[Reginald Rutledge]

Anthony,

One thing we do take into account is that we can not simulate everything that is real. No matter what any of us think as far as keeping it real is, this just can not be done.

Let's take the fumble for instance:
Over the years, it became apparent that if we really place the ball in the arm of the running back, the chances of it coming out during the course of a game was slim and none. For many years, my friend in Michigan (Jim Jackson) use to put the ball in his runner's arm to no avail. Fumbles never occurred. So then he would put a ball in a player's arm and make it fit loosely. However, that would be for teams he did not want to see win. For his Lions, Barry Sanders always held onto the ball snuggly. That gave one team an unfair advantage to create or cause a fumble. The purpose behind the Box creates great excitement for members of the league.

By shaking "The Box" to simulate a fumble, it
(1) expedites play; meaning there is no unnecessary time loss in mounting a ball in the player's arm to see him run with it. You loses approximately 10-20 plays over a 3 hour window by steadily having to put a ball in the players arm and taking it out and putting it in someone else's arm, and (2) it creates equality in the probabilities (random) that a team may have such a turnover occur.

For penalties:
We do have our customary offsides and things of that nature. But to us, a little more intrigue is added when you have a pass interference call on a safety or a clip on a linemen (even if you don't see it on the field). In our eyes, officials don't see half the underhanded infractions that should be called during a play. The feelings here is that we understand these are little plastic figures and they can not physically chop block on a team but that is an element of football that needs to be shown. I guess the great part about it is that it shows who can weather the storm of calls going against them.

In every aspect of miniature football, guys do things to try to simulate what they think real football is. We are no different from any others. Our counter arguments are similar to yours in that we want to see the acutal event take place. Things such as the physical re-orientation of players after a catch is something we have a hard time comprehending. Guys spend all summer in their respective training camps teaching certain players to run a certain way. Some leagues only want straight fast running players. We want guys who specialize in doing specific functions. So if for instance, I pass to my receiver. In the DFW, I know that this guys runs right to left for 70 yards and he should score. But in other leagues, after the catch, the coach assist the player and aim him towards the end zone to score. That's a concept we can not understand because it goes back to "Why even spend time working on a team in training camp if all you have to have is fast straight running bases". However, there certainly no disrespect to what those leagues do. In their minds, this is what works for them.

Similarly, these penalties/infractions is what works for these guys here. I think a lot of it is that the coaches here in the DFW league are so confident in their abilities to overcome those obstacles and they know it's a part of football. They know it can also happen to the other team so they shrug it off and try to make something happening.

I think your question Anthony was a question many guys have asked about this style. They always ask, "Aren't you mad that happened to you?" My response is usually , "H E L L Yeah!" But I also know I can overcome that problem and the team that wins the title is the one that can overcome obstacles the best.

Great question AB and I hope I answered it. If not, give me more.

Reg