13. Expansion Expansion Expansion! The league seems to love talking about it, but it has still not happened. Tell us why it should happen / should not happen soon?
Well, I'm not exactly one to deserve a strong voice in the matter, but I will take both sides on this. First off, expansion is very exciting. It will also give the chance to the best users, GMs, whoever, in the league to apply and leave their mark on the league. That alone is enough to entice a GM to apply. To have a team that is theirs, to have a team that they created, formed, made a reality. Of course, you'll have the GMs that seek the challenge of an expansion team as well. I think just bringing that aspect into the league allows for some infusion of passion for the league, which is only a good thing.
Then, there is the fact that all three leagues are very well connected. SHL, ISFL, PBE. If you are in one, you cannot go to another without already knowing half your team from another league. The SHL, for example, has had very ISFL heavy drafts recently. It is only a matter of time before that crossover becomes too much, in a good way, for the ISFL. As any of the three leagues grow, so will the others. Obviously because of recruitment from the league, but also crossover. Eventually, the expansion will have to happen, and I feel like the ISFL allows expansion timing to be.. not exact. Half of the worry can be that, but I believe an expansion of two teams would be perfectly fine, think of it as making space, and giving more users opportunities to be starters.
In addition, there are currently 14 ISFL teams, 7 in each conference. An even 8 in each, creating a 16 team league would be wonderful, think about it. Maybe it is just my hockey mind.. though. However, 4 teams in a division, 8 teams in a conference, 16 teams in a league. A perfect half, 8 team playoff, would be organized perfectly, and allow for solid competition throughout. There is, of course, the option of increasing the number of DSFL teams, too. However, I would not do that along with an ISFL expansion, it would be one or the other. Increasing the DSFL does make the room necessary eventually, and does in turn do things like extending the average junior stay. With more good players in the league, and in turn the ISFL, prospects are kept down longer because of which, leading to longer stays. Some may be against that, some may like it. I don't think it works due to how short careers are here, but it is an option.
Lastly, I don't think expansion should be right now. I think it should happen, but I don't think it should be this season or anything. You don't want some teams losing too much to expansion, and you don't want the league thinned out, even if it'll need it in a season or two afterward. You do it then. I think due to the thoughts on some positions, such as QB, being that it is hard to start, users have not created like that. WR, RB maybe too. But without those positions becoming more saturated, there will be a little unbalance in the league to start, that needs to be solved first.
(541 words)
18. Written option - which teammate of yours is the ultimate team player and why? How does this person exhibit selflessness and put the team first? Are they a great locker room presence who encourages others? Do they play an important but unappreciated role on the team which doesn't receive much recognition for awards? Graphic Option: Create a graphic of your player with your teammate who exhibits a team-friendly attitude.
I believe @King Jellyfish is one of our ultimate team players. It's hard to say which player would be for the Hawks right now, but I genuinely believe Jelly is one of the more underrated guys in Baltimore. From almost the very start, since he has joined the team, he has been creating signatures for the entire team. Matching, yet unique, I don't know, I see it as a form of having everyone together. Yet, an entire team of new, custom sigs is insane to pull off, and it isn't the only graphical work he has done for us so far. It is just nuts, and while we all recognize the work he puts in, or I hope we do, I don't think we give him enough credit for it. Hell, the guy made a 2 and a half minute video for Dermot after his retirement.
Aside from that, he is always around in the LR supporting our users. Did you make a sig? He's there complimenting it. Asking for a question or two for media? He'll give you one. Never asks for anything in return, or expects anything, doesn't make you feel bad about it. Just a real team guy. He puts in work in management, his player, the locker room, everything. Just a solid guy. Since joining the team.. last draft.. he's made the locker room a great place to be in as if it wasn't already fun with the changes that went on. Love having him as a teammate now, and for however long we're on a team together.
(262 words)
29. Affiliate PT from either SHL/PBE/GOMHL. The Weeks must match with the timeframe of this UW
Here it is!
Well, I'm not exactly one to deserve a strong voice in the matter, but I will take both sides on this. First off, expansion is very exciting. It will also give the chance to the best users, GMs, whoever, in the league to apply and leave their mark on the league. That alone is enough to entice a GM to apply. To have a team that is theirs, to have a team that they created, formed, made a reality. Of course, you'll have the GMs that seek the challenge of an expansion team as well. I think just bringing that aspect into the league allows for some infusion of passion for the league, which is only a good thing.
Then, there is the fact that all three leagues are very well connected. SHL, ISFL, PBE. If you are in one, you cannot go to another without already knowing half your team from another league. The SHL, for example, has had very ISFL heavy drafts recently. It is only a matter of time before that crossover becomes too much, in a good way, for the ISFL. As any of the three leagues grow, so will the others. Obviously because of recruitment from the league, but also crossover. Eventually, the expansion will have to happen, and I feel like the ISFL allows expansion timing to be.. not exact. Half of the worry can be that, but I believe an expansion of two teams would be perfectly fine, think of it as making space, and giving more users opportunities to be starters.
In addition, there are currently 14 ISFL teams, 7 in each conference. An even 8 in each, creating a 16 team league would be wonderful, think about it. Maybe it is just my hockey mind.. though. However, 4 teams in a division, 8 teams in a conference, 16 teams in a league. A perfect half, 8 team playoff, would be organized perfectly, and allow for solid competition throughout. There is, of course, the option of increasing the number of DSFL teams, too. However, I would not do that along with an ISFL expansion, it would be one or the other. Increasing the DSFL does make the room necessary eventually, and does in turn do things like extending the average junior stay. With more good players in the league, and in turn the ISFL, prospects are kept down longer because of which, leading to longer stays. Some may be against that, some may like it. I don't think it works due to how short careers are here, but it is an option.
Lastly, I don't think expansion should be right now. I think it should happen, but I don't think it should be this season or anything. You don't want some teams losing too much to expansion, and you don't want the league thinned out, even if it'll need it in a season or two afterward. You do it then. I think due to the thoughts on some positions, such as QB, being that it is hard to start, users have not created like that. WR, RB maybe too. But without those positions becoming more saturated, there will be a little unbalance in the league to start, that needs to be solved first.
(541 words)
18. Written option - which teammate of yours is the ultimate team player and why? How does this person exhibit selflessness and put the team first? Are they a great locker room presence who encourages others? Do they play an important but unappreciated role on the team which doesn't receive much recognition for awards? Graphic Option: Create a graphic of your player with your teammate who exhibits a team-friendly attitude.
I believe @King Jellyfish is one of our ultimate team players. It's hard to say which player would be for the Hawks right now, but I genuinely believe Jelly is one of the more underrated guys in Baltimore. From almost the very start, since he has joined the team, he has been creating signatures for the entire team. Matching, yet unique, I don't know, I see it as a form of having everyone together. Yet, an entire team of new, custom sigs is insane to pull off, and it isn't the only graphical work he has done for us so far. It is just nuts, and while we all recognize the work he puts in, or I hope we do, I don't think we give him enough credit for it. Hell, the guy made a 2 and a half minute video for Dermot after his retirement.
Aside from that, he is always around in the LR supporting our users. Did you make a sig? He's there complimenting it. Asking for a question or two for media? He'll give you one. Never asks for anything in return, or expects anything, doesn't make you feel bad about it. Just a real team guy. He puts in work in management, his player, the locker room, everything. Just a solid guy. Since joining the team.. last draft.. he's made the locker room a great place to be in as if it wasn't already fun with the changes that went on. Love having him as a teammate now, and for however long we're on a team together.
(262 words)
29. Affiliate PT from either SHL/PBE/GOMHL. The Weeks must match with the timeframe of this UW
Here it is!
![[Image: Signature_Lawrence_Miller.png?width=2052&height=1015]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/823286124390252584/833089178551713832/Signature_Lawrence_Miller.png?width=2052&height=1015)
