The coaches from the US arrive in Zurich from various destinations … their landing times are all different so, it is basically an all-day sucker. The pickups are on and off for the entire morning and afternoon.
But, we have some great help in picking up and dropping off the visitors.
Zeki Öztürk (Director of Operations), Ferhat Kahraman (Director of Administration), Toni Zöller (Communications) and Matt help all the coaches get from the Zurich Airport to our Airbnb and apartments for the week.
Bert flies in from Miami, Norm and Mike Wilson a direct shot from LA, Bob Palcic and his wife Theresa fly from DC. Otis Smith and his wife from Newark.
Zeki and Ferhat then show us a great time at dinner. We told them that we were perfectly fine with pizza and beer but they told us Mukka wanted them to entertain us at a restaurant. We ate a lot and then hit the sack with many of the travelers having some form or another of jet lag.
Norm and I were lodged in a beautiful house with the others were in an apartment next door.
I felt a little awkward that Bob and Otis brought their wives because that meant Bert and Mike had to each share space in two bedroom apartments with married couples. Yes, I get it … we are all adults and can handle it for a few days.
Sure, it is important for the wives to be comfortable with the situation we were entering. Problem is … the expense you put on the club. It’s not cheap to fly this many people to Europe, house, feed and entertain them.
When we spoke privately – our head investor Mukka Erdonmez told Norm and I not to worry about anything financial because it was no problem. Maybe it was foreshadowing … but the phrase “don’t worry about it …it’s under control.”
Well, should have been wary about that.
In my eyes finances are going to be an issue eventually … I’m not sure how much money the franchise group has. We don’t want to spent a lot on “outside” expenses when we will need it for running the team later.
This is not the NFL and the sooner everyone understood that, the better. We won’t be flying all over the place when we play games. – that will be by bus (as much as six or seven hours) or train for the most part. That is how it is done in Europe.
The way things were starting out … well not sure how this group would handle this when everything is laid out on the table during the week.
If things don’t work out (which would later occur with a few of our coaches in this [mis]adventure in football) it makes the remaining guys look like the “ugly Americans. I have learned a lot over the years of coaching in Europe – each time you experience a problem situation you make sure it doesn’t happen again because it hurts your credibility.
US coaches working in Europe – well it takes a special personality and attitude. I thought this experience might be rough on a few of our guys because I could sense a little lack of flexibility. But, their credentials were impeccable and we needed to attract players to our team – exceptional coaches would help us do that.
Unfortunately, I found out I was right.
But you have to admit the credentials looked really good as we started out.
Norm Chow as the head coach/offensive coordinator. Head 
coach at University of Hawaii … many years as an offensive coordinator in the NCAA and then with the Tennessee Titans. Coached on National Championship teams at BYU and USC. Coached three Heisman Trophy winners.
Bob Palcic the offensive line coach at USC, UCLA, Ohio State, Wisconsin and SMU. Then in the NFL with Detroit, New Orleans, Cleveland and Atlanta. As much experience as 
was needed. Unfortunately, when we got together it became apparent that his knee, hip and back might be a problem. He had a hard time getting around and this could be a problem in Switzerland where there is a lot of walking.
Mike Wilson, Wide Receivers…four time Superbowl champ with the SF 49ers as a receiver. Coached at Stanford, USC, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and the LA Wildcats of the XFL.
Darius Willis would coach our running backs. Played halfback at Indiana University then after injuring his knee 
played in Europe for several years. (Bern Grizzlies and Bienna Jets in Switzerland) He now own a company called Willis Sports Organization in his second homeland of Switzerland.
Otis Smith was our defensive coordinator and secondary coach had played from 1990 until 2003 as a corner in the 
NFL for five different teams and won a Superbowl with the New England Patriots in 2002. Otis played the final year of his illustrious career with the Lions where I got to know him.
Bert Hill would be the defensive line for the Helvetic Guards. 
He and I coached with the Detroit Lions for eleven years. Bert is in the Strength Coaches Hall of Fame. A tremendous all around coach
Then there was me.
Quite a staff.
But, when the smoke would clear several months later … just Norm and I remained of the original staff. Again, reaffirming my beliefs about finding experienced US coaches who have already been in Europe is key. Lesson learned.
No sense in dealing with issues if you didn’t have to – continuing to learn that you better know the guys you try to bring overseas before you expend a lot of resources.