Football Italiano » Brats & Beer

April 22, 2008
posted under: John Stocco, Lega Nazionale Football Americano Italiano

The Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFL are slowly getting their act together for this weekend’s draft, but I’m desperate enough for football that I’m checking out scores in the international leagues.

Back around Christmas, former Badgers quarterback John Stocco signed a contract to play football for the Milan Rhinos in the Italian Football League, so I decided to see how things were going. The news isn’t too good so far.

The Rhinos are 0-2 in the IFL after losses to the Catania Elephants and the Bolzano Giants, though their lack of success seems to rest more with the defense than Stocco’s offense. Milan has given up 96 points in those two games, allowing Catania to score 35 unanswered points after taking a 20-0 lead and then giving up four touchdowns in the first half to Bolzano.

Rhinos supporters have to be pleased with their American import, though. Stocco has completed 33 of 66 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns, and he’s scored three more times rushing the ball. He has a quarterback rating of 122.9, which would be pretty good here in the States let alone in the Italian league.

The teams play a 12-game schedule with the regular season wrapping up in June. If you’re starving for some football, you can follow the action at the Rhinos official site or at Rhinospower, the official supports site. Both have a little bit of video, though I’m a bit disappointed there’s no section about cheerleaders. Italian football cheerleaders? Come on, how awesome must that be!