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**kingfc22** · 11-17-2007, 02:20 PM

Congrats Kobeck. Very well deserved.

**Suicane** · 11-17-2007, 04:41 PM

Good job Kbeck and Opie. Maybe no title but your team is now in the top echelon thanks to all your hard work.

**Jave** · 11-17-2007, 04:50 PM

Great job Kobeck, seriously!! I swear it wasn't that long ago that Murfreesboro was the laughing stock of the league. I remember thinking they were going to be like the N.O. Saints. Just struck forever with bad luck and even worse players, but Kobeck had made them a force to be taken seriously for years to come.

And WOW with Opie!! I mean he just had a sick year. Just blew everyone else out of the water. This years MVP wasn't ever in dought from game one. Great job again bro, you earned it!!

**Jave** · 11-17-2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks Jeff for researching past winners and posting them. Interesting though. I have 2 of the top players to ever play in the IFL in Hamilton and Martinez. Martinez could be the best receiver ever to play in the IFL and narry a mention of his name in any category. Same with Hamilton. He is in the top 5 at his position in like 4 different stats, but his name is no where to be found either.

PPFFTT you all suck.

**Ragin** · 11-17-2007, 06:07 PM

Kobeck you inspire me!

**Matt** · 11-17-2007, 06:36 PM

congrats to Kobeck on all the accolades. well deserved.

**tarcone** · 11-17-2007, 06:56 PM

Congrats to Kobeck.

Thanks Sui for the Banner AND the defensive rookie of the year.

**Kobeck** · 11-17-2007, 08:34 PM

Thanks guys. (reaches into green and yellow blazer for notes)

In 03 and 04 Murfreesboro avoided last place in the AFCS by finishing third each season.

It was week 12 of the 2004 season that the Mules were shut out 0-6 in Dakota. The Brave Bulls, I think that was what they were then, were 2-8 comming into that game. The Mules could not run the ball being led by Duffy's 16 yards. The Mules could not stop the run allowing 152 yards to Sheldon Carmack, his first 100 yard game ever and highest rush yardage in his career.

Medocaridity was written all over the franchise. It was the shoutout loss to Dakota that forced me to develop a long range plan because it was obvious no short range plan was gonna work. I had just made too many mistakes starting the franchise.

The Mules were forced to trade talent for future draft picks creating plenty of dead money against the CAP. Some of the trades were difficult to make as there is no gurantee even a high draft pick will work out, plus watching what talent there is leave is just hard to accept, especially for the fans.

05-08 saw the Mules sharing or having the worst record in the AFCS. The Mules were a combined 17-47 over those 4 seasons.

05 and 06 were the worst as the Mules had back to back 3-13 records "winning" first overall selection in the draft. Trading down was tempting, but the Mules resisted the quick fix and selected Peterson in 2006 and Fortune in 2007.

In 2007 the Mules made Ethan Vera, an OC with a 26-9 record, their Head Coach. Vera brought a winning attitude to Murfreesboro. Vera hired Joey Bauer as OC to go with original Mule DC R. J. Montgomery.

2008 was the year of defense for the Mules as Mangum, Fryar, Barton and Hinson were drafted and are all current starters, plus the Mules picked up P Gepner.

2009 was the year of "The Mega Trade" as the Mules swapped 8 of their stockpiled picks, 2 firsts and one in each subsequent round, for WR Whitaker, DB McKenzie and DE McCartney of the Columbus Fire. All three players were potential All Pros and all three were on the last year of their contracts. The trade turned out well as the Mules found CAP space to sign them all. Heading into week 15 Murfreesboro was 8-5 and only 1 game out of first and in the mix for a Wildcard. Back to back home games to playoff teams resulted in the Renegades and Devils destroying the Mules and making week 17 a spoiler game. This was the first winning season for the Mules. Comming out of the 2009 season Murfreesboro had a decision to make - Franchise newly acquired stud FA DE Shawn Hernandez or original Mule DT Zoomie Monroe. The Mules tagged Monroe. Both players retired at the end of the 2010 season.

2010, as mentioned earlier, had the Mules at 6-6 and without RB Scott Fortune facing their final home game of the season agianst eventual IFL Champion Vermont. The Mules defeated the Mountaineers and then went on the road to win against divisional nemesis St.Louis and Louisiana and also Newark. This 4 game winning streak, along with a Cardinal upset at Houston week 17, resulted in the Mules first Divisional Championship.

In the Wildcard playoffs against Anchorage the Mules started rookie WR Neri, TE Felts, RG Benveniste, C Rosenfels and second year man LT Marquez on offense and rookie DT Whitaker and DB Farley on defense. Murfreesboro triumphed in front of a feverish crowd against the Lynx. Then it was on to Norfolk in the divisional round. Oddly enough the Mules have been quite the thorn in the side of the Vipers as only Norfolks division rival Hartford has more victories against the IFLs winningest franchise. But the Mules pulled out the upset to advance to the Championship game against Iowa City. The Mules led 6-3 at the half against the Snipe Hunters and it was 13-13 heading into the 4th. Iowa City scored the go ahead TD early in the 4th, but the Mules were unable to effectively respond. Eventually Vera was forced to go for a 4th down deep in Mule terrirory with 3 mins left. This unsuccessful play gave the Snipe Hunters excellent field position and the resulting FG made an insurrmountable lead.

Currently the Mules have the 6th youngest squad in the IFL. With 48 players signed for 2011 the Mules are only a couple of resturctures and some draft day luck away from another run at an IFL Championship.

(puts notes away) The IFL is my favorite hobby. I am glad I choose this league to put my limited time into. Thanks to all the 30+ other guys who make this such an entertaining hobby for me.

**Cringer** · 11-18-2007, 04:11 PM

Lol, wow, great speech Kobeck! That was unexpected and I think a league first. Well done though, with some good team history in there. Congats man. Congrats to the other winners as well.

**SteveBsFan** · 11-19-2007, 02:13 AM

Wtg Kobeck, very well deserved

**BOSS** · 11-19-2007, 04:00 AM

Very nice speech Kobeck! Brought a tear to my eye.

**Hell Atlantic** · 11-19-2007, 08:27 AM

congrats to the winners and thanks to jeff for a great job on this awards announcements thing.

**Warhammer** · 11-20-2007, 06:42 PM

I would have sworn that Lozier had won more MVPs.

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