Lou Tillery talks with the New Orleans Times-Picayune about his big win.

Tillery Wins Championship His Way
The mild mannered Lou Tillery was often disrespected and discredited most of the Nationals III weekend. You see Tillery incorporates the quarterback draw in his game plan. And with all of the debate about the validity of the play prior to nationals, many of the ballers in the field frowned on Tillery before they even witnessed him take a snap. But that didn't phase the mild mannered southerner. Tillery is as cool as the other side of the pillow, and his southern non "chalantness" shows that other ballers not only can't phase him, but they can't fade him either. What was most impressive about Tillery's run is that he just felt the quiet confidence all weekend, that he was the best. He didn't venture to the message boards, ALA Pasadena style to proclaim his greatness. He let his sticks talk for him. He played anyone the entire tournament that wanted to play him. He didn't demand wagering before he played. However, if someone wanted to offer him their money, he would accept it. When Tillery met James Brooks for the first time, Brooks remarked, "oh, you are the glitch man." Ironically, Brooks had never seen Tillery play. After the champ to be dismantled P.C., Mad Guru, and Slayer Min on the eve of Nationals, word spread like wildfire that Lou was going to be a force to be reckoned with. But rather than recognize his pure talent on the sticks, many attempted to discredit his great play, simply because he used the qb draw occasionally.

Throughout the tourney Tillery played his style despite what other ballers thought. Other ballers made sneaky comments about his use of the qb draw. But what they didn't bring to light was his exceptional passing game, and stifling defense. Tillery never had more than 28 points scored on him thought out the entire tourney. After blazing through his round robin with a 3-0 record and amassing a 60.7 point differential, Tillery entered the single elimination's with an overall #2 seed, but a #1 seed in Region II. His 106-14 victory over the BFL's Ron Wilborn is a tournament high for most points scored breaking Mad Guru's 102 spot from Nationals II. It must be a host city thing. The question now is, if some one from the UMF or MFLA will break Tillery's 106 point performance.

But what may have been most impressive about Tillery was when he entered the championship game vs. Ray Green. With everyone in the room poised to discredit Tillery if he won, Lou unveiled a totally new offensive package. Tillery ran the football with Eddie George, and opened up a precision passing attack that surprised and impressed everyone in the room, except those that really knew his style. And when it was all said and done, Tillery had won the title, and the qb draw was not even a factor in the game. He won the title in a manner where no one could discredit his skills. He was perhaps one of the best, if not the best passer in the tourney. And his defense was ferocious. After Green went ahead 14-8, in the championship game, Tillery made his adjustments and late in the second quarter, Lou took control of the game. The second half, was all Tillery's. Eddie George had begun to pound the ball, McNair was elusive enough to find Pickens or Thigpen, and occasionally Tillery would sprinkle in the draw just to remind everyone that he could use it if he wanted to.

Tillery won the title his way. He showed the nationals field that he doesn't need what some called glitchery to be crowned the best. He exhibited excellent execution on both sides of the ball, and left an impression in many minds that he would be hard to beat next year. In neither Nationals I or II did we witness such dominance of the field. However, Nationals III was clearly dominated by Tillery. He won each of his games by 10 points or more and never seemed to be in jeopardy of losing.

What's next for Tillery? He thinks he can win it again in LA. The road to repeat in LA actually starts Aug 21 with the release of Madden 2002. Before the Nationals, the NOMB was just another league that ballers checked on occasionally to see what was happening. However, after the Nationals, the NOMB will be a league that the nation keeps an eye on to see what is happening with not only Lou, but his sparring partner, Will Turner.

Lou Tillery's Nationals III Games

Game 1 - 70-34 vs. Wallace
Game 2 - 78-24 vs. Marquis Fuller
Game 3 - 106-14 vs. Ron Wilborn (BFL)
Game 4 - 37 - 27 vs. MoNutt (UMF) - First Round
Game 5 - 39 - 22 vs. Paul D. (HMFL) - Second Round
Game 6 - 49 - 28 vs. D.C. (BFL) - Quarterfinals
Game 7 - 42 - 7 vs. Wallstreet (DFL) - Semi Finals
Game 8 - 62-28 vs. Ray Green - Championship Game

Lou Tillery Audio Archives

Special Late Night Edition Of The Swammi Show Pt. 2 - Lou Tillery on being called the glitch man