2004 Berlin Thunder season explained

Team:	Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe)
Teamdisplay:	Berlin Thunder
Year:	2004
Record:	9–1
Division Place:	1st
Coach:	Rick Lantz
General Manager:	Michael Lang
Stadium:	Olympic Stadium
Playoffs:	World Bowl XII champion
Previous:	2003
Next:	2005
Shortnavlink:	Berlin Thunder

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

Free agent draft

2004 Berlin Thunder NFLEL free agent draft selections

Draft order		Player name	Position	College
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

Roster

Schedule

Week	Date	Kickoff	Opponent	Results		Game site	Attendance
				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

^[13]

Game summaries

World Bowl XII

See main article: World Bowl XII.

Notes and References

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