So, back in the first instalment of "You gon' learn today", we introduced two lineal titles, the NSFL Championship Belt (a special edition "Million Dwyer Belt" was also created especially for the Arizona Outlaws after their third successive Ultimus win) and the Tank's Baton; awarded to the lineal champion and lineal ... loser? of NSFL respectively.
WTF is a lineal title?
A lineal title (usually in combat sports, like boxing) refers to the true lineage of the championship, in the sense that one (usually) cannot become the lineal champion without beating the previous champion. In that sense, it's a kind of "beat the man to be the man" system. This logic has been applied in NSFL to the best and worst teams in the league at the end of the first season. From that point, every title defence and baton pass, successful or unsuccessful, has been recorded and tabulated.
A quick refresher on the rules of the Belt and Baton:
Since the beginning of season two -- when the belt and baton were retroactively established -- there have been 44 title games, and 42 opportunities to pass the baton. This disparity comes from the fact that the baton was not present in the playoffs of season 2 (the Legion had it). Neither belt nor baton was present for the season 3 playoffs (Wraiths held the belt, Legion held the baton... again)
The NSFL Championship Belt has changed hands in exactly HALF of all those title games, with every team holding it at least once, except the Las Vegas Legion.
The Tank's Baton has been passed 12 times (~29% of baton pass opportunities) with every team holding the baton at least once, except the Arizona Outlaws.
The team with the most reigns as NSFL Champions is the Baltimore Hawks, who have held the belt on five separate occasions, though they have only managed to defend it twice, and have never held the belt for more than one game after winning it. The record for most successful title defences is held by the Arizona Outlaws, who have successfully retained their grip on the NSFL Championship Belt fifteen times, which is more than three times as many defences as the team in second place. Notably, two teams (Yeti and Sabercats) are yet to register a single successful defence of the Belt, despite having won it at least once.
The team with the most tenures as custodian of the Tank's Baton is the Las Vegas Legion, with three tenures. They also hold the record for most failed Baton passes, with fifteen, almost doubling the tally of the team with the second most failed Baton passes. Notably, two teams (Otters and Wraiths) have held the Tank's Baton but managed to pass it on without ever failing a pass attempt.
The longest streak of successful title defences belongs to the Arizona Outlaws, who managed twelve consecutive successes before losing 26-23 to the Baltimore Hawks in Outlaw Stadium, on week twelve of season three.
The longest streak of unsuccessful baton passes belongs to the Las Vegas Legion, who attempted (and failed) eleven baton passes before finally defeating the San Jose Sabercats 34-31 in the HP Pavilion, on week ten of season three.
The biggest margin of victory in a title game is the Outlaws' 48-6 win over the Liberty (season three, week six), while the biggest away win in a title game is the Otters' 52-27 win over the Legion (season four, week twelve).
For baton games, the Outlaws hold both the biggest home and biggest away win results. Both are shutouts, first the 65-0 win over the Sabercats (season two, week ten) is the largest home win; the 45-0 win over the Legion (season three, week fourteen) is the largest away win.
Interestingly, there have been three occasions on which both the Belt and Baton were on the line. On one of those occasions (Philadelphia vs Colorado; season two, week five) both changed hands. The Yeti entered the game as lineal champions, while the Liberty held the Baton. The Liberty won 18-16, passing the Baton to the Yeti, who had to leave the NSFL Championship Belt at Taco Bell Stadium.
The current NSFL Championship Belt holders are the San Jose Sabercats, enjoying their second stint as lineal champions, after wresting the Belt from the Otters on the final day of season four. Their previous stint as lineal champions also came in season four, when they beat the Baltimore Hawks in The Aviary (31-23, week two).
The current holders of the Tank's Baton are the Las Vegas Legion, who picked it up after losing to the Baltimore Hawks in The Aviary (24-10, week eleven). The Legion had previously passed the Baton on to the Yeti in week two of season four (27-13 win at Yeti Stadium).
(861 words, ready for grading)
Also, in case anyone else is curious... I have a googledocs sheet here with the results etc that I used to calculate all this
GRADED
WTF is a lineal title?
A lineal title (usually in combat sports, like boxing) refers to the true lineage of the championship, in the sense that one (usually) cannot become the lineal champion without beating the previous champion. In that sense, it's a kind of "beat the man to be the man" system. This logic has been applied in NSFL to the best and worst teams in the league at the end of the first season. From that point, every title defence and baton pass, successful or unsuccessful, has been recorded and tabulated.
A quick refresher on the rules of the Belt and Baton:
- If the holder of the NSFL Championship Belt loses, the title is awarded to the winning team
- If the holder of the Tank's Baton wins, the baton is passed to the losing team
- Neither belt nor baton can change hands on a tie game, and the result will be counted as a successful title defence, or unsuccessful baton pass accordingly.
Since the beginning of season two -- when the belt and baton were retroactively established -- there have been 44 title games, and 42 opportunities to pass the baton. This disparity comes from the fact that the baton was not present in the playoffs of season 2 (the Legion had it). Neither belt nor baton was present for the season 3 playoffs (Wraiths held the belt, Legion held the baton... again)
The NSFL Championship Belt has changed hands in exactly HALF of all those title games, with every team holding it at least once, except the Las Vegas Legion.
The Tank's Baton has been passed 12 times (~29% of baton pass opportunities) with every team holding the baton at least once, except the Arizona Outlaws.
The team with the most reigns as NSFL Champions is the Baltimore Hawks, who have held the belt on five separate occasions, though they have only managed to defend it twice, and have never held the belt for more than one game after winning it. The record for most successful title defences is held by the Arizona Outlaws, who have successfully retained their grip on the NSFL Championship Belt fifteen times, which is more than three times as many defences as the team in second place. Notably, two teams (Yeti and Sabercats) are yet to register a single successful defence of the Belt, despite having won it at least once.
The team with the most tenures as custodian of the Tank's Baton is the Las Vegas Legion, with three tenures. They also hold the record for most failed Baton passes, with fifteen, almost doubling the tally of the team with the second most failed Baton passes. Notably, two teams (Otters and Wraiths) have held the Tank's Baton but managed to pass it on without ever failing a pass attempt.
The longest streak of successful title defences belongs to the Arizona Outlaws, who managed twelve consecutive successes before losing 26-23 to the Baltimore Hawks in Outlaw Stadium, on week twelve of season three.
The longest streak of unsuccessful baton passes belongs to the Las Vegas Legion, who attempted (and failed) eleven baton passes before finally defeating the San Jose Sabercats 34-31 in the HP Pavilion, on week ten of season three.
The biggest margin of victory in a title game is the Outlaws' 48-6 win over the Liberty (season three, week six), while the biggest away win in a title game is the Otters' 52-27 win over the Legion (season four, week twelve).
For baton games, the Outlaws hold both the biggest home and biggest away win results. Both are shutouts, first the 65-0 win over the Sabercats (season two, week ten) is the largest home win; the 45-0 win over the Legion (season three, week fourteen) is the largest away win.
Interestingly, there have been three occasions on which both the Belt and Baton were on the line. On one of those occasions (Philadelphia vs Colorado; season two, week five) both changed hands. The Yeti entered the game as lineal champions, while the Liberty held the Baton. The Liberty won 18-16, passing the Baton to the Yeti, who had to leave the NSFL Championship Belt at Taco Bell Stadium.
The current NSFL Championship Belt holders are the San Jose Sabercats, enjoying their second stint as lineal champions, after wresting the Belt from the Otters on the final day of season four. Their previous stint as lineal champions also came in season four, when they beat the Baltimore Hawks in The Aviary (31-23, week two).
The current holders of the Tank's Baton are the Las Vegas Legion, who picked it up after losing to the Baltimore Hawks in The Aviary (24-10, week eleven). The Legion had previously passed the Baton on to the Yeti in week two of season four (27-13 win at Yeti Stadium).
(861 words, ready for grading)
Also, in case anyone else is curious... I have a googledocs sheet here with the results etc that I used to calculate all this
GRADED
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