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Andrew: As I looked around the internet, I noticed that one of the biggest downsides to online leagues was abusive competitiveness. I knew that if I started a league, I was going to have to make certain values the top priority. I was not going to allow the competition to take away from the opportunity for a bunch of folks to get together and have a blast participating in a sport they loved. But more importantly, I had to impress that upon the first few people to join, so that they in turn, would do the same when even more people joined.

I could not have hand selected three better people to be the first guys to sign-on to the USAFL from the internet. Garritt Grandberg, Tim Arkwright, and Mike Manuel all believed in what I was building and knew that they would be able to play foundational roles in growing the league.

As each new person arrived, our friendly behavior and attitudes was contagious. Sure we had a couple of bumps along the way. But those were excellent learning experiences for all of us.

We even had a few guys who didn't like the friendly atmosphere and wanted something more cut-throat style competition. For me, I enjoy all the teasing and joking we do with each other (like this picture of Arkwright with Jeff Gordon - who he loathed).

One of the greatest blessings for me, is the loyalty of the hard-core USAFLers. I believe I had to shut down the USAFL about four times due to health or job reasons. Each time I re-launched, without fail, nearly everyone was back on-board within 24 hours. 

Check out this ABOUT page from an earlier version of the USAFL. It walks you through the entire history of the USAFL right up until the third generation of guys came on board. It's the original HTML, so there will be broken links/no pics.


Who was the first person, besides Andrew, in the league that you became good friends with? :

Bill: I immediately struck up friendships with Tom (Edwards) and Joe (Malloy),
due to the mutual pro-wrestling fandom.

Todd: I'd have to say Mike Breeden. Mike took time to get to know me, and never missed an opportunity to congratulate me on an accomplishment, or just say hello when we both happened to be on-line.

Fred: I already knew Jean and Martin (personally) Tom and Joe before USAFL. So I guess it'd be a 2 way tie between Flip and Ben. Ben because he was and still is always online during the day, so he would entertain my working day. And Flip, well, let say he's like me. And he's my nemesis.

Ben: Probably Fred or Flip, wasn't very active back in the old days of the USAFL

Tom: Who said I was friends with Andrew? Well, seriously though, I was friends when I started with Hurstel Howard (former Carolina GM) and Dave Aiello (former Green Bay GM), and Joe Malloy was an AGM at the same time I was. We knew each other before the USAFL. I guess the first person I talked to and got to be decent friends with after joining USAFL was Tim Arkwright. Everyone warned me about him and how he'd try to take any lifeblood from my franchise, but we had some pretty good discussions back then, and it was good to see him come back.

Joe: Hmm.. I'd say Mike Manuel. I learned a lot from being his AGM. He was a big influence in me, and I'm proud to say that I was his AGM.

Garritt: probably the person I've talked to the most is Fred H.

Jean: When I joined the league, the first three people i talked with were Ben, Tim and Flip. Ben wanted all my best players for poops, Tim and i got some good discussions about the game itself ... and Flip thought Fred and me were a single person :)

Flip: Mike Breeden was my first USAFL bud (Mike Morton introduced me to the league) as he really taught me how to GM. He was always willing to answer my stupid questions and chat some too. I feel USAFL really misses a GM like Mike Breeden. Since Mike’s departure I would have to say I have buddied up with Fred and Ben the most, but I feel like everyone in the league is pretty easy to chat with.

Mike: Good friends..... Well I am not online as much as I used to be and so my time to talk with all you you is very small. I guess my first good friends in the league were Mike and Amy Morton. Good people. Owen, Tim, Claude, Ryan.....ect. While I am not as close to many as I should be I consider all of you my friends.

For even more historical data, visit the USAFL History Page to view tons of stats from earlier versions of the USAFL. This page can always be accessed through the USAFL FAQ.