Interview: NCHSAA Fantasy Football League
NCHSAA Fantasy Football League Feeds Staffs Competitive Spirit
By T. Quanta Holden
Chapel Hill – Three years ago, NCHSAA staff member Trá Waters came up with the idea that the NCHSAA staff should participate in its own Fantasy Football League, (FFL) since the majority of the staff loves football. Mr. Waters took it upon himself to organize the league and the league is now in its third season.
The NCHSAA Fantasy Football League is one of thousands of leagues hosted by ESPN.com. Tra Waters won the championship in the league’s inaugural season and the Carolina Blues were last season’s champions.
This season’s league is made of 8 teams with 7 team owners being NCHSAA staff members and the eighth owner is the husband of a staff member. The NCHSAA Fantasy Football League is made up of 5 males and 3 females and the age range of owners is 25-47. Six of the 8 participants have been in the league since its inception, the 2006-07 season.
2008-09 NCHSAA Fantasy Football League
Team Name Owner/Years in the League
Alamance Rumpshakers Trá Waters – 3 years in the league
Bucketville Dancers Chiquana Dancy – 3 years in the league
Carolina Blues Quantá Holden – 3 years in the league
Durham Double D’s Pam Juranas – 3 years in the league
Mebane Mustangs Gary Cavanaugh – 3 years in the league
Spirit of Alge Jason Jutovsky – 1 years in the league
Team Awesome Charlie Farris -(Spouse) years in the league
Wilson Wontons Rebekah Farris – (Winslow) 3 years in the league
Five members of the NCHSAA staff, who participate in the NCHSAA Fantasy Football League (FFL), were interviewed, independently, for this article. Each interviewee was asked the same questions.
List of Questions
• Why do you play fantasy football?
• Which do you prefer live draft or computerized draft? Why?
• How does your fantasy ownership influence the games you watch?
• Do you think there is a real comparison between fantasy ownership, real ownership and coaching?
• What is your opinion of the NCHSAA Fantasy Football League? Do you have any suggests on how to improve the league?
All five team owners interviewed stated that they enjoy playing in the league and love the competitive spirit it breathes into the office. Pam Juranas the owner of the Durham Double D’s, which is currently at the top of the standings, stated in her interview that she feels that the FFL creates a healthy competitive environment around the office. Chiquana Dancy the owner of the Bucketville Dancers answered the question of “Why do you play fantasy football” by saying that during the inaugural season she did not think she would have the time to commit to playing fantasy football but the league creator made her feel bad about not wanting to play, since she is a big football fan and she eventually gave in and joined the league. Ms. Dancy concluded her answer by saying that she now really looks forward to the season and even calls on some outside consultants to help her create the most competitive team possible and playing in the league has really not be a major conflict with her busy schedule.
For the first time this season, the NCHSAA FFL decided to have a Live Draft and the response was fantastic. The Live Draft turned into a full-fledged social event. The grill was pulled out and everyone contributed a side dish and the draft was turned into a party. Everyone interviewed agreed that the Live Draft made them feel like they were more of a part of the drafting process and their fate was not left up to a computer. The Spirit of Alge owner stated that he prefers the Live Draft to the Computerized Draft because there is no personal interaction with the computerized draft. “You simply rank a list of names and hope that the computer makes good selections on your behalf.’
Team owners were divided on the question of whether or not fantasy league ownership compares to being a real owner or a head coach. Half of the owners felt that fantasy ownership really did compare to real ownership in some ways while the other half disagreed. Tra Waters, the owner of the Alamance Rumpshackers, feels that fantasy ownership is much easier than real ownership because you do not have a vested interest and do not really know the players. Team owner, Jason Jutovsky on the other hand commented that he does feel there is a correlation between being a fantasy owner and a real owner because he refers to the players on his team as “his players” much in the same way that Al Davis refers to members of the Oakland Raiders as “his players.”
Team owners interviewed were asked if fantasy football affects the games they watch. Rebekah Farris stated that she does find herself watching games that she normally would not just because a player on her fantasy team is playing. Gary Cavanaugh, owner of the Mebane Mustangs was the only member of the league interviewed that said fantasy football does not affect the games he chooses to watch. Mr. Cavanaugh stated that he selects the games he watches based on whether or not his favorite team is playing or what great match-ups are being played that week.
The final question asked of everyone was “ Do you have any suggestion on how to improve the NCHSAA Fantasy Football League?” The league creator suggests that next season the league add a flex roster spot to help the teams when their players are having bye weeks. Ms. Dancy requested that the league go back to giving out weekly awards to the team that scores the most points, has the largest margin of victory and other awards that have been given out during past seasons. Juranas and Jutovsky both commented that they would like to see more people participating in the league. Seven out of 16 people in the NCHSAA office participates.
Facts Checked and Verified
• Number of seasons that the NCHSAA FFL has existed
• Number of years each team owner has participated
• Verified the past champions
• Current League Standings
