2021 Hall of Fame Nomination: Tom's Tyrants "The Play" - a podcast by LOC Films

 Team: Tom's Tyrants

Nomination: "The Play" Victor Cruz scores a 99 yard TD in Corona Bowl III to ice it and bring TTY their first Corona Bowl, and the first Rookie team to win the Corona Bowl

This ones gonna take us all back. We now know through the story of history that Tom's Tyrants is one of the great teams of the LOC, and came ever so close to becoming the first Dynasty the league has seen. But this nomination takes you right back to the start of all that (well, near enough to the start anyway).

The year is 2011. The LOC is just about to enter its 3rd year. Coach Barnes enters the season without an accolade to his name, featuring in the Rookie division after going 5-9 and 6-8 his first 2 years in the league. But the first winning season in Tom's Tyrants history at 9-5 would be good enough for a Rookie Division title and a trip to the playoffs against current champions Gridiron Gang.

What wound up happening was that Tom's Tyrants would win Corona Bowl III 141-92, a then highest score in the Corona Bowl. But there was one key, history defining play in that game (as there often is in games of such magnitude) which would ultimately put the result beyond doubt and bring the Stubbs trophy to Colden Common. Victor Cruz.

Victor Cruz was a relatively unknown player that year, added by Tom's Tyrants in week 4. He would go on to be a feature of the side having a dominant year. But none more so than in the Corona Bowl, where he absolutely hosed a 99 yard catch to the house with a 16 point play. This of course did not make a difference to the final result, but did come at a pivotal time in the game where the result was still in the balance. Great plays and great players are often the difference in Bowl games, and Victor Cruz delivered with his scintillating 99 yard TD.

There is no single play in the LOC Hall of Fame - nor until now has their even been one nominated. But it is truly fitting that this is the first. What you have to decide is dear voter - is it worthy of being in the LOC Hall of Fame? 

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