05-05-2023, 10:32 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2023, 10:44 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
So far, I've covered one team with a win percentage greater than 46. Granted, the Otters were much higher than 46, but still. That being said, I'm 99% certain that both of these remaining teams will be above that mark overall.
Owners of the single worst starting season in league history, and what I consider the least bad winless team, the Copperheads have gone from very humble beginnings to a team that is, if nothing else, nowhere near a winless season. How exactly do they measure up?
During these 5 seasons, the Austin Copperheads went 24-41, for a 36.9% win rate. This is technically the worst stretch that I've covered, but that does not feel fair to me; for one this was only 5 seasons, there would normally be enough time to overshadow the winless opening season, especially with how the Copperheads were structured; Easton Cole, their QB, was a true rookie starting out, and was expectedly terrible coming into an established league. The team was created to become great, just not immediately. Technically the Copperheads made the playoffs 60% of the seasons, but their first two trips to the postseason were each teams that didn't belong in the playoffs by record or performance, got in due to the excessively expanded playoffs, and immediately lost as a result. Basically what I talked about for the Sabercats during this exact same time period. I have absolutely no caveats for the Copperheads' S20, though; they got the first seed in the conference and won both of their playoff games, setting a new record for the fastest an expansion team went from being created to winning it all. The playoff record over these 5 seasons was 2-2.
S21: 7-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S22: 8-4-1 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S23: 8-8 (2-1 in Playoffs, 2nd Ultimus berth)
S24: 7-9
S25: 7-9
S26: 9-7 (missed Playoffs in extremely dumb fashion)
S27: 3-13
S28: 9-7 (Dex Kennedy wins DPOY) (2-1 in Playoffs, 3rd Ultimus berth)
S29: 5-10-1 (Tyler Montain wins DPOY)
S30: 11-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
The Copperheads record over this decade was 74-78-2, for a 48.7% win rate. They also made the playoffs 5 times over the decade with a 5-5 record. Granted, this stat has a caveat both for and against itself in this decade. The Copperheads by the numbers were the greatest beneficiaries of the overly expanded playoffs between S16 and S21; over the 6 seasons that existed, Austin got in as the 3rd seed three times and on each occasion they immediately lost. Still, they at least had a winning record in S21 as compared to S18 or S19. But on the other side, in the massive 9-7 five team pileup in S26, they ended the year at 3rd in the conference but did not make the playoffs due to dumb reasons; they were the aggrieved in the sim screwery that the Otters were the beneficiary of. During this decade, the Copperheads went to the Ultimus two more times, but were unable to add a second title. They also picked up a couple DPOYs in the process; at this point they have 3 over 15 seasons, they're very much above average in that category even if they lack any other awards at this exact point in time. All this success didn't get the Copperheads to a winning record for the decade, though they got pretty close. Were they able to overturn their all time record in the last 10 seasons?
S34: 7-9
S35: 5-11
S36: 7-9
S37: 2-14
S38: 8-8
S39: 11-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S40: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
During this decade, the Copperheads went 81-79 for a 50.6% win rate. But that's not the stat that jumps out to me, nor is it the one that probably jumps out to you. This decade had the Copperheads go to the playoffs for 50% of the seasons again. However, this time they did not make the Ultimus. They didn't even win a single GAME in the playoffs for the entire decade. This is a kind of stat that you wouldn't expect in the slightest; spoiler alert, but multiple teams who were MUCH worse this decade managed at least a single playoff win, including the already covered Otters. This is a kind of stat that you think would be attributed to a team like the S1-10 Sabercats, who only made the playoffs once and had a sub-38% win rate. Or maybe even the S31-40 Sabercats, who went to the playoffs twice, and had a much more respectable 45.3% win rate. I'm going to guess this is by far the best decade in terms of record, and maybe in terms of playoff berths, without any playoff victories.
Austin's an interesting team to cover for a number of reasons; their 5 Hall of Famers is comfortably the second most of any team outside the original 8, they have an amazing playoff berth rate of over 50% despite having the majority of their seasons take place during the current playoff structure where 43% of teams make the playoffs. It wouldn't be over 50% except for the 3 berths where they benefitted from the easier playoff entry, but it's still admirable. The all time record is the 2nd best that we've looked at so far, and they're only 19 games below .500; they are a couple good seasons away from an all time winning record. The trophy cabinet is something that I wouldn't exactly call sparse, but it's not full either. While their best period as far as win rate is concerned does not even include a playoff win, much less a title, their worst period is much better than any team other than the Silverbacks and Otters of those that I've covered, with nearly a 30% win rate. That playoff record in specific is something that just really hurts them in my estimation. I am not sure exactly where I'm going to place them all time. I'm going to need to look back once I've covered all the teams. Next up is the final team in the ASFC, the Arizona Outlaws.
Owners of the single worst starting season in league history, and what I consider the least bad winless team, the Copperheads have gone from very humble beginnings to a team that is, if nothing else, nowhere near a winless season. How exactly do they measure up?
Season 16 through 20
Somehow a Rockier Start than it Looks
Somehow a Rockier Start than it Looks
S16: 0-13
S17: 5-8
S18: 6-7 (Chase Jensen wins DPOY) (0-1 in Playoffs)
S19: 5-8 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S20: 8-5 (2-0 in Playoffs, 1st Ultimus berth and title)
S17: 5-8
S18: 6-7 (Chase Jensen wins DPOY) (0-1 in Playoffs)
S19: 5-8 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S20: 8-5 (2-0 in Playoffs, 1st Ultimus berth and title)
During these 5 seasons, the Austin Copperheads went 24-41, for a 36.9% win rate. This is technically the worst stretch that I've covered, but that does not feel fair to me; for one this was only 5 seasons, there would normally be enough time to overshadow the winless opening season, especially with how the Copperheads were structured; Easton Cole, their QB, was a true rookie starting out, and was expectedly terrible coming into an established league. The team was created to become great, just not immediately. Technically the Copperheads made the playoffs 60% of the seasons, but their first two trips to the postseason were each teams that didn't belong in the playoffs by record or performance, got in due to the excessively expanded playoffs, and immediately lost as a result. Basically what I talked about for the Sabercats during this exact same time period. I have absolutely no caveats for the Copperheads' S20, though; they got the first seed in the conference and won both of their playoff games, setting a new record for the fastest an expansion team went from being created to winning it all. The playoff record over these 5 seasons was 2-2.
Season 21 through 30
Establishing themselves as a Threat
Establishing themselves as a Threat
S21: 7-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S22: 8-4-1 (1-1 in Playoffs)
S23: 8-8 (2-1 in Playoffs, 2nd Ultimus berth)
S24: 7-9
S25: 7-9
S26: 9-7 (missed Playoffs in extremely dumb fashion)
S27: 3-13
S28: 9-7 (Dex Kennedy wins DPOY) (2-1 in Playoffs, 3rd Ultimus berth)
S29: 5-10-1 (Tyler Montain wins DPOY)
S30: 11-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
The Copperheads record over this decade was 74-78-2, for a 48.7% win rate. They also made the playoffs 5 times over the decade with a 5-5 record. Granted, this stat has a caveat both for and against itself in this decade. The Copperheads by the numbers were the greatest beneficiaries of the overly expanded playoffs between S16 and S21; over the 6 seasons that existed, Austin got in as the 3rd seed three times and on each occasion they immediately lost. Still, they at least had a winning record in S21 as compared to S18 or S19. But on the other side, in the massive 9-7 five team pileup in S26, they ended the year at 3rd in the conference but did not make the playoffs due to dumb reasons; they were the aggrieved in the sim screwery that the Otters were the beneficiary of. During this decade, the Copperheads went to the Ultimus two more times, but were unable to add a second title. They also picked up a couple DPOYs in the process; at this point they have 3 over 15 seasons, they're very much above average in that category even if they lack any other awards at this exact point in time. All this success didn't get the Copperheads to a winning record for the decade, though they got pretty close. Were they able to overturn their all time record in the last 10 seasons?
Season 31 through 40
Consistency, but not in the way they wanted
Consistency, but not in the way they wanted
S31: 12-4 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S32: 11-5 (Zoe Watts wins OPOY) (0-1 in Playoffs)
S33: 8-8 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S32: 11-5 (Zoe Watts wins OPOY) (0-1 in Playoffs)
S33: 8-8 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S34: 7-9
S35: 5-11
S36: 7-9
S37: 2-14
S38: 8-8
S39: 11-5 (0-1 in Playoffs)
S40: 10-6 (0-1 in Playoffs)
During this decade, the Copperheads went 81-79 for a 50.6% win rate. But that's not the stat that jumps out to me, nor is it the one that probably jumps out to you. This decade had the Copperheads go to the playoffs for 50% of the seasons again. However, this time they did not make the Ultimus. They didn't even win a single GAME in the playoffs for the entire decade. This is a kind of stat that you wouldn't expect in the slightest; spoiler alert, but multiple teams who were MUCH worse this decade managed at least a single playoff win, including the already covered Otters. This is a kind of stat that you think would be attributed to a team like the S1-10 Sabercats, who only made the playoffs once and had a sub-38% win rate. Or maybe even the S31-40 Sabercats, who went to the playoffs twice, and had a much more respectable 45.3% win rate. I'm going to guess this is by far the best decade in terms of record, and maybe in terms of playoff berths, without any playoff victories.
Overall Stats
More than just all time records here
More than just all time records here
All Time Record: 179-198-2 (47.5% win rate)
Playoff Record: 7-12, 36.8%
Ultimus Record: 1-2
Playoff Berths: 13 over 25 seasons, 52%
Hall of Famers: 5 (Mako Mendonca, Easton Cole, Dermot Lavelle Jr, Zoe Watts, Maverick Bowie)
Major Award Wins: 1 OPOY, 3 DPOYs
Best Team Period: S30-S32 (3 playoff berths, 0 Ultimus Appearances, 0 titles, 1 OPOY, 34-14 record over 3 seasons, 70.8% win rate)
Worst Team Period: S35-S37 (14-34 record over 3 seasons, 29.2% win rate)
Playoff Record: 7-12, 36.8%
Ultimus Record: 1-2
Playoff Berths: 13 over 25 seasons, 52%
Hall of Famers: 5 (Mako Mendonca, Easton Cole, Dermot Lavelle Jr, Zoe Watts, Maverick Bowie)
Major Award Wins: 1 OPOY, 3 DPOYs
Best Team Period: S30-S32 (3 playoff berths, 0 Ultimus Appearances, 0 titles, 1 OPOY, 34-14 record over 3 seasons, 70.8% win rate)
Worst Team Period: S35-S37 (14-34 record over 3 seasons, 29.2% win rate)
Austin's an interesting team to cover for a number of reasons; their 5 Hall of Famers is comfortably the second most of any team outside the original 8, they have an amazing playoff berth rate of over 50% despite having the majority of their seasons take place during the current playoff structure where 43% of teams make the playoffs. It wouldn't be over 50% except for the 3 berths where they benefitted from the easier playoff entry, but it's still admirable. The all time record is the 2nd best that we've looked at so far, and they're only 19 games below .500; they are a couple good seasons away from an all time winning record. The trophy cabinet is something that I wouldn't exactly call sparse, but it's not full either. While their best period as far as win rate is concerned does not even include a playoff win, much less a title, their worst period is much better than any team other than the Silverbacks and Otters of those that I've covered, with nearly a 30% win rate. That playoff record in specific is something that just really hurts them in my estimation. I am not sure exactly where I'm going to place them all time. I'm going to need to look back once I've covered all the teams. Next up is the final team in the ASFC, the Arizona Outlaws.