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15 Questions: Flip Sides

When the USAFL opened up it's doors again in May, 2001 (also known as the modern era of the league), many of the "old guard" returned to run their beloved franchises. But there were also four new faces that signed up, Flip Sides, Fred Hurtubise, Mark Ricotta, and David Manuel. Three of them went on to win Super Bowls and are still participating today. "That class of GMs ranks up there with the original USAFL class of Garritt, Mike, and Tim," says league founder Andrew Lewis.

Flip entered the USAFL as a novice to the world of the FBPRO simulation, but quickly mastered the ways of analyzing pages and pages of player ratings and statistics. His passion for the game was noticed early on by the league office, which led to his appointment to the position of Salary Cap Director and Sim Schedule Creator.

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DALLAS COWBOYS GM Flip Sides

1. In about 6-7 weeks, the USAFL will reach it's two year anniversary since it re-launched in May of 2001. The league had gone through 32 seasons previously, off and on over a three year period. But that re-launch marked a new day for the USAFL. The league re-started with all new rosters and several brand new General Managers signing on. You, Fred Hurtubise, Mark Ricotta, and David Manuel all joined the league that first season of the re-launch, with each one of you taking an Assistant GM position to learn how the league worked. Tell us about those early days. What brought you to the USAFL? What was your first impression of the league and it's veteran GMs?

Mike Morton introduced me to the USAFL when the re-launched occurred. I had never heard of the FBPRO program and I became very curious. I had been playing fantasy leagues for years and while I enjoyed playing fantasy leagues, they just seemed to lack something special. So I started to click through the web site and started to see something really cool. A league of crazy freaks like myself that wanted more than to pick a new of players every year, they wanted their own team. So I signed up and was assigned to one of the greatest GMs of all-time, Mike Breeden of the Cleveland Browns. Mike shared with me all his tools from excel files to his draft philosophy and everything in between. And once I became GM I found out that the rest of the league was just the same, willing to share thoughts, ideas and help you whenever asked.

2. You finally got your shot as a GM of a USAFL franchise when Pat Sicher stepped down as the New Orleans Saints GM. You were able to move the franchise to Dallas and rolled off five straight winning seasons. What was it like being a newbie GM with so many veteran GMs around the league?

Man what a ride those first five years. I moved the team from New Orleans to Dallas, I signed DL Bill Jones and LB Peter Houston to big contracts that first season to try and make a little noise after the team went 1-13 in 2004 under Sicher. But instead of making a little noise I made a big bang by making it to the Super Bowl and lost to Denver 15-13. Two years later (my third season) I win the whole thing with a convincing 22-3 win over Oakland (the first year the home-field advantage was taken out of the SB). I thought for sure teams would stop helping me at this point but even today the guys in the league step up and give their advice. I wouldn’t have won so quickly if it wasn’t for the help of Mike and Ben those early years and that’s the beauty of the league, everyone is there to help the new guys.

3. What advice can you give new GMs like Jay Petty in Pittsburgh and Nolan Harrison in Detroit?

You have to lean on the old guys, don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice or opinions on trades, free agents and rookies. Speaking as a veteran GM I love to see the new guys succeed and to be able to look back and know you were able to help is awesome. And I know the rest of the veterans feel the same. Also pick a route for success and stick to it. But when opportunity knocks, take it. Most of all get into your team, take ownership and have some fun.

4. After several seasons in the league, you were approached by USA Sports Founder Andrew Lewis, offering you a USAFL Commissioner position, Salary Cap Director/Season Schedule Creator. How has that responsibility effected your enjoyment of participating in the league?

When I was approached by Mr. Lewis to move into a USAFL Commissioner position I jumped at the chance to be part of what makes everything tick. So many folks donate their time to make sure we have the best league on the web and are so innovative as well as motivated. Any way I could help them to keep focused on the bigger picture I was willing and wanting to do. My role is simple but I enjoy it and glad to do it. Pssst…. Plus I get to know about all the new gadgets and test them before they are released to the public!!!!

5. One of the hottest topics around the league these days is parity. The 2029 season saw 12 of the 18 teams have winning records, including 4 teams in both West divisions. What's your opinion of the league's desire to maintain a level playing field by making the game more difficult for winning teams?

Parity is the true bond of a great league because it gives all GMs the opportunity to be successful. Which in turn, breeds participation and the longevity of GMs in a league. Yet we still see the great Dynasties in the USAFL. You have the Buffalo Bills run from 2008 to 2011 where they went four straight Super Bowls and winning three. Even here in Dallas we had our golden years from 2015 to 2019 where we went to four of five Super Bowls (including three trips in a row 2017 – 2019) and we won two Lorne Sundby Cups. I think parity is the great measuring stick of great GMs of the USAFL. Even though we have some many teams with a shot at the title we still see a lot of the same faces always on top like Ben, Fred, Mike and Todd.

6. When you first entered the league, defense was the name of the game. Then in 2010 the league opened up the rulebooks allowing for more exciting offenses. You've won three Super Bowls, two of them after the rule changes. Which side of the ball is more important to winning a title? Is it still defense? Or has the Quarterback or Half-back taken over the prominent position that defensive linemen used to hold?

Not at all. I still think teams win in the trenches, but I don’t think it’s just one side of the ball now. I truly believe the 2010 changes brought more attention to the offensive line more than any other position. From 2001 through 2009 you still saw some great offensive players lead their teams to titles. There were such offensive greats as QB Tim Rogan, RB Neil Matthews, RB Lee Tardits, RB Turk Norris and QB Miles Pollara. The way I see it is great skill players can’t show their skills without support up front on either side of the ball.

7. With the new Free Agency Market application about to go into it's second off-season, how do you think it has changed the way GMs approach the off-season?

I think the new application is great in that it gives the process more realism. No more guessing games when you are trying to protect your players and will promote more strategy in Free Agency than before. It is still too new and there are more ideas that are to be attached to the Free Agency that I think will make for some serious fun off-seasons in the future.

8. The USAFL recently enjoyed it's 60th anniversary season. Why do you think the USAFL has enjoyed so many successful seasons? Do you plan to be around when the USAFL celebrates it's 100th season with the 2068 season sim?

We are unbelievably lucky to have brought together such a group of guys who all have at least one thing in common, a sickness for sim football! And I know I have no intentions of quitting as long as USAFL is around. This is honestly the greatest league I have ever played, just a step above the SFLSL for me. And neither will I ever quit.

9. In our league, there are several different levels of competiveness. Describe your competitive spirit when it comes to the USAFL.

My competitive level can only be called a sickness. I can’t stand .500 or worse. I hate missing the playoffs. I track almost every detail of the season on spreadsheets, Ben and Ed have seen my sickness. I don’t understand how teams can “rebuild” because every time I think about doing so I cringe. I just want to win baby!

10. Looking back at all your years as a GM in the USAFL, you joined the league back in a time when nothing was automated. All GM functions and procedures were done manually. Now, thirty seasons later practically everything you do as a GM is done online via the Franchise Management section on the website. What one feature of the USAFL would you say is by far, the best component to the league?

The automation has been incredible both in brainstorming and beta testing to the ability to make it happen, as well as the ease it has brought to being a GM in the USAFL. All should be applauded for their time and efforts especially Garritt. And a special mention to Fred and Andrew, as Fred has donated code and Andrew coming up with the ideas to make Garrritt's life nuts! I love draft central and the lineup automation the best. To be able to do so much through the site is incredible and I think helps busy people be able to continue to participate at a high level.

11. If you could have any ACTIVE player on your team right now, who would it be?

I played quarterback and I love the position so I have to have Reggie Albert… We miss Carlos “The Kid” Rofle in Dallas!

12. Let's say you do make the Super Bowl this season, which team would you like to face?

I love beating the Bills as it reminds me of the glory days in the early to mid 90’s in another league, but I chance to play Old Man Eddie and whup up on his Pot Brownies would be a blast!

13. How many of your family/friends know that you are a hard-core USAFLer? Do you talk about it with them? Or are you a closet USAFLer?

My wife, kids and friends know all about it. Even my co-workers as I try to schedule my days off around the draft. Most don’t understand because we play with fictional players but I just keep telling them they have no idea what they are missing. And I love to get into football discussions where people say “how do you know you have never owned a team” and I say yes I do know because I DO OWN a football franchise!

14. Describe your environmental setting on a draft night. Do you draft from work/home? Do you order out for pizza/wings/etc? How much paperwork are you looking through to make your selection, or is all your scouting work done on the computer?

I sit in my office at home in front of the computer switching between the draft room and my excel sheets while discussing picks with friends and my AGM Ben. The family basically ignores me (wink wink) for the couple of hours we are drafting knowing I left the real world for the USAFL draft….lol. I love to either have a large Dr. Pepper (yes I am a southern boy) or a large chocolate cream pie shake from Sonic with me. I never have more than an idea of the positions I am going to draft and a few names at each position. I don’t bound myself to a set of players to choose from because sometimes the best player available is not in a position of need. I am always looking to take the best player available no matter the position, but still be able to fill the holes you need to.

15. Which of the following would you rather have in your trophy case? One Lorne Sundby Cup, three James Maurer GM of the Year Awards, six NFC Championship trophies, four Bing Bennett Most Valuable Player Awards, five Tim Arkwright Rookie of the Year Awards, or ten NFC West Division Championship trophies?

Well unfortunately the answer I want to give isn’t listed so I will have to say one Lorne Sundby Cup, but I really want 100!!!!!!

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NEXT WEEK: Philadelphia Eagles GM Andrew Lewis