I will create a mount rushmore for the Sarasota Sailfish. Because it is nearly impossible to rank actual users, my mount rushmore will just be which four players I think are the most impactful on Sarasota’s history.
The first player to make it will be TE James Angler. Angler was a part of Sarasota’s inaugural draft and was the third TE taken, all the way in round 5. He was a critical piece of Sarasota’s passing offense for over a decade, and was inducted into the ISFL Hall of Fame for his heroics. It is rare when a player can definitively say that they were the best player at their position for an extended period of time, but James Angler can do that. Angler carried the Sarasota offense and was critical to Sarasota’s first ring. Angler is top 3 (top 2 for most) in all receiving categories for the Sailfish, which as a TE, is both very difficult to do, and very impressive to achieve. James Angler has the case as the goat of the modern ISFL TE, and therefore he must be a piece on this list.
The second player on the Sarasota Sailfish mount rushmore must be S Cuco Clemente. Beyond being a HoF player and mainstay of the defense for most of his career, Clemente was also the very first draft pick Sarasota ever made (guess we did good there huh). Clemente was also drafted as a DT, and at one point was even the backup for Big Edd! After swapping to safety, Cuco proved he had made a good decision, and has a legitimate case of being the best true safety (to never play at LB) in ISFL history. Cuco was Sarasota’s first draft pick, and set the tone for the franchise in every draft henceforth, being a large part why the Sarasota dynasty had so much stability.
The third bust on the Sarasota mount rushmore mountain will be Harrison Andrews. Fun Fact, Andrews is the highest draft pick Sarasota has ever made, being taken at 4 overall after Sarasota received the pick through a previous trade. 100% success rate in the top 5? Andrews would play at CB for his career as a Sailfish after being drafted as a defensive end, and this would wind up being one of the best decisions he could have ever made. Andrews would go down as one of the best defensive players of his generation, winning multiple awards, and is the current interception leader in Sarasota history, above even Cuco Clemente. Andrews also has the most PDs in Sarasota history, and is ranked 9th in league history in PDs as well as 9th in INTs.. Harrison Andrews would easily make the HoF, and was an important piece on Sarasota’s first Ultimus run. Definitely a deserved member of mount rushmore.
The last player to add to Sarasota’s mount rushmore must be none other than David Moyes. Moyes, originally named Demon Jaxson, was Sarasota’s first round pick that many called a reach at the time, and while it took a little bit until his career took off, it was proven that he was not in fact a reach. Before even making the pro bowl once, Demon Jaxson won Ultimus MVP and was very important to Sarasota’s first ring. Jaxson would make the pro bowl, but after a name change to David Moyes, Moyes was on the DPOTY ballot for several seasons in a row. Moyes goes down as one of the best defensive ends of all time, and sits top 10 on the sack leader list, the only DL outside of the early season Dan Miller even in the top 15. A true defensive stalwart and deserving member on mount rushmore.
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The first player to make it will be TE James Angler. Angler was a part of Sarasota’s inaugural draft and was the third TE taken, all the way in round 5. He was a critical piece of Sarasota’s passing offense for over a decade, and was inducted into the ISFL Hall of Fame for his heroics. It is rare when a player can definitively say that they were the best player at their position for an extended period of time, but James Angler can do that. Angler carried the Sarasota offense and was critical to Sarasota’s first ring. Angler is top 3 (top 2 for most) in all receiving categories for the Sailfish, which as a TE, is both very difficult to do, and very impressive to achieve. James Angler has the case as the goat of the modern ISFL TE, and therefore he must be a piece on this list.
The second player on the Sarasota Sailfish mount rushmore must be S Cuco Clemente. Beyond being a HoF player and mainstay of the defense for most of his career, Clemente was also the very first draft pick Sarasota ever made (guess we did good there huh). Clemente was also drafted as a DT, and at one point was even the backup for Big Edd! After swapping to safety, Cuco proved he had made a good decision, and has a legitimate case of being the best true safety (to never play at LB) in ISFL history. Cuco was Sarasota’s first draft pick, and set the tone for the franchise in every draft henceforth, being a large part why the Sarasota dynasty had so much stability.
The third bust on the Sarasota mount rushmore mountain will be Harrison Andrews. Fun Fact, Andrews is the highest draft pick Sarasota has ever made, being taken at 4 overall after Sarasota received the pick through a previous trade. 100% success rate in the top 5? Andrews would play at CB for his career as a Sailfish after being drafted as a defensive end, and this would wind up being one of the best decisions he could have ever made. Andrews would go down as one of the best defensive players of his generation, winning multiple awards, and is the current interception leader in Sarasota history, above even Cuco Clemente. Andrews also has the most PDs in Sarasota history, and is ranked 9th in league history in PDs as well as 9th in INTs.. Harrison Andrews would easily make the HoF, and was an important piece on Sarasota’s first Ultimus run. Definitely a deserved member of mount rushmore.
The last player to add to Sarasota’s mount rushmore must be none other than David Moyes. Moyes, originally named Demon Jaxson, was Sarasota’s first round pick that many called a reach at the time, and while it took a little bit until his career took off, it was proven that he was not in fact a reach. Before even making the pro bowl once, Demon Jaxson won Ultimus MVP and was very important to Sarasota’s first ring. Jaxson would make the pro bowl, but after a name change to David Moyes, Moyes was on the DPOTY ballot for several seasons in a row. Moyes goes down as one of the best defensive ends of all time, and sits top 10 on the sack leader list, the only DL outside of the early season Dan Miller even in the top 15. A true defensive stalwart and deserving member on mount rushmore.
(620 words)