Danish American Football Federation
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The Danish American Football Federation (in Danish, Dansk Amerikansk Fodbold Forbund or DAFF), is an organization for American football in Denmark. Its headquarters are in Brøndby, Denmark. DAFF organizes Denmark's national American football team, which competes in the International Federation of American Football.
Since 2000, DAFF has seen a huge increase in membership, influenced in no small part by Danish television station TV2 Zulu showing of NFL games on Sunday evenings. The sudden popularity of American football in Denmark has been dubbed "the Zulu effect" (after the name of the TV station). As of the 2007 season, however, Viasat has obtained the rights to broadcast the NFL i Denmark, which it uses on both 3+ and TV 2 Sport, owning 49 percent of the latter station.
The popularity of American football in Denmark is also a result of interest in the long and successful NFL career of Danish placekicker Morten Andersen.
[edit] Mermaid Bowl
The Mermaid Bowl is the DAFF championship game, the Danish equivalent of the NFL's Super Bowl. The name is taken from the famous Little Mermaid, a symbol of Denmark.
The first final, in 1988, was not played under the Mermaid Bowl name.
| Year | # | Winning Team | Losing Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -- | Copenhagen Vikings | Odense Swans | 33 – 6 |
| 1989 | I | Copenhagen Vikings | Odense Swans | 17 – 13 |
| 1990 | II | Herning Hawks | Odense Swans | 20 – 14 |
| 1991 | III | Aarhus Tigers | Odense Swans | 27 – 0 |
| 1992 | IV | Copenhagen Towers | Herning Hawks | 78 – 50 |
| 1993 | V | Copenhagen Towers | Odense Swans | 48 – 33 |
| 1994 | VI | Copenhagen Towers | Herning Hawks | 46 – 7 |
| 1995 | VII | Copenhagen Towers | Aarhus Tigers | 35 – 20 |
| 1996 | VIII | Roskilde Kings | Copenhagen Towers | 62 – 48 |
| 1997 | IX | Roskilde Kings | Kronborg Knights | 56 – 37 |
| 1998 | X | Aarhus Tigers | Kronborg Knights | 48 – 20 |
| 1999 | XI | Aarhus Tigers | Kronborg Knights | 28 – 0 |
| 2000 | XII | Aarhus Tigers | Roskilde Kings | 49 – 6 |
| 2001 | XIII | Roskilde Kings | Greve Monarchs | 17 – 10 |
| 2002 | XIV | Avedøre Monarchs | Roskilde Kings | 27 – 25 |
| 2003 | XV | Avedøre Monarchs | Roskilde Kings | 28 – 14 |
| 2004 | XVI | Avedøre Monarchs | Herning Hawks | 41 – 12 |
| 2005 | XVII | Roskilde Kings | Kronborg Knights | 23 – 13 |
| 2006 | XVIII | Triangle Razorbacks | Kronborg Knights | 21 – 16 |
| 2007 | XIX | Triangle Razorbacks | Avedøre Monarchs | 32 – 20 |
[edit] Danish American Football Federation Hall of Fame
DAFF opened the Danish American Football Federation Hall of Fame on February 5, 2006, the day of Super Bowl XL.
Players
- Morten Andersen (Inducted 2006) - First Dane in NFL. Kicker for New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons (current), New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.
- Michael Boed (2006) - Quarterback, Receiver, Kicker for Copenhagen Vikings and Copenhagen Towers
- Morten Hertz (2008) - Odense Swans, Aarhus Tigers, Copenhagen Towers and Kronborg Knights
- Robert Nederby (2006) - Receiver, Quarterback, Runningback, Linebacker, Cornerback for Herning Hawks, Aarhus Tigers
- Peter Overlade (2008)- Roskilde Kings
- Allan Pedersen (2006) - Lineman for Victoria Dolphins (Canada), Odense Swans, Kronborg Knights, Copenhagen Towers, Hvidovre Blackfoots
- Jens Bo Poulsen (2006) - Receiver, Runningback for Copenhagen Vikings, Copenhagen Towers
- Michael Weien (2007) - Linebacker/running back for Odense Swans, Aarhus Tigers, and Viby Troopers
Coaches
- Ron Da Costa (Inducted 2006) for Copenhagen Vikings, Roskilde Kings, Kronborg Knights, Herlev Rebels, Vestegnen Volunteers.
- John Lawson (2007) for Roskilde Kings, Aarhus Tigers, Herning Hawks. Appeared in five consecutive Mermaid Bowls with an overall 5-1 Mermaid Bowl record
- John Martinko (2006) for Copenhagen Towers.
Contributors
- Jimmy Bøjgaard (Inducted 2007) - play-by-play commentator with Claus Elming through 7 years on Zulu.
- Claus Elming (2006) - Color commentator for NFL on Denmark's TV2 Zulu. Also a coach for Avedøre Monarchs.
- Torben Elming (2006) - Chairman of the Danish American Football Federation
- Menno Hilverdink (2006) - Started American Football in Denmark - Copenhagen Vikings
- Agnar Nygaard (2005) - Executive of Danish American Football Federation
- Tommy Terp (2006) - Executive of Esbjerg Hurricanes
