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Matt from TN · 05-14-2003, 03:46 PM

I suppose there's no better place to begin than to recap the 2002 season. This will give you a clearer picture of the current state of the league. (PS - if anyone knows a way to make these standings keep their format for better reading, please let me know).

Final 2002 Standings:

Southern League

East

Alabama Lariats 105-57 --
Tennessee Mockingbirds 99-63 6
South Carolina Ocenics 96-66 9
Virginia Stallions 70-92 35
Georgia Rangers 59-103 46

Central

Nebraska Shuckers 86-77 --
Texas Oilrigs 85-78 1
Louisiana Chocktaws 72-90 13.5
Missouri Mustangs 65-97 20.5
Oklahoma Coyotes 65-97 20.5

West

Oregon Blues 92-70 --
California Cobras 87-75 5
Nevada Goldminers 78-84 14
Arizona Trailways 76-86 16

Northern League

East

New Jersey Jets 88-74 --
New York Knights 85-77 3
Connecticut Dragsters 80-82 8
Delaware Mavericks 75-87 13
New Hampshire Hornets 57-105 31

Central

Pennsylvania Sentinels 97-65 --
Ohio Assassins 92-70 5
Michigan Dragons 90-72 7
Wisconsin Rattlers 76-86 21
Illinois Panthers 71-91 26

West

Washington Timbers 88-74 --
Dakota Grizzlies 82-80 6
Kansas Wranglers 79-83 9
Alaska Huskies 74-88 14

In 2002, the Alabama Lariats shocked the league by going worst-to-first in style. After loosing 103 games in 2001, the Lariats made an amazing 47-game turnaround in 2002. While many experts believed their 2001 season was a huge disappointment caused by lackluster play and terrible seasons from most key players, no one expected 105 wins from Alabama in 2002. The Tennessee Mockingbirds continued their return to glory. The most dominating franchise in the league's 15-year history, Tennessee won 99 games and made the playoffs as a wildcard. South Carolina won a dominating 96 games, but finished third in the powerful SL East. Meanwhile, the 2001 Southern champion Georgia Rangers backed up their shocking Byrns Trophy Championship Series appearance with a 103-loss, last place finish.

In the SL Central, Nebraska won a one-game playoff with Texas to return the Shuckers to the playoffs. Nebraska won the Byrns Trophy in 2000, but were unable to defend the title or the division pennant in 2001. Texas continued to be one of the all-time underachieving franchises. The Oilrigs have been labeled as an overpaid team that could not get results for many seasons now. Louisiana continued to rebuild their strugging franchise, while Oklahoma continued to be the poster child for futility (insert Bengals comparison here).

The Oregon Blues were strong again in 2002, and their closest competitor was a surprising California club who finished last in 2001. Both Nevada and Arizona were big disappointments. Nevada had been building on a recent string of successes, while Arizona's club had aged too much to be among the best any more.

The Northern East saw New Jersey repeat as division champs. These two division titles were the first in the club's history since beginning play as an expansion team in 1995. New York was a big surprise in second place, proving that their recent rebuilding is paying off. This was the Knights' first winning season since 1995. Delaware was a disappointment after being picked as the #1 or #2 team in the division, and New Hampshire officially became labeled as the North's worst franchise.

Pennsylvania shocked the NBL to come out of nowhere to win a league-high 97 games. Ohio, one of the North's best franchises for many years, was just as surprising by maintaining their winning ways even after losing many key players over the past two offseasons. After winning the Byrns Trophy in 2001, Wisconsin drove experts and team management mad with their 76-86 title defense.

After losing to Wisconsin in the 2001 NLCS, Washington won the West again, but they were not as dominating. Dakota eeked out a winning record (82-80) in what has been known as the weakest division in the NBL for many seasons.

Playoff Recap

Nebraska (2) against Alabama (3)
Oregon (3) against Tennessee (1)
Washington (0) against Pennsylvania (3)
New Jersey (3) against Ohio (1)

LCS:
Oregon (4) against Alabama (1)
New Jersey (4) against Pennsylvania (2)

Byrns Trophy Series:
New Jersey (3) against Oregon (4)
WINNER : Oregon

05-14-2003, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Matt from TN Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a funk.... Posts: 3,413 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2x in 2 posts	2002 Recap I suppose there's no better place to begin than to recap the 2002 season. This will give you a clearer picture of the current state of the league. (PS - if anyone knows a way to make these standings keep their format for better reading, please let me know). Final 2002 Standings: Southern League East Alabama Lariats 105-57 -- Tennessee Mockingbirds 99-63 6 South Carolina Ocenics 96-66 9 Virginia Stallions 70-92 35 Georgia Rangers 59-103 46 Central Nebraska Shuckers 86-77 -- Texas Oilrigs 85-78 1 Louisiana Chocktaws 72-90 13.5 Missouri Mustangs 65-97 20.5 Oklahoma Coyotes 65-97 20.5 West Oregon Blues 92-70 -- California Cobras 87-75 5 Nevada Goldminers 78-84 14 Arizona Trailways 76-86 16 Northern League East New Jersey Jets 88-74 -- New York Knights 85-77 3 Connecticut Dragsters 80-82 8 Delaware Mavericks 75-87 13 New Hampshire Hornets 57-105 31 Central Pennsylvania Sentinels 97-65 -- Ohio Assassins 92-70 5 Michigan Dragons 90-72 7 Wisconsin Rattlers 76-86 21 Illinois Panthers 71-91 26 West Washington Timbers 88-74 -- Dakota Grizzlies 82-80 6 Kansas Wranglers 79-83 9 Alaska Huskies 74-88 14 In 2002, the Alabama Lariats shocked the league by going worst-to-first in style. After loosing 103 games in 2001, the Lariats made an amazing 47-game turnaround in 2002. While many experts believed their 2001 season was a huge disappointment caused by lackluster play and terrible seasons from most key players, no one expected 105 wins from Alabama in 2002. The Tennessee Mockingbirds continued their return to glory. The most dominating franchise in the league's 15-year history, Tennessee won 99 games and made the playoffs as a wildcard. South Carolina won a dominating 96 games, but finished third in the powerful SL East. Meanwhile, the 2001 Southern champion Georgia Rangers backed up their shocking Byrns Trophy Championship Series appearance with a 103-loss, last place finish. In the SL Central, Nebraska won a one-game playoff with Texas to return the Shuckers to the playoffs. Nebraska won the Byrns Trophy in 2000, but were unable to defend the title or the division pennant in 2001. Texas continued to be one of the all-time underachieving franchises. The Oilrigs have been labeled as an overpaid team that could not get results for many seasons now. Louisiana continued to rebuild their strugging franchise, while Oklahoma continued to be the poster child for futility (insert Bengals comparison here). The Oregon Blues were strong again in 2002, and their closest competitor was a surprising California club who finished last in 2001. Both Nevada and Arizona were big disappointments. Nevada had been building on a recent string of successes, while Arizona's club had aged too much to be among the best any more. The Northern East saw New Jersey repeat as division champs. These two division titles were the first in the club's history since beginning play as an expansion team in 1995. New York was a big surprise in second place, proving that their recent rebuilding is paying off. This was the Knights' first winning season since 1995. Delaware was a disappointment after being picked as the #1 or #2 team in the division, and New Hampshire officially became labeled as the North's worst franchise. Pennsylvania shocked the NBL to come out of nowhere to win a league-high 97 games. Ohio, one of the North's best franchises for many years, was just as surprising by maintaining their winning ways even after losing many key players over the past two offseasons. After winning the Byrns Trophy in 2001, Wisconsin drove experts and team management mad with their 76-86 title defense. After losing to Wisconsin in the 2001 NLCS, Washington won the West again, but they were not as dominating. Dakota eeked out a winning record (82-80) in what has been known as the weakest division in the NBL for many seasons. Playoff Recap Nebraska (2) against Alabama (3) Oregon (3) against Tennessee (1) Washington (0) against Pennsylvania (3) New Jersey (3) against Ohio (1) LCS: Oregon (4) against Alabama (1) New Jersey (4) against Pennsylvania (2) Byrns Trophy Series: New Jersey (3) against Oregon (4) WINNER : Oregon Last edited by Matt from TN; 06-11-2003 at 08:01 PM.