Willy Tee's Week Six Predictions

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Saltire  

UWS Pyros @ Stirling Clansmen 

Snore! Only interesting thing with the Clansmen match ups in the Saltire conference this year is trying to judge just HOW MUCH of a smack down they’ll put on their much weaker inter-conference opposition. In a very sloppy conference Pyros may currently be sat in a playoff berth place, but this game will do their postseason aspirations no favours. 

Clansmen 60 – 6 Pyros 

EN Knights @ Edinburgh Predators 

Edinburgh derby games are normally quite interesting. Generally at least a little bit close, with one team’s playoffs on the line. 

Well, I guess this conference is actually awful enough, and the season young enough, that even at 0-3 and 1-3 either of these two teams could still clinch a postseason with a win here (yup, even two wins could see trophy-ball here… sigh.) and as the Knights honestly seem to be the chaff of the division this December? Predators to retain the Scot’s capital bragging rights for yet another year. 

Predators 20 – 6 Knights 

GOTW Interview - Todd Marquis, Warwick Wolves ILB

In our build up to our 'Game of the Week' between the Birmingham Lions and Warwick Wolves, we were able to grab a quick interview with Todd Marquis. Todd is an American student currently completing his PhD at Warwick University.

Before we begin the interview properly, can you provide the readers a bit of information on yourself and your own playing experiences?
My own playing experience is at Liberty University, a member of the Big South Conference in NCAA Division 1 football. In America, I got a relatively late start, playing my first organized year of football when I was about 13, then playing through high school and college.

After college, I played in a sort of developmental league in central Virginia. Effectively, it’s a league made of guys who either were trying to play professionally or guys who had played and were trying to develop some sort of skill or something before going back. It was also a good league for those who played arena football, as their season ended just before ours began, though the nearest team was 2 hours away in Richmond.

It’s a bit of a long story, but I felt confident I was going to get an NFL camp invite after that first season, and prepared fully for some regional combines and American tryouts for the Canadian Football League.

Before I could make any of these combines, I contracted an infection called MRSA, which by itself nearly killed me.

My parents came down to Virginia from Ohio to be with me, and just as they began planning my funeral, I finally took a turn for the better, and after a month in the ICU, was finally released from the hospital. However, less than a week later, I was back in for open heart surgery to transplant a new heart valve, as the old one had been damaged by the infection.

I knew then that, no matter how much I stood out at my game, the risk was too great for any team to pick me up. I did get back into shape and play for the Virginia team again, but this time it was just to show that I could, without the pressure of trying to go on to the next level. I also played a partial season for an arena team in Texas, but, frankly, the pay wasn’t worth the investment of time and expenses, so I opted out after only a part of the time there.

You asked about photos of me from Liberty University. I have to admit; I have scoured the web and my own personal collection, and can’t find any game pictures. As odd as this sounds, the digital camera is a fairly modern invention and really hasn’t caught on until the last 6 or 7 years.

BAFA Uni Week Six Predictions

Saltire

Edinburgh Napier Knights (0-3) at Edinburgh Predators (1-3)

Dancing on Ice might be a staple of Saturday night TV but with the Scottish pitches proving harder than nails in a water bed factory its touch and go if this game goes ahead. The mini-varsity game, the prequel to February’s spectacular Football festival between these teams, is played out like some sort of dirty secret. Last year’s fixture was a twice postponed, mid-week, under the lights, end of season affair that allowed the Predators to progress into the Playoffs.

This year’s fixture will be down to the groundstaff and pits two teams trying to find their mojo. The Predators feature a pass first but run well offense that is guaranteed to score.

The Knights run a fumble first option offense that has failed to defeat Edinburgh in the last two outings. Unless they have found a way to fix their failings even their tough Defense won’t keep them in it long enough.

Predators by 14

UWS Pyro’s (1-2) at Stirling Clansmen (4-0)

Stirling’s ground staff may be sleeping with a horse’s head if their 3G ‘All-weather’ field is called off again. The gnashing of Coach ‘Corleone’ Orr’s teeth could be heard all the way at DC Towers.

The first matchup of the season between these two teams could be a painful affair, whilst the Pyro’s have one win under their belt a mid-sized Defense will struggle to stop Stirlings speed. UWS do have some talent on offense however with a decent running game and in the electric Bud McFerrin they should notch up a score, maybe two, against the Clan. Stirling’s pass game and inside/outside run game are an offensive basketball quick break team and will score a barrow load. This will be Stirling’s final first semester game before they go into their enforced long winter shut down.

I could analyse this one in lots of clever yet unlikely ways but even the world’s cheeriest optimist tripping on Tramadol couldn’t envisage an upset here. This weekend UWS sleeps with the fishes….

Clansmen by 80

Birth of a Sport: Football in India

Evan Rosenfeld is a film producer who graduated from the University of Miami. He is most notable for his work for ESPN Films 30 for 30, producing the film ‘The U’ which documented the rise of the University of Miami during the 80s and 90s. It was viewed by 2.53 million people making it the most successful “30 for 30” film.

Currently Evan is working on a film, ‘Birth of a sport’ following the establishment of American football in India. Evan was not only involved with the filming of the project, but he has also been helping the league with its creative direction, including all their multimedia and advertising.

Evan spoke to us about the difficulties and challenges faced when setting up a league in India and tell us a few of his stories from his time out there.

Evan

If you want to support this cause please visit http://kck.st/SeqUj8 to donate.

Birmingham Lions vs. Warwick Wolves - GOTW Preview

by Tom Snee

In a masterclass of social media manipulation, Birmingham Lions’ match-up with Warwick Wolves makes an appearance as our game of the week. A surge of voting from both teams took the MAC encounter (sounds like an X-Files episode) past the rest of the selections on our Facebook poll to earn the honour – if you don’t like it, vote differently next week...well, not next week as it’s nearly Christmas.