6. Let's take a moment to talk about America's Team, the finest franchise in the country, and perhaps the best locker room in the history of affiliated simulation leagues, The New York Silverbacks. I joined the league just before the Silverbacks officially became a franchise and I honestly didn't know too much about their GMs or anything about which direction they intended to head in. That all changed during the pre-draft process for me in the lead up to the S26 ISFL Draft. Being a first-time sim leaguer, I had no clue what to expect but had been told numerous times by anyone who I asked that the draft was probably the best part of their league experience so far. At first, teams were slow to court me. I received DMs from a few, here and there, during the season leading up to the draft, before finally hearing from New York. Let's just say they left an impression. From their vision, their goals, and their overall mission statement, as it were, they checked every box. Selfishly, I made a "wish list" of teams that I hoped would draft me and sure enough, New York was atop that list. I scoured their recent drafts, looked at their prospects who were then in the DSFL and was heartbroken at my findings. They had a ton of safeties on their roster. I think they had two non-regression safeties who were good earners and only a couple years older than me. Certainly they wouldn't take me #2 overall. I had hopes that I might fall to their next pick, but wasn't sure I'd last that long. I knew that I killed the interview and really had a good rapport with the franchise, but it just seemed like the stars were not aligning to get me to New York.
All of that changed, however, when I saw my name and graphic pop up as the second overall pick in the draft. I could not believe it. I mean, there was no chance they'd take me! Was this a mistake? Did they send in the wrong pick? I was absolutely over the moon and couldn't believe how lucky I was to join a young franchise with a fantastic plan for the future. It didn't take long for the Silverbacks to welcome me into their arms and make me feel at home. And it wasn't long after that that I got the call to join the club and get called up from my home in Norfolk. Leaving the Seawolves was bittersweet as they were my first introduction into the league and I still have a lot of friends that I met in that locker room all those seasons ago. But when I heard the Silverbacks thought I could help the team that year, my choice was easy. And they never once treated me like a rookie. No hazing, no carrying their luggage, no strange haircut. They immediately gave off a unique "we want to win but we also want to have fun" vibe that I'm not sure has been matched anywhere in any other league. Our front office has changed since I was drafted, but every single move the Silverbacks make seems to always work out. Whether it's hiring a new co-GM, trading in the draft, or just selecting the best possible players, we have an incredibly strong and stable franchise that has been painstakingly built.
All of that culminated, of course, with our recent Ultimus win. It was my first ever championship in a sim league and I could not have been more excited to finally hoist a trophy with all of my friends, coaches, and teammates. I honestly can't even describe the sensation as we watched the clock run down to triple zeroes, cementing our victory and enshrining us into ISFL lore forever and ever. Just knowing how hard we worked for that made taking home the ultimate prize even that much sweeter. We didn't luck into anything. We didn't ride the coattails of one great player. We didn't mortgage the franchise for one star and simply cross our fingers. This franchise was built methodically, carefully, and with even the most minute detail in mind.
Will we win another title during my time with the Silverbacks? Who knows for sure. But what I do know is that this group here in New York has changed my player's trajectory, career, and personal life for the better. I am so fortunate to be in a place where I'm happy, have made lifelong friends, and know that we will always be in contention for the playoffs. Life isn't all about winning, of course, but knowing the support structure in place with the Silverbacks' front office gives me infinite hope for the future of my career and for this franchise.
We've got great GMs, incredibly nice players, and a culture that supports winning, enjoying each other's company, and always doing things the Silverback way. Here's to another decade in New York for my player. And who knows - maybe my recreate will one day follow in my footsteps and call New York his home!
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All of that changed, however, when I saw my name and graphic pop up as the second overall pick in the draft. I could not believe it. I mean, there was no chance they'd take me! Was this a mistake? Did they send in the wrong pick? I was absolutely over the moon and couldn't believe how lucky I was to join a young franchise with a fantastic plan for the future. It didn't take long for the Silverbacks to welcome me into their arms and make me feel at home. And it wasn't long after that that I got the call to join the club and get called up from my home in Norfolk. Leaving the Seawolves was bittersweet as they were my first introduction into the league and I still have a lot of friends that I met in that locker room all those seasons ago. But when I heard the Silverbacks thought I could help the team that year, my choice was easy. And they never once treated me like a rookie. No hazing, no carrying their luggage, no strange haircut. They immediately gave off a unique "we want to win but we also want to have fun" vibe that I'm not sure has been matched anywhere in any other league. Our front office has changed since I was drafted, but every single move the Silverbacks make seems to always work out. Whether it's hiring a new co-GM, trading in the draft, or just selecting the best possible players, we have an incredibly strong and stable franchise that has been painstakingly built.
All of that culminated, of course, with our recent Ultimus win. It was my first ever championship in a sim league and I could not have been more excited to finally hoist a trophy with all of my friends, coaches, and teammates. I honestly can't even describe the sensation as we watched the clock run down to triple zeroes, cementing our victory and enshrining us into ISFL lore forever and ever. Just knowing how hard we worked for that made taking home the ultimate prize even that much sweeter. We didn't luck into anything. We didn't ride the coattails of one great player. We didn't mortgage the franchise for one star and simply cross our fingers. This franchise was built methodically, carefully, and with even the most minute detail in mind.
Will we win another title during my time with the Silverbacks? Who knows for sure. But what I do know is that this group here in New York has changed my player's trajectory, career, and personal life for the better. I am so fortunate to be in a place where I'm happy, have made lifelong friends, and know that we will always be in contention for the playoffs. Life isn't all about winning, of course, but knowing the support structure in place with the Silverbacks' front office gives me infinite hope for the future of my career and for this franchise.
We've got great GMs, incredibly nice players, and a culture that supports winning, enjoying each other's company, and always doing things the Silverback way. Here's to another decade in New York for my player. And who knows - maybe my recreate will one day follow in my footsteps and call New York his home!
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