Cleveland Browns: Q&A with Browns Backers of Scandinavia

The Browns Backers Worldwide is considered to be one of the largest organized fan clubs in all of professional sports with members and clubs established throughout the world.

The organization exists as a non-profit group to actively support and positively promote the Cleveland Browns.

Today, in the latest of a series focusing on the best fans in the NFL, we talk with Christoffer Becker, president of the Browns Backers of Scandinavia. Established in 2014, the small club makes it home at Buckleys Pub in Oslo. You can also find them on Facebook.

Becker was kind enough to join us for a virtual Q&A on the club and what it is like to be a Browns fan in the land of the midnight sun.

Question: How did your chapter come about?

Christoffer: I have been a Browns fan since 1995. A funny year to start being a Browns fan as it was shortly after they moved … and you all know the story. But in 1999 the Browns were reborn (they never died in my heart). I have many friends who have spent time in U.S. colleges so the NFL has never been something new to us, but rather it was the availability to follow the games live that has been the problem. The only thing that has been televised regularly since the middle of the 1980s has been the Super Bowl.

But since we who follow the NFL still are quite a small group of people here in Scandinavia (soccer is still crazy big over here, just like in the rest of Europe), we find each other through social media. A small group of friends began watching as many games as possible with the NFL Game Pass and being able to watch the games live has been a whole lot better. A bit over a year ago I decided to start my own chapter. Small steps in the beginning, but we are growing slowly!

The defense is getting better and better, but the running game is still to unstable. And to win games you need points. – Christoffer Becker, Browns Backers of Scandinavia

Question: What is the atmosphere like when the group gets together for a game?

Christoffer: The games are often shown late due to the great time difference. So the atmosphere is quite good when we have more then five or six people watching as we are kind of tailgating in front of the TV. Music, great food (if you can call junk food great food) and drinks of all kinds! The Monday night game is mostly watched individually in front of a computer with comments to each other via Facebook. The Thursday night games are always more fun! Sunday games depend on kick-off time.

Question: The NFL is working hard to be a global force; how much interest do you see the game having outside of your Browns Backers’ group in your area?

Christoffer: I get more questions from friends and friends in my social media network every month as people are curious about why I follow the Browns and the NFL. When they take the time to watch a game many people start to understand what the game is all about. The new rules with no tolerance for illegal substances have made Europeans respect the game a lot more.

Question: What off-season move was the Browns’ best?

Christoffer: Danny Shelton, he can sack any kind of quarterback and opponents need two players to get him down, getting new kickers and keeping Johnny Manziel.

Question: The Browns are trying to win with a dominant defense and running game, rather than a dominant quarterback. Can they pull it off?

Christoffer: They can unfortunately not pull it off this season. The defense is getting better and better, but the running game is still to unstable. And to win games you need points. The Browns should build more around the offense as well, with fresh new players for the future instead of being the last stop for veterans.

By the way, Håvard Rugland (kicker) has been available for a time now. I have spoken to him personally and he would love to play for the Browns, after I told him the story of the Browns. And he would be cheap!

Question: “In Pettine We Trust!” Yes or No?

Christoffer: Yes! In all big money sports, fans and the press expect new coaches to perform miracles within a few games. If not, they are accused of being poor and not worthy of their job. Pettine has proven that he is a brick-by-brick kind of guy, and that it takes more than one season to get the team on his path.

The hard thing for him will be to keep the Dawg Pound happy. Cleveland is screaming for success. If they give him the time he might stay for a long time!

My only wish last season was that he would have grabbed a new kicker at the beginning of the season. We lost at least three games due to a very poor kicker.

Question: Have you ever been to Cleveland for a game or does the group have any plans to do so?

Christoffer: A few of us went over for a long weekend last December. We flew in to Chicago on a Thursday, where we watched the Cowboys beat the Bears that same night.

On Saturday we went on a road trip to Cleveland, which included some speeding tickets. (The Indiana State Trooper was not interested in me being eager to get to Cleveland ASAP.)

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Sunday morning we woke up to a clear blue sky and icy winds. We wandered slowly down to the stadium and stopped by a few bars for refreshments and a pre-game snack. At the stadium we were handed some field passes and we got to meet most of the team, plus owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer before the game. That was a very cool experience.

Unfortunately we lost to the Colts. On Sunday night we were invited to the House of Blues where we saw Andy Grammer and Daughtry. And on Monday morning we drove back to Chicago and flew back to Norway that same afternoon.

We are talking about a trip in 2015 or 2016. But that is still not decided. Maybe this time we will watch an away game in the South!

Question: What’s the best part about being a Browns fan?

Christoffer: The best part of being a Browns fan is definitely that all wins are a bonus. And every time the Steelers loose I’m also happy!

Next: Can Shane Wynn find a roster spot with the Browns?

Home/Browns News

Q&A with the Browns Backers of Scandinavia

By Thomas Moore | Aug 23, 2015

More from Dawg Pound Daily