FBCB question

[BrianD]

I have been thinking about buying FBCB, and reading most of the related threads here. One thing I keep seeing is everybody talking about how they took one bad school to the NCAA title, then switching schools to take another bad team to the NCAA title.

Is it easy to develop these amazing dynasties in the game, or are people here just that good?

Once you have a championship team, is it easy to stay on top, or will you eventually have a downswing and have to rebuild?

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I have been thinking about buying FBCB, and reading most of the related threads here. One thing I keep seeing is everybody talking about how they took one bad school to the NCAA title, then switching schools to take another bad team to the NCAA title.

Is it easy to develop these amazing dynasties in the game, or are people here just that good?

Once you have a championship team, is it easy to stay on top, or will you eventually have a downswing and have to rebuild?

Maybe I'm not that good, but in my latest dynasty, I got fired from Northwestern State, took over Delware State to a team that eventually won the Ivy league every year and went to the Sweet 16, but no farther. After I realized that I might never win the big one, I started aggressively moving up. I took a prestege hit back to a worse team, but a better conference. Had a losing year, but was offered a bigger conference, better prestege team. I had two great seasons at Baylor before Florida, a 100 prestege team offered me, and I took it, going to the Elite Eight twice, winning the title once, and losing the title once.

My friend is in the same dynasty, started with Northern Arizona, moved up to New Mexico State, where he got fired. Took off a season, ended up at George Washington, where he was fired after a few years. Then he took over Lipscomb, and moved them up and to a conference after 10 or 12 seasons. Then moved on to Tulsa, then up to the Oklahoma job.

So, you don't always work out at your team, and once you start doing well, they start to expect it, and a step backward could be your job.

[sovereignstar]

I wonder what kind of difficulty (or coaching points) most guys start off with.

[kingnebwsu]

I think I started off with all 50's in coaching points, one of the middle difficulty levels. Here's my record so far:

COACH DETAILS

King Neb - Head Coach - Wright State
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Age: 40
High School: Kettering-Fairmont
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Alma Mater: Wright State

Current Level: 7
Career Record: 326 - 214

Recruiting: 65
Scouting: 53
Offense: 61
Defense: 61


Coaching History:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018 Wright State Head Coach 26 7 17 1 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2017 Wright State Head Coach 19 13 10 8 Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2016 Wright State Head Coach 20 12 11 7 Loss in NIT Round 2
2015 Wright State Head Coach 18 13 10 8 Loss in NIT Round 1
2014 Wright State Head Coach 14 17 7 11 No Postseason
2013 Wright State Head Coach 14 16 10 8 No Postseason
2012 Wright State Head Coach 29 8 12 4 Loss in NCAA Championship Game
2011 Wright State Head Coach 22 10 11 5 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2010 Wright State Head Coach 18 12 12 4 No Postseason
2009 Wright State Head Coach 25 7 14 2 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2008 Wright State Head Coach 14 17 9 7 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2007 Wright State Head Coach 27 8 16 0 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2006 Wright State Head Coach 16 13 10 6 No Postseason
2005 Wright State Head Coach 15 16 9 7 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2004 Wright State Head Coach 14 18 9 7 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2003 Wright State Head Coach 16 14 9 7 No Postseason
2002 Wright State Head Coach 19 13 12 4 NCAA Tournament Play-in Game

Awards & Achievements:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Award
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2018 Conference Coach of the Year (Western Athletic Conference)
2018 Western Athletic Conference Champion
2012 Conference Coach of the Year (Horizon League)
2012 Horizon League Champion
2009 Conference Coach of the Year (Horizon League)
2009 Horizon League Champion
2007 Horizon League Champion

Job Movement:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Move
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 Hired by Wright State (Head Coach)

---

We were promoted to the WAC from the Horizon League like 5 years ago, and it's been a tough go since then. I would have been fired if I didn't disable the feature when I saw the AD was pissed at me

Is there a way I can edit my AD's expectations? It stayed the same when I moved up in conf. prestige, and I think it's unrealistic.

[QuikSand]

Myt story is pretty similar to that above. I also started with median ratings for myself.

- - -

COACH DETAILS

QuikSand - Head Coach - Binghamton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Level: 11
Career Record: 540 - 286

Recruiting: 20
Scouting: 12
Offense: 19
Defense: 17


Coaching History:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2028 Binghamton Head Coach 27 8 9 7 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2027 Binghamton Head Coach 23 9 10 6 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2026 Binghamton Head Coach 23 10 10 6 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2025 Binghamton Head Coach 20 11 10 6 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2024 Binghamton Head Coach 31 4 13 3 Loss in NCAA Elite Eight
2023 Binghamton Head Coach 24 8 11 5 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2022 Binghamton Head Coach 17 15 8 8 Loss in NIT Round 1
2021 Binghamton Head Coach 15 16 6 10 No Postseason
2020 Binghamton Head Coach 20 12 9 7 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2019 Binghamton Head Coach 24 10 13 3 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
2018 Binghamton Head Coach 24 10 12 4 Loss in NIT Round 3
2017 Binghamton Head Coach 25 9 11 5 Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
2016 Binghamton Head Coach 30 6 12 4 Loss in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2015 Binghamton Head Coach 29 8 12 4 Loss in NCAA Elite Eight
2014 Binghamton Head Coach 21 9 12 4 Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2013 Binghamton Head Coach 22 10 10 6 Loss in NIT Round 1
2012 Binghamton Head Coach 19 11 9 7 No Postseason
2011 Binghamton Head Coach 23 8 12 4 Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2010 Binghamton Head Coach 21 11 11 5 Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2009 Binghamton Head Coach 21 9 9 7 Loss in NIT Round 1
2008 Binghamton Head Coach 17 12 8 8 No Postseason
2007 Binghamton Head Coach 21 10 9 7 Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2006 Binghamton Head Coach 15 14 10 6 No Postseason
2005 Binghamton Head Coach 6 22 1 15 No Postseason
2004 Binghamton Head Coach 3 25 2 14 No Postseason

Awards & Achievements:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Award
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 Conference Coach of the Year (Atlantic 10)
2024 Atlantic 10 Champion
2019 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2019 America East Champion
2018 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2018 America East Champion
2015 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2015 America East Champion
2014 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2014 America East Champion
2011 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2011 America East Champion
2007 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)
2006 Conference Coach of the Year (America East)

Job Movement:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Move
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 Hired by Binghamton (Head Coach)




I'm sure that with a few house rules, this game could be made every bit as challenging as you might like. I have probably made more out of foreign players that is reasonable to do... but past that, I don't think I've really exploited much. Your call on whether that makes the game too easy... but I do think it's inherent in most career sims that a good player can reach great heights -- we, the players, seem to prefer it that way, for some reason.

[albionmoonlight]

I play games, in part, to win. If enjoyment is supposed to come from some combo of winning and challenge, I seem to prefer more of the former than most of FOFC.

[BrianD]

I'm ok with reaching great heights, I just wanted to make sure the challenge level was ok. If your first NCAA bid came in season 12, and you haven't gotten to the Final Four in 25 seasons, that sounds like pretty good challenge. House rules tend to be necessary in sports sims, but that works for me too.

You tend to hear a lot about the really good dynasties, but less from works in progress. I did download the demo, so we'll see how it feels.

[gstelmack]

Come join the online FOFC league and watch the challenge level rise as everyone else steals you recruites

[kingnebwsu]

I started my 2019 season ranked #5...which is the best preseason ranking I've ever had (by a wide margin, I think #18 was my previous best). We were 8-1, but we went 1-2 in a preseason tourney when our offense sucked it bad. We're 9-3 and ranked #18 (#22 RPI), which is about where we were last year. Hoping we can snag a #5 seed or higher. I have 2 starting seniors along with a top-5 recruit who's my #1 reserve. 1 year of role-playing before he steps in next year. I'm not sure if I'm playing it right, but I don't wanna ruin this year for him to go through his "growing." I did start him 3 games and he shot like 18% from the floor. He's up to 41% now.

[sooner333]

Originally Posted by BrianD

I'm ok with reaching great heights, I just wanted to make sure the challenge level was ok. If your first NCAA bid came in season 12, and you haven't gotten to the Final Four in 25 seasons, that sounds like pretty good challenge. House rules tend to be necessary in sports sims, but that works for me too.

You tend to hear a lot about the really good dynasties, but less from works in progress. I did download the demo, so we'll see how it feels.

You have to remember, it doesn't take but a conference tourney win to get in the big dance...no matter how bad the conference is.

Also, for a big challenge, take over a team like Texas A&M or Northwestern...it can be almost impossible to compete in the big conference with higher expectations than a smaller school.

[C-Bailey]

Originally Posted by sooner333

You have to remember, it doesn't take but a conference tourney win to get in the big dance...no matter how bad the conference is.

Also, for a big challenge, take over a team like Texas A&M or Northwestern...it can be almost impossible to compete in the big conference with higher expectations than a smaller school.

I was just going to add this myself, as my toughest challenge to date was creating myself as a Level 4 coach (or it might have been 5) and took over Virginia Tech in the tough as nails ACC. Recruiting was ugly and the games were even uglier for the first 5-7 years. I barely kept my job as the expections of the AD were only " avoid last place in the conference".

[cartman]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

Is there a way I can edit my AD's expectations? It stayed the same when I moved up in conf. prestige, and I think it's unrealistic.

I know we ran into this as well with the FOFC FBCB league. I think HeavyReign released a patch to fix this, or it might just have been something he gave to Radii. Anyone else have any insight into this?

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by cartman

I know we ran into this as well with the FOFC FBCB league. I think HeavyReign released a patch to fix this, or it might just have been something he gave to Radii. Anyone else have any insight into this?

http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~fof/foru...ad.php?t=36934

[Marmel]

Started with Morris Brown, edited prestige to 0, edited all players to walkons with under 10 talent. Kept them as an independant. The scenario is that they return to the Div 1A athletic scene with a bunhc of walkons and I have to build the program.

I got them to the Elite 8 once and a handful of Sweet 16's. I cannot seem to get them into any kind of elite status. We have a nice run into the Sweet 16 every 3 or 4 or 5 years, usually as a 4/5 seed and then lose to the #1 seed. That run usually saves my job and the 4 year cycle begins again. We have just been promoted to CUSA, 5 star conference, and the recruiting is much easier, hopefully a Final Four appearance will follow and I can retire and begin again with a new team or something.

[Ben E Lou]

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/f...1&postcount=11

Started at Level 0, limited conference movement, with Savannah State (Prestige=0).

~10 years to first NIT bid
~30 years to get in a conference (but that was partly due to a bug--should happen faster than that now)
~30 years to first NCAA bid
~45 years to first NCAA title

[Peregrine]

I rarely keep the same team for ages, I like to start at the bottom and move up to the top by taking new job offers until after a while, I'm coaching a team with a good shot to have tournament success.

The other thing I've found fun is to make a very good coach (one of the highest skill rankings) but have him start at a crappy team and give him a time limit to try to win it all, like 10 years. Usually you can end up with a solid team very fast but it's very hard to win the NCAAs even with a good squad.

[kingnebwsu]

Wow, that option was buried in a menu I had never seen...I didn't know that he actually put in the option to change it! Huzzah!!!

FBCB rocks hardcore, and every time I pick it up again, my interest in it is greatly renewed. I'm doing a lot better now that I pay attention to my opponents and adjust my strategies. I changed my expectations from Sweet 16 to compete for the conf. championship. I think that's fair, esp. since the AD is pissed at me

[cartman]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

Wow, that option was buried in a menu I had never seen...I didn't know that he actually put in the option to change it! Huzzah!!!

FBCB rocks hardcore, and every time I pick it up again, my interest in it is greatly renewed. I'm doing a lot better now that I pay attention to my opponents and adjust my strategies. I changed my expectations from Sweet 16 to compete for the conf. championship. I think that's fair, esp. since the AD is pissed at me

Even with that option enabled, my AD still hates me in the FOFC FBCB league. My goals last season were to win the FBCA championship, and the board was threatening to fire me if my performance didn't improve. I made it to the championship game, but lost. I had two underclassmen declare for the draft, and were projected as lottery picks. Guess what my goals are this season? Yep, exactly the same. Win the whole enchilada or else. Ugh.

[QuikSand]

Does your career ever end involuntarily? IN the game, I'm now into my 60s... the job offers have dried up, and I ought to be in my twilight. Will I eventually get "retired" in the game. like it or not? Or can I play unlimited seasons?

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Does your career ever end involuntarily? IN the game, I'm now into my 60s... the job offers have dried up, and I ought to be in my twilight. Will I eventually get "retired" in the game. like it or not? Or can I play unlimited seasons?

Unlimited. HR said he considered some kind of automatic retirement, but decided that if people wanted it was certainly easy enough to implement themselves.

Fair enough, for me at least.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by cartman

I know we ran into this as well with the FOFC FBCB league. I think HeavyReign released a patch to fix this, or it might just have been something he gave to Radii. Anyone else have any insight into this?

http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~fof/foru...9&postcount=88

[Radii]

May as well pimp the FOFC FBCB online league while i'm here too We are up to about 40 coaches, with almost all of the active, I'm a college basketball junkee myself, and this is easily the most fun online league I'm in.

I've updated my sig w/ our new message board loacation if anyone is interested.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Radii

May as well pimp the FOFC FBCB online league while i'm here too We are up to about 40 coaches, with almost all of the active, I'm a college basketball junkee myself, and this is easily the most fun online league I'm in.

I've updated my sig w/ our new message board loacation if anyone is interested.

Nice timing, I was just going to ask about the FOFC online league.

I have been enjoying the game demo, and it seems like challenge shouldn't be a problem in the game. Having the ability to play online with others should add to the enjoyment factor. The other nice thing is that with about 327 college teams to choose from, there should be room for plenty of new coaches to join.

[wbatl1]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I'm sure that with a few house rules, this game could be made every bit as challenging as you might like. I have probably made more out of foreign players that is reasonable to do... but past that, I don't think I've really exploited much. Your call on whether that makes the game too easy... but I do think it's inherent in most career sims that a good player can reach great heights -- we, the players, seem to prefer it that way, for some reason.

The foreign players is one of the things I realy like about this game. They are usually a little easier(or a lot) for smaller schools to get, but you have to spend the money on them. THink of all the mid-major schools who have a lot of foriegn players, like Pacific.

[kingnebwsu]

Originally Posted by cartman

Even with that option enabled, my AD still hates me in the FOFC FBCB league. My goals last season were to win the FBCA championship, and the board was threatening to fire me if my performance didn't improve. I made it to the championship game, but lost. I had two underclassmen declare for the draft, and were projected as lottery picks. Guess what my goals are this season? Yep, exactly the same. Win the whole enchilada or else. Ugh.

I guess it doesn't take into account the talent level on your team eh? That's frustrating...because if you have one great year and make a run (like I did), then the game expects you to do that each year. I made one magical run to be national runner-up, and then the expectation was to be in the sweet 16. It's almost a fair expectation now, since I've lost in the 2nd round for 2 straight years, and I've been ranked in the top 20 in the polls. But that magical year was the only time in the last 20 where I've made it past the 2nd round! The Sweet 16 was my barrier, and that year when we broke through, we just went nuts

I just graduated 3 starters, and this year I'll be graduating 60% of my total big men, so I'm hoping we can still be a good team.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

I guess it doesn't take into account the talent level on your team eh?

Recruiting is part of your job as a coach, isn't it? So they expect you to maintain that talent level.

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by cartman

Even with that option enabled, my AD still hates me in the FOFC FBCB league. My goals last season were to win the FBCA championship, and the board was threatening to fire me if my performance didn't improve. I made it to the championship game, but lost. I had two underclassmen declare for the draft, and were projected as lottery picks. Guess what my goals are this season? Yep, exactly the same. Win the whole enchilada or else. Ugh.

No comment.

[cartman]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Recruiting is part of your job as a coach, isn't it? So they expect you to maintain that talent level.

That might be part of it as well. I think the big factor is your prestige rating. It can't drop too much without the board becoming concerned.

Another nice feature, or at least it seems that way, is that it appears that recruits take notice of your job situation. In the first four seasons, I never had any trouble landing at least one or two 4*/5* recruits. Now that my job has been in jeopardy for two consecutive seasons, I wasn't able to sign a 4* or 5* player this season.

[cubboyroy1826]

Wow, that option was buried in a menu I had never seen...I didn't know that he actually put in the option to change it! Huzzah!!!

Where excatly is this buried?

[kingnebwsu]

Edit Current League: Edit Teams, click on that and you can change the option

[Buccaneer]

Just for the fun of it, here's my Coaching history

 COACH DETAILS
 Stephen Clark - Head Coach - Colgate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Age:			 79
 High School:	 Westhill High School
 Hometown:		Syracuse, New York
 Alma Mater:	  Syracuse
 
 Current Level:   12
 Career Record:   748 - 368
 
 Recruiting:	  10
 Scouting:		9
 Offense:		 9
 Defense:		 9
 
 Coaching History:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season Team					 Position	  W   L  CW  CL  Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2004   Colgate				  Head Coach   23  10   9   7  Loss in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
 2003   Colgate				  Head Coach   23  10   8   8  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 2002   Colgate				  Head Coach   30   6  14   4  Loss in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
 2001   Colgate				  Head Coach   26   8  11   7  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 2000   Colgate				  Head Coach   31   3  17   1  Loss in NCAA Sweet Sixteen
 1999   Colgate				  Head Coach   21  11   9   9  Loss in NIT Round 1
 1998   Colgate				  Head Coach   25   7  14   4  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1997   Colgate				  Head Coach   25   6  15   3  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1996   Colgate				  Head Coach   23   9  12   6  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1995   Colgate				  Head Coach   26   6  11   3  Loss in NIT Round 2
 1994   Colgate				  Head Coach   25  10  11   3  Loss in NIT Round 3
 1993   Colgate				  Head Coach   15  15   6   8  No Postseason
 1992   Colgate				  Head Coach   14  15   6   8  No Postseason
 1991   Syracuse				 Head Coach   25   7  13   3  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 1990   Syracuse				 Head Coach   33   4  14   2  Loss in NCAA Final Four
 1989   Syracuse				 Head Coach   25  10  11   5  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 1988   Syracuse				 Head Coach   29   7  12   4  Loss in NCAA Final Four
 1987   Syracuse				 Head Coach   24  10  10   6  Loss in NCAA Elite Eight
 1986   Syracuse				 Head Coach   22  10  10   6  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 1985   Syracuse				 Head Coach   20  11   9   7  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1984   Syracuse				 Head Coach   16  13   7   9  No Postseason
 1983   Syracuse				 Head Coach   19  13   7   9  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 2
 1982   Syracuse				 Head Coach   11  18   6  10  No Postseason
 1981   Syracuse				 Head Coach   20  12   9   7  Loss in NIT Round 2
 1980   Syracuse				 Head Coach   15  13   7   9  No Postseason
 1979   Syracuse				 Head Coach   15  14   7   9  No Postseason
 1978   Syracuse				 Head Coach   17  14   6  10  Loss in NIT Round 1
 1977   Air Force				Head Coach   14  15   2  12  No Postseason
 1976   Air Force				Head Coach   10  20   1  13  No Postseason
 1975   New Hampshire			Head Coach   19  13   9   7  Loss in NIT Round 1
 1974   New Hampshire			Head Coach   20  12   9   7  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1973   New Hampshire			Head Coach   17  12  10   6  Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
 1972   New Hampshire			Head Coach   25   7  13   3  Loss in NCAA Tourney Round 1
 1971   New Hampshire			Head Coach   18  12  13   3  No Postseason
 1970   New Hampshire			Head Coach   27   5  12   4  Loss in FBCA Tourney Round 1
 
 Awards & Achievements:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season   Award
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2002	 Conference Coach of the Year (Missouri Valley Conference)
 2002	 Missouri Valley Conference Champion
 2000	 Conference Coach of the Year (Colonial Athletic Association)
 2000	 Colonial Athletic Association Champion
 1998	 Conference Coach of the Year (Colonial Athletic Association)
 1997	 Conference Coach of the Year (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
 1997	 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion
 1996	 Conference Coach of the Year (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
 1996	 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion
 1995	 Conference Coach of the Year (Patriot League)
 1995	 Patriot League Champion
 1994	 Conference Coach of the Year (Patriot League)
 1990	 Conference Coach of the Year (Big East)
 1990	 National Coach of the Year
 1972	 America East Champion
 
 Job Movement:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season   Move
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1992	 Hired by Colgate (Head Coach)
 1992	 Quit job with Syracuse
 1978	 Hired by Syracuse (Head Coach)
 1978	 Quit job with Air Force to pursue another position.
 1976	 Hired by Air Force (Head Coach)
 1976	 Quit job with New Hampshire to pursue another position.
 1970	 Hired by New Hampshire (Head Coach)

Even at age 79, I get plently of offers.

[kcchief19]

I'm in the category of gamer where I'll create a coach in his late 20s or early 30s with middling ratings and then make him a computer coach until he gets a job as a head coach. For me, it adds a bit of flavor because I'm able to give my coach a little background as an assistant and get some history in the league before I step in and try to work my way to the top. If I get hired by a school I like in real life, such as (nee Southwest) Missouri State or Missouri, I'll stick around there for a while and pass up other jobs. I'll never accept the job at Kansas.

As for the original question, I think it's a tad too easy to keep a program winning once it gets to that level. Generally, unless I make mistakes as a gamer, I find that my teams almost always get better with time discounting the occassional step backward. I think it is a by-product of something that we see in almost every game -- at most levels over time, an average human player will outperform an AI player.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I'm in the category of gamer where I'll create a coach in his late 20s or early 30s with middling ratings and then make him a computer coach until he gets a job as a head coach.

I do something similar to this. Actually, what I do is this: when it's retirin' time in my current career, I remember one of my favorite players from the recent past (usually an bench/overachiever type) and create that player as a new young coach. Same name, background info, etc. Depending on how old he would be (yeah, I figure it out because I'm a huge nerd), I might let him coach as an assistant for a few years before taking him over and finding the right small conference situation for him as a head coach. And the cycle starts all over again. What results is an ever-growing coaching tree stemming from the first coach I ever played as.

I know, it's dweeby but I'm an unabashed fanboy of this game.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Even at age 79, I get plently of offers.

Right, but what about when you get that old in the game???

::rimshot::

[RPI-Fan]

I think I'm just plain bad at this game.

 COACH DETAILS

 Kyle Smith - Head Coach - William & Mary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Age:             28
 High School:     Averill Park High School
 Hometown:        Averill Park, NY
 Alma Mater:      RPI
 
 Current Level:   0
 Career Record:   116 - 184
 
 Recruiting:      C 
 Scouting:        D-
 Offense:         D-
 Defense:         F+

 
 Coaching History:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season Team                     Position      W   L  CW  CL  Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2013   William & Mary           Head Coach   16  14   7  11  No Postseason
 2012   William & Mary           Head Coach   20  12  11   7  Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
 2011   William & Mary           Head Coach   13  16   8  10  No Postseason
 2010   William & Mary           Head Coach   15  17   7  11  No Postseason
 2009   William & Mary           Head Coach   11  19   6  12  No Postseason
 2008   William & Mary           Head Coach   13  17   5  13  No Postseason
 2007   William & Mary           Head Coach    5  25   3  15  No Postseason
 2006   William & Mary           Head Coach    2  27   0  18  No Postseason
 2005   William & Mary           Head Coach    4  25   2  16  No Postseason
 
 Awards & Achievements:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season   Award
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2012     Conference Coach of the Year (Colonial Athletic Association)
 
 Job Movement:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Season   Move
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2005     Hired by William & Mary (Head Coach)

 William & Mary  Historical Performances

Season    W   L  CW  CL Rank  RPI  Prs  Result
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013     16  14   7  11  155  199   32  No Postseason
2012     20  12  11   7   84  101   31  Loss in NIT Preliminary Round
2011     13  16   8  10  228  225   23  No Postseason
2010     15  17   7  11  230  228   20  No Postseason
2009     11  19   6  12  287  288   16  No Postseason
2008     13  17   5  13  242  237   14  No Postseason
2007      5  25   3  15  311  312   11  No Postseason
2006      2  27   0  18  321  321    9  No Postseason
2005      4  25   2  16  315  316    6  No Postseason

I mean, I know I've bulit up the prestige a good deal, which was tough in a Level 3 Conference, but damn, it seems like I'm just plain bad at this game.

Also, I started with a Level 0 coach, but I'd like to think I should be a little more successful than I have been. Am I correct in assuming other people have more luck, even when they're in a relatively tough situation like me (awful team in decent conference; low-level coach)?

~rpi-fan

[BrianD]

Looking at "Message Board: http://www.fbcb-fofc.com/forums", it looks like there are three sims per week? How hard is it to find enough time to prepare for three per week?

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Looking at "Message Board: http://www.fbcb-fofc.com/forums", it looks like there are three sims per week? How hard is it to find enough time to prepare for three per week?

Not very.

Basically you submit your recruiting one of those three times for that "in-game Month."

One RL week = One IG month
Example
Sim 1 = March 1 - March 10
Sim 2 = March 11 - March 20
Sim 3 = March 21 - March 31 (or month end)

I personally haven't had to submit an export for about two weeks, since I got my recruits signed in November.

[SirFozzie]

Most of the time during the week, you don't have to do much of anything.. (maybe a MINOR tweak of your gameplan if you want) for 2 out of three sims, and the third one (the end of month one) is usually only important if you have recruiting to do. I spend about 20-30 minutes a week on managing BC.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Balldog

Not very.

Basically you submit your recruiting one of those three times for that "in-game Month."

One RL week = One IG month
Example
Sim 1 = March 1 - March 10
Sim 2 = March 11 - March 20
Sim 3 = March 21 - March 31 (or month end)

I personally haven't had to submit an export for about two weeks, since I got my recruits signed in November.

Do you not have to worry about scouting the opponents and tweaking your gameplan?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Do you not have to worry about scouting the opponents and tweaking your gameplan?

I take the John Wooden approach to only worry about the execution of my own team, and not be too concerned about scouting the opponent.

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Do you not have to worry about scouting the opponents and tweaking your gameplan?

Well, you can have anywhere from 1-4 games during one sim. So like cartman does I just set my gameplan to my team's strengths. I make variations if we are struggling, this year I have had to reduce our tempo twice to keep the turnovers down.

[Radii]

Some people export every sim to gameplan for the teams they're playing that sim, some people set a lineup and just make minor tweaks. Some people are very active in the offseason(hiring coaches/scheduling/early recruiting) and go mostly on autopilot during the season.

There are 4 or 5 sims a week during the offseason and exports are required for those if you have stuff to do(assistant coach hiring and scheduling), but, doing those exports takes all of 5 minutes for most people, and once you have your assistants you are waiting on everyone else...

I suspect scheduling is going to get easier too for most people... I am hearing a lot of people who dove in and tried to play as many human opponents during novemeber/december tell me "my non-coference schedule was *way* too hard"

[BrianD]

Ok, so I am getting close to pulling the trigger here.

Any restrictions or advice on the team I will pick? Is it better to pick a big school to start off with a good team? Should I try to avoid being the only human team in a conference?

[SirFozzie]

It's more fun to be in a conference with human teams, there's a trash talking factor..

[Radii]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Ok, so I am getting close to pulling the trigger here.

Any restrictions or advice on the team I will pick? Is it better to pick a big school to start off with a good team? Should I try to avoid being the only human team in a conference?

In terms of whats allowed, pick anyone you want that isn't already taken. Big East/ACC/Big 10/Big 12/MVC all have pretty good participation right now, but you're welcome to join anywhere that you think you'll enjoy the most.

[JeeberD]

Come join CUSA! The more teams the merrier!

[Balldog]

Big 12 needs more coaches

Just don't pick Kansas, that would be a little cheesey since they are already 20-0.

[MizzouRah]

Is it me or is recruiting a crapshoot? Just pick a guy and click asst. and coach visit?


Todd

[Radii]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Is it me or is recruiting a crapshoot? Just pick a guy and click asst. and coach visit?

Don't forget call list, but seems to me like it's fairly deep. In any one season you may have no shot at a guy if another better team goes after him... but it seems like balancing your money between hiring good coaches(your recruiting + your rec coordinator's recruiting are important here) and having money to spend on recruits, then making the most of that money, and targeting the right guys to get a good, well rounded class each year is a pretty tough skill to master unless you're running duke.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Radii

Don't forget call list, but seems to me like it's fairly deep. In any one season you may have no shot at a guy if another better team goes after him... but it seems like balancing your money between hiring good coaches(your recruiting + your rec coordinator's recruiting are important here) and having money to spend on recruits, then making the most of that money, and targeting the right guys to get a good, well rounded class each year is a pretty tough skill to master unless you're running duke.

I think it mirrors real life pretty well. When I reached the top of the heap, I had the $$ to recuit nationwide and could pretty much pick and choose from the best of the best.

At a small school, you have to use more of the resources at your disposal--like rankings and high school stats. And you just don't have the $$ to look at and pursue a lot of guys.