So, it's been quite a long time since my last post, and I do apologize for the long wait. My family has been here for the last two weeks and just left for home on Monday. Their time here kept me busy and I did not have time to tend to my blog. So please accept my sincerest apologies for the delay in blog posts, but I should be able to keep up a steady update schedule from now until the end of the season in mid-late July.

A quick update on our games since I last posted. We played the Calanda Broncos at home on May 1. We lost the game 37-36 in the last two minutes of the game, having had the lead nearly the entire way. This was against a team that had not lost in its last 26 contests, and would have been quite an upset in the mind of the European football world. Alas, 250 penalty yards and too many mistakes made it not to be, as we could not pull out a victory against a team that was then ranked 8th in all of Europe.

The next week we played the Basel Gladiators and suffered another defeat, 41-17. Another 200 penalty yards and several red zone turnovers doomed us in our quest to sweep the season series from the team that we defeated in week 1. The Gladiators had sent their QB home at some point between when we played them in week one and last weekend. They have totally changed their offensive schemes and are a much more explosive team.

Last weekend, we had a game scheduled against the Zurich Renegades at home. Due to a large rainstorm, our game was cancelled and has yet to be rescheduled. With our team sharing our home field with the Hohenems Soccer Club, rain meant that playing would tear up the field for the soccer team, meaning our game would be cancelled. Imagine the status of football vs. soccer in the US, and totally switch them around here in Europe. Soccer rules all, and anything that could possibly get in the way of anything soccer gets the axe. Hence, we are not to play a game in the rain on the soccer field.

Before I go, I do want to share some pictures of Neuschwanstein Castle. My family and I visited this castle that is merely 1 1/2 hours drive from my home in Austria. It is one of the most famous castles in all of Europe, getting 6,000 visitors per day in the summer time. This castle is the same one that the castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL was modeled after.

View of Neuschwanstein Castle from a bride above a ravine behind the castle. 

Front view of the Neuschwanstein Castle

View out the back side of the Neuschwanstein Castle

It was great to see my family in the last couple of weeks, and they did a great job of keeping me busy. I had not seen them since mid-January, and it was great to be able spend time with them once again.

This Sunday we have another home game against the Basel MeanMachine. Another big game in the Swiss top league. We will look to hold on to our second place spot in the league and keep position for a home game in the playoffs. Please check in next week for updates on the game, and I promise to try and keep a more up-to-date account of my time here for the rest of my journey in Austria.

Go Blue Devils/Boys!
Mitch Niekamp