2004 Berlin Thunder season

General manager| Michael Lang
Head coach| Rick Lantz
Home field| Olympic Stadium
Results
Record| 9–1
Division place| 1st
Playoff finish| World Bowl XII champion

* <- 2003
* Berlin Thunder
* 2005 ->

The 2004 Berlin Thunder season was the sixth season for the franchise in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach Rick Lantz in his first year, and played its home games at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. They finished the regular season in first place with a record of nine wins and one loss. In World Bowl XII, Berlin defeated the Frankfurt Galaxy 30–24. The victory marked the franchise's third World Bowl championship.

## Offseason[edit]

### Free agent draft[edit]

2004 Berlin Thunder NFLEL free agent draft selections  Draft order  | Player name  | Position  | College

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Round  | Choice
1  | 1  | James Thornton  | CB  | Morris Brown
2  | 7  | T. J. Bingham  | DE  | Ouichita Baptist
3  | 18  | Yubrenal Isabelle  | LB  | Virginia
4  | 19  | Troy Andrew  | G  | Duke
5  | 30  | DeShaun Hill  | S  | USC
6  | 31  | DeVonte Peterson  | DT  | Catawba
7  | 42  | Dwayne Pierce  | G  | LSU
9  | 43  | Mike Malan  | FB  | Brown
9  | 54  | Oliver Celestin | S  | Texas Southern
10  | 55  | Keith Heyward-Johnson | CB  | Oregon State
11  | 66  | Jeff Grzeskowiak  | T  | Akron
12  | 67  | Michael Jennings | WR  | Florida State

[1]

## Personnel[edit]

### Staff[edit]

2004 Berlin Thunder staff

| Front office

* General manager – Michael Lang

Head coaches

* Head coach – Rick Lantz

Offensive coaches

* Offensive coordinator/offensive line – Don Eck
* Quarterbacks/wide receivers – Steve Logan
* Running backs – Amp Lee
* Offensive line/tight ends – Reggie McElroy

|  |  | Defensive coaches

* Defensive coordinator – Jim Tomsula
* National coach/linebackers/special teams – Shuan Fatah
* Defensive backs – Rick Smith
* Defensive assistant – D'Marco Farr

Strength and conditioning

* Strength and conditioning – Martin Streight

### Roster[edit]

2004 Berlin Thunder roster

| Quarterbacks

* 7 Rohan Davey
* 14 Marc Dunn
* 12 David Rivers

Running backs

* 23 Ryan Brewer
* 40 Ed Ieremia-Stansbury FB
* 33 Ray Jackson
* 25 Eric McCoo

Wide receivers

* 86 Bosley Allen
* 87 Richard Alston
* 82 Aaron Boone
* 83 Chas Gessner
* 80 LaShaun Ward

Tight ends

* 88 Bryan Fletcher
* 85 Mike Pinkard

|  | Offensive linemen

* 65 Troy Andrew G
* 69 Ben Claxton C
* 79 Dante Ellington T
* 70 Jason Jowers T
* 75 Dave Kadela T
* 76 Dion Meredith T
* 77 Jamil Soriano G

Defensive linemen

* 99 T. J. Bingham DE
* 97 LaWaylon Brown DT
* 93 Israel Idonije DE
* 95 DeVonte Peterson DT
* 94 Tank Reese DT
* 96 Montique Sharpe DT
* 98 Corey Smith DE

|  | Linebackers

* 54 Kevin DeRonde OLB
* 53 Lawrence Flugence OLB
* 56 Brenden Givan MLB
* 57 Jason Kazar OLB

Defensive backs

* 28 Oliver Celestin S
* 27 Keith Davis S
* 36 Scott Farley S
* 22 Willie Ford CB
* 21 Jermaine Mays CB
* 24 Darrell Rideaux CB
* 26 James Thornton CB

Special teams

* 2 Hayden Epstein P
* 5 Jonathan Ruffin K

|  | National players

* 89 Klaus Alinen TE
* 62 Rolando Cantu T
* 90 Dennis Engelbrecht DT
* 43 Philippe Gardent LB
* 84 Jörg Heckenbach WR
* 35 Patrice Kancel FB
* 66 Andre Mathes T
* 92 Christian Mohr DE
* 10 Heinz Quast K
* 46 Astor Schneider LB

Rookies in italics

## Schedule[edit]

Week  | Date  | Kickoff [n 1] | Opponent  | Results  | Game site  | Attendance

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Final score  | Team record
1  | Sunday, April 4  | 4:00 p.m.  | Scottish Claymores | W 20–14  | 1–0  | Olympic Stadium | 14,257
2  | Saturday, April 10  | 7:00 p.m.  | at Amsterdam Admirals | W 28–17  | 2–0  | Amsterdam ArenA | 10,763
3  | Sunday, April 18  | 4:00 p.m.  | Cologne Centurions | W 35–31  | 3–0  | Olympic Stadium  | 12,036
4  | Saturday, April 24  | 7:00 p.m.  | at Rhein Fire | W 14–10  | 4–0  | Arena AufSchalke | 20,242
5  | Sunday, May 2  | 4:00 p.m.  | Amsterdam Admirals  | W 33–29  | 5–0  | Olympic Stadium  | 12,909
6  | Saturday, May 8  | 7:00 p.m.  | at Cologne Centurions  | L 27–28  | 5–1  | RheinEnergieStadion | 10,164
7  | Sunday, May 16  | 4:00 p.m.  | Rhein Fire  | W 33–20  | 6–1  | Olympic Stadium  | 15,429
8  | Saturday, May 22  | 7:00 p.m.  | at Frankfurt Galaxy | W 31–27  | 7–1  | Waldstadion | 30,812
9  | Saturday, May 29  | 2:00 p.m.  | at Scottish Claymores  | W 27–19  | 8–1  | Hampden Park | 9,153
10  | Sunday, June 6  | 4:00 p.m.  | Frankfurt Galaxy  | W 41–0  | 9–1  | Olympic Stadium  | 19,175
World Bowl XII
11  | Saturday, June 12  | 6:00 p.m.  | Frankfurt Galaxy  | W 30–24  | 10–1  | Arena AufSchalke  | 35,413

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

## Standings[edit]

NFL Europe League

Team  | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | Home | Road | STK
Berlin Thunder | 9  | 1  | 0  | .900  | 289  | 195  | 5–0  | 4–1  | W4
Frankfurt Galaxy | 7  | 3  | 0  | .700  | 212  | 192  | 4–1  | 3–2  | L1
Amsterdam Admirals | 5  | 5  | 0  | .500  | 173  | 191  | 3–2  | 2–3  | W2
Cologne Centurions | 4  | 6  | 0  | .400  | 191  | 201  | 3–2  | 1–4  | W1
Rhein Fire | 3  | 7  | 0  | .300  | 161  | 178  | 3–2  | 0–5  | L4
Scottish Claymores | 2  | 8  | 0  | .200  | 128  | 197  | 1–4  | 1–4  | L2

[13]

## Game summaries[edit]

### Week 1: vs Scottish Claymores[edit]

Week One: Scottish Claymores at Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Scotland | 0 | 7 | 0| 7| 14
Berlin | 0 | 10 | 7| 3| 20

at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

* Date: Sunday, April 4
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 14,257
* Referee: Gerald Austin

### Week 2: at Amsterdam Admirals[edit]

Week Two: Berlin Thunder at Amsterdam Admirals – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Berlin | 0 | 7 | 14| 7| 28
Amsterdam | 0 | 10 | 0| 7| 17

at Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands

* Date: Saturday, April 10
* Game time: 7:07 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 10,763
* Referee: Carl Cheffers

### Week 3: vs Cologne Centurions[edit]

Week Three: Cologne Centurions at Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Cologne | 7 | 14 | 3| 7| 31
Berlin | 21 | 7 | 7| 0| 35

at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

* Date: Sunday, April 18
* Game time: 4:06 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 12,036
* Referee: Bill Vinovich

### Week 4: at Rhein Fire[edit]

Week Four: Berlin Thunder at Rhein Fire – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Berlin | 0 | 0 | 0| 14| 14
Rhein | 7 | 3 | 0| 0| 10

at Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

* Date: Saturday, April 24
* Game time: 7:04 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 20,242
* Referee: Gene Steratore

### Week 5: vs Amsterdam Admirals[edit]

Week Five: Amsterdam Admirals at Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Amsterdam | 0 | 7 | 7| 15| 29
Berlin | 0 | 12 | 7| 14| 33

at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

* Date: Sunday, May 2
* Game time: 4:06 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 12,909
* Referee: Ed Hochuli

### Week 6: at Cologne Centurions[edit]

Week Six: Berlin Thunder at Cologne Centurions – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Berlin | 7 | 7 | 0| 13| 27
Cologne | 14 | 0 | 7| 7| 28

at RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany

* Date: Saturday, May 8
* Game time: 7:04 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 10,164
* Referee: John Parry

### Week 7: vs Rhein Fire[edit]

Week Seven: Rhein Fire at Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Rhein | 0 | 0 | 7| 13| 20
Berlin | 3 | 14 | 7| 9| 33

at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

* Date: Sunday, May 16
* Game time: 4:06 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 15,429
* Referee: Carl Cheffers

### Week 8: at Frankfurt Galaxy[edit]

Week Eight: Berlin Thunder at Frankfurt Galaxy – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Berlin | 10 | 7 | 7| 7| 31
Frankfurt | 0 | 20 | 7| 0| 27

at Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany

* Date: Saturday, May 22
* Game time: 7:08 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 30,812
* Referee: Gerald Austin

### Week 9: at Scottish Claymores[edit]

Week Nine: Berlin Thunder at Scottish Claymores – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Berlin | 0 | 6 | 7| 14| 27
Scotland | 10 | 3 | 3| 3| 19

at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland

* Date: Saturday, May 29
* Game time: 2:05 p.m. BST
* Game attendance: 9,153
* Referee: Walt Anderson

### Week 10: vs Frankfurt Galaxy[edit]

Week Ten: Frankfurt Galaxy at Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Frankfurt | 0 | 0 | 0| 0| 0
Berlin | 3 | 17 | 7| 14| 41

at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

* Date: Sunday, June 6
* Game time: 4:15 p.m. CEST
* Game attendance: 19,175
* Referee: Bill Vinovich

### World Bowl XII[edit]

Main article: World Bowl XII

World Bowl XII: Frankfurt Galaxy vs Berlin Thunder – Game summary

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Frankfurt | 3 | 7 | 0| 14| 24
Berlin | 7 | 3 | 13| 7| 30

at Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

* Date: Saturday, June 12
* Game time: 6:06 p.m. CEST
* Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), roof closed
* Game attendance: 35,413
* Referee: Bill Vinovich
* TV announcers (FOX): Curt Menefee and Brian Baldinger

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ All times local to where the game was played.

## References[edit]

1. ^ NFL Europe League (February 8, 2004). "Thornton first selection in Free Agent Draft" (Press release). Retrieved February 8, 2013.
2. ^ NFL Europe League (March 29, 2004). "Champs kick off 12th season" (Press release). Retrieved March 29, 2013.
3. ^ NFL Europe League (April 7, 2004). "NFLEL season rolls on as Week 1 winners face teams looking for first victory of new campaign" (Press release). Retrieved April 7, 2013.
4. ^ NFL Europe League (April 13, 2004). "Unbeaten rivals clash in Week 3" (Press release). Retrieved April 13, 2013.
5. ^ NFL Europe League (April 20, 2004). "Thunder and Galaxy look to break free from pack" (Press release). Retrieved April 20, 2013.
6. ^ NFL Europe League (April 27, 2004). "Undefeated Thunder on top as season approaches halfway point" (Press release). Retrieved April 27, 2013.
7. ^ NFL Europe League (May 4, 2004). "Galaxy, Thunder clear of chasing pack as season's second half kicks off" (Press release). Retrieved May 4, 2013.
8. ^ NFL Europe League (May 11, 2004). "Thunder one victory away from World Bowl berth" (Press release). Retrieved May 11, 2013.
9. ^ NFL Europe League (May 18, 2004). "Thunder clinches World Bowl berth" (Press release). Retrieved May 18, 2013.
10. ^ NFL Europe League (May 25, 2004). "Galaxy reaches World Bowl for sixth time" (Press release). Retrieved May 25, 2013.
11. ^ NFL Europe League (June 1, 2004). "World Bowl foes meet in regular season finale" (Press release). Retrieved June 1, 2013.
12. ^ NFL Europe League (June 7, 2004). "Thunder, Galaxy bid to make NFLE history on 'Night of the Last Fight'" (Press release). Retrieved June 7, 2013.
13. ^ "2004 NFLE Standings". The Football Database. Retrieved February 8, 2013.

* v
* t
* e

World Bowl champions

* '91: London Monarchs
* '92: Sacramento Surge
* '95: Frankfurt Galaxy
* '96: Scottish Claymores
* '97: Barcelona Dragons
* '98: Rhein Fire
* '99: Frankfurt Galaxy
* 2000: Rhein Fire
* IX: Berlin Thunder
* X: Berlin Thunder
* XI: Frankfurt Galaxy
* XII: Berlin Thunder
* XIII: Amsterdam Admirals
* XIV: Frankfurt Galaxy
* XV: Hamburg Sea Devils

* v
* t
* e

Berlin Thunder

* Founded in 1999
* Folded in 2007
* Based in Berlin, Germany

Franchise|

* Franchise
* Coaches

Stadiums|

* Jahn-Sportpark
* Olympic Stadium

Head coaches|

* Wes Chandler
* Peter Vaas
* Rick Lantz
* John Allen

World Bowl appearances (4)|

* IX
* X
* XII
* XIII

League championships (3)|

* 2001
* 2002
* 2004

Seasons|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007

* v
* t
* e

2004 NFL Europe season

| Amsterdam | Berlin | Cologne | Frankfurt | Rhein | Scotland

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World Bowl XII
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[Home]: Home record
*[Road]: Road record
*[STK]: Winning or Losing streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template