NFLE releases 2002 schedule

by NFLE Press Release
Published on November 15, 2001 under National Football League Europa (NFLE)

NFLE Press Release

2002 schedule features Friday night feast

The World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder will begin the defence of their NFL Europe League championship at German rival Frankfurt Galaxy when the 2002 season kicks off on Saturday, April 13.

The opening day of the NFLEL's 10th season will feature the Amsterdam Admirals, bidding to win their first World Bowl title, playing host to the Rhein Fire, who led the league in attendance in 2001.

On Sunday, April 14, the Barcelona Dragons, who made it to a record-tying fourth World Bowl appearance last season, visit the Scottish Claymores to complete the Week One schedule.

Continuing its eight-year broadcast partnership with the NFLEL, FOX will air games live in the US on consecutive Sundays in Weeks 6, 7 and 8. Fox Sports Net will broadcast an NFL Europe Game of the Week each Saturday throughout the season, while all other games can be seen live in the US on DirecTV.

The FOX network will broadcast Amsterdam's visit to Frankfurt in Week 6, Berlin's meeting with the Rhein Fire in Düsseldorf in Week 7 and the Week 8 clash between Scotland and Berlin at the Jahnstadion.

Teams will play a 10-game regular season, with the top two teams qualifying for a berth in World Bowl X on Saturday June 22. The venue for the championship game will be announced in the near future.

World Bowl champion head coach PETER VAAS said of the Thunder's opening test at Frankfurt: "I think it's great. One of the biggest things you learn to appreciate about this league is the enthusiasm of the fans in places like Frankfurt. It will be great for our players to be exposed to that sort of passionate atmosphere in the opening week. We will face a well-coached team but we'll be ready to go from game one."

Galaxy head coach DOUG GRABER is excited about getting an early shot at the champions, saying: "It is good for us to start the season against the Thunder - you might as well start off against the very best. It's going to be an exciting season right up until our final game against the Rhein Fire."

Coach PETE KUHARCHEK, who hopes to lead the Fire to their fourth World Bowl appearance in six years, said: "The big thing about our opener is that it's me going against my friend (Admirals head coach) BART ANDRUS again. Last year, both games between our teams went down to the last play and I'm expecting the same thing this season. There is a special competitive thing between Bart and me. We're friends after the final gun, but during the game we're about as competitive as you can get."

The 2002 season features the NFLEL's first-ever Friday Night Football game in Europe, when the Admirals take on the Thunder in Amsterdam ArenA on May 3. Admirals general manager RONALD BUYS commented: "We are very excited about playing on a Friday evening. We're telling people that instead of going for a beer after work they should come to the ArenA and see what a great and special event an Admirals game really is."

With his World Bowl runner-up Dragons hoping to go one better in 2002, head coach JACK BICKNELL will take his team north to face the Claymores on opening day. Bicknell said: "We have played really well there in the past so I'm not worried about that. I think we are going to be all right and will put in a good performance."

The Claymores will play one of their home games at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, with the other four at Glasgow's Hampden Park. After playing all five home games in 2001 in Glasgow at the home of Scottish soccer, the Claymores are heading east to the scene of their World Bowl '96 triumph against Frankfurt for a May 5 matchup against the same opposition.

Claymores general manager STEVE LIVINGSTONE said: "We have been working closely with Hampden Park to ensure the stadium has enough time to prepare for the UEFA Champions League final on May 15. We feel that returning to Murrayfield is the best option for us. Many of our fans come from the East coast and we want them to know that we appreciate their loyalty in supporting the Claymores."

The rematch of last year's Rhein-Frankfurt game in Düsseldorf, which attracted more than 51,000 fans to the Rheinstadion, will take place in Week 5. Meanwhile, the Galaxy's Week 9 home game against the Fire on Saturday June 8 will be the last major event played in Frankfurt's Waldstadion before the stadium is rebuilt.

Galaxy general manager TILMAN ENGEL said: "It's going to be a great opening to the season and an even more spectacular ending to the year. It is fitting that the final event in the old Waldstadion should be between the Galaxy and Fire. We will open a memorable season with a bang and go out with a bang."

Last year's World Bowl contestants, Berlin and Barcelona, square off in back-to-back games in Week 5 and 6.

Last season, four teams remained in contention for a berth in World Bowl going into Week 10 and this year's regular season schedule concludes with three games on Saturday June 15.

National Football League Europa Stories from November 15, 2001

• NFLE releases 2002 schedule - OSC Original by NFLE Press Release

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