Well, off we go! The boss (wife) dropped me off at Detroit Metro Airport and the new (mis)adventure in football begins! I start on my first leg of the journey to Zurich, Switzerland.
From here in Michigan I make a jump to DC and then the jaunt across the Atlantic and into the Alps. Of course, the weather in the Detroit area is absolutely beautiful as I am getting ready to leave – but I’ll take my chances on it being equally as great in Switzerland.
Most of you know that I have been to Switzerland many times and consider it my second homeland …. What a beautiful and scenic place without a doubt. But really, it’s the people who make it – everyone is friendly and welcoming.
Once I touch down at the Zurich airport (In this day and age shouldn’t they be called “jet” ports …. Really airports?? …Really??) Well anyway it is a fantastic airport that is surrounded by mountains. Very stunning place.
Let me start that over …. Once I touch down my friend Dan will pick me up at the airport and get us to Thun (The ‘h” is silent) which will be my new hometown for the next six months. He has been the President of the Thun Tigers football team.
In case you didn’t know it – they do play American Football all over Europe.
Well, that’s why I am going there after all! What a fantastic opportunity for me to work with our great game and continue to learn more about the game and how it is played in Europe. It’s the same but different.
Yes, it’s the same game we play in the US – the kind with eleven guys on a team – with a brown prolate spheroid called the “ball.” Basically, the same rules all apply. American football is very popular overseas. For the most part almost every country has a league with many teams.
There is a very interesting web site – American Football International – that explains and publicizes the game throughout the world (not just Europe by the way). My good friend Roger Kelly manages the publication and he has article and information about football. He does a fantastic job just spreading the word everywhere. Seriously check it out – American Football International!
In Switzerland the football league is called the SAFV – Schweizerische American Football Verband (Swiss American Football Verband – think Saahhvv). This year there will be six teams in the “A” league.
The Thun Tigers, who I will help coach, plays in the “B” league. They field teams in the Senior League (20+), The U-19 league, U-16 league and they also play flag football. It is a well-run organization and the coaches are all committed to developing the players and helping them to be successful as a team.
As this season progresses they will all become a big part of this blog. After all you will certainly get tired of listening to me just rattle on several times a week.
Wait till you see the pictures of this place!
Alright we are off and running!
A few things about Switzerland itself:
- Capital of Switzerland is Bern – many people think it is Zurich.
- If Switzerland was a state it would be the 42nd largest state at 15,940 Square miles – a spot ahead of Maryland at 12,407.
- Population of Switzerland as of 2021 is 8.5 million.
- It would be 13th as a state if part of the USA – ranked between New Jersey and Virgonmoia.
- Switzerland’s three largest cities as of 12:31:21, 2020:
- Zurich (421,712)
- Geneva (203,736)
- Basel (173,775)
- 48 of Switzerland’s mountains are higher than 13,000 feet above sea level.
- Monte Rosa 15,000+ is the highest.
- Matterhorn (14,692)
- Jungfrau (13,642)
- Eiger (Think Clint Eastwood and the “Eiger Sanction”
- There are four major languages spoken:
- German
- French
- Italian
- Romansh (based on Latin from the Holy Roman Empire)
- Birthplace of the Red Cross.
- Maintain an “armed neutrality.”
- Have not fought in an international war since 1815.
- The country man’s the “Swiss Guards of the Vatican.
- All males are conscripted into the military at age 18.
- They are required to serve for a year.
- Two thirds of “drafted” actually serve. Those who cannot become part of some other alternative service.
- Women can serve, but are not required to do so.
- All soldiers are required to keep their weapons at home when they leave the service.
- Switzerland is a neutral but very well armed country.
- According to Quacquarelli Symonds hotel university rankings – 8 of 10 of the best hotel schools are located in Switzerland.
- In Sports world – Headquarters for:
- FIFA (Soccer)
- International Olympic Committee
- IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)
- Court of International Sport
- Also everyone has heard of tennis greats Roger Federer, Martina Hingis and Stan Wawrinka.
Oh – so know you know I am smart! Well not so fast Batman – most of this is from Wikipedia. Well, I did arrange it in a list type format.