Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of feature stories on the men who make up the Erie Fantasy Football League. In order to be featured, you must respond to the official Erie League survey.

Over the years, not many rookies have been able to come into the Erie League and make an impact in their first year. Gibby's owner Jason Gillespie is the exception.

Gillespie entered the league at the start of the 2000 season and promptly rolled to a 10-2 record, averaging an amazing 93 points per contest en route to one of the three division championships in the Browns Conference. 

He shellacked veteran owner Dave Bell and the Bonecrushers by 45 points in the opening round of the playoffs. Then Gillespie watched as one of the most frustrating things in fantasy football - the presence of a team on a roll at the right time - brought his dream season to an end. Despite scoring 96 points in the conference semi-finals, the Gibby's fell to Mike Kuratko and the Hostile Omish. Although the end to the season was disappointing, Gillespie was rewarded by his fellow owners with the distinction of being the 2000 Browns Conference Coach of the Year.

"It's pretty much the same in all three of the leagues I play in," Gillespie said. "Win the conference each year.  Cough on a hairball in playoffs..."

Thus far, the 2001 campaign is shaping up to be very similar as Gillespie is doing what he does best - win. Through the first six weeks of the season, the Gibby's are 5-1 and once again on top of the Jim Brown Division. His strength this year has once again been a solid backfield, led by QB Brian Griese (89 points) and the running-back duo of Curtis Martin (98 points) and Ahman Green (78 points). As for ending the season on a more positive note than a year ago, Gillespie isn't going to hold his breath.

"The league is okay but I get tired of winning each week," Gillespie said, tongue planted firmly in cheek. "As for my prospects of winning a title, I think I have about the same chances as the Lions winning the Super Bowl."

The 26-year-old Manchester, MI. native, a computer programmer during the day, said thus far his highlight of the 2001 season has been watching Keith Kuratko put together Mike Kuratko's Hostile Omish on draft day. "He put together a team that resembles Sam Jackson in the movie Unbreakable," Gillespie said. (See photo to left). Thus far, the usually respectable Omish are stumbling along at 2-4, averaging just over 70 points.

Currently sporting an overall record of 16-5 (.762 pct.), Gillespie said he doesn't even bother trying to involve his girlfriend with the fantasy football hobby.

"My girlfriend is an idiot," he said. "It has been two years and she still has no idea what I am doing. Plus, she can't believe that I have to go to the strip joint to watch games on Sunday. She really doesn't like that league rule."