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1997 Rhein Fire season
World League of American Football team season
World League of American Football team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) |
| teamdisplay | Rhein Fire |
| year | 1997 |
| record | 7–3 |
| division_place | 1st |
| coach | Galen Hall |
| general manager | Alexander Leibkind |
| stadium | Rheinstadion |
| playoffs | Lost World Bowl '97 |
| previous | 1996 |
| next | 1998 |
| shortnavlink | Rhein Fire |
The 1997 Rhein Fire season was the third season for the franchise in the World League of American Football (WLAF). The team was led by head coach Galen Hall in his third year, and played its home games at Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf, Germany. They finished the regular season in first place with a record of seven wins and three losses, marking the first winning season in franchise history. In World Bowl '97, Rhein lost to the Barcelona Dragons 38–24. Quarterback T. J. Rubley earned all-World League honors and was named the league's offensive most valuable player.
Offseason
World League draft
| Draft order | Player name | Position | College | Round | Choice | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 19 | 5 | 30 | 6 | 31 | 7 | 42 | 8 | 43 | 9 | 54 | 10 | 55 | 11 | 66 | 12 | 67 | 13 | 78 | 14 | 79 | 15 | 90 | 16 | 91 | 17 | 102 | 18 | 103 | 19 | 114 | 20 | 115 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Stanley | DE | Arizona State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Artis Houston | CB | California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Bailey | WR | Auburn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scotty Lewis | DE | Baylor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Merritt | LB | North Carolina State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Anderson | S | Oklahoma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Rhodes | WR | Central Florida | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pete Shufelt | LB | UTEP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anthony Daigle | RB | Fresno State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sean Foster | WR | Long Beach State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Shelling | CB | Auburn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Powers | RB | Michigan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kelly Wiltshire | CB | James Madison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earl Mackey | LB | Southern | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Brook | LB | Wyoming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Don Robinson | CB | Kentucky | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Will Brown | LB | Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyle Richardson | P | Arkansas State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Thomas | WR | Cal Poly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jay Barry | RB | Washington |
Personnel
Staff
-
General Manager – Alexander Leibkind
-
Head Coach/Running Backs – Galen Hall
-
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Ken Karcher
-
Wide Receivers – Wes Chandler
-
Offensive Line – Bob Lord
-
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Pete Kuharchek
-
National Coach/Defensive Line – Walter Rohlfing
-
Defensive Backs/Special Teams – Steve Carson
Roster
Schedule
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Game site | Attendance | Final score | Team record | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | World Bowl '97 | 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, April 12 | 7:00 p.m. | Barcelona Dragons | L 12–27 | 0–1 | Rheinstadion | 17,150 | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday, April 20 | 3:00 p.m. | London Monarchs | W 28–6 | 1–1 | Rheinstadion | 14,876 | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday, April 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at Scottish Claymores | W 23–10 | 2–1 | Murrayfield Stadium | 11,166 | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, May 3 | 7:00 p.m. | at Amsterdam Admirals | L 20–23 | 2–2 | Amsterdam ArenA | 10,698 | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, May 10 | 7:00 p.m. | Frankfurt Galaxy | W 10–7 | 3–2 | Rheinstadion | 32,140 | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, May 17 | 7:00 p.m. | at Frankfurt Galaxy | W 21–20 | 4–2 | Waldstadion | 39,182 | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday, May 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Scottish Claymores | L 20–23 | 4–3 | Rheinstadion | 20,498 | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, May 31 | 7:30 p.m. | at Barcelona Dragons | W 38–23 | 5–3 | Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc | 13,670 | ||||||||||||||
| Saturday, June 7 | 7:00 p.m. | Amsterdam Admirals | W 24–0 | 6–3 | Rheinstadion | 23,697 | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday, June 15 | 3:00 p.m. | at London Monarchs | W 10–7 | 7–3 | Stamford Bridge | 10,462 | ||||||||||||||
| Sunday, June 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Barcelona Dragons | L 24–38 | 7–4 | Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc | 31,100 |
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs Barcelona Dragons
Week 2: vs London Monarchs
Week 3: at Scottish Claymores
Week 4: at Amsterdam Admirals
Week 5: vs Frankfurt Galaxy
Week 6: at Frankfurt Galaxy
Week 7: vs Scottish Claymores
Week 8: at Barcelona Dragons
Week 9: vs Amsterdam Admirals
Week 10: at London Monarchs
World Bowl '97
Main article: World Bowl '97
Awards
After the completion of the regular season, the All-World League team was selected by members of the media. Overall, Rhein had six players selected. The selections were:
- T. J. Rubley, quarterback
- Bill Schroeder, wide receiver
- Ethan Brooks, offensive tackle
- Mike Sheldon, guard
- Bob Kronenberg, center
- Spencer Folau, offensive tackle
Additionally, Rubley was selected offensive MVP by the six World League head coaches. Galen Hall earned Coach of the Year honors.
Notes
References
References
- "1997 World League draft". WorldLeague.com.
- "The Official 1998 NFL Europe League Fact Book".
- (April 14, 1997). "Dragons 27, Fire 12". [[Stars and Stripes (newspaper).
- Associated Press. (April 20, 1997). "Fire 28, Monarchs 6". Associated Press.
- Associated Press. (May 3, 1997). "Admirals 23, Fire 20". Associated Press.
- Associated Press. (May 10, 1997). "Fire 10, Galaxy 7". Associated Press.
- Associated Press. (May 17, 1997). "Fire 21, Galaxy 20". Associated Press.
- Associated Press. (June 15, 1997). "Fire 10, Monarchs 7". Associated Press.
- (June 20, 1997). "1997 All-World League team". WorldLeague.com.
- (June 21, 1997). "Rubley and Simmons Honored". [[The New York Times]].
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