh year with the Dragons after hauling in 10 passes for 92 yards and returning 25 punts for 493 yards last season.

Sean Morey - Led all receivers with five receptions for 36 yards at Berlin. He also returned a three kicks for 65 yards (21.7 avg.). Returning for his third season after seeing limited action due to injury his first year at receiver and making the switch to defensive back for his second. Finished with 37 receptions for over 600 yards in 2000 and led the team in tackles and blocked kicks in 2001.

Ray Redziniak - In his second year with the Dragons after starting at center in 2002. Helped lead the way for 870 yards rushing last season.

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