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Fire travel to rival Frankfurt for Deutchland Derby with much at stake

May 27, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Rhein Fire News Release


Gelsenkirchen, Germany – With a trip to the World Bowl potentially on the line, the Deutchland Derby takes on even more importance when the Rhein Fire (5-3) visit the Frankfurt Galaxy (5-3) in a nationally televised rivalry game with extra importance.

Rhein, who has won the last seven meetings between these German opponents, can qualify for their second-straight World Bowl appearance with a victory and a Barcelona win over Scotland on Saturday. Frankfurt can stamp their ticket to Glasgow with a win over the Fire.

"Our games with the Galaxy are always very important but this one is really big in terms of the standings," says Rhein head coach Pete Kuharchek. "But in order for it to become big we had to beat Berlin in Week 8 and that means we have yet to give too much thought to the Galaxy contest. We will now."

These two teams met earlier this season in Gelsenkirchen and saw a 14-7 win for Rhein at Arena AufShalke. In the history of NFL Europe Rhein is 7-1 at Frankfurt and holds a 13-4 edge overall (plus 1-0 in World Bowls). It is possible that these two will match up for a third time in Glasgow in two weeks, but it is not the most likely of scenarios. Last year these two teams met in a 3-0 Rhein win at Frankfurt which saw a League-record 58,572 fans in the stadium. This year is expected to sell out at the Waldstadion which is under construction in anticipation of the World Cup in 2006.

Last week was a success for both teams as the Galaxy hammered the F.C. Barcelona Dragons, 47-13, and Rhein eliminated the defending champion Berlin Thunder, 28-21. The Fire saw two players receive accolades earlier this week when defensive end Jesse Warren was awarded the NFL Europe Defensive Player of the Week honor after a one sack and one fumble recovery for touchdown performance. German national defensive tackle Bastian Lano won the National Player of the Week award after posting two sacks (second time this season he has won the award).

Rhein returns to action next Saturday to face F.C. Barcelona (5-3) in a potentially enormous Week 10 matchup.

GAME INFORMATION

ANNOUNCERS
Curt Menefee – play-by-play
Brian Baldinger – color commentary

TV
USA: FOX national TV (1:00 ET tape delay)

STADIUM ADDRESS
Waldstadion
Frankfurt, Germany

HEAD COACHES
Rhein Fire:
Pete Kuharchek
17-11 overall, 5-0 vs. Frankfurt

Frankfurt Galaxy:
Doug Graber
14-14 overall, 0-5 vs. Rhein

History of the Fire

Team History:

Established in 1995, the Fire posted a disappointing 4-6 record in their inaugural season. In 1997, the Fire played in World Bowl '97, losing at the Barcelona Dragons, 24-38. The Fire have been in the World Bowl four times in their first eight years of existence, winning a title in 1998 and 2000.

Team Name:

The Rhein Fire is named for the Northrhein-Westphalia region of Germany and the mammoth 820-mile Rhein River that forms Germany's southwest boundary. The team used to play its home games in Düsseldorf, capital of Northrhein-Westphalia, and now hosts games in Gelsenkirchen, a 40-minute drive North of Düsseldorf. City/Region:

A conglomerate of 24 cities forms the Rhein-Ruhr region of Germany. Situated on the western fringe of Germany, the densely populated region covers 200 kilometers. The largest cities surrounding Düsseldorf (population 577,250, the capital of Northrhein-Westphalia since 1946), are Duisburg (537,000) and Essen (626,000) to the North, Wuppertal (384,000) to the East, Cologne (1,000,000) and Bonn (294,000) to the South. Düsseldorf's airport serves 11.5 million passengers annually and reaches 150 destinations worldwide. The World Team Tennis Cup in Düsseldorf's Rochus Club and the ice hockey games of the "Düsseldorf EG" are highlights of the city's sports scene.

Head coach Pete Kuharchek

Coach Pete Kuharchek enters his third season as head coach after leading the Fire to a 7-3 mark in 2002 and a World Bowl appearance. Coach Kuharchek was promoted to head coach in 2000 after five seasons as Fire defensive coordinator and helped Rhein to a record four straight winning seasons in that time as well as boasting one of the League's stingiest defenses.

Under Kuharchek, the Fire's defense ranked number one overall in NFL Europe in 1999. Against the run, they have been number one on three occasions (1996, 1998, 1999) and topped the ratings against the pass in 1999.

As a player, Kuharchek started at linebacker for two years at George Washington University and a further two years at the University of Tampa. He also began his coaching career at the University of Tampa, serving as linebackers coach in 1970, and was recently named to Tampa's sports Hall of Fame. From 1972-75, Kuharchek was defensive coordinator at Tampa Catholic High School before returning to the college ranks as a defensive assistant at the University of Kentucky in 1976. He served for two years as defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire before stints at Holy Cross (defensive assistant) and East Tennessee State University (defensive coordinator).

His first venture into pro football came in the USFL, where he served as linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Bandits from 1983-85. He was defensive coordinator at Memphis State University from 1986-89 and spent a year with the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions and then the University of Texas-El Paso.

In 1992, his first season in the NFL Europe League, Kuharchek helped the Orlando Thunder gain a place in World Bowl, where they were beaten by the Sacramento Surge.

From 1993-95 he retuend to UTEP as defensive coordinator before teaming up with Galen Hall and the Fire in 1996. Kuharchek won World Bowl rings with the Fire in 1998 and 2000.

Arena AufSchalke a modern marvel

The Rhein Fire will be the first American football team to play at the Arena AufSchalke, the home stadium of the FC Schalke 04. Created in August 2001 at the cost of $180 million, the Arena AufSchalke is one of the loudest and certainly most advanced stadiums in Europe. The multi-functional stadium has a capacity of 61,800 seats with views close to the action. Arena AufSchalke hosts soccer, football, opera, rock concerts and biathalons, among other events. Schalke 04 has never played for less than capacity at its new home.

Arena AufSchalke is perhaps the most state-of-the-art stadium in all of Europe and more advanced than most NFL arenas in America. The true grass playing field at AufShalke is portable, rolling in and out of the stadium to be manicured. Moving the field takes six hours and costs $15,000 a time. The Arena also has a retractable roof which takes 20 minutes to open and/or close. Other features include a chapel inside the stadium and many luxury boxes for businesses.

The arena forms the new heart of the "Schalker of field" in the north Gelsenkirchens between the quarters Erle, Buer and Schalke. The arena is located close to the metropolitan railway line 302 with connection to the Gelsenkirchener main station as well as for the motor traffic over the exits Gelsenkirchen Buer at A 2 and Gelsenkirchen Schalke at A 42.

Depth at skill positions lead Fire offense

The Rhein Fire offense is led by a duo of talented quarterbacks in Nick Rolovich (Denver Broncos) and Chris Greisen. Rolovich got the starting nod during the first seven Fire games after a successful training camp. Greisen also will split time, playing in the second and fourth quarters. Both quarterbacks combined for 95 yards passing in Week One, 195 versus Berlin, 159 against Scotland, 140 at Barcelona, 165 against Frankfurt, 229 against Amsterdam, 229 at Scotland and 157 against Thunder.

Lining up in the Fire backfield this season are four multi-faceted running backs. Starting the majority of the season has been NFL veteran Autry Denson (Detroit Lions) who offers a scat-back mentality and sure hands. Denson is averaging almost 100 yards a game and is second in the League in rushing yardage. Louisville product Frank Moreau has started two weeks in a row and qualifies as a power runner through the offensive line and he has proved to be a valuable contributor to Rhein's offense, rushing for over 300 yards on the year. Matt Stanley (San Francisco 49ers) is a natural fullback but in the single-back offense of the Fire, he has multiple jobs as a running back, goal line back and occasional tight end.

With a facet of tall and quick wide receivers, this group of wideouts is Rhein's most talented corps in years. Leading the way are Emmett Johnson (Seattle Seahawks), Kendall Newson (Miami Dolphins) and Charlie Adams (Denver Broncos) for the three-wide Rhein set. Newson and Adams are among the League leaders in touchdowns scored and Adams is also high on the League list in receptions. LaVell Boyd (Houston Texans), capable of playing multiple receiver spots, has contributed with multiple catches this year. German national Christopher Liess plays behind Johnson and Todd Elstrom also sees time at WR. Tight end is also is a strong suit for Rhein, boasting NFL talent in Chad Mustard (Cleveland Browns) and starter Dwayne Blakley (Kansas City Chiefs).

Rhein's offensive line is led with tackles Dwayne Ledford and German national Patrick Venzke. Guards Pat Crummey (New York Giants) and Jim Jones (Baltimore Ravens) will start against Frankfurt and the line will be centered by Dustin Keith (Dallas Cowboys) after Illinois product Luke Butkus (San Diego Chargers) was moved to injured reserve. Scot Osborne and German national Peter Heyer provide depth.

Top-ranked defense tough to score on Defensive coordinator Ed O'Neil leads the historically strong Rhein Fire defense. The defensive line has two bookends in Andre Arnold and Corey Callens, a Fire veteran. Callens and Arnold both have contributed as Callens has two sacks in 2003 and Arnold has 1.5. The run-stopping tandem of Brad Harris (New York Giants) and Josh McKibben (Tampa Bay Bucs) will help anchor the line and McKibben starred against Berlin earlier this season with three sacks and two forced fumbles. Providing depth are two former Fire members in DE Derrick Ham (three sacks on the year) and German national Bastian Lano (6.5 sacks on season) along with Swedish national Dan Petersson. Defensive end Jesse Warren also has seen significant time (one sack at Scotland and a sack and touchdown against Berlin) since being signed as a free agent as has DT David Viger.

Rhein's linebacking corps may be the strongest portion of the defense. Top NFL allocation draft pick Courtney Ledyard (New England Patriots) led the group as the middle linebacker but will be missing in action after suffering a shoulder injury versus the Thunder and was placed on injured reserve. Charles Burton (Arizona Cardinals) and Rhein veteran Jamel Smith play outside, both leading the LB corps in tackles. Jay Johnson is starting in Ledyard's place and has responded with over 50 tackles as well. Recent pickup Dane Krager (Seattle Seahawks) will also see significant time as well as newcomer Terrence Dukes.

The secondary is led by cornerbacks Teddy Gaines (Chicago Bears) and Tony Lukins (Oakland Raiders), who has two interceptions on the year. Safety Greg Brown, who had a pick last week against Berlin, and Abdual Howard (Jacksonville Jaguars), who returned a 93-yard interception for a touchdown against the Claymores and also added one against Frankfurt, play safety and providing depth in the secondary are corners Adesola Badon (Carolina Panthers) and Tierre Sams (Cincinnati Bengals) as well as German national Richard Yancy and Lemual Ligon, who has two interceptions and a sack, (San Diego Chargers) at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Kendall Newson is the biggest threat returning kickoffs (94-yard touchdown at Amsterdam) and punts (14.3-yard average). Autry Denson is the second option at kickoff and punt return. Adesola Badon and Charlie Adams have seen time as a returner in 2003.

Punting for Rhein is Jay Taylor (Cleveland Browns) and kicks are handled by Todd France (Minnesota Vikings), 2-4 on the year in FGs, and former German soccer star Ingo Anderbrugge, 6-6 on FGs and 14-15 on PATs in 2003.

Notes on Frankfurt coach Doug Graber...

Doug Graber became the fourth head coach in Frankfurt Galaxy history on September18, 2000, taking the torch from Dick Curl. In his first season at the helm, Graber's team suffered through a 3-7 record. The squad entered 2002 much improved. With lessons learned, the team jumped out to a league-best 4-1 record. Unfortunately, the team was decimated by injuries and limped to 6-4 finish.

In his third season, Graber is looking for continued growth, improvement and success. The goal in 2003 is the World Bowl, and the goal is close at hand. With two games left in the 2003 season, Graber's record sits at 14-13. He has never beaten the Fire, going 0-5 in his three years in Frankfurt.

Graber was the head coach at Rutgers University from 1990 to 1995, after serving two years as head of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. The 1998 Bucs posted the best rushing defense in the NFL. Graber also made a mark while defensive backs coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to ‘86. His secondary during those four years recorded an NFL record 120 interceptions. He was head coach at Montana State University in 1982 after spending three years as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. Graber began his coaching career at St. Francis Cahrini High School, where he was head coach from 1967-68. The school was unbeaten in those two years and won two championships.

Graber, a native of Detroit, MI., is married to Brenda and has two sons, Joe and Jerome. The Grabers currently reside in Tampa, FL., where he hosts a weekly NFL television show and does color commentary of Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason football.

Last weekend...Fire 28—Thunder 21

Gelsenkirchen, Germany – In a rematch of last season's World Bowl X, the Rhein Fire (5-3) withstood a late Berlin Thunder (2-6) push and held on for a 28-21 victory, placing the Fire in a three-way first place tie with F.C. Barcelona and Frankfurt.

"I am very proud of my guys with the way they stuck together and played hard," said head coach Pete Kuharchek. "This was a crucial game to win at this point in the season and it was a big victory."

27,895 fans watched Rhein race to a 7-0 lead after defensive end Jesse Warren recovered a Phil Stambaugh fumble in Berlin's end zone midway through the first quarter. Berlin cut the lead to 7-4 late in the first after a 52-yard field goal. The Fire went up 14-4 after a 26-yard completion from Chris Greisen to Charlie Adams.

The Thunder answered with 10 straight points, tying the game at 14. A late Berlin drive in the first half was stifled in the red zone after Greg Brown picked off a pass in the end zone, keeping the game tied going into the half.

Half number two started off with a Rhein fumble recovery on Berlin's kickoff return and ensuing field goal by Ingo Anderbrugge. Later in the third quarter Anderbrugge again connected on a field goal, giving the Fire a 20-14 lead going into the final quarter.

A 15-yard touchdown run by David Allen gave Berlin their first lead of the ballgame, 21-20, with over 10 minutes left in the game. The Fire answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Greisen to Kendall Newson. Greisen connected with tight end Chad Mustard in the back of the end zone for a successful two-point conversion and 28-21 Rhein lead.

After trading possessions, the Berlin Thunder had one more opportunity to send the game into an extra session. The Thunder marched to the Rhein 40-yard line with 18 seconds remaining when Stambaugh's pass attempt was intercepted by Fire defensive back Lemual Ligon on the 26-yard line and returned 18 yards to finish off the game.

For the game both Fire quarterbacks were effective, combining for 14-19 for 157 yards and two touchdowns (both by Greisen). Rhein's rushing game tallied 177 yards with Autry Denson leading all Fire running backs with 69 yards on the ground. Wide receiver Kendall Newson led all receivers with five catches for 81 yards and a score.

Defensively the Fire had six sacks on the afternoon led by German national defensive tackle Bastian Lano who had two. The defense and special teams forced four turnovers which turned into nine points.

With the loss the Thunder are eliminated from all hopes of winning three-straight championships. There are over 60 possibilities for how the last three weeks will work themselves out with four of the six NFL Europe teams still mathematically eligible for World Bowl XI. Rhein plays at Frankfurt (5-3) next weekend and hosts F.C. Barcelona (5-3) in Week 10 as the road to Glasgow plays itself out over the next two weeks.



National Football League Europa Stories from May 27, 2003


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