HomeINTERNATIONAL PLAYERS CONTRIBUTE IN WINS TO EARN BOWL ELIGIBILITY
International stars of American football who first played the game in their home countries before playing in the United States helped NCAA college programs earn bowl eligibility as most 2011 regular seasons came to an end.
More than 50 athletes from countries including American Samoa, Australia, Brazil, Estonia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden are playing college football in the United States this season. Each week the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) will highlight the top performances of international players on www.IFAF.org and www.Facebook.com/IFAF.org.
Alabama finished the regular season 11-1 with an impressive 42-14 win at Auburn and the Crimson Tide is 7-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Defensively, the Tigers were held to just 140 yards offensively and Australian JESSE WILLIAMS, who started each game at defensive end, finished the season with 22 tackles including four for a loss of yards.
After facing its largest deficit of the season, No. 1 LSU shredded No. 3 Arkansas 41-17. Undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1958, the Tigers improved to 12-9, won the brutal Southeastern Conference Western Division at 8-0 and will face Georgia in the SEC Championship game on Saturday, December 3. In the final regular season game, Australian punter BRAD WING had two punts for 84 yards.
Seventh-ranked Boise State scored 23 second-half points to defeat Wyoming (7-4) 36-14 at home as RICK TJONG-A-TJOE from the Netherlands recorded three tackles while CEDRIC FEBIS had two tackles for the Broncos and fellow Dutch native GERALDO BOLDEWIJN started at wide receiver. Wyoming featured three players who hail from Germany, including defensive end MARK NZEOCHA and linebackers ALEX BORGS and OLIVER SCHOBER.
Arizona held off Louisiana-Lafayette 45-37 in the Wildcats' final game of the season to finish 4-8 and 3-3 under interim coach Tim Kish as new coach Rich Rodriguez was introduced to the crowd at halftime. In the win, American Samoan and former IFAF World Team member AIULUA FANENE had a tackle for a loss of two yards. Fanene played in all twelve games this season for Arizona.
Boston College ran an interception back for a touchdown as the Eagles beat Miami 24-17 to finish the season 4-8 and 3-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Former USA Football International Student Program member, KASIM EDEBALI from Germany started at defensive end recording one tackle in the win. On the season, he registered 27 tackles. He was recently featured in the MetroWest Daily News about his journey from Germany to Boston College.
Florida State rode its opportunistic defense to a 21-7 victory over rival Florida and in doing so the Seminoles (8-4) won a game in the Swamp for the first time since 2003. FSU had not defeated both Florida and Miami in back-to-back seasons since 1998 & 99 in claiming the state's college football bragging rights. German defensive end BJOERN WERNER finished the game with four tackles. On the season, he has collected a total 35 tackles including 10 for a loss of yards and also had an interception.
NC State stormed back from a 41-14 deficit to shock Maryland 56-41, completing the largest comeback in school history and claiming bowl eligibility for the third time in the last four years. The 24-point turnaround also marked the second-largest comeback all-time in an ACC game. German MARKUS KUHN recorded two tackles including one for a loss of five yards and also blocked a Maryland field goal attempt.
SEUNG HOON CHOI played offensive tackle during Nebraska's 20-7 victory over Iowa. Choi, a native of Seoul, South Korea, played high school football at Lincoln Christian High School where he earned honorable-mention all-state honors in Class C-1 his senior year. Nebraska finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, its fourth consecutive nine-win season under Bo Pelini and 38th time in the last 42 seasons.
James Madison connected on a 35-yard field as time expired to defeat Eastern Kentucky in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. EKU was seeking to become the first current Ohio Valley Conference team to notch a playoff victory since 1996. Australian punter JORDAN BERRY finished the game with 333 yards on seven punts for EKU.
Hawaii moved within one win of becoming bowl eligible following a 35-23 victory over Tulane. The Warriors need to win their regular season finale against Brigham Young next week to earn an invitation to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. In the win, Australian ALEX DUNNACHIE had 149 yards on four punts for an average of 39 yards while compartiot SCOTT HARDING returned one kickoff for 11 yards.
SMU defeated Rice 27-24 in their regular-season finale. The Mustangs, who are eligible for a bowl bid for the third straight year, finished the season 7-5 and 5-3 in Conference USA. MARGUS HUNT from Estonia has started each game for the Mustangs this season collecting 23 tackles and four blocked kicks.
Turnovers and miscues plagued the South Florida Bulls early and late in a 34-24 loss to Louisville. In the loss, Brazilian kicker MAIKON BONANI connected on a 40-yard field goal and went 3-3 on extra points. USF will attempt to become bowl eligible in its regular season finale on Thursday against West Virginia.
The Mountaineer defense came up big in the second half of West Virginia's 21-20 victory against Pittsburgh. The defensive unit sacked Pitt quarterback 10 times including four times in their final possession to preserve a memorable one point come-from-behind victory. German CURTIS FEIGT played offensive line for West Virginia.
Iowa State could not capitalize on four Oklahoma turnovers as the Cyclones fell 26-6 to the 12th ranked Sooners and dropped to 6-5 overall. STEPHEN RUEMPOLHAMER from the Netherlands recorded three tackles in the loss.
Colorado snapped their 24-game out-of-state losing streak dominating the first half then holding on to defeat Utah 17-14. The Buffs finished their first Pac-12 Conference season with a 3-10 overall record. Irish punter DARRAGH O'NEILL had 148 yards on four punts.
Memphis closed out the season with a 44-7 loss to Southern Miss as Australian TOM HORNSEY finished the game with 471 yards on 11 punts for an average of 42 yards and boomed a punt 57 yards. A late rally fell just short as Eastern Michigan dropped their season finale 18-12 to NIU. Australian JAY KARUTZ punted for 232 yards on six punts.
