A day after our final game, a 49-20 Semi-Final loss to the Bolzano Giants, I woke up feeling sore... the way you always feel after a hard-fought battle on the gridiron. (A soreness that is actually enjoyable after a big win...) While our season is now over - the 11-0 Giants move on to face the Bergamo Lions in the Italian Football Superbowl next week - I have a stronger feeling that overshadows even the soreness: satisfaction from an incredible season for the Catania Elephants.
For a team making the jump from a lower division to the highest in the country, it is amazing to think of all we accomplished: a Playoff Birth and Semi-Final game against one of the best teams in the country, the highest scoring offense in the league, a winning record, etc etc. HOWEVER, the biggest thing we did as a team is COME TOGETHER as a family - something that many teams I have been a part of failed to do. So before I get all "sappy and emotional" - just wanted to share a few memories from the Bolzano game and some fun pictures!
The Giants stadium in Bolzano sits nestled in a valley between the Dolomites - Italy's Alps - providing a gorgeous setting. The astroturf, on the other hand, isn't so nice...
A fourth down scramble and TD pass to Matt made it 21-12 late in the second quarter, just before a freak thunderstorm postponed the game for 30 minutes due to lightning. The Giants defensive line was relentless all day, forcing me to scramble often and try to force a "wet medicine ball" into tight coverage.
One final "huddle..." Apparently the hand gesture I use to signal huddle does not mean the same thing in Italian... good times! (Ask Claudio for explanation...)
Brandon has vowed that he will retire when his under-pads shirt can no longer stay together... how many more seasons will it survive?!
And now for a few THANKS and SHOUT-OUTS:
To the my Elephants - while we did not win the Superbowl this year, what I did win was a whole new set of brothers... thank you for allowing me to enter your "Inner Circle!"
Posing with Claudio and Greg... and to the rest of the Elephant Wide Receivers - it was so fun to come here and be able to do the things we did throwing the ball! Our passing playbook was just as complicated as in the CFL, and you all picked it up so well. 8 different receivers caught TD passes this year - a testament to the great group of guys we had there! SKILLZ!
To Davide, thank you for giving me the opportunity to play in Catania and trusting me to lead the offense. The Elephants would not be where they are without you... and it was courageous for you to come out of 'retirement' to play this season! Thank you for your vision and your leadership.
To the other Americanos, thank you for everything - it's been so fun playing and coaching together. Finding a better group of people to share this with would have been IMPOSSIBLE.
And finally to my beautiful wife Christie, thank you SO MUCH for allowing me the opportunity to pursue my dream of playing football in Europe. It was a big commitment for us to move here for 6 months, and I thank you so much for all the unforgettable memories that we made this season!
HEY ELEPHANTS, GO ELEPHANTS, ATTAWAY, ATTAWAY!!!
~ J. Twice
7 comments:
a BIG THANK YOU BRO from the bottom of my heart.
Not only you coached me extremely well,inspired me to be always better than what i can be,made me look an awsome receiver this year(+1000yds with this last game,yeah baby!)but...
you truly became A FRIEND,a very good one.
You made the family,hope u're gonna stick it with it for a lil more. ;)
Attaway J!
C28
C28 -
You da man!!! By the way.. got some other GREAT PICS from the game! haha...
We'll do it up the last two weeks in Catania!
J6
JJ - ATTAWAY bro...that post actually made me tear up a bit. I'm getting soft in my old age.
Love you and am proud of you!! Maui here we come....
~Heath
Jason, it's been a pleasure following the team and your blog, as well as George's, throughout the entire season. (I even learned to live with the excessive use of the fisheye lens — well, more or less.)
If you all do it again next year, I'm going to do my best to get to Catania and see you play. If not, well, I hope one of these days we'll get a chance to meet if you stop by and visit George.
Best wishes,
David
Christie and Jason you've had one heck of a year from very emotional lows and extreme highs - moving from one country to another, assimilating into another culture, exploring new terrotory together, I am very happy that you have had the chance to play in Italy and that we got to visit you there. Whatever the rest of the year brings and whatever your future holds for you, give it your best shot as your grandfather always says. I look forward to you maybe playing in Europe somewhere next year so I can visit - what a selfish motive I have. Love to you both and thank you for the wonderful visit to your lives thru your blogs. See you when you are back in Edmonton. Love you both, Terry
Hey wonderful son and daughter-in-law! Your BEST SHOT took you to some amazing levels! We treasured our time with you and your team and felt such a closeness in this time through your phenomenal blog! BE PROUD! The goal was the "road" not a destination! What European "roads" you've travelled with grand companions!!! You are CHAMPIONS in my heart!!! WE LOVE YOU BIG TIME!!!! MOM ...WOW...MOM J
j twice -
Thank you so much for allowing us to share this adventure through your incredible blogs. It has been awesome to be able to take the journey with you and the other Elephants. It was also a pleasure to meet you and Christi during my visit to Sicily and be sure to give us a call if you are ever in Amarillo. Best wishes in your future endeavors.
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