Task 16: Season Review
Season 38 was an incredibly wild season for the Berlin Fire Salamanders that likely took years off the lives of fans, as well as mine. Going into the season, Berlin was at best a dark horse candidate for making the playoffs but was expected to sit in another season of mediocrity before becoming a contender. This sentiment is mainly born from the team's youth; either the youngest or 2nd youngest team in the ISFL at the start. The Fire Salamanders hoped to improve their offence with the signing of Max Hamilton and trading for Octavio Perez; a pound of flesh Berlin was able to get from Honolulu's blowup.
Weeks 1-6: Fraudulence and Pain
The Fire Salamanders' record was unsurprising sitting at a pedestrian 2-4, the problem however was with how the team was playing. The Fire Salamanders gave up at least 30 points in all put one contest in this time frame. This matched that same total from all last season. Worse, Berlin gave up two 40 burgers in a row which they didn't do at all in Season 37. The cherry on top was nearly losing to a Baltimore Hawks team expected to lay claim to the NSFC basement.
Weeks 7-12: Wait We're Good Now?
After a vintage Berlin loss versus the Philadelphia Liberty where Berlin squandered a game-winning drive to another sack, the Fire Salamanders suddenly went on a six game winning streak; propelling themselves to 8-4 and 1 game back from Yellowknife's division lead. The defense, while not completely lockdown like Season 37, was solid and did not allowed 30 points during this time frame. This also included clutch late game performances, with two >50 game winning field goals by Special Teams Player of the Year Known Acquaintance. Both of these were against Chicago, to add salt to the wound.
Weeks 13-14: What the fuck is this?
While a winning streak doesn't last forever, you wish for it to not end in a situation where you completely squander an opportunity. The Yellowknife Wraiths were 9-3 heading into Week 13, only one game ahead of Berlin. Both weeks Yellowknife lost. Both weeks Berlin squandered said opportunity. Not only that, but these two weeks included Bageshwari Singh completely imploding vs Baltimore and the team blowing a 21 point lead vs the Arizona Outlaws.
Weeks 15-16: HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAYYYYY!
Berlin decided to finally make use of the opportunities Yellowknife gave them with another loss in Week 15. This however took a near walk off field goal from Known Acquaintance (again) and whatever bullshit happened with Sarasota, including a 58 yard pass to Zayne Dangle to set up a Max Hamilton TD and then immediately picking off Carter "Bozo" Knight. This win also clinched the NSFC crown and a 1st round bye
Playoffs (Abridged)
NSFC CG vs Yellowknife
Ultimus vs Arizona
Task 32: Philadelphia/Cape Town Rebranding
Philadelphia decided to rebrand after Season 38 to the Cape Town Crash, the first ISFL team to be located in the continent of Africa. They traded the Liberty Bell, a landmark to the city of Philadelphia, with a rhino. Cape Town joins New Orleans in being the only ISFL teams to use purple as a primary color. Personally, I am not a fan of the rebranding. The old Philadelphia logo was a quality logo and was integrally linked to the city itself with the city's history in the American Revolution. This logo to my knowledge does not have that kind of depth. Maybe trying to do so would be insensitive and appropriating the culture of South Africa and/or Cape Town, which sort of lends credence to not relocating at all. While this depth would be lost regardless of relocation, it does the team no favors that the logo is incredibly underwhelming. When I first saw the logo when the rebranding was announced I said it looked like an EASHL logo.
Task 36: SHL Affiliate (Username Atox)
Season 38 was an incredibly wild season for the Berlin Fire Salamanders that likely took years off the lives of fans, as well as mine. Going into the season, Berlin was at best a dark horse candidate for making the playoffs but was expected to sit in another season of mediocrity before becoming a contender. This sentiment is mainly born from the team's youth; either the youngest or 2nd youngest team in the ISFL at the start. The Fire Salamanders hoped to improve their offence with the signing of Max Hamilton and trading for Octavio Perez; a pound of flesh Berlin was able to get from Honolulu's blowup.
Weeks 1-6: Fraudulence and Pain
The Fire Salamanders' record was unsurprising sitting at a pedestrian 2-4, the problem however was with how the team was playing. The Fire Salamanders gave up at least 30 points in all put one contest in this time frame. This matched that same total from all last season. Worse, Berlin gave up two 40 burgers in a row which they didn't do at all in Season 37. The cherry on top was nearly losing to a Baltimore Hawks team expected to lay claim to the NSFC basement.
Weeks 7-12: Wait We're Good Now?
After a vintage Berlin loss versus the Philadelphia Liberty where Berlin squandered a game-winning drive to another sack, the Fire Salamanders suddenly went on a six game winning streak; propelling themselves to 8-4 and 1 game back from Yellowknife's division lead. The defense, while not completely lockdown like Season 37, was solid and did not allowed 30 points during this time frame. This also included clutch late game performances, with two >50 game winning field goals by Special Teams Player of the Year Known Acquaintance. Both of these were against Chicago, to add salt to the wound.
Weeks 13-14: What the fuck is this?
While a winning streak doesn't last forever, you wish for it to not end in a situation where you completely squander an opportunity. The Yellowknife Wraiths were 9-3 heading into Week 13, only one game ahead of Berlin. Both weeks Yellowknife lost. Both weeks Berlin squandered said opportunity. Not only that, but these two weeks included Bageshwari Singh completely imploding vs Baltimore and the team blowing a 21 point lead vs the Arizona Outlaws.
Weeks 15-16: HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAYYYYY!
Berlin decided to finally make use of the opportunities Yellowknife gave them with another loss in Week 15. This however took a near walk off field goal from Known Acquaintance (again) and whatever bullshit happened with Sarasota, including a 58 yard pass to Zayne Dangle to set up a Max Hamilton TD and then immediately picking off Carter "Bozo" Knight. This win also clinched the NSFC crown and a 1st round bye
Playoffs (Abridged)
NSFC CG vs Yellowknife
Ultimus vs Arizona
Task 32: Philadelphia/Cape Town Rebranding
Philadelphia decided to rebrand after Season 38 to the Cape Town Crash, the first ISFL team to be located in the continent of Africa. They traded the Liberty Bell, a landmark to the city of Philadelphia, with a rhino. Cape Town joins New Orleans in being the only ISFL teams to use purple as a primary color. Personally, I am not a fan of the rebranding. The old Philadelphia logo was a quality logo and was integrally linked to the city itself with the city's history in the American Revolution. This logo to my knowledge does not have that kind of depth. Maybe trying to do so would be insensitive and appropriating the culture of South Africa and/or Cape Town, which sort of lends credence to not relocating at all. While this depth would be lost regardless of relocation, it does the team no favors that the logo is incredibly underwhelming. When I first saw the logo when the rebranding was announced I said it looked like an EASHL logo.
Task 36: SHL Affiliate (Username Atox)