Championship Defeat/ NFL Preview

The Crocodiles suffered a season ending loss to the Porvoon Butchers 30-17 in the Maple League Championship game last Saturday afternoon in Helsinki, Finland. The team played a tough game and had some opportunities to pull away in the first half, but we didn't capitalize on the chances we had in those first two quarters. We outplayed the Butchers in the first half, but they weathered the storm and the game was knotted up 17-17 at intermission. In the second half, we stumbled on offense after one of our top receivers (Riku) broke his collarbone. We dropped two touchdown passes and also turned the ball over twice to the Butchers on interceptions, both coming on offensive drives in our opponents territory. On the flip side, the Butchers were outstanding in the kicking game as they converted on two field goals beyond 40 yards in the game. They made plays when they had to down the stretch and the play of their veteran QB Robert Johnson and the experience of the 5 time defending champions helped propel them to another title. We were so disappointed after the game as we realized that we let a golden opportunity pass through our hands. I felt terrible about the loss and a few poor calls that I made down on the goal line late in the first half.

In any case, I am very proud of our guys and everything they put into the 2010 season. We had a great team spirit this year and I can proudly say that this was a great team. I felt it was an honor to coach these players and I will sorely miss everybody associated with this organization. The Crocodiles organization has been very good to me over the past two seasons and our experiences there have been a great source of enjoyment and growth for both my family and I over the past two seasons. It is not an exaggeration for me to say that this experience has been a dream come true for me. Thanks again Crocs for so many wonderful memories.

As for my future, I have decided to comment on some of these issues in future blog posts. There are also some more pictures/moments that I want to share on the blog in the upcoming days.

Before I close today, I thought I would do a short preview of the upcoming NFL season and make a few predictions to stash away for future reference. It is so hard to believe that the NFL season actually kicks off tonight with a stellar showdown between the defending champ Saints and the hard luck Minnesota Vikings.

Here are a few observations based on what I have observed as we look towards the season, followed by my picks for divisional winners/playoffs/ and an ultimate Super Bowl winner.

- Observation # 1-- The league can really do without drama queens like Albert Haynesworth. This guy has been bad news from a character standpoint looking all the way back to his college days. There are $100 million reasons why he should be acting with a little more class and integrity, but Big Albert just doesn't get it and he never will. I would trade him for a 13th round draft pick. Oh by the way, there is no such thing as a 13th round pick!

- Observation # 2-- Peyton Manning is still pretty darn good. The Colts won every game they wanted to last season except the last one, and they almost pulled that one off too. Manning is the best in the game at making adjustments at the line and steering his offense into the end zone. I think the Colts will be 12-4 or better even if the rest of the team suffers a letdown from their Super Bowl loss last season.

- Observation # 3-- Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis will be well qualified to work as a baby sitter, circus ringmaster, or probation officer after he finally gets fired by the team within the next few seasons. The Bengals would probably try and sign Charles Manson to the practice squad if he ever gets out of prison. The recent list of malcontents include guys like Chad Johnson, Larry Johnson (last season), Terrell Owens, and Adam Pac-Man Jones. These are only some of big name guys that have reputations and egos to match. The Bengals seem to find more headcases than maybe even past years versions of the NBA's Portland Jailbreakers. I just cannot ever root for a team, coach, or team president (shame on you Mike Brown) who consistently set the bar so low when it comes to finding players with any semblance of character.

-Observation # 4-- Jay Cutler will never win a playoff game with the Chicago Bears. Cutler is overrated and the Bears are a team on the decline. This is good news for Detroit because the Bears really don't cause the Vikings or Packers to lose any sleep at night. Mike Martz should help this anemic offense, but the Da Bears will slide to new depths with the arrogant Cutler calling the signals.

-Observation # 5-- The Carolina Panthers are one of the most underrated teams in the NFL. John Fox is a solid coach and the Panthers will be better off without Jake Delhomme at QB. They have two dynamic running backs in Williams and Stewart and a defense that can still be effective, even with the loss of Julius Peppers.

-Observation # 6-- The Buffalo Bills are going to really struggle to score points this season. I don't think there will be many wins any time soon in this football hungry city. C.J. Spiller just might be the rookie of the year if he stays healthy, but the rest of the situation in Buffalo looks pretty bleak.

-Observation # 7-- The San Francisco 49ers are poised to be a playoff team this season. Yes, I think the 49ers are going to make a statement in the NFL in 2010. They have a solid defense, a great runner in Frank Gore, one of most talented young offensive lines in football and a great young coach in Mike Singletary to boot. Now all they are missing is a serviceable QB. (see Minnesota Vikings before Brett Favre) I'm not sure Alex Smith is the answer, but I admire the 49ers for believing in him and giving him a chance to mature in this offense.

-Observation # 8-- Jerry Jones will pull the trigger and fire Wade Phillips if the Cowboys fail to at least advance to the NFC championship game. I believe the Super Bowl is held in Dallas this year and Jones is banking on getting there. I just don't see it happening. The Cowboys are a playoff caliber team, but they are grossly inconsistent and it usually shows in the playoffs.

-Observation # 9-- The Pete Carroll era will get off to a slow start in Seattle. Carroll has a nice resume from his days at USC, but the Seahawks don't have Washington State or UCLA on the schedule. This Hawks have an aging QB, who I predict will not finish the season as the starter and no running backs like the former Shaun Alexander on the roster. I see a 6-10 season in my crystal ball.

-Observation # 10-- The Eagles will miss Donovan McNabb. # 5 never led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win, but he often got a bad rap in Philly, a city not exactly known for being warm and fuzzy towards its sports stars. I don't think the Eagles to be horrible, but they will have growing pains with a new starting QB at the helm. I wouldn't be surprised if they are on the short end of some close games this season.

Now for my regular season/playoff/Super Bowl Picks.

First the AFC

1. New England 10-6
2.New York Jets 10-6
3.Miami Dolphins 9-7
4.Buffalo Bills 4-12

1.Baltimore Ravens 11-5
2.Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
3. Cincinnati Bengals 9-7
4.Cleveland Browns 6-10

1.Indianapolis Colts 12-4
2.Tennessee Titans 10-6
3. Houston Texans 9-7
4.Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9

1. San Diego Chargers 11-5
2. Denver Broncos 7-9
3. Oakland Raiders 6-10
4. Kansas City Chiefs 7-9

Now the NFC

1. Cowboys 11-5
2. Giants 10-6
3. Washington Redskins 8-8
4. Philadelphia Eagles 7-9

1. Green Bay Packers 11-5
2. Minnesota Vikings 10-6
3. Chicago Bears 6-10
4. Detroit Lions 5-11

1. New Orleans Saints 13-3
2. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
3. Carolina Panthers 8-8
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-11

1. San Francisco 49ers 10-6
2. Arizona Cardinals 9-7
3. Seattle Seahawks 6-10
4. St. Louis Rams 3-13

Playoff Picks: AFC Teams-- Patriots, Jets, Ravens, Colts, Titans, Chargers
NFC Teams--Giants, Cowboys, Packers, Vikings, Saints, 49ers

AFC Championship Game: Colts vs. Ravens
NFC Championship GAme: Packers vs. Saints

Super Bowl Pick: Colts defeat Packers 34-27


Lights out.

Championship Bound

Our team posted a 42-28 victory in the semi-finals of the Maple League Playoffs. We defeated the Helsinki Roosters in a tough back and forth contest that showcased several changes in momentum throughout the game. We started the game with a flurry and jumped out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The Roosters responded with a score before the half and closed the gap to 21-6 heading into the break. We expected to see the Roosters at their best in the 3rd quarter and they didn't disappoint with their effort as they scored twice in the first 7 minutes of the quarter. We will surely on the ropes, but we answered with a score of our own on as our QB Alex Rouse hit veteran Finnish wide receiver Tuukka Pernu on a play action pass. We carried a 28-21 lead into the final period. We added another score midway through the 4th quarter and extended the margin to 14 points. The Roosters weren't done yet and they answered with a touchdown pass to close the gap to 7 with less than two minutes to play. We recovered the onside kick and then ran the ball on two consecutive plays. Our opponent used their final two time-outs and we had a third and long to go with just under a minute and a half to play. On the next play, Crocs running back Greg Fountain responded with a long touchdown run to essentially seal the victory. The Roosters would again drive down the field, but the game ended on an interception in the end zone. What a game! I was very proud of our guys and the way they play the game. They never give up even when things are looking rather bleak. We had a real gut check when the Roosters tied the game at 21. I credit our players for having the ability to regain their composure and re-establish control of the game. The victory earns us the right to play the five time defending champion Butchers in the Maple Bowl. This is Finland's version of the Super Bowl, only with about 70,000 less people in the stands, and slightly less than half a billion people watching. In any case, it is big news in my life and here in Suomi. The chance to play for the trophy hasn't sunk in yet, but I will be giving everything I have this week to prepare us for this game. I feel so blessed to be in this position, and I am relishing every minute of it!!

The Crocs have one more mountain to climb this season.

We must overcome the Butchers to realize our dream of winning the title.

Wish you all were here to watch the big game

A team with a lot of heart

I really need to get this hair cut--- "Wonder how Justin Bieber puts up with this?"

Can't forget my little half pint

3 Cheers for the Crocs!


Lights out.

Crocs earn regular season title with victory over Wolverines

The Crocodiles played their hearts out on a gloomy and sad day and came away with a hard fought 35-12 victory vs. the Helsinki Wolverines. I say sad because one of our youth cheerleaders died last week from injuries sustained in an accident with a motorist while she was riding her bike and crossing an intersection. Her name was Katarina and she was only 15. The accident occurred less than a mile from our apartment at the corner of an intersection where the kids and I pass often when riding our bikes here in town. My heart and prayers go out to this family. It was quite hard to focus on the game as we honored the young lady yesterday with some words of reflection and then a moment of silence before the kickoff. Tragedies such as this sure put life into proper prospective and help me to realize that life is so fragile and football is just a game.

As for the game, the team got off to a quick start by blocking a punt in the first quarter and cashing in with a quick touchdown pass. Our defense was fired up yesterday and we kept their QB scrambling as we recorded several sacks on the day. A few of these hits caused fumbles and that was a big factor for us in the game. Our offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and running back Greg Fountain proved why he is the leading rusher in the Maple League. He pounded the ball inside and had a series of long runs in the contest. Our QB Alex Rouse was efficient with the ball and spread the wealth with his receivers by throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers. Our special teams played well and the win was a total team effort. The victory earned us an 8-2 record and the # 1 seed in the playoffs which begin next Saturday. We host the Helsinki Roosters in the first round. We split the regular season with them. Both games were decided by 3 points or less, so next week's game is sure to be a tough battle for the right to advance to the Maple League Championship on September 4th.

Now for some more pics from 'Summer in Finland' 2010

We kept this washer busy this summer

We soon adjusted to the smaller load capacity

Here is our home made dryer-- We made good use of our sauna this summer!

Getting ready for a dip

Relaxing at Eero's house

Kaylin thinks the water is a bit cold

A tv was waiting for us one night when we returned home-- the first tv we had blew out and then the team quickly replaced it with this one

In all reality, we watched very little tv this summer. The kids played outside and created works of art like this. A miniature playground made out of foil, paper towels, toilet rolls, juice boxes, and anything else they could find around the apartment

An aerial view of 'Central Park'

Collecting bottles and cans and then recycling them at the local grocers became a weekly routine for the kids--- this particular lot at the game in Helsinki two weeks ago fetched the kids 49 euros!! Not bad for 3 hours work

Unique clock tower in the historic town of Jacobstad, Finland

Our good friend Michael Rose came over from Arizona to explore Finland for nearly two weeks-- We enjoyed spending time together and having him as a guest at the apartment for part of his stay

Beautiful wooden boat we saw in the harbor at Jacobstad

There seem to be a lot of these dive platforms at the coastal areas in Finland-- This is similar to the one Kamryn was jumping off last summer at the coast near Vaasa

A little golf in Jacobstad-- Forget about Pebble Beach, this was the hardest course I have ever played-- it was designed for complete and utter failure-- No kidding, it took almost 2 hours for the four of us to finish 18 holes of miniature golf!

This Civil Guard Museum in Seinajoki was designed by the world famous Finnish architect- Alvar Aalto

A statue paying tribute to the Finnish Civic Guard Volunteers

One last water balloon fight in Finland-- I definitely got the worst of this one

Three Crocodile fans who rarely missed a practice

Kaylin has taken a shine to Aatu

Making new friendships has been the best part of this experience over the last two years

Some fun on the trampoline


Lights out.

Victory makes one jump for joy

The season here in Finland is winding down and there is only one regular season game remaining. We posted a win this past weekend 35-0 vs. the Tampere Saints in monsoon like conditions. The game was briefly stopped before the half due to intense rains and persistent lightning. We are currently sitting as the #2 seed as the playoffs approach. However, we must win this upcoming weekend vs. the #1 seed Helsinki Wolverines if we are to claim the #1 regular season ranking. A win this weekend would give us a home field advantage in the playoffs. Needless to say, there is a lot at stake when the Wolverines come to town. Our team is playing with a great deal of confidence right now. It is enough to make one want to jump for joy!!

Kodie preparing for future 82nd Airborne Ranger status

A good landing is always essential

Aatu looks like he's done this before!

Now for our synchronized event featuring Emmi and Kamryn

Kaylin in on the action too

Land training is necessary before entering the water

Don't try this at home

Air Aatu with some serious hangtime-- Michael Jordan would be proud

Victory is sweet

It was nice to finally win a close game vs. the Roosters-- They are well-coached and their players always compete to the very last play

Crocs QB Alex Rouse hands the ball off to Greg Fountain (a tough RB and the leading rusher in the Maple League this season)

Crocs offense and player of the game # 3 Robert Bishop in motion

Roosters offense on the move

Roosters QB Ryan Rufener looking things over before the snap-- Ryan is a very gifted QB who played college ball at Oregon State

The Roosters like to spread things out and use their skill and speedy players like #5 Charles McCrea for big plays down the field

Crocodiles and Saints get ready for battle this past weekend

Swirling clouds loom overhead before the kickoff-- Shortly thereafter the rains came along with the wind, thunder, and lightning

Kodie (small guy in the center of the picture) got recruited for his first game as a ball boy in the Maple League

Time to clear the field

Winning sometimes makes one do strange things

Lights out.

Crocs squeeze out a close one in OT

It has often been said that football is a game of inches. I have witnessed the truth of this statement as both a coach and fan on countless occasions. On a hot Sunday evening in Helsinki, under a smoke filled sky from the recent Russian wildfires, our team narrowly escaped defeat in a hard fought overtime battle. The Crocs came out of the gate slow, while the Roosters played with intensity in the early stages of the game. We found ourselves in a 14-0 hole in the 2nd quarter. We regained our focus enough to score before the half and trailed 14-7 at the break.


The guys were really upset at halftime and determined to get things going in the second half. Our team played with a sense of urgency in the 3rd and fourth quarters and things began to swing our way. We converted a 4th down play for a touchdown pass to tie things up and then our defense made some key stops to send the game into OT.

We lost the coin toss and had to take the ball first in OT. A flag for holding was thrown on the first play of OT, which put us in a big hole. After converting a 3rd and long for a first down, we were able to punch in the go ahead TD on a sweep play. The Roosters took their possession and threw an interception right off the bat. Hooray, the game is over and the Crocs win 21-14! Not so fast, we were called for defensive holding and the Roosters got the ball back and received an automatic first down. On the next play, we received another defensive holding call allowing the Roosters to advance to the five yard line. They scored on the drive and now trailed by only one point with the conversion soon to come. We assumed they would kick the extra point and take their chances again on the next series. To our surprise, they decided to go for the two point conversion. They are a tough team to defend in a situation like this, but our team made the stop as their pass attempt floated inches away from their intended receiver. Now it was time to celebrate. We escaped with a 21-20 win and guaranteed ourselves a spot in the playoffs with the victory. Our next game is a home match vs. the Tampere Saints this Saturday. Way to go Crocs!

Lights out.

Part II of our tour through Germany and France

Here are some pics from the next leg of our recent trip through France and Germany. These photos focus on our time in four different places including Giverny, Rouen, Bayeux, and LeMolay-Littry. The first set of pics focus on the home and gardens of the French impressionist artist/painter Claude Monet. Monet lived in the quaint village of Giverny and drew inspiration from the countryside and the peace and beauty of the orchards and gardens surrounding his home. Monet lived in Giverny with his second wife, and the children from both of their prior marriages. It was easy to see how Monet was so inspired after walking around the gardens, and seeing the water gardens and ponds that he constructed.

View of the front of Monet's house

Monet's talents brought him considerable wealth in his mid to later years and much of this money went into the house and landscapes

One of the beautiful water gardens

Wonder how many gardeners he had to maintain this place?

Peace and tranquility

The English Backpacker

A destination well worth the effort

Beautiful flowers as far as the eye can see

Monet found Giverny while passing through on a train one day

The wild flowers reminded me of our days living in the Yellowstone region of Montana

This stream looked so clear and inviting

I saw trout in the stream and a little bamboo forest on the other side

Very interesting tree spanning the little stream

More water lilies-- one of Monet's favorite landscapes to paint

Green and more green

The next group of pics focus on Rouen. This city located in the Normandy region of France totally blew us away. There was so much history there to see. It is the site where Joan of Arc was tortured, beaten, put on trial and later executed. The city has cobblestone streets, lively street life, countless half-timbered buildings, and a number of impressive cathedrals. If you love old abbeys with massive spires and antique stained glass, then Rouen is the place for you.

Ornate detail of the cathedrale Notre Dame

The Cathedrale Notre Dame was severely damaged during WWII-- It was built between 1201 and 1514

Its spires soar above this ancient medieval city

The Eglise St-Maclou church was built in the flamboyant Gothic style

The facade has a unique arrangement of five pointed arches set over an ornate Renaissance porch

Amazing detail and craftsmanship

With an elaborate interior as well

An art display in the old city called Weather Reports-- The real life broken glass image on the floor quite literally "mirrors" the image on the wall

Europeans and side walk cafes go together quite naturally

An up close image of the Gros Horloge-- the clock's mechanism dates from the 14th century

Rouen is known for its nearly 2000 half-timbered buildings and houses

More half-timbered beauty

Almost done

Still smiling after a long day of travel

Rouen has many tempting street side cafes and lots of tasty treats

Macaroon heaven

Okay, a few more half-timbered structures and a sassy little girl

Time for a ham and cheese gallette ( otherwise known as a buckwheat crepe) and some apple juice

The Abbatiale St-Ouen

This 14th century church was part of a strong Benedictine abbey-- Notice the abundance of slim columns

Beautiful stained glass

The famous pipe organ is often used for concerts-- there were a group of musicians practicing while we were there

Less decorative than many of the other old world abbeys I have seen, but impressive nonetheless

A friendly game of boules outside the grounds of the Abbey

Last half-timbered pic of Rouen-- I promise

Unique artwork in one of the city squares

Wish I could do that

Napolean is never far away

Tower where Joan of Arc was held and tortured during 1430-31-- before she was burned at the stake in Rouen in May of 1431

This remarkable young lady is a patron saint of France

Relics inside the tower of torture

Maybe she was kept inside here-- Notice the security camera top left which might have been used to guard against an attempted escape-- Well, probably not

This cross marks the site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake by the English bad guys in 1431-- For you reality TV fans, it marks the place of a stop for a clue (spring 2010 epidsode) on the hit series "The Amazing Race"

Joan of Arc

Chillin out in the hammock with her Barnes and Noble Nook-- Estalita and Kaylin at our gite (guesthouse) in the Normandy countryside

Our car is parked in front of La Rieu-- The blue car is parked in front of our section of the 17th century French stone house that served as our accomodations for 3 nights--- This site was only a few miles from General Eisenhower's quarters after the D-Day Landings

The section of the gite known as the farmhouse

Looking to the right out of the back of our gite

Time for a little American football in France

Easy come easy go

Now on to the wonderful city of Bayeux. This area serves as a great jump off point for exploring the Normandy beaches which are just a short drive away. Bayeux has a great war museum and a large British cemetery is located there as well. The city is perhaps best known for the Bayeux Tapesty, a 70 meter strip of linen that is nearly a thousand years old. The world famous tapestry tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England and the rise of William the Conqueror. No photos were allowed, so you will just have to go see the Tapestry for yourself. It is the most exciting piece of old linen I have ever laid eyes on!

Inside the Cathedrale Notre Dame in Bayeux-- which dates back to the 11th century-- when William the Conqueror was planning to invade England

A remarkable Cathedral with an elaborate crypt as well

A fine example of Norman Gothic and Romanesque architecture

Bayeux has lots of old stone houses and remnants of old watermills


Lights out.