Our reporters have been visiting “The Pool” to hear what the coaches and players from CCC have to say about season 9. After reaching 20 points in regular season, just as coach Inga predicted, CCC could celebrate their best season since season 3, and a wild card spot may still be possible if Marauders loses to Greenskins. We turn to our reporters to see what they discovered
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Down on the red-streaked concrete of “The Pool” that is the field in Carroburg, Günther and Hertha stands accompanied by head coach Inga Dedekind and offensive coordinator Cody Latimer. Around on the field are groups of players training. The whole team is here, as well as players from the recruit team, the St.Agnes Saints and some new hopefuls that are testing out for the recruit team.

Hertha: “Inga, congratulations with the best season ever for the CCC. 20 points was exactly what you predicted at midseason, and now it has come true.” Hertha winks at Günther.

Inga: (grins) “Thank you very much. We really enjoyed this season”

Günther: “And now I suppose you are preparing for play-offs? All that is needed is for the Greenskins to beat the Marauders!”

Inga: (a short laugh) “No, we do not expect to be in the play-offs. The Marauders have it all in their own hands, and they will not stumble in this last match of their regular season. So we have already started to prepare for season 10.”

Hertha: “So what do you think about season 9, Inga? What’s the highs and lows?”

Inga: “It actually feels like the best season we ever had. I know we did 20 points in season 3 as well, but this still feels like a better season. Of course, it means a lot to be able to end the season with the same 16 players that started it. That means your team is only getting better, more cohesive and more skilled while all the others lose key players and have to replace them with rookies or near rookies. The high point was of course the Vikings match in week 9. We have beaten our Nemesis before, but never as convincingly as this time. Most irritating was the match against the Bucs. I had really hoped for a point there, but we lost in the end, and today we know that if we had managed a draw there, we would have been divisional winners now.”

Günther: “It’s a new, unbeatable record, Inga. It has never happened before that a DLE team has the same 16 players at the end of season as when they started. It may be copied, but it can never be beaten, so it goes along with the other unbeatable CCC record, to complete the season without perms to, or loss of, skilled players. And in team statistics, you are top in two categories, completions and passing yards, and second or third in seven more. Only the Pats have performed better this season.”

Cody: “As Inga said, It feels like a great season.”

Günther: “And what can you say about the players?”

Cody: “Where to start? We run a team with assigned duties. Some roles are easy to see, of course. Goode is the best killer blitzer in the league by far, with 30 cas this season and two more DA Medals and Lexer is now definitely the league leader in career fouls, and added two more VK Medals. These two combined can easily create a number advantage against almost any team. But here is the thing, there are other players among the crimson shirts who can hit as well. Take Kippenberger, for example. He has 8 casualties this season, which brings him on par with John Doe of the Vikings and Khalil Mack of the Classics, to mention just a few. Then you have Kosar as the team captain and quarterback, and Cacciatelli as the scoring receiver. Obvious roles and players who did well this season. And behind Goode and Lexer and Kosar and Cacciatelli you have all the supporting roles that are oh so difficult to see and appreciate, but still so very important. I already mentioned Kippenberger, our all-round blitzer. We also have Allen, a blitzer that is extremely mobile, and extremely good at offensive and defensive screening, and our two LOS sidesteppers Ehinger and Halfvardsson who are so important when we need to prevent an OTTD attempt. And Cathelijn, our trusted kicker. And so it goes…” He smiles. “We simply love them all, and especially when they perform as they have done throughout this season.”

Hertha: “Sounds good. And with all these great players still with us, what plans do you have for the draft, Inga?”

Inga: “We have only planned for one replacement, and that is Esperance. She really does want to play the game, though, so we have promised she will be very cheap if someone wants to buy her, and if not, she has accepted a space as assistant bashing coach to the CCC. We have all our current picks and is willing to give them all to upgrade our first to get a really good blitzer, if we can find anyone to trade with. Otherwise, Isolde and Eckardt are both up for trade. If traded, they will probably be replaced by other players or current picks that will give us replacements.”

Günther: “And now for the points, Inga! The points for next season!”

Inga: (laughing). “I just knew it! I always get this question.”

Günther: “And the answer?”

Inga: “Well, I have 1 point for the SoS. Marauders will be too tough for us. And then I have 6 against KFCN and SHCE, and 8 against our own divisional mates. That means 21 in all. So yes, it will be a record season, and hopefully play-offs for the second time in CCC history. All dependent upon no big player losses, of course.”

Hertha: “We look forward to that, and here is a warning to all crimson shirts around the country, buy your season tickets now, or you will miss the play-offs for sure!”

Brought to you by Hertha Wendlinger and Günther Schiele, Carroburg Tageszeitung