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It ain't over, but it's over

Panthers and Lions expected to cruise through ČLAF

By Dave Faries
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
April 16th, 2008 issue

2008 schedules


Prague Panthers
April 20 at Pilsen 1 p.m.
April 26 at Brno 3 p.m.
May 4 at Lions 2 p.m.
May 17 vs. Brno 2 p.m.
May 25 vs. Pilsen 2 p.m.
June 8 vs. Lions 2 p.m.
Prague Lions
April 19 at Brno 7 p.m.
April 26 vs. Pilsen 2 p.m.
May 4 vs. Panthers 2 p.m.
May 18 at Pilsen 4:30 p.m.
May 24 vs. Brno 2 p.m.
June 8 at Panthers 2 p.m.
There was a defection and a dropout and two new squads. One team enters the season homeless, but the Czech Super Bowl found a glittering new home worth 1 billion Kč.
Apart from a wild opening salvo, however, few observers expect much drama from the 2008 schedule of the ČLAF, the country’s American football league. That is, until June 27, the date slated for the championship showdown at Slavia’s new 21,000-seat palace at Eden.
Prague’s two home squads, the Panthers and Lions, have squared off in four of the past five title games and start the new campaign relatively intact.
American Jake Shrum returns at quarterback for the Panthers, who plowed their way to an undefeated season in 2007. Shrum and his backfield cohorts, running backs Ondřej Víšek and Martin Dlouhý, powered an offense that averaged 45.5 points per game.
“This is the first time the Panthers have ever had the same offensive and defensive system two years in a row,” said head coach John Srholec — which should cause opponents some concern.
The Panthers look strong up the middle with veteran Daniel Krejbich anchoring their defense, who is “the prototypical middle linebacker,” according to assistant coach Doug Youngberg.
“If anyone can score against them, they deserve a high five,” said Ciaran Kelly, head coach of the Pilsen Patriots.
For the 2008 campaign, Lions head coach Martin Kocián devised a new, more flexible offensive system and brought in a slew of speedy young players from their junior team. Libor Navrátil once again leads the offense, although Petr Boháček will see playing time behind center. “Kachna” Musil and Alex Sotola share running back duties with veterans Michal Formánek and Michal Kozlíček.
“I’ve been impressed with the young guys,” Kocián said. “They’re not as experienced, but it’s the future.”
But the most impressive newcomer may be hard-hitting outside linebacker Jan Šimánek.
“It’s fun to watch him play,” the coach added.
Meanwhile, the Bratislava Monarchs — runners-up in 2006 and third place last season — abandoned Czech football in favor of the weaker Central European League. And just as training camps opened, the Příbram Bobcats demoted themselves to the ČLAF B league.
Thus the only teams standing in the way of another Panthers-Lions rematch are newcomers, Pilsen Patriots and the Brno Alligators — hardly considered bumps in the road by many experts.
“We’re just not ready yet,” Kelly said. “This year, I’m hoping to get through the meat grinder.”
So it reads like an all-Prague showdown, once again — although Srholec, being a coach, responds to such commentary with appropriate caution.
“We say that, but I’m not going to say it until we play some people,” he said. Though, he finally conceded, “we know we have to play the Lions.”
Where they end up playing may factor into the final outcome. The Panthers were uprooted after a botched reseeding of their stadium in Vršovice and must bounce between three “home” fields.
Which team will earn the favorite nod going into the Super Bowl depends more on how well the Lions adopt to their new wide-open offensive scheme and whether the Panthers remain focused on ČLAF games as they progress in the EFAF Cup.
“We need time,” Kocián said. “But our preparation is scheduled toward June 27.”

Dave Faries can be reached at dfaries@praguepost.com


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