RickLM30

Unfortunately, Devine wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, once he hi the NFL... Go Pack!

I use the hashmarks exactly the way Nanook and Zak99b5 do. Why else have the hashmarks on the field? I agree that it adds some additional strategy potential to the game (wide side/short side plays and alignments for both offense and defense). On the Ultimate field it is not as significant, but it is still a factor in my opinion.

Just want to say that I've been playing electric football for about 58 years from when a friend invited me to play with him on his field. I asked and got a game for Christmas that same year. Since that time, I and my brothers had numerous boards and teams, although I'm the only one of the three of us that stuck with it. I too was initially frustrated with the fact that the players ran around all willy-nilly with little rhyme or reason to where they were going. I solved that problem early on by developing a multi-stop system that I believe allows the players to adjust to what is happening on the field. I stop the game about every 3 - 5 seconds to adjust the players to run and cover pass patterns, to block and react to blocks and to break for holes and to react to what the ball carrier is doing. It has worked for me for all these years and I am quite happy with my system, although it's probably not for everyone. I use rookie bases because the dial bases just seem to bulky and fiddly for me and I don't really tweak the bases, other than candle them when I first get then, just because I would rather play than spend time messing with the bases. 😊 Also, I have had a number of different sized boards. Early on, with the smaller boards, I was somewhat frustrated, as it was difficult to run sweeps, outs, flags and such. When I started using 620 boards, I was pretty happy with them, but still felt they weren't quite the right size. I had thought about trying to build a bigger board, but by the time I added up the cost of parts, the effort that would be needed (a major consideration at my age), and the time it would take, I believed the way to go for me was to purchase one from Tudor. I have to say that I am extremely happy with my Ultimate 4'x2' board. The size is right and it runs fine. I think one of the great things about the hobby is that there are a lot of ways to participate in it. Tweaking, painting, modding, playing, whatever floats your boat is pretty much available. You certainly can spend a lot of money in the hobby, and I suppose over the years I have been playing I've spent a good bit. However, before I bought my Ultimate board, I hadn't really spent much in the last 20 years (the last time I expanded my league) other than buying a few unpainted teams to expand my rosters and replace a couple of broken players. I have been mostly using 2 boards that I've had since 1977. I repaint teams periodically and renumber players after each season as players retire and new ones come along, but I don't really worry about anything else but playing out each season. I guess it just doesn't take much to entertain me.😊

That stadium is awesome!!!!

I'm no Aaron Rogers 😊, but I still prefer touch passing by using the TTQB to actually drop ball over the defender and hit the receiver. However, this sounds like a pretty clever way of touch passing.

Yup, but the league keeps making it harder and harder to play defense, especially in the defensive backfield!

I have my motors on opposite corners of the end zone with foam squares under each foot as well. My board runs great and is nice and quiet, which makes my spousal unit very happy, after listening to "the Buzz" for 38 years! It's in her sewing room now, so we can spend even more time together (trying to get her interested in playing electric football, but no luck so far)! 🤣

Oh no! Say it ain't so! The Packers lose to the Chiefs????? There's no justice! 😊 You're right, the field (and the players) look great!

Charlie, Nice to see the old guys on the field again! Go Pack!

The video was great! I'm old enough to remember those teams and games. Also, the voice of John Facenda doing the narrative for Ed Sabol's production was great. Brought back a lot of great memories.

Yeah, you don't see linebackers like Butkus, Nitschke, Lanier, Curtis, Nobis, Huff, etc. anymore. It's now all about passing.

I lost about 5 years when I was living in Italy and England, but other than that I've played pretty steadily around traveling for work and my college years. I have the same problem with the Pro Football Reference and Gridiron Uniform Database sites! 🤣 I'm not much of a fan of the game the way it is played now. I always preferred two back sets where both backs were dangerous ball carriers, rather than the one bac sets or blocking back and running back sets of today. I agree, the version played in the 50s, 60s, and 70s was more to my liking. I used to keep my two conferences separate for the same reason you give, but I changed to inter conference play about 3 seasons ago. I also liked the idea of two teams not having played each other until the Super Bowl (especially considering the results of the first 2 Super Bowls - Go Pack), and sometimes I still experience that. But I also liked the idea of interstate rivalries, such as Steelers/Eagles, Giants/Jets, Cowboys/Oilers (I still have the Oilers in my league - just couldn't let them go), Rams/Chargers, etc., which was the reason I went with my format. I like both formats and have considered going back to intra-conference schedule. Maybe I'll do that again if I live long enough to start another season after this one (projected to end in 2027 if all goes well 😊).

Well, I know I'm old, so there's that, but I always liked defense. And I agree there is a difference between an inept offense and great defense. Bring back the Steel Curtain, Purple People Eaters, Fearsome Foursome, Orange Crush, and even the Doomsday Defense (I'm not a Dallas fan! 😊). It's just really difficult to play defense in this day and age, especially in the secondary, where you can't touch the receivers (or even look cross-eyed at them 😊).

Yup, I agree 100%. It's all about the money with the NFL. The more games, the more merchandise, the more fans, all result in more income. I think that's why it's become a passing league - because the average "fan" just wants to see touchdowns and has no real appreciation for defense. The more touchdowns, the more fans. I'm old school and have always liked defensive struggles. 😊 Anyway, it's just too many uniforms now. I'll stick with the old ones from the 60's, 70s, and 80s for my solitaire league, thank you very much! 😊

Jim, I've operated my solitaire league since 1966, so I have my off season routine pretty standardized. I use rosters of 54 (offense and defense), plus kicker, punter and taxi-squads (10 players each for offense and defense). I have 16 teams divided into 4 division (2 conferences) in my league and play a 16 game schedule, plus playoffs. Each team plays its division teams twice, remaining conference teams once, and 6 teams from the other conference. The division winners and 1 wild card per conference play to determine the conference championship, and the two conference champions play in the Super Bowl. Then I play an inter-conference All-Star game. I actually do finish my seasons, it just takes about 8 years per season. For some reason, it has never become a burden for me 😊, as I enjoy playing the games and keeping statistics on all the players in my league over the course of their career. I'm kind of a statistics nerd, I guess.😊 I'm in my 7th season now and many of my players have been there for all seven seasons. (i use NFL players who were active in the league from 1960 through 1999.) Anyway, in the offseason, I touch up paint, replace worn numbers or change numbers, re-rate my players to determine who is retiring, whether I am bringing in new players, who is starting, who is on the bench or the taxi squad. I usually re-race my bases and re-allocate them to my players based on the players' new ratings. I develop the Excel spreadsheets I use for each team to track the statistics for each play and players for each game. I also create the schedule for the new season. I am pretty happy with my teams and division and conference arrangement, so I haven't added any teams or moved teams around for the last 3 seasons. I started out with 5 teams, and kept expanding until I hit 16 and decided that was enough. 😊 I also contemplate rules changes, based on what the NFL is doing (although I don't always adopt their changes). I used to draw up new offensive plays and defenses. I don't do too much of that anymore, as I've got a pretty extensive pile of 3x5 cards with offensive plays and usually 2 or 3 basic defensive sets with different blitz and coverage packages for each team. Sorry for the long answer to a short question.

Wow! The field looks good and I really like all the Packers' memorabilia. Really nice. I'm 70 and had the same issue with Packers games. Was tough to catch them on TV unless they were playing the Eagles or one of the other NFC East teams (especially during the lean years). Felt the same when Majkowski went down, but Favre played ok in his stead. 😊 I wasn't happy when I heard Reggie was leaving the Eagles, but when he signed with the Packers, I was ok with that! He went from my second favorite team to my favorite team! Can't beat that! 🤣

Very nice!

Yup.

I agree. I always thought the Rams looked best with the blue jerseys and yellow pants. I'm really not a fan of the new uniforms or the multi-uniform looks in the NFL these days. With all the different uniform versions for each team, It's getting hard to figure out what teams you are looking at. 😊 Also, I especially don't like the jersey and pants the same color look. Obviously, just my opinion.

Thanks. Guess the Pack will have to represent the division in the playoffs now. Bears had a tough row to hoe against the Saints. Hopefully, the Pack will bring another Super Bowl trophy to Green Bay!

Well, I guess there's no accounting for taste. 😊 I've been a Packers fan since 1960 when they lost to the Eagles for the NFL Championship (prior to the Super Bowls). I stuck with them through the great Lombardi years and then all the down years and then the great years when Favre and Rogers showed up! Sixty years of Packers football can't be beat!!!! 😊 GO PACK!

I have to agree with zak99b5. The ultimate board met my expectations and the big field is great! It is closer to scale and I really like the extra width. It opens up holes in zone defenses for curls, and slants, and allows more room for running outs and flags, etc. I wish I had waited to buy it until the team covers were included, but I remedied that by buying a Packer field cover, which actually improved performance somewhat (smoother vibration) and looks (How could it not look better with a Packer field? 😊)!

Glad to see you're back and playing again. Really like to see the old figures. Can't wait to follow the results of your tournament.

Wow! Thought it really was Joe for a second! 😊

I certainly can't argue with your statement. You are right, you would think for that much money the board would be just about perfect. All I'm saying is, I can't say my ultimate board is perfect, but it is head and shoulders better than my other boards. I don't really notice any sag in the middle (but it could just be my old eyes 😊). I'm using two motors which seem to work pretty well - a couple of small, slightly faster spots near the motors, but overall pretty uniform speed across the board. I don't see a need to do any tweaking to my board, but that doesn't mean others won't.