Delft Dragons

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Delft Dragons
Founded:	2000
Headcoach:	Widjai van Dam
League (2006):	AFBN Division One
Stadium
Name:	TU-Delft
Address:	Mekelweg 10 Delft
End of Season Standings for Last 5 Years
2006:	5-3, NATIONAL VICE-CHAMPION
2005:	6-4, AFBN Div.1 semi-finalists
2004:	5-2, AFBN Div.2 CHAMPIONS
2003:	3-3-1, ABNF Div.2 semi-finalists
2002:	0-6, AFBN Div.2
Contact
Internet:	www.delftdragons.nl
E-Mail:	voorzitter@delftdragons.nl

Image:Delfthelm.gif

1 History
2 Honours
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

Foundations

Between 1984 and 1993 a previous team had existed in Delft: the Delft Dragons. Unfortunately this team folded due to lack of players. Towards the end of 1999, influenced by the television coverage on FOX8, a number of students decided to found an American Football team in Delft, the Netherlands. The new founders decided that they would try to harness any remaining familiarity by calling the new team by the same name as Delft's former team. From the end of January 2000 were in training under American Head Coach David Caraway and assistant Widjai van Dam, as a flag football team. The Dragons had an impressive debut season, finishing 5th of the 10 participating teams.

Full Contact Football

With Coach Caraway departed back to his native Texas, it was up to new Head Coach Widjai van Dam to lead the 2001 preparations for full-contact football. The Dragons added several players to their squad and were joined by defensive co-ordinator Steve Sheppard. After impressive practice game results, the Delft Dragons played their first competitive games in November 2001 in a tournament qualifier. The Dragons defeated Assen Bulldogs and Amstelland Panthers and were a surprise qualifier for the finals. The finals produced more shocks. The Dragons defeated the Amsterdam Crusaders in the semi-final, and narrowly lost the final to the 2001 Div.2 finalists Tilburg Steelers in two periods of overtime.

2002: First AFBN season

With impressive results in mind, Delft were offered a place in AFBN Division Two for the 2002 season, bypassing Division Three. Despite very good performances and very close results, Delft were unable to post a win and recorded a regular season record of 0 wins and 6 losses, but the signs were there that the Dragons would not be a flash in the pan.

2003: Playoffs

Under newly appointed Head Coach Steve Sheppard, the Dragons again started badly with an 0-2-1 record. However, an upturn in fortunes and confidence saw Delft rally to a 3-3-1 regular season record and obtained a playoff spot, losing 30-0 to Hoorn Unicorns in the Division Two semi-final.

2004: Championship and promotion

Delft, strengthened by the acquisition of former Utah Utes coach Sean McNabb, went on to post a 5-2 regular season record. The play-off semi-final brought revenge as Delft defeated Hoorn and a tense victory over Amstelland Panthers in the Bowl game brought the Division Two Championship and 1st Division status to Delft.

2005: National playoffs

The Dragons, in their first top flight appearance since their rebirth, had lost talismanic coach Sean McNabb and a lot of starting players, and were hoping to post a record worthy of remaining in the 1st Division. Nevertheless a hint of what may be possible was seen with the 53-13 destruction of Rotterdam Trojans in the pre-season Liberty Bowl championship. The Dragons went on to achieve a 6-4 regular season record, eventually losing in the national semi-final to eventual champions Amsterdam Crusaders.

2006: Heartbreaker

Widjai van Dam resumed his former role as Head Coach and oversaw an incredible turn of events in Delft. First, the Dragons began the season with a depleted squad by losing their first three games. Then the Dragons improved to 5 straight wins and into the playoffs. In the semi-final the overwhelming favourite Maastricht Wildcats were shocked 15-13 and van Dam had led a Delft team further than anyone before him - to Tulip Bowl XXII. Their opponents were the undefeated Amsterdam Crusaders - a team attempting to win the national title for the 13th time, and the 5th time in a row. The Dragons did not disappoint and led for much of the game. Unfortunately for Delft, the Crusaders snatched the national championship away from their fingertips in overtime: 27-20.