The Graz Giants are an American football team in Graz, Austria founded in 1981. The Giants play in the Austrian Football League and are ten time Austrian Bowl champions. The Giants home games are at ASKÖ Stadium in the Eggenberg district of Graz.[1]
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| Founded | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Graz, Austria |
| Stadium | ASKÖ Stadium (8,500) |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Championships | AFL 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2008, CEFL 2016, EFAF 2002,2006, 2007 |
| Website | https://www.grazgiants.at/ |
History
editInspired by a March 1981 broadcast of the first Austrian football team, the Vienna Ramblocks, Stefan Herdey decided to found an American football team.[2] After an advertisement was placed in a local newspaper, a dozen potential players attended the first meeting and founded the Graz Football Team.[2][3] That team would be renamed the Graz Giants.[2][3] The Giants took part in the first game between two Austrian teams, in which they lost 44–12 to the Ramblocks. With the dissolution of the Ramblocks, the Graz Giants are the oldest existing American football team in Austria.[2][4]
The Giants were the first known team from Europe to win a match against a US college team. In 1991, the Giants defeated Albany State University 32-23 in an exhibition game played August 31, 1991 in the USA.[5]
Championships
editAustrian Bowl
editThe Giants are ten-time Austrian Bowl Champions having won the championship in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2008.[2]
Central European Football League
editIn 2016, the Giants won the International Central European Football League CEFL Bowl championship final defeating the Belgrade Vukovi 52-49.
EFAF Cup
editThe Giants are three-time winners of the EFAF Cup.[2] In the 2002 season, the Giants won the EFAF Cup with a 37–20 victory over the Badalona Dracs, which made the club the first European Cup winner in Austrian football history. This was repeated in 2006 with a 37–20 victory against the Eidsvoll 1814s from Norway.[6] In 2007, the Giants won the EFAF Cup for the third time with a 28–26 victory over the Cineplexx Blue Devils from Hohenems.
Eurobowl
editThe Giants competed in the European Football League playoffs several times. They failed to reach the Eurobowl championship final game.
Notable Alumni
edit- Eric Beavers, QB 1991-93
- Doug Wilkerson, OL 1987 (former NFL All Pro)
- Paul Kujawa, RB/LB 1994-1996 (former Iowa Hawkeyes)
- Rick Rhoades, Head Coach 2007-2011
- Dave Dunn (American football), DT 1991-92
- Chris Gunn, QB 2008-2012
References
edit- ^ "Actionberg: Home of the Giants". grazgiants.at. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "JCL Graz Giants". eurobowl.info. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ a b "Giants History". grazgiants.at. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "American Football Kicks Off in Austria". austrianinformation.org. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ https://www.usrhinos.at/index.php/journal/357-was-wurde-aus-den-graz-longhorns
- ^ "Giants of Europe". July 11, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2020.