Editor's Note: This is the first 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.

Joe Nunney's career in the Erie Fantasy Football League has been nothing short of turbulent. 

His teams have often struggled. Through his first four years in the league, Nunney's career record at the helm of the Horsemen and Black Diamond stood at just 17-36, prompting fellow owner Keith Kuratko to comment during a 1997 interview: "I kind of feel bad for him. He's sort of the stomping dog of the league."

As a rookie in 1994, Nunney's Horsemen became the first team in league history to be disqualified for post-season play by failing to pay $7.50 in transaction fees. Four years later, he was banished from the league for failing to pay $11 in fees before the start of the 1997 playoffs. For a lesser man, a punishment equivalent to the NCAA death penalty would have signaled the end to what could have been a promising career. Nunney decided to confront the problem head on and work his way back into the league's good graces.

In 1998, Nunney accepted a position with the league office as Vice President of Operations/Special Events Coordinator, a job that required him to maintain the flow of the draft so the commissioner could focus on selecting his team. The following year, Nunney's Black Diamond club made a triumphant return when the Erie League expanded to 24 teams.

As a last-minute stand-in when Psychedelic B's GM Bryan Vince failed to show at the draft, Nunney selected a team that went on to finish 13-2 and break the regular season record for points in a season, totaling 1,162 (96.8 average per game). His fellow owners rewarded him with the 1999 General Manager of the Year Award - for the conference he didn't participate in. Nunney's own club had a stellar campaign as well, advancing all the way to the Browns Conference finals before losing to the Bonecrushers 104-87.

"It was well deserved and I appreciate the sentiment of the All-American Conference owners," Nunney said. "I drafted Vince one of the best and deepest teams in EFFL history."

Currently, the 29-year-old teacher and retired football/basketball coach at Solon High School, is serving as the Commissioner of the Browns Conference.

"The league has changed, first of all, since I came off my ridiculous and questionable suspension," Nunney said. "I have risen to the quasi-commissioner of the Browns Conference -- apparently I can be trusted with the decisions of other owners now, but previously I was not trusted to pay my $11 debt."

All-American Conference Commissioner Kirk Pavelich said the decision to banish Nunney was the worst during his eight years on the job.

"Joe has really done everything we could have asked as an Erie League participant," Pavelich said. "We were just trying to use him as an example to other owners of what could happen if they didn't pay. The ploy really backfired. Hell, it forced us to put up with Mike Royer and the Wolverines for a season." 

Since his return to the league, Nunney has compiled a mark of 11-17. Currently sporting an overall record of 30-54 (.357 pct.), Nunney said his lack of success has hurt the development of any long-term rivalries.

"I've been so concerned with just trying to win a few games that I haven't followed the careers of the other owners," Nunney said. "Plus I don't really care about the careers of the other owners. I hope they all do well but it won't bother me if all of their key players break their legs, tear ACLs, and get concussions and they end up at the bottom of the conference. That's football."

As for the 2001 edition of Black Diamond, Nunney said he hopes the pre-season trade of WR Isaac Bruce to the Cosmic Monsters for RB Warrick Dunn and WR Keyshawn Johnson will be enough to put him over the top.

"I like my team this year if I can stay healthy," Nunney said. "Terrell Davis is out with knee problems, Warrick Dunn is out with ankle problems, Randy Moss has not lived up to his billing yet. If I can weather the injuries, if Moss can step up, I feel confident that I can make a serious run at the title. I don't feel like my team has put
it all together yet. Hopefully, I will be able to make a real push come playoff time.