Parma Panthers
| Established | 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Based in | Parma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | Stadio Ennio Tardini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Andrew Papoccia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General manager | Ivano Tira | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Italian Football League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League titles | 4 (2010/11/12/13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current uniform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Parma Panthers are an American football team based in Parma, Italy that competes in the Italian Football League.
The team was founded in 1981 by Vic Dasaro, an American veterinary student attending university in Parma. Dasaro created the team from an amalgam of power lifters from a local high school gym, ex-rugby players, other vet students, and a mixed bunch of soccer goalies, track and field athletes, and local kids who had seen football on the occasional TV broadcast and liked the helmet and shoulderpad look. The team is now built on longtime IFL veterans and young players from the Panthers' own youth teams, with still a healthy contingent of University of Parma students.
In 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Panthers won the IFL championship by beating respectively Catania Elephants, Bologna Warriors, Catania Elephants and Milano Seamen.
2004 - After their inaugural year in Serie B, the Panthers win the Silver League title in just their second season. On July 3, in the presence of the beautiful stadium Ridolfi of Florence, the Panthers went against the Elephants of Catania. The season started unsteady due to delays in preparation, but thanks to the arrival of coach Bill Piner, assisted by coach Joe Knoll, the team would go on a six-game winning streak. All of their hard work would earn the Panthers a victory in the final. For his excellent performance, Renato Costi was voted as the best QB in the league, and his brother Dario was voted best receiver and KOR. Mattia Marino leader on special teams and defense was also recognized for his play along with Luca Scurria, Nicola Palmia, Gian Luca Ferrari, Rasheed Shittu and Captain Alberto Lanzoni. All of these players were voted among the best in their individual positions. The hero of the title game was Luca Marchesi.
2005 - Home at last! 2005 marks the rebirth of the Panthers. After 15 years, the Panthers are back in the top flight (Golden League or Serie A), and it is especially nice to be returning after 12 years to the historic Stadium "Cervi" now Lanfranchi, the lair of the Panthers. LB Onyeka Ossai and the phenomenal RB/SS Andrew Papoccia (reappointed for the 2006 season, ed.), are the two foreigners in the starting lineup. The season, however, is marked by injuries to the Americans, which forces the Panthers to field a team of just Italians. In spite of this, the Panthers are able to stay competitive in league play, and came up a touchdown short in their final game to miss the playoffs. With a record of 2-6 (Victories against the Hogs), the season ends with promise for league year to come. Players worth noting for their excellent play are Lanzoni, Scurria and Rasheed Shittu for the defense and Menozzi, Gennari, Antonetti and G. Ferrari on offense.
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