[Reginald Rutledge]

Coach,

I could not wait to get home and chime in on this topic for as you know, I am one of those leading advocates of custom figures. My premise is simple and I will take it from two angles:
1. League, and
2. Tournament

DFW League Perspective
The DFW League has always stood front and center as pushing the envelope on creative spirit. When I conceived the DFW League, my thoughts were that no two athletes were ever going to be the same. I felt that as long as you had height and weight restrictions, allowing guys to use what they felt most comfortable with is up to them. The reason being is that you may not like FF.COM figures and I may not like Miggle, or SIW, or any other vendor. However, that should never stop us from playing together. If it does, its usually out of fear from one party for whatever the reason or EFL politics.

With that being the premise, if an equal supply of information or product is available for anyone who so desire it, why should I limit them to water down their game? I am one who definitely believes in equality in every sense of the word and knowing that you can equally have what I have then makes it a matter of choice or dollars and sense.

If a certain type of man on your team steadily is kicking my butt all over the field, if I know I have access to getting that man too, I should have no problem with that.

In the DFW League, one of the greatest aspects of what we do is allow every manufacturers products in. Everybody has access to all the same information. Over the course of a year, its great seeing how all these great athletes matchup to one another. Fortunately for my team, we are a perrenial power. I prefer FF.COM figures and I like the customization of them because great functional customs can be created.

Every coach tries to create their players in the image of real athletes ranging from pass-blocking linemen to slashing runners. Whether its using Miggle, SIW, or FF.COM players, a coach's passion comes with the team he can put on the field. That's very important and should never be taken away.

We all have our images of how football is supposed to be played. If one company's linemen are limited in its range where as another company's players have a much greater range, do we limit the company's who blockers has greater range or say that one company has players with better athletic skills.

One of our favorite arguments is for our Blitzer pose created from Bruce Smith actually leaping in the air to sack the quarterback. That player is restricted under our height and weight standards but my argument would be is this, "He's jumping in the air making an athletic play". Every player does not stay cemented to the ground! Plus, we have observed in crucial games that this player can be a difference maker.

In a league that has an equal amount of teams using Miggle, SIW, and FF.COM players, we've been pleased with our accomplishments for not only FF.COM teams but for all teams in general.

From a tournament standpoint
I will never hold a tournament that does not allow a person to use whatever he wants in terms of manufacturers. I have every reason too as I know the other manufacturers do not allow FF.COM products to be used. If they do, it is only in recent years because of pressure from people who want to use our products.

I personally see no reason of going to any tournament that I can not be allowed to play with what I think are the best athletes I can find. I am not stopping you from using what you think are the best athletes that you can find as evident by the team that you field.

I think when you worry about what the other person have, you are immediately looking for excuses if you happen to lose. If you are confident in what you got, all you worry about is execution on your part. If you think your athletes are subpar, improve them or as Bobby Bowden and Bear Bryant said when referring to Michael Vick and Wilbur Jackson (played in 70s at BAMA), "I've got to go get me one/some of those".

Also the DFW and Texas Shootout plays at 4.0 grams.

Reg

Just another Miniature Football Coaches Opinion,
Reg