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

[Davidellias]

How about the Dublin Gaels

[biscuit faces of them]

How about the Brussels Sprouts!

ill admit. Funny as hell

[ECUFan25]

And now for the mascot Bartholomew the Brussels Sprout!!!!!

[FFWally]

And now for the mascot Bartholomew the Brussels Sprout!!!!!

I cant even begin to say how many kinds of wrong that is!

But its funny.

If Brussels comes in in the mid to late 80's Jean Claude Van Damme might own the team... The Muscles from Brussels"

[FFWally]

Crazy busy week... just finished simming the 1970 season.

There will be an update tonight.

[Darknes]

Brussels should be Boars, the boar is a symbolic to the Belgian People. Brussels if the the Underdog could use the Chassuers Ardennais motto of Resist and Bite as their team motto.

[FFWally]

sorry for the delay, I was hit in the head with a softball bat Monday evening and have been concussed. So, I have been barred from the computer. The Odin Cup 6 report will be up in the morning.

SFAF 1970

After a season that saw Helsingborg win the Odin Cup, after two unsuccessful tries, the question was, could Zak Wahlström lead the Berzerkers to a 4th straight OC, and continue the trend of back to back winners.

In the east, Stockholm’s youth movement continued to disappoint leading to Mike Martin, the only coach Stockholm has known being dismissed after going 0-6-1 and was replaced by interim coach Carl Carlsson. Stockholm management is currently in the USA speaking to a high profile coach recently released from his AFA team.

Gavle and Eskilstuna took a step back and Uppsala climbed back to the top of the league, with an 8-2 season. But that didn’t keep them from falling to the upstart Oslo squad.

After QB Gus Torstonsson went down early in the third quarter the Hammers never found a way to move the ball consistently, and Oslo pulled away for a 39-30 win, becoming the first non Swedish team to play in the Odin Cup.

On the other side of the Sweden, the surprising Linkoping team rolled to an 8-3-1 record and won the East, while Helsingborg needed a perfect second half of the season to sneak into the playoffs, after going 1-4 to start the season.

Helsingborg’s Wahlström seemingly willed the Berzerkers to the playoffs with over 2600 yards passing and 14 TD’s in the second half of the season. But the big story was Helsingborg’s defense, which went from allowing 35 poits a game at the midway point, in part the change happened when DC Eugene Williams benched 3 year started Greg Hughes, and turned to Swedish rookie Eric Eklund, a speedy MLB with fantastic instincts.

His leadership turned around a defense that had fallen to 10th in the league and was in danger of being the first team not to repeat as champions. (More on Eklund in another update).

Goteburg keeps improving and if not for the incredible turnaround n Helsingborg would have been the number two team in the ultra competitive West.

Look for changes in Malmo, Stockholm and along with the two new franchises for 1971.

ODIN CUP VI

Next Update!

[neo_prankster]

sorry for the delay, I was hit in the head with a softball bat Monday evening and have been concussed. So, I have been barred from the computer. The Odin Cup 6 report will be up in the morning.

SFAF 1970

After a season that saw Helsingborg win the Odin Cup, after two unsuccessful tries, the question was, could Zak Wahlström lead the Berzerkers to a 4th straight OC, and continue the trend of back to back winners.

In the east, Stockholm’s youth movement continued to disappoint leading to Mike Martin, the only coach Stockholm has known being dismissed after going 0-6-1 and was replaced by interim coach Carl Carlsson. Stockholm management is currently in the USA speaking to a high profile coach recently released from his AFA team.

Gavle and Eskilstuna took a step back and Uppsala climbed back to the top of the league, with an 8-2 season. But that didn’t keep them from falling to the upstart Oslo squad.

After QB Gus Torstonsson went down early in the third quarter the Hammers never found a way to move the ball consistently, and Oslo pulled away for a 39-30 win, becoming the first non Swedish team to play in the Odin Cup.

On the other side of the Sweden, the surprising Linkoping team rolled to an 8-3-1 record and won the East, while Helsingborg needed a perfect second half of the season to sneak into the playoffs, after going 1-4 to start the season.

Helsingborg’s Wahlström seemingly willed the Berzerkers to the playoffs with over 2600 yards passing and 14 TD’s in the second half of the season. But the big story was Helsingborg’s defense, which went from allowing 35 poits a game at the midway point, in part the change happened when DC Eugene Williams benched 3 year started Greg Hughes, and turned to Swedish rookie Eric Eklund, a speedy MLB with fantastic instincts.

His leadership turned around a defense that had fallen to 10th in the league and was in danger of being the first team not to repeat as champions. (More on Eklund in another update).

Goteburg keeps improving and if not for the incredible turnaround n Helsingborg would have been the number two team in the ultra competitive West.

Look for changes in Malmo, Stockholm and along with the two new franchises for 1971.

ODIN CUP VI

Next Update!

I'm totally sorry that you got hurt.

Looking forward to the new expansion teams.

[FFWally]

I'm totally sorry that you got hurt.

Looking forward to the new expansion teams.

Thanks.... Writing up the Cup right now... great story, but not a great game.

[FFWally]

Odin Cup VI

Goteburg Sweden

23 December 1970

With the game being played in Goteburg in a 20,000 seat stadium there were plenty of sets available for the Norwegian contingent, and they were out in force, flying the Norse flag, playing drums, and giving the game more of a World Cup feel than an American Football game.

The Swedes in turn were more subdued, but still many flags with the Blu Guld as well as red and gold from Skane. But this was not the first Championship for the Helsingborg fans, and they fully expected to crush the Oslo team.

The line coming into the game was Helsingborg -9, and the book was not getting too much action, as much as the two teams were high powered offensively, Helsingborg, had been here 3 times before and even against the then mighty Goats, held their own. Oslo, on the other hand had lived and died by their QB play, and did not win a single game that they did not score at least 24 points.

In the first quarter Helsingborg came out all guns blazing and scored on two long methodical drives, both ending in Touchdowns. On the first Zak Wahlstrom converted a 3rd and 16 to Fuzzy Williams for a 29 yard Touchdown pass, 6 minutes into the game, and a 7-0 lead.

After Oslo gained a quick 35 yards on 2 plays, it was former Goats star Eddie Bills DB who ended the drive on an interception at the Berzerkers 6, taking away a sure TD.

Helsingborg then turned to their running game and rookie tailback Timmy Jackson (Kansas) who churned out 4 straight first downs, and once Oslo pulled their defensive backs up to stop the run, Wahlstrom went deep to Tight End Sten Petersson over the middle and a 25 yard gain to the Oslo 7.

The game almost changed on the next play when Knut Knutssen crushed Wahlstrom in the backfield and knocked the ball loose. Defensive End Craig Little scooped up the ball and took it 93 yards for what appeared to be the game tying Touchdown, but a flag on Oslo for offsides cancelled out the play.

One play later Wahlstrom would take the ball 3 yards for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Oslo made a game of it briefly with Stanton throwing for two late first half touchdowns to his Norwegian wideouts.

The second half was all Helsingborg, with Fuzzy Williams getting his 6th and 7th TD’s of the post-season and eclipsing 2000 receiving yars on the season, and Zak Wahlstrom throwing for nearly 500 yards. Simply the best passing day in SFL history.

Amazingly it was Eddie Bills the 36 year old Free Safety who earned MVP honors after stopping 2 sure TD drives with interceptions and to complete his best day as a professional, ripping the ball away from Stanton on a safety blitz and sprinting 65 yards for the final score of the game.

Final Score:

Helsingbord 46

Oslo 26

Post Game:

In the press conference, Eddie Bills announced his retirement as well as his hiring as the new DB coach for Helsingborg.

Zak Wahlstrom alluded to the career path of Johnny Rosenberger who was in the AFA playoffs, and that he had likely played his last game in the SFL, as he was in talks with several teams in the AFA to move across the Atlantic for the 1971 season..

Oslo QB Aaron Stanton announced that he would be back to lead the Drager in 71 and that rumors of his move to the Angels were a result of his friendship with Angels backup QB Jack Travolta early in the season, while he was recovering from his ankle injury. Travolta had mentioned that Aaron was in Minnesota getting treatment on his ankle at the Mayo Clinic and in turn worked with Angels training staff during his recovery.

[neo_prankster]

Wow! Talk about a blowout!

[Darknes]

So are the Bezerkers more or less the Miners of the SFL?

[Veras]

It seems like the powerhouses in the SFL have shifted, with the top QB in the league winning all of the titles. First it was Uppsala, then Galve, now Helsingborg. With Wahlstrom likely headed to the states, it will be interesting to see how this affects the balance of power.

[FFWally]

Wow! Talk about a blowout!

It wasn't really shocking, as Helsingborg was a much stronger team going into the season, and lost some close games early. Oslo needed to make a run just to make the playoffs, and only edged out Eskilstuna by a half game. Of coure going forward, this bodes well for Oslo, and with Stanton at QB for at least another year, they should be a player.

So are the Bezerkers more or less the Miners of the SFL?

Honestly, after the first half of the season, I did not think so. But strong QB play as well as a solid defense that never lets games out of control, so yeah similar to the Miners. I think you will see Eskilstuna become a Miners type team with a defense that dominates games. Their biggest issue is an offense that needs an upgrade.

It seems like the powerhouses in the SFL have shifted, with the top QB in the league winning all of the titles. First it was Uppsala, then Galve, now Helsingborg. With Wahlstrom likely headed to the states, it will be interesting to see how this affects the balance of power.

If the Berzerkers lose both Williams and Wahlstrom they lose roughly 45% of their offensive output. With the league expanding again, the depth becomes an issue yet again, and expansion years tend to cause a shift in power. But Helsingborg has managed to blow right through the past expansion, now can they hold it together and find a new QB and or receiver if their stars go to the AFA.

Look for Oslo and Copenhagen to continue to strengthen. Goteburg has gotten better, but just hasn't found that spark. And look for Stockholm to make major changes this off-season.

[FFWally]

1971 Expansion

It took 5 years, but Västerås was finally granted a SFL team to begin play in the 1971 season. While he Reactors come into the league from the Owners vote in 1969, they would have been the first to earn their way in through the coming promotion/relegation system.

Västerås won Ligan 2 in 1970 after going 11-0 and destroying Norkoping 56-3 in the Ligan 2 Championship game, thought their ascent to the top of L2 came with a lot of scrutiny from the other league teams.

Jack Hughes Reactor Football program had long since eclipsed the original Västerås youth program, but rather than building a program built on Swedish athletes, Hughes had made a point of using his position in the nuclear field to build his program with American kids of nuclear workers.

The brightest of these is Mike Thomas, a hulking 6'2" 241 pound linebacker from Georgia. Mike’s father had been a submariner, wanted to see his son play, and as a former college standout, he had the genes to be great.

Mike senior left school when his then girlfriend became pregnant and he was subsequently drafted in 1949. It wasn't long before the nuke program came online and Mike was a mathematical genius with more than 2 years of college. He reenlisted and attended OCS before joining the submarine ranks in the newest nuclear class boats. Now he was working in Sweden, and took a small stipend to work with linebackers on the Reactors, including his son. Mike Jr. was that kid that dominated at every sport he tried, and football was no different.

Just entering his sophomore year in HS, Mike was not happy about the move, but was thrilled to spend time with his dad, and having spent the majority of his childhood in and around naval bases on the East Coast being the new kid was nothing new, and Västerås was exciting for the 15 year old.

Mike played on the top team from his first year in Sweden, and even at 16 he was a man among… men. Stronger, faster, and with more football smarts than most, he made a name in first the local league, and then as a 19 year old in Ligan 2, where he was the Defensive MVP, and had Västerås not been making the move, was being courted by Eskilstuna and Stockholm, but a chance to play for his dad was too much to pass up, and he signed a two year deal with the Reactors that would make him the 3rd highest paid linebacker in the league.

And he wasn’t the only one...

Bio from Västerås SFL Bid- After failing to gain entry into the first 6, Västerås put together a youth league with support from 20 American Nuclear Engineers working on the new plant in Västerås.

The Americans enjoyed teaching the Swedes about their game, and one even played in the AFA during the 1950's. Jack Hughes, was a highly touted prospect out of Texas A&T, where he was an All Conference QB and DB. But a knee injury during his rookie year in Houston put an end to his career, and he joined the Navy where his Electrical Engineering degree got him into the early Nuclear power program.

After being away from his family for the better part of 10 years he resigned his commission in early 1967 as a Navy Captain and took a shore based job in Västerås on their new Nuke plant to give his family a stable lifestyle, and because he just wanted a challenge outside of the comforts of the USA.

Key Management:

Owner - Carl Johan Carlsson

Head Coach - Jack Hughes

LB Coach - Mike Thomas Sr.

Key Players

Mike Thomas Jr - LB

John Johnson - QB

Kevin "Flash" Washington - WR/DB

Craig Miller - RB

Bjorn Fredriksson - DT

Ulf Dahlin - T

Jason Smith - LB

[FFWally]

1971 Expansion City

Örebro

Örebro has been awarded the second 1971 Expansion Team, and Carl Lindholm gets his SFL team after convincing other league owners that having a team in Örebro was preferable to Norrköping, and with the success of Oslo, the next round of expansion would likely come from abroad, so this was his last chance to get a bid, versus the peril of a play-in scenario.

With the team coming intact from Falkenberg, the Green and Red Falcon crest and moniker had never been in the long term interest of the entrepreneur Lindholm, who wanted to establish a brand, and use the team to sell his other business interests, and bring attention to Örebro.

Lindholm wants attention, and to quickly involve the local population with his team, many of whom have taken to the Eskilstuna Stålman as their SFL team.

With ever the marketing mindset... he has created a Name your SFL Team contest. And has released a list of 5 possible names, as well as a write in box.

One person will win 4 box seats for every home game of the 1971 season, and 4 tickets to Odin Cup VII

If a write in name is chosen, the person responsible will be awarded with a 1% share of the team, along with the season tickets, and Odin Cup trip.

The initial list:

Björn (Bears)

Lynx

Bålgetingar (Hornets)

Wolverines

Wolves

____________

The contest will run thru May 10th

[Darknes]

Out of those Options I like the sound of Bjorn

But I just suggest Svartflodman {Black Rivermen) to reference the Svartån that runs through Örebro

[FFWally]

Out of those Options I like the sound of Bjorn

But I just suggest Svartflodman {Black Rivermen) to reference the Svartån that runs through Örebro

Now that I really like, and it fits in with the division they will be in. Tack så mycket!

[Burmy]

Out of those Options I like the sound of Bjorn

But I just suggest Svartflodman {Black Rivermen) to reference the Svartån that runs through Örebro

Now that I really like, and it fits in with the division they will be in. Tack så mycket!

I second that option...Gå Svartflodman!

[Darknes]

Woo! Go Orebro!