(S31) PT 1 - End of a Decade

[Booger]

As someone who was drafted into the DSFL in S21, I have seen the decade come and go and have experienced many highs and lows along the way. If I had to pick one moment that has stuck with me throughout these past few seasons, it would have to be the night we won our very first Ultimus Championship. I was drafted by the Sailfish in their first ever draft, so I watched as Sarasota grew from an underdog expansion team to a powerhouse in the conference. Sure, it required some patience to get through the losing seasons, and there were times when the competition seemed too good to ever surpass, but I am very glad that we had some phenomenal GMs who made every possible attempt to improve the team. That's why, when we finally reached the top of the mountain and annihilated NOLA in the Ultimus it was such a great achievement. The locker room was going crazy and it was just overall a great time to be a Sailfish. I am so glad to be part of such a great team and I am looking forward to picking up my third trophy at the end of this coming season.

[Tp3480]

PBE CW

[gbfn]

There were many great experiences that happened since i am in the league. I joined in season 23. The first happy moment for me was when my player was drafted at number 3 overall. That was a bit unexpected since i am a first gen user and i am generally speaking not an active LR member tbh. But i was max earning at this time and had a good amount of help in the beginning to get off to a fast start. Since being drafted into the ISFL there were a few hickups here and there, my motivation and excitement for the league was a bit declining, but i kept earning. The most memorable experience was definitely the last offseason and the season after that. I decided that i needed a change of scenery for once and left the Honolulu Hahalua to seek a new challenge. I got picked up by the Sarasota Sailfish and the rest was history. We tried to compete for another ultimus title, the second for the Sarasota Sailfish and low an behold it worked out nicely. We managed to get to the ultimus and won it against the Arizona Outlaws. That was one of my main goals with Heinrich Kackpoo. Getting that ring. I know that some will call that attitude ring chasing, firstly - i dont care and secondly, it worked out perfectly.

[StadiumGambler]

The favourite moment for Saleem Spence had to be winning the Ultimus in Season 30. You play to win the game, as former NFL coach Herm Edwards once said, and Spence got his big ring and can now have his career be technically called a success. (Sarasota can also call their trade to pick Spence a success, and regardless of how his career goes from here, every move was justified for the Sailfish cause it resulted in championship glory in the end.)

Another big moment in the decade for Spence was being able to represent Canada in the World Football Championships. While he was born in South Africa and raised partially in America, Spence spent his high school and collegiate career in Canada, and would not have been half the player he was without the framework of that Canadian system to guide him. Representing the Canada Dabbing Gooses was a huge moment for Spence, although unfortunately the team fell short of the playoffs. Better luck next year?

For me as a user, the big moment was coming into a nice, vibin' Portland Pythons locker room in Season 27 and just getting to know all the guys there. While I'm very disappointed in how the sim sorta screwed us out of two semifinal wins in two tries, it was a good time there, and I made some good acquaintances for down the road. I like Sarasota too, but I'll always be a Python first.

[WALDO]

Ahead of the start of Season 31, talk about what the most memorable or your favorite moment in these last ten seasons were. If you are new or wish to look forward rather than look back, talk about your hopes and ambitions for the next ten seasons

After being a member of the ISFL for almost three years now, I have seen almost 15 seasons of football come and go. I've seen scandals and comebacks, I've seen game winning field goals and illegal sims, but most importantly, I've seen this community grow and grow and grow. I've seen players join the league and be active members and rise from puny rookies to members of the Head Office. It has been an honor to watch this league grow and see how people have changed and how the demographics of the league have changed throughout the years. My hope for this league is that it continues to grow. I obviously hope that I myself win a little more, and gain some more respect in the league, but that is not the goal that matters. This league growing at the same rate it has is beautiful, and will set us up for 3 more years, and 15 more seasons of football to come. Now personally, I hope to make it to the ISFL and become a permanent starter once I get there. In my years of playing I have rarely gotten that far, but I believe that this time around I will in fact be there and I will win another Ultimus and perhaps maybe even win another Ultimus MVP award, like I did so long ago.

[Mavfatha]

Most of the coolest moments for me are related to the Ultimus actually. First was seeing one of the longest running and yet often struggling franchises of which my first player was a long-time member of - The San Jose Sabercats - pick up their second and third league championships in back to back seasons after not participating in the finals at all for many seasons thanks to those pesky Otters primarily. Was very happy for SJS and all the folks still around from my glory days there. Another great and interesting thing that happened in the Ultimus was a meeting between two very recent additions to the league - the Berlin Fire Salamanders and the New York Silverbacks - in Ultimus Bowl XXIX. It was particularly noteworthy as these two teams entered the league at the same time in the two different conferences, and were both reaching the Ultimus for the first time in their short histories. The Silverbacks ultimately won in a bit of a bloodbath by putting up 40 points in the game, but that does not take away from the accomplishments of each of these teams in a short amount of time. I don't know that I will still be around for the full next ten seasons but it's things like these that will keep me excited as long as I am here.

[FireKing10789]

I think it is truly important to look forward to improve yourself and the people that rely on you. In the future of my player one moment I want to happen is to win a championship while being one of the star players on that team. Championships can guarantee immortality good or bad. From the Falcons collapse in the Super Bowl to David Tyree's helmet catch a championship is truly what sticks in the hearts of others. Who is Brady with out 7 Super Bowls, Jordan without 6 rings, Bolt with out 19 Gold medals. Championships can raise the spirits of others and make a truly monumental impact on not just the team and its fans but also the world as a whole. I also want to be truly key to that championship. One thing I will make manifest is the trust other players and the front office will have that my position will be able to hold down the section that they themselves cannot. I do not want my Quarterback or Linebackers have to worry about my coverage and can truly focus on their position allowing the team to improve as a whole with full buy in from the team that we will truly go to the promised land. That is why one moment that I hope happens in the next decade while looking forward is raising that trophy triumphantly.

[zeagle1]

SHL PT

[Patey]

I have only been in the league now for my rookie season but going into my second season with the Seawolves, I may already have the most memorable and clutch highlight of my career in my rookie season. In week 10 against the Kansas City Coyotes, it was a close game the entire game. At this point in the season, we were 1-8 so anything close to smelling a win was an accomplishment so being close and leading for most of the game was nerve racking. With 34 seconds left in the game, the Coyotes had unleashed a 10 yard pass to tie the game up most likely sending it to overtime which what I remember was heartbreaking in the LR. But wait, the story does not end here. With 22 seconds left in the game, 12 seconds after the Coyotes had scored their touchdown, our QB Moosey launched a 50 yard pass to myself down field which was caught which was then followed up with a massive block by french fries. This play caused us to win 30-23 to end the game which seemed like we had just won the championship when it was only our second win in 10 games realistically.

After receiving this catch, I remember our GM giving me one of the game offensive game balls. I do not think I've ever been a part of an LR that's gotten so hyped and excited which is why it made the experience so memorable!

Words - 247

[Southie]

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