Berlin Thunder

The American football team Berlin Thunder from 1999 to 2007 Member of the NFL Europe. Berlin Thunder had replaced the team of the London Monarchs in the European branch of the National Football League.

History

At the official confirmation of the ninth league franchise of FUJIFILM's prior DSF TV commentator Michael Lang was introduced in 1998 as General Manager. After a call in the media to the public to send in suggestions for names for the capital team, the name " Berlin Thunder" and the striking hammer logo in the planetarium were presented at the Islander on 16 November 1998.

Venue of the home matches of the Berlin Thunder was initially the Friedrich -Ludwig -Jahn -Sportpark in Berlin- Prenzlauer Berg. After initial difficulties in the first season under head coach Wes Chandler (3-7 wins, 1999) Berlin Thunder pulled under new head coach Peter Vaas (2000-2003) in the years 2001 and 2002 in the World Bowl finals. Both finals were won in 2001 in Amsterdam in World Bowl IX against the Barcelona Dragons ( 24:17 ), 2002 in Dusseldorf in the World Bowl X against the Rhein Fire ( 26:20 ). It was also the only successful title defense in the NFL Europe.

In the 2003 season they moved to the more famous Berlin Olympic Stadium due to better infrastructural situation. By moving the viewer average could be increased even faster than before, the record section was set up in 2005 with 16 848 fans per game. In the fifth home game in 2005 against the Cologne Centurions the highest number of audience was achieved in a game with 20 927 fans.

Before the NFL Europe season 2004 Rick Lantz took over the Head Coach Post by Peter Vaas, who moved to the newly founded League rivals Cologne Centurions. After a near perfect season with 10-1 wins under quarterback Rohan Davey ( of allocated from the New England Patriots ) Berlin Thunder won the third World Bowl title ( 30:24 against the Frankfurt Galaxy in World Bowl XII, Aufschalke Arena, Gelsenkirchen ) the team's history.

In autumn 2005, the former general manager Michael Lang was the Deputy General Manager and Sales and Marketing Director Joe Cealera replaced. The last time attracted the Berlin 2005 once again in the World Bowl XIII in the LTUarena ( Dusseldorf ) which will, but first went to the Amsterdam Admirals 27:21.

In the 2006 season fell audiences at the Berlin Thunder as well as all other NFLE teams, which was mainly due to a early start to the season due to the FIFA World Cup. In the 2006 Berlin Thunder wore even then, due to the busy schedule of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the fifth home game again in the " old country ", in Friedrich -Ludwig -Jahn -Sportpark, from. With 2 wins, 7 losses and a draw ( 17:17 in Hamburg, second draw league history ), the season has been completed.

In January 2007, gave Rick Lantz, who moved to the league rivals Rhein Fire, the baton as head coach of the Berlin Thunder to John Allen on the coach in Berlin already worked in 2003 as a wide receiver and the three years previously responsible for the successful Offense of the Amsterdam Admirals.

1999 season

3-7-0 | PF: 173 | PA: 308 | Rank: 6 The coached by Wes Chandler team lost in their first season first four games in a row before the home game against the Amsterdam Admirals could be won. At the end of 3 wins were against 7 defeats and Thunder was ranked 6 in the NFL Europe.

Season 2000

4-6-0 | PF: 189 | PA: 249 | Rank: 6 After the change of Wes Chandler to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL was Peter Vaas, previously offensive assistant with the Barcelona Dragons, head coach of Berlin. Although it was after the third round at the top of the table, at the end it was enough but with 4 wins and 6 losses back only for the last place.

2001 season

6-4-0 | PF: 270 | PA: 239 | Rank: 2 | World Bowl IX Champion Also in 2001, the first season game was lost. But after that was still won six times, so that Thunder was at the end with six wins and four losses in second, and the first time participants in the World Bowl final of the NFLE. The endgame in the Amsterdam Arena won the Berlin against the Barcelona Dragons with 24-17 and thus secured his first title World Bowl champion.

Season 2002

6-4-0 | PF: 231 | PA: 188 | Rank: 2 | World Bowl X Champion The team of Peter Vaas started again only moderately in the season. But three narrow defeats followed by three victories at the end, there were six wins and four losses to book. Again Berlin Thunder was in second and qualified for the World Bowl. The final was in the Düsseldorf Rhein Stadium, where also the final opponent Rhein Fire played its home games discharged. With a 26:20 success Berliner defended as the first NFLE team ever her title.

Season 2003

3-7-0 | PF: 248 | PA: 318 | Rank: 6 Pursued by bad luck with injuries team lost in 2003 equal to the first four games of the season. This was followed in the course of the season just three wins, which were offset by seven defeats in the end. This Thunder could once again prove only the last place.

Season 2004

9-1-0 | PF: 286 | PA: 196 | Rank: 1 | World Bowl XII Champion Much better was the 2004 season. The USD football circles widely known and respected Rick Lantz took over the team as head coach, and led her to start the season to five wins in a row. On Matchday Berlin Thunder suffered their first and only, moreover, extremely scarce, defeat at the Cologne Centurions. With nine wins and one defeat Thunder stood as the leader for the third time in the World Bowl. In the final, Berlin Thunder met in the arena Aufschalke on the Frankfurt Galaxy. The Berlin decided the game with 30:24 to themselves to celebrate the third title in four years.

Season 2005

7-3-0 | PF: 241 | PA: 191 | Rank 1 | World Bowl XIII participants In the season 2005, Berlin was once again prematurely qualify for the finals under the guidance of Rick Lantz. After the defeat of the Cologne Centurions on the ninth Matchday Berlin stood a table on the first and finalists. Final opponents were the Amsterdam Admirals, which ultimately decided the game in Dusseldorf with 27:21 for themselves. Berlin Thunder had lost a final for the first time in its team history (including 3 victories ) was at that time but with four playoff appearances in seven seasons, the most successful team in the league. Quarterback Dave Ragone (Houston Texans ) was after the season named " NFLE Offensive MVP ," linebacker Rich Scanlon as " NFLE Defensive MVP ".

Season 2006

2-7-1 | PF: 167 | PA: 227 | Rank 6 The team was never able to build with only 2 wins to the proud balance sheets of the previous teams. In week 3 only the second draw league history was achieved with a 17:17 at the Hamburg Sea Devils, which secured the Berlin at the last minute of normal time. The fifth and final home game was contested against the eventual World Bowl champion Frankfurt Galaxy of old workplace at the Friedrich- Ludwig -Jahn -Sportpark and only narrowly lost with 13:14. To move it had come for the 2006 Football World Cup, because of the Olympic Stadium in May had to be prepared for the games.

Season 2007

In the last season the league Berlin Thunder lost for the first time all home games. This was Thunders last season, as the NFL has her daughter League NFL Europe disbanded on 29 June 2007 with immediate effect.

Former Thunder player with NFL contracts

German Berlin Thunder players

  • Christian Mohr ( DE, 2004-2006 National Player - released in January 2005 with the Seattle Seahawks under contract after an injury in September 2005; " NFLEL National MVP 2005 ", 2006: " NFLE National Player of the Week 3", " NFLEL National MVP 2006 "; Practice squad Square at Philadelphia Eagles for the 2006 season )
  • Oliver Flemming (DB, 2005/ 06 National Player, 2006 World Bowl title with the Frankfurt Galaxy on loan from Berlin Thunder )
  • Jörg " tail " rear Bach ( WR 1999-2004 National Player, the NFLE - End of career record holder in Berlin Thunder with eight touchdowns, GFL: to 2004 Braunschweig Lions, 2005 Berlin Adler, from 2006 Braunschweig Lions )
  • Axel Kruse ( football, 1999-2003 - Ex- Bundesliga club Hertha, VfB Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hansa Rostock). With 169 career points, the highest points scorer Berlin team history
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