It was February 1st, 2015. The night of Super Bowl XLIX. Patriots vs Seahawks. 26 seconds left in the game. Seattle, down four points, has the ball at the 1 yard line. “Surely they’ll run the ball,” thought every football fan ever. The ball is snapped, and Russel Wilson drops back for a pass.
The world would never know what happened next. Unbeknownst to citizens around the world, tensions had been rising between world powers. They came to a climax on that night, and what was thought to simply be one of many harmless aircraft flying over the field were actually nuclear missiles, the same as those which would strike across America and the rest of the world.
Those that survived the carnage emerged to a world nothing like they imagined. Society as they knew it had collapsed. The pockets of civilization that had escaped annihilation had no way of knowing if there was anyone else out in the world to contact. They began to rebuild society as they had known, using only their memories as guides. Slowly, over the next year, mankind was able to build up societies in the small pockets left unscathed. As they managed to become self-sufficient in providing themselves necessities, like food, water, and shelter, their attention turned to entertainment. In these small communities, boredom led individuals to dwell on the destruction around them and how better their lives once were. To distract themselves, they turned to what was their last memories of joy and excitement before those hellish missiles reached the ground: football. The world had no shortage of empty fields to use. Once barren, they had regrown enough to provide a suitable space for football fields. Game after game was played amongst themselves, until explorers returned with exciting news: there were more people who had survived the blasts, and they were playing football too! News spread that 6 towns had sprung up in the remains of 6 cities in the United States: Baltimore, Denver, Austin, Yellowknife, Santa Ana, and San Jose. Soon after, football teams in Philadelphia and Las Vegas were also discovered. However, a violent military conflict brewing over the Hoover Dam inspired the Las Vegas team to safely relocate to New Orleans.
The players, who at first were not very impressive athletes, viewed the games as a fantasy of the old days that they could act out. As such, they did not want to call their new league the NFL, as that league had its own revered history that they did not want forgotten. Instead, these games were an imitation of what professional football was once like. A simulation, if you will. Thus, the National Simulation Football League was born. Football teams from these cities traveled many miles to face each other. These games, despite simply acting as needed entertainment, were a sign of the resilience of humanity. They became by far the most important events to these people desperate for a purpose. Winning meant great joy and celebration, and defeat was greatly disappointing, but it still gave the people something to put their minds to that didn’t directly associate with their survival. Above all, football became the link that united what was left of the country.
Over time, scouts continued to explore deeper into the irradiated nation. Suddenly seeing a person decked out in weapons and protective gear for radiation can be frightening, and after a few incidents of survivors screaming and running away, the explorers decided to carry an extra item on them at all times: a football. When seeing this familiar symbol of the old world, survivors were much more willing to talk with the strangers. Whenever a new town was discovered or a group was given the resources establish their own settlement, football was the common unifying factor. The football itself represented the great undertaking mankind had made to rise up from the destruction and create a world where every city that partook in the sport would be at peace, a stark contrast from the ever persistent war mongering of the old world. After all, it would be difficult to declare war with another city if soon enough you will be travelling there for a game, with the citizens of both cities ready to join in revelry before the big event.
As the teams of each of the new settlements improved, they were eventually integrated into the NSFL. However, with knowledge that there were survivors establishing themselves in other nations, the league renamed itself to the International Simulation Football League in order to not limit its reach solely to the United States.
In addition, strange new developments were on the horizon. Heavy nuclear radiation can have some unexpected consequences. Everyone knew that strange creatures had been formed from the remains of the nuclear waste. They were usually avoided and thought of as predators. It wasn’t until they were seen on the outskirts of the football fields watching the games that their natures were more deeply questioned. Why had they observed but not attacked? Once, after a football was left on the field deep into the night, an array of these creatures creeped out onto the field. They were caught practicing a rudimentary version of the game, but alarms were not raised. Instead, they were simply observed by the humans. The radiation had done more than any of the humans could have conceived. There were mutated animals of course, such as a polar bear, a penguin, and murderous moose with a penchant for kicking, but there were even stranger twists of realities. Creatures from other worlds, characters from a 2D dimension, a literal hexagon, a candy bar, and so on. Having no previous words to characterize these states of being, the humans gave the name “renders” to generalize all matter that contained enough consciousness to partake in a game of football. Slowly, relationships were formed between the humans and these groups. Their interest in football was apparent, and now many players exist in the ISFL that stretch the boundaries of our imagination.
Thus the league continued to grow, as it does to this day. Prospective players continuously pour in to prove their worth amongst the grizzled vets, as well as to gain honor and respect within the city they play in. With 12 teams in the ISFL and 8 in its lower league, the Developmental Simulation Football League, football has a great influence on politics both in America and in a variety of spots across the globe. Any squabbles between people or cities are settled on the football field. Anything more would be considered a return to the disastrous and unchecked aggression of the old world. But what’s next for the ISFL? The league is looking to expand once again. Its leaders plan to command more voyages abroad to further create a presence in other nations. As of now, nobody knows where there is potential to either find or create a new settlement, but scouts will soon return with word of their findings. Until then, we shall draw our attention towards the intense battles that are characterizing this 24th season of the ISFL.
Know, all you people, that when you fight for glory on the football field, you are fighting for all those that dare to defy the hand that life has dealt them. You are fighting for a new world where its people are not only willing but determined to unite. With your help, the ISFL is not just a football league, it is a symbol for all that we can accomplish, even when despair and dread have overrun the world.
The world would never know what happened next. Unbeknownst to citizens around the world, tensions had been rising between world powers. They came to a climax on that night, and what was thought to simply be one of many harmless aircraft flying over the field were actually nuclear missiles, the same as those which would strike across America and the rest of the world.
Those that survived the carnage emerged to a world nothing like they imagined. Society as they knew it had collapsed. The pockets of civilization that had escaped annihilation had no way of knowing if there was anyone else out in the world to contact. They began to rebuild society as they had known, using only their memories as guides. Slowly, over the next year, mankind was able to build up societies in the small pockets left unscathed. As they managed to become self-sufficient in providing themselves necessities, like food, water, and shelter, their attention turned to entertainment. In these small communities, boredom led individuals to dwell on the destruction around them and how better their lives once were. To distract themselves, they turned to what was their last memories of joy and excitement before those hellish missiles reached the ground: football. The world had no shortage of empty fields to use. Once barren, they had regrown enough to provide a suitable space for football fields. Game after game was played amongst themselves, until explorers returned with exciting news: there were more people who had survived the blasts, and they were playing football too! News spread that 6 towns had sprung up in the remains of 6 cities in the United States: Baltimore, Denver, Austin, Yellowknife, Santa Ana, and San Jose. Soon after, football teams in Philadelphia and Las Vegas were also discovered. However, a violent military conflict brewing over the Hoover Dam inspired the Las Vegas team to safely relocate to New Orleans.
The players, who at first were not very impressive athletes, viewed the games as a fantasy of the old days that they could act out. As such, they did not want to call their new league the NFL, as that league had its own revered history that they did not want forgotten. Instead, these games were an imitation of what professional football was once like. A simulation, if you will. Thus, the National Simulation Football League was born. Football teams from these cities traveled many miles to face each other. These games, despite simply acting as needed entertainment, were a sign of the resilience of humanity. They became by far the most important events to these people desperate for a purpose. Winning meant great joy and celebration, and defeat was greatly disappointing, but it still gave the people something to put their minds to that didn’t directly associate with their survival. Above all, football became the link that united what was left of the country.
Over time, scouts continued to explore deeper into the irradiated nation. Suddenly seeing a person decked out in weapons and protective gear for radiation can be frightening, and after a few incidents of survivors screaming and running away, the explorers decided to carry an extra item on them at all times: a football. When seeing this familiar symbol of the old world, survivors were much more willing to talk with the strangers. Whenever a new town was discovered or a group was given the resources establish their own settlement, football was the common unifying factor. The football itself represented the great undertaking mankind had made to rise up from the destruction and create a world where every city that partook in the sport would be at peace, a stark contrast from the ever persistent war mongering of the old world. After all, it would be difficult to declare war with another city if soon enough you will be travelling there for a game, with the citizens of both cities ready to join in revelry before the big event.
As the teams of each of the new settlements improved, they were eventually integrated into the NSFL. However, with knowledge that there were survivors establishing themselves in other nations, the league renamed itself to the International Simulation Football League in order to not limit its reach solely to the United States.
In addition, strange new developments were on the horizon. Heavy nuclear radiation can have some unexpected consequences. Everyone knew that strange creatures had been formed from the remains of the nuclear waste. They were usually avoided and thought of as predators. It wasn’t until they were seen on the outskirts of the football fields watching the games that their natures were more deeply questioned. Why had they observed but not attacked? Once, after a football was left on the field deep into the night, an array of these creatures creeped out onto the field. They were caught practicing a rudimentary version of the game, but alarms were not raised. Instead, they were simply observed by the humans. The radiation had done more than any of the humans could have conceived. There were mutated animals of course, such as a polar bear, a penguin, and murderous moose with a penchant for kicking, but there were even stranger twists of realities. Creatures from other worlds, characters from a 2D dimension, a literal hexagon, a candy bar, and so on. Having no previous words to characterize these states of being, the humans gave the name “renders” to generalize all matter that contained enough consciousness to partake in a game of football. Slowly, relationships were formed between the humans and these groups. Their interest in football was apparent, and now many players exist in the ISFL that stretch the boundaries of our imagination.
Thus the league continued to grow, as it does to this day. Prospective players continuously pour in to prove their worth amongst the grizzled vets, as well as to gain honor and respect within the city they play in. With 12 teams in the ISFL and 8 in its lower league, the Developmental Simulation Football League, football has a great influence on politics both in America and in a variety of spots across the globe. Any squabbles between people or cities are settled on the football field. Anything more would be considered a return to the disastrous and unchecked aggression of the old world. But what’s next for the ISFL? The league is looking to expand once again. Its leaders plan to command more voyages abroad to further create a presence in other nations. As of now, nobody knows where there is potential to either find or create a new settlement, but scouts will soon return with word of their findings. Until then, we shall draw our attention towards the intense battles that are characterizing this 24th season of the ISFL.
Know, all you people, that when you fight for glory on the football field, you are fighting for all those that dare to defy the hand that life has dealt them. You are fighting for a new world where its people are not only willing but determined to unite. With your help, the ISFL is not just a football league, it is a symbol for all that we can accomplish, even when despair and dread have overrun the world.