16. Describe your player and/or team’s journey through this latest season. What were the highlights? What were the lower points? What might you have done differently? What are your expectations for next season?
Austin Morley and the Chicago Butchers had a rough time last season. As a matter of fact, the S42 Butchers, who finished the season at 4-12, were the worst they have been since Morley was first called up to Chicago in S37. Heading into the season we knew it was going to be bad. The previous couple of seasons we had better luck on the gridiron and managed to win some games we probably shouldn’t have. Couple the reverse in luck with our extremely aged defense and we suspected our opponents would tear through us like wet toilet paper. Those suspicions were confirmed by the end of the season. Even though the Butchers had a respectable offense (ranked 5th in the conference but just 30 points from being 2nd), their defense was the worst in the league by nearly 100 points against. Even the lowly 1-15 Secondline gave up less points! Knowing that it was time to start the rebuild, the Butchers traded away key players like Quendyn Quartersorm, Walter McKinley, and Xavier Valorian, who were three of Morleys S36 draft classmates, leaving only himself and Joseph Reed to represent S36 for the Butchers. This did signal the start of a new era, though, as the Butchers begin their rough road to a rebuild in S43. If I were to have changed anything though, I would have likely started the rebuilding process sooner as we could all see the writing on the wall. I expect the Butchers to finish next season with the worst record in the league and will lock of the first overall draft pick in next seasons draft. At least Morley had a respectable season, finishing with career highs in yards and receptions, leading him to a pro bowl appearance and a possible (though unlikely) shot at another All Pro selection. (304)
27. Imagine your current position was not available to be picked when you created your player. What other position would you have picked, and why?
If the Wide Receiver position wasn’t available when I created my player, I very likely would have just swapped to the defensive side of the ball and played as a Cornerback. I created my player in my own likeness, and I played both receiver and defensive back up into my college days, so it was really a toss up either way when I first created. I even surprised my friends Joe and Nick when I told them I went receiver because they both said they thought I was a better DB than WR in real life. I ultimately decided that I thought it would be more fun to watch my little dot run routes and do some running after catching the ball. I still think that offense has a better “visual experience” and defense in the sim display, but I think I would have grown to love playing a Cornerback as well. (152)
33. When looking at the teams we have in the ISFL and DSFL, is there any team you believe is in need of a major rebrand or update to their current branding? Why or why not?
There are definitely several teams that are in need of a major rebrand, but I will try to only focus on two for this prompt. The first, and I have stated this a few times in our podcast, is the Baltimore Hawks. It is just so, so bland. Baltimore already has a ton of major sports teams, which is fine on its own, but coupled with the unimaginative and uninspired “Hawks” moniker it really puts it at a new level of boring for me. Add a lame color palette and it’s the trifecta of terrible branding. The other team that is in need of a “rebrand” in my opinion is the Cape Town Crash. I understand the reasoning behind wanting to leave the “cursed city” of Philly, but I think the Liberty branding was awesome. The issue I have with the Crash is (on the other side of the Hawks coin) that it is just a little too zany for my taste. (162)
Austin Morley and the Chicago Butchers had a rough time last season. As a matter of fact, the S42 Butchers, who finished the season at 4-12, were the worst they have been since Morley was first called up to Chicago in S37. Heading into the season we knew it was going to be bad. The previous couple of seasons we had better luck on the gridiron and managed to win some games we probably shouldn’t have. Couple the reverse in luck with our extremely aged defense and we suspected our opponents would tear through us like wet toilet paper. Those suspicions were confirmed by the end of the season. Even though the Butchers had a respectable offense (ranked 5th in the conference but just 30 points from being 2nd), their defense was the worst in the league by nearly 100 points against. Even the lowly 1-15 Secondline gave up less points! Knowing that it was time to start the rebuild, the Butchers traded away key players like Quendyn Quartersorm, Walter McKinley, and Xavier Valorian, who were three of Morleys S36 draft classmates, leaving only himself and Joseph Reed to represent S36 for the Butchers. This did signal the start of a new era, though, as the Butchers begin their rough road to a rebuild in S43. If I were to have changed anything though, I would have likely started the rebuilding process sooner as we could all see the writing on the wall. I expect the Butchers to finish next season with the worst record in the league and will lock of the first overall draft pick in next seasons draft. At least Morley had a respectable season, finishing with career highs in yards and receptions, leading him to a pro bowl appearance and a possible (though unlikely) shot at another All Pro selection. (304)
27. Imagine your current position was not available to be picked when you created your player. What other position would you have picked, and why?
If the Wide Receiver position wasn’t available when I created my player, I very likely would have just swapped to the defensive side of the ball and played as a Cornerback. I created my player in my own likeness, and I played both receiver and defensive back up into my college days, so it was really a toss up either way when I first created. I even surprised my friends Joe and Nick when I told them I went receiver because they both said they thought I was a better DB than WR in real life. I ultimately decided that I thought it would be more fun to watch my little dot run routes and do some running after catching the ball. I still think that offense has a better “visual experience” and defense in the sim display, but I think I would have grown to love playing a Cornerback as well. (152)
33. When looking at the teams we have in the ISFL and DSFL, is there any team you believe is in need of a major rebrand or update to their current branding? Why or why not?
There are definitely several teams that are in need of a major rebrand, but I will try to only focus on two for this prompt. The first, and I have stated this a few times in our podcast, is the Baltimore Hawks. It is just so, so bland. Baltimore already has a ton of major sports teams, which is fine on its own, but coupled with the unimaginative and uninspired “Hawks” moniker it really puts it at a new level of boring for me. Add a lame color palette and it’s the trifecta of terrible branding. The other team that is in need of a “rebrand” in my opinion is the Cape Town Crash. I understand the reasoning behind wanting to leave the “cursed city” of Philly, but I think the Liberty branding was awesome. The issue I have with the Crash is (on the other side of the Hawks coin) that it is just a little too zany for my taste. (162)