I want to make it as easy and enjoyable for the readers who follow my replays on the Delphi Forums as possible. I’m curious as to what format you would prefer to see future game write-ups be posted from now on. Please take a second to answer the below poll.

Being a student of the game, I’m always trying to fine-tune my playing method to increase speed of play and obtain realistic statistics. I’ve revised my “Method of Play” to reflect my latest playing techniques. The primary changes are to limit rusher’s to their actual long for specific situations, revised quota for “Rare Plays”, simple solo method for determining “Trick Play” defense, and modified goal line techniques.

The update presentation can be found under “Method of Play” in upper ribbon.

While conducting my current 1967 replay, I’ve noticed that the “halfback pass” was used at a greater frequency compared to today’s game. This sparked a conversation between Mark Zarb and me regarding “Trick Plays”. During our talk, it was identified that my current “Method of Play” doesn’t address a “Trick Play Defense”. To rectify this, I will be implementing his simple but effective method for determining if a “Trick Play” defense was called.

Here is how a called “Trick Play” will look like on my tabletop. Once per half, I have the option to call a trick play (i.e., bootleg, end around, non-QB pass, etc.) against a standard or nickel defense when replaying modern seasons. Roll the dice and if the result is 11, 33, or 66, the defense called a “Trick Play Defense” and I will score the play as a 7-yard rushing loss by the ball carrier, intended passer or punter. .

This year’s APBA Convention will be held on June 20-22, 2014 at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta North/Alpharetta.  I’ve noticed several inquiries either on the Delphi Forums or APBA Football Club’s Facebook page whether there will be any type of football presence there during the event.

Last week I reached out to John Herson through Kevin Cluff to see if he would mind if “Football guys” like me socialized and played some Face-to-Face games in the same room as the tournament.  Not knowing the size of the room and not wanting to be a distraction, I thought it was important to get John’s blessing.  I received the below email from Kevin the next day.

” I talked to John about this and he was fine with it as long as you are willing to organize the games (or tourney, whatever you end up doing).  Assuming we get the same room as last year there should be no problem with the football games going on, at the same time.  Personally, I think it is a great idea, and I am looking forward to meeting you this year!”

I reached out to Ray Dunlap to enlist his services and assistance.  Ray brought up a really interesting point, he’s convinced the reason the football game is not nearly as popular as the baseball game is that the game company’s solo version is not up to par.  If more gamers knew about superior ways to play the football game solo, I think we could recruit an entirely new generation of converts. He asked me to play at least a quarter to demonstrate my playing technique and various innovations that I employ.  In turn, Ray will demonstrate his outstanding “Match-Up” system.  Without knowing how many interested people will attend, I can’t promise that there will be an organized tournament, however, there will be the opportunity for several “Face-to-Face” games.

Now that you know that there will be a Football presence at the APBA Convention, go-ahead and sign up for the convention (pre-order cost is $110.00) at http://apbagames.com/2014-convention.  For me, it would be a real pleasure and treat to finally meet some of the folks that I have interacted with for years on the Delphi message boards.  Hope to see you there!!

On the APBA “Between the Lines” (BTL) forum a discussion regarding the Heidi game arose on my Oguard62’s 1967 AFL/NFL Replay thread.  The “Heidi” game took place on November 17, 1968 in a game between the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders.  The Jets were winning 32-29 late in the game, when TV executives from NBC decided to air the movie “Heidi” instead of showing the last 2-minutes of the ball game.  As you can imagine, this created quite the uproar, NBC studio in New York City received so many calls that their circuit board blew out.  Only the 53,318 attendees at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum got to witness Daryle Lamonica connect with Charlie Smith for a 43-yard TD followed up by Earl Christy fumbling the ensuing kickoff and Oakland’s Preston Ridlehuber recovering it for a 2-yard TD making the final score Oakland 43, New York 32.

Mr. Jim Fraasch posted the following on my 1967 thread on BTL: “I’m looking forward to how much realism Greg is able to recreate for the Heidi game when he replays 1968.” Well I have already replayed this season twice and wanted to share the results of my “Heidi” game that I played on December 27, 2010.

Heidi Game

I have a question associated with lines 31, 35 and 36 of the “Kickoff” table in the Master game.  There is an asterick (*) assigned to the “TL” penalty, what does this mean?  This confuses me because an “asterick” indicates how to measure the penalty (I.e., offensive clipping, holding, or illegal use of hands) associated with a kick return, but, none of results from the “L” column on the Penalty Chart are one of these type of infractions. 

If someone could shed some light on this matter it would answer a question I’ve wondered about for years.

Phil Molloy, could you please express your viewpoint on this matter?

As we all have read the following excerpt from Section I. Basic Instructions, paragraph H.2. “Extra point attempts do not count at all in timing the game. The following are timed as half-plays: incomplete passes, touchdowns, field goals, safeties, and all plays on which the ball changes team possession or goes out of bounds, or which involve penalties or injuries.  ALL OTHER PLAYS ARE FULL PLAYS.” 

Well, what about touchbacks?  There are several different types of touchbacks ranging from punts, blocked punt goes back into the end zone and the defensive team intentionally bats or kicks the ball out the back of the end zone, fumble goes out of bounds in opponents end zone, defensive player intercepts a pass in own end zone or on kickoffs.  I specifically want to clarify how to treat a touchback resulting from a kick off. 

Pre-2002 season. Prior to the 2002 season, the clock started on the kickoff unless it was within the last two minutes of the half.  If touchback occurred outside of the “Two-Minute” warning, the touchback will be recorded as a half-play.  If touchback occured inside the “Two-Minute” warning, do not record as half play (ignore) because the clock only starts when the ball was put into play by the receiving team.

Post-2002. Starting in 2002 the clock only starts when put into play by the receiving team and the two minute rule was eliminated. All touchbacks will not be recorded as a half-play.

“Put into play” is defined as: When a member of the receiving team touches the ball, or, if the member of the receiving team touches the ball in their end zone, carries the ball out of the end zone. The clock is stopped when that player is tackled or goes out of bounds. The clock never starts if the receiving team downs the ball in their own end zone for a touchback.