OT Pass
T2 5 TPE
14. Expansion Expansion Expansion! Tell us why you think the league should expand / not expand or include any ideas (in words) for team branding ideas you have or team locations. I think that the league’s expanding would be exciting and provide less one-sided games that we occasionally get now due to the number of active users on one team. I also believe we could expand too fast which could cause mass chaos in the league. You must find the balance of when it is appropriate to expand. I would love to see the expansion bring on two more divisions and expand the playoff bracket. I would like to move away from utilizing cardinal directions for division names and change it to something more unique. I like the National Football League (NFL) format with the division champions making it in with wildcard spots for the whole league. I like the idea of teams outside of the United States like Tijuana Luchadores. I like the idea of Havana Hammerheads (I’m claiming this one whenever I become general manager of a new expansion team) and Sydney Kangaroos. I also like local names like the San Jose Sharks from California. Name should be voted by the league, so everyone gets a fair say of the new expansion team names. One of the biggest things that needs to be considered is how many bots we allocate for each team versus users. A team with more users could have the upper hand than a team who has more bots than users. Expansion draft should be done where the new teams can draft from existing teams and free agency pool to even the playing field. A team’s roster will be unavailable after one player is drafted from that team for the rest of the draft. This will help the team not go from hero to zero status due to multiple losses. It is also to note that we must limit to expanding by two teams per season (honestly per 6 seasons). T2 5 TPE 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? South West and Norfolk started the season off facing Dallas at home. He had a quiet first game (three tackles and one pass deflection) due to possibly jitters playing for a new team and wanting to prove himself. South West shook off the nervousness and went into game two with much more confidence. Norfolk beat London with the help of South West (one sack, one tackle for loss, and eight tackles). He received his first sack of his DFSL career earning him a game ball from the team. South West followed that performance with a struggle against the reigning champions, Tijuana Luchadores (only recording three tackles the entire games). South West recorded his first interception of his DFSL career during week five facing Bondi Beach. It was still a tough loss but he received a game ball from the team for his hard work (five tackles, one tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception). South West was molding into a great linebacker at the half mark of the season. South West strived to contribute more to his team who needed him now more than ever to fight for a playoff spot. South West recorded his first double digit tackle game in week 8 against Portland. He received a game ball for his dominant performance (ten tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack). South West followed that dominant performance with another one in week 9 divisional clash against Bondi Beach. He broke his previous record of tackles in a game (ten) this week with a total of twelve. He was awarded with a game ball due to another great outing of defensive play (twelve tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and one pass deflection). South West would match his game record of twelve tackles in week 13. Norfolk did not come out on top during this matchup but the defense worked harder than the scored showed. He received a game ball for his performance (twelve tackles and one tackle for loss). South West would see an increase in penalties in the last couple of regular season games. He is going to work hard to make sure that he does not cause negative progress for his team in the future. He will continue to work on his performance on and off the field by building chemistry with his teammates and the Norfolk community. Total of 10 TPE
Tier 1, task 1
Wow we are done with yet another season, man do these go by fast! Well as the seasons are over then it is time to congratulate both the Dallas Birddogs for their Ultimini title as well my team, the Arizona Outlaws for their Ultimus championship. As I have a much better grasp on the International Simulation Football League, I will take a look back at the season for the Arizona Outlaws and how they arrived in the playoffs and ended the season, hoisting the storied Ultimus trophy. After getting back to the playoffs last season and ending their horrid one season drought, the Arizona Outlaws looked to build upon that disguting exit to the Austin Copperheads. During the off-season they had let go of some of their long time players such as Denns Rodman, Spottie O’Dopaliscious and Captain Billy Stinkwater, but there was a good amount of optimism heading into the season. The season started off well with wins over the Orange County Otters and Honolulu Hahalua (editors note: before they started the fish tank job!) and with wins over what were thought to be powerhouses of the conference (after Arizona), everyone was feeling good. What everyone did not know, was that this season was going to be a bloodbath! After those wins, it was a bitter pill to swallow seeing the Outlaws lose 37-34 on the road to the Austin Copperheads on a last second field goal by kicker Charlie Brown and hurt even more after last seasons playoff exit by the hands of the Copperheads. Following the painful loss, the Outlaws embarked on a 5 game winning streak, including wins over the Fire Salamanders and Sabercats, which left them at 7-1 record after 8 weeks. The next seven weeks they would go 5-2, meaning they would have a 12-3 record entering the final week of the season, which would usually mean a clear number one seed in the conference and a first round bye, but as stated, this year was a bloodbath in the American Simulation Football Conference and the Arizona Outlaws still needed to win their last game, which was at home to the Austin Copperheads, to ensure they had home field advantage and all the other perks. They thankfully did and thus they were headed for a weeks vacation in their bye while they waited to see who their opponent would be After seeing the Copperheads upset the Orange County Otters on the road, the Outlaws were excited for their next match as this was the rematch of the final game of the season, which they had good memories from. If the final game of the season had been close, then this American Simulation Football Conference Championship game was nothing even remotely approaching a close game. At half-time the score was 31-3 to Arizona and apart from a 31 yard field goal, the Austin offense was basically toothless. Arizona definitely let their foot off the gas in the second half and started preparing for the Ultimus to come and the final score ended up being 38-17. After the game they were watching the National SImulation Football Conference Championship game and were almost stunned to see the Yellowknife Wraiths pull off a 34-28 upset over the Baltimore Hawks, which meant that the 8-8 Wraiths had pulled themselves from the Wild Card round all the way to the Ultimus. The Outlaws did not want to underestimate the Wraiths and made sure to prepare very well for them. In the end, the game was definitely not a high scoring wild affair with the score being 7-6 at half time after a pair of field goals for Zenzeroni Xystarch and a touchdown for BMP. In the end the true difference was a touchdown from Donovan Winters III to Thomas Sutha with 13:42 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Arizona Outlaws the Ultimus title after a 14-6 victory! Special shout out to Zenzeroni Xystarch who definitely deserved the Ultimus MVP in the losing effort with an amazing punting effort!
3. One of the major impact points in the league this past year was HON ending up with the first and second overall pick, which according to my limited knowledge about the history of the league is fairly unprecedented. We all thought that Icebear got fleeced by his trades (including the glorious QB swap with BER), but it appears he was playing chess, not checkers. They have the king’s share with these 1OA and 2OA picks, and with the immense amount of talent coming into the S47, including some incredible standout creates such as Walter, Brad Woof, Roque, etc., along with some great recreates, seems like the perfect storm for getting right back to the top. “Tankalulu” was actually incredibly effective, as the team went from champions to the dumpster, to the world being their oyster practically overnight. I have HON going top three in their division and making the playoffs next season. Also, knowing that active players such as Leo Simon Schwartz are coming up through the tunnel to HON starting roster from the DSFL means they will have a strong locker room for many seasons to come.
A team I expect to be stuck near the bottom for another season is sadly my Fire Salamanders. Greatness is coming, and I have a sneaking suspicion we will have a big splash in the draft this year, but our defense needs a massive rebuild and most of our secondary is in regression or IA. Right now, our defense had the lowest sack rate and lowest interceptions rate this past season, so this is a sign we need to bolster both our pass rush and our secondary. I have strong faith that by S49 or so we will be out of the poverty cycle if our defensive rebuild is successful, and Gadget is a great GM pickup for doing this. However, I predict that this upcoming season will still be pretty rough for us until we get our right pieces in the right places. However, our offense remains strong, with a trade with HON for a better QB as well as some strong receiving talent. We could use an upgrade at RB though, since our current one Armor Queen is in regression and we may only have one active user coming up from DSFL. I have us going for 5 or 6 wins again and missing the playoffs. As for the ISFL, much to my chagrin, I believe the Orange County Otters and their despicable franchise will be hoisting the trophy next season. They are extremely well-run, like the Tom Brady era Patriots, and always seem to have the right talent in the right places. I consider their crash and burn out of the playoffs this past year to be a fluke, they have the most TPE by far and I expect this trend to continue going into next year. In particular, their defense is absolutely insane, as we see both on paper and on any game they play. They managed to give BER quite the headache, as their defense held strong in the week 11 game to ensure that I lost all my bets. As for the DSFL, I like London’s chances to get back to the top after making a surprise run this past season and ultimately losing in the Ultimini. I think their management is strong and they drafted well these past few years, with standouts such as AJ’s player Chopper. In this grace period before most of their strong players get called up to the ISFL, I think they have a strong shot at going for a title. S46 GEMINI WINNER - BEST ARTICLE (SERIES) S47 GEMINI WINNER - BEST ARTICLE (SERIES) Read the 2x Gemini-Winning ISFL Weekly Mirror!
13. Choose a team or player to write about that isn’t your own. What did they do well in the last season? Have they shown any drastic improvements from previous years? What could they do better?
In the last season, D'Jasper Probincrux IV showcased several strengths that contributed to his impact on and off the field. Known for his infectious energy and charismatic presence, D'Jasper excelled in fostering camaraderie within the locker room through his spirited chants, serving as a morale booster for his team. Additionally, his prowess as a post-game trash-talker, particularly after securing victories, earned him a reputation as a formidable competitor who backed up his words with actions. His ability to "yap hard" both on and off the field added an element of intensity to his gameplay, keeping opponents on their toes and rallying his teammates to perform at their best. While D'Jasper demonstrated considerable strengths in the last season, there is room for improvement in certain areas. Despite his skill in post-game banter, maintaining a consistent level of performance throughout the season could be an area of focus for D'Jasper. Striving for consistency in his gameplay and leadership both on and off the field could elevate his impact and solidify his reputation as a key player in the league. Additionally, honing his skills in strategic decision-making and adapting to different game scenarios could further enhance his overall contribution to his team's success. Overall, D'Jasper Probincrux IV showcased notable strengths in the last season, particularly in fostering team spirit and bringing a competitive edge to the field. With continued dedication to refining his skills and maintaining a high level of performance, D'Jasper has the potential to further elevate his game and make a lasting impact in the league for seasons to come. In addition to his already impressive skill set and charismatic presence, D'Jasper Probincrux IV has been quietly grinding out Training Point Equivalents (TPE), laying the foundation for his ascent to becoming a powerhouse player in the upcoming season. While his contributions may have flown under the radar in previous years, his dedication to personal development and improvement has not gone unnoticed by teammates and coaches alike. With each TPE earned, D'Jasper hones his abilities and refines his techniques, positioning himself as a player on the brink of unleashing his full potential. As he continues to quietly put in the work behind the scenes, D'Jasper emerges as a dark horse contender, ready to make a significant impact on the field and assert his dominance in the league. 14. Expansion Expansion Expansion! Tell us why you think the league should expand / not expand or include any ideas (in words) for team branding ideas you have or team locations. The expansion of the league to Oconomowoc, WI presents a golden opportunity for growth and success. Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, Oconomowoc boasts a vibrant community with a deep-seated passion for football. The addition of a DSFL team in this locale would tap into this fervent fan base, creating a strong foundation for the team's success both on and off the field. One of the key advantages of establishing a team in Oconomowoc is the potential for significant revenue generation, particularly through beer sales at games. Wisconsin is renowned for its thriving beer culture, with local breweries and craft beer enthusiasts abounding. By capitalizing on this enthusiasm, the team could leverage beer sales as a lucrative revenue stream, attracting fans to the games and enhancing the overall game-day experience. Furthermore, the addition of a DSFL team in Oconomowoc would not only cater to the local community but also contribute to the league's broader appeal. With Wisconsin's rich football history and tradition, residents would undoubtedly embrace another homegrown team, further bolstering the league's fan base and expanding its reach into new territories. In terms of team branding, the Oconomowoc franchise could draw inspiration from the area's unique heritage and culture. Embracing themes of camaraderie, resilience, and community spirit, the team could adopt a name and logo that pays homage to the city's history and values. Whether it's the Oconomowoc Brewers, paying tribute to the area's brewing tradition, or the Oconomowoc Ironworks, symbolizing the city's industrial roots, the possibilities for team branding are as endless as the potential for success in this vibrant Wisconsin locale. The team could adopt the name "Oconomowoc Warriors" as a nod to the strength, courage, and resilience associated with indigenous warriors throughout history. The logo could feature a dignified and stylized depiction of a warrior, symbolizing bravery and honor. To ensure cultural sensitivity, the design would avoid caricatures or stereotypes and instead focus on conveying a sense of pride and dignity. Incorporating elements of indigenous art and symbolism, such as feathers, shields, or ceremonial regalia, could further emphasize the connection to indigenous heritage while honoring the traditions and values of the community. By choosing the name "Oconomowoc Warriors" and designing a logo that celebrates the noble qualities of indigenous warriors in a respectful manner, the team can pay homage to the indigenous heritage of the region while fostering a sense of unity and pride among fans. This approach reflects a commitment to inclusivity and cultural awareness, ensuring that the team's branding resonates positively with the community and upholds the principles of respect and dignity for all.
ISFL WEEKLY MIRROR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Tier 1 Task 1:
Season 46 in the ISFL saw Arizona claim its (rightful?) place as Ultimus champs following a couple of disappointing campaigns that saw Baltimore and Austin claim the trophy. It certainly wasn't a cakewalk, however, and we'll briefly cover how both Ultimus participants made it to their respective positions. Yellowknife: Entering the season, the Wraiths were not seen by many to be a slam dunk playoff team, but following a 3-0 start to the season they were showing positive signs of improvement. The momentum was disrupted by eventual division champs Baltimore, who were in the middle of an impressive streak of their own, and the Wraiths struggled to find consistency afterwards, alternating wins and losses that featured some dispiriting close losses where the margin of victory was only a matter of 2-4 points. Towards the end of the season, the Wraiths found themselves locked in a struggle with Cape Town and Chicago to cross the line into the playoffs, dropping both games versus CTC to make things a little too exciting. Tough matchups versus Baltimore and Arizona saw them almost fall out of the race, but when the dust settled, the Wraiths found themselves 8-8 and locked in to a first round playoff matchup versus the Sailfish. Arizona: Following a busy offseason, Arizona entered the regular season with a win-now mentality, but after three games found themselves at 2-1 with a tough loss to S45 champs Austin. Following a little bit of navel-gazing and some strategic adjustments, the team managed to post five straight Ws, although as the streak continued, their ability to close out games versus weak opponents started to waver somewhat (vs NOLA, Colorado). The mid point of the season saw the team briefly alternate between wins and losses, featuring a blowout 47-21 loss to divisional rivals Orange County and a close loss to the plucky Sailfish. Although a divisional first place finish seemed not unreasonable, Arizona had its sights set on first overall, and against some stiff opposition managed to close out the season with 5 wins (Austin and Yellowknife in particular, the latter of which was a two point W), pipping Baltimore for first overall with a 13-3 record. While the team remained fairly middle of the pack statistically, the team featured top tier offensive performers, with Benji Aguilera and Danny Nedelko hovering around the top of their respective fields in WR and RB respectively. Playoffs - Yellowknife: In their quarterfinal matchup versus Sarasota, the Wraiths knew they were in tough, but their defence fought furiously to limit the Sailfish offence in the first half of the game, which featured a totally scoreless second quarter. After taking a brief lead in the 3rd, two straight Sailfish TDs had them on the ropes by the middle of the 4th quarter, but a key TD by Jimmy Ryder and a successful 2 point conversion set the scene for some playoff magic, with Zenzeroni Xystarch launching a 59 yard field goal to tie the game with 3 minutes left. The magic didn't run out there however, as Xystarch etched himself into Wraiths lore by scoring the game winning field goal at the 13:08 mark, putting them through to the next round. In the semifinals, the Wraiths faced division winners Baltimore which, on paper, appeared to favour the Hawks, who raced out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. The offence then dried up for them, allowing the Wraiths to gradually mount a comeback over an offensively sparse second and third quarters. Baltimore was not going to go quietly, and, thanks to some heroics topped off by Shane Turnbull's thrilling touchdown just before the two minute warning, saw the game tied at the end of regulation. Yellowknife was not to be denied, however, as playoff hero Jimmy Ryder delivered the killing blow at the 5:49 mark with a one yard TD to win the game, setting up a date with Arizona in the Ultimus. Playoffs - Arizona: In their first round matchup versus the Sabrecats, the Outlaws raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter that they would not get close to relinquishing, limiting the Cats to a single field goal. This dominating win helped end any conversation about playoff choking. There really isn't much else to say! In the second round, Arizona faced divisional arch-rival Austin who had provided one of their three regular season losses, but same as in the quarterfinals, the Outlaws again dominated the game early, building a 31-0 lead by the tail end of the 3rd quarter. A career performance by yours truly gave little chance for Austin to mount an effective comeback, and despite a pair of late TDs, Arizona won the game handily by a score of 38-17, punching their ticket to the finals with the upset winner of the NSFC, Yellowknife. Ultimus: With two dominating wins, things were looking like they were on cruise control for the Outlaws, but they ran into a literal wall in Yellowknife. Completely stymied by the Wraiths D, Arizona found themselves down by two field goals by the middle of the second quarter, but to their credit did an excellent job in preventing any touchdowns against. It seemed as if no-one might ever score again when yours truly broke through with a nice 69 yard TD on an amazing pass by Winters. With the Arizona D exerting its will, Thomas Sutha provided the spark Arizona was looking for with a TD of his own early in the 4th, and despite a series of heart-dropping fumbles (including a last minute one by yours truly), the Outlaws held on for the shockingly low-scoring 14-6 Ultimus win. --- A great deal of credit must go to the Wraiths for salvaging a very up and down season with a series of thrilling playoff games that brought them very close to an incredible upset versus the two best teams in the league. It's always exciting to see an underdog break through, but on a personal level, it was even more exciting to be on an Ultimus winner and actually contribute (although I will endeavor to contribute fewer fumbles next playoffs!). I'd like to thank my teammates and management for giving me a chance and believing in me, and can't wait to see what the future holds!
7. Write 600 words or more on something about anything in the league that interests you. It could be related to statistics, a league issue that you take seriously, or a niche part of history that doesn’t fit neatly into either of the above categories. This must be directly related to the league, so don’t wax 600 words about your team’s participation on a Werewolf server or something.
Like all sim leagues I am interested in me! selfish I am aware but I'm also at a loss for what I want to write about in these tasks. It's nothing against the choices I just think I can fill up 600 words with this task. So, here we go... My rookie season in the International Sim Football League and it did not disappoint. I was told by my General Managers that I should have a real chance of winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. I laughed it off because I have never won a big award in any sim league since joining just over a year ago in real life. Also, this is my first create so I am not sure how to build a successful linebacker let alone build a competent one. Week one rolls around, and I mess around and get 9 tackles which is tied for the lead for the team. Not bad I thought. Maybe things will look good for this season and most importantly we got a win. Week two rolls on and I get six more tackles which is second on the team. Now I'm thinking if I can continue to be first or second on the team in tackles each week, I may actually have a chance at doing some damage in this league. Once again, we get another much-needed win. week 3, hold the phone we get eight tackles that is tied for most on the team, and we force a fumble? good god lets go; we are on full alert. Let's go win this whole thing and defensive rookie of the year award. Another win, yes. Everything is rolling, we hit week five and I am feeling great, we drop our first game against Sarasota, and I go into the box score... two tackles. It's over, the world is crashing down on me and my player. All my hopes, dreams are gone... I will no longer be winning jack! The following week we lose another heart breaker and yet again, only three tackles. Might as well kiss my solid season goodbye. Week seven, we are sitting at 4-2 and we are looking to get back to our winning ways, the stat sheet is once again a snoozer for Bazooka, but he shows that he can reach the quarterback by recording his first career sack. Baltimore also gets the win and moves to 5-2. Finally, week eight rolls around and I am shocked and amazed, we put together an amazing win and Bazooka records 13 tackles and another forced fumble. That's a wild stat for a rookie and I am back on the bandwagon of hoping for awards and a championship. The next week we win again, and Joe gets seven tackles. Then a big game comes up against San Jose and Joe is pumped to see the box score. We get seven tackles, the win and a pick six. Scoring a defensive touchdown is a dream I never thought I would achieve in my rookie season, was a big week for Bazooka. Baltimore goes on to win seven straight games until losing back-to-back weeks in week 14 and 15 but closing the season with a win against Cape Town. The first seed is on lock by Baltimore, and we get a bye week for playoffs. Sitting at 12-4 and having a season to remember with 101 total tackles a sack and a pick six, I am hopeful I put together a season that could go down as one for the record books as a rookie. Granted I didn't really fill up much of the stat sheet in any other category besides tackles. Time will tell for Bazooka and how he will fare in this league. 625 words
03-12-2024, 06:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-12-2024, 06:57 PM by amjohnson636. Edited 1 time in total.)
2. Tell us about your draft class. Is there anything that makes it special in comparison to other classes? Where did your fellow draftees land, how are they doing? Did anyone turn out to be an unexpected steal of that draft based on what you know today? Do you think anyone in your draft class will become a hall of famer? If you’re new to the league, how do you think your class will do? Where do you think people will get drafted to?
I am proudly a part of the S46 Class for the ISFL. While I am a new user and clearly will have some form of bias towards my own class I think that we do have something special. The first thing I want to discuss is the new creates that came into the league at the same time I did. I think that of all the new creates five really stand out in our class. Admittedly this may be a cop out but I do consider myself to be in that five. I went first overall in the DSFL draft and have now accepted a position as GM for my DSFL team, "The London Royals". I won most dedicated member and I have cooked up some decent media so I believe of the small group of new creates that came in the S46 class that I am one of the ones who has made a significant impact on the league. The next person of note would have to be @Amkamkamk! AMK has also made a huge impact on our league and I think he was a great selection for MIN. Similar to myself AMK won some awards in their first year in the league. AMK came away with the coveted media Gemini award as they were considered the top new user that created media. Just recently AMK accepted the position of GM for the Minnesota Grey Ducks. While they are the rivals of London, I think that Minnesota made a fantastic choice promoting AMK to that position and I think that our rivalry will continue as we battle it out for S46 dominance. It would be a shame if I did not mention my friends who have also made huge strides in the league, @griis and @jreed12. This duo went separate ways when it came to the DSFL draft as they both went in the first round of my draft. They came together to create the ISFL Weekly Mirror, a pillar of truth and justice in a league that was starved of reliable media sources. Their work together has been nothing short of a masterpiece as many of the newest set of users consider the Weekly Mirror to be the best form of media in the league. I know that JReed has made his way to the Berlin war room and that Griis is considered Mr. Icebear's son. The next S46 new create of significance has to be @DigDoug11. Dig went to the Luchadores and immediately won an Ultimini in is first year in the league (despite Tijuana clearly cheating and paying off the referees with tequila). Dig can very commonly be found in the discord placing some sort of well timed GIF in the discord chat as I am of the belief that 50% of Dig's participation has come via GIFs. Of the people drafted I would say that Dig was the steal of the draft as he was the last pick in the first round and the first new create off of the board in the S46 ISFL draft. I am sure Dig is doing great things for Chicago. An argument can be made for JReed but clearly that man is prone to bungling any task given to him. Of the people in S46 I think that the front runner for Hall of Fame player and user has to go to AMKAMKAMK. The output of media coupled with the activity in chat really sells me that they will be the person in my class to make it to The Hall of Fame. I do hope that I can make it but I will never put myself ahead of a fellow user from my class that I hold in such high regard. DA CHOP |
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