10-23-2023, 09:38 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2023, 10:32 AM by DL14. Edited 1 time in total.)
I’m back!
In my last article I claimed that the Sarasota Sailfish were the most dramatic team in the ISFL this year through 5 games. Well, it’s been 5 more and I’m here to revisit that claim…with math!
I’m going to stick with my previous definitions: that a margin of 3 or less is “very close” and a margin of 4-8 is “close”. But I’m adding a new wrinkle today – overtime! There’s nothing quite like a game that needs an extra period, so I’ve incorporated that into my model. You’ll see that two teams in particular gain a lot from this little wrinkle. Don’t like it? That’s fine, make your own rankings and tag me so we can compare notes! But without further ado, I give you:
Under this system, there are four ISFL teams with double-digit drama scores through 10 weeks. Incredibly, all are in the National Conference. Let’s see if my points system matches the eye test and, most importantly, who deserves the title of “Most Dramatic Team”.
T-3. Yellowknife Wraiths – 11 points
The Wraiths have been involved in 7 close games this year, including 3 in a row to start the season. Until recently they were also one of the most clutch, going 3-0 in all their “very close” games with 3-point wins over Sarasota (week 1), San Jose (week 3), and Colorado (week 6). But Berlin ended that streak with a 33-30 victory in week 10. Still, the sheer number of close finishes means the Wraiths earn a spot on this list.
T-3. Berlin Fire Salamanders – 11 points
These teams are deservedly tied, and I went back and forth deciding which order to list them in. Berlin has been involved in fewer close games (6), but a league-high 5 of those qualify as “very close” so they get the slight edge. It was nothing but drama early: losing to Colorado by 2 and Baltimore by 3, then beating Sarasota by 2. Thankfully they gave their fans some breathing room with double-digit wins in 3 of their next 4 games, but as last week showed they haven’t lost their flair for the dramatic.
2. Baltimore Hawks – 12 points
The overtime bonus is on display here – Baltimore has played in 3 of the league’s 5 OT games so far (and that’s not counting the tie they managed in preseason). They lost to Sarasota in week 4, beat New York in week 6, and – in the season’s only multi-score OT period thus far – beat the Austin Copperheads in week 8. I was a little disappointed they didn’t keep the trend going in week 10, but I doubt the fans are complaining that they took down the Cape Town Crash by 19 points!
1. Sarasota Sailfish – 17 points
Here you have it: mathematical proof that the Sailfish are the most dramatic team in the league. The Wraiths had raw numbers, the Salamanders had close games, the Hawks had overtime…the Sailfish have it all. 8 close games out of 10, including 5 in a row to start the season – the most in the league. A perfect 3-0 in OT games against Baltimore, Arizona, and New York (for the sharp-eyed, yes only two teams have won this year’s 5 overtime games). They’ve had multiple near-comebacks that just couldn’t go the distance, an impossible 64-yard game-tying field goal, a defensive goal line stand to force overtime, even a game-winning safety! And heaven help their fans, because there are still 6 more games to go!
The NFL has seen plenty of fun nicknames for entire teams – the Kardiac Kids, the Greatest Show on Turf, the Legion of Boom. What should we call this S44 Sarasota team after all its thrilling heroics?
• Sensational Sailfish
• Cardiac Carp
• Fibrillating Fish
• Heart-stopping Halibut
• Melodramatic Marlins
Beyond the tilt toward the National Conference, nothing too surprising here. The best and worst records can mostly be found near the bottom, as those teams are less likely to have a lot of close games. But there are exceptions: the 2-7 San Jose Sabercats are tied for fifth in Drama thanks to 4 close games to start the season. They won 2 and had leads in the final 5 minutes of the other 2 before giving up game-deciding touchdown drives down the stretch. Recent results have been wider, but it was a thrilling start. In fact…
![[Image: Sarasota-2-chart.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/rsB2X3W1/Sarasota-2-chart.png)
Here's every ISFL team’s Win total and Drama score charted out. In the top left quadrant we have the boring but successful Cape Town Crash, who have snoozed their way to 8-2 with five double-digit victories. Working toward the center we see a cluster of ASFC teams in Honolulu, Arizona, Austin, and New York with high success and low-to-moderate levels of Drama. At the bottom left you’ve got New Orleans and Chicago, also one-sided but (sadly for their fans) in the other direction. The bottom right is mostly bare but we can see San Jose sneaking that way, with few wins but a lot of close games. Don’t forget Yellowknife and Berlin, whose 5-win seasons could just as easily be 7 or 3 at this point given their high levels of Drama. And then the top right has Baltimore and Sarasota, with their fans white-knuckling it through each week but still having a lot to celebrate.
That’s all for now! What do you think: does my point system pass the eye test? Is Sarasota truly the most exciting team in the league? What was the best game of the season so far? Share your thoughts below, then tune (tuna?) in at the end of the regular season for the final update!
In my last article I claimed that the Sarasota Sailfish were the most dramatic team in the ISFL this year through 5 games. Well, it’s been 5 more and I’m here to revisit that claim…with math!
I’m going to stick with my previous definitions: that a margin of 3 or less is “very close” and a margin of 4-8 is “close”. But I’m adding a new wrinkle today – overtime! There’s nothing quite like a game that needs an extra period, so I’ve incorporated that into my model. You’ll see that two teams in particular gain a lot from this little wrinkle. Don’t like it? That’s fine, make your own rankings and tag me so we can compare notes! But without further ado, I give you:
Piercewise’s Super-Scientific, Thoroughly-Tested, Drama Definition! (PSSTTDD)
[EDITOR’S NOTE] PLEASE fix that acronym before this goes to print!
All overtime games = 3 drama points
Non-OT, margin 3 or less = 2 drama points
Non-OT, margin 4-8 = 1 drama point
Under this system, there are four ISFL teams with double-digit drama scores through 10 weeks. Incredibly, all are in the National Conference. Let’s see if my points system matches the eye test and, most importantly, who deserves the title of “Most Dramatic Team”.
T-3. Yellowknife Wraiths – 11 points
The Wraiths have been involved in 7 close games this year, including 3 in a row to start the season. Until recently they were also one of the most clutch, going 3-0 in all their “very close” games with 3-point wins over Sarasota (week 1), San Jose (week 3), and Colorado (week 6). But Berlin ended that streak with a 33-30 victory in week 10. Still, the sheer number of close finishes means the Wraiths earn a spot on this list.
T-3. Berlin Fire Salamanders – 11 points
These teams are deservedly tied, and I went back and forth deciding which order to list them in. Berlin has been involved in fewer close games (6), but a league-high 5 of those qualify as “very close” so they get the slight edge. It was nothing but drama early: losing to Colorado by 2 and Baltimore by 3, then beating Sarasota by 2. Thankfully they gave their fans some breathing room with double-digit wins in 3 of their next 4 games, but as last week showed they haven’t lost their flair for the dramatic.
2. Baltimore Hawks – 12 points
The overtime bonus is on display here – Baltimore has played in 3 of the league’s 5 OT games so far (and that’s not counting the tie they managed in preseason). They lost to Sarasota in week 4, beat New York in week 6, and – in the season’s only multi-score OT period thus far – beat the Austin Copperheads in week 8. I was a little disappointed they didn’t keep the trend going in week 10, but I doubt the fans are complaining that they took down the Cape Town Crash by 19 points!
1. Sarasota Sailfish – 17 points
Here you have it: mathematical proof that the Sailfish are the most dramatic team in the league. The Wraiths had raw numbers, the Salamanders had close games, the Hawks had overtime…the Sailfish have it all. 8 close games out of 10, including 5 in a row to start the season – the most in the league. A perfect 3-0 in OT games against Baltimore, Arizona, and New York (for the sharp-eyed, yes only two teams have won this year’s 5 overtime games). They’ve had multiple near-comebacks that just couldn’t go the distance, an impossible 64-yard game-tying field goal, a defensive goal line stand to force overtime, even a game-winning safety! And heaven help their fans, because there are still 6 more games to go!
The NFL has seen plenty of fun nicknames for entire teams – the Kardiac Kids, the Greatest Show on Turf, the Legion of Boom. What should we call this S44 Sarasota team after all its thrilling heroics?
• Sensational Sailfish
• Cardiac Carp
• Fibrillating Fish
• Heart-stopping Halibut
• Melodramatic Marlins
Full Drama Standings
Sarasota Sailfish (17)
Baltimore Hawks (12)
Berlin Fire Salamanders (11)
Yellowknife Wraiths (11)
San Jose Sabercats (8)
Arizona Outlaws (8)
New York Silverbacks (7)
Orange County Otters (7)
Colorado Yeti (6)
Austin Copperheads (5)
Honolulu Hahalua (5)
New Orleans Secondline (4)
Chicago Butchers (3)
Cape Town Crash (2)
Beyond the tilt toward the National Conference, nothing too surprising here. The best and worst records can mostly be found near the bottom, as those teams are less likely to have a lot of close games. But there are exceptions: the 2-7 San Jose Sabercats are tied for fifth in Drama thanks to 4 close games to start the season. They won 2 and had leads in the final 5 minutes of the other 2 before giving up game-deciding touchdown drives down the stretch. Recent results have been wider, but it was a thrilling start. In fact…
Here's every ISFL team’s Win total and Drama score charted out. In the top left quadrant we have the boring but successful Cape Town Crash, who have snoozed their way to 8-2 with five double-digit victories. Working toward the center we see a cluster of ASFC teams in Honolulu, Arizona, Austin, and New York with high success and low-to-moderate levels of Drama. At the bottom left you’ve got New Orleans and Chicago, also one-sided but (sadly for their fans) in the other direction. The bottom right is mostly bare but we can see San Jose sneaking that way, with few wins but a lot of close games. Don’t forget Yellowknife and Berlin, whose 5-win seasons could just as easily be 7 or 3 at this point given their high levels of Drama. And then the top right has Baltimore and Sarasota, with their fans white-knuckling it through each week but still having a lot to celebrate.
That’s all for now! What do you think: does my point system pass the eye test? Is Sarasota truly the most exciting team in the league? What was the best game of the season so far? Share your thoughts below, then tune (tuna?) in at the end of the regular season for the final update!
![[Image: 009p.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/zf59gRY8/009p.png)
![[Image: UptownCord.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/UptownCord.gif)
![[Image: axpcVcn.png]](https://i.imgur.com/axpcVcn.png)
