Russet Buster was one of the best Cornerbacks in DSFL and formed half of the iconic Gruesome Twosome in Kansas City with his brother in arms, Art Deco. Together, the 2 put up 11 INTs, 40 PDs and 3 TDs in the S34 season and led and incredible Coyote defense. Buster, after only 2 seasons in the DSFL, combined for 9 INTs, 47 PDs and 2 TDs. So, when the Sabercats made the call, he felt confident in his ability to make an impact. But there were other plans. He was asked to make the change to Safety, and the numbers became very space. His rookie season finished with 1 INT and 3 PDs; a stark departure from his DSFL success. The team put together an average season, finishing 8-8, but Buster truly found out that the jump in competition was massive and that he'd need to redouble his efforts in order to keep up.
Howard Coward’s real “Welcome to the league” moment came in his second DSFL season with the Norfolk Seawolves. After a great season as the starting RB, Coward and Norfolk just fell short in their bid for the Ultimini. With a lot of people returning, Coward didn’t go to Austin in the ISFL to lead Norfolk to a title and hopefully win MVP. Norfolk had other ideas. They drafted a rookie RB and instead of him backing up Coward, he dominated the touches. Coward was blindsided by this, and it made him bitter. It was truly a welcome to the league moment that you could lose your job and be considered expendable in an instant. Howard never felt that way before throughout all of high school and college football. He was performing well when he got the ball, but for whatever reason he’ll never know, he was stabbed in the back by shady management. That left a bad taste in his mouth, but he’ll never forget it and it’ll make him a better player over his career. (176)
King Zeus had some kind of trouble to post stats at the beginning of his career in the ISFL. But he did start with a blast in the DSFL. Being claimed off waivers by the Norfolk Seawolves, King Zeus played his first few games starting at CB for them. They still played like four regular season games and qualified for the playoffs. In those first games he did not contribute that much, but he also wasn't a letdown for the team. They even managed to get into the Ultimini, where they faced the Kansas City Coyotes back then, lead by soon to be Quarterback of the Sarasota Sailfish, Carter Knight. King Zeus managed to intercept his later teammate and helped Norfolk in a big way to win the trophy. That was the start to his career that he hoped to have. So starting into the league, winning the trophy and having a critical turnover in the final game, it couldn't start any better I would say.
I think all of Mo Gago's career is a welcome to the league moment, as he learned that he is not as good as he thought he would be. However, if I had to pick one major moment that was a welcome to the league moment would have to be the first few games of his ISFL career, where he was basically invisible on the field, not making any impact on the game whatsoever. And it was a big welcome to the league moment, as before that season there was some expectance that Mo Gago would do somewhat well. But as evident from that moment he's just not exactly fit for the ISFL game, and despite improving, still have shown to be all that well at all. And so this welcome to the league moment, allowed Mo Gago to get an early glimpse into what his playing ability would be like in the ISFL for the rest of his career.
[160 words]
In college, John Stark VIII was the key-piece of Dartmouth's linebacker core, making two All-Ivy teams in the two years he started every game. Additionally, he earned Ivy League Player of the Year after a monstrous Junior season. Stark's success led to him being drafted in the second round after declaring for the DSFL Draft. However, it took Stark until his first ISFL season to get used to the speed of the professional game. In his lone DSFL season, Stark dropped from 105 tackles, 18 TFL's, and 8 sacks in 10 college games to 84 tackles, 5 TFL's, and 7 sacks in 14 DSFL games. Despite this drop in stats, Stark was still viewed as a top ISFL prospect and went fourth overall in his draft. This proved to be a good decision as he jumped to 99 tackles, 7 TFL's, and 10 sacks while starting all 16 games as Defensive Captain for the Orange County Otters, being nominated for Defensive Rookie of the Year as a first season call-up.
Oliver Tolliver experienced his first “welcome to the league” moment almost immediately upon his arrival to the Developmental Simulation Football League. Like many of the college game’s top prospects these days, Tolliver was invited to play for one of the DSFL’s eight teams as a waiver player prior to his rookie draft. Tolliver appeared in three games for the Portland Pythons, and he really struggled. The young wideout caught just three passes in his three games and only converted one of those receptions for a first down.
He recorded twice as many dropped passes (six) as catches, and when Portland played the Norfolk Seawolves Tolliver was completely shut down by Norfolk corner Brooks Piggott. Piggott was a send-down, a player who’d be drafted by the ISFL’s San Jose Sabercats the season prior, and his experience showed that day. Piggott amassed three pass deflections, all while covering Tolliver, and intercepted another pass intended for Tolliver - which he took to the house for a pick six. Ultimately, it was the experience of being completely embarrassed by a better player that fuelled Tolliver’s determination and led to him becoming a first-round ISFL draft pick. [OPTION]S24 (PHI): 16 GP, 73 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 3 sacks, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 2 TDs
[OPTION]S25 (PHI): 16 GP, 67 tackles, 4 INTs, 13 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S26 (OCO): 16 GP, 68 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 10 PDs [OPTION]S27 (OCO): 16 GP, 116 tackles, 4 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S28 (OCO): 16 GP, 84 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 INTs, 20 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]S29 (OCO): 16 GP, 99 tackles, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 INTs, 23 PDs, 1 TD [OPTION]============================================================= [OPTION]ISFL Playoff Stats: [OPTION]S23 (PHI): 1 GP, 2 tackles [OPTION]S26 (OCO): 1 GP, 5 tackles, 2 PDs [OPTION]============================================================= [OPTION]Trophies and Achievements: [OPTION]Drafted 35th Overall by Myrtle Beach in the S21 DSFL Draft [OPTION]S21 Ultimini Champion [OPTION]S21 DSFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S21 DSFL Defensive Back of the Year Nominee [OPTION]Drafted 4th Overall by Philadelphia in the S22 ISFL Draft [OPTION]S23 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S23 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S23 ISFL Defensive Performance of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S24 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S24 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S26 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection
[OPTION]S26 ISFL Returner of the Year Nominee [OPTION]S29 ISFL Pro Bowl Selection [OPTION]S29 ISFL Cornerback of the Year Nominee [OPTION]============================================================= Player | Update | Wiki | Twitter
Bread Bowl was playing in his second DSFL game for the Dallas Birddogs. It was a momentous occasion for the young fellow, as his dad was in the crowd for the first time in Bread Bowl's career. He had lived his whole life to make his father proud, and it's all he ever wanted to do, so today was special to him. However, it seems that the pressure got to Bread Bowl. His first two important plays of the game were hurtful penalties. An illegal shift that made a 3rd and 1 turn into a 3rd and 6, which the Birddogs could not complete and were forced to kick a field goal. The second being a false start on a first down that sent his team back to a 1st and 15. Bread Bowl would bounce back, however, and go on to have four receptions for eighteen yards, in a game the Birddogs sent to overtime. However, his biggest mistake came in that overtime period. After a clutch catch by his teammate and robot chef Speedings, he had a terrible drop a pass that would've given Dallas an insane amount of momentum. They proceeded to drop three straight passes afterwards, losing them the game in overtime. Bread Bowl put the loss on himself, saying they shouldn't've even been in overtime, as they should've scored a touchdown before his first crucial penalty, but they had to settle because of his error. This caused Bread Bowl to beat himself up, but eventually he got himself back up, and is currently having a career year on the Birddogs, who are tied in first in their division this year so far.
Called "...actually one of the worst people in sim leagues." by an "anonymous" reviewer.
--- Quote:Written option: Reflect on your player’s career, from their first football game to their current career in the ISFL or DSFL, and expound upon one particular story where your player faced their “welcome to the league” moment. How did the change in competition between college and the league, or between the DSFL and ISFL, initially challenge your player? Did they suffer a drop in stats or an ugly debut game? How did they rebound from it? For Frank Dux, I think his biggest welcome to the league moment really hit (at least his favorite), is when he officially became a starting running back for the Chicago Butchers last season. For Frank, he has lofty goals and being a backup running back required patience until the team was ready for him to take over for Zohri. Starting in the season opener on the first offensive down meant the world to Frank and truly showed that he had made it as a professional football player. It's hard enough to make it to the league and survive for several seasons but to truly make it to him, he needed to be a starter and a focal point of the offense. So getting carries and receptions and putting the ball in the endzone just felt different last year compared to his first two seasons. The jump from DSFL to ISFL was a relatively lofty one however Frank made it work as a wide receiver and finally transitioned into his actual position of running back. Code: 174 words
My Welcome to the League Moment in my first ever ISFL game against the Baltimore Hawks was a lot better than most peoples introductions to the league. I came on board a loaded Sarasota team. The first thing that struck me was just how well organized things were. Coach had everything we were going to do scripted down to the moment before kickoff. He had made his game plan for this one clear as day, it was the most interesting and in depth practice week I'd ever been a part of. Sure, we did some work in the preseason but I felt like I had done tougher things. But when the regular season workouts began, that really put me in a different place. That's why I think my debut game in the ISFL was so great. I had 4 catches for over 80 yards and 2 touchdowns and my team won the game. I set the expectation at that moment that Johnny Blaze Jr. is here to put up numbers and help his team to victory.
176 words WR- JAMAL SLICK JR.
"THE NEW ERA"
MR 8X ULTIMUS CHAMPION
QB Mike Boss - HOF TE Johnny Blaze - HOF QB Mike Boss Jr WR Johnny Blaze Jr |
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