Fictional History of SFL (AFA Universe) 1975: The SFL will return in November 2016

[FFWally]

1972 Playoffs

24.12.1972

Odin Cup Semi Final

Stockholm @ Eskilstuna

Fall had been much nicer than normal in central Sweden, with less overcast and more moderate temperatures, but the weather did not hold out for the semi final weekend, and children across Sweden cheered when they woke on Christmas Eve to 15cm of fresh snow, the first of the year, but the coaching staffs in Eskilstuna and Stockholm were not quite as thrilled with the weather.

Eskilstuna had rolled through the regular season and thought one of their 3 losses had come in Stockholm, it was a close game and until the final play looked to be another victory for the Steelmen. But, when Steelmen QB#3 Jack Pardue flipped a pass to #8 Greg Lind on a swing route, Stockholm DB Steve French tipped the ball into the end zone and DE Allen Minter fell on it for what looked to be a dead ball, but the officials ruled the pass a lateral, and the Vikings came away with an unexpected victory 18-17.

The noon kickoff came under broken clouds and light flurries, with the temperature at -5c and light winds, on a field that had been cleared around 1100 by grounds crews from the city, and were already beginning to need a second round of snow removal. It appeared for now however that the game would not be terribly affected by the weather.

Stockholm won the toss and deferred and #1 Allen Parsons slipped on his approach and drove the ball off an Eskilstuna player, resulting in Stockholm recovering the ball at midfield.

Eskilstuna Coach Barry White (first black HC in SFL history) screamed across the field at the Stockholm staff, that this would not go unpunished, thinking that the kick was on purpose, but television replay showed rather graphically how Parsons had slipped and nearly missed the ball altogether.

Stockholm gifted with the games first turnover took the ball 48 yards for the games first touchdown on 3 plays, as it appeared the entire Steelman team was out of sync. #32 rookie Darryl Lowe scored the games first touchdown on a simple dive play from the 14 yard line and it was 7-0.

Unlike the wildcard game, Lowe and the Vikings jumped to the early lead.

The next series was typical smashmouth Steelmen football, with the ground game leading the way, and short slants and screen passes providing just enough passing game to keep 9 men out of the box.

28 year old Steelman QB #3 Jack Pardue found #8 Greg Lind, a Helsingborg U21 product, in the end zone for a 6 yard TD and the game was tied at 7-7.

The game settled into a one or two first downs and punt stalemate until late in the second quarter when Stockholm’s #4 Steve French jumped a slant deep in Eskilstuna territory and gave the Vikings their first short since kickoff.

All it took was one play, as play action to Lowe fooled the DB and Scheile found #84 Stenstrom across the middle for an easy score, and a 14-7 lead heading into the half.

Coming out from the half, the weather had turned for the worse and an additional 8cm of snow had fallen since kickoff, leaving the grounds crew scrambling to keep up with snow removal, and finally settling on shoveling out the hash marks and 5 yard stripes.

Eskilstuna came out flat and gave up a third TD to Stockholm, when DB and BYU Alum #2 John Powers missed a sure tackle on Lowe early in the third and the Steelmen were down 21-7.

But, just as it looked like the Eskilstuna faithful were in for a blowout, Barry White went full run and #30 Johan Johansson put the team on his back and went for 145 yards in the second half, including 62 yard rumble on 3rd and 17 from their own 6 that got the crowd back into the game, and gave the Steelman the ball at the Vikings 32 down 2 TD’s with just over 10 minutes left in the game.

After a time out, the vikings came on an all out run blitz that Pardue picked up and audibled to a quick slant that second year Mississippi product #9 Carter Jackson took to the house.

Stockholm 21 Eskilstuna 14 7:08 4th Quarter

With the snow falling even harder Vikings KR #86 rookie Jay McGrory (Vandy) mishandled the kickoff after a viscous hit and fumbled on his own 15, giving the ball back to a suddenly resurgent Steelmen team.

Pardue thought he had a quick touchdown when Vikings DE Allen Minter missed a sack and Pardue scrambled for a TD, but hold on LT Lars Larsson left the Steelmen at the 27 and they only managed 9 yards leading to a 28 yard FG and a 21-17 score.

Stockholm took the kickoff and McGrory found a seam down the left sideline and ran out of bounds at the Eskilstuna 28 yard line.

Playing with a lead and the clock winding down, HC Gabe Roman put the ball in Lowe’s hands and after 6 straight running plays found the Viking with 1st and goal at the 5 yard line, but the Steelmen played like Jon Starke would have wanted them to and stiffened, yielding only a short field goal from Parsons and the game was once again a 7 point Game.

Stockholm 24 Eskilstuna 17 1:56 4th

Taking no chances on a long return, Pardue used the tailwind and kicked the ball out of the nedzone, leaving Eskilstuna with an 80 yard drive needed to tie the game, and a 14 mph headwind, making the passing game less than optimal.

Johansson proved to be exactly the answer, as he rattled off runs of 9, 17, and 14 in three consecutive plays, and saw the Steelmen at the Viking 40 with just under a minute left, and the crowd screaming their approval, but then just as it appeared the Steelmen were going to tie the game, and send it into overtime (a SFL first) #86 Jay McGrory came on a safety blitz and separated Johansson from the ball. When the pile was seperated, it was DE Minter who had the game ball, and just as quickly as it had begun, the game was over and Stockholm was moving on to the Odin Cup

Stockholm 24 Eskilstuna 17

Eskilstuna coach Barry White, said after the game, that there had never been a more exciting game in SFL history, and that the safety blitz was exactly what he would have called.

So the first half of the 1972 Odin Cup is set, now on to Orebro to see who the Vikings will meet in London.

[Burmy]

A Vikings-Svartflödman Odin's Cup would be EPIC.

[FFWally]

1972 Division Championship

#4 Vasteras @ #2 Orebro

Orebro - Much like the earlier game in Eskilstuna, weather would play a factor in game planning as well as turnovers, and this one would be decided on a late turnover.

However, unlike Eskilstuna’s kommun owned stadium, Orebro would play in a state of the art facility with snow removal equipment staged around the field, regardless of the ammount of snow falling, each quarter would begin with a relatively clean field, and while that was great for television, it made for constant changes in play calling, as the end of quarters turned into slogfests and the beginnings were pass happy.

The Reactors were not expected to make it this far, and a late season run bumped them into the top wildcard position and the home field blowout against the Hammers left the team rested and ready for a slugfest with the Black Rivermen.

The week off in Orebro had been calm until late thursday when Billy Tarkenton cut his index finger while eating an apple at practice, and required 4 stitches. Leading to chaos and the sudden promotion of Fran Kilmer, a short somewhat pudgy QB with a greying beard, and balding head.

Kilmer, who was a solid QB in college, was never drafted due to a bad knee that had slowed him to nearly immobile, and made AFA execs wary to the point of not even offering him a shot at camp.

Prior to the 72 season, Alexsandr Ravitzky ran into Kilmer in a Washington DC deli, and rememberd his playing days at VT when he was a kid and asked how he was doing. Kilmer told him, he was coaching HS football in Maryland, and could still throw 60 yards on a rope.

Ravinsky called Carlsson and Kilmer was a Riverman.

The Game

On a relatively clear field, the Riverman took the opening kickoff to the Reactors 45, and Kilmer quickly picked apart the highly ranked defense in 5 plays and #25 Speedy Johnson grabbed a 23 yard pass for the game’s first score.

Orebro 7 Vastaras 0

As the quarter wore on snow piled up at a rate of 5cm an hour (1.5”) and play slowed to a crawl. Orebro’s running game couldnt find holes as the Mike Thomas led Defense didn’t give up a single first down after the initial drive, but Vastaras couldnt find any rhythem and the snow made passing nearly impossible as it picked up steadily.

The second quarter started with Orebro backed up to its goal line and a 3rd and 14 after Kilmer was sacked by Ulf Dahlin on a corner blitz.

Orebro elected to punt on 3rd down and when the snap went wide it appeared Vastaras has gotten a safety, but the soft snow grabbed the ball, and Mike Thomas fell on it, inside the endzone for a Reactors TD and a now tied game.

Orebro 7 Vastaras 7

The teams traded TD’s before the half and yet another errant snap led to Orebro scoring a late FG as time expired.

Orebro 17 Vastaras 14

The Reactors took the lead midway through the third on a 85 yard TD when Johnson found Washington on a slant, and Orebro simply missed the easy tackle at the 30, giving Washington daylight and the score.

Vastaras 21 Orebro 17

By the mid 4th quarter snow had increased to 7-8cm an hour and footing became impossible, so the game was a series of dives and short passes that never went anywhere.

With 5 minutes left Orebro sent rookie DE #89 Hans Kraus on a pinch stunt and #22 Craig Miller lost the ball at the 14 yard line and Kraus scooped it up and scored his first SFL Touchdown giving the home team a 24 - 21 lead and with the weather getting worse a TD needed to win the game.

Orebro 24 Vastaras 21

Two three and outs left 1:01 on the clock and Vastaras with the ball at their own 42.

Johnson somehow found a play that worked on third and 9 when he tossed the ball to Miller on a sweep that went for 50 yards to the 12 of Orebro and by the time the play resumed the clock was under 10 seconds.

A quick slant was broken up and Johnson had :04 and one play to win or lose the game.

Little used #18 Bengt Johannson ran a drag route at the goal line and Johnson found him for the game winning TD as time expired and the Reactors were heading to the Odin Cup.

Vastaras 27 Orebro 24

[Darknes]

Gaaah, So close Orebro

[the_grateful_ted]

What a good game! Cmon Orebro you were almost there!!

[JMtexan09]

wow that was crazy!

[Veras]

It reminds me of that vikings-ravens purple on purple in the snow from a few years ago. What a game!

[FFWally]

Odin Cup VIII

London, England

Sansa Stark Stadium

31.12.1972

Vasteras vs. Stockholm

London - New Year’s Eve in London set the stage for what would be the greatest Odin Cup game in the short history of the SFL. No injured quarterbacks changing game plans, no questionable moves by owners, and an announcement that would change the entire scope of the league.

Unlike the previous week’s games, London was a balmy 15c and not a cloud in the sky for the first time in weeks. Pregame hype was centered not around the game, but about a big announcement, most thought it was going to be a BBC contract with the SFL, and owners association president Bergström and Commissioner Ekdahl liked it that way…

There were no disasters during the week, just professional preparation by the two teams, neither of which had been successful enough in SFL play to act like Uppsala, or Helsingborg and just expect to show up and win the Cup.

This was going to be a battle and pitted two teams that were mirror images of each other.

PreGame

Back again for the Championship game was former AFA Champion (Seattle) and Gavle Goats Legend Johnny Rosenberger was the color analyst, alongside former AFA Gladiators great LB Stanley McKay, and his improvised rapid fire way of setting up the plays, and incredible ability to get the audience involved in the game, and this was going to be an easy one. Also back for the Cup was John Cleese and his typically British sense of humor. Needless to say color commentary and play by play were in great hands, and for the first time the game would be broadcast live in the USA as an early game beginning at 9am on the east coast and 6am on the west coast.

Rosenberger and McKay set up the Championship, explaining the rules and Cleese would make comparisons to the Premier League, and constantly questioned why it was called football, if everything was done with the hands.

Rosenberger was currently dating yet another Bond girl (Jill St. John) and with the coming change to the Bond series, he invited the new Bond Roger Moore to make an appearance on the broadcast, announcing a plot to overthrow British Football with this Yankee game, and he was joined by his co-star in the upcoming Live and Let Die, Clifton James, who appeared in character, and gave a typically southern take on football, and not knowing what James was talking about, there is only “One” football and down on the bayou they were all Krewe fans.

The bit came moments before kickoff and was a highlight of the pregame festivities, making the network news, as the novelty of American FOotball in Europe was becoming newsworthy.

The Game

McKay predicted a close game and Rosenberger was in agreement, as both teams were built around solid defenses, with good running games.

Kickoff came at 15:15 local time and for Brits tuning in for their first game, it started with a bang.

Stockholm had elected to take the second half kickoff, and with a breeze blowing from the north the Reactors were headed into the wind to start the game.

Stockholm fully expected the Reactors to pound the football with #22 Craig Miller and #44 Gary Lewinski, another reclamation project in the SFL. Lewinski rode the bench for 2 years in Seattle as a linebacker, before joining the then L2 Reactors as a fullback.

It had taken a year to get the position down, but the former Nittany Lion had no issues running over people, and tailback Miller had stated in the press that without Lewinski, the Reactors are a .500 team. Leading many to believe that Lewinski may be the next SFL player to jump back to the AFA.

Lewinski however had met and married a Swede, and was expecting his first child within weeks of the Cup, so the odds of his return to the AFA were very small, as his wife was rooted in the community, and her father was a major supporter of the Reactors.

Instead of running the ball, Reactors QB #12 John Johnson went to his all SFL Tight End #82 Dan Fredriksson (Minnesota) to take advantage of the matchup at linebacker.

Johnson hit Fredriksson three times in the first 7 plays and Stockholm was on its heels looking for an answer to the 6’5” 220 pound TE.

None came…

On first and goal from the 9, Johnson again went to Fredriksson on a skinny slant and the early 7-0 lead.

Vastaras 7 Stockholm 0

The ensuing kickoff bounced out of the end zone and the Vikings were set up at their own 20 with the wind at their back.

The Reactors had given up a total of 1 score on an opening drive all season, and were intent upon shutting down the Scheile/Jackson/Stenstrom combination, and forcing the big rookie #32 Darryl Lowe to shoulder the load, with a favorable matchup against their All SFL LB #52 Mike Thomas.

Instead Stockholm went air raid and drove the length of the field on 4 plays, none of which were runs and scored on a 32 yard TD strike to #81 Stenstrom and the game was tied at 7

Vastaras 7 Stockholm 7

The second series had the same result as the first, but this time Vastaras drove the football with #22 Miller, behind #44 Lewinski, and at the end of the first quarter the Reactors were ahead 14-7, but Stockholm was on the march.

End 1st Quarter Reactors 14 Vikings 7

Scheile saw a weakness at left CB and exploited it with both of his wide receivers, and when the Reactors reacted with a passing formation, he optioned to the draw with his big tailback #32 Lowe, and again ti was tied 14-14 on a short 5 yd TD run by Lowe.

Rectors 14 Vikings 14

The next two series were won by the defenses, with big Mike Thomas sacking Scheile on a 3rd and 6, and the following series after Vastaras marched into Viking territory, it was #52 Knut Lundin’s turn to end a march, with a forced fumble by backup running back #24 Jan Os, a speedy but undersized rookie.

Stockholm took advantage and a play later had their first lead 21 - 14 after Lowe took a draw 54 yards up the middle for the TD.

Stockholm 21 Vastaras 14

With less than a minute on the clock Vastaras used the clock skillfully and moved the ball into scoring position, on quick outs and with :03 left in the half kicked a 53 yard field goal to a huge roar from the crowd, and a Odin Cup record.

Halftime Stockholm 21 Vastaras 17

Second Half

Stockholm came out in the second half with adjustments that looked like the right answer early as the Vikings used the power running game to drive the field and go up 28-17 on Lowes second long TD run.

Stockholm 28 Vastaras 17

Vastaras too had made adjustments and one was to go back to the passing game and #82 Fredriksson made the Vikings pay with a 24 yard TD reception from Johnson to put him over 100 yards on the day and pull the Reactors back to within 5 at 28-24

Stockholm 28 Vastaras 24

End of 3rd Quarter Stockholm 28 Vastaras 24

Stockholm hadn’t been stopped since the late first quarter and came out looking to extend their lead again and put the game on ice, but the Reactor defense went full out blitz on the first play and All SFL QB Karl Scheile made his first mistake, trying to pitch to his TB as Lowe was picking up the OLB, and the ball went backwards toward the Vikings sideline, where #6 Ulf Dahlin tried to scoop and score, but was tackled at the 14 yard line by #81 Stenstrom, and Vastaras was in business.

The Reactors tried three plays with Miller and Lewinski, forgetting yet again about the mismatch over the middle with Fredriksson, and had to settle for a #0 Anders Ostrom 31 yard FG.

Stockholm 28 Vastaras 27

The next few series were a chess match, don’t take chances, don’t lose the game, and as always it came down to one play, and this one was for the ages.

2:29 4th Quarter

With it looking like the game would end in a 28-27 loss for the Reactors, the run game was finally put aside and Johnson went back to his most dependable receiver, Fredriksson, and the reactors were on the move.

Play action was opened up again and Craig Miller took a draw 19 yards down to the Viking 28.

1:11 4th Quarter

The Reactors needed another 10 yards to give Ostrom a makeable FG, and opted for a short screen pass to Miller that looked to do the trick, until #4 Steve French split the defenders and stripped the ball from Miller’s hand, and on one hop grabbed the ball and returned it 82 yards for a Viking TD, and a 35-27 lead with under :30 to go in the game.

Stockholm 35 Vastaras 27

:24 4th Quarter

Johnson went to work and using timeouts and the sidelines left the team with a shot from the Vikings 38 and :04 4th Quarter.

:04 4th Quarter

The VIkings left Fredriksson open over the middle, but Johnson’s pass missed and French grabbed his second interception of the game, and ran to the Vikings sideline with the clock showing :00.

Vikings 35 Reactors 27 Final

Post Game:

Steve French Retires with the ring he had fought for over the first 8 seasons, and was named Defensive MVP of OC VIII.

In a rare exception, Reactors TE Bjorn Johansson wins offensive MVP and becomes the first player to win that award on a losing team, as well as the first Swedish born and raised player to earn it (Z Wahlstrom OC V).

Gary Lewinski announces that he has signed a 4 year contract to stay in Vastaras, and a long term deal to become a minority owner of the Reactors.

Awarding the Cup

The OC Champion Vikings all climbed up on the platform at mid field, to the roars of the 35,989 in attendance, but little did they know what was to come next would change the SFL forever.

Bulldogs

The Cup was escorted to the podium by 10 Queens Guards in full regalia, and a lone bulldog, on a leash, being walked by Lord Mayor of London Baron Alan Mais. with SFL founder Anders Bergstrom and League Commissioner Anders Ekdahl.

Lord Mayor Mais introduced the SFL leaders to the enthusiastic crowd, and then asked if they had enjoyed the match. The crowd went wild, and Anders Ekdahl, stepped to the mic and corrected the Lord Mayor, explaining that unlike kricket and football, American Football had Games, and they had just witnessed one of the greatest games in league history... how had they liked it?

Lord Mayor Mais, then said there is a reason we have a Bulldog on the podium, is the Bulldog represents the tenacity of the fight in Englishmen, most recently against Nazi Germany during the second Great War. The Bulldog represents England, and for that reason, we have decided to name Great Britian's first SFL team the London Bulldogs! Our Bulldogs will begin play right here at Sansa Stark Stadium in September of 1974.

The roar was deafening as it sunk in...the SFL had just announced they were expanding into Great Britain.

(Team Colors, Logo/Branding, Division, and Uniforms will be announced on a schedule over the next 8 Months)

[neo_prankster]

Who can we expect the Bulldogs to select in the 1974 expansion draft?

[FFWally]

The London team will have very direct ties to one of the older AFA teams... this will directly impact who goes to London, but needless to say, it will be a well funded, well organized program with deep roots, and the league will be very keen to see London succeed in a big way, as there are plans to take SFL to most of Northern Europe. This is a strategic move by the league, and one that will touch all of the SFL, not just London.

Look for more higher tier players to choose the SFL, and the league is in talks with all of the major networks to have a weekly wrap-up show that focuses on the American players.

[neo_prankster]

The London team will have very direct ties to one of the older AFA teams... this will directly impact who goes to London, but needless to say, it will be a well funded, well organized program with deep roots, and the league will be very keen to see London succeed in a big way, as there are plans to take SFL to most of Northern Europe. This is a strategic move by the league, and one that will touch all of the SFL, not just London.

Look for more higher tier players to choose the SFL, and the league is in talks with all of the major networks to have a weekly wrap-up show that focuses on the American players.

Is there going to be a second team that will be added with the Bulldogs?

A weekly wrap up show would be perfect as cable television becomes more mainstream by decade's end. Look to USA Network or ESPN, both launching in 1979, as potential cable broadcast partners for North American fans. Expect Ted Turner to also throw his hat into the ring with his Superstation WTBS as another possible broadcast partner. Of course, there is always ABC who might carry it as part of their Wide World of Sports series. Rupert Murdoch might want in after he launches Fox in the fall of 1986.

HBO might be another option around 1978 and that way they can have SFL editions of Inside the AFA.

[FFWally]

There will be another team in the Isles, it may be Dublin, or it could be Edinburgh, possibly even Liverpool. There is already talk among league owners about Antwerp getting a nod, if Dublin (the first choice) does not get funding together.

Look for Kopenhagen, and London to be in the same Division and the league to make a major jump, if the right circumstances happen.

Remember this is 1974 we are talking about and while airline and rail travel are good in Europe, the EU is decades away and we are still closer to Post WWII than today's United Europe. So there is no SKY or Eurosport, only over the air networks and those would each be Nation based, so the reality of today is a far off SciFi dream.

I fully expect Dublin to be the next team announced and there are a couple teams with abysmal records and poor fan support that may be looking to find greener pastures.

[Darknes]

I hope the Suomi and the Highlanders get a crack at the game, might even inspire the old Russian Bear if the Finns are playing the game.

[cubsfan2015]

"Hey,down in Louisiana on the bayou,we're all Krewe fans."

Hahahaha.

Can't wait for 73! Go Vikings!

Also,nice job with the SFL expanding into the UK.

Pretty soon you need to rename it the European Football League.

[FFWally]

I hope the Suomi and the Highlanders get a crack at the game, might even inspire the old Russian Bear if the Finns are playing the game.

Those are both coming. The Russians not until the fall of the Berlin Wall, but possibly during the late 80's, Russia will form its own league and national team... just not sure how it plays into the league other than more Russians defecting to Europe and joining existing teams.

"Hey,down in Louisiana on the bayou,we're all Krewe fans."

Hahahaha.

Can't wait for 73! Go Vikings!

Also,nice job with the SFL expanding into the UK.

Pretty soon you need to rename it the European Football League.

I think renaming the league is another decade away as it expands into more of Northern Europe, and there will be drama as Anders Bergstrom loses his grip on the baby he created.

Had to go all Cajun with the Bayou comment, if you are a James Bond fan, the County Sheriff in "Live and Let Die" is one of the best characters in the series, ever. You know he isnt going to give any team outside of N.O. a shout out!

[Burmy]

LOVE it that the league's coming to the Isles...a London-Dublin rivalry is the thing DREAMS are made of.

A Copenhagen-Dublin rivalry would be equally incredible to me personally (I am of 1/4 Irish and 1/8 Danish descent, both on my father's side...a battle between my bloodlines is always interesting)

[FFWally]

LOVE it that the league's coming to the Isles...a London-Dublin rivalry is the thing DREAMS are made of.

A Copenhagen-Dublin rivalry would be equally incredible to me personally (I am of 1/4 Irish and 1/8 Danish descent, both on my father's side...a battle between my bloodlines is always interesting)

Im with you, and both London and Dublin were heavily influenced by the Vikings for about 200 years.

The Oslo v Dublin would represent the two sides, as well as Copenhagen v London, as the Norwegian Vikings invaded Ireland and Scotland, and the Danes were focused on the eastern side of Great Britain.

[Darknes]

Personally I'd love to see two divisions in the Isles. London, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff? Edinburgh, Dublin, Glasgow and Belfast.

Greens vs. Orange. Highlanders vs. Bulldogs oh so many rivalries you can create in those lands.

[the_grateful_ted]

So what's this league going to be renamed to?

[FFWally]

So what's this league going to be renamed to?

Right now it will remain the Scandinavian Football League, however, it will have to change as it expands outside of Scandinavia. The 1970's are way too early for a European Nation based league, all the countries were still very fractured until after the wall fell, and even as late as 95.

Im sure Bergstrom and the other owners are looking at the bottom line, and realize to monetize the league it will have to become less Scandinavian and more European.

American Football Europa (AFE)

Viking Football League (VFL)

Northern European Football League (NEFL)

Aesir Football League (ÆFL)

the last is my current favorite. It keeps the Norse history, but includes the Anglo-Saxon pagans as well...