After seven years, Eric cracks the post-season for the first time, 2007
The playoffs in Robioland fantasy football, let’s be serious, folks…it’s not the toughest place to reach. There are eight post-season spots just waiting for you, in a 12 player league. That means you have a 67% chance of getting in. In fact, throughout the history of Robioland football (prior to Jeff going solo), there have been 23 teams. Only one, Stephanie, who played for only one season and went 6-8, never tasted the playoffs. However, only Eric Vozzola suffered through a seven-year drought.
Back in 2001, Eric joined Robioland with his father. He was the youngest person to ever be in the league. In season one, (as expected) he went through some growing pains. He was never really competitive, finishing 5-9 for the season. He officially only missed the post-season by a game, but he had no shot of winning any tiebreaker with the other 6-8 teams.
In 2002, Eric actually started 4-3, with two games scoring over 1,500. However, he would drop four of his next five. At 5-7, the playoffs were a long shot. Eric did manage to win his final two and finish tied for the final two playoff spots with Masterson and Hightower. However, Rob had outscored Eric by over 2,400 points, while Dave held on by 294 total points to take the 8th seed.
In 2003, Eric stumbled out of the gate. He was 1-5 after six weeks and still only 2-8 with four weeks to go. Suddenly though, his boys started playing. He would pull off a near-amazing comeback, winning four out of his last five to get to 6-8. Despite the amazing comeback, Eric had no legit shot to get in, despite finishing with the same record as the 8th Seeded Calderon, who pulled off his own amazing comeback. In fact, four teams finished 6-8 in ’03 and only Calderon crashed the post-season. Eric was last in points among the foursome.
Ironically though, because the tiebreaker in 2003 was head-to-head, before total points, Calderon needed Eric to win, to get in. Because Bob had beaten both Colby and Rich C., if Eric had lost in his final game, Bob would have gotten in. However, because Eric beat Bob, but lost to Colby (who lost in the final week), the tiebreaker became total points, which Calderon won easily.
Three seasons, zero playoff trips. On to 2004, where no tiebreaker was needed. Eric had his best start at 4-2, riding a three-game winning streak (none were against teams that would finish the season above .500). However, Eric would collapse, finishing 1-7, failing to break 1,000 three times.
By 2005, everyone in the league had visited the post-season, except Eric. He had another rough start, 3-5, but again finished strong. He wrapped up the regular season at 6-7, along with four other teams. With only three playoff spots open, Eric (for the third time) would lose a tiebreaker. David stole the 8th seed by only 159 points.
We’re not even going to talk about 2003. He won three games total. Seven years, no playoff trips. It was getting sad.
In 2007 though, Eric finally said, enough already. He rolled out of the gate, winning his first five. He would stumble and lose two of the next three though. Could he? Could Eric collapse yet again? No, he wouldn’t.
He would win again in week nine, pushing his record to 7-2. Heading into week ten, Eric could already clinch his first playoff spot. And he did just that, by beating your’s truly.
At 8-2 Eric was in the post-season for the first time ever. Granted, he would end up losing his next three, fumbling away his first division title, and sure he lost in the first around to the eventual champ, Matt, but a step is a step and this was a huge step. In fact, despite falling to 6-7 the following year, Eric returned to the post-season again (and again losing in the first round). Next step, win a playoff game.
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