OT - Tough word puzzle

[Solecismic]

Here's a challenge for those of you who enjoy puzzles. I'll hold off on hints for awhile and hope you impress me...

Tell me about some truly wonderful gentlemen. They are the keys to a very complex puzzle. These aren't quite the stories told during their college years, but that's where we start.

37112576
98072179
52101069
115021473

And last, but not least by any means.

34042281

What puzzle doesn't come with a nonsensical grid of letters. Use what you've learned about these personal histories, for these men would truly give you the shirts off of their backs.

UFOAASFVOGZSTHHVSPIWZRWBU

MFERCLXXLCQPLEFCPDLXZCPAPCXLYPYEQZFYOLETZY

HDHTGKTBTJEHDBTDUIWDHT

DYCCONZKBDSMSZVOCKXNCMBKWLVONCYVOMSCWC

And while that's really all you need, most of you might like some hints to help you with those nasty breakups that are all too common during and after college.

33102362 76100578 98031372 69102178 72090271

389092172 39062880 72090271 99030870 98031372 134122971 11070970

8032474 18123072 79021476 78073177 328080172 30082980 101022470

85041478 106012877 110031970 19011579 73122779

[ahbrady]

Wow, I don't have a clue where to even begin.

[Dutch]

37112576
98072179
52101069
115031473

And last, but not least by any means.

34042281

Well, I wanted to work these as dates.

November 25, 1976
July 21, 1979
October 10, 1969
March 14, 1973
and
April 22, 1981

But couldn't figure out how to work the prefix numbers in. Ouch...but I think they should work into the alphabet somehow....ah screw it, who am I kidding? This makes no sense to me at all.

EDIT: Actually all the bottom numbers seem to work into dates also.

[TazFTW]

Originally Posted by Dutch

37112576
98072179
52101069
115031473

And last, but not least by any means.

34042281

Well, I wanted to work these as dates.

November 25, 1976
July 21, 1979
October 10, 1969
March 14, 1973
and
April 22, 1981

But couldn't figure out how to work the prefix numbers in. Ouch...but I think they should work into the alphabet somehow....ah screw it, who am I kidding? This makes no sense to me at all.

EDIT: Actually all the bottom numbers seem to work into dates also.

Did a quick check on that April 22, 1981 date and that's when Fernando Valenzuela threw his 3rd shutout in his 4th start, so the 34 looks good from that standpoint.

[Fonzie]

2/3

[AnalBumCover]

the first few digits may be of importance to those dates.

i.e. #37 is important to November 25, 1976 (or 1876, 1776, etc)

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

These aren't quite the stories told during their college years, but that's where we start.

The awkward turns of phrase about college must be hints of some sort.

[AnalBumCover]

This might be easier to read.

37,11/25/76
98,07/21/79
52,10/10/69
115,03/14/73
34,04/22/81

33,10/23/62 76,10/05/78 98,03/13/72 69,10/21/78 72,09/02/71

389,09/21/72 39,06/28/80 72,09/02/71 99,03/08/70 98,03/13/72 134,12/29/71 11,07/09/70

8,03/24/74 18,12/30/72 79,02/14/76 78,07/31/77 328,08/01/72 30,08/29/80 101,02/24/70

85,04/14/78 106,01/28/77 110,03/19/70 19,01/15/79 73,12/27/79

[Solecismic]

The phrasing is intended to be a clue to the answer, though not an obvious one and no help at this point in the game.

I'll leave this up for a little while longer. And leave the puzzles to Quik in the future.

[Draft Dodger]

"03/14/73" coincidentally, I'm sure, but March 14th is the 73rd day of the year.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by TazFTW

Did a quick check on that April 22, 1981 date and that's when Fernando Valenzuela threw his 3rd shutout in his 4th start, so the 34 looks good from that standpoint.

Fernando WORE #34.

shirt of their backs - a memorabilia reference?

[Draft Dodger]

going on a similar vein - Bret Farve was born on 10/10/69

[Draft Dodger]

Donovan McNab on 11/25/76...

[Dutch]

Hmmm, you might be on to something!

[Maple Leafs]

David Carr was born July 21, 1979.

[Draft Dodger]

so, lets throw this theory out -

37 11/25/76 (Donovan McNab)
52 10/10/69 (Bret Farve)

so, do we apply the initials to the two numbers on the left? 3=D 7=M 5=B 2=F?
that would help explain the 115 03/14/73 - someone who goes by initials, like JJ Stokes (who was not born on 3/14).

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

David Carr was born July 21, 1979.

so 9=D also, 8=C

[Maple Leafs]

April 22, 1981 could be Ken Dorsey. Which would suggest we're looking at college accomplishments more than NFL.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

April 22, 1981 could be Ken Dorsey. Which would suggest we're looking at college accomplishments more than NFL.

and QB's, of course.

[Draft Dodger]

"And last, but not least by any means" refers to Dorsey. was he would be the youngest of the bunch so far...was he the "last" of them to accomplish something?

37112576 - Donovan McNabb
98072179 - David Carr
52101069 - Bret Farve
115031473
34042281 - Ken Dorsey

still looking for the 03/14 guy.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

and QB's, of course.

Although unless I'm missing something, that path seems to go dry for March 14, 1973.

Edit: Only March 14, 1973 football player I can find is Chris Sullivan.

[Draft Dodger]

it's too much to be a coincidence. maybe it's a college QB that isn't in the NFL?

going to lunch. back in 30. McNair is Feb 14, 73 - could there be a typo?

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

so, lets throw this theory out -

37 11/25/76 (Donovan McNab)
52 10/10/69 (Bret Farve)

so, do we apply the initials to the two numbers on the left? 3=D 7=M 5=B 2=F?
that would help explain the 115 03/14/73 - someone who goes by initials, like JJ Stokes (who was not born on 3/14).

(14 mar) Chris Sullivan defensive end (New England Patriots) is the only guy I've found so far on with 14 March 73 as a birthday.

[Dutch]

Damn, ML is all over it....maybe it is a typo on McNair.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

it's too much to be a coincidence. maybe it's a college QB that isn't in the NFL?

going to lunch. back in 30. McNair is Feb 14, 73 - could there be a typo?

Sorry about that. No other typos among the numbers.

[Dutch]

33102362 = Doug Flutie - ? - Boston College
76100578 = ? - ? - Florida
98031372 = Trent Dilfer - Seattle Seahawks - Fresno State
69102178 = Joey Harrington - Detroit Lions - Oregon
72090271 = Tommy Maddox - Pittsburgh Steelers - UCLA

389092172 = John Kitna - Cincinatti Bengals - Central Washington
39062880 = Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons - Virginia Tech
72090271 = Tommy Maddox - Pittsburgh Steelers - UCLA (our first double)
99030870 = ? - ? - Hawaii
98031372 = Trent Dilfer - Seattle Seahawks - Fresno State
134122971 = Jay Fiedler - Miami Dolphins - Dartmouth
11070970 = Trent Green - Kansas City - Indiana

8032474 = ? - ? - Virginia
18123072 = Kerry Collins - Free Agent/NY Giants - Penn State
79021476 = ? - ? - South Carolina
78073177 = Tim Couch - Cleveland Browns - Kentucky
328080172 = Todd Bowman - New Orleans Saints - Saint Cloud State
30082980 = Chris Simms - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Texas
101022470 = Jeff Garcia - Cleveland Browns - San Jose State

85041478 = Louisiana State
106012877 = Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings - Central Florida
110031970 = ? - ? - Notre Dame
19011579 = ? - ? - Pennsylvania
73122779 = ? - ? - Southern California

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Sorry about that. No other typos among the numbers.

maybe if you beta tested your damn puzzles from now on...

[Draft Dodger]

37112576 - Donavon McNabb
98072179 - David Carr
52101069 - Brett Farve
115021473 - Steve McNair

And last, but not least by any means.

34042281 - Ken Dorsey

What puzzle doesn't come with a nonsensical grid of letters. Use what you've learned about these personal histories, for these men would truly give you the shirts of their backs.

UFOAASFVOGZSTHHVSPIWZRWBU

MFERCLXXLCQPLEFCPDLXZCPAPCXLYPYEQZFYOLETZY

HDHTGKTBTJEHDBTDUIWDHT

DYCCONZKBDSMSZVOCKXNCMBKWLVONCYVOMSCWC

And while that's really all you need, most of you might like some hints to help you with those nasty breakups that are all too common during and after college.

33102362 (Doug Flutie )76100578 (Jessie Palmer) 98031372 (Dilfer) 69102178 (Harrington) 72090271 (Maddox)

389092172 (Kitna) 39062880 (Vick) 72090271 (Maddox) 99030870 (Mirer) 98031372 (Dilfer) 134122971 (Feidler) 11070970 (Green)

8032474 18123072 (Collins) 79021476 (Wright) 78073177 (Couch) 328080172 (Bownmann) 30082980 101022470

85041478 106012877 (Culpepper) 110031970 19011579 (Brees) 73122779

[Draft Dodger]

so, any guesses on what we are doing with all these names?

[jetpunk2000]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

so, any guesses on what we are doing with all these names?

Maybe it's a secret code with the release date of TCY 2!!!!!!

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Dutch

8032474 = ???

I have two conflicting sources on this one. I think the more prevalent would be 1976.

But there's a faster way to look these up.

[Vince]

Maybe someone wants to fire up FOF and recommend QBs of different ages?

[Dutch]

DD - Not yet. But I'm sure you'll think of something.

[Draft Dodger]

79021476 = Drew Bledsoe - New England Patriots - Washington State

Bledsoe was born 2/14/72.
I know this because my wife was born the same day.

[Draft Dodger]

I guess we're well beyond the "hey, what a coincidence, all those dates are birthdays of NFL QB's" stage

[Dutch]

Draft Dodger - you do see my list up there right? It's slow going but it is updating.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Dutch

Draft Dodger - you do see my list up there right? It's slow going but it is updating.

I did, after I found several on my own. The Bledsoe thing is wrong - either its another guy, or another typo.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

79021476 = Drew Bledsoe - New England Patriots - Washington State

Bledsoe was born 2/14/72.
I know this because my wife was born the same day.

But that wouldn't explain the 79. Let's assume there are no mistakes other than the one typo, and the birthday that showed up as 3/24/74 on NFL.com a couple of years ago.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

But that wouldn't explain the 79. Let's assume there are no mistakes other than the one typo, and the birthday that showed up as 3/24/74 on NFL.com a couple of years ago.

so, it's not Bledsoe?

[Dutch]

From the Player Editor, sorry for the length.


Use the following numbers to represent colleges (Column M) in the player file, (Column G in the draft file):

1 - Clemson
2 - Duke
3 - Florida State
4 - Georgia Tech
5 - Maryland
6 - North Carolina
7 - North Carolina State
8 - Virginia
9 - Wake Forest
10 - Illinois
11 - Indiana
12 - Iowa
13 - Michigan
14 - Michigan State
15 - Minnesota
16 - Northwestern
17 - Ohio State
18 - Penn State
19 - Purdue
20 - Wisconsin
21 - Colorado
22 - Iowa State
23 - Kansas
24 - Kansas State
25 - Missouri
26 - Nebraska
27 - Baylor
28 - Oklahoma
29 - Oklahoma State
30 - Texas
31 - Texas A&M
32 - Texas Tech
33 - Boston College
34 - Miami, Florida
35 - Pittsburgh
36 - Rutgers
37 - Syracuse
38 - Temple
39 - Virginia Tech
40 - West Virginia
41 - Boise State
42 - Idaho
43 - Nevada
44 - New Mexico State
45 - North Texas
46 - Utah State
47 - Cincinnati
48 - East Carolina
49 - Houston
50 - Louisville
51 - Memphis
52 - Southern Mississippi
53 - Tulane
54 - Akron
55 - Ball State
56 - Bowling Green
57 - Central Michigan
58 - Eastern Michigan
59 - Kent
60 - Marshall
61 - Miami, Ohio
62 - Northern Illinois
63 - Ohio
64 - Toledo
65 - Western Michigan
66 - Arizona
67 - Arizona State
68 - California
69 - Oregon
70 - Oregon State
71 - Stanford
72 - UCLA
73 - Southern California
74 - Washington
75 - Washington State
76 - Florida
77 - Georgia
78 - Kentucky
79 - South Carolina
80 - Tennessee
81 - Vanderbilt
82 - Alabama
83 - Arkansas
84 - Auburn
85 - Louisiana State
86 - Mississippi
87 - Mississippi State
88 - Brigham Young
89 - New Mexico
90 - Rice
91 - Southern Methodist
92 - Texas Christian
93 - Tulsa
94 - Utah
95 - Texas - El Paso
96 - Air Force
97 - Colorado State
98 - Fresno State
99 - Hawaii
100 - San Diego State
101 - San Jose State
102 - UNLV
103 - Wyoming
104 - Arkansas State
105 - Army
106 - Central Florida
107 - Louisiana Tech
108 - Navy
109 - Louisiana - Monroe
110 - Notre Dame
111 - Louisiana-Lafayette
112 - UAB
113 - Buffalo
114 - Middle Tenn. St.
115 - Alcorn State
116 - Appalachian State
117 - Ark. - Pine Bluff
118 - Austin Peay
119 - Bethune Cookman
120 - Boston University
121 - Brown
122 - Bucknell
123 - Butler
124 - Cal. - Northridge
125 - Cal. - Poly SLO
126 - Cal. - Sacramento
127 - Canisius
128 - Central Connecticut
129 - Charleston Southern
130 - Colgate
131 - Columbia
132 - Connecticut
133 - Cornell
134 - Dartmouth
135 - Davidson
136 - Dayton
137 - Delaware
138 - Delaware State
139 - Drake
140 - Duquesne
141 - Eastern Illinois
142 - Eastern Kentucky
143 - Eastern Tenn. St.
144 - Eastern Washington
145 - Elon College
146 - Evansville
147 - Fairfield
148 - Florida A&M
149 - Fordham
150 - Furman
151 - Georgetown
152 - Georgia Southern
153 - Grambling
154 - Hampton
155 - Harvard
156 - Hofstra
157 - Holy Cross
158 - Howard
159 - Idaho State
160 - Illinois State
161 - Indiana State
162 - Iona
163 - Jackson State
164 - Jacksonville State
165 - James Madison
166 - Lafayette
167 - La Salle
168 - Lehigh
169 - Liberty (Va.)
170 - Maine
171 - Marist
172 - Massachusetts
173 - McNeese State
174 - Alabama St.
175 - Miss. Valley St.
176 - Monmouth, NJ
177 - Montana
178 - Montana State
179 - Morehead State
180 - Morgan State
181 - Murray State
182 - Nicholls State
183 - New Hampshire
184 - Norfolk State
185 - North Carolina A&T
186 - Northeastern
187 - Northern Arizona
188 - Northern Iowa
189 - NWestern St., La.
190 - Pennsylvania
191 - Portland State
192 - Prairie View A&M
193 - Princeton
194 - Rhode Island
195 - Richmond
196 - Robert Morris
197 - Sam Houston State
198 - Samford
199 - San Diego
200 - SE Missouri St.
201 - Siena
202 - South Carolina St.
203 - South Florida
204 - Southern University
205 - Southern Illinois
206 - Southern Utah
207 - St. Francis, Pa.
208 - St. John's, NY.
209 - St. Mary's, Cal.
210 - St. Peter's, NJ.
211 - Stephen F. Austin
212 - SW Missouri St.
213 - SW Texas St.
214 - Tenn. - Chattanooga
215 - Tennessee - Martin
216 - Tennessee State
217 - Tennessee Tech
218 - Texas Southern
219 - The Citadel
220 - Towson
221 - Troy State
222 - Valparaiso
223 - Villanova
224 - VMI
225 - Wagner
226 - Weber State
227 - Western Carolina
228 - Western Illinois
229 - Western Kentucky
230 - William & Mary
231 - Wofford
232 - Yale
233 - Youngstown State
234 - Sacred Heart (Conn.)
235 - Alabama A&M
236 - Jacksonville
250 - Small College
251 - No College
252 - Livingstone
253 - Winston Salem
254 - Virginia Union
255 - Bowie State
256 - Fayetteville St.
257 - Johnson C. Smith
258 - N. Carolina Central
259 - Virginia State
260 - Elizabeth City St.
261 - Albany
262 - S. Connecticut St.
263 - LIU/C.W. Post
264 - Pace
265 - Stony Brook
266 - Bentley
267 - American Interntnl
268 - Merrimack
269 - Mass. - Lowell
270 - Stonehill
271 - Assumption
272 - West Georgia
273 - Delta State
274 - Southern Arkansas
275 - North Alabama
276 - Arkansas Tech
277 - Central Arkansas
278 - Valdosta State
279 - West Alabama
280 - Henderson State
281 - Ark. - Monticello
282 - Central Oklahoma
283 - Northeastern St, Ok.
284 - Harding
285 - SE Oklahoma St.
286 - Ouachita
287 - East Central (Okla.)
288 - SW Oklahoma St.
289 - Tx. A&M - Kingsville
290 - West Texas A&M
291 - East New Mexico
292 - Angelo State
293 - Abiline Christian
294 - Tarleton State
295 - Tx. A&M - Commerce
296 - Midwestern State
297 - NW Missouri St.
298 - Emporia State
299 - Central Missouri St.
300 - Pittsburg State
301 - Truman State
302 - Missouri Western
303 - Washburn
304 - Missouri Southern
305 - Southwest Baptist
306 - Missouri - Rolla
307 - Grand Valley State
308 - Saginaw Valley
309 - Indianapolis
310 - Ashland
311 - Northwood
312 - Northern Michigan
313 - Findlay
314 - Mercyhurst
315 - Ferris State
316 - Michigan Tech
317 - Hillsdale
318 - Westminster
319 - Wayne State (Mich.)
320 - St. Francis (Ill.)
321 - Northern Colorado
322 - Nebraska - Omaha
323 - North Dakota
324 - North Dakota State
325 - South Dakota
326 - South Dakota State
327 - Minn. St. - Mankato
328 - St. Cloud State
329 - Augustana
330 - Morningside
331 - Winona State
332 - Northern State
333 - Bemidji State
334 - Minnesota - Duluth
335 - Southwest St., Minn.
336 - Minnesota - Morris
337 - Moorhead State
338 - Millersville
339 - West Chester
340 - Bloomsburg
341 - Kutztown
342 - East Stroudsburg
343 - Cheyney
344 - Mansfield
345 - Slippery Rock
346 - Indiana Univ., Pa.
347 - Shippensburg
348 - Lock Haven
349 - Edinboro
350 - California, Pa.
351 - Clarion
352 - Chadron State
353 - Western State
354 - N. Mexico Highlands
355 - Nebraska - Kearney
356 - Fort Hays State
357 - Adams State
358 - Mesa State
359 - Colorado Mines
360 - Fort Lewis
361 - Carson-Newman
362 - Presbyterian
363 - Catawba
364 - Gardner-Webb
365 - Newberry
366 - Wingate
367 - Lenior-Rhyne
368 - Mars Hill
369 - Tusculum
370 - Tuskegee
371 - Fort Valley State
372 - Albany State
373 - Kentucky State
374 - Savannah State
375 - Lane
376 - Clark Atlanta
377 - Miles
378 - Morris Brown
379 - Morehouse
380 - Shepherd
381 - Fairmont State
382 - Glenville State
383 - W. Vir. Wesleyan
384 - West Virginia State
385 - West Liberty State
386 - Concord State
387 - West Virginia Tech
388 - California - Davis
389 - Central Washington
390 - St. Joseph's, Ind.
391 - New Haven
392 - Western Washington
393 - Quincy University
394 - Humboldt State
395 - Gannon
396 - Kentucky Wesleyan
397 - Panhandle State
398 - West New Mexico
399 - Wayne State (Neb.)

Abbreviated to save room....I don't think we need #400 on...

[Solecismic]

There are four mistakes in Dutch's current list. Two are only spelling errors.

[Draft Dodger]

hmmm Ramsay, McNair and Bledsoe are ALL Valentine's Day babies. Means nothing, but I find it kind of interesting.

[Draft Dodger]

ok

37112576

37 is the college (Syracuse)
11/25/76 is the birthday (Donovan McNabb)

so, what do we do for the middle part?

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

hmmm Ramsay, McNair and Bledsoe are ALL Valentine's Day babies. Means nothing, but I find it kind of interesting.

Of the seven 2003 NFL players with that birthday, five are quarterbacks. I wonder how someone would find that information so quickly.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Of the seven 2003 NFL players with that birthday, five are quarterbacks. I wonder how someone would find that information so quickly.

sounds like someone just has too much free time on their hands...

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Of the seven 2003 NFL players with that birthday, five are quarterbacks. I wonder how someone would find that information so quickly.

ok, I'll bite - is this info available in the game somehow?

[JeeberD]

79021476=Anthony Wright

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

79021476=Anthony Wright

well, there goes the "it's all NFL QB's" theory.

(was actually waiting for Quincy Carter's name to toss this joke, but Wright will suffice)

[JeeberD]

I also see Rick Mirer as 110031970, not as 99030870 like DD has...

"Rick Mirer, QB, 6-3, 210, March 19, 1970"

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

ok, I'll bite - is this info available in the game somehow?

There's a link to a database in SkyDog's thread. I figured someone would load up that .csv when the link to NFL players was made.