Dfw Efl Raiders Expirience

[RPD]

I'd like to take a moment to take everyone down my path in the DFW League. Back in Feb. 2007 I was sitting around the house, kids were off to college and the wife was out of town on business. I was at home bored, so I googled electric football and came across this forum and also came across some items for sale on EBay. I started getting the itch for electric football after many years away from it. I made a post on this forum and I got the typical response from Coach J who put me in contact with Reginald Rutledge, who just happaned to live 5 minutes from me. I contacted Reg and he invited me to one of their league games, to say the least I found myself very intrigued by the MF( the game was being played in a smaller version of Texas Stadium ). I was taken in by the comaraderie, fellowship, and the competetive aspect of the game. I'm a huge chess player and this MF reminds me so much of a game of chess. After the game Reg asked me how I liked it(by the way Reg put me to work immediately, I was working the Camera during the game LOL). I told Reg i was very intrigued by MF. Later on that evening the guys invited me to another game, which I attended, this time Coach Robertson from San Antonio was playing. The minute I saw his west coast offense I was taken, hook, line, and sinker, though I wasn't ready to commit to the DFW EFL. Reg once again invited me to another game, this was all in a span of 3 weeks, by this time I had bought several MF items on Ebay, getting ready for what I knew was coming, my plunge into the DFW EFL. The 3rd game I attended was one between Coach Robertson and Coach Rutledge, man the speed of the game, the box, the clocks, it was so much like Chess and like a real football game, the startegies, the hype, I couldn't wait to get involved I was ready to throw Coach Robertson or Coach Rutledge off the field and take over, by the end of the night I was the newest member of the DFW EFL, the only thing I wasn't ready for was Reg telling me I had 2 weeks to get ready for my first game. He gave me the names and numbers of some of the best MF minds and MF tweakers in the hobby, so they could help me get my squad ready, I thanked him and told him no thanks if I'm gonna learn I'm gonna do it on my own(though I have had several 1 on 1 sessions with Reg). I went home that evening and started preparing my squad for my first game. I went home and got all the information I could about tweaking, game plans, etc. I read all of them and the only thing I kept was the information on tweaking, all the other stuff got tossed. I began tweaking and tweaking and tweaking and training camps and combines till I had what was an Oakland Raiders team, and by the way thanks to Raiderman who sent me the Radier team in both away and home jerseys. Then came the real test, a game against one of the veteran coaches in the DFW EFL, Reg called me and told me to hang in there B/C I was probably going to get it handed to me pretty bad, he said it's just something that's going to happen. Needless to say my first game I lost, but there was hope that "The Don" was catching on, the Raiders lost in the last 2 minutes of the game 22-21, my running backs gained over 200 yards rushing(the tweaking payed off), and to my surprise my OL was one of the strongest in the DFW EFL, and still remains one of the strongest. My passing was pathetic at the start, I mean real bad. I came in the league at the halfway point, played 6 games, and I actually won 2. I won my 3rd game as Bo Jackson and Mark Van Eeghan continued to amaze(they were making a major impact in the DFW EFL), they accounted for over 500 yards of total offense, and by the way I also run the wide open west coast offensive schemes I came to love while watching coach Robertson and Reg. Interesting first season, the Raiders going 2-4.

Now we've gone through the TSO, where we went 3-2-3, and the Raiders are still improving. We've gone through training camp, lots of practice passing, and have aquired through many hours of tweaking 2 impact DB's and 1 Impact LOLB, who will probably make the all-pro team. The Raiders carry an arsenal of runners( 7 to be exact), all tweaked by "The Don", and all have different roles. Coaches, tweaking isnt hard, it's just a lot of trail and error. The Raiders opened the 2007 DFW league against the NE Patriots, one of the veteran coaches once again many had the Raiders a 3-7 point underdog, I love the role of the underdog, but it was quite apparant this night would belong to the Raiders as Bo Jackson took the opening kick-off back 55 yards and the Raiders never looked back, taking a commanding 28-3 lead at the start of the 3rd and ultimately winning 34-17

Some key players for Oakland In Week 1

Bo Jackson- 5 carries 70 Yards, 2 Rec 35 Yards, 145 return yards, 1 TD
Van Eegan- 15 carries 129 yards, 5 rec 69 Yards, 3 TD's
Dave Casper- 4 Rec 45 Yards 1TD
Lamonica- 7-10/125 yards 2 TD 0 Int
LOLB- Millen- 6 Solo tackles...3 Sacks

So that is where we stand in the DFW EFL. More updates on week 1 action soon to come.
Coaches, have fun and enjoy the Hobby and remember,
To be a Champion you have to think like a Champion

[rjackson]

.....LT and Dan Fouts will be looking for you this season!! Never give up and keep pressing and squeezing until your dead tired. Also work on stamina because the Chargers run a hurry up no huddle offense!!

[RPD]

Great to know that every little bit of info like that helps, the Raiders love to run the hurry up as well.

[Soljah]

Way to go RD. I will be there Nov. 2nd. Hope to be as competitive as I was at the TSO.

Peace

[Michigan Joe]

I see you RD, nice work buddy! Look forward to hearing whether you can keep the momentum going.

Thanks for sharing,keep us updated."Coach J" and "Reginald" two great people
in real life and the EFL.
Erick

[Reginald Rutledge]

I thought I was long-winded! Great story Protege' II! It's great watching you come up through the ranks at such a fast growth rate. I know you will definitely be one of the "New Kids on the Block" for many years to come.

I hope you continue to have great enthusiasm for the game over the years but temper it with making that wife happy all the time! I know you can't even sleep well without thinking about the game but make sure you keep things in perspective. This game will obsess you because I know you put great energy into it.

This week, you play one of the champions in the league. Most people have you as a 14 point underdog. The different gambling services have already started laying money in one direction or the other. I kinda think you will be totally prepared. Hudson's Patriots will be a formidable opponent but not impossible to beat. You will have about 15 coaches at your game. You've already put your team in high demand. The DFW Broadcast is already talking about putting that game on Internet TV!

So get prepared for what appears to be your plunge into full scale "Peanut Gallery" heckling. I think you will be that good and others do to so your games will definitely get great attention.

So give us a date and time for the game between you and the Raiders. Good luck and great story Protege' II!

Coach Reginald Rutledge
Dallas Cowboys
2006-2007 DFW Champion

[Coach K-LO]

Thanks for sharing the DFW experience.........

[Reginald Rutledge]

The Don

[NATIONAL]

RD, you fit right in with those guys. I thought you were a member for years. I know I didn't see you at last years TSO, but I just thought you were busy or couldn't make it. But I never would have guessed you for a 1st yr coach? I had a blast calling the championship game with you at the TSO. It seems more and more coaches are avid chess players. We have a few here in Philly. Myself, I'm a bowler. But great story, and I'm glad RR got you in the fold. Now all you have to do is start touring the country and seeing all the other styles of play, and other coaches. Once the itch grabs you, it's over. Look at me, a few years ago I was all wide eyed at the Philly convention, didn't know a soul in the place. Now I'm NATIONAL!
And the main thing is to have fun. I came away from the TSO as happy as I could be, cause I had met you, Michigan Joe, and Mr. Rowan!!!! The fact that I got knocked out in the 1st rd, meant nothing. I hung out with the old faces, and met some new ones! Last year at the TSO, I met All the DFW guys, Al, J. Oubre, and Mark Robin. Some coaches don't go to certain tourneys because they don't like the style, or their team won't match up. That never bothered me. My team was for the most part 3.2, and last year I was thinking, I'm not going to Texas. I won't have a chance. But I thought about the different coaches I could meet, and that's why I went. I really enjoy hanging around the guys, talking football, talking MF, and just talking. Me and Reggie talked about kids, and the importance of education. I hurt my back, and I gave Pratt a call, (I know he's had a bad back for years) he dropped wisdom on me. He knew exactly what I was going thru, and what to expect. And he called to see how I was doing this past weekend.

I love this game, and the people who play it!!!!!!!

NATIONAL