Does anyone remember the USAFE football teams?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:05:13 -0500

I was at Ramstein from 81-84 and we had full contact, American-style football teams.   We had teams in Zaragosa, Torrejon,  Bitburg, Hahn, Spanghalem, Zweibrucken, Wiesbaden,  Upper Heyford,  Mildenhall, and I believe Lakenheath,  oh and Sembach.    I remember us beating Sembach  one season 74-7 and 50-6. There was also fast pitch softball, basketball and a few other sports.  The talent level was very high and it was kind of like in the movie M.A.S.H.  Players were recruiting as they came into the theatre.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2013 5:54 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 17:54:24 -0500

I kind of figured that many here would not know much about those old football programs.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2013 6:17 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 18:17:23 -0500

http://youtu.be/fS0VN0D9sHY

You all who remember will love this.

http://youtu.be/UuBt4iJwRMc

http://youtu.be/LO0LG5v5Qvk

Abandoned Cambrai-Fritsch-Kaserne, Darmstadt, Germany

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Rhein Main Air Base, Germany, July 2005

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USAFE Football Ramstein Rams 1982.wmv

1982 Continental Sports Conference Championship football game between the Ramstein Rams and the Zweibrucken Warriors.

Response by TSgt Marcial Guajardo made Nov 30 at 2013 10:24 PM

TSgt Marcial Guajardo — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 22:24:33 -0500

I'm pretty sure RAF Lakenheath had a team. There were one or two guys that were recruited but it could have been for Mildenhall. As I recall that was a pretty big deal, 79-82

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Dec 1 at 2013 2:20 AM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 02:20:55 -0500

I remember these teams, I thought Chad Hennings (Dallas Cowboys) and a few others played for these teams on and off (but i could be wrong). We also had German American Football which was pretty entertaining as well. I played for the Mainz Golden Eagles for a few games in the mid 80's.

Response by SFC Matthew Parker made Dec 1 at 2013 6:49 PM

SFC Matthew Parker — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 18:49:42 -0500

Your post reminded me of Ft Ord in California after it closed. It was my first active duty assignment and when I see the videos of the place now it just bothers me. I also think about all the grass cutting and rock painting we did to keep the CSM's area squared away and what he would say now.

Glad I'm not on that detail.

Response by SPC Robert Pulliam made Jun 28 at 2016 8:27 PM

SPC Robert Pulliam — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 20:27:19 -0400

I played for Rhein Mein when I was stationed in Frankfurt from 89-92

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Jun 28 at 2016 9:11 PM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 21:11:20 -0400

I wasn't on the football team at Spangdahlem when I was there from 72 to 74, but I did play fullback on the base soccer team. We had a couple of South American ringers from the local Army units on the team and kicked some butt on the USAFE league. We also used to go out to the local villages and take part in pickup games with the locals. That was a lot of fun even when we usually got our asses handed to us...

Response by Russ Crawford made Aug 28 at 2016 4:52 PM

Russ Crawford — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 16:52:53 -0400

I'm glad you asked that! Ha. Not the same time period, but I have two chapters on USAFE football, mostly in France http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Le-Football,677183.aspx

404 - File or directory not found.

Response by SSgt Don Mcclinton made Sep 20 at 2016 12:25 AM

SSgt Don Mcclinton — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 00:25:58 -0400

Oh yeah. My best memories of being in the Air Force was the 3 years (1981-1984) that I was assigned to Bitburg AB and played DE for the Barons. We had pretty good teams, making it to the USAFE Championship in 1981 vs I think Mildenhall and losing. That was my first year and the Barons were on a streak of about 3 or four in a row. The following year 1982, we were heavy favorites against Zweibrucken and lost. They went on to face Ramstein for the CSC championship and lost. I did make first team All CSC that year as a defensive end (Don "Styx" McClinton). My last year was 1983 and we had a decent record but lost to Ramstein in the playoffs. Good times for sure. We had a running back named Freddie Brown, who was a beast.

Response by SSgt Don Mcclinton made Sep 20 at 2016 11:02 AM

SSgt Don Mcclinton — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 11:02:06 -0400

Don't forget Rhein Mein in Frankfort. They had a receiver named Richard Darden, who also pitched for their baseball team that was awesome. They had some pretty good basketball teams too.

Response by 1stSgt Boyd Ouden made Nov 3 at 2016 9:54 PM

1stSgt Boyd Ouden — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 21:54:12 -0400

I was at Ramstein from 82 - 84. We won 3 CSC championships and 2 USAFE titles. I played QB #10.

Response by SSgt Carl B. made Nov 10 at 2016 2:08 PM

SSgt Carl B. — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 14:08:59 -0500

Bitburg 83-85! Oh Yeah

Response by MSgt Robert Causey made Dec 15 at 2016 3:38 PM

MSgt Robert Causey — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:38:59 -0500

http://www.usafefootball.com

Home Page

This page is dedicated to the United States Air Forces Europe(USAFE) Football League (1946 - 1993). The league was established after World War II as entertainment for military personnel and their dependents stationed in Europe before American football became popular in Europe. Also a factor was the unavailability of American Football games on television especially in England This league was also the pre-cursor to the World Football League and...

Response by Sgt Bill Rollin Jr. made May 23 at 2017 12:14 PM

Sgt Bill Rollin Jr. — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:14:08 -0400

i was a member of those great football teams in that time frame. Some of the best times. We worked very hard and were very successful. Attendance at those games was awesome.

Response by Sgt Bill Rollin Jr. made May 23 at 2017 12:19 PM

Sgt Bill Rollin Jr. — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:19:04 -0400

I was stationed @ Ramstein and was a member of those CSC/USAFE Championship Teams in the early 80's.

Response by Elizabeth Schwarze-Zegolewska made Jun 25 at 2017 6:21 PM

Elizabeth Schwarze-Zegolewska — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 18:21:01 -0400

Yes i was a cheerleader!

Response by Sgt Tod Bramham made Jul 13 at 2017 1:51 AM

Sgt Tod Bramham — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 01:51:31 -0400

I played on Zweibrucken 1984 team and a German American team also.
Saarbrucken Hurricanes
.

Response by Sgt Mike Dozier made Apr 7 at 2018 2:41 PM

Sgt Mike Dozier — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 14:41:02 -0400

I played at Lakrnheath in 1979 & 80. We were UK champions in both years and USAFE champions in 79. We had a lot of talent at RB. Two in particular were Chops Chambers and Billy Allen. Chops was a ledger in UK football. He owned every record. Billy Allen received a scholarship to Florida State. He held the Gator Bowl record for the longest kick off return for many years. He was drafted by the Saints in the 6th round. He was released on the final cut. There were many other great football players on those teams.

Response by SSgt Philip S. Scholz made May 16 at 2022 9:28 AM

SSgt Philip S. Scholz — Mon, 16 May 2022 09:28:24 -0400

My name is Phil Scholz and I was stationed at the 48th CSG/48th TacFtrWg/RAF Lakenheath UK from Feb. 1970 to Apr. 1973. Yes there was a base level varsity football team at RAF Lakenheath that had players on it from every spectrum of the football world. from high school to college to semi-pro players and it was VERY good football. I remember that Lakenheath had a couple of players from the USAF Academy on it's team. There was a ten game home and away schedule and then a championship game against a team from Europe. That game winner would become the USAFE football champion for that year. I do believe there were teams in England from RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Upper Heyford, RAF Bentwaters, RAF Alconbury, and RAF Chicksands. RAF Upper Heyford was the big dog power house during my time there. It was great in the fall to be able go to an American style football game on a Saturday afternoon and have a good time as though you were at a big time NCAA college football game! There was also base level varsity basketball and softball that had USAFE championships. I was friends with a guy that got a full ride basketball scholarship to a DI college in Florida out of the basketball program at Lakenheath. It was truly awesome. Great times remembered in my youth so long ago!

Response by SrA Darren Wheeler made Mar 17 at 2024 8:12 PM

SrA Darren Wheeler — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 20:12:26 -0400

I was stationed at RAF Croughton, 1981-1983. Our base fell under the 20th TFW at RAF Upper Heyford (located 8 miles south of us). We had a few guys on Croughton who played on the Upper Heyford Sky Kings football team. One of my co-workers in our shop was All-USAFE at offensive tackle during my time there. Upper Heyford won the USAFE championship during both football seasons I was there (1981, win at Bitburg, and 1982 won over Ramstein at home). I got to attend the 1982 USAFE championship between Upper Heyford and Ramstein. There was a very nice crowd there that day. Great times.