The DIGIgraphics Fantasy Football League

League History
Home
News and Notes
Rules
League History
Record Book
Owner's Records
The Governor's Cup
Archives
Links

History of the League (1990-2007)

1990 The DIGIgraphics Fantasy Football League was created in the summer of 1990. Known initially as the Slide Services, Inc. Fantasy Football League the inaugural season began with 10 teams. Rich Nilles was the Commissioner and Rick Scheunemann was treasurer. Other owners were Mark Thorson, Dave Matchan, Rich Yungbauer, Pete Newberg, Mike Schweppe, Jerry Southwick, Mike Peterson and Eric Patnoe. Los Angeles Rams QB Jim Everette was the first player selected in the draft. Division winners that first year were the 8-5 Pete's Gorilla's (Pete Newberg) and the 9-4 Public Enemy (Rich Nilles). The yet unnamed championship trophy went to the 8-5 TAPS (Mark Thorson) who defeated Public Enemy 18-17 in the week 16 final. Pete's Gorilla's QB Warren Moon was the first SSIFFL league MVP.

1991 While the 1990 season was an experiment for everyone, the 1991 season showed the SSIFFL was ready to be taken seriously. 13 teams were represented on draft day--owners were newcomers Dave Eck, Steve Ufkin, Shaun Fahey, Paul Dixon, Carl Sathrum, Jerry Rogers, John Williams, George Hargrove, and co-owners Mark van Duyn and Rick Howell. Mike Schweppe, Rick Scheunemann, Rich Nilles and Rich Yungbauer returned from the 1990 season. The championship game was moved to from the final week of the NFL regular season to the second-to-last week. The Elite Division title went to the 11-3 Kings of Chaos (Mike Schweppe) while the Premier Division crown belonged to the 9-5 Lunge Lizards (Jerry Rogers). In the 1991 newly named Governor's Cup final the Lunge Lizards cruised past the Kings of Chaos 55-10 to win the title in their only SSIFFL season. Warren Moon again was league MVP, splitting time between the Turbo Turf Trashers and the Lunge Lizards.

1992 Saw the league again return to 10 teams. Steve Ufkin, Mike Schweppe, Rich Nilles, Dave Eck, John Williams all returned. Mark van Duyn and Rick Howell split to each operate their own teams. Dave Matchan returned after a year's absence. Newcomers were Bill Hurley and Tim Kelly. RB Barry Sanders was selected #1 by the Timinators (Tim Kelly). The first 5 selections in the draft were Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Mark Rypien, Emmitt Smith and Warren Moon. The Serbian Division title went to the 10-3 Turf Punks (Rich Nilles), while the Croatian Division was won by the 8-5 Puppet Meat (Rick Howell). The Governor's Cup went to the Timinators over Puppet Meat. The 3rd place Vanier Cup game was introduced and was won by the Turf Punks over the Booya Tribe (Mike Schweppe). The lowlight had to be the Booya Tribe's 6-1 victory over the Turf Punks in week 4, the lowest scoring game in league history, as New England TE Marv Cook had the game's only score. Quarterbacks Steve Young of the Turf Punks and Dan Marino of the Screaming Iguana's were co-MVP's.

1993 Was by far the low point in league history. 14 teams began the season. Holdovers were Tim Kelly, Mark van Duyn, Mike Schweppe, John Williams, Bill Hurley, Dave Eck and Rich Nilles. Rick Schuenemann returned after 1 season hiatus. New to the league were John Halling, Jody Phillips, Mark Ulwelling, Jeff Brennan, Bill Nelson, and Ron Lovoll. The Timinators (Tim Kelly) again selected RB Barry Sanders with the first choice, as the top 5 picks were all Running Backs-Thurman Thomas, Emmitt Smith, Ricky Watters and Barry Foster followed the Sanders selection. The 1993 season had already appeared to be doomed since Commissioner Nilles had decided to step down during the summer, and Dave Eck reluctantly agreed to take over. Three weeks into the season Eck resigned, unable to handle the responsibilities, and Rich was forced into the role once again. By then the problems had already begun. An early season trade between the Screaming Weasels (Bill Hurley) and the Booya Tribe (Mike Schweppe) involving QB Jim Everette, and RB Ronnie Harmon in exchange for (at the time) holdout RB Emmitt Smith created a fury throughout the league (several owners were no longer working at Slide Services, and assumed the trade was fixed). What followed in the coming weeks was just short of total anarchy. Because the league had so few rules involving trades, the commissioner was virtually powerless as several teams got together and stacked themselves through a series of one sided deals.. When it was over the John Gotti Division was won by the 9-5 Halling's Heroes (John Halling), the Pablo Escobar Division was won by the 11-3 Slug Asylum (Rich Nilles). The Championship was "won" by the Turbo Turf Trashers (Dave Eck) thanks in part to lop-sided mid-season trade with Bill Nelson involving WR Jerry Rice, as they defeated Halling's Heroes for the Governor's Cup. 3rd place went to Booya Tribe over Slug Asylum. Commissioner Nilles resigned immediately following the conclusion of the season. No awards were given.

1994 & 1995 These two years are known as the "dark ages" of the newly renamed DIGIgraphics Fantasy Football League. Operated by Mike Schweppe and Ted Kritzler, virtually no information or records were kept, or remain from those years. The Timinators (Tim Kelly) won both championships, defeating the Roncos (Ron Lovoll) in 1994, and winning over Booya Tribe (Mike Schweppe) in 1995.

1996 Rich Nilles returned to again oversee the league. Other members of the 8 team league included John Williams who was named the assistant commissioner, Ron Lovoll, Bill Hurley, Shannon Kelly, Tim Pieper, Ted Kritzler, and Randy Kabbenhoff. RB Emmitt Smith was selected first overall by the Lounge Lizards (Rich Nilles) followed by Brett Favre, Steve Young, Curtis Martin and Chris Warren. Bonus point scoring was adjusted to roughly the levels that are in use today. The Sinn Fein Division was won by the 10-4 Rabid Grasshoppers (Shannon Kelly), and the Zapatista Division was taken by the 10-4 Free Range Gerbils (John Williams). The Governor's Cup was won by the Rabid Grasshoppers over the Hammerheads (Ted Kritzler) in the first title game to be decided by a tie-breaker 28-27. The Free Range Gerbils won the 3rd place game over the Lounge Lizards, while the Roncos (Ron Lovoll) won the newly created consolation bracket playoff. Phat Boyz RB Terry Allen was the 1996 DFFL MVP.

1997 The league was finally gaining some much needed stability as 6 of the 8 teams returned from the previous season. Tim Kelly replaced Bill Hurley in the league, and newcomer Tony Huth took Randy Kabbenhoff's spot. The first selection on draft day was QB Brett Favre by the Phat Boyz (Tim Pieper), Emmitt Smith, Curtis Martin, Terrell Davis and Barry Sanders rounded out the top five picks. The format changed this season to a single division setup with the 9-5 Tired Gerbils (John Williams) finishing first overall. The Timinators (Tim Kelly) won their 4th Governor's Cup by defeating the Tired Gerbils 35-32. The Phat Boyz won 3rd place, defeating the Grid Iron Gangsta's (Tony Huth) and the Rabid Grasshoppers (Shannon Kelly) won the consolation bracket. RB Terrell Davis of the Timinators was league MVP.

1998 Saw the return of the league to 10 teams, with 7 veterans and 3 first timers--Colleen von Rueden, plus the duo of Stacy Genosky and Doug Notermann, and the team of Tony Huth and Karna Snapko, who joined up as the league's 10th team just prior to the start of the season due to a no-show on draft day. Shannon Kelly replaced John Williams as Vice President of league operations. RB Terrell Davis as the first selection by the Gerbils (John Williams), top 5 picks were Davis, Brett Favre, Barry Sanders, Kordell Stewart and Ricky Watters. Team defense was introduced as a scoring option, and the Tight End position was no longer mandatory. Winning the Osama bin Laden Division were the rookie PFKATPTBNL-Go Vikes! (Stacy & Doug) with a 9-4 record, while the Abu Nidal Division was steamrolled through by the 12-1 Roncos (Ron Lovoll) who set league standards for the best record, as well as for scoring, with 637 points. The Timinators (Tim Kelly) again prevailed in the Governor's Cup upsetting the heavily favored Roncos 55-51. The PFKATPTBNL-Go Vikes! won the Vanier Cup 3rd place game over America's Weasels (Bill Hurley). Phat Boyz (Tim Pieper) won the consolation bracket. Steve Young of Kismet was the MVP of the league with a then league record 182 regular season fantasy points.

1999 The 10 team league welcomed 2 newcomers--Dave Larson and the team of Ryan Richards and Nate Oscar. Stacy Genosky-Otto returned as a solo owner. The Roncos (Ron Lovoll) selected WR Randy Moss as the first draft choice, the next 4 selections were Terrell Davis, Fred Taylor, Brett Favre, and Randall Cunningham. Division honors went to the Nicolae Ceausescu winning 9-4 Timinators (Tim Kelly) and the Enver Hoxha champion 7-6 Squirrels on the Sauce (Stacy Genosky-Otto). The Championship game was a repeat on the 1997 Grand Final with the Timinators (Tim Kelly) walking over the Gerbils of Destiny (John Williams) 72-42 to win their 6th Governor's Cup. 3rd place was captured by the South Side Cartel (Dave Larson) over Squirrels on the Sauce. Pipe Dreamz (Tim Pieper) once again won the consolation bracket. Pipe Dreamz QB Kurt Warner--a free agent acquisition--was the league MVP.

2000 The league again had 10 teams, with 3 more first timers--Jim Egan, Steve Dosdall, and J.D. Lewis. Team defense scoring was altered to include points for sacks, fumble recoveries and interceptions, which produced substantially higher scores, including a record 86 point week by the Timinators. The league went "on-line" for the first time with two web sites. Kurt Warner was the first player chosen, by the expansion Fighting Amish (Jim Egan) next came Edgerrin James, Marshall Faulk, Terrell Davis, then Fred Taylor. The Karla Faye Tucker Division was won by the Phat Bastards (Stacy Otto & Melissa Genosky) with an 11-2 mark, while the Mumia Abu-Jamal Division was captured by the 9-4 Timinators (Tim Kelly). The Grand Final was won by Fish Hook (J.D. Lewis) who upset the Timinators 35-33. Third Place was won by Mean Machines (Shannon Kelly) who bested the Phat Bastards. While Under Siege (Rich Nilles) won the consolation bracket. QB Duante Culpepper of the Wichita Linemen was the league MVP.

2001 The league expanded to 12 teams, the highest number of participants since 1991. Melissa Genosky returned as a solo owner, Jim Gaffney and Jim Strempke joined the league. The league made some minor adjustments to the defensive scoring stats, and all transactions were made via e-mail for the first time. The first draft selection was Daunte Culpepper by the Hidden Squirrels (Stacy Otto) followed in order by Edgerrin James, Marshall Faulk, Randy Moss, and Fred Taylor. The expansion meant there were 3 divisions this season. Winning the Credonia Mwerinde Division were the Pawns of Satan (Rich Nilles) with a 10-3 mark, The Shoko Asahara Division went to the 9-4 Mean Machines (Shannon Kelly), While the Fighting Amish (Jim Egan) captured the Marshall Applewhite Division crown with a 7-6 record. The Mean Machines won their second league title, knocking off defending champions Fish Hook (J.D. Lewis) 46-45. Third Place was won by the Hidden Squirrels beating the Pawns of Satan, while the consolation crown went to the Timinators (Tim Kelly). Fighting Amish QB Jeff Garcia won the MVP award.

2002 12 teams were once again represented on draft day. Newcomers included Tom Nilles, Jeff LaVallie and Mike LaVallie. The #1 selection was RB Marshall Faulk by the expansion Lambeau's Leap (Tom Nilles), The league's first 5 selections were Faulk, Randy Moss, Duante Culpepper, Kurt Warner and Payton Manning. Division titles went to Lambeau's Leap winning the Bob Packwood Division with an 8-5 record, Rocky Road (Jim Strempke) winning the James Traficant Division at 8-5, and the Squirrels on Crack (Stacy Otto) capturing the Dan Rostenkowski Division with a 9-4 mark. Alien Nation (Rich Nilles) won the Governor's Cup for by besting the Squirrels on Crack 38-15 for the crown. Major Pain (Mike LaVallie) finished in 3rd place, Beating Rocky Road. The Killer Gerbils (John Williams) took the consolation bracket. Rocky Road running back Priest Holmes won the MVP award.

2003 Witnessed a major shakeup in who participated. 10 teams were represented at the draft. Stacy Otto, Melissa Genosky, Steve Dosdall, Jeff LaVallie, Tim Kelly and Mike LaVallie all dropped out, William Rzeszutek, Mark Palmer and Paul Bibby joined, and Bill Hurley returned after one year away. The league introduced "negative point" scoring for interceptions thrown and fumbles lost for the first time, as well as an "Injured Reserve" option. The Gamblers (Jim Gaffney) selected #1 overall. The first 5 picks were LaDainian Tomlinson, Ricky Williams, Priest Holmes, Clinton Portis and Deuce McAllister, as the top seven choices and 8 of the first 9 picks were running backs. The league returned to a two division setup this season - The Manuel Noriega Division went to Mountain Magic (Jim Strempke) at 11-2, while the Hallie Salessie Division was won by Alien Nation (Rich Nilles) with a 9-4 mark. The Governor's Cup was won by Mountain Magic who prevailed over Alien Nation in a 77-60 shootout. Third Place was won by the Gamblers beating Axis of Weasel (Bill Hurley), and the Embedded Gerbils (John Williams) once again captured the consolation bracket. Priest Holmes (Lambeau's Leap-Alien Nation) repeated as the MVP.

2004 After much pre-draft scrambling, 10 teams were represented. William Rzeszutek, Jim Gaffney, Paul Bibby and Mark Palmer all dropped out, and were replaced by Troy Erhman, Jeff Campbell, Brian Strempke and 1992 league alumn Rick Howell. The first selection in the draft was RB Priest Holmes by the Tree Hugging Gerbils (John Williams). The selections that followed were Ahman Green, LaDainian Tomlinson, Deuce McAllister and Randy Moss. The Mohmad Suharto Division was won by Mountain Magic (Jim Strempke) with an 8-5 record, while the Sani Abacha Division went to Lambeau’s Leap (Tom Nilles) at 10-3. The Governor’s Cup was won by Orange Mac (Troy Erhman) over Mean Machines (Shannon Kelly) 39-33. Third Place went to Lambeau’s Leap over Mountain Magic, while Flaming Liberals (Brian Strempke) won the Consolation bracket. Off the Hook (Jeff Campbell) set a new league record for points scored in a season, while Orange Mac set another record by scoring 128 points in their week #15 playoff game against Lambeau's Leap, shattering the previous high point game by 42 points. The MVP award went to Payton Manning (Mountain Magic) who set a new individual record with 210 fantasy points during the regular season..

2005 For the first time all owners returned from the previous season. Jim Gaffney returned after 1 year away, and Jeff Gervis the only newcomer to what was now a 12 team league. LaDainian Tomlinson was the #1 choice by the Flaming Liberals (Brian Strempke) while Payton Manning, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes and Edgerrin James rounded out the top 5. The division winners were the Xtreme Gerbils (John Williams) winning the Abu Saayaf Division with a 10-3 record, Lambeau’s Leap (Tom Nilles) winning the Kahane Chai Division at 11-2, and Orange Mac (Troy Erhman) taking the Saheed Khalsa Division with a 7-6 mark. Lambeau’s Leap won their first Governor’s Cup, defeating 1-800-Pik-last (Jeff Campbell*) 41-39. Third place was won by the Xtreme Gerbils over Fatal Mutation (Rick Howell), while HefeWeasels (Bill Hurley) took the Consolation Bracket. The first recorded incident of a player quitting and dropping out of the league occurred after week 11, as 1-800-Pik-last owner Jeff Campbell, for reasons unclear to anyone but himself, dropped all 14 of his players from his roster the morning of November 22nd. To maintain competitive integrity the Commissioner returned all the released players back to their roster, and operated the team as if nothing had happened, maintaining the same roster and starting lineup throughout the balance of the season. Ironically, the team proceeded to win 4 straight games and qualified for the championship game. Shaun Alexander (Lambeau's Leap) became the first player in DFFL history to win the MVP award for both the regular season and playoffs.

2006 Once again there was a 12 team league, as nearly everyone returned from the previous year. Chance Gaffney was the lone newcomer, replacing Jeff Campbell. The top pick of the draft was Shaun Alexander by Lambeau’s Leap (Tom Nilles) followed by LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Peyton Manning and Tiki Barber. Division winners were Undead Peace Activists (Rick Howell) who won a three way tie at 8-5 to take the Bill Richardson Division title, Mean Machines (Shannon Kelly) won the Haley Barbour Division with a 6-7 mark, while the John Rowland Division went to the 10-3 Gamblers (Jim Gaffney). The Governor’s Cup went to Undead Peace Activists for the first time in their history, defeating West Coast Gerbils (John Williams) 39-38. Third place went to Mean Machines over the Gamblers, while SchadenfreudeWeasels (Bill Hurley) repeated as Consolation Bracket winner. LaDainian Tomlinson (Gamblers) was the league MVP, and finished with 199 fantasy points, the second highest individual total in league history.

2007 - . For the first time all of the 12 teams from the previous season returned. For the second straight year the #1 selection went to the defending champion, as Undead Peace Activists (Rick Howell) chose LaDainian Tomlinson, while Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander and Payton Manning rounded out the top 5 in what became a disastrous set of first round picks, as only 3 out of the top 12 selections stayed healthy. Division winners were the Undead Peace Activists winning the Mobutu Seko Division at 9-4, Orange Mac (Troy Erhman) taking the Pavlo Lazarenko Division with an 8-5 record, while the Flaming Liberals (Brian Strempke) dominated the Alberto Fujimouri Division with a 12-1 mark.  In the playoffs it was Lambeau’s Leap (Tom Nilles) who ran the table to win their second Governor’s Cup in 3 seasons defeating Undead Peace Activists 44-15. Third Place went to the Flaming Liberals, who bested the Gamblers, while Mean Machines (Shannon Kelly) took the Consolation Bracket. Gamblers QB Tom Brady was named league MVP.

Updated 12/31/2007