The Larkspur Bowl: Franchise on Hiatus: Toronto LTP

The league will be changing in 2018, as a longtime franchise goes off to pasture (for now) and an original squad returns; More on that in a bit. First lets bid proper adieu to a team that joined the League in 2012 and ran for six seasons: Toronto Les Tres Petites.

The team's first Canadian entry, LTP was a joint venture between Stu Ferguson and co-manager Mike Hart. Their rookie campaign fell short of a playoff berth at 5-8, but showing in the top six in overall points the team flashed potential that would result in three straight playoff appearances in LBV, LBVI, and LBVII. A glimpse over at the HALL OF CHAMPIONS shows that only stalwart Phoenix was able to match that consistency, no other team making more than two champions brackets during that three year stretch.

2013 was the team's best season, as they went 8-5, clinched the 4th seed, and eliminated the Orgrimmar Horde in the first round before falling to the eventual champion Uprising. An explosive and dynamic offense was led by Cam Newton and Desean Jackson, with a star breakout from 5th round pick Antonio Brown, and a career best 1,512 yards from scrimmage from Reggie Bush. Their defense was captained by recently retired Paul Posluszny who racked up an incredible 161 total tackles; Karlos Dansby (121), and Chad Greenway (123) rounded out a formidable linebacking corps, with DE Robert Quinn wrecking havoc in the opponent's backfield (15 sacks, 20 TFLs) all year. After being bounced from the playoffs Mike Hart was announced as the head coach of the South Park Cows.

Flying solo, Stu Ferguson's 2014 was just half a step behind the previous year: At 7-6 they were again third in scoring and fourth in seeding, but a first round defeat to Margaritaville meant they could only salvage 5th for a second year. Utilizing Ben Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo under center, the team's attack centered on another player who retired following the 2017 campaign: Running back Demarco Murray went for 2,261 yards from scrimmage and 13 trips to the end zone. Jeremy Maclin and Dez Bryant both went for 1,300+ yards and double digit scores (16 for Dez who has scored 17 combined in the three years since) rounded out a very potent offense.

In 2015 the results looked almost identical to the previous year: Another 7-6 record. Another first round loss. This time the team was the 6th seed after a precipitous drop in scoring, where they finished in 9th, showing themselves to be more lucky than good, with a masterful Tom Brady (a steal in the 7th round after an uncertain offseason) covering up for a lot of inadequacies. Timely scoring from a swan singing Megatron Calvin Johnson and some clutch maneuvering from 19th round pick Danny Woodhead kept the offense chugging, while Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu and cornerback Trumaine Johnson ball hawked the team to uncanny victories. The team's zenith was a week 15 trouncing of the Islanders, a 253.18 score that was the second highest score ever at the time, and remains the tenth best single week showing today. However, the team fell flat in their playoff showing, getting trounced by the Pawnee Pride 206-123. Mike Hart's Cows would avenge them in Larkspur Bowl VII, some measure of redemption.

2016 and 2017 marked a decline for the team, which sloughed further off their pace each year, dropping to 12th (5-8, 11th in points) then 13th (3-10, 13th in points) and failing to develop the attrition vital to sustaining providence. Both years saw the team put together single game scoring records (#8: 253.6 against the Cows in 2016 and #14: 247.86 against the McFlys in 2017) but the team struggled to be competitive on a week to week basis. Still, their legacy remains: A playoff team in half their seasons, two bronzes in the points race, and a shared history with the LVII champs, Stu Ferguson may linger in an advisory role with South Park, or else as a friend to the league with the potential to return in the future.

Team Owners: Stu Ferguson
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Overall Record: (6 years) 35-43 .449%
Playoff Record: (3 appearances) 1-3
LB Appearances: None
Best Finish: 4th (2013)