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F.C. Barcelona Dragons Game Notes

June 3, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
F.C. Barcelona Dragons News Release


F.C. BARCELONADRAGONS(5-4) VS. RHEIN FIRE (5-4)

Series Record: Barcelona holds an 9-8 series advantage.
The Last Time: Barcelona 11 vs Rhein 3 (4/26/03)
Last Time at Rhein: Barcelona 3 at Rhein 31(5/4/02)
Last Dragons Win: Barcelona 11 vs Rhein 3 (4/26/03)
Who’s Hot?: The Fire have won two of the last three meetings.
Series: The Dragons and Fire have faced each other 17 times, with Barcelona holding an 9-8 series advantage.

Did you Know?:
* The last three seasons, one of the teams has swept the other with Rhein winning both meetings in 2002 and 2000 and the Dragons winning both meetings in 2001.
* The longest winning streak of the series is three games. Each team had a three game winning streak in the history of the series.
* Barcelona won the first ever meeting between the two teams 32-30 during Week 3 of the 1995 season. A Dragons Win Would:
* Improve the Dragons season record to 6-4
* Allow Barcelona to sweep the Rhein for the third time in the history of the two teams.
* Improve the Dragons all-time series advantage to 10-8
* Avoid a three-game losing streak
* Improve Barcelona’s 2003 road record to 4-1
* Better their all-time road record at Rhein to 5-4
* Give the Dragons a 60-50 all-time record.

DRAGONS ON THE WEB

For news, community and historical information,statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Barcelona Dragons, http://www.dragons.es. Updated regularly, http://www.dragons.es has the most extensive information on players and coaches, upcoming games, community appearances and local football information. The Dragons website is also a great place to find information on F.C. Barcelona soccer clubs. You can also visit www.nfleurope.com for league standings, stats and information on all the other NFLEL teams.

MEET THE HEAD COACHES

Jack Bicknell (59-50 , 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).

Pete Kuharchek (18-11, 3rd Year)

Kuharchek enters his third season as the head coach of the Rhein Fire after taking his team to World Bowl X last year. He made his NFLEL debut in 1992 as the Orlando Thunder defensive backs coach. The team earned a World Bowl berth that season. Kuharchek was the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso (1993-1995) before being hired as the Rhein Fire’s defensive coordinator in 1996. In 1996, Kuharchek coached NFLEL’s top ranked rushing defense, followed by his 1997 squad that finished second in scoring and rushing and finally won a World Bowl championship in 1998 with the league’s top rated defense. He made his coaching debut as the linebackers coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983 while also spending time at Memphis State University (1986-89), British Columbia Lions (CFL, 1990) and again at UTEP in 1991. Kuharchek was a linebacker at the University of Tampa from 1967-69 and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Tampa in 2002.

LAST WEEK

The F.C. Barcelona Dragons suffered their first twogame losing streak of the season after falling to the Scottish Claymores 7-45 in front of 8,247 fans at Mini Estadi. The Claymores were in the driver’s seat from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. After winning the toss and electing to receive, the Claymores went 74 yards in seven plays capping the drive off with a Craig Nall-to-Maurice Hicks seven-yard touchdown pass. The point after was converted by Rob Hart. The Dragons went three-and-out on their first possession giving the Claymores possession at midfield. Scotland took five plays 50 yards with Nall connecting with John Minardi on a 23-yard touchdown toss and a 14-0 lead. On their next possession, Barcelona managed one first down before being forced to punt . Scotland then started on their own 19-yard line and drove the field to begin the second quarter with a two-yard Hicks touchdown scamper. The Dragons went three-and-out once again then punter Nick Murphy helped pin the Claymores at their own five-yard line. Scotland never flinched finishing an 11-play, 95-yard drive with a Shane Stafford-to-Scott Couper touchdown pass and a 28-0 lead. The teams traded punts on their next two possessions and Barcelona was forced to a three-and-out late in the second frame. Scotland took over at the Dragons 46-yard line and in 25 seconds put seven more points on the board when Stafford found Minardi for the score. The Dragons opened the second half with the ball but after six plays, were forced to punt. The Claymores got on the board again, this time with a Ken Simonton twoyard touchdown scamper to give the Claymores a 42- 0 third quarter lead. The Dragons managed to put a drive together late in the third but were held on fourth down giving the Claymores the ball at their own 35-yard line. Scotland opened the final quarter with a 35-yard Hart field goal and a 45-0 lead. Once again, the teams traded punts on consecutive possessions until quarterback Chris Finlen led the Dragons on their only scoring drive of the contest. Finlen found Zek Parker for his first touchdown reception of the season - a 27-yarder. Jesus Angoy connected on the extra point to cap off the scoring at 45-7 lead late in the fourth. On their ensuing possession, Scotland ran out the clock to hand the Dragons their biggest loss of the season and a twogame losing streak.

FAMILIAR FACES

Jesus Angoy - Connected on his only PAT attempt last week. 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 two receptions for 26 yards against Frankfurt.. Tight end returning to Barcelona after playing with the Dragons in 2000.

Cedric Cotar - Did not register a tackle last week against Scotland and continued seeing 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 - Saw time as a reserve tackle last week against Scotland. Started at left tackle in 2001.

Samyr Hamoudi - Picked up four tackles in the loss against Scotland. 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 stops last week. Returns for his second season in Barcelona. Finished the first with 34 tackles and eight special teams tackles.

Marco Martos - Did not record a reception 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 - Picked up two catches for 40 yards last week. 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 - Saw time as a reserve center last week against Scotland. 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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