American - 2013

[Kodos]

Invitations to AmericanFOFC have been sent to EF27, Gramm, Macro, and JR. It's time for the usual scheduling, redshirting, setting up of recruiting boards, etc.

I started everyone out at level 5, with the slow progression setting. Same sliders as the other leagues, but with 7 minute quarters instead of 8.

I think all of the quoted stuff below applies. Remember you can only recruit 2-star players or below. Also, don't forget to turn off Recruiting Board assitance.

Spoiler

Originally Posted by Kodos

So JR's posts got me to thinking. It's not a big secret that the Pyramid hasn't caught my interest quite like I hoped it would. For whatever reason, I'm having a hard time developing a real affinity for my Florida Atlantic squad, even though we had a much more successful season last year. If and when JR takes over as commish, I will play out that season and then most likely resign from the Pyramid. (None of this affects The Ladder). If nobody takes over as commish, I will keep the Pyramid going, but probably put my team on autopilot or something like that due to time constraints.

I think part of the problem is that I compromised too much in the formation of the league, and bargained away the parts that I liked best. So here is my stab at making a league that combines multiple goals that I've had for NCAA 2014 ODs.

1. I love the teams of IHOF, but I don't want to play FOF anymore. It's just not my thing. This new league will feature a conference of teambuildered versions of IHOF teams. All human teams would come from that list, and once it starts, nobody else will be allowed to join. Any team that isn't human-controlled will be given a strong roster and good pitches. Here's a peek at the teams that this league would feature.

My team in this league will be my beloved Rochester Lake Monsters.



2. Users will be on even footing to start. Each team will start with the same crappy roster located in the same crappy recruiting state. Which state is negotiable, but it will be a crappy recruiting state. I suggest New York. CPU-controlled teams will be located in their regular state (Brooklyn in New York, Chesapeake in Virginia, etc.)

3. Recruiting will be limited to 2 stars and below.

4. All user Coaches will get a low number of points to start off (5 or less, with the exact number open to negotiation). Progression speed will be one of the two lowest settings.

5. For consistency, we'll use the same gameplay sliders that the other two leagues use, although I'm open to shorter quarters to limit stat-whoring.

6. We'll have a 10-team conference where every team plays everyone else in the league with a round-robin 9-game conference schedule.

7. When in doubt, I will lean toward making it more challenging for humans.

8. To accommodate the possibility of more human vs. human games, this league will probably move somewhat slower at times.

9. No transfer ins can be accepted, and all players wishing to leave early must be allowed to do so.

[Julio Riddols]

Awesome

[Julio Riddols]

I'm all set on my recruiting board..

Are we going to try and play the exact same schedules? Like if one of us plays Duke we try to all play Duke?

[Kodos]

I think that'd be hard to get 5 games against the same out-of-conference team for everyone. But everyone does play 4 humans each season. Plus, the cpu teams should all be strong.

[Julio Riddols]

I don't care how we do the schedules, I just wasn't sure if that was an idea being considered.. I guess the logistics would be damn near impossible to pin down anyway, heh.

Anyway, I kinda want some FCS action for my out of conference schedule. I feel like I need a couple games that might be in the easy category given this roster.

[Kodos]

No FCS games, sir. Sorry. Please see rule 7.

[Julio Riddols]

Oh shit, haha... Ok, give me mid tier teams, like Hawaii and Tennessee.

[MacroGuru]

Alright guys, I will try and get stuff done if I can via the internet. Just so you know my schedule right now it is:

3/30 - Travel to BUF
3/31-4/1 Driving from BUF to UT
4/2 - Out of town for Work
4/4 - Back in town
4/6 - Hoping to get internet ordered and in the townhouse this week
4/9 - Out of town for work
4/13 - Back in town

[Grammaticus]

I've finished my recruiting board (Outer Banks).

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

Alright guys, I will try and get stuff done if I can via the internet. Just so you know my schedule right now it is:

3/30 - Travel to BUF
3/31-4/1 Driving from BUF to UT
4/2 - Out of town for Work
4/4 - Back in town
4/6 - Hoping to get internet ordered and in the townhouse this week
4/9 - Out of town for work
4/13 - Back in town

Not sure you can accept the invite online. We may need to hold until you can accept the invite in-game.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Oh shit, haha... Ok, give me mid tier teams, like Hawaii and Tennessee.

Week 2 - vs Hawaii
Week 4 - at UMass
Week 8 - at Tennessee

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Grammaticus

I've finished my recruiting board (Outer Banks).

OOC game preferences?

[Kodos]

Right now, I must say the scheduling logic sucks. Looking at Asheville right now, and they have locked conference games in weeks 1-8, then:

Wk 9 - Navy
Wk 10 - FCS
Wk 11 - FCS
Wk 12 Bye
Wk 13 Bye
Wk 14 Bye
Wk 15 at Vicksburg

[Kodos]

Also, not sure why my coach prestige is C-, JR's is D-, and nobody else is listed. EF27 and Gramm - have you alloted your coach points yet?

There must be a randomness factor being applied?

[Eaglesfan27]

I did allocate my points. I will look at those tomorrow morning.

[Eaglesfan27]

Not sure why but my coach prestige is a B+.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Right now, I must say the scheduling logic sucks. Looking at Asheville right now, and they have locked conference games in weeks 1-8, then:

Wk 9 - Navy
Wk 10 - FCS
Wk 11 - FCS
Wk 12 Bye
Wk 13 Bye
Wk 14 Bye
Wk 15 at Vicksburg

I'll keep Navy. Please give me Tulane in week 11 and week 13 I will take any mid tier team.

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola -

My recruiting board is set. Finding a 2 star gem is quite a treat! Of course, I know it is going to be very hard to actually get them to sign with our struggling program...

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Not sure why but my coach prestige is a B+.

Must be some randomization in effect.

[Julio Riddols]

I'm just not very prestigious in real life, and the game has learned that by now I think.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

I'm just not very prestigious in real life, and the game has learned that by now I think.

[Kodos]

It makes sense. The game is powered by SkyNet, after all.

[Grammaticus]

Originally Posted by Kodos

OOC game preferences?

How about UMass, Connecticut, Marshall and whatever else in the mid tier range. Some other options are Florida Atlantic, UAB, FIU, MTSU, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion, Army.

And yes, I did allocate my recruiting points.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I'll keep Navy. Please give me Tulane in week 11 and week 13 I will take any mid tier team.

Can't get Tulane in any of your open weeks.

Week 9 at Navy
Week 11 vs. Kentucky
Week 13 vs. SMU

Let me know if those don't work for you.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Grammaticus

How about UMass, Connecticut, Marshall and whatever else in the mid tier range. Some other options are Florida Atlantic, UAB, FIU, MTSU, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion, Army.

And yes, I did allocate my recruiting points.

Week 2 at Connecticut
Week 4 at Marshall
Week 5 vs. WKU

Unfortunately, your conference schedule starts with 4 away games, then 5 straight home games. Nice going, EA.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Can't get Tulane in any of your open weeks.

Week 9 at Navy
Week 11 vs. Kentucky
Week 13 vs. SMU

Let me know if those don't work for you.

Those are fine.

[MacroGuru]

Girlfriend ordered the internet today and I am damn excited. It should be there this week. It's going to be 105 Mbps! Screaming!

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

Girlfriend ordered the internet today and I am damn excited. It should be there this week. It's going to be 105 Mbps! Screaming!

I have the 105 mbps... it is nice!

[MacroGuru]

Accepted, board built.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

Accepted, board built.

Schedule requests?

[Kodos]

Looks like EF27 will be the first to dip his toe in the water. Good luck! The rest of us just have recruiting.

American

=============== Rochester Lake Monsters (0-0) ===============
This week, the Lake Monsters are idle.

=============== Orlando Talons (0-0) ===============
This week, the Talons are idle.

=============== Outer Banks Ospreys (0-0) ===============
This week, the Ospreys are idle.

=============== Asheville Axemen (0-0) ===============
This week, the Axemen travel to Chesapeake to face the Chesapeake Chitterlings (0-0).

=============== Maassluis Merchantmen (0-0) ===============
This week, the Merchantmen are idle.

[Eaglesfan27]

Awesome! If my girl falls asleep early (she is allowed to stay up late for spring break), I will try to get my game in tonight. Otherwise, I will do my best to get it in before I go away for the trip.

Edit: Got the errors and had to do the fix Kodos posted. Didn't get my game in, but I did get my recruiting in. Looks like a tough road to even get these 2 star kids! Hope to get my game in during the next day or two. Worst case scenario is I get my game done when I get back into town as I am off all day Thursday.

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola...

Just remembered that I don't leave for my business trip until 2pm on Monday and I am off that morning... So I will play my game Monday. Can't wait!

[Julio Riddols]

I'll get my recruiting in in a few.

EDIT: Done. The cache clearing worked for me.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. Chesapeake's overall is 33 higher than ours. This is going to be very tough...

[Julio Riddols]

I'm excited about the possibility that none of us may make it to bowl eligibility.
In my SP career with this team I lost to an FCS team.

[Kodos]

I'm hoping that it takes us a while to have competitive teams. I'll be disappointed if someone gets a national championship in the first couple of seasons.

[Eaglesfan27]

Their first drive: 3 wild passes. We get a stop!

Our first drive stalled at the 50 when I decided I couldn't count on getting 2 yards and punted on 4th and 2.

Their 2nd drive - They marched down the field with ease. Their QB absolutely dissected our defense. Of course, he had wide open receivers to make it easy for him... They go up 7-0.

Our 2nd drive: We use a ground and pound with some short controlled passes to move the ball. We get inside their 10, but on 1st and goal from the 9, we get too cute and are sacked for a loss of 9. We just can't make up those yards and we have to settle for a FG

The only good news is that we ate up a lot of clock.

The kickoff return, they burst through our first line and have too much speed. Kickoff return for a TD. Down 14-3 like that.

We slowly march the ball down the field running it and using short passes. I decide to go for it on 4th and 3 from the 8... and the receiver holds onto the pass! We run the clock down more and get a TD with 19 seconds left to make it 14-10.

I consider squib kicking it but I kick it deep.... and I pay as they return another kickoff for a TD! Sheesh. 21-10 with 10 seconds left. At least, I get the ball next half.

Our first drive eats up most of the 3rd quarter but stalls inside the 10 as our receivers drop 2 potential TD passes. We decide to settle for a FG. Down 21-13.

We learned our lesson the hard way, we squib kick.

Somehow... someway, we get a defensive stop on 3rd and 10. They are going for it on 4th and 10 on our 34....

We pick off the pass!!!! Our first interception!

We go for it on 4th and 2 and complete the pass for 4 yards. Whew.

NO!!! Our best WR who is making all of our plays goes down with a serious injury and will miss most of the season

We are driving inside the 10... inspired by his loss... but now the windows are so small...

Colvin runs it in for a TD!!! 21-19. 3 minutes left. We are going for 2....

They stop the 2 point play with a quick sack of our QB.

We try squib kicking it but the speedster still gets it! Fortunately, a clipping penalty negates a huge return.

We get them into 3rd and 1.... we pack the middle.... they pitch it out and run it for 45 yards before our safety barely manages to catch the RB and shove him out of bounds. That gets them inside the 10 and we are running out of time outs.

We manage to stop them from scoring a TD but they were able to use up so much time before kicking the FG. We are down 24-19 and will get the kickoff with 12 seconds left...

No return of the deep kickoff.... can we get a deep pass somehow?

1st play... our WR drops a deep pass and he had a step on the guy...

2nd deep pass is broken up easily by their safety...

The Hail Mary is thrown so far wide left that it was out of bounds. Sheesh.

We fought hard but lose 24-19 to the Chitterlings.

(Now, please upload properly.)



Sheesh..... got the online dynasty error message

Retry isn't doing anything

I opened the ports and everything.

[Eaglesfan27]

Sorry guys. I need to leave in 90 minutes, so not going to try again now. I'll try Thursday again. Hopefully, a patch or server update or something will get this going properly again.

[Kodos]

Wow. That sucks that it still isn't working. JR's sig is right.

[Eaglesfan27]

We get the ball first: They are stuffing our run game much better this time. We are forced into 3rd and 7... and convert. However, a sack on our next 2nd down put us into 3rd and long and we can't convert. Quick punt.

Wow. We get a sack on 3rd and 7 and force them to punt back! Go defense!

Our punt returner has a lane... he could... he gets tackled by a shoe string before he gets away for a long gain.

Our ground and pound is keeping the ball. End of 1: 0-0 and we are driving still.

5:39 to go in the half: Our backup HB runs it in from the 1 yard line. We take a 7-0 lead!

Our defense gets another sack on 3rd and 6 and we get the ball back again.


Crap... we got greedy and tried for a TD on 2nd and 8 from the 9 and instead threw a bad pick. At least, there were only 15 seconds left. Still, I blew a chance to take a 10-0 lead into halftime.

Up 7-0 at the half, but we are kicking off.

Wow. Our DE gets his 3rd sack of the day. At least 1 of them was a coverage sack... but the young man is having a suprising day. That gets them into 3rd and long and we get the stop (barely.)

The punt is a bit long and we get to start on the 20...

A big play action pass is the highlight of this drive... then our star WR goes down with an injury

4th and inches on the 2... we go for it.... and get stuffed. Darn, I should have taken the FG.

A pass to their TE gets them out of the shadow of their endzone.

Their QB (who is relatively slow) has a 31 yard rush to end the half. Darn. Should have kicked that FG...

Still, at the end of 3, we lead 7-0.

On 3rd and 2, our blitz forces the QB into a bad decision... they go for it on 4th and 2 from the 50... pass for 16 to their TE. He was WIDE open.

22 yard TD pass and it is tied at 7 with 5:31 to go...

31 yard kickoff return by our fastest player.

Our "star" WR has been able to return to the game!

Huge 15 yard pass to our TE on 3rd and 9!

Wow... we get a pass to our HB to covert a 4th and 11 from their 40...

We run the ball inside the 10.... we eat up clock....

We kick the FG with 1 second left... and it is good!!! We win 10-7!

Lambert, our DE, had 3 sacks to be our player of the game. Kid was huge.

(Now, please upload properly.)


I'm still getting the error. I stopped the highlights from uploading and everything.. such BS!

I hit retry at least 30 times. No luck.

Tried "retry" at least 100 times. No luck. So frustrating.

[Kodos]

I think we're quickly running out of hope here, unfortunately. If anyone has a suggestion, I'm all ears.

[Julio Riddols]

I suggest we burn EA to the damn ground.

[Kodos]

There's a suggestion we can all get behind.

[Eaglesfan27]

Definitely. I've got the torch.

[Kodos]

EF--do you want us to advance once everyone is done with recruiting, or do you want to give your game another swing?

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Kodos

EF--do you want us to advance once everyone is done with recruiting, or do you want to give your game another swing?

I would like to give it one more try on Monday if that is ok.

[Kodos]

Sounds good.

[Eaglesfan27]

Depth chart change worked and also when we were having upload issues, I was getting odd messages about needing to sign into my EA profile or something like that... nothing this time. Everything has been smooth. Keeping my fingers crossed that the issue is fixed and this game will upload properly... starting it now.

[Kodos]

At least you know your opponent pretty well now.