TCY - Mid-Majors Question

[Warhammer]

In TCY, I have been playing a career as the Memphis Tigers. My problem has been that with most mid-majors you have some strong point to use in recruiting. Whether it is distance or academics, you can fall back on something.

In playing with the Tigers and they are close to other schools with higher prestige and academics. On top of that, every time I get a decent coordinator, they leave to go to a better program the next season.

So, should I start choosing coordinators with better play calling skills, and try to get my prestige up in the short term or what? Any tips would be welcomed!

[dixieflatline]

I highly recommend hiring a coordinator who is player friendly. Not only will you get more blocks to use to help the dumber students pass their classes but you will have fewer recruits say they hate your coordinator. You also should be able to pump up your academics in the short term to top 10% in a couple of years. This will make recruiting a lot easier. Prestige doesn't play as big of a role in TCY than it does in real life so work on the academics which you can control easily and then go for the kids who are close and want academics until your prestige rises.

[Warhammer]

I have jacked up my GPA, it has run between the 2.95 to 3.0 for the 8 years of the career, but I have only moved up from 120 in academics to 116. That is why I was wondering if there was something else I could do.

[dixieflatline]

I have jacked up my GPA, it has run between the 2.95 to 3.0 for the 8 years of the career, but I have only moved up from 120 in academics to 116. That is why I was wondering if there was something else I could do.

3.0 is still too low. Any players that don't look to be contributing this year should have their study time jacked up. It's fine if the star running back is getting a 2.7 but ever bench warmer should be getting all A's and B's. If they aren't bump up their study time. Also if the team doesn't look to be that great this year the best thing that you can do is pump up the academics. The difference between a 4-7 season and a 6-5 season is penuts compared to the gains you can get in the academics for that year. There are just too many players that care about academics to well in recruiting without at least decent academics.

[CraigSca]

Make sure to invite some academically gifted players to visit your school even after your scholarships are filled. These guys will join as walk-ons rather than the miserable 1.0 GPA, no-talent type you usually get. Excellent for raising the GPA and academic image of your school for guys who will ride the bench anyway.

[Cringer]

3.0 is still too low. Any players that don't look to be contributing this year should have their study time jacked up. It's fine if the star running back is getting a 2.7 but ever bench warmer should be getting all A's and B's. If they aren't bump up their study time. Also if the team doesn't look to be that great this year the best thing that you can do is pump up the academics. The difference between a 4-7 season and a 6-5 season is penuts compared to the gains you can get in the academics for that year. There are just too many players that care about academics to well in recruiting without at least decent academics.

Warhammer, I would agree with dixieflatline on this. I shoot straight for the top in academics right away, its the first big key to success

[GoldenEagle]

You are blessed to be working with the Tigers.

[Warhammer]

Like I said, I have been working on the academics. Part of the problem has been my luck of getting those players that have great potential but bad current stats. Then my walkons have been absolutely brain dead zombies.

If I was only as good as Tommy. :D

[dixieflatline]

Like I said, I have been working on the academics. Part of the problem has been my luck of getting those players that have great potential but bad current stats. Then my walkons have been absolutely brain dead zombies.

It sounds like you are working at the academics which is a good start. If you not in the upper half or third in the country it will be hard to build a winner. A couple of other tidbits which might help.

Late in the recruiting process if you haven't given out all your scholarships it doesn't pay to give one to a bad player just because he is the best available. You can often get a walk on to do the same thing and there you can get someone who excels in the classroom. Always get 16 players even if you only have 14 scholarships so you will get fewer walk ons that you can't control.

Schedule very soft. If you can get them at your place great. If not do a home and home. It doesn't really help to get blown out by a good team. Even if you have a 5.00 in SOS that will hurt you less than a loss most of the time.

You can cut players who aren't cutting it on the field and in the classroom. Sometimes the team happiness will take a hit but if they aren't performing on the field that it doesn't matter a lot.

If you run an offense that doesn't need a FB you can use that position to just get good students.

Keep up posted on how things are going. The more detail you give often the better avise from people here. Things like how smart of players you are recruiting and how much study hall time you are giving them. Good luck.

[Warhammer]

Here is some info on how I have been running things, I have been using TCY Helper and had it configured from my previous Illinois career (where I consistently had the best GPA in the country, averaged a 3.3 to 3.4 each year).

Practice Time: 20%

Study Hall: Recommended study hall time, + 5% (so for a 100/100 aspiration/intelligence, the recommended study hall time is 13%)

Free Time: 19 for singles, 27 for those with gfs. I have been trying to redshirt all freshman, and give them bad free time for those with gfs, to try and break them up. Is this a good or bad thing?

Weight Training: As recommended

Film: As recommended

I have been running a 3 WR offense. My reasons for this are two fold, as you mention, I can take a great student at FB and not worry about his atheletics so much, allowing me to concentrate on other positions, and I tend to get more stud receivers than I do stud RBs (although to date in this dynasty I have been 50/50 there). Also, since my weak point in this game is defense (I normally have a pretty good one in FOF2k4), it allows me to put a lot of points on the board.

I will post some additional info when I get home, that is all I have off the top of my head.