Coach Merritt has had probably the most curious career of any coach in the LOC. They've had a lot of high moments, a lot of low moments, and everything in between. They've been the pinnacle of the league, and also the laughing stock. They've had some incredible, unique and historic achievements - but perplexingly at the same time have also not achieved much - namely winning a title.
One of the founding teams, The Tuckfards were good out of the gate. They went 6-8 in their first season, a reasonable season - but this was just the starting point of some great things to come. From 2010 to 2014, they only experienced winning - achieving a winning season in each year.
2010 The Tuckfards went 8-6, achieving the 2nd wildcard spot (these were the days of 2 divisions). It was a hotly contested season, with 4 out of 5 teams in the veterans division finishing on an 8-6 record. The Tuckfards had the points to secure the 2nd wildcard, despite starting the season 0-3, they would win their final 4 games to secure a playoff berth. They would fall to current champions Bear Necessities in the first round of the playoffs, but the season was a success.
Looking to build off of that in 2011, they upped their point total but remained at 8 wins - but once again securing a wildcard spot - this time the first wildcard spot. However once again, they would lose in the first round of the playoffs to eventual champions Tom's Tyrants. We all know in hindsight Coach Merritt's track record in the playoffs - but at the time, you could hardly fault them - having lost to current and eventual champions in consecutive seasons.
What would 2013 hold in store? Another improvement. Coach Merritt not only boosted his point total for another year in a row, but he also boosted his win total - going 9-5. This still was not enough to secure a division title - but it was more than enough to secure their 3rd wildcard in a row, and their 3rd trip to the playoffs in a row. But would the playoffs be different this time around? They would indeed - as Coach Merritt saw off The Dream Team (another team with a historically bad record in the playoffs) to advance to their first ever Corona Bowl, Corona Bowl IV. And Coach Merritt must have been confident - they faced a Touchdown Syndrome team who had a change in management mid-season, and only went 3-5 in the regular season games they coached. The Tuckfards were the firm favourite in the Corona Bowl, but in an upset they lost to Coach Simpson.
After 3 good, but ultimately disappointing seasons, 2013 would be the year The Tuckfards emphatically stamped their legacy on the last few seasons. In a retribution game in Week 1, they beat Coach Simpson, and proceeded to storm the rest of the league for an 11-3 record, notching the first division title of their career, and only missing out on the league title on points. a 4th year of consecutive improvement, no mean feat - and the first time they would make the playoffs by way of a division win and not the wildcard. Coach Merritt was determined to make this the year, drubbing IKNAN in the first round of the playoffs 161-114. The stars were aligning - they faced Coach Burdett in Corona Bowl V, a coach The Tuckfards absolutely owned to this point in their history, having never lost a game to them. But Burdettinators were the team that pipped them for the league title - and would indeed be the team to pip them in Corona Bowl V, securing Coach Merritt's second consecutive Corona Bowl loss - despite making the playoffs 4 straight years.
Long running success is a rarity in the LOC - something only few coaches have ever managed. 2014 would be yet another year in the amazing run The Tuckfards had at the start of their career. Improving once again, not by way of wins (they were 10-4), but by achieving their first ever league title, securing their 5th consecutive playoff berth. But unfortunately, they would regress in the area that mattered - the playoffs, falling to Tom's Tyrants in the first round.
2014 would be the final year in The Tuckfards mythical consecutive years playoff run - a feat that has not since been matched (however Coach Wells is currently on a 4 year streak). It would also be the last year they have made the playoffs to date sadly, as the years have not been kind since. And indeed, with all that success, they never managed to win the game that would have resoundingly marked those years as a dynasty - a Corona Bowl. Much like the Buffalo Bills of the early nineties, they had many opportunities - but always fell at the final hurdle.
That however, should definitely not take away from the other amazing achievements they had during this time period. 5 consecutive playoff appearances, a record that stands today. The first team to get to 5 playoff appearances - only last season did any other team reach that figure. Appearing in 5 of the first 6 playoffs. The winningest coach in LOC history for a long time. 2 Corona Bowl appearance. 2 division titles. 1 league title. 1 Coach of the year award. An immensely decorated period in LOC history, and one that certainly would not look out of place in the LOC Hall of Fame.
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