Greetings. Now that the National is over, the server has been migrated, the site is running smoothly (knock on wood), Admin's giveaway has concluded (with me missing out on the final prize by 6 minutes), and SaintOrm's awesome story-telling giveaway wound its way to a fitting end, it's time to announce the "next big thing".
I ran this idea past bbcardz, who was running an awesome weekly contest of people picking winners for all the games toward the end of last season (and I'm hoping he has the bandwidth to continue it), to ensure our contests would not overlap or interfere with each other - and we determined we'd be fine if we both do run these.
This year, I will be running the NFL 2023 Regular Season Survivor Challenge.
The rules are pretty simple:
There will be no sign up. Simply play in Week 1, and you're in. Because this builds off the first week, there will be no ability to join later in the season. Play Week 1, or you don't play at all.
Week 1 - Pick one team to win their game before the deadline (the deadline will be just before the opening game's kickoff, currently scheduled for Sept. 7, 8:20 PM EDT, deadline will be 8:00 PM EDT). If you are incorrect, you have not survived.
Week 2 - Pick one team to win their game (must not be the same team as Week 1's pick). If you are incorrect, picked the same team, or failed to make a selection before the deadline (as was the case with Week 1, the deadline will be just before the first game of the week's schedule - usually the Thursday night game), you have not survived.
Week 3 - Pick one team to win their game (must not be one of the teams you picked in a prior week). If you are incorrect, picked a team for a second time, or failed to pick a team before the week's deadline, you have not survived.
Week 4 onwards - same rules as Week 3.
Last person to remain eligible to pick the next week is the winner. In the event of any ties (multiple survivors to the end of the season or no one being able to move on after a week with multiple participants), I will have to do a random drawing of some sort to determine the "grand prize" winner as not all cards in the prize pool are of equal value/desirability.
The Prize Pool* currently has well over 100 football cards (and because there is some duplication in there, there will be multiple prizes available). Week 1's "Giveaway" post will have representative images of some of the prize cards available for the grand prize.
Each week's link will be posted as an update to this first post in this thread. I will "bump post" each update.
If you have any questions, please contact me privately via PM. If the question winds up needing to clarify rules publicly, I will post the clarification publicly (as well as respond privately).
* - The Prize Pool currently has relic cards, autographed cards, HOFers, Rookies, Serial numbered cards (several, but I see a xx/50 and a xx/75 in here), and even true vintage cards (we're talking 1950s). All football.
I expect to open up Week One's responses probably by September 1st. I realize that is before the pre-season concludes, but you don't have to respond right away.
Remember, you can only pick a team ONCE during the season. You may want to try to map out later weeks so you don't "burn" a team too early. And as always, you can change your pick, but remember that your last pick before the deadline will be the one that counts - and the change HAS to be before the deadline. Anything posted after the deadline will not be counted.
Good luck to all who wish to participate.
(One last thing I just thought of - sometimes people go away for several days. If you're going to be away while the next week's window would open and then close, let me know via PM ahead of time, and I'll open up the responses early so you can get your entry in, before you go away. If you are still in the running, then you've been able to continue participating. If not, sorry, and then your response just won't be needed.)
-- Dan --
Note: Please see my profile for more info regarding trading (section updated 9/22/2023). I have added a large portion of my inventory to the site, and currently have trading turned on (details are in my profile). I have (finally) unearthed my 2 very large boxes of Star Company minor league sets and will start to inventory them. They will be made available soon.