1 October 2010 - Inside American Football

BUAFL
Talking Uni
As part of our preview to the new British University American Football League season, Inside
American Football has spoken to players and coaches from around the league to get their insights
and thoughts on the new year of football.
Inside American Football (IAF)
speaks to 21-year-old, O/D lineman
James Jankowski-Doyle (JJD), captain
of the Leeds Celtics:
IAF: How did you get into American
football?
JJD: I got into the sport in my first
year of University. I was told to come
down to practice and give it a go by a
friend I met at a party and enjoyed the
atmosphere of the team and the sport
itself so much I stuck with it.
IAF: What do you most enjoy about
playing American football?
JJD: The physical intensity of the
sport is something I really enjoy. Few
sports I’ve played require you to play
at 100% every second of the game.
The team-based nature of the sport is
something else that is appealing, just
having to trust those around you on the
field.
IAF: What is the team’s aim this year?
JJD: As a team we always set out to
win so for the moment our goal would
be to win our season opener and go on
from there. Setting out to lose gets you
nowhere but looking beyond your next
game can be a negative.
IAF: Who are you most looking
forward to playing this year and
why?
JJD: Looking at our fixtures for the
coming season, Sheffield Hallam
[Warriors] is probably the game I’d
pick out. They were very successful
last season and beat us convincingly so
trying to pick up a win this year will
be an important goal for us. Having
the opportunity to play against the
86 Inside American Football - October 2010
divisional champions is great and the
added incentive of avenging our only
regular season loss last year makes it
all the more exciting.
IAF: What was the most memorable
moment for you on the field last
season?
JJD: My most memorable moment
of the last season was probably the
final whistle blowing in our overtime
victory against Staffordshire Stallions.
To play a team who over the years has
usually came out on top between the
two of us, and ended our post season,
to win and in such a close game was a
great feeling.
IAF: What would you tell anyone
coming to your university and
looking to play next season?
JJD: In terms of potential students
wanting to join the Celtics I’d say
it’s a great team to be a part of. We
work hard to be successful but also
have a great sense of team unity and
spirit. Contacting the club via email on
leedsceltics@hotmail.com is a good
way to get in touch, other than that
we will be all over campus recruiting
come September.
Next IAF spoke to 20-year-old, O/D
lineman Tom Donlan (TD), of the
Staffordshire Stallions:
IAF: How did you get into American
football?
TD: I’ve always been a fan of the
NFL but only really got into the
game properly a few years back. On
television it looks to be a complicated
sport but it’s not when you get into it,
PortsmoutH destroyers line uP AgAinst HertFordsH
HurriCAnes in tHeir mArCH 2010 meeting
PHoto © gArry neesAm