1971 Schedule

As announced in the league meetings, the 1971 season would see the NAAF expand its schedule from 12 games per team to 14 games per team. Each team will play 8 games against their own division and 6 between the other two divisions. Each team will play a rival team 2 times (home and home). The rivals remain the same as last season. Then, each team will play 2 of the remaining 4 divisional teams 2 times (home and home), and then the final two teams they will play once (1 home and 1 on the road). 

As for the 6 interdivisional games, each team will play 3 games against each division. The standings from the previous season determine the opponents that each team plays this season. 1st, 3rd, and 5th place finishers (within their division) will be grouped together and play each other, and then 2nd, 4th, and 6th place finishers will be grouped together and play each other. So for example, the Raiders finished 1st in the East, they have Minnesota (1st), Winnipeg (3rd), and Regina (5th) from the West Division, and then Buffalo (1st), Indiana (3rd), and Toronto (5th) from the Central Division. As for where the games are played, each division will “host” another division. This season, East hosts Central, Central hosts West, and West hosts East. This means all the East teams will host their games against the Central and so on. However, the team that you finished in the same place as in the other division, so Buffalo and Minnesota from the example before, will have the host flipped. That way there is a more balanced travel schedule for most teams. 

So to continue the example, here is the Long Island Raiders' list of opponents.

Division Rival
VS. Halifax
@ Halifax

Remaining Divisional Games
VS. Boston
@ Boston
VS. Montreal
@ Montreal
VS. Ottawa
@ Providence

Against West Division
VS. Minnesota *
@ Winnipeg
@ Regina

Against Central Division
@ Buffalo *
VS. Indiana
VS. Toronto

“*” - indicates the game that is “flipped”.

I hope this makes sense, and intrigues those who have an enjoyment of schedule formulas

As for the full schedule, here are some other notes. With the expanded schedule, the season is now 15 weeks long. The season will begin on June 24, 1971, and conclude on October 24, 1971, with the 53rd McCallister Cup in Providence, RI. Bye weeks will happen in Weeks 8, 9, and 10. Each week a division will get the week off, the order of which is determined by the final finishing place from the previous season. The division with the highest finisher will go last and the rest in reverse order. 

Now for some important dates and games. As mentioned the season will begin on June 24, 1971, with the Long Island Raiders hosting the Boston Independents. In week 2, Canada Day will feature two matchups this season, with the London Tigers hosting the Edmonton Rangers, before the Ottawa Royals host the Toronto Steelheads. The 4th of July will also have two games, featuring Indiana heading up to Buffalo and Boston welcoming Pittsburgh. Rivalry week will occur in Week 6, as usual with Buffalo and London’s rematch the next week. Labour Day will have two matchups in week 11, with the battle of Alberta kicking off the show in Edmonton, and then the usual battle between Indiana and Louisville later in the day. The season will conclude on October 2, 1971, with all games occurring on the same day. As of now, Ottawa and Long Island are scheduled as the season finale, but the game could be changed if there is a more suitable game for the later slot. 

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Here is a look at each team's individual schedules as well:

1971 Hall of Fame Class

Member #31: LB Scotty Williams - Erie, PA - 1st Ballot - Creator: Captain Mort 3D
From the moment Scotty Williams’ name was called as the 1st pick in the NAAF’s first-ever draft, he was cemented in NAAF history. Williams had a lot to live up to with that honour, but he blew the expectations out of the water. He would easily take home Rookie of the Year in 1952, ranking 3rd in the league in tackles. Over the next several seasons, Williams would help lead the Athletics build into a contender. In 1955, Williams would lead the league in tackles for the first time in his career, earning his first Defensive Player of the Year award and getting the Athletics into the playoffs for the first time. The very next season, Williams would top his 1955 campaign, leading the league in tackles and forced fumbles, en route to an MVP season. The Athletics would finish with a 9-1 record and would reach the McCallister Cup, however, they came up just short of the big prize. The years that followed the Athletics’ McCallister Cup appearance would be tough. The Athletics would fall from grace with the team being run by the problematic Chester Paul, following his father’s death. While the team struggled to reach the high of the 1956 season, Williams remained one of the best players in the league. He would capture a second Defensive Player of the Year in 1960. In 1961, Worcester Stadium suffered its firey demise at the hands of Chester Paul, who was looking to get insurance money through fraud, forcing the team to find a new home. Williams had intended to stay in Worcester for his whole career, but with the team moving, he would have the best opportunity to try and take a shot at the McCallister Cup. Ahead of the 1962 season, Williams was traded to Louisville. Williams’ impact was immediate. The Thunder would go on to win the McCallister Cup in 1962. Williams would take home his second MVP award to go along with his first championship. Williams would finish his career in Louisville, spending the final 4 seasons with the club and became an alternate captain over his final 3. He would get one last shot at the McCallister Cup in 1965, but the Thunder fell short against the Raiders. Williams would retire as a 13-time All-Star, easily the greatest linebacker in the league’s young history, and a no-doubt Hall of Famer. 

Member #32: DL Olaf Viktorsson - Bar Harbor, ME - 1st Ballot - Creator: Darknes
With the 9th overall selection of the 1953 draft, the Ottawa Royals selected Olaf Viktorsson. Viktorsson was the first D-lineman off the board in what appeared to be a bit of a weaker class at the position. However, Viktorsson proved them all wrong, going on to be one of the best players of his time. Viktorsson’s imposing power on the D-line was felt almost immediately. He would have his first All-Star season in 1954, helping the Royals to kick-start their dynasty. In the following years, Viktorsson would be an All-Star in each of the next 9 years, bringing his total to 10 All-Star seasons in 13 years of play. He helped the Royals make 7 consecutive McCallister Cup appearances, which included 4 Cup wins in 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1959. In Ottawa’s final run to the Cup in 1960, Viktorsson would have a memorable playoff run, earning him Playoff MVP for the season, although falling short of a 5th title. During the Royals’ dominance, Viktorsson would be named alternate captain in 1957, holding the title until he was promoted to Captain in 1965. His leadership was always valued on the successful squad, being a hard-working and focused leader who always pushed his team to be the best they could be. After just a single season as the team’s Captain in 1965, Viktorsson would call it a career after 13 seasons as a Royal.

Member #33: LB Brent Harper - Portland, ME - 1st Ballot - Creator: Captain Mort 3D
The Boston Independents made one of the best decisions in the 1953 draft when they traded up to pick 13 in order to draft LB Brent Harper. It took a couple of seasons for Harper to find his footing in the Boston lineup, but by his 3rd year, he would earn his first All-Star nod, and become the centrepiece of the Boston defence. In 1957, Harper would break through with 10 forced fumbles during the season, earning him his first Defensive Player of the Year Award. He would also be named captain ahead of the ‘57 season, a title that he would hold for the rest of his career until 1965. In 1958, Harper would repeat as DPOY, becoming the 3rd player in the NAAF’s history to accomplish the feat. After a couple of seasons coming back down to earth, Harper would return to the top of the mountain in 1961, taking home his 3rd DPOY, joining DB Lee Wolfe, and later DB Neville Falkner, as the only players to win the award 3 times. The 1961 season, would get even better for Harper, as the Independents would go on to win the McCallister Cup, giving Harper his lone ring. Harper continued to lead the Independents into the 1960s, as the team continued to make the playoffs year after year, however, they were never able to get back to the big game. In 1965, Harper called it a career after 13 seasons in Boston. 

Member #34: RB Johnnie Stafford - Geneseo, NY - 4th Ballot - Creator: Wallflower
Johnnie Stafford had quite a unique career in the NAAF. It began in 1952 when he was selected with the 14th overall selection in the 1952 draft by the Hartford Hawks. As a rookie, Stafford struggled immensely in the Hawks' offence, however, it certainly wasn’t completely his fault with one of the league’s worst O-lines in front of him. After his first season, the Hawks quickly found a new replacement for Stafford in the form of RB Pierre LeStrange, who they traded up to select in the first round in 1953. LeStrange struggled almost as much as Stafford in his first season, which led to Stafford getting more snaps down the stretch. Despite improving in his first season with the Hawks, Stafford was not interested in staying with the team that had given up on him, so he would be cut by the team. He signed with the Providence Gold Stars in his 3rd season. Stafford showed improvement in 1954, but in 1955 and 1956, he wasn’t able to elevate to the next level. In 1956, Providence traded for RB Laurent Brazeau, who completed the season as the starting RB. The next year, Providence signed Hall of Fame RB Élisée Marchal. A fire was lit under Stafford following the decisions of the Gold Stars. While he sat behind Marchal in 1957, he regained the starting job in 1958, and put up a career-high 8 touchdowns. Once again, being frustrated by the team not believing in him, Stafford entered free agency. Stafford signed with the Buffalo Blue Wings, where he would break out as a legitimate top back. He finished with 15 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for 3rd in the league in 1959. Despite the breakout season, Stafford would be completely overlooked for the Breakout Player of the Year Award. Well, Stafford once again aimed to prove himself, and in 1960, he would have a career-defining season. He would start in Buffalo, putting up similar numbers to the previous season. However, the Blue Wings were not in a contending window, so Stafford became very valuable in the trade market. The Long Island Raiders, who lost RB Dareion Fields to injury, would make the call and acquire Stafford from Buffalo. Stafford would return to the franchise that drafted him and continue his pace. He finished the season with 18 rushing touchdowns and enough rushing yards to finish 2nd in the league. The performance would earn Stafford Offensive Player of the Year in 1960 along with the Breakout Player of the Year Award. He would also get his lone All-Star nod, however, the Raiders did come up short in their attempt at the McCallister Cup. In the years that followed, Stafford would never hit the highs of the 1960 season, but still was a respectable player. He joined the Victors and put up 9 TDs before he landed in Louisville, where he played a supplementary role to RB Rodney Clark. He would still put up 7 TDs on the 1962 Thunder who would go on to win the Cup. Following the championship, Stafford would retire, ending a rollercoaster of a career. 

Member #35: DL Zakary Turbide - Montreal, QC - 4th Ballot - Creator: Wallflower

Turbide’s professional football career began in 1950 when he signed on to play for his hometown team, the Montreal Rouge. Turbide took on a more minor role during his first couple of seasons in the league. He didn’t see as much playing time in his first season, but he became a consistent starter in year 2. During that second season, Turbide helped his team secure a 9-0-1 record and win their first McCallister Cup. Turbide continued his development into his 3rd and 4th season, becoming a bigger star on the team, as some of the veterans like DL Napoléon Chevalier and DL Jean-Michel Duchane were starting to show their age. In 1953, Turbide took a big step forward and had a defining performance in the 1953 McCallister Cup. In the big game, he was all over QB Bruce Woodard of the Gold Stars, getting 3.5 sacks on the QB, while also recovering a fumble and picking up 8 total tackles. He would win the game’s MVP award, cementing him as a star on the Rouge D-line. In the next couple of seasons, Turbide was named an All-Star for the Rouge building off of his 1953 McCallister Cup performance. However, after missing out on the All-Star team in 1956 and the Rouge now in full rebuild mode, Turbide didn’t fit in their plan. So, Turbide was traded to the Providence Gold Stars for the 1957 season. Turbide returned to All-Star form, being named an All-Star in each of the next 3 seasons. However, his performance wasn’t enough to get the Gold Stars to the top. After the 1959 season, Turbide was then traded back to Montreal. The now-rebuilt Rouge welcomed the veteran leadership that Turbide could bring and he helped the team make the playoffs in each of the next 3 seasons and even a McCallister Cup appearance in 1962. Turbide would pick up his final All-Star nod in 1960. After the Rouge fell short against the Thunder in 1962, Turbide would call it a career after 13 years in the league.

1971 Post Draft

After the draft, the last remaining players in the top 25 free agents would find a new home. Longtime Mariners’ S, Jay Shepherd would be headed to Louisville to fill the shoes of recently retired S Johnny Berger. Then, former Thunder LB, Brian O’Flaherty, would land with the Providence Gold Stars on a 2-year deal. The remainder of the offseason would see the rest of the teams fill their rosters with depth pieces as they prepared for training camp. 

There were a couple of trades that also occurred. The London Tigers would grab RB Jonathan Rougeau from the Montreal Rouge in exchange for a 5th Round Pick. Rougeau, a former 4th-round pick, was slipping down the depth chart with Montreal drafting RB Bo Frazier, so they offloaded him to a team needing some depth.

Providence would make the biggest move of the rest of the offseason, acquiring former 1st round pick, OL TJ Overton and LB prospect, Ridley Robertson, from the Indiana Victors in exchange for QB Edwin Hunt, OL Alanzo Tofflers, and DB Mackenzie O’Daniels. The Gold Stars add some much-needed help to the O-line while moving on from QB Edwin Hunt, who has not performed up to his draft position of 15th overall in his first 2 seasons. For Indiana, this is a cap dump with moving Overton, while picking up some younger pieces in Tofflers and Hunt for long-term depth.

Providence would make one last move, grabbing a different 3rd string QB. They would pick up QB Michael Miranda from the Halifax Mariners in exchange for a 5th Round Pick. Also, Minnesota would pick up QB Jimm Kidd in the deal so they can store him on the reserve list.