In the United States, there are over 32 million people ages 12 and older that play fantasy football, the most popular online sports game in the country. Some of those participants are here at Hillsdale College, as there are multiple student leagues on campus. Students have been striving for top scores all season and now it is getting into crunch time with the playoffs fast approaching.
Fantasy football allows fans to interact with their peers in a way that brings them closer to teams and players. Fans draft players that are currently in the NFL and try to build their team for success like a real NFL owner. There are trades, injuries, adding and releasing of players, and lineup strategy, giving participants the feel of being in control of their team. Each week, participants play against another team in their league. Points are amassed based on the success of their chosen athletes in each week’s actual games.
Things are getting heated for Hillsdale’s fantasy aficionados. The gentlemen of 201 N. Manning St. have comprised a league made up of ten teams. Senior Peter Thistleton, owner of “Team Thistleton,” is 7-5 going into the last Sunday of the regular season.
“My playoff hopes really depend on the last game. I need to win and I need some other guys to lose in order to get in,” Thistleton said.
When asked why he participates in fantasy football, Thistleton said, “I already love NFL football. Fantasy was a fun opportunity for me to get more involved in the NFL. It also gives all my friends at the house something to do on Sundays together. There is a reason to watch every game. I am a lot more into the NFL because of fantasy football and it is a lot of fun.”
Senior Garrett Holt is the only player in the league that is not a resident of 201 N. Manning St. He is the owner of “Dang Dangus,” which is a tribute to 2012 Hillsdale graduate Nate Jebb. Holt is 5-7 going into the last week of the regular season and admits his team has had a rocky year.
“I have good players, they just seem to not want to play well at the same time,” Holt said.
Junior Vinny Delicata’s team is one of the best in the league.
“Vinny Delicata is the cocky one. Nobody wants to see him win. He is always talking about how good his team is. I would like to see his whole team go on injured reserve,” Holt said.
On the other side of the spectrum, senior Brett Pasche hasn’t had the best luck this season.
“Brett’s team is awful, worst in the league,” Holt said. “Normally we would do something bad to the guy that came in last in the league, but in this case I think we are all too afraid to do something to someone of Brett’s size.”
The league does not have a pay-in fee or an award for the winner, besides bragging rights amongst the guys involved. There is a league played by guys in Nebraska where the winner gets to pick a tattoo for the guy who comes in last place. The losing tattoos done in the past include rainbows and a portrait of Justin Bieber.
There are no tattoo leagues here on campus, but fantasy football creates intense competition amongst student participants throughout the duration of the season.
