I got drafted 56th overall by the Norfolk Seawolves and instantly had to look up where the hell Norfolk was. I first thought I was going to Norway and went so far as to buy tickets to Oslo. Luckily the airline refunded me my money so I could go to the proper location, Virginia. Virginia was a close enough to drive to from my home state of Indiana. I then packed my life into a Uhaul and drove the entire 718 miles to Norfolk. The drive was fairly uneventful and took 2 days after sleeping in Charleston for a night before arriving at my apartment in Norfolk.
Once I got there I wanted to go and see the sights of Norfolk. I went to the Nauticus and Battleships museum. The Nauticus & Battleships museum had a lot of interesting stuff and history in it. My favorite exhibit was the shark exhibit where they had Brownbanded Bamboo Sharks, Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks, and Epaulette Sharks. After learning a lot about the history of Norfolk I went on to the community sailing center, Sail Nauticus. There seemed to be a race going on so I watched that happen while enjoying my lunch from Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint. Delicious. The Cobra Kai burger is to die for. Cream cheese, pickled jalapenos and jalapeno jelly on a burger? Insane. After that I went for a food coma walk around the surrounding areas near Boush Street. The MacArthur Center Park was pretty nice to have a walk through and chill on a bench for an hour or so to digest. I ended up back at my apartment and hung out the rest of the day.
The next day I went to training camp and got to meet some of the new rookies. The first one I met was fellow Liverpool Llama Rusty Rucker. We reminisced about the good ol days and talked for awhile. I went on to meet QuakStak, Desoto, Thunder, and Jaxon-Waxon. I didn’t get a chance to meet fellow rookie defensive lineman Grant. The coolest part of the facility has to be the locker room. Everyones got their own locker in a giant semi circle. Walking to my locker and seeing the S. Roes plaque above it was just like I imagined in my dreams. My helmet wasn’t there yet as it was getting fitted later that day but the pads and jersey were there. I didn’t put them on or anything but I definitely held the jersey to admire it in all its glory. The rest of the day consisted of mostly meetings that went over expectations, social responsibility, and other policies things. Boring. We did get to check out the weight room though. That was awesome. All top of the line equipment free for us to use basically whenever.
Jumping into preseason week 1 was super exciting. First time to dawn the pads for my team. I started off strong for my team even if it was preseason. Finishing my first game with 6 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a sack. We won 16-13.
Preseason week 2 wasn’t as hot for me with just 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. We still managed to win 14 to 9 with some fantastic efficiency on the ground. Week 3 was also fairly quiet for me with the exact same stats as week 2. Unfortunately we fell to the Birddogs 23-10.
To round out the preseason we were up against the Grey Ducks. My energy was just not in the game. I started off way to hot from game 1 with those 4 TFL. In our week 4 victory I didn’t record a single tackle. At least we won 23-13 despite Ramza deciding not to throw the ball and run it 16 times for -8 yards.
Coming into the regular season the coach came to us and said, “That’s enough of the bullshit tactics. Time to put some actual stuff to the test.”
Week 1 arrives against the Pythons. We started out HOT in the first quarter quickly going up by 2 scores off a Ramza to Matthews connect and a Skrills TD run. Second and third quarter we were ice cold as the Pythons got 10 points in the 2nd quarter and another touchdown in the 3rd to put them in the lead going into the 4th. There’s no way we were going to lose week 1. In the 4th quarter we EXPLODED score 17 points off another Ramza to Matthews touchdown and a short run from rookie running back Captain Rogers. I put my whole heart and soul into this game as I finished with 7 tackles, leading the defense, and a whopping 5 tackles for loss. My week 1 in regular season was just as good as week 1 in preseason. I even got game ball.
On the flight back home things were wild. We had won game 1 of the season. Champagne was flying everywhere, karaoke was being sung and general shenanigans were being had. When we landed game balls were give to WR Dre Matthews who finished the week with 6 receptions, 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Myself who finished with 7 tackles and 5 tackles for loss. And rookie Captain Rogers who sealed the win with his final score. Practice the rest of the week was in good spirits and serious as we had the Minnesota Grey Ducks coming to town.
Week 2 comes and we’re still riding the high from winning our opener. We’ve got the Grey Ducks. The game starts off really slow with neither offense doing much of anything. We got a field goal in the 2nd quarter but that was it for the first half. In the 3rd quarter we got stuff going with 2 touchdowns, a 10 yard pass from Ramza to Rookie Harley Frank and a huge punt return of 69 yards, nice, from Rickie Vaughne. We ended up shutting out the Grey Ducks and tacking on one more field goal in the 4th quarter. I didn’t help much but fill the field as I didn’t get a single tackle.
We went to the bars after that shutout. We convinced our GMs to buy all our drinks as we bar crawled around Norfolk. Hitting a ton of bars including Brick Anchor Brew House and Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant. My favorite bar had to be the Norfolk Tap Room, however this was at the end of the strip and I wasn’t exactly sober. But the huge marble entrance with pillars and all was awesome to lean up against as I struggled to stand. The next day, later in the afternoon, game balls were given to running back Quanter Skrills for his performance of 152 scrimmage yards and cornerback Rickie Vaughne for his 4 tackles and that extra nice 69 yard punt return for a touchdown.
Week 3 We were playing the Birddogs. The 1st quarter was pretty calm with a 11 yard Captain Rogers TD run and a field goal from the Birddogs. In the 2nd quarter we got a touchdown, a 22 yard pass from Ramza to rookie Alexander Johnson and a field goal from 34 yards out. The Birddogs got 2 touchdowns coming from the back of their QB. The Birddogs wouldn’t score the rest of the game. In the 3rd quarter we got another touchdown from a short pass, Ramza to Matthews. Then 2 more touchdowns in the 4th quarter with 2 passed from Ramza to Matthews and Fank. I unfortunately followed the pattern of the preseason and didn’t record a stat. I seem to peak to early.
It just feels good to win. It feels even better when you dominate an opponent. After we dropped 37 on the Birddogs you just got to have a good time. Flight back was once again pretty crazy. Everyone was in a great mood after starting the season 3-0. There was even talk about how we might be the greatest team the DSFL has ever seen. The game ball was given to quarterback Suleiman Ramza for his passing clinic where he dropped 4 touchdowns on that poor defense. The other ball went to Jimi Desoto who finished with 4 tackles and a crucial fumble recovery that led to a touchdown.
Looking back on how much as transpired since the draft you have to feel grateful. From getting to see a bunch of new sights in Norfolk to playing my first 7 games with these fantastic humans. Hopefully I turn my personal season around and return to my game 1 form but I’ll be happy if we just keep winning. We’ve got the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers at home, the only team we’ve faced that is currently over .500. I’m not too worried though, all we have to do is stop 3 Jeffrey who is currently second in the league in rushing yards, sandwiched between our supreme ground game of Rogers and Skrills.
Until next time I’m going to keep trying various restaurants around town. I think I’ll try out Freemason Abbey Restaurant as it seems to be the best reviewed restaurant on google.
Once I got there I wanted to go and see the sights of Norfolk. I went to the Nauticus and Battleships museum. The Nauticus & Battleships museum had a lot of interesting stuff and history in it. My favorite exhibit was the shark exhibit where they had Brownbanded Bamboo Sharks, Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks, and Epaulette Sharks. After learning a lot about the history of Norfolk I went on to the community sailing center, Sail Nauticus. There seemed to be a race going on so I watched that happen while enjoying my lunch from Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint. Delicious. The Cobra Kai burger is to die for. Cream cheese, pickled jalapenos and jalapeno jelly on a burger? Insane. After that I went for a food coma walk around the surrounding areas near Boush Street. The MacArthur Center Park was pretty nice to have a walk through and chill on a bench for an hour or so to digest. I ended up back at my apartment and hung out the rest of the day.
The next day I went to training camp and got to meet some of the new rookies. The first one I met was fellow Liverpool Llama Rusty Rucker. We reminisced about the good ol days and talked for awhile. I went on to meet QuakStak, Desoto, Thunder, and Jaxon-Waxon. I didn’t get a chance to meet fellow rookie defensive lineman Grant. The coolest part of the facility has to be the locker room. Everyones got their own locker in a giant semi circle. Walking to my locker and seeing the S. Roes plaque above it was just like I imagined in my dreams. My helmet wasn’t there yet as it was getting fitted later that day but the pads and jersey were there. I didn’t put them on or anything but I definitely held the jersey to admire it in all its glory. The rest of the day consisted of mostly meetings that went over expectations, social responsibility, and other policies things. Boring. We did get to check out the weight room though. That was awesome. All top of the line equipment free for us to use basically whenever.
Jumping into preseason week 1 was super exciting. First time to dawn the pads for my team. I started off strong for my team even if it was preseason. Finishing my first game with 6 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a sack. We won 16-13.
Preseason week 2 wasn’t as hot for me with just 3 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. We still managed to win 14 to 9 with some fantastic efficiency on the ground. Week 3 was also fairly quiet for me with the exact same stats as week 2. Unfortunately we fell to the Birddogs 23-10.
To round out the preseason we were up against the Grey Ducks. My energy was just not in the game. I started off way to hot from game 1 with those 4 TFL. In our week 4 victory I didn’t record a single tackle. At least we won 23-13 despite Ramza deciding not to throw the ball and run it 16 times for -8 yards.
Coming into the regular season the coach came to us and said, “That’s enough of the bullshit tactics. Time to put some actual stuff to the test.”
Week 1 arrives against the Pythons. We started out HOT in the first quarter quickly going up by 2 scores off a Ramza to Matthews connect and a Skrills TD run. Second and third quarter we were ice cold as the Pythons got 10 points in the 2nd quarter and another touchdown in the 3rd to put them in the lead going into the 4th. There’s no way we were going to lose week 1. In the 4th quarter we EXPLODED score 17 points off another Ramza to Matthews touchdown and a short run from rookie running back Captain Rogers. I put my whole heart and soul into this game as I finished with 7 tackles, leading the defense, and a whopping 5 tackles for loss. My week 1 in regular season was just as good as week 1 in preseason. I even got game ball.
On the flight back home things were wild. We had won game 1 of the season. Champagne was flying everywhere, karaoke was being sung and general shenanigans were being had. When we landed game balls were give to WR Dre Matthews who finished the week with 6 receptions, 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Myself who finished with 7 tackles and 5 tackles for loss. And rookie Captain Rogers who sealed the win with his final score. Practice the rest of the week was in good spirits and serious as we had the Minnesota Grey Ducks coming to town.
Week 2 comes and we’re still riding the high from winning our opener. We’ve got the Grey Ducks. The game starts off really slow with neither offense doing much of anything. We got a field goal in the 2nd quarter but that was it for the first half. In the 3rd quarter we got stuff going with 2 touchdowns, a 10 yard pass from Ramza to Rookie Harley Frank and a huge punt return of 69 yards, nice, from Rickie Vaughne. We ended up shutting out the Grey Ducks and tacking on one more field goal in the 4th quarter. I didn’t help much but fill the field as I didn’t get a single tackle.
We went to the bars after that shutout. We convinced our GMs to buy all our drinks as we bar crawled around Norfolk. Hitting a ton of bars including Brick Anchor Brew House and Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub and Restaurant. My favorite bar had to be the Norfolk Tap Room, however this was at the end of the strip and I wasn’t exactly sober. But the huge marble entrance with pillars and all was awesome to lean up against as I struggled to stand. The next day, later in the afternoon, game balls were given to running back Quanter Skrills for his performance of 152 scrimmage yards and cornerback Rickie Vaughne for his 4 tackles and that extra nice 69 yard punt return for a touchdown.
Week 3 We were playing the Birddogs. The 1st quarter was pretty calm with a 11 yard Captain Rogers TD run and a field goal from the Birddogs. In the 2nd quarter we got a touchdown, a 22 yard pass from Ramza to rookie Alexander Johnson and a field goal from 34 yards out. The Birddogs got 2 touchdowns coming from the back of their QB. The Birddogs wouldn’t score the rest of the game. In the 3rd quarter we got another touchdown from a short pass, Ramza to Matthews. Then 2 more touchdowns in the 4th quarter with 2 passed from Ramza to Matthews and Fank. I unfortunately followed the pattern of the preseason and didn’t record a stat. I seem to peak to early.
It just feels good to win. It feels even better when you dominate an opponent. After we dropped 37 on the Birddogs you just got to have a good time. Flight back was once again pretty crazy. Everyone was in a great mood after starting the season 3-0. There was even talk about how we might be the greatest team the DSFL has ever seen. The game ball was given to quarterback Suleiman Ramza for his passing clinic where he dropped 4 touchdowns on that poor defense. The other ball went to Jimi Desoto who finished with 4 tackles and a crucial fumble recovery that led to a touchdown.
Looking back on how much as transpired since the draft you have to feel grateful. From getting to see a bunch of new sights in Norfolk to playing my first 7 games with these fantastic humans. Hopefully I turn my personal season around and return to my game 1 form but I’ll be happy if we just keep winning. We’ve got the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers at home, the only team we’ve faced that is currently over .500. I’m not too worried though, all we have to do is stop 3 Jeffrey who is currently second in the league in rushing yards, sandwiched between our supreme ground game of Rogers and Skrills.
Until next time I’m going to keep trying various restaurants around town. I think I’ll try out Freemason Abbey Restaurant as it seems to be the best reviewed restaurant on google.
![[Image: m2vbBzr.png]](https://i.imgur.com/m2vbBzr.png)
