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- MitchSwanson94
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
Here’s hoping the Blazers can stick around in Orlando
- QCS
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
TheEnigmaticOne wrote:
Cool first season, just two questions.
What was attendance like this season?
Also, when is the start of the season? You mentioned spring football in a past post, but the WFL started in the summer right?
Attendance overall was pretty stable, slightly better than the first season since fans know the league is more financially solvent. The exceptions are the Hornets, Southmen, and Hawaiians. The first two had back-half slides that turned fans off and while the Hawaiians made it out of Honolulu Stadium (lovingly nicknamed the "Termite Palace"), Aloha Stadium is pretty far from downtown and the team didn't really give fans a reason to show up.
Yes, that's correct! The WFL originally started in the middle of the summer and ended in November/December but I've shifted the schedule to be proper spring football. One of the first things Ryder did was make it clear that the WFL cannot compete with the NFL yet and the shift to spring is part of that strategy.
Well, at least Memphis wasn't the worst!
That's true! Memphis had a pretty solid start, they just couldn't keep the momentum up.
Here’s hoping the Blazers can stick around in Orlando
Right now it's very dependent on how the Tangerine Bowl renovations go. Many fans felt unsafe in the stands and it may take some serious convincing from the team to get crowds back in the stadium soon.
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Thread Starter- Slapshot Kirby
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- Registered: 5/20/2019
- Posts: 97
Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
I’m a bit late to the party, but I suppose the San Antonio Wings will be my team to start at least (Because their logo gives me Hartford Whalers vibes!). That being said, I have a few questions regarding this project of yours:
1. Are WFL games televised at all in this universe? If so, then who does so?
2. How do you come up with the results for this?
Anyway, you are off to a pretty solid start so far! Looking forward to the playoffs!
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
I’m a bit late to the party, but I suppose the San Antonio Wings will be my team to start at least (Because their logo gives me Hartford Whalers vibes!). That being said, I have a few questions regarding this project of yours:
1. Are WFL games televised at all in this universe? If so, then who does so?
2. How do you come up with the results for this?
Anyway, you are off to a pretty solid start so far! Looking forward to the playoffs!
1. Right now, the WFL is carried nationally by TVS. In real life, TVS bailed after the WFL failed to sign Joe Namath. However, in this universe, the purchase by Ryder/Supernova and the financial stability that brought convinced TVS to continue their contract. In addition, teams have their own local affiliates, for example, WJXT in Jacksonville and WGN-TV in Chicago.
2. I use a simulator app called Draft Day Pro Sports Football 25. I find it pretty easy to use, although it makes it a little difficult to include historic players, so I have to add them manually. Besides that, I'm very hands-off, I prefer to let the sim do its thing. Things like the Hawaiians' attendance troubles and Blazers' stadium issues are things that happened in real life, however.
Thanks for your comments! I'm always happy to answer questions.
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Thread Starter- QCS
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
EAST CONFERENCE FINALS
Birmingham Vulcans @ Chicago Fire
The Vulcans came out swinging this game and never let their foot off the gas pedal. Less than five minutes in, Birmingham's backup QB Charles Crawford launched a brilliant pass to WR Alfred Jenkins, who caught the ball and ran in untouched for the a 33 yard TD and the first score of the game. Chicago just couldn't get anything going, not helped by a fumble in their own territory that set up 7 more points for the Vulcans. Birmingham scored another touchdown in the second before Chicago finally broke into the end zone to score some points. The third quarter was scoreless, but the Fire delivered the dagger to themselves by fumbling on their own one yard line before it was scooped up by the Vulcans for another touchdown. Chicago scored a field goal on their next drive but it was too little, too late, as the Vulcans proceeded to score a 44 yard rushing TD, get a turnover on downs, and then score another TD. The Fire had absolutely nothing for a blistering Birmingham offense and ended up upset on their home field. Birmingham was headed back to the World Bowl to defend their crown.
FINAL SCORE: BIR 42, CHI 13
WEST CONFERENCE FINALS
Southern California Sun @ San Antonio Wings
Fans hoping for a more competitive game after Birmingham's dismantling of Chicago would be sorely disappointed, as San Antonio did basically the same thing to the Sun. San Antonio QB Donald Donnelly absolutely demolished SC's defense, throwing for four touchdowns before the Sun were able to score. He was aided by two turnovers in favor of the Wings, including one at SC's 20 yard line. The Sun finally broke through, but it was already too late, down 28-0 in the second quarter. Southern California double-dipped by blocking a punt which led to another 7 points, but a 9-minute touchdown drive by San Antonio to kick off the third quarter killed any momentum the Sun might've had. SC brought it back to within two scores early in the fourth quarter, but there was nothing to be done. A 57-yard pass from Donnelly put the Wings on the SC 22 and they easily converted that field position to another TD. Despite some desperation plays by Southern California, the Wings easily handled business at home and will advancing to the World Bowl in their first season.
FINAL SCORE: SA 42, SC 21
WORLD BOWL II:
Birmingham Vulcans vs. San Antonio Wings
Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, FL
Season Series: 1-0 in favor of SA
While World Bowl I had to be moved out of Florida due to the Sharks folding, this year the game can return to its original host. The Birmingham Vulcans, despite being rechristened, are returning to defend their crown, and the only team standing in their way is the San Antonio Wings. The Vulcans finished 2nd in the East, one game behind the Chicago Fire, but mopped the floor with the Fire 42-13 in the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the championship round. Despite normal starter QB Matthew Reed out with a broken wrist, backup Charles Crawford hasn't missed a beat and the Vulcans are the favorites to take the crown. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Wings won the West handily, and similarly plastered their playoff opponent, the Southern California Sun, 42-21. Everyone is expecting a lights-out show between the two best teams in the WFL, and interest is through the roof for this clash of titans.
My Prediction: Birmingham
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Thread Starter- Steelman
- superadminguy
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
Birmingham just seems like a much better and more well-rounded team than everyone else despite the QB injury. However, I'm rooting for the Wings here!
AHS Admin. Creator of the THL, PUCH, WHA: Redux and Retroliga.
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
WORLD BOWL II
Birmingham Vulcans vs. San Antonio Wings
Two high-flying offenses met in the second-ever World Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. The Vulcans, despite being technically the lower seed, were the heavy favorites, being the reigning champs and completely shutting down a potent Chicago team in the East Finals. However, San Antonio was no small threat, putting up big numbers on their conference finals opponent, the Sun. Fans piled into the Gator Bowl on a rainy day to see the crowning of the new champions of the WFL.
In the first quarter, things got off to a slow start. The rain was clearly slowing the teams down, but eventually Birmingham got the scoring open with a field goal on their first drive. San Antonio was able to drive into Birmingham territory, but couldn't get anything going before stalling out around the 45. The Vulcans, assisted by a couple of San Antonio penalties, managed to put another seven on the board.
The Wings still couldn't get anything started, not helped by a Donald Donnelly fumble in their own territory that they recovered. After a fourth & out, the Vulcans received the ball before marching down the field, chewing up clock, and scoring another touchdown thanks to QB Charles Crawford. The San Antonio faithful got a spark back when the team managed two big plays on their next drive and finally got on the board to make it 17-7. They used that momentum to keep Birmingham to a fourth and out, but couldn't capitalize themselves before the end of the second quarter.
The third quarter saw similarly futile offense. Things finally changed when Birmingham safety Matthew Mendoza picked off Donnelly and returned it all the way to the house for a pick six, a brutal blow to the Wings' hopes. Two more fourth and outs by both teams returned the ball to San Antonio, who delivered themselves the killing blow. RB Gerald Turner fumbled the ball on his own two yard line, and it was scooped up by Birmingham's Michael Chang for yet another touchdown. It was now 31-7 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. Birmingham's fans were celebrating like the game was already over. A big return by the Wings set them up in field goal territory, and they put three more points on the board before Birmingham got the ball back to end the third.
The Vulcans had a disastrous start to the fourth when their usually surefire kicker Earl Sark missed a 22-yard field goal and Donnelly made a stellar pass to Wings WR Salvador Richardson for a 75-yard bomb to get them right back in the game. San Antonio was now only down by two scores and if they could just hold the Vulcans off for a little bit more they could possibly come back to win. The Vulcans quickly put a stop to the Wings' hopes, easily driving down the field to score once more and put the game almost certainly out of reach. A great punt by San Antonio would actually result in a safety for the Wings, but it was too little, too late, as even though they scored another TD Birmingham was able to just run out the clock. Vulcans players swarmed the field and confetti and fireworks lit up the sky - the Birmingham Vulcans had repeated as World Bowl champions!
FINAL SCORE: BIR 38, SA 26
WORLD BOWL MVP: BIR LB MICHAEL CHANG, 8 Tackles, 2 Tackles for Loss, 1 Def TD, 1 Fumble Recovered
Congratulations to the Birmingham Vulcans and their fans!
(Author's Note: Apologies for the delay! Last week I actually moved cross-country from LA back to Charlotte after graduating from USC. Because of that I didn't have time to continue the WFL but now I do! Hope you're excited for more spring football in the future.)
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Thread Starter- joho42x
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
I've been reading up on this "What if" version of the World Football League, and so far, I'm liking what I'm seeing here.
By the way, in the real life WFL, the New York Stars were forced to relocate to Charlotte in mid-season because of the inadequacy of their home venue, the decrepit 22,000-seat WPA project on Randall's Island known as Downing Stadium, and the fact that Yankee Stadium -- which would've been an ideal venue for the team -- was unavailable due to a renovation project that would last until 1976. Also, Columbia University rejected the Stars' proposal to play at the 32,000-seat Baker Field. And of course, Shea Stadium was a no-go for the Stars because it was overbooked with the Mets, Jets, and Yankees playing there; the Giants also played at Shea for one season in 1975.
So, in this "What if" alternate universe version of the WFL, do you think the league will ever return to the NYC area? And if yes, will their home be at the renovated Yankee Stadium?
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
I've been reading up on this "What if" version of the World Football League, and so far, I'm liking what I'm seeing here.
So, in this "What if" alternate universe version of the WFL, do you think the league will ever return to the NYC area? And if yes, will their home be at the renovated Yankee Stadium?
I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!
As for the league returning to New York - never say never. TVS would certainly like it if the league returned to the nation's largest media market, but the stadium issue is a big one. In addition, the league is focused on keeping the current 12 teams stable before expanding, but it's reasonable to assume New York would be a target when the league does expand. Yankee Stadium is a possibility for sure. If the WFL placed a team in New York right now, it's likely that it would be the choice for a stadium.
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Thread Starter- Steelman
- superadminguy
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Re: The World Football League Lives! (1975 World Bowl)
Congrats to the Vulcans! And congrats your graduation as well. Definitely interested to see what this offseason will produce for a direction in the league.
AHS Admin. Creator of the THL, PUCH, WHA: Redux and Retroliga.