In August of 1993, a concept was pitched to a group of college friends in a small Texas town.
What started that fall eventually became the Art Donovan Fantasy Football League (ADFFL). Twenty five years later, including 20 different travel draft weekends, the ADFFL has never been stronger. Numerous traditions, sayings, nicknames, trophies, and trash talking sessions later, this group is fervently committed to each other.
What seemed to have great roots, however, almost failed on a Thursday evening in late August of 1996. With several owners stating they were leaving town for the weekend ahead, Jeff Summers called the remaining owners (from a land line phone) and asked if they could draft that night. With very little preparation from anyone, especially during the infancy of the Internet, teams were drafted and the 1996 season played itself out successfully. From there, draft weekends became a commitment and integral part of the ADFFL.
Before the Internet, before smart phones, and even before email, there were newspapers, a Texas Instruments calculator, and a #2 pencil. While not the oldest league in history, starting in the early-mid 1990s meant that scores had to be calculated by hand each Tuesday morning, after the Houston Chronicle or Dallas Morning News published the box score from Monday night’s game. Checked, and often re-checked and calculated, scores were shared only when people called and asked. For those who lived in the dorms, a copy of the scores and standings was shared – but it was very low tech, albeit nail-biting during the calculation period.
While the use of Excel spreadsheets became the standard starting in 1997, the League invested money into its first website scoring system in 2003? The use of this site and the modernization of Fantasy Football everywhere made everything easier. The ADFFL transitioned to its current scoring platform in 2005.
In 2007, the ADFFL elected to travel to Baltimore, MD, home of Arthur J. Donovan himself. The weekend saw a fishing trip on the Chesapeake Bay, crab cakes and football (because that’s what Maryland does!), and an entire day with the league’s namesake, Art Donovan. On that particular day, the league was welcomed to Mr. Donovan’s Country Club where we sat around the pool, talked with him, and drank beer, of course.
We then were invited into Art’s home and specifically to his amazing collection of NFL memorabilia from his era and those that followed. We also sat around the bar in his place and talked about football – which era was real football, and which was imitation. Later, we met Art at his favorite Italian restaurant and talked more football. What was impressive was not only the amount of Schlitz that Art drank with us, but his unbelievable shit-talking he did to us, all with a smile as he posed for photos and signed things for us. Indeed, a memorable evening to a great player, a hilarious man, and fantastic human being.
Many leagues, and by proxy college friendships, dissipate over time due to myriad circumstances. The ADFFL, however, has navigated those uncertain waters and celebrated 20 years together with its first international trip – a week long excursion to Grand Cayman Island in 2012. An incredible beach house was home to us (and even our spouses/girlfriends during the second half) for an unforgettable celebration of football, friends, and family. The League welcomed a new member that year as well, which meant the traditional rookie hazing festivities. It also meant deep sea fishing, water sports, swimming with rays, scuba, and good old fashioned relaxing.
Year 25 was historic for many reasons, and Hurricane Harvey tried to derail our celebration in Costa Rica. Still, as we’ve always done, we persevered, celebrated, and adapted. Year 25 saw the expansion of the ADFFL to 12 franchises; symbolic of the founders, who represent the 12th Man of Aggie lore. We swam, we fished, we ATV’d, we watched proper football, we drank, and we even endured an earthquake. In all, a successful beginning to the next 25 years of brotherhood and friendship.
Celebrating 30 years together seemed improbable. Yet there we were in Nashvegas, atop a rented Air BnB, listening to a personalized concert smoking cigars. We played golf, attended a very cool beer XXX at the baseball stadium, and even went to a Titans/Giants game.Year 30 also brought some cool commenorative swag, including logoed bottles of wine, a t-shirt, and X. The league also attended a rainy Saturday opening week college game as Vanderbilt hosted Wake Forest. Honky tonk bars, the sounds of Broadway, and even running into Javon Kearse Sunday morning were all moments from Draft weekend celebrating three decades of the ADFFL.