The Frankfurt Universe, 2018 German Football League finalists, open their 2019 season at home against the Allgäu Comets Sunday May 5.
Frankfurt won both games between the two teams in 2018, 66-7 and 55-14.
There have been plenty of changes in the offseason for both teams.
With rumors swirling all off season of the actual survival of the Universe after a bankruptcy declaration, HC Brain Caler, who coached the Comets for nine seasons until 2017, managed to keep his team intact it seems.
Frankfurt came within a whisker of winning the German title in 2018 losing to the Unicorns 21-19. Caler has brought back QB Steve Clulely who started the season last year only to suffer an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. A key target for Cluley will be sure-handed Finnish WR Sebastian Sagne who is returning. Swedish RB Oscar Nevermann will start in the backfield while the defense will again be anchored by MLB Sebastian Silva Gomez.
New Allgäu HC, Jeff Scurran, comes to the Comets to restore calm and order following a tumultuous season in 2018 which saw the team undergo a complete change of coaching staff midway through the year. The Comets still managed to make the playoffs and with Scurran at the helm things should stabilize. Scurran has had a hugely successful high school career in Arizona with a reputation for turning situations around. He has re-signed British QB Calvin Stitt, along with safety Danny Wynne. Swedish/American LB Josh Murphy (Orebro Black Knights/Washington State) is new this season and with his speed will help on defense.
