09-22-2020, 09:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-22-2020, 09:21 PM by speculadora.)
Tier 1: Long Form Tasks (800+ words)
Choose ONE for 10 TPE.
2) This week will see the S24 Ultimus and Ultimini races begin in earnest. In 800 words or more, recount any of the previous playoff cycles of either league. How did each team arrive at the playoffs? Were there any dark horse or Cinderella teams that went unexpectedly far, or any presumptive favorites that fell flat? How did the title game play out, and which players made their mark on the field? Tell the story of those playoffs as completely as you can. Do not simply recount your own experience in those playoffs or that of a singular team.
One of my favorite memories from my time as the General Manager of Orange County was our Season 17 playoff run, because it was definitely the one we least expected of the eight in our franchise's history. To set the stage a little bit, we came up just short in Season 16, despite being tied for the league's regular season championship, and holding what was tied for the best overall record headed into those playoffs. Unfortunately we got shocked on our home turf by the Outlaws in the ASFC Championship Game, and it felt like that really might have been our last season of contention for a little while. It was just salt in the wound as the Outlaws wound up winning the Ultimus that season. The following season our rivalry with Arizona intensified, and we ended up sneaking into the playoffs at 7-6. That was Franklin Armstrong's first regular season as a starter, and we struggled to reset our offense. Sunnycursed, our star wide receiver, struggled and ended up being traded to the Baltimore Hawks for a first rounder. We had all but punted on the season by the time the playoffs rolled around, but were obviously going to give it our best shot.
First thing we had to do was get past the San Jose Sabercats, who were the three seed with a 6-7 record. Simpler times. At that point in the season, we were trying to find ways to get our offense going. Moonlight finally reached the attribute thresholds we were aiming for, and decided to try him out as a runner. The rest, as they say, is history. I guess I'll go over it anyway. The first game with the new run-centric strategy, he actually beat our opponent with his arm, throwing for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers. It was mostly a defensive battle, luckily we suffocated their offense until late in the 4th.
We had our chance at the rematch we so desperate wanted with Arizona, and intended to show them who the real kings of the ASFC were. We had certainly heard enough from them at that point. It was a road game, but we punched 'em in the mouth early on. Dan Schneider returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Shortly after we drove down for a field goal, and then a touchdown. By the end of the first quarter it was already 17-0. Armstrong took over from there, rushing and passing for one touchdown and again playing turnover-free football. He finished that one with a sterling 15/26 passing for 290 yards and 1 touchdown, complimented by 11 rushes for 36 yards and a touchdown. When the dust settled we had returned the favor and whooped the Outlaws 37-20. That was one of our most exciting wins, I think, because it was probably the first time a lot of us had been underdogs at that stage. It felt kind of good to get to be on the other side of that equation after we lost in a similar fashion the season before. Particularly because we, in our frustration with losing the season before, called the Outlaws lucky. And boy did they let us hear about it. Over and over and over. They were just one title behind us all-time at that point.
Anyway, on to the Ultimus. We were incredible underdogs against Baltimore, and they had the advantage of having traded for our best player earlier in the season. I think we tested something like 25% for this one. We were really just happy to be there. It was nunccoepi and iseedoug's final season as Baltimore's leadership, and it just felt like the stage was set for them to go out on top. Unfortunately for them, Armstrong's legacy was just beginning to bloom. We took the Hawks down behind one of the best all-around performances in Ultimus history from Armstrong. He went 17/27 for 287 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, along with 11 rushes for 48 yards, and another touchdown. Once again, no turnovers. He basically handled their defense with ease, setting the stage for the next couple of seasons and the rest of his Hall of Fame worthy career.
That run was really cool just from a world building perspective in the league, because it really was an upstart team being led by a player who we had no idea would become a legend. When you look back on it, it's pretty awesome to take it in with the context of Armstrong's career. At least for me. Maybe not so much for others. That playoff run, by the percentages, was one of the less probable ones that I've been around for in league history. We tested around 75% for the San Jose game, about 45% for the Arizona game, and 25% for Baltimore. The odds of that exact run were 8.5%. Not quite as low as some others, but pretty damn unlikely.
Choose ONE for 10 TPE.
2) This week will see the S24 Ultimus and Ultimini races begin in earnest. In 800 words or more, recount any of the previous playoff cycles of either league. How did each team arrive at the playoffs? Were there any dark horse or Cinderella teams that went unexpectedly far, or any presumptive favorites that fell flat? How did the title game play out, and which players made their mark on the field? Tell the story of those playoffs as completely as you can. Do not simply recount your own experience in those playoffs or that of a singular team.
One of my favorite memories from my time as the General Manager of Orange County was our Season 17 playoff run, because it was definitely the one we least expected of the eight in our franchise's history. To set the stage a little bit, we came up just short in Season 16, despite being tied for the league's regular season championship, and holding what was tied for the best overall record headed into those playoffs. Unfortunately we got shocked on our home turf by the Outlaws in the ASFC Championship Game, and it felt like that really might have been our last season of contention for a little while. It was just salt in the wound as the Outlaws wound up winning the Ultimus that season. The following season our rivalry with Arizona intensified, and we ended up sneaking into the playoffs at 7-6. That was Franklin Armstrong's first regular season as a starter, and we struggled to reset our offense. Sunnycursed, our star wide receiver, struggled and ended up being traded to the Baltimore Hawks for a first rounder. We had all but punted on the season by the time the playoffs rolled around, but were obviously going to give it our best shot.
First thing we had to do was get past the San Jose Sabercats, who were the three seed with a 6-7 record. Simpler times. At that point in the season, we were trying to find ways to get our offense going. Moonlight finally reached the attribute thresholds we were aiming for, and decided to try him out as a runner. The rest, as they say, is history. I guess I'll go over it anyway. The first game with the new run-centric strategy, he actually beat our opponent with his arm, throwing for 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 turnovers. It was mostly a defensive battle, luckily we suffocated their offense until late in the 4th.
We had our chance at the rematch we so desperate wanted with Arizona, and intended to show them who the real kings of the ASFC were. We had certainly heard enough from them at that point. It was a road game, but we punched 'em in the mouth early on. Dan Schneider returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown. Shortly after we drove down for a field goal, and then a touchdown. By the end of the first quarter it was already 17-0. Armstrong took over from there, rushing and passing for one touchdown and again playing turnover-free football. He finished that one with a sterling 15/26 passing for 290 yards and 1 touchdown, complimented by 11 rushes for 36 yards and a touchdown. When the dust settled we had returned the favor and whooped the Outlaws 37-20. That was one of our most exciting wins, I think, because it was probably the first time a lot of us had been underdogs at that stage. It felt kind of good to get to be on the other side of that equation after we lost in a similar fashion the season before. Particularly because we, in our frustration with losing the season before, called the Outlaws lucky. And boy did they let us hear about it. Over and over and over. They were just one title behind us all-time at that point.
Anyway, on to the Ultimus. We were incredible underdogs against Baltimore, and they had the advantage of having traded for our best player earlier in the season. I think we tested something like 25% for this one. We were really just happy to be there. It was nunccoepi and iseedoug's final season as Baltimore's leadership, and it just felt like the stage was set for them to go out on top. Unfortunately for them, Armstrong's legacy was just beginning to bloom. We took the Hawks down behind one of the best all-around performances in Ultimus history from Armstrong. He went 17/27 for 287 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, along with 11 rushes for 48 yards, and another touchdown. Once again, no turnovers. He basically handled their defense with ease, setting the stage for the next couple of seasons and the rest of his Hall of Fame worthy career.
That run was really cool just from a world building perspective in the league, because it really was an upstart team being led by a player who we had no idea would become a legend. When you look back on it, it's pretty awesome to take it in with the context of Armstrong's career. At least for me. Maybe not so much for others. That playoff run, by the percentages, was one of the less probable ones that I've been around for in league history. We tested around 75% for the San Jose game, about 45% for the Arizona game, and 25% for Baltimore. The odds of that exact run were 8.5%. Not quite as low as some others, but pretty damn unlikely.