Neal Enjoying His Playing Time In Germany
Article reprinted courtesy of Fargo Forum and sports editor/writer Kevin Schnepf.
MOORHEAD - About the time Concordia's football team started its first full-pad practice Tuesday afternoon, Griffin Neal was getting ready to go to bed.
There is about a six-hour time difference between Moorhead and Hildesheim, Germany. That's where Neal, Concordia's all-conference quarterback last year, has been since the middle of March playing semi-professional football.
"Time certainly goes by fast," Neal said over the phone. "I definitely would go back one year if I could and try it all over again with the Cobbers."
While Neal has four games remaining to play as the starting quarterback for the Hildesheim Invaders of the German Football League, Concordia is about to embark on another season. The Cobbers will certainly miss Neal.
Neal, a Fargo South High School standout, finished his career at Concordia with school-record numbers in passing yards (5,614), touchdown passes (47) and completion rate (63.7 percent). Concordia's only starting quarterback during the last 30 games of the last three seasons has been Neal.
"He was an extension to all of us on the offensive (coaching) staff," said Concordia head coach Terry Horan. "Just a brilliant young man. Athletically gifted. But I think what made the difference with him was just how smart he is in the game of football."
That includes the game of football in Germany.
This summer, Neal has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns—helping the Invaders to a 7-2-1 record. If the Invaders win their remaining four games, they will be champions of its eight-team league.
So how does this league compare with the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference where Neal played in the three previous falls?
"The skill level is maybe similar, but the football knowledge is way, way behind," Neal said, referring to a league that limits four American players to a team. The rest of the rosters are loaded with local German players—some as old as 40. "They are all good athletes but the majority of them would need a year or two to figure out the game more to play at Concordia."
So it comes as no surprise that Neal is picking up where he left off at Concordia.
"He's just running the show over there, too," Horan said. "He's a natural born leader. He is one of the best I have ever coached."
And Neal is one of the best quarterbacks Brandon Zylstra says he has ever played with. During the previous two seasons at Concordia, Zylstra caught 77 Griffin Neal passes for 1,240 yards and 12 touchdowns. Now, he's getting used to Alex Grove and Michael Herzog, who are battling for the starting quarterback spot.
"It's going to be an adjustment," Zylstra said. "Griffin just always knew where to go with the ball. You always trusted him with every decision that he made. It just made our job as receivers a lot easier ... he made us look good."
Zylstra, being touted as a potential All-American, could certainly see himself hooking up Neal again on the football field.
"We've talked about it," said Zylstra, who talks with Neal once or twice a week. "I'm trying to talk him into playing a little more football after this season."
What does Neal think about that possibility?
"We plan to train together and see where that takes us," said Neal, who hopes to play football in the United States next year, but said he is open to returning to Germany again.
It's not a bad life for a single guy just out of college. Neal gets a monthly stipend that covers the cost of the apartment he shares with the three other American players, use of a car and groceries. It has also afforded Neal the chance to visit places like Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris.
"Let's just say I won't have any money to bring home with me," Neal said. "All in all, it's been a good time."