|
| Hamburg, Germany |
The Hamburg Sea Devils were an American football team that began play in NFL Europa from 2005. They
played their home games at Hamburg's HSH Nordbank Arena (also home to the Bundesliga soccer side Hamburger SV). They played
their first game on April 2, 2005 losing 24-23 to the Cologne Centurions (who were the newest NFL Europe franchise before
the Sea Devils). Also, the Sea Devils' very first ever win came in Week 3 of the 2005 season, with a 31-24 home victory over
the then-struggling Rhein Fire.
On April 1, 2006, the Sea Devils recorded their very first tie in franchise history.
At home, they scored 17 points in the second quarter, against the Berlin Thunder. They had blown their 17-point lead before
regulation ended. When no one scored in overtime, the game ended in a draw. This was only the second tie in the NFL Europa
history. The previous tie came in the 1992 season between the Birmingham Fire and the London Monarchs. The final score for
that game was also 17-17.
On June 23, 2007, the Sea Devils won their first World Bowl championship with a 37-28 victory
over the defending champion Frankfurt Galaxy. It was also their last, as NFL Europa disbanded almost immediately following
the game. As a result, the Sea Devils are the last team to win a WLAF/NFL Europe/NFL Europa game ever.
The Sea Devils
were brought to American media attention again on July 14, 2007, when 2006 team member Mike Jemison was arrested in Pennsylvania
for robbery. Also Thomas Herrion was a Offensive tackle allocated to the team by the San Fransico 49ers. Herrion passed away
after a preseason game against the Denver Broncos in August 2005. His number 68 was selected to be the number for the 2006
jerseys.
The Sea Devils should not be confused with the Hamburg Blue Devils, a German Football League team.
Season-by-season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff
results |
|---|
| Hamburg Sea Devils (NFL Europe) |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4th
League | -- |
| 2006 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5th League | -- |
| Hamburg Sea Devils (NFL Europa) |
| 2007 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1st
League | Won World Bowl XV (Galaxy) |
| Totals | 16 | 14 | 1 | (including playoffs) |
|---|
Hamburg Sea Devils - Team Facts
Founded: 2004
Stadium: AOL Arena
Team Colors
Dark
Blue, Teal, Red
STADIUM INFORMATION
Address:
AOL Arena
Sylvesterallee 7
22525 Hamburg
Playing Surface:
Grass
AOL Arena Capacity:55,000
Stadium: Great sports events belong in great arenas and that mantra applies to the Hamburg
Sea Devils. With 57,000 seats, the AOL Arena, home of the Sea Devils, is one of Europe's state-of-the-art stadiums. Opened
in 2000, the AOL Arena has served as the home field of the soccer club Hamburger SV and hosted many events and concerts, including
The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen.
All 57,000 seats are covered and the venue features 50
luxury boxes with 10-20 seats each bring a special atmosphere. There are also 2,100 business seats in the AOL Arena. Finally,
the arena contains more than 1,500 square meters of space in conference rooms.
The AOL Arena hosted
five matches during the 2006 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
City/Region:
Gateway to the world. That's what the city of Hamburg is known as, because of its internationally-known harbor. In recent
years, Hamburg has become more of a touristic attraction. Exciting tours through the harbor, the famous Reeperbahn, the Landungsbr|cken
or the historical Speicherstadt lure more than 70 million visitors to Hamburg every year.
Also known
as the 'old pearl,' Hamburg may be more than 1,000 years old, but she has remained young at heart. By visiting St. Pauli and
walking on the Reeperbahn one can feel how young Hamburg really is. Once known as the city's red-light district, the 600-meter-long
'sinful mile' today shines in the neon light of the many clubs, bars and shops.
Amateur
Football: The Hamburg Blue Devils football team was founded in 1992. Since 1995 the Blue Devils have been
a very successful member of the German Football League. They won the German Bowl four times and the Euro Bowl three times.
In addition to all the titles, the friendly games against Florida State University in 1999 and the University of Notre Dame
Alumni Team in 2000 were definitely two highlights in team history.
The Hamburg Blue Devils are
well-known as a talent factory and home team for a lot of former and current national team members and NFLE players. Ex-Blue
Devil Constantin Ritzmann is the first German ever to make an NFL roster as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Hamburg's
team in Germany's second division is the Hamburg Eagles. In addition to the Blue Devils and the Eagles, three more teams teach
tackle as well as flag football to young players.
http://www.nfl.com/europa/teams/HAM/facts
HSH Nordbank Arena
THE COACHES
|
| Caoch Jack Bicknell (2005-2007) |
Their first head coach was Jack Bicknell, previously head coach of the defunct Barcelona Dragons and
Scottish Claymores. The Sea Devils had directly replaced the Claymores after the 2004 season.
On
March 29, 2007, Bicknell resigned, citing health issues as the reason. He was replaced by offensive coordinator Vince Martino.
|
| Coach Vince Martino (2007) |
Martino was the head coach in NFL Europa for the Hamburg Sea Devils. He took
over from Coach Jack Bicknell prior to the 2007 season, after Bicknell retired due to health reason. He guided the Sea Devils
to a 7-3 record and a World Bowl Championship, defeating the Frankfurt Galaxy 38-27 in World Bowl XV.
Most recently, he served as offensive line coach
for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian
Football League. Previously, Martino spent fifteen seasons in the WLAF, NFLE & NFL Europa.
Martino Earns the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year for
NFL Europa
Sportexe
Awards Sea Devils Coach Top Honor
July 26, 2007
Boston, MA,
Sportexe® is proud to announce Vince Martino, head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, as the
winner of the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year award for his efforts in NFL Europa, formerly NFL Europe, this season. Martino
joins previous Sportexe Coach of the Year winners such as the NFL’s John Fox and Sean Payton, CFL’s Tom Higgins
and Wally Buono and NFL Europa’s Doug Graber.
“This is a tremendous honor from Sportexe,” said
Martino. “It is a reflection of the fine job conducted by the entire Hamburg organization, from the front office to
the support staff to the coaches and players.”
Martino, in his first year as head coach after spending two
seasons as Hamburg’s offensive coordinator under legendary coach Jack Bicknell, led the Sea Devils to its first World
Bowl appearance in franchise history and captured the league title with 37-28 victory against the host Frankfurt Galaxy in
front of 48,125 fans.
Martino, had joined the now defunct-Barcelona Dragons in 1991 as an offensive coach during
the league’s inception as the World League of American Football, which consisted of 10 teams located throughout North
America and Europe. He coached in four World Bowls with the Dragons, the most recent being World Bowl IX in 2001. Martino
won a World Bowl ring in 1997.
“Coach Martino coached for me for 30 years while I was head coach at the University
of Maine, Boston College and with NFL Europe, so I know him quite well,” said Bicknell, now retired. “I am so
excited for all the success Coach Martino has enjoyed this season with the World Bowl, and especially with his acknowledgment
from Sportexe as the outstanding football coach I have always known him to be.”
On July 2, the NFL decided
to discontinue the operation of NFL Europa, a six-team, all-European venture.
“The era of NFL Europe has
ended,” said Aaron S. Lee, football coaching insider and Sportexe spokesperson. “But not the legacy it leaves
behind. Men like Coach Martino and Coach Graber not only embody the true spirit of Sportexe, but also the truest spirit of
football.
“Sportexe is proud to call Coach Martino the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year in NFL Europa. We
look forward to what should be continued success throughout Coach Martino’s career no matter what league he may call
home.”
http://www.pr.com/press-release/46526The Uniform
|
| 2005 - 2007 Sea Devils Helmet |
|
|
| 2005 Sea Devils Away Jersey |
|
|
| 2005 - 2007 Sea Devils Pants |
|
|
| 2006 Sea Devils Away Jersey |
|
|
| 2007 Sea Devils Home Jersey |
|
|
| 2007 Sea Devils Away Jersey |
|
|
| 2005 Sea Devils History |
|
|
| 2006 Sea Devils History |
|
|
| 2007 Sea Devils History |
|
