1964 Season Preview

1964 Season Preview

1964 Schedule
The challenge of adding only one team to the league is how to create a balanced and fair schedule. After looking at several options the league would decide on a format for the 1964 season. With the West Division having 5 teams and the East with 6, there would be a weird balance for the inter-divisional games. It would be determined that each West Division team would play a game against 2 different East Division teams and then they would play 2 division rivals 3 times and then the other 2 teams twice. 

WEST - BUF, IND, LDN, LOU, TOR
1 Game x 2 East Teams = 2 Games
3 Games x 2 West Teams = 6 Games
2 Games x 2 West Teams = 4 Games

Unfortunately, based on the odd number of teams there would be 2 teams left with only one interdivisional matchup. Those two teams would end up playing an additional divisional game against each other. Otherwise, the East teams would play their 2 interdivisional games and then play the remaining 5 East Division teams twice. 

EAST A - BOS, LI, MTL, OTT
1 Game x 2 West Teams = 2 Games
2 Games x 5 East Teams = 10 Games

EAST B - HFX & PRO
1 Game x 1 West Team = 1 Game
2 Games x 4 East Teams = 8 Games
3 Games x 1 East Team = 3 Games

In addition to the new format, each team would get 2 bye weeks throughout the season. This marks the first time bye weeks have been used since 1950. Finally, with the 2 bye weeks for each team, the season will be starting a couple of weeks earlier and have 14 weeks of games instead of the usual 12. 

Power Rankings

1 - Boston Independents
1963 Record: 9-2-1 (1st East)
1963 Result: Lost East Division Final
Despite falling short of the McCallister Cup last season, the Independents are back and ready to fight. Last season, Boston was the king of late-game comebacks. QB Nathaniel Braddock started to show how clutch he can be in games, managing to go 6-1-1 in games that were within one score. Boston is a team that is going to grind out the close games and likely be able to come out on top. That ability gives them an advantage going into the season that could be one of the closest yet. 

Captains:
C - LB Brent Harper
A - QB Nathaniel Braddock
A - WR Ellis Lindholm

2 - London Tigers
1963 Record: 7-5 (1st West)
1963 Result: Won McCallister Cup
London had quite the year last season. They were able to show that they are quite a strong team when the pressure is on and with several injuries. It is tough to count them out even while losing a couple of veterans in LB Aengus Lynch and DL Dee Floyd. GM Joseph Johnson was able to bring back most of the core this season which bodes well for a team looking to stay at the top. They still have concerns however with RB Clifford Russell coming off of a severe injury. The Tigers will hope that he can return to his original production and they can be the best of this tough West Division

Captains:
C - QB Riley Kiernan*
A - RB Clifford Russell
A - DB Jackson Miles*

3 - Montreal Rouge
1963 Record: 6-6 (3rd East)
1963 Result: Last East Division Semi-Final
The Rouge had a disappointing season last year, but they still have a very strong team heading into this season. GM Virgil Gross was able to be more resistant to radically changing the team this offseason, which may work out best for the team. Keeping a similar team year-to-year has worked for London quite well, so it is a valid strategy that could allow the Rouge to get right back into the fight this season. That is another reason that Perry Powell becoming the new head coach may work out, since he was the offensive coordinator last season. 

Captains:
C - DB Quentin Xavier
A - LB Sam Fitzroy
A - RB Scott Mallard-White

4 - Long Island Raiders
1963 Record: 5-7 (3rd West)
1964 Result: Missed Playoffs
With the addition of DB Alexander Bradley along with the major steps forward the Raiders made last season, the team could find themselves back near the top of the NAAF. The biggest question will be if their starting QB Stanley Troyer can play well enough to get the team into a competitive spot to win.

Captains:
C - DL Vernon Spears
A - RB Dareion Fields
A - OL Elliot Winterbottom

5 - Buffalo Blue Wings
1963 Record: 4-7-1 (4th West)
1963 Result: Missed Playoffs
It’s time for this team to make a jump back into a competitive spot. QB Charles Lemieux and RB Jimmy Golden have looked strong in camp along with many of the other youngsters on the team. They will be counting on those two to finally take the next step forward to help get the team back into a competitive spot. They likely do have some humps to get over with a whole new slate of captains to go along with a brand new coaching staff which may have to work out some kinks early on.

Captains: 
C - QB Charles Lemieux*
A - DL Lonnie Vincent*
A - OL Georgio Stephan*

6 - Louisville Thunder
1963 Record: 7-5 (2nd East)
1963 Result: Lost West Division Semi-Final
The Thunder had a historically great defence last season, but their offence was dire. QB Leonidas Dumont had a tough injury-riddled season where he didn’t throw a single touchdown. GM Calvin Carpenter did bring in both WR Sammy Moss and WR Darryl Duke to help out, but Dumont himself is going to have to step up if the team wants to return to the top. They will not have the same support from the defence this season after losing DB Alexander Bradley and DL Tyrone Affalo. 

Captains: 
C - QB Leonidas Dumont
A - LB Scotty Williams
A - S Johnny Berger*

7 - Providence Gold Stars
1963 Record: 8-3-1
1963 Result: Lost McCallister Cup
The Gold Stars are going to be on the back foot to start the season with several key pieces from last season’s McCallister Cup appearance. Losing RB Marcus Devonshire, S Shawn Jensen, WR Sammy Moss, and LB Rusty McVee is going to hinder the team quite a bit. They will have to rely on some younger talent to step up this season if they want to still remain in the battle in what looks to be a very tough East Division. 

Captains:
C - QB Connor O’Rourke
A - DL Calias McDonough
A - DB Neville Falkner*

8 - Ottawa Royals
1963 Record: 4-5-3
1963 Result: Lost West Division Final
The Royals started to officially take steps into rebuilding the team, so the expectations are not going to be too high. However, with QB Jean Matieau returning for what is likely his final season means that you cannot fully count out the Royals. Especially with the additions of WR Marshall Leonard in the offence and plenty of help on defence. Ottawa is a complete dark horse with no expectations which could be dangerous.

Captains:
C - QB Jean Matieau
A - DL Olaf Viktorsson
A - DB Mingan Oliver

9 - Indiana Victors
1963 Record: 4-8 (5th West)
1963 Result: Missed Playoffs
Indiana needs to make something happen this season. They have spent so much time being a team that just can’t get it together. They are hoping that HC Dannell Willis can bring stability and QB Lyle Painter can step up in his second season with the team. The main worry with Indy is that they didn’t make very many major moves that make them feel different than last year. Staying put and letting guys develop, but when it's after continuous struggles it isn’t very inspiring, however, maybe some consistency is what Indy needs to finally get into the playoffs this season. 

Captains:
C - DL William Sanderson
A - DB Kelly Kirkland
A - TE Emmanuel Hines

10 - Halifax Mariners
1963 Record: 3-9 (5th East)
1963 Result: Missed Playoffs
The Mariners certainly have made large steps from their Athletics days, but they still need a little more to get into the conversation. They will have the most important question to answer this season with their QB. Buck Murphy is likely going to get the call to start the season, but HC Urick Wilkins will not hesitate to give Micheal Benedict a chance to prove himself. The goal for the team will be to know their guy heading into next season. 

Captains:
C - OL Ward Briscoe
A - DB Joe Robinson
A - RB Stavros Black

11 - Toronto Steelheads
1963 Record: None
1963 Result: Merged
Toronto will be the toughest team to read since they are mostly made up of former OFU players. It will be a question of how well or quickly they can adapt to the new rule set. It ultimately leaves them in a place where you almost can’t rank them until they play a game. They could either be a strong team that could make the playoffs or they could completely struggle and fall to the bottom. Either way, Toronto will be a very interesting team to watch this season. 

Captains: 
C - QB Todd Baker
A - LB Daniel Carpenter
A - S Daniel Perry

Wally’s 1964 Predictions

WEST
Buffalo 8-4 -y
London 7-5 -x
Louisville 6-6 -x
Indiana 5-7
Toronto 4-8

EAST
Boston 9-3 -y
Montreal 8-4 -x
Long Island 7-5 -x
Providence 5-7
Ottawa 4-8
Halifax 3-9

DSF
LDN over LOU
MTL over LI

DF
BUF over LDN
MTL over BOS

46th MC
MTL over BUF