Swarco Raiders Tirol

Swarco Raiders Tirol, formerly Papa Joe's Tyrolean Raiders, are an Austrian American football team from Innsbruck.

History

Foundation

The birth of the Raiders was the 15th of September 1992 when a group of interested people met for the first football training. After several months of preparation finally an American football club was founded. The financial basis was laid through the sponsorship of a restaurant, this is also where the former club name " Papa Joe 's Raiders AFC West " returned. 1993 saw the launch Papa Joe 's Raiders West in the Third Division, where they sensationally lost a single game and reached a total score of 158:11. It was followed by the election of the " New Comer Team of the Year 1993 " and the issue of player eligibility for the Second Division.

Second Division

The Raiders could not continue the successes in the Second Division in 1994 and 1995. During this time, 14 of the 16 games were lost. Nevertheless, the Club in 1994 by the establishment of a Cheer leather section, the Raiders Roses, and the first junior teams ( juniors) was put on a broader basis. In 1996, finally presented once again a success for the Raiders. In seven games, they reached six wins (Score 185:70 ), but failed against the " Amstetten Thunderbolts " with 0:22 on the Tivoli. In the following season, 1997, the Second Division was characterized by a duel with the Salzburg Bulls. After two defeats in the Championship but the Raiders also lost the semifinal against the Bulls in overtime. After all, eight players the Raiders were called up to the national team, and the juniors won the Austrian Junior Cup. This year, there was a reorganization of the offspring in a student ( under 13 years ), youth (under 16 years) and junior team (up to 19 years).

First Division 1998-2000

Due to a league and increase the good performance in the previous season, the Raiders 1998 first played in the First Division. The team finished the season as the Seventh of eight teams. The following season in 1999, the Raiders first reinforced with legionaries and placed in midfield. In 2000, the renaming of the association of " Papa Joe 's Raiders West " in " Papa Joe's Tyrolean Raiders" and the cheerleading squad of " Raiders Roses " in " Tyrolean Raiderettes " took place. With the increased use of legionaries, the Raiders were able to win in the 2000 season seven of eight games in the regular season, as well as the playoff game against the Cowboys Klagenfurt. However, the first part in the Austrian Bowl ended with a loss to the Chrysler Vikings 28:34. While the juniors of the Raiders also lost in the final against the Vikings, the student or youth team of the Raiders secured the championship title.

First Division 2001-2003

In the 2001 season, the Raiders began participating in the Euro Bowl, the Raiders had a rather mixed season. Like last year, the team reached the Austrian Bowl, failed again with 21:14 to the Vikings. The student team secured the title of Austrian Champion again. In the following season, 2002, the Raiders were unable to repeat the finals the last two years, also due to injury problems, they were 3 of the Austrian championship and coming in 10th place at the Euro Bowl. Also during the 2003 season, the Raiders could not advance to the finals, but had to in EFAF Cup only in the finale the Carlstad Crusaders defeated.

First league title

In the 2004 season, the Raiders reached their biggest success to date. They beat the Chrysler Vikings in the match for the Austrian Bowl 28:20, after they had lost the games against the Vikings in the regular season. In the same year the Raiders won the EFAF Cup with 45:0 against the PA Farnham Knights from the UK.

The Raiders also met again in 2005 to the Austrian -finals, but was beaten by the Vikings in the southern front of 4,200 spectators with 43:14 ( 21:7 ).

Since 2006, the Raiders occur by the new sponsor Swarco Holding Wattens named Swarco Raiders Tirol. In the European Football League, the Raiders reached after a surprise victory over the Braunschweig Lions the semi-finals, in which they had to admit defeat against La Courneuve Flash 17:27 from France. In the AFL, the Raiders were Austrian champion. In the Austrian Bowl XXII they beat the Dodge Vikings Vienna with 43:19.

2008: Euro Bowl victory and cooperation with the Oakland Raiders

In a thrilling Euro Bowl semi-finals were the later Austrian Bowl winner, the Graz Giants are defeated after extra time with 56:49.

On June 27, the Raiders lost the Austrian Bowl XXIV against the Giants with 31:21. In retrospect, it turned out that 2 players of Graz were doped. But for a denial of the permit would have min. 3 players must be doped.

5 July 2008 then hit the big moment of the Raiders. In an exciting final, the Raiffeisen Vikings were defeated by 28:24. It was the first Euro Bowl title for the Raiders and the first major international title, which was won by a Tyrolean team. Florian Grein was erlaufenen with 104 yards and 2 touchdowns MVP of the game.

In 2008, the Swarco Raiders attracted attention as they entered a cooperation with the namesake from the NFL, the Oakland Raiders. The partnership is a great opportunity for the Raiders to make the Amateur Football in Austria even more popular. Several coaches, including head coach Santos Carrillo, Andreas Pröller and Nick Johansson have already participated in courses and the training camp of the Oakland Raiders.

Season 2009

Swarco Raiders started as a title aspirant in the regular season, the regular season could be won with 6 wins, with only 2 losses ( against Graz Giants and Vienna Vikings ). The new quarterback of Innsbruck, the NFL and CFL experienced Jason Johnson convinced from the start and led the Raiders offense with 29 TDs with only two interceptions in the playoffs. In the semifinals, they came upon the eternal rivals, the Vienna Vikings. In an embossed by many, even dubious, penalties game, the Raiders led at the break already with 21:00. After halftime, the Vikings scorten first time on Safety and Wiener start a brilliant comeback. A few seconds before the end, the Vikings were at the score of 15:21 in the Redzone Raiders and were by a TD pass to Pasha Asiladab score the equalizer. Kicker Peter Kramberger could exploit the PAT and established the Full Time ( 21:22 [ 21:00 ] ). The Vikings moved with this victory surprising in the Austrian Bowl XXV. one.

11 July 2009 were the Swarco Raiders in Euro Bowl XXIII Flash de la Courneuve, which ausschaltete on the way to the finals, the Graz Giants and the Vienna Vikings beat clearly with 30:19. It was the second EWL title for the Tyrolean after another.

Season 2010

Started with great ambitions in the 2010 season, the Swarco Raiders for three years remained at the end of the 2010 season for the first time entirely without a title. It was only eliminated in the semifinals of the Tyrolean European Football League on home turf with 27:29 to eventual Euro Bowl champion Berlin Adler. Then she lost - also in Innsbruck Tivoli Stadium - the Austrian Bowl with 21:28 against the Danube Dragons. At the end of the season, the Tyrolean then separated by Head Coach Santos Carillo and offensive coordinator Nick Johansen. In November 2010, the Swarco Raiders Shuan Fatah introduced as new head coach before. The Berlin had just the Euro Bowl with Berlin won and had led the German Bowl finals the Eagles.

Season 2011

Shuan Fatah brought with offensive coordinator Lee Rowland and quarterback Kyle Callahan, wide receiver and kicker Talib Wise Dennis Wiehberg from Berlin to Innsbruck. Also, the success brought Fatah back to Tyrol. The team won for the first time in the club's history the "Double". Swarco Raiders won both the Euro Bowl and the Austrian State Championship. On Saturday, 18 June 2011, the Tyrolean defeated before 8,600 spectators at the Tivoli Stadium (a record for a football game in Tirol) defending champion Berlin Adler with 27:12. Florian Grein was elected MVP. Only five days later, the Tyrolean also secured the title in the Austrian Bowl XXVII by a 23:13 win over the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna at Vienna's Ernst - Happel stadium in front of 9,634 fans ( Austrian record ). Wise scored three touchdowns and was named MVP. Before the final in Vienna Grein the AFL- season 2011 was also named the "Offensive MVP ". Safety John Clements was elected " Defensive MVP " of the season.

The Euro Bowl XXV was a huge success, not only from a sporting point of view. As part of the final of the Football Crown Europe posted the Oakland Raiders, brother team of Swarco Raiders, six Cheerleader of the legendary Oakland Raiderettes and Raiders legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Brown. The visitors from overseas helped the game and the Swarco Raiders to a never before reached public attention.

Other teams of the association

In addition to the first team there at the Raiders following teams:

• Five junior teams for Super Minis ( 6-9 years), Minis ( under 12), students (up to 14 years), Youth (under 16 years) and Juniors (up to 19 years)
• Cheerleading teams Raiderettes and Raiderettes Juniors who have already won more championship titles
• Founded in 2001 a flag football team

Well-known former players

• Florian Grein
• Talib Wise