LBXVII: The Outset

We have arrived at Larkspur Bowl XVII: Year Seventeen!

First, what stays the same:

• After so many years as a fourteen team league, we will remain at twelve teams in 2025.
• The league is split into two six team divisions, where teams play their division rivals twice (ten games) and the other division's teams once (six games)
• Four teams make the playoffs, with each division winner guaranteed a berth, but seeding is based on overall record.
• We are maintaining the serpentine draft with no keepers. The draft is set for Tuesday 9/2 at 8:30pm. I will send a text to everyone to ensure they're ready to rock and roll.

Then what changes:

• We're switching divisions- the six active teams that participated in Larkspur Bowl I will play in the FOUNDERS DIVISION, while the six teams that joined later will play in the PIONEERS DIVISION.
• The trade deadline has been pushed back to November 29th, following Thanksgiving.
• Draft order is being hardlined this year, based on last year's results, rather than teams selecting their draft slot in that order. I just ran out of time this year.

The division are:

FOUNDERS DIVISION:

• PHOENIX - K. GRIMES
• HILL VALLEY - M. VERRINO
• NEW YORK - T. GRIMES
• HCM CITY - P. PERSAMPIERI
• SAVANNAH - S. GRIMES
• PHILADELPHIA - K. STABE

PIONEERS DIVISION:

• NEW JERSEY - N. LANG
• PAWNEE - P. ALLEGRETTA
• SOUTH PARK - M. HART
• MAR-A-LAGO - V. MILILLO
• DEPUTY - A. PATEL
• PUTNAM LAKE - G. CAPONE

LBXVII: Year Seventeen

First things first, the Binghamton Snipers are withdrawing from the league after a respectable eight year run, making the playoffs four times, including a terrific 2023 season, that ended in the semifinals with an eight point loss to the eventual champion New Jersey Crew.

• 2024: 8-8, 6th place
• 2023: 10-3, 3rd place (playoffs: 0-1)
• 2022: 4-9, 13th place
• 2021: 7-6, 9th place
• 2020: 7-6, 6th place (playoffs: 0-1)
• 2019: 6-7, 12th place
• 2018: 7-6, 6th place (playoffs: 0-1)
• 2017: 7-6, 5th place (playoffs: 0-1)

The Snipers will be replaced by a new team under the leadership of Greg Capone. Greg "the Leg" has connections with over half the league, and brings another avid Jets fan to the league. Once the team's name is announced, we will have a formal introduction of the squad. They will plug into the second overall draft slot, inherited from Binghamton. 

The full draft selection (adjusted for 12 teams) is as follows:

1. NEW YORK - Tom Grimes
2. PUTNAM LAKE - Greg Capone
3. MAR-A-LAGO - Vince Milillo
4. HCM CITY - Peter Persampieri
5. DEPUTY - Ajay Patel
6. SOUTH PARK - Mike Hart
7. PAWNEE - Pete Allegretta
8. PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Stabe
9. SAVANNAH - Steve Grimes
10. NEW JERSEY - Nick Lang
11. PHOENIX - Kevin Grimes
12. HILL VALLEY - Mike Verrino

I will follow up with each team sequentially to define the draft order, with the draft tentatively set for Tuesday, September 2nd, at (UPDATED!) 8:30pm. (Amenable to a later or earlier time with priority deference to children's bedtimes, followed by Grandpa's bedtime!)