Big Daddy Bowl XXII – Blitz Win Classic vs. Vulcans:

The 2023 BDFL season extended into 2024 with the Big Daddy Championship Series (BDCS) and culminated with all the fanfare, hoopla, and carnival atmosphere of the title contest, the Big Daddy Bowl XXII (22). This season’s championship game matched the Druid City Blitz and the North Birmingham Vulcans in one of the most unexpected endings of the playoffs in recent memory. Both teams came in as members of the “Null Set Club,” with daBlitz battling 16 years of mediocrity and the rookie Vulcans. The teams staged an epic Big Daddy Bowl. The “young but naïve” Vulcans led by the first, second-generation BDFL member – Nic Hand – jumped out to an early lead. However, the Blitz under the calm guidance of Jerry Fritz did not panic. The “Gritz Blitz” battled back in Week 18 of the NFL season, where sometimes starters don’t play, teams attempt to surge to the playoffs, and other teams rest their starters. All of that uncertainty did not dissuade daBlitz. Jerry’s team escaped the “Null Set Club” by winning the championship game in come-from-behind fashion, 29-25, in a thriller. The loss was devastating for Vulcans. They got their hopes up, only to have them crushed by the sometimes cruelty of fantasy football. It was a good rookie run by Nic, but it only gets the Vulcans the “first loser” position. Meanwhile, the strip in T-Town was hopping after the Big Daddy Bowl. In fact, all of Druid City was celebrating including parts of Northport as Tuscaloosa’s own Jerry Fritz was crowned the Champion of the BDFL. “I can’t wait to get my hands on that Grand Daddy Trophy,” said Fritz.

Cheetahs Edge Armadillos:

Elsewhere in the BDFL, the rest of the league battled it out in other bowl games with bragging rights and consolation prizes available at the end of the playoffs. The Southside Cheetahs and the Duncanville Armadillos staged a very competitive game to close out the season. In the end, it was the Sin Wagon that finally rolled past the ‘Dillos by two points in a see-saw affair. Both of these teams came within an eyelash of a title, but will have to settle for finishing in the top of the standings. But, whether you are quoting Dale Earnhart (second place is just the first loser) or Ricky Bobby (if you ain’t first, you’re last), the integrity of the BDFL is tested in such contexts and proves each and every year to be the “cream of the crop” among all fantasy football leagues. In fact, many “mamby pamby leagues” don’t even play in NFL Week 18, because they can’t stand the heat of division races, holdouts, and uncertainty. But the BDFL stands strong.

Mayors Empty Tank – Fall Short Against Bellcows:

The Magic City Mayors had some unfortunate injuries that kept them from advancing in the BDCS, and were not able to defend their back to back championships. And, in the final weekend of the regular season, the Old Cronies finally just ran out of gas. It didn’t help that the fired up and ready Fieldstown Bellcows were on the other sideline calling slants, and screens, and deep passes to defeat the Mayors, 35-18. Both teams had really good seasons, but for the Mayors it was a letdown from being “the victors” for the last two seasons. For the Bell Heads, who were “dead in the water” through six weeks of the season, their comeback to contention, then into the Big Dance, was pretty impressive, and their “never say die,” attitude will be remembered along with their close out vict’ry in Week 18.

Freebirds Trounce Bullets:

No A.W.’s were recorded in the last weekend of the BDFL season, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. In one of the most lopsided contests, the Fultondale Freebirds trounced the Benton Bullets, 23-8. With the two younger Hand Brothers matched up, at least one Hand had to come up with a win. (Chris, Bullet, and Jaimie had entered the last round of the BDCS and Big Mullet Series without a vict’ry.) The Freebirds defeated the Bullets 23-8 to earn their 2023 participation ribbon, and the Bullets sulked to the finish line hauling the final “Toilet Seat Team of the Weak” trophy.

Big Mullet Series – Gamblers Get OT Win vs. Sleds:

It was low-scoring. It was ugly. It was vintage Big Mullet. It went to overtime. It looked like the Gulf Coast Gamblers or the Fairfield PowerSleds did not want to win. Then, the final gun sounded in this Big Mullet Series (BMS) match-up and nothing had been decided. It was tied 13-13, so to Dixie Mafia and the Mean Machine had to go to overtime to determine a winner and who would earn the right to pick first in the BDFL’s spring, Pony Draft. That honor goes to Kenny “The Real Deal” Breal and his Gamblers who won the game in overtime. For the Sleds the season could not end soon enough, and “Mad Jack” is just ready to move on to something else.

‘Nauts Top Mildcats:

The Bulletin is not saying anything about bad luck, but four teams in the Big Mullet Series (BMS) scored exactly 13-points and three out of the four won their games. The Jugtown Juggernauts topped the Western Hills Wildcats, 13-11.

Bandits Beat Brookside:

In a battle of old roommates, the Altadena Bandits scored 13 and defeated the Brookside Dogs, 13-9.

Grenadiers Gut Sloths: 

The Mineral Springs Grenadiers finished the season strong. The team formerly known as the Green Springs Hand Grenades scored more than any of the other teams in the Big Mullet Series (BMS). The Commissioner’s team tallied 35-points on their way to a season-ending, 35-18, vict’ry over the Sloth Monsters. 

Great season from The Bulletin!