"The team is king"

ifm Razorbacks Ravensburg and RWU agree on exchange: academic offer for players, top-level sporting offer for students.

What do an American football team and a university in Upper Swabia have in common? Their members are young and come from quite a few different countries. This initial idea was quickly followed by concrete ideas for an exchange, report Frank Kienzle, department head of the ifm Razorbacks, and Professor Dr. Thomas Spägele, rector of Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences (RWU). And so the football team and the university have now concluded a cooperation agreement.

The ifm Razorbacks as a division of TSB Ravensburg just celebrated their 35th anniversary. For three years they have been playing in the top German American Football League. Until now, the home games were played in the Lindenhof Stadium in Weingarten. Since this is being renovated, a temporary grandstand is currently being built at the alternative venue in Ravensburg. Up to 3,000 spectators recently came to the home games, reports Günter Staud, president of the Razorbacks' booster club.

"It's like family!"

"The Razorbacks are a Ravensburg club that normally plays here in Weingarten," says Mayor Clemens Moll. "The focus is on togetherness so they represent what makes us strong in the Schussental." Councillor Alexander Jürgens also emphasizes the potential that lies in joining forces: "With the university and the first league club, we have two real highlights in the town and they have to be brought together. It's not about individual stars, the team is king," says Jürgens.

In addition to the regional players who make up more than two-thirds of the squad, the Razorbacks' team is indeed a motley crew. The other players currently come from ten different countries: from Denmark and Australia, from the Czech Republic, the USA and so on. Jeremy Conley, for example, will be playing his third season with the Razorbacks in 2023. The ERIMA German Football League is considered the strongest national league in Europe. That's why Jeremy Conley came to Germany specifically to play football here. He does not regret the move to Oberschwaben. "It's very nice here," says the 31-year-old defensive player, "I was very well received. It's like family!"

English-language studies and English-language training

Along with internationality, the family atmosphere was the second thing RWU and the football club found they had in common. For example, students at RWU come from up to 70 different countries depending on the semester. The reasons for this, in addition to the English-language courses offered, are the manageable campus, the close interaction, the beautiful, safe and economically strong region.

The cooperation between the university and the football team enables an exchange in both directions, says RWU Vice Rector Professor Dr. Heidi Reichle: "For interested students, the club with its various teams offers a wide range of sporting activities - from beginners to ambitious advanced players at Bundesliga level. There is even a women's team. On the other hand, Razorbacks players will find RWU a university that is internationally positioned and offers English-language courses of study." Training also takes place for the most part in English, adds Frank Kienzle. A university at the side of the club, he says, is a very good argument for attracting players to the Razorbacks and also keeping them here in the region.

The first joint act of the football team and the university will be the start of the summer semester on March 13. That's when the players will be present on campus. Among the 300 active Razorbacks are more than a dozen RWU graduates and another six currently studying at RWU. With their performance at the semester welcoming ceremony, they will probably be able to inspire even more students to take up their sport.

Text: Christoph Oldenkotte