9. Robb. I am here today to talk about Robb. Just a simple 4 letters, a straightforward name that completely changed the course of the season for the Portland Pythons.
Our first game of the year went great. It was tense and very exciting. Everything you could want in an opening weekend of football. Our team coming away victorious of course was the cherry on top. The locker room had vibes that could easily rival locker rooms of Ultimus champions post game. There was laughter and cheers, music and dancing. Hugging, high fives and hand slaps all around. We felt unstoppable.
Over the course of the next three weeks, we came crashing down to a harsh reality. Not only were we stoppable, we were vulnerable. We had weaknesses nobody saw in practice or in the first game. We were exposed. We lost three straight games and the locker room had changed. Something was off. Players were short tempered and blaming each other through shouting matches that would rival any on bad reality tv shows. The season outlook was bleak.
But our coaches and management made a move. The move was Robb.
Over the course of our three losses, one thing came abundantly clear. Our deep secondary was a liability. Bots were simply escorting opponent wide outs into the end zone regularly. Deep passes went uncontested. They were back breaking, and killing our chances at a successful season.
After week 4's game, a new face entered the locker room. He was quiet, but he had an energy and positivity you could just feel when he walked past. We had a new starting Safety and his name was Robb. Robb saved our season.
The mood in the locker room changed. The fighting stopped. He had a calming presence that couldn't be explained. When he started his first game, his presence on the field could easily be explained. The deep passes that had been killing us were shut down over and over. It was Robb.
The team believed again. We went on a tear for the ages. Dominated games. Bullied our way into the playoffs and all the way to the Ultimini championship. Even though we fell short, I couldn't have been more proud of this team, and thankful to our management that made the move at the time they did.
As we exited the field for the final time of the season, I crushed Robb in a giant bear hug. Without him, we wouldn't be where we were.
Robb saved our season.
Thank you Robb.
13. There are few names that were shouted from stands this year as much as one that stood out above the rest. He is strong, he is fast, and has some of the best technical skill I've ever seen at his position. On top of all of that, he has 1 year of professional football under his belt.
Any time he power rushed into the backfield and put a quarter back on the ground, his name echoed off the stadium walls like thunder. BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!
Bruce White stormed onto the field and became a menace to offensive linemen, full backs, running backs, tight ends, quarter backs, as well as all of the coaches for those positions.
From the first day of practice, lining up opposite Bruce was a nightmare. He was out of his stance so fast it felt like he knew the snap count. He has the footwork to out maneuver any positioning you create for yourself to stop him. His hands can rip, chop, or push you so hard it lifts you off your feet. And if you give him any space, he can simply sprint past you without even laying a finger on him.
Bruce made me a better offensive lineman every day. I had to work 10 times harder than I ever dreamed of just to hope to keep up with him. I failed miserably.
He tied the record for most sacks in a season. As a rookie. A ROOKIE! This man has the skill set to rival any hall of famer, with the ability, knowledge, and work ethic to surpass anything the previous greats have achieved.
When the ballot for MOP was handed to me, I couldn't put his name down fast enough. He is the clear cut choice for the award and there is no doubt in my mind, he will be starting on an ISFL team next season.
Our first game of the year went great. It was tense and very exciting. Everything you could want in an opening weekend of football. Our team coming away victorious of course was the cherry on top. The locker room had vibes that could easily rival locker rooms of Ultimus champions post game. There was laughter and cheers, music and dancing. Hugging, high fives and hand slaps all around. We felt unstoppable.
Over the course of the next three weeks, we came crashing down to a harsh reality. Not only were we stoppable, we were vulnerable. We had weaknesses nobody saw in practice or in the first game. We were exposed. We lost three straight games and the locker room had changed. Something was off. Players were short tempered and blaming each other through shouting matches that would rival any on bad reality tv shows. The season outlook was bleak.
But our coaches and management made a move. The move was Robb.
Over the course of our three losses, one thing came abundantly clear. Our deep secondary was a liability. Bots were simply escorting opponent wide outs into the end zone regularly. Deep passes went uncontested. They were back breaking, and killing our chances at a successful season.
After week 4's game, a new face entered the locker room. He was quiet, but he had an energy and positivity you could just feel when he walked past. We had a new starting Safety and his name was Robb. Robb saved our season.
The mood in the locker room changed. The fighting stopped. He had a calming presence that couldn't be explained. When he started his first game, his presence on the field could easily be explained. The deep passes that had been killing us were shut down over and over. It was Robb.
The team believed again. We went on a tear for the ages. Dominated games. Bullied our way into the playoffs and all the way to the Ultimini championship. Even though we fell short, I couldn't have been more proud of this team, and thankful to our management that made the move at the time they did.
As we exited the field for the final time of the season, I crushed Robb in a giant bear hug. Without him, we wouldn't be where we were.
Robb saved our season.
Thank you Robb.
13. There are few names that were shouted from stands this year as much as one that stood out above the rest. He is strong, he is fast, and has some of the best technical skill I've ever seen at his position. On top of all of that, he has 1 year of professional football under his belt.
Any time he power rushed into the backfield and put a quarter back on the ground, his name echoed off the stadium walls like thunder. BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!
Bruce White stormed onto the field and became a menace to offensive linemen, full backs, running backs, tight ends, quarter backs, as well as all of the coaches for those positions.
From the first day of practice, lining up opposite Bruce was a nightmare. He was out of his stance so fast it felt like he knew the snap count. He has the footwork to out maneuver any positioning you create for yourself to stop him. His hands can rip, chop, or push you so hard it lifts you off your feet. And if you give him any space, he can simply sprint past you without even laying a finger on him.
Bruce made me a better offensive lineman every day. I had to work 10 times harder than I ever dreamed of just to hope to keep up with him. I failed miserably.
He tied the record for most sacks in a season. As a rookie. A ROOKIE! This man has the skill set to rival any hall of famer, with the ability, knowledge, and work ethic to surpass anything the previous greats have achieved.
When the ballot for MOP was handed to me, I couldn't put his name down fast enough. He is the clear cut choice for the award and there is no doubt in my mind, he will be starting on an ISFL team next season.