Photo Credit: Dario Fumagalli
We hosted part 1 of 2 Derby Matches at Arena Civica. We had confidence coming off a big win on the road and were excited to see how we would match up against a team that had been making a splash in the IFL being the only team unbeaten after beating Parma the week before.
We came into the game jacked up and ready to roll, in front of a loud and rowdy crowd. That was the peak of the game for us as we tried and failed to stop the Rhinos attack and put points on the board. After the game it was a tough loss to swallow. All season we had heard that we are team struggling, not hitting our stride. They were right, we had a lot learn this season, and we had to reload some key pieces from the 2x IFL Super Bowl teams of years past. We swallowed our tough loss and got back to work, the next week hosting the #PantersParma at home. In a back and forth game we were unable to connect and make things happen. Parma came out with a great game plan and we could not find a way to connect on all aspects of the game, taking another tough Loss.
2 straight losses coming off a big road win... What was the reason for this? I am sure everyone had their opinion, and we had a lot of conversations as a team, but what I saw was intriguing. Our next match was the return match of the Derby against the Rhinos. And what I noticed is that the guys were hungry. They wanted revenge, but also they seemed to relax, and by relax I mean they stopped thinking that had to be the team from last year and started to be this years team. It started to feel like the team that had the swagger of Serbia.
We decided that in the return match, we were going to line up in a full formation with 3 running backs and pound the rock. And pound the rock we did, it was a physical game that was an exchange of haymakers from both teams. The Rhinos command much of the game but the Seamen would not quit. It came down to the final minute as the defense made a stand and gave the offense the ball one more time. As the offense took over and drove the ball down, some solid defense and a interception ended the Seamen's hope of a comeback. Again a tough pill to swallow dropping 3 straight and losing both Derby's.
**Edit** After 3 losses the Seamen took on the #JaguarsTorino at home and lined up and pounded the rock to a big win. This set us up with a chance to still make the playoffs.
**Edit** After 3 losses the Seamen took on the #JaguarsTorino at home and lined up and pounded the rock to a big win. This set us up with a chance to still make the playoffs.
Now it was do or die time, we had to win the next game in Parma to punch a ticket to the playoffs. Man was that a weird game. The final score Milano 7 Parma 2. In a defensive slug fest, we did what we needed to do and punched our ticket into the Playoffs!!!! WHAT A RELIEF! The boys grinded out a tough victory in the hot sun. It may not have been the prettiest or easiest path to punch a ticket into the postseason but we did it the Seamen Way, with guts, grit, and attitude!!!
This last weekend we hosted the Budapest Wolves from Hungary for our 2nd European Championship Game. We started fast, scoring on the 2nd play from scrimmage on a touchdown pass from American QB Garrett Safron to Filippo Fiammenghi. And it was all Seamen from there winning in the pouring rain 43-6.
We punched our ticket into the European Championship Final Four! We are going to Poland to represent Italy and the IFL! What an amazing feeling. From losing 3 tough games to bouncing back and clinching a spot in the playoffs and the Final Four... I am not even sure to truly put into words how to describe what an amazing experience this is. I was told that it has been 10 years since an Italian team was last represented in the Final Four. As part of the coaching staff I can say that it has been amazing to see this group of guys rally together to finish what they started. When everyone in the league started to wonder if the Seamen would even make it into the postseason or not, we figured out a way to win and get it done.
This team has grown so much over the last 5 weeks, and they are starting to hit their stride and are peaking at just the right time. Next week we travel to Bolzano to face the Giants in the last game of the regular season before preparing for the playoffs.
I am proud to be apart of this program excited for the guys who worked their asses off to finish strong and put themselves in such an awesome position to make some noise and finish what we started. Looking forward to whats next in this adventure of American Football in Milano and seeing what this team can accomplish together!
