Buccaneer
05-24-2004, 09:34 PM
Since the end of March, I have been playing FBCB off and on but still consuming 60+ hours in completing 8 seasons. No game, with the exception of OOTP4, has ever took hold of me like FBCB has the past two months. It is a testament to Brian in meeting my two gaming criteria: eager to get back to playing and wanting to keep playing ("one more month/season"). As I try to do with all of the games that I play, I work to find a groove or comfortable pace so I can keep playing without getting bored or bogged down. FBCB succeeds in this very well for me despite not being a big fan of college hoops.
Here’s how I have succeeded. FBCB works for me on two levels: the geographic variety of scheduling, recruiting and the wealth of teams/conferences; and the analysis of the players that I have and the players I want to get. The first phase (after coaching changes) of what I do in a season focuses on scheduling. It is not necessary but I do like to arrange a non-conference schedule that makes sense geographically, not only regional games but road schedules that can be chained. That’s fun to do and a highlight of the season for me. The next phase consists of numerically analyzing my roster (pre-training). I have a complex spreadsheet that I use to plug in the weighted ratings for all players – evaluating them for each of the position groups (inside, outside, rover). Not only is this used to get a preliminary look at my depth, but also used for determining recruiting needs and training emphasis. Once the recruiting season begins, I then log the approx. 20 targeted recruits (usually with a monthly budget of $11-14k) and come up with an indexed rating for each (similar to my player evaluation spreadsheet but with different weighted ratings and weighing HS performance and intangibles). This not only focuses my recruiting efforts but also provides contingencies. After training, I then re-evaluate my roster using the spreadsheet (which highlights improvements) and use that to set my initial depth chart and strategies. My season log tracks the results of each game as well as RPI rankings and conference record/standings. Along with the season log (which also includes the targeted recruits and their indexes) and the pre-training/post-training roster evaluating spreadsheet, I print out the final season info/roster avg/roster shooting on one page. Those three pages make up a season and then repeated.
I started out with the University of New Hampshire using modified prestiges with no conference movements. NH started out as perhaps the best team of the America East Conference (prestige: 2) and here were my results:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL 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 NCAA Tourney Round 1
Going into the last season (1975), I knew it would be my last but I didn’t tell anyone. I found my attitude that season to have been very real-to-life (e.g., privately celebrating the first and only win over a ranked team in a pre-season conf. tournament, recruiting well but without a sense of urgency). I anxiously waited for job offers, not knowing what to expect. Of the 7 that I had, the one that looked the most interesting of the bunch was, coincidently, Air Force Academy. Staying with NH would probably have been a more successful choice but you know how it is when you have your mind made up. The team I took over was not too bad (thanks to my spreadsheet, I can compare apples with apples) but as it turned out, the Mountain West Conference was very tough (prestige: 4). Here were the results of 2 seasons there:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1977 Air Force Head Coach 14 15 2 12 No Postseason
1976 Air Force Head Coach 10 20 1 13 No Postseason
In the 1977 season, I did become a ranked team before the conference schedule but just couldn’t win the games in the conference. I figured I would be curious to see what kind of offers I could get, not really knowing whether I would leave or not: Here was the first offer I received:
Syracuse
We have been following your progress and have decided it is time to offer you the chance to return to your alma mater as the head coach. Our prestige is currently 54. Last season our budget was $527,500. We are a member of the Big East. Last season our record was 15-14. Our last recruiting class was ranked #125. Will you lead us to greatness?
Now I get my dream job and come full circle.
Thanks Brian for making a great game.
Here’s how I have succeeded. FBCB works for me on two levels: the geographic variety of scheduling, recruiting and the wealth of teams/conferences; and the analysis of the players that I have and the players I want to get. The first phase (after coaching changes) of what I do in a season focuses on scheduling. It is not necessary but I do like to arrange a non-conference schedule that makes sense geographically, not only regional games but road schedules that can be chained. That’s fun to do and a highlight of the season for me. The next phase consists of numerically analyzing my roster (pre-training). I have a complex spreadsheet that I use to plug in the weighted ratings for all players – evaluating them for each of the position groups (inside, outside, rover). Not only is this used to get a preliminary look at my depth, but also used for determining recruiting needs and training emphasis. Once the recruiting season begins, I then log the approx. 20 targeted recruits (usually with a monthly budget of $11-14k) and come up with an indexed rating for each (similar to my player evaluation spreadsheet but with different weighted ratings and weighing HS performance and intangibles). This not only focuses my recruiting efforts but also provides contingencies. After training, I then re-evaluate my roster using the spreadsheet (which highlights improvements) and use that to set my initial depth chart and strategies. My season log tracks the results of each game as well as RPI rankings and conference record/standings. Along with the season log (which also includes the targeted recruits and their indexes) and the pre-training/post-training roster evaluating spreadsheet, I print out the final season info/roster avg/roster shooting on one page. Those three pages make up a season and then repeated.
I started out with the University of New Hampshire using modified prestiges with no conference movements. NH started out as perhaps the best team of the America East Conference (prestige: 2) and here were my results:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL 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 NCAA Tourney Round 1
Going into the last season (1975), I knew it would be my last but I didn’t tell anyone. I found my attitude that season to have been very real-to-life (e.g., privately celebrating the first and only win over a ranked team in a pre-season conf. tournament, recruiting well but without a sense of urgency). I anxiously waited for job offers, not knowing what to expect. Of the 7 that I had, the one that looked the most interesting of the bunch was, coincidently, Air Force Academy. Staying with NH would probably have been a more successful choice but you know how it is when you have your mind made up. The team I took over was not too bad (thanks to my spreadsheet, I can compare apples with apples) but as it turned out, the Mountain West Conference was very tough (prestige: 4). Here were the results of 2 seasons there:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Team Position W L CW CL Postseason
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1977 Air Force Head Coach 14 15 2 12 No Postseason
1976 Air Force Head Coach 10 20 1 13 No Postseason
In the 1977 season, I did become a ranked team before the conference schedule but just couldn’t win the games in the conference. I figured I would be curious to see what kind of offers I could get, not really knowing whether I would leave or not: Here was the first offer I received:
Syracuse
We have been following your progress and have decided it is time to offer you the chance to return to your alma mater as the head coach. Our prestige is currently 54. Last season our budget was $527,500. We are a member of the Big East. Last season our record was 15-14. Our last recruiting class was ranked #125. Will you lead us to greatness?
Now I get my dream job and come full circle.
Thanks Brian for making a great game.