One big decision that has altered the ISFL in several ways occurred during my rookie ISFL season --- the league decided to expand and add two new teams: New York Silverbacks and Berlin Fire Salamanders. Now this is low-hanging fruit to most users but for me, from my perspective, this was a colossal moment in time.
For one, at the time I played for the Baltimore Hawks and we had put together a solid, albeit young roster. Before I was called up, the Hawks made the playoffs but lost in the 1st round. They had just broken a minor losing streak with a playoff berth and were adding more young talent. However, not all the personalities meshed in the locker room and the Hawks traded away Tyler Montain, Maverick Bowie, and Captain Rogers by the end of my rookie season in Baltimore. Our team could be described as absentee ownership.
I have no doubt that the friction led to two of our biggest war room members(including a GM) putting in a quality expansion bid that landed them the Fire Salamanders. Now we were down our two best Wide Receivers. Unfortunately, I was entering free agency and by league rule, had to leave Baltimore if I did not sign an extension. So now the season 24 DROTY is out the door as well.
With no solid owners and all the high quality prospects gone, Baltimore sunk to the bottom and Chika Fujiwara wasted all her prime years on a bottom 3 roster. From my rookie year to now, the Hawks have lost: Tyler Montain, Captain Rogers, Maverick Bowie, Nick Kaepercolin, Asher Quinn, Doug Howlett, Mai Fukushu, James Lewandowski, Felix Archstone, Dex Kennedy, Derred DeVille, Eldrick Avery, Chika Fujiawara, and myself.
Kaepercolin and Quinn went to Berlin and Kaepercolin has become a lethal QB, commanding Berlin to what should be their first playoff berth. Fujiwara led Honolulu to their first playoff berth last season. Rogers has become a rock in New York's backfield. Lewandowski became an integral part of San Jose's offense. DeVille continued to wreak havoc in Sarasota, leading them to their first title last year. I believe Avery position switched in Chicago(where Josh Campbell also resides now). Fukushu had a sudden retirement after the league took over the decrepit Hawks franchise who are on pace to surpass the Yeti's record long losing streak. As for the rest, we all ended up in Austin and have reconnected and are now leading the 2nd generation of Copperheads that are currently tied for the best record in the league after a few re-tooling and rebuilding years.
For one, at the time I played for the Baltimore Hawks and we had put together a solid, albeit young roster. Before I was called up, the Hawks made the playoffs but lost in the 1st round. They had just broken a minor losing streak with a playoff berth and were adding more young talent. However, not all the personalities meshed in the locker room and the Hawks traded away Tyler Montain, Maverick Bowie, and Captain Rogers by the end of my rookie season in Baltimore. Our team could be described as absentee ownership.
I have no doubt that the friction led to two of our biggest war room members(including a GM) putting in a quality expansion bid that landed them the Fire Salamanders. Now we were down our two best Wide Receivers. Unfortunately, I was entering free agency and by league rule, had to leave Baltimore if I did not sign an extension. So now the season 24 DROTY is out the door as well.
With no solid owners and all the high quality prospects gone, Baltimore sunk to the bottom and Chika Fujiwara wasted all her prime years on a bottom 3 roster. From my rookie year to now, the Hawks have lost: Tyler Montain, Captain Rogers, Maverick Bowie, Nick Kaepercolin, Asher Quinn, Doug Howlett, Mai Fukushu, James Lewandowski, Felix Archstone, Dex Kennedy, Derred DeVille, Eldrick Avery, Chika Fujiawara, and myself.
Kaepercolin and Quinn went to Berlin and Kaepercolin has become a lethal QB, commanding Berlin to what should be their first playoff berth. Fujiwara led Honolulu to their first playoff berth last season. Rogers has become a rock in New York's backfield. Lewandowski became an integral part of San Jose's offense. DeVille continued to wreak havoc in Sarasota, leading them to their first title last year. I believe Avery position switched in Chicago(where Josh Campbell also resides now). Fukushu had a sudden retirement after the league took over the decrepit Hawks franchise who are on pace to surpass the Yeti's record long losing streak. As for the rest, we all ended up in Austin and have reconnected and are now leading the 2nd generation of Copperheads that are currently tied for the best record in the league after a few re-tooling and rebuilding years.
