Next Year (211 words)
The San Antonio Marshals are fighters. You know why we didn't do so well this past season, even with absolute championship caliber players like running back Ashley Owens, defensive tackle Bubba Thumper, and safety Takeda Okura? It's because the previous season, we did so damn well that our roster was depleted by pro level teams calling up our players. This season, we had a bad time. But that just means our team's gonna be shored up all over again with future champions. Recently the Marshals have been screwed by what some may call "sim luck." In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, "so it goes." Can't do anything about it now. However, we CAN be led by an excellent General Manager in Shadyshoelace, aka lil jarrarium. We CAN have an amazing draftclass that will be filled with future hall of famers. We CAN absolutely dominate the DSFL and secure another Ultimini trophy for San Antonio. We ended the season the worst of the non-bot teams. But that's okay. To quote our old motto, MarshalUp! Our dedication and drive is unmatched, so thanks to our D's we will be triumphant. And that's a promise. I don't drink, but I shall raise an empty glass to the start of Marshals dynasty soon to begin.
Sit Down with a Fan
Link
Sit Down with a Star (429 words, done with SwagSloth)
An Ultimus trophy. It's hard to punctuate a season better than that! First came the defeat of the Sabercats, then decimation of the Orange County Otters, and finally a narrow win in a tense game against the Liberty. What was the atmosphere like before that final game?
Honestly, we were riding a wave of emotion. The pressure was definitely there, but a convincing victory over the Otters really put us in a positive mindset. We showed up to play and our team was firing on all cylinders. The Ultimus was going to be a dogfight and we knew that going in, but we believed in one another and we simply told ourselves to stay the course.
How did it feel to throw that touchdown pass to Murphy with just a minute left on the clock to take the lead?
I talked about pressure and it was thick in those last few minutes. They had been covering Landers all game. But Murphy found ways to get open and they just couldn’t seem to get his number. I trusted in him and he didn’t let me down. He really carried the torch for us that whole game.
How does it feel to hoist an Ultimus Trophy for Arizona after being drafted as a defensive tackle several seasons ago and enduring a front office change and rebuild?
It has been a long and interesting journey. I was always grateful for the trust management placed in me as a DT, but it never felt right. Going back to QB felt so natural. I don’t have the arm that some guys have but playing on both sides of the ball helped me learn how to read defenses. It took a long road to get here, but the new management trusted me and I think that trust has now been vindicated. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a great group of guys. These young guys are absolutely superstars in the making and I feel fortunate to call them my teammates.
And lastly, do you think Arizona can find this success again?
We have to. People were quick to write us off since we came into the playoffs as an underdog, but we proved that we belonged. Unfortunately, in this league, that’s something you have to keep proving every season. The real challenge will be finding ways to stay successful without becoming too predictable. We’re under a microscope now. Teams that may have overlooked us will now be studying our tapes harder than ever. We need to be a multi-dimensional team and I think we’re capable of that.
That Magic Moment (238 words)
One minute, four seconds left on the clock. Jeffrey Murphy cuts across the middle, a simple crossing route from the slot. The defensive line is closing in but Reese gets the ball away - they’re a touchdown from taking the lead in what would be Arizona’s first Ultimus victory since 2018 (and first appearance since then as well). Let’s rewind.
Two seasons prior, Arizona was at the bottom of the league and had the first overall pick of the draft. A previous rebuild failed after the angry retirement of their star quarterback, and the front office had finally fired their general manager and promoted the assistant to the main job. Fans feared another lengthy rebuild was due. However, the team was ready to prove its doubters wrong. After two excellent draft classes, and going from the bottom to above .500, Arizona was now fighting its way through a tough season 17. They managed to place 2nd in the ASFC, and then commanded a dominant victory over the Sabercats. When the conference championship game came, the Otters were heavy favorites. The Outlaws proceeded to slaughter them, holding them to just 3 points in a blowout victory.
Back to present. It’s all led up to this. 14 years of waiting for Arizona fans. Several seasons of turmoil for players. A head coach on the sidelines who’d been there for 11 seasons as a player. The ball sailed. Caught. Touchdown Arizona.
The San Antonio Marshals are fighters. You know why we didn't do so well this past season, even with absolute championship caliber players like running back Ashley Owens, defensive tackle Bubba Thumper, and safety Takeda Okura? It's because the previous season, we did so damn well that our roster was depleted by pro level teams calling up our players. This season, we had a bad time. But that just means our team's gonna be shored up all over again with future champions. Recently the Marshals have been screwed by what some may call "sim luck." In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, "so it goes." Can't do anything about it now. However, we CAN be led by an excellent General Manager in Shadyshoelace, aka lil jarrarium. We CAN have an amazing draftclass that will be filled with future hall of famers. We CAN absolutely dominate the DSFL and secure another Ultimini trophy for San Antonio. We ended the season the worst of the non-bot teams. But that's okay. To quote our old motto, MarshalUp! Our dedication and drive is unmatched, so thanks to our D's we will be triumphant. And that's a promise. I don't drink, but I shall raise an empty glass to the start of Marshals dynasty soon to begin.
Sit Down with a Fan
Link
Sit Down with a Star (429 words, done with SwagSloth)
An Ultimus trophy. It's hard to punctuate a season better than that! First came the defeat of the Sabercats, then decimation of the Orange County Otters, and finally a narrow win in a tense game against the Liberty. What was the atmosphere like before that final game?
Honestly, we were riding a wave of emotion. The pressure was definitely there, but a convincing victory over the Otters really put us in a positive mindset. We showed up to play and our team was firing on all cylinders. The Ultimus was going to be a dogfight and we knew that going in, but we believed in one another and we simply told ourselves to stay the course.
How did it feel to throw that touchdown pass to Murphy with just a minute left on the clock to take the lead?
I talked about pressure and it was thick in those last few minutes. They had been covering Landers all game. But Murphy found ways to get open and they just couldn’t seem to get his number. I trusted in him and he didn’t let me down. He really carried the torch for us that whole game.
How does it feel to hoist an Ultimus Trophy for Arizona after being drafted as a defensive tackle several seasons ago and enduring a front office change and rebuild?
It has been a long and interesting journey. I was always grateful for the trust management placed in me as a DT, but it never felt right. Going back to QB felt so natural. I don’t have the arm that some guys have but playing on both sides of the ball helped me learn how to read defenses. It took a long road to get here, but the new management trusted me and I think that trust has now been vindicated. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a great group of guys. These young guys are absolutely superstars in the making and I feel fortunate to call them my teammates.
And lastly, do you think Arizona can find this success again?
We have to. People were quick to write us off since we came into the playoffs as an underdog, but we proved that we belonged. Unfortunately, in this league, that’s something you have to keep proving every season. The real challenge will be finding ways to stay successful without becoming too predictable. We’re under a microscope now. Teams that may have overlooked us will now be studying our tapes harder than ever. We need to be a multi-dimensional team and I think we’re capable of that.
That Magic Moment (238 words)
One minute, four seconds left on the clock. Jeffrey Murphy cuts across the middle, a simple crossing route from the slot. The defensive line is closing in but Reese gets the ball away - they’re a touchdown from taking the lead in what would be Arizona’s first Ultimus victory since 2018 (and first appearance since then as well). Let’s rewind.
Two seasons prior, Arizona was at the bottom of the league and had the first overall pick of the draft. A previous rebuild failed after the angry retirement of their star quarterback, and the front office had finally fired their general manager and promoted the assistant to the main job. Fans feared another lengthy rebuild was due. However, the team was ready to prove its doubters wrong. After two excellent draft classes, and going from the bottom to above .500, Arizona was now fighting its way through a tough season 17. They managed to place 2nd in the ASFC, and then commanded a dominant victory over the Sabercats. When the conference championship game came, the Otters were heavy favorites. The Outlaws proceeded to slaughter them, holding them to just 3 points in a blowout victory.
Back to present. It’s all led up to this. 14 years of waiting for Arizona fans. Several seasons of turmoil for players. A head coach on the sidelines who’d been there for 11 seasons as a player. The ball sailed. Caught. Touchdown Arizona.