All language subtitles for Unicorn Town (2022) (Unicorn.Town.2022.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC5.1-[YTS.MX]) (ENGLISH)

I was 5,000 miles away from
home, and we were one play

away from making American
football history in Germany.

Alright, let's back
up for a second here.

I need to first explain how I
ended up in Schwäbisch Hall.

So...

My name is Nick Alfieri.

I'm from a big football family.

I played college
football at Georgetown.

Alfieri knocked it loose!

After that, I got into
film school at USC,

which was basically a
dream come true for me.

So I moved to Los Angeles.

But then a few months
into that first semester,

I really started to
miss playing football.

And coincidentally, around the same
time, these football programs from Europe

started contacting me with
opportunities to go play over there.

So... I left.

Final moments.

I played for seven years at the
USC school of cinematic arts.

Now, the plan was to go play football and
at the same time make a documentary about

a team in a tiny town in
Germany called the unicorns.

I mean I think it's safe to say we're the
number one sport in town, which probably

is not true for any
football team in Germany.

I didn't win.

The town of Shredders Hall has
so much to do with the unicorns.

Unicorns somewhere
else I don't think would be

as special without the
town of Shredders Hall.

The people here are the reason
why the unicorns are successful.

Because it's a small
city, everybody knows us.

When our home game is with the unicorns,
it's like a thing to go to meet people,

watch the unicorns, and see what a
great game of American Football is.

So, I arrived in
Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.

I was welcomed by the unicorns'
founder and my new head coach, Ziggy.

He seemed proud of
his team and of his town.

You won't find too many
people in town that you

go to and ask, hey, do
you know the unicorns?

What's that?

That's... I don't want to
happen in part of the city.

Now, this wasn't
some big NFL contract.

Schwäbisch Hall is a small-town
team with a small-town budget.

The organization provided
a place to stay, access

to a car, meals, and a
small monthly stipend.

But I wasn't the only American.

There was a group of
us, and we all came from

different places but
had similar stories.

Successful college careers, some of
us flirted with the pros, and our desire to

keep playing football
landed all of us in Germany.

But just being from where I'm from,
you don't really ever hear about Germany.

I was kind of just like,
yo, is this shit real?

Like, the unicorns?

Like, what pops in your head
when you think of a unicorn, man?

Like, I need to be a
bear or something, man.

Now, we had to adapt to the European
experience, living in a different country,

with a different culture, different
food, and a different language.

Spanish is on game day.

That's how you know
I'm from the hood.

I need to jump.

Sprecha, is it English?

Yeah, yeah.

Can I get a strawberry shake?

Talked about the
win the moment stuff.

And the last thing I'll
leave y'all with is don't

forget you are professionals
amongst amateurs.

That's a very different
type of situation.

You are professional football players
amongst amateurs around you, all right?

So there is an
extra set of pressure.

There is more eyes on you
than everybody else, okay?

That's just the
way it is, all right?

And that doesn't go
just with the guys on

our team, but with the
fans, with everybody.

You know, you guys are going
to get the most press clippings,

the most everything, and
y'all know what comes with that.

And I think it's important
for y'all to know just how

we deal with our guys
because y'all know how it is here.

You guys have jobs, kids,
wives, all that kind of stuff.

Come from three hours away.

We tell our guys we want
to be at 70% of practices.

That's our goal.

So yeah, just understand
there's a different expectation

set of rules that apply to you
guys over German players.

And that's just the way it is.

Everything was new and
overwhelming, but exciting.

And then we were
shown the Ami House.

I bought the Ami House.

The Ami House is awesome.

The Ami House was
not that awesome.

The Ami House, man.

Wow.

Don't want to talk about shocks.

The Ami House was a shock, man.

Like, technically
it was a house.

And then you would have
thought we were in the woods, man.

Like, we were.

That's kind of like, what
if we were in the woods?

I'm sure it does.

This is called sorting
because in Germany you

put dark glass together
and clear glass together.

The one cool part of the house was
the lineup of passport photos from all the

Americans that had played
for the Unicorns in the past.

I guess if they could
do it, so could we.

And smoke seemed cool.

Dad.

You said some of your
stuff we can throw away.

I mean...

Because I want to put
the paper stuff away.

That one... Let's see.

Does any of the stuff
have my name on it?

That's from you.

My name is Thomas Rauch.

But everybody say to me smoke in our team
because the Americans cannot say rauch.

Rauch means in English smoke.

And I'm over 30.

So I don't want to say
the right age what I am.

And I played for the
Unicorns since 2005.

A long time.

So the Unicorns play in the German Football
League, which is comprised of 16 teams.

Eight in the north
and eight in the south.

The Unicorns, founded in
1983, play in the GFL South.

And I'll let Ziggy
tell you the rest.

So we still had an American base here at
that time with about 800 American soldiers.

And there was a German-American friendship
club that we approached and said,

can you help us finding some people who
have played before we can coach maybe?

And that was very
important early on.

Our first really
successful year was 95.

When we won the
championship in the fourth league.

It went pretty much
straight up from 95 on.

18 years, you know, no southern
team had won the championship.

And suddenly we were
champions, you know.

So that was pretty crazy.

So what I've gathered is that the Unicorns
used to be this championship winning team.

But in recent years, the
league has been changing.

Success is now coming from
teams in major German cities.

With big sponsorship deals
leading to large budgets.

A prime example of
this and the team the

Unicorns can't seem
to get past is New York.

So much financial power behind
them and a big city and a big stadium.

It's kind of intimidating.

My biggest fear is that
maybe this is the make or

break year for us to
either get it done or not.

Now, I was still trying to fully
wrap my head around all of this.

But what I did know is that
these people seem determined.

So I guess that's
what we're there to do.

Get the Unicorns
back on top of the G20.

Get the NFL with a
German Bowl championship.

The two teams, like I said, that are going
to be the biggest competition for us in

the Frankfurt universe is
the Braunschweig Lions.

Frankfurt just came up
from the second league.

And they basically redid their whole
roster with everybody they bought and got.

They're coming up
with a lot of hype.

And then,

whoever gets the closest wins.

Shake it easy on these guys.

This is their first
time in Europe.

Alright.

Dev, turn around.

Everybody's up first.

Alright.

We got Croatia.

So Rudy, he was a guy I
thought we would never get.

His talent level,
what we saw on film.

We knew he was a
great, great player.

But we felt he was a guy almost too good
to get out here just because of all the

opportunities he had
going on in the States.

Before I came to
Germany, just in a state of...

like an unknown.

Like right out of the NFL stuff.

And hey, I'm so close.

I'm going to come to
Germany for a year.

And then go back.

You know what I'm saying?

Hopefully get another shot.

It's great.

It's really cool because
you cannot see their face.

Because nobody wants
to see how ugly they are.

So that's why we
make pictures like this.

The struggle is real.

Before I came to Germany,
I was on a downward spiral.

Had a lot of growing up to do.

Wasn't playing football no more.

Terrible job, didn't want
to be involved with it.

Just looking at my life, it's like,
man, this is not where I wanted to be.

It's not what I
see myself doing.

Once I finally made the
decision in my mind that

something needed to change,
I got the call from Newman.

Hey Nick, you want a hülse?

Yeah.

Feierabendbier.

That's a Feierabendbier.

What beer?

Aftermarket.

After work, we call
it Feierabendbier.

Thank you.

Let's go!

Let's go!

The energy really started to pick
up as we got closer to the first game.

And the unicorns seemed to
be pretty popular around town.

The unicorns?

Unicorns, yeah.

Nice.

Have a good day, dude.

Everyone is hyped for
the first season game.

Let's go.

Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go!

Let's go!

I am pushed.

I'm hyped because I know what game
day means here in Schwäbisch Hall.

When you get to the line
of scrimmage, be like this.

Ready, go!

Ready, go!

As soon as they go by,
they're going to be like... No!

As soon as they go by, no!

No!

So when you decide to play with a German
quarterback, I think one of the first

things you'll get is people
wondering why you do that.

Everybody knows that
the quarterback is by

far the most important
position in football.

And a lot of teams, the majority out here,
is just going to go get the best import

quarterback they can and play
with him and just put it on him.

Us as a program, we
decided Marco is our guy.

He's came through the program.

Not only has he shown
that we can win with him,

but Marco is a guy we
put a lot on his plate.

You bring in an American because you
think he plays better than any German.

But we've been playing at
the top of Europe for the last

three years with me playing
at the quarterback position.

There's always going
to be that little bit of

doubt until you finish it
off with a championship.

That's the challenge he faces.

That's the challenge
we face as a program.

But you know we're really happy
and we're really lucky to have him here.

What did you say?

Did you just throw
something at us?

Well, I cook for the whole team.

It's damn hard work, but
hey, you know, whatever.

Gives us the W afterwards.

Season opening.

Frankfurt coming to town.

It's going to be an
exciting one here.

Let's wait and see how
we get the season going.

Right, Matthias?

Yes, sir.

All the Americans
are still here.

Are you coming
on the other side?

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Have a good day.

Have a good evening.

Whether the medical staff is
already writing in the lower part...

It's a real old German,
so be nervous.

That's it?

No.

So our first game of the year, and
my first football game in Germany,

was against the hot
new team, Frankfurt.

They have a huge backing from the old
NFL Europe days with the Frankfurt Galaxy,

so they still have
a ton of fans.

So everybody knew they were
going to be a competitor right away.

They weren't a regular team that
had just come out for the first thing.

They were going to try and
make a statement from the

very beginning, the very
first year in the league.

I'm an old guy, so I wasn't
scared or nothing like that.

But the excitement, of course, always
hits you before every football game.

Ladies and gentlemen...

Let's go!

Let's go!

Please welcome the
Schwedischmann Uniform!

There are some Willis Are掛gers
around... Let's beat the chocolate!

T Over!

You like the chocolate?

Must be a sourでも.

Let's bring her
everything in the corner.

Yes, yes.

My sister's going to
hold us back together.

There he goes.

Absolutely all over the place.

Get that hat guy down!

Thank you very much.

Yes, well, this is true.

What did you
train for this year?

With the first touchdown of the
GFL season 2016, 30 yards, 7-0.

Did you see that?

Like, cut with three people.

Yeah, damn!

For us, you know,
we jumped out early.

Ehrenfried at the next playoff run
on Patrick Dornanjo, the returner.

53 yards in the end zone.

And then they came flying back.

And at the Halle 27, McDade
onside, rolls to the right side.

And that's a very
precise pass for Robitaille.

And he scores the 14.

Yeah, I tell you what, man, that
game was a back-and-forth battle.

One good drive on both sides, but
also one devastating loss of the ball.

And when you have
two teams that talented, I

mean, both teams are
going to make their plays.

He makes the third
touchdown and ensures the first

Frankfurt lead in the
German Football League.

19-14.

Appel stood out at the
beginning of the fourth quarter.

And that's her.

Short distance.

With the touchdown.

But in the long run,
it went well for us.

We were able to grind
out the W there week one.

And so this game ends with a 26-21
for the Schwäbisch Halle Unicorns.

After a year off, it felt
great to play football again.

And I was impressed with
the level of competition.

Football in Germany
was better than I expected.

So good, in fact,
that this happened.

With the 180th pick
in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings
select Maritz Boehringer.

Wide receiver from Germany.

Score Vikings!

My name is Maurits and I'm playing
for the Schwäbisch Halle Unicorns.

My name is Maurits and I'm
playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Maurits Boehringer played
for the Unicorns in 2015.

And in April of 2016 shortly after that
Frankfurt game, he entered theмаaritz.

v I .N.y.

I mean, this was a guy who
hopefully in a year or two is producing.

I think all of the GFL and European
football is all hoping the same thing

because it shows that there are guys who
are talented enough to go over and play.

They're just going
to need a little time.

But then the ref's like, hey, you
got to be careful, that was a late hit.

And I was like, I was
the one that got hit.

That's probably
why they throw a flag.

All my tackles were on Cody.

It was just green to green.

One of them is here today.

So ass.

He just got in a fight with
Jordan during our U16 game.

Is Jordan the head coach of U16?

Yeah.

We started a junior team pretty
soon after we started a senior team.

I mean, right now I have to
figure out that we get good, really

good young kids, fresh blood
to the Unicorns organization.

So I hope I can help.

Good job.

Good job.

Good job.

Being the number one sport
here helps us to get the best talent.

Do you like coaching the youth?

Yeah, it's very cool.

I mean, because a
lot of them really raw.

So you can make
something out of them.

It used to be that,
OK, the really talented

athletes would play
soccer or basketball or track.

And now I think we get a
lot that could be successful

in other sports, but
choose to play football.

Let's go, offense!

Let's go!

The Unicorns are successful
because, you know, they

put a ton of time and effort
into their youth program.

2010, 11, 12, when they started
winning German Bowls, they're

doing it with pretty much all
guys from Schwabisch Hall.

You know, we don't have
three million people in our city.

It's 40,000.

So you're only going
to have 20, 30 kids.

So if you want to be
good in the future, you

have to make sure those
20, 30 are well coached.

And so when they
eventually get to the senior

team, you know, they're
going to be talented.

And they can help them now.

As we got used to this
new life in Germany, I got

some insights from a
longtime Unicorn player, Bruno.

Should we get a coffee first?

Yes.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Kind of reassess this game plan.

So in 2006, I actually played with Jordan,
by the way, just to wrap this back around.

He's now a coach.

There's a lot of guys that
are flag eats, like Marco.

I coached Marco as a flag
eat when he was 13 years old.

It's not just about the game.

It's all the surrounding
things here.

Had I gone to another organization,
I don't think I'd be playing anymore.

Man, you look cool.

It's a contrast.

Yeah.

Black and white.

Yeah.

Black and white.

I got to be right here.

Can you be right there?

For real.

And it did take a
while to get acclimated.

But I think by the time
we were heading down to

the game in Austin, we
were already in Austria.

We had all settled in.

Now, this is exactly what I hope
playing football in Europe would be like.

Traveling to a beautiful
city in a different country,

playing in a big stadium
surrounded by the Alps.

It felt like a whole world away
from a classroom in California.

Call it.

We'll make a personality goal.

Go white.

Make us strong.

That tells you everything.

Make us strong.

This is Warco.

Obviously, we're up against
the number two team in Europe.

We knew they were
going to be a great team.

On our stretches.

Make sure we're coming nice and flat
out of the gate on our stretches a lot.

Right?

We came in to that
game on a high note.

After the whole season
beginning, we beat Frankfurt.

Can't nobody really stop us.

The Schlewisch-Halden Unicorns,
the two-time German champions.

The Warriors are
about to enter the pitch.

Here they are.

The Sparco Raiders of Tirol.

The game was a disaster.

Shelton oversees the field.

Finds Elsbacher.

Is it a touchdown?

Indeed.

This could get out of hand if the
Unicorns don't score this time around.

This was really unexpected.

The best thing you said is
where do we go from here?

Where do we go
from here, fellas?

You come together, you break.

We care.

We've got a whole
season to play.

The German Bowl to go.

1-0 in the GFL.

13 games to go.

Okay?

That's it.

This Big Six is over.

We didn't shine.

Come on.

Play hopefully until October.

Okay?

That's a long time.

Ready, unit, go!

The following week, we
watch from home as New

Yorker drove down to
Austria and dominated Swarko.

New Yorker looks
stronger than ever.

And our goal of a German Bowl
championship seems unlikely.

The next game, I
broke my collarbone.

Thank you.

Yeah, elevator, no stairs.

Adrenaline is winning.

I'm wearing off and this
actually hurts so bad.

That is my
collarbone sticking up.

It's an indication to operate
because there are more pieces.

It's dislocated.

Yeah.

I need surgery.

And now I'm starting
to question everything.

I figured the unicorns
would send me home.

That's what teams in Europe do
when their American imports get hurt.

I just had to get
out of the house.

I can't sit around all day.

With this collarbone situation, I
need to get out and move around.

Otherwise, I'll go crazy.

From us as an organization standpoint,
we're in a tough, tough situation.

Because that's a longer injury and we've
got to make a decision whether we're going

to send Nick home and get
somebody over here who can play.

The easy decision is just thank him
for being here, make sure he's healthy,

and then send him home and
get a guy who can finish the

season healthy and that
we know is going to be here.

Okay.

I just got off the
phone with Jordan.

And he told me that the unicorns
are not going to send me home.

They're going to keep me here in
Schwabisch Hall, which is actually amazing.

I thought they would for sure
send me home and get a new import.

But they said they're going to keep me
here and for me to get healthy and try and

get ready for the playoffs,
which is in a couple months.

So I used my new time
away from the field to find out

everything I could about
the Schwabisch Hall unicorns.

Talking about the mentality
of Schwabisch Hall, I'm

obviously biased because
I was born and raised here.

And so there's a
lot of local pride.

We're not like people from
Stuttgart who are Swabian.

You know, they always
think we are because

of the Schwabisch in
our name, but we aren't.

And we're not like the people from
Nuremberg from Northern Bavaria who are

Franconian because
we're something in between.

And that's a little bit of the mentality
here is that we're something special.

So you've been to
the museum up there?

Yeah, Sven and
Toby Loeffler took me.

Sven and Toby, they took me.

To the Hellisch-Fränkischen
Museum.

Yeah, it's awesome.

They actually have Christian Rote's
jersey and my game plan and something else.

In the museum?

In the museum from our
first German Bowl win.

Because the museum director came
to me and said, can I get some stuff?

Because this is
who wrote history.

My job is being a
high school teacher.

With a full schedule.

I balance that with coaching
through experience, I guess.

So maybe you want to
talk about the educational

system in the USA
as one possible topic.

We have one full-time employee.

That's my offensive
coordinator, Jordan Newman.

We don't even
have any part-times.

Everybody else is volunteer.

Well, if I compare the unicorn situation
to teams like Frankfurt and Braunschweig,

they have quite a few
full-time employees.

Several full-time coaches.

And then also front office
people that work full-time.

So we're at a disadvantage there that
we have to make up for by other means.

We don't pay our German players.

And I've got to go out and recruit
some of the best German talent around.

Yet compete with other
teams who are telling them,

I'll give you this amount
of money to come here.

And I've got to sell to them, come
here despite not making the money.

Yeah, I had a good
offer from Frankfurt.

Before the season.

I was thinking about
it for a long time.

I'm not sure if we can keep
it forever or for very long.

Because, I mean, you hinted at teams
who do pay the majority of their players.

And eventually, you know, that's a
recruiting factor that's going to be hard.

Learning that these German guys
are playing for the Unicorns for free,

when a lot of them could go make money at
other teams, was really eye-opening for me.

You know, like,
it's really hard to...

stay up early, go to work, go back
from work, go straight to youth practice,

after youth practice,
have senior practice.

And then, like, Laura, my girlfriend,
says, Hey, do you remember me?

So, I got my surgery,
and I returned to practice.

Good job.

So it'll be shallow, a curl, and
a shoot coming out of the goal.

So you've got
that nice triangle.

Then you go deep
around the corner.

And before the
contact, you go back.

And you bring it to the hip.

After being around the team less as a
player and more as someone with an outside

perspective, I started
to notice some things.

Football with the
Unicorns was different.

I had gotten so used to the American
approach to it being such a job in high

school and college that
seeing these guys play with such

an authentic passion and
joy was absolutely amazing.

Big D!

Hey, what's up?

You got that on?

100 feet!

Big D!

Now, the SWARCO game was
the Unicorns' worst loss in years.

A 34-0 beatdown.

And as a football player, you'd expect
a dip in morale after a game like that.

But the attitude of the team remained
optimistic, energized, and excited.

Low, here we go.

Search right smoke.

Search left smoke.

You like my new haircut?

Yeah, man, it looks good.

I like it too.

Waterboy, can you
get me a bottle of this?

Woo!

Thank you.

Woo!

My main thing is, guys, it will be,
after a week off, you know, there'll be a

lot of hoopla around the
game, lots of people there.

Lots of what?

I'll explain.

Hoopla.

Hoopla.

Lots of people there.

Lots of boys.

Everybody, hey, if you're on
the field, you have to focus, okay?

We cannot have
any mental mistakes.

You play football with your
teammates to do the right stuff.

Okay?

Know what you
have to do, and do it.

And then you're a
good team, alright?

Let's go.

Bring it in.

I like that.

Woo!

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah!

Oh, yeah.

Are you ready?

Are you ready?

Do you?

Horizontal performance.

Who are we?

De Yul.

De Yul.

De Yul.

De Yul.

It's all about the U!

The U!

The U!

It's all about the U!

In the U

.S.

you finish a game, you have a
protein bar and some Gatorade.

Over here you take off your pads,
you have a cigarette and a beer.

While New Yorker was
dominating their schedule,

Rudy started getting some
attention from the NFL.

My agent's telling me this stuff,
like, Saints looking at you still.

They're asking information, like,
you're looking good, keep balling.

In the U.S.

I'm like, you're looking
good, keep balling.

In the back of my mind, you
know, of course that's still a goal.

You know, go to the league.

But, like, I'm still
living in the moment.

You know, I'm focused on
the season and trying to win.

Meanwhile, I was trying
to get back on the field.

Yeah, it's very
tender right there.

Oh, there's the worst of it.

Oh, yeah, that's the worst.

And the back,
yeah, it's sensitive.

That's just a muscular thing.

These injuries just
take some time to heal.

Yeah.

Yeah, I can't...

What?

I just gave up.

Yeah.

It just takes time.

Just back from the doctor again.

And we play, or we will probably play
Frankfurt in the GFL South title game.

And they are not sure if I
will be ready for that or not.

In the GFL, there's a natural pressure
on American imports to perform.

Now, being injured and not being able
to contribute to the team, especially when

you're one of the only paid
players, is an uncomfortable situation.

But the unicorns never
made me feel bad.

Hello, Nick.

How's it going?

What did the doctor say?

Still a little bit
longer, probably.

And you need to stop moving it?

Yeah, I got to stop moving it.

Hi, guys.

Nick!

Moritz.

Moritz, you better get
out here for practice.

And one of the cool
things I learned is that Ziggy

won't ever turn anyone
away from the unicorns.

Hey, let me introduce to
you, this is Daniel from Spain.

He's going to play for us.

If they want to be on the
team, he'll let them join.

Hello, Madrid.

What's a unicorn in Spanish?

Unicorn in Spanish?

Unicorn.

Unicorn.

Unicorn.

Unicorn.

Unicorn on three.

Uno, dos.

Tres.

Unicorno.

Because it's a big family, and everybody
takes care of everybody, so I never ever

want to play for
another team, only the U.

Yeah, isn't it weird?

This is the first summer
that I haven't been home.

Yeah, it's still kind of broken.

I mean, it feels better, but
I'm not cleared to play yet.

Actually, we're going on
a trip right now, like in five

minutes, but I have a doctor's
appointment when we get back.

Yeah.

Where are you going?

Prague.

Czech Republic.

Oh, that's so sick.

I know.

Isn't that cool?

Hey, how are you?

Yeah.

Are you ready?

Yeah, I'm almost ready.

All right.

I have to go.

I'm about to leave.

All right.

Tell everybody I
say hi, all right?

Okay.

Okay.

See you, bro.

Bye.

One of the first things that Jordan told us
when we got to Germany was that during

our bye weekends, the
Unicorns wanted us imports to

travel and experience
Europe outside of football.

Good?

The squad headed to Prague.

Made it to Budapest,
the cliffs of Mor.

We're finally in Stockholm.

What do you guys want to do?

Look at that?

Should we walk to it?

Yeah.

Let's do it.

You wanna walk
down to the waterfall?

If Rudy runs, don't run.

All right, guys?

Or not.

I can't even see.

I know you could do that.

We toasted that, ladies.

Yeah, we did toast it.

The well-being of the players is
always number one on my agenda.

I don't want to see it
as a business, you know.

We're just bringing people and
saying, hey, you guys play for us.

We want to get as much production
out of you as possible and that's it.

But I would like for these people to
grow themselves and help us grow.

You know what I'm saying?

We're here to have
this human experience.

You can't have that
without taking risks.

You can't have that
without getting on a flight and

coming to Germany when you
don't know nobody from there.

When you're by yourself,
you're leaving your parents,

you're leaving your whole
family back at the crib.

You're going to be in a place that
you never thought you would be.

Meeting people that you
never thought you would meet.

Having relationships that
you never thought you'd have.

You can't shy away from that.

I said years ago, when Frankfurt was
probably in the third league, and we said,

well, you know, we're trying to
make the best of what we have.

We don't have many outside guys and we're
trying to go through a good junior program

but eventually the big cities like
Frankfurt in Munich and Berlin they should

all pass us you know just because of
the infrastructure they have and I mean you

see it in Frankfurt now you know with
relatively little ease I mean now they

have a lot of money to not just not
just players you know there's but it's it's

happening and now the question
is do we do we try and It's a

nice scratch and fight with our
homegrown talent and... yeah.

Okay, I just got out of the doctor
and I'm cleared to play this weekend.

Colarbone is good enough to go
and we play Frankfurt for the South title.

Let's go!

The Frankfurt rematch was big.

Winner of this game would have the
top playoff seat in the South and the best

path to play a New
Yorker in the German Bowl.

You know, we felt confident.

We had finally found our groove.

We were rolling and
we knew they were too.

And so it was just one
of those weekends that,

you know, you've just
been waiting for all year.

We scored the first two
touchdowns and we had a 14-0 lead.

We stunned their crowd.

I know one thing though, their first
touchdown that they had, that was...

that house was on fire.

I mean, that
stadium was burning.

I mean, it was what
everybody would expect.

I mean, it was two
dynamic, explosive offenses.

You know, trading punches.

And in the second half, it kind
of turned into a defensive game.

He flees to Ben.

Now he has some space.

And... goes on his own.

And that will...

not be easy.

Schwerischer Unicorns against...

When I first came to Germany, I did
not know what I was getting myself into.

We can still improve.

Everybody saw we can improve.

All levels of the game.

Right?

So great job.

Celebrate like
hell till Wednesday.

I thought maybe I'd get
to go over and enjoy one

last season of football
before I hung it all up.

But fate had a
different plan for me.

And at first glance,
breaking my collarbone three

games into this season
was absolutely devastating.

But what it gave me was the opportunity
to gain a new perspective on this team.

I spent three months learning
everything I could about the Unicorns.

Interviewing my teammates, coaches,
and people around Schwäbisch Hall.

And in that process, my teammates became
my brothers, my coaches became my mentors,

and I fell in love
with the town.

Nick.

Cody.

I'm gonna have to move when
I'm standing here for an hour.

We try the first couple one and
then we give you... We'll try it.

If you do a bad
job, I'll be like...

See ya.

See ya.

And it turns out the
Ami House was kind of...

Cody's match I cooked
and it got really smoky.

We had to take all the smoke detectors
out of the house because of Nick.

The Unicorns kept me
around when they could

have easily swapped me
for a healthy new import.

And they treated me
well when I was down.

And that really gave me a
sense of love towards the program.

Now this team
shouldn't be successful.

Yet somehow it
finds a way to be.

But ultimately,
we're facing Goliath.

And now we were two playoff wins
away from our chance of taking them on.

The best football
team on the continent.

Led by Casey Theriault.

The most famous player in
Germany and arguably the

best quarterback that
European football has ever seen.

German football and European football
and obviously what we've done on a...

I guess on a
continental level here.

It just feels like we were
nobody when I got here.

And now it's like the New
York Alliance is the place to be.

And the talk of the town when
it comes to European football.

From that our D-line
is much improved.

We're putting
guys in better spots.

Like using them better.

And right around
August, the playoff starts.

And all of a sudden
things start clicking.

And you're like, oh shit.

Here we come.

There was a whole new level
of intensity heading into playoffs.

During the regular season we only
play against teams from the GFL South.

So now is our opportunity to
play against teams from the North.

Which is historically a
much stronger division.

Teams from the North look
down on teams from the South.

And now it's win or go home.

You have challenges
that you're going to face.

And you have challenges that
sometimes may seem overwhelming.

Or may seem too big.

Or may seem that
you might never get it.

But as long as, you
know, you're relentless.

And you just keep
coming after it.

And keep coming after it.

Eventually that payoff
is going to be there.

We are all underdogs.

I'm undersized.

You're undersized.

You know, we got on this
team that was like all underdogs.

If everything was easy, we
ain't going to learn nothing.

Why?

Why are we here if
everything will be easy?

You know what I'm saying?

You know, one of the great
things about this import group is

you could feel that they were
out to go win a championship.

Have you ever won
a championship?

No.

No, man.

Never won a championship.

Never been a part of a team that
was close to winning a championship.

Have you ever won
a championship?

Nope.

Nothing.

I want to be known as winning the
most German Bowls consecutively.

Like, I want to be part of those teams
that dominated more than any other.

That was an emotional,
tough win on Saturday.

Go!

This is about us as a football
team playing at the highest level.

And showing who we really are.

And springboarding
us into the playoffs.

I want to be known.

As, you know, the
greatest five years of my life.

I want to be known all the time.

Be aware of that, fellas.

And be on top
of the little things.

And be ready to go.

First round of playoffs
against the Berlin Rebels.

It rained in.

It was dirty.

It was just a grind to
kind of get through it.

This team is notorious
in Germany for

playing old school
and hard-hitting football.

After struggling
early on, we were

eventually able to take
control of the game.

But we did not walk
away unscathed.

One

of the biggest things that happened in
the game was the loss of Tyler Rutenbeck.

You know, we get
through that game.

We win the game.

Happy to be moving on.

But there was still a dark cloud
that was hanging over everything.

Good job.

Proud of us for getting
through a game like that.

With a brain like that.

Moving on to the
second semifinals.

Rudy's out.

Rudy's gone.

Okay?

So we got to just
make up for it.

Next man's got to get up.

And we got to go.

Okay?

We got to go.

Next man up.

All right?

So let's go to work.

Okay?

Let's go to work this week.

We're in the semifinals fellas.

It's going to be a good day.

Here we go.

Rudy broke his collarbone.

The exact same break that I had.

My first thought
was like, I'm done.

Like, no more.

I can't play the
next playoff game.

Once I had time to like, think
about it, I thought about the NFL stuff.

It wasn't depression, but
it was just like, fuck man.

Cause like that's, that
was my ultimate goal, man.

Just go play in the league.

And then I knew it was
just not going to happen.

With Rudy out, we tried to scramble and get
an elite receiver for the semifinal game.

Well Morris.

We tried.

Zig wrote a message.

No way.

Yeah.

Did he really?

Yeah.

What did he say?

Basically Zig was trying to do us
like a selling, like kind of Viking saying,

you know, our players trying to get
extra work in, you know, returning back,

playing a couple games and then come back
to us, but probably a lot and see if they

would be, but Morris is like, nah,
I don't want to ask or something.

We were unsuccessful.

Okay.

Jordan, why does
any of this matter?

We live this, you know,
we live the unicorns.

So many of us do, whether it's as
coaches, players, fans, we live this.

I work with a
military base here.

I work at security there.

Making practice
happen outside of work.

And I got a
daughter now as well.

For me, the hardest thing was definitely
balancing my time correctly to where

everybody gets a little
piece of JoJo, I suppose.

Okay.

Behind us, we see the Ilge.

The Ilge is the fan
bar of the unicorns.

Players and fans,
they meet up there.

Usually after the game.

Discuss the game.

The last game or the next game.

And get the news from
the Schwäbische Unicorns.

That is awesome.

With chalk?

That's cool.

There is a big number
who love the unicorns.

Who like to go to the games.

What's up for now?

It's a big community.

Cheers.

Good to meet you.

People like that.

This has grown up
in a small town like

Schwäbische with only
40,000 people living here.

I can't.

I mean, it's hard.

It's really hard.

But I go... If I have to make the
decision for that, I go for that one.

2012.

Because it was really special.

We had a lot of... I mean,
the team was really great.

The people really great.

So we stick together.

Had a lot of good memories.

Yeah.

I mean, I go for that one.

Put it somewhere.

All right.

Go.

Nice.

Good.

Good job.

Another trick though.

Getting the chance to
go up against American

players every day in
practice is awesome.

And I know they're supposed to
run through you almost every time.

But I think that's the point.

And I think that's why we
bring Americans to Europe.

It's not for them to go
out and wreck the league.

It's for them to practice
and compete against

all the German and
all the European guys.

So we get the
chance to get better.

When you see stuff like this around
town, does that feel pretty good?

Yeah.

That means we've arrived.

We've arrived when you see that.

You ever think 33 years
ago it would be like this?

No.

I was hoping, you know.

I've always been part of the dream or
the idea to be part of the town culture.

I think... We are now.

I'd say one of the main things I learned
from Ziggy is you just don't make excuses.

Whatever your
situation is, whether it's in

football or in life, you
make the most out of it.

You do the absolute
very best you can.

And Ziggy is somebody who
just absolutely will not tolerate

somebody making excuses or
basically feeling sorry for himself.

Don't shy away
from the adversity.

You know what I'm saying?

Welcome it.

Let's go.

Because it's going to be
something glorious at the end of it.

You know what I'm saying?

Something amazing.

That's going to come.

And all you've got to do is stick it
through and keep pressing forward.

The semi-final game was against Dresden,
a big bad team from the east of Germany.

I heard a lot of people say, Schwerber
Schalke is going to lose this game.

The ball is in the vicinity
of the Halle end zone.

33 yards is missing.

Also Sebastian Sahe
with this free play.

10-yard line.

Hand off to Bilal.

And he runs into the end zone.

The pass from Adel Beza.

He comes in and
hits the interception.

The game was a
back and forth battle.

We were facing a team
that had a great offense.

Then Hendrik Hendriks wins.

And there's the touchdown.

And the throttling for the
Monarchs after 17 yards.

They do that cleverly.

The offensive coordinator Jordan
Newman and Donahue's touchdown.

Our offense was rolling, but
we just couldn't stop them.

We had a fumble on the kickoff.

You could feel the guys starting to
get nervous and getting tensed up.

So it was like, uh-oh, they can
come back and take the lead.

You know when you get into
those games, it's tough to compete.

They're going to make their plays
and you're going to make yours.

You know, just at
the end of the day, we

were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

We were able to make a
few more than they were.

Berlin!

Berlin!

We are going to Berlin!

Berlin!

We are going to Berlin!

And now for the German
Bowl, is there only one goal?

Yes, definitely.

I mean, I don't know
who it will be, but I have

already heard that the
Braunschweiger will lead.

And it would be nice if we
could have the duel again with

Braunschweig and finally be
able to decide for ourselves.

You can now see who
will be the winner of

the Schweizer Unicorns
in the German Bowl 38.

We are in a time when
hunters are being hunted.

Countless powers are trying to
push us away from the throne.

But we are ready.

We are hungry.

We are the New York Alliance.

Bring them on!

We have never worn white pants.

Braunschweig will
probably play in black.

We lost three championships in white,
so we are on the negative side now.

However, we have
never all white.

Even now?

We have never
lost in white pants.

In Berlin.

White it is.

All right, now the
Russ are in the way.

How many guys, they are asking,
how many guys do we want to bring?

I said my wish would be 50.

Like a game day roster.

Because I don't
want the bus crowded.

I don't want the
hotel room crowded.

You know, the more people
we bring, the more chaotic it gets.

The more pissed off some
of our older players get.

Because they don't have the
space that they would like to have.

I'm totally against it.

Against what?

Against bringing 50, I
want to bring everybody.

Yeah.

74 on my list, sir.

And there it is, right there.

That's the heart
of the unicorns.

That's the culture
established by Ziggy.

Good job, thanks.

But hey, thanks for
being on the show.

It's a culture that combines success
with treating people the right way.

And I know if I played
for any other team,

I would have been sent
home when I got hurt.

What do you guys think
about the German Bowl?

Are you excited?

We're going to win
the German Bowl.

Are we going to win?

Yes.

Are you going to come?

Yes.

No.

You go?

No.

We're going to play.

We're going to watch TV.

You're watching on TV?

Yeah.

And then we win.

You have pick six.

I have pick six?

Yes.

And then we all... And when you
make a pick six, you say Steven, Leon...

This is for Steven.

Okay, I'll do that.

And Justin.

And Justin.

I'll say all your names.

All your names, yeah.

All right, guys.

Time for practice.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Hit him back on the
vertical right to you.

Pure down-down.

Yeah.

I'm going to find Larry.

You're going to
find your brother.

It's cold.

Walk through in a park.

The same park we had in 2012 when
we accidentally won the German Bowl.

Left left left.

No no no.

Same hotel we had in 2012 when
we accidentally won the German Bowl.

That was good.

I think we could
really get that.

Marco, if we see this
guy turn and run and run.

Go back away from me now.

And say it's two by two.

I'd be so locked in on run.

Back travel.

Flip, flip, flip, flip,
and go left, left, left!

You have to go on guard, pinch
when you have to go on guard.

If I tell you it's cold,
it is cold, god damn it.

See how this guy
is, he's gotta give it.

He can't throw this hitch.

I'm fine with winning
the game accidentally.

We don't even have to be lucky, I think
we are good enough to dominate this game.

We'll win the damn German Bowl.

Have fun.

So bye, Jungs!

Ready, unit!

Schwäbisch Hall is
nearly 800 years old.

Back in the day, it was
known for producing salt.

Today, among other things,
it's known for American football.

And I think that's pretty cool.

This town deserves
this championship.

Schraub.

The U, the U, it's
on the road to you!

Welcome to the German
Bowl edition of GFL TV.

With the Schwäbisch Hall unicorns and the
New York Lions who have won 11 games from

Braunschweig, they were looking
forward to a hopefully great game.

Ready to go?

From the Braunschweig Lions,
let's go to the German Bowl 38.

Wide

receiver on the right
side for the Lions.

Theriot right with the
first pass over the middle.

And that was Jan Hilgenveld.

That there are gaps that you
actually have to close now.

We saw it, the 32 came forward.

But there

come the Unicorns with the
lightning pressure on Theriot.

And the ball is driven off.

And there is the Interception
from Christian Köffe.

Wow, how spectacular is that?

It starts here.

Lions almost run
across the entire field.

And then the
Interception in the back.

The Unicorns with
the lightning pressure.

Pass over the middle.

He is complete.

On the number 2.

Yes, Christian Köffe.

Jernfried goes into the endzone.

But no chance
for Patrick Dornio.

But he hits a flag.

And I heard, we give it
to our sideline reporter.

I heard the conversation
a little bit from Sigi Gerke.

He is also a defence
coordinator, not only head coach.

He also said, we have to put
a lot more pressure on him.

On Theriot.

We have to do
what we have to do.

I think now, in the next half, they
will be back with a strong defence.

And above all, with a
lot of lightning pressure.

The options are
playing on the right side.

But that was really
good by Nick Alfieri.

Super played by the defence.

And the hand is blocked.

You have to admit that.

Taken up by Pastorino.

And he is on the
13th, 14th yard line.

He is tackled.

What a performance.

Yes, and the Panther.

With a Field Goal.

Now it is 4-10 and therefore the
next Campos Series of the Lions.

2-9.

Hand off, cheated.

He passed long over the middle.

And he is caught.

But still touchdown Lions.

It was dangerous but
now we're nervous.

Empty.

And running back.

Pass over the middle.

And that is a
beautiful completion.

Snap!

Success!

And he has a lot of time.

There he goes deep.

Puts the ball up again.

And he scores!

He catches it!

At the 8-year-old!

What a pass!

What a catch!

For the Unicorns.

That's how it is!

And we have the touchdown
through the number 2.

And I would say,
we have a ball game.

Theriot with the pass towards
the end of the touchdown.

The next one.

Will now be set up as we
have demanded it all the time.

Runs to the goal.

Touchdown,
Schneeberschein Unicorns.

Wow!

There comes Anthony Bilal.

It's a hit!

And he scores with this goal!

A great goal!

Offense!

Listen to me.

Okay?

For whatever reason, it
always takes us a quarter to

get rolling against the
Browns for whatever reason.

But every time after that quarter or
so goes by, we start realizing, oh shit,

yeah, okay, we can
play with anybody, right?

Coach Tomlin said it.

You deserve this.

Finish this shit the right way!

Finish this shit the right way!

And you do it with violence!

You do it with violence!

You do it with intimidation
for the next fucking 24 minutes.

You make them fear you!

I play football.

And is this... We've never
been that close at halftime.

It's actually...
it's a 0-0 game.

I've just got to
win the first half.

We don't shut their asses out.

Win the second half.

Let's go.

Remember, the first time we win.

The first time we needed
31 points or something to win.

Now we need, you
know, one point.

1, 2, 3!

Keep it up!

Goal!

Super goal!

And the assist!

Oh, the shot!

He's not a boss in the area.

Play it on.

Goal!

Goal!

The pass to Bollmann.

It's complete.

First down, Lions.

So, third and five for the
Lions at the Halle 25-yard line.

If I see that correctly
from our position here.

The screen to the outside.

Jan Hegenfeld!

And there you could already
see, after the motion came.

And again it sets
up the heavy set.

Touchdown!

Damit McKentz!

Yeah, certains drop!

If that moved in like that...
And there... He's the target!

Up for the fans.

The first one was a
little bit more intense,

but it was actually
already a bit more intense.

They have now
reduced me to 7 points.

And I think the unicorns have
now got the momentum again.

And at that point, we had the momentum and
all you want to do is get the ball back to

your offense and give them a chance to
go score and actually go win this game.

New Yorker ended up
running the ball on third and 15.

And I missed the tackle
and they gained 16 yards.

Missing the tackle on third
and 15 was heartbreaking.

We had the momentum
and I truly believe we

would have won the game
if we stopped them then.

But I soon realized it wasn't about a
single play or a game or even a season.

I entered into a world
I had no idea existed.

I got to make new friends,
travel to new places, and found

out this game I grew up on
thrives outside the United States.

In a place where the players
are good and the fans care.

I experienced an approach to
football that I had never seen before.

And that approach
translates to life off the field.

And I think it's something
we'll all keep with us.

But it wasn't right.

That's not how the story
was supposed to end.

We were the underdogs, the good
guys, and we were supposed to win.

So I went back to Schwabisch
Hall for a second year.

And so did Devin, and so
did Rudy, and so did Cody.

Everyone came
back to the unicorns.

Jordan took the reins as head
coach, and Ziggy was still everywhere.

Every practice, every game, still guiding
the program he spent 33 years building.

We knew why we were there.

We worked harder.

We worked smarter.

Like weak side rotations,
there's a built in pass.

And we always had them,
in the back of our minds.

We went on to win every game
of the regular season, 14-0.

We won the quarter final, 15-0.

We won the semi-final, 16-0.

And one year after our heartbreaking
loss, we found ourselves back in Berlin,

back at the German Bowl, once
again facing the New Yorker Lions.

Nick Alvieri, the
all-powerful tackle.

Nick Alvieri.

Nick Alvieri with the 36.

One of the best.

One of the best linebackers
of the German Football League.

Theriot under pressure, scrambles,
now he's running on his own.

And that's a first down and
more, up to the four-yard line.

Directly into the center is
Theriot, handoff to McCants.

And there we finally have the
first touchdown, this German Bowl.

Roman Gemma, who is no longer
active in the youth team, 15 yards.

But we are back in the game.

Ehrenfried under pressure.

Pass to Jens Schöne.

Diving kills.

Touchdown for the Unicorns.

UNICORN!

UNICORN!

UNICORN!

Bring it in!

Bring it in!

Bring it in!

Hey!

Let's keep this shit up!

We got this!

Cody Pastorino comes through.

Nick Alvieri.

This is really sensational,
what the defense

of the Unicorns is
showing here today.

No points.

Can the Unicorns here get a first down
and lose the ball and the Lions recover?

Touchdown Lions!

Ehrenfried.

And there he goes deep.

Puts the ball out.

Is it in?

This is a touchdown, Unicorns!

And the game came
down to the last play.

35 yards.

How many goals will it be?

He has a foot on the ground.

And that's

a moment I'll never forget.

My friend Devin, who lost his dad leading
up to the German Bowl and almost didn't

return to Germany, blocks
the kick to win us the game.

That's my tissue.

What's your name?

Yeah.

Peace out.

All I was thinking of was
I made my pass proud.

No, you know what though?

No.

I'm making myself proud too.

I'm making myself proud too.

The things that happened
just lead me back here.

And I'm just glad
I stuck it out, man.

Happiness is key.

The key is the main thing, man,
and I'm happy, so I feel like with that

foundation, the sky's
the limit, really, man.

Really, when I started it, like we
said before, as an 18-year-old kid,

I had no idea where
this would lead.

You know, it feels good to
have built that and look back at it.

You know, it feels good to
have built that and look back at it.

This will always
be Ziggy's team.

It will always be Ziggy
Garrick's Unicorns.

I love you guys.

I love you all.

I see myself as the
next head coach, but, you

know, not necessarily
a replacement for him.

But one thing I'll
always try and do is keep

the direction and the
culture that he set here.

Because it's a culture of
success and it's a culture of...

of really caring for people.

Sigfrid, Ziggy Garrick,
he is Mr. Unicorn.

Ziggy is Unicorns.

I mean, I don't know, like,
Ziggy, never quit for the Unicorns.

I put your wheelchair on the
field and go back and forth.

You know, I'll give everything I
have, every amount of energy I have,

to this program and to continue
building on what Ziggy has done.

And, you know, take care.

Take care of the team
and to almost, you could

probably say, the next
generation of things.