So, we continue on building our roster for the Helvetic Guards and also our coaching staff. We identify several players who were either on the National Team or playing in Germany for teams there.
We added Otis Smith as our Defensive Coordinator. Otis was a friend and a long time NFL player who had coached in the pros as well. I watched Otis finish his playing career in Detroit and guide our group of young defensive backs … showing them how to be professionals. A really good man.
Our defense was now pretty much intact. Otis would coordinate, Bert Hill coach the defensive line and I would handle the linebackers. Later this would change dramatically before we would start the season. But … in late August we appeared to be solidifying out coaches.
We would probably add another coach to work with Special Teams and also work on the offensive side.
We also found ourselves in really positive conversations with Swiss players who were competing for teams in Germany.
Adrian Fielder (linebacker) and Timmy Schürmann (linebacker) were with the Schwäbish Hall Unicorns. Both excellent players on a team that was the champion of the powerful German Football League.
The Unicorns have always been a fantastic organization – one of the strongest teams in all of Europe … winning the 2021 European championship over the Tyrol Raiders in the CEFL Bowl 22-16..
We eventually signed both players and they strengthened our roster significantly.
We then turned to two other Swiss players in Germany – playing for Allgäu Comets. Fabio Rothmund a linebacker and Pascal Ruegg a wide receiver – both excellent players.
Fabio played for the Swiss junior National Team when I worked with them and we played in Amsterdam against the German team and the Netherlands. I have always been a fan and also it was easy to see that he continued to play better while with the Comets.
Pascal was recognized as one of the better football players to come out of Switzerland. A very good receiver with good speed and great hands. Unfortunately, after he signed with us he decided not to play for the Guards as we began to practice.
While I was really excited about getting Fabio we got even more good news when Andres Buri from the Bern Grizzlies agreed to come on board. I had watched Andres play for several years.
He was a really hard-nosed player and he was what I always called a “knock-back hitter.” In other words when he tackled you – went backwards.
The linebacker corps was certainly coming together nicely. These guys were all good football players.
Norm Chow was also working hard on bolstering the offensive line … grabbing some Bern Grizzly players Timmy Schmid (who would be elected as one of our captains – and oh yeah he will be a doctor!) Jurg Stalder and Pascal Hollenstein.
Through Pascal I was reunited with one of my favorite players from the National team – JP Stadler. JP is a terrific defensive tackle. A tough guy who was dominant whenever he played. He was also really interested in coming onto the squad. A great addition to our team.
The defensive line just kept getting stronger. We also were lucky to grab one of the most respected players in Switzerland – Mike Sousa. He was going to join the Guards to play his last year of competing.
Soon after we also were able to land giant Milos Panic as another defensive tackle. I had known Milos for many years as he played for the Zurich Renegades in the Swiss American Football Verband (SAFV).
Then there was the addition of up and coming linebacker Julian Conus. He would eventually become one of our best special teams player with a bright future.