Tecmo Memoirs: Season Two (TSB2K)

After an amazing Super Bowl I in which the Cincinnati Bengals clipped the Philadelphia Eagles 7-6 in the greatest game ever played, founders Matt O'Toole and Nick Ciofani decided to go dorm-wide with their obsession. Chas Claus and Tim Daggett agreed to become the first hosts of TSB and the gray box took over room 301. Seventeen players signed up to play and the draft order was done completely randomly. The Bills, Oilers, Chiefs, Eagles, Bears, and 49ers were banned from human use. The first terrible pick was the first draft choice ever, as Jim Higginbottom (who, to his defense, had little idea who to pick) took the Redskins over other more suitable teams such as the Raiders and Giants. Jamie Peters pounced on the Giants with the next pick, I took my Bengals again, and Aaron Turner landed the Raiders. A few weeks into the season the commissioners decided to allow Todd Weaver to join, but we forced him to take the Patriots.

The beginning of the season saw plenty of fireworks and Tecmo ettiquete was quickly learned by those involved. I had to assure Mike Shuster that the 60-0 spanking I delivered in Week One was nothing personal and that it wasn't just about winning, it was about the stats. Shuster must have learned something as he eventually pulled a nice upset of Turner's Raiders and earned a wild card. But Shuster didn't have to worry about holding the record for worst human beat-down. Later in the season I got about every break imaginable and whipped Dallas' Cowboys (Dallas the guy) 70-0 (it was 32-0 after the first quarter). That record stood until the season where Metzger had the Chiefs and rolled some frosh up 77-0. Also, as a side note, Tim Daggett holds the record for biggest computer squash match as he put up at least 90 one game with the Seahawks.

The end of the season produced a hilarious moment. It was everyone's hope that the playoffs would consist of solely human players. The 49ers were not cooperating. Going into week 17 they held a one game lead on Sam Nicholson's Falcons for the final playoff spot. Sam won his game and he needed to rely on the computer Bears to score a victory over the computer 49ers. So what did we do? We put both teams on COM and watched the game. That's right, we watched the Bears defeat the 49ers and clinch an all-human playoff. It was a wonderful experience.

The founders looked as if they would meet in the Super Bowl again as they both finished the season with perfect 16-0 records. I have vivid memories of these playoffs as they were the first and I watched every game but one (we didn't play them all in one night). Dan Simpson led the 'phins to a victory over Shuster's Broncos and Dallas had some Michael Irvin ugliness to get him past Chas' Saints (Chas and John Fourcade had a season-long love affair that did not end pretty). Turner easily stomped Shane Gibson's Colts and Daggett made sure that the back-door Falcons would not advance. In the divisional round Weiland's Jets won the third meeting with the Dolphins (I think Simpson had won the previous two meetings). Dallas was no match for the Beast and his Giants. Turner rode two fumbles to a 17-10 victory over the Chosen One (I never heard the end of that fricking game) and Daggett stopped Ciofani's Vikings in a defensive struggle 7-2. That set up two exciting Championships. I thought Turner would be unstoppable after taking me out, but Weiland played a great game and advanced to the Super Bowl. In the NFC the Giants were destined to win. Trailing by 7 in the fourth, Matt Bahr came out to attempt a field goal. The kick was blocked, but Bahr picked up the ball and rumbled thirty yards for a touchdown. In OT, the Rams won the toss and FUMBLED the kickoff! The Giants recovered and punched it in the endzone setting up the all-New York Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl was another good game. Down 6-3 in the fourth Weiland turned the ball over on downs and Beast was able to score a meaningless touchdown on the last play of the game. 13-3 Giants.

The season was a big success and Tecmo was on its way. Peters would take the Pats to the playoffs the following year and make the Hall of Fame. John Tice was revealed as a sweet kick/punt returner, and we decided that the Giants and Raiders would be banned the following season (switching with the Eagles and Chiefs). It was the season where Tecmo really took flight.