X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

[jdx66]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Checking in...

Hey Dad,

I know it's been awhile since I e-mailed you. Been busy and all, you know? I can't believe I took this job. Montana's beautiful, but I wish it were a little closer to civilization. How am I supposed to convince high school kids to come out here? The University barely has working internet.

Don't tell anyone I said that.

I've just started meeting the kids. Seem nice, but I don't really know what kind of product I'll be putting on the field yet. You know I'll stay true to my model, though - run the ball and stop the run. Just talking about it gets me excited.

Well, I've got to get down to the field. Some of my guys are doing independent workouts. Need to know what I got myself into. Talk to you soon, pops.

- Pax


PS: Here's the local newspaper's blurb about my hiring, in case you're interested.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

Montana State football hands reigns to Div III champion
Bobcats, Patrick both making big transitions

Bozeman, MT--The Montana State football program is making the transition from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA) to the Football Bowl Subdivision this year. The Bobcats are joining the WAC along side in-state rival Montana University, but these aren't the only big changes happening on campus.

The athletic department announced Thursday the hiring of head coach Paxton Patrick. Patrick, 28, is a former Ohio University linebacker and linebackers coach. In 2009, he became the head coach of Division III Capital University. Patrick lead the Crusaders to back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011. Coach Patrick thinks he can translate success at the Division III level to the big stage.

"Football is football," Patrick said. "You train hard. You play hard. You punch your opponents in the mouth, and you shake their hands after the game."

Patrick takes the reins of a program in a rebuilding process. The Bobcats lost key starters on the both sides of the ball from a season ago. Factor in the move to FCS football, and this season figures to be a long one.

Everyone seems to agree with that point. Both the pundits and conference head coaches are choosing Montana State to finish last in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in their first season. Coach Patrick couldn't be happier with their assessments.

"I like where everyone thinks we'll be this year," he said. "Flying under everyone's radar is a good thing."

With a coach like Paxton Patrick at the helm, this football season is assured to be an entertaining one--win, lose, or draw.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
2012-2013 Season Review

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Wow

Hey Dad,

Wow, what a couple of days I had. My team is going to be bad. TERRIBLE.

Our offensive line is atrocious, and the D-line isn't much better. We have a couple capable linebackers and corners, but there's no depth at any position. Luckily, there's not going to be a quarterback competition. We have a junior QB, Roger Sweeney, that's got the position in hand. But there's nothing at RB. NOTHING.

My best running back is a full back. That's not good.

Why didn't I just move Capital up a couple of notches? We'd be just as good (probably better!) and I wouldn't be in Montana.

Don't tell anyone I'm saying these things. I've got to keep hopes up around here. People have ridiculous expectations. Just got done talking to my AD. He expects this team to be in the top half of the conference. I guess no one told him about the move up to FBS. Jesus, what have I got myself into...

- Pax


PS: Seriously, don't even show Mom what I'm saying about my team. I know how she worries.

[Purplepower_NC]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

I will be following this....gonna be hard with that team.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Sorry

Hey,

Sorry about that last email. My team isn't that bad. Now that camp's started and I've installed my schemes, we might turn out... OK. We're running a smash mouth offense. I moved my bruising FB to the RB position. Our offense is going to ride him the whole season.

Put in a standard 4-3 on defense. This side of the ball has been a pleasant surprise in camp. We may not score a lot of points, but it doesn't look like our opponents will either. It'll give us a fighting chance in most games, at least.

I tried to talk our AD down on his expectations. Now he wants us to finish top 5 in the WAC and play a "competitive game" against Montana. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but it's a little better than what I told you in the last email. Well, it's back to camp for two-a-days...

- Pax


PS: Attached our schedule. Take a look.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

Montana State Bobcats 2012 Schedule
WEEK	OPPONENT	RESULT
1	at Wisconsin
2	vs Akron
3	vs Florida International
4	at San Jose State
5	at Florida Atlantic
6	vs South Alabama
7	at Texas State
8	BYE
9	vs UT-San Antonio
10	vs Idaho
11	at New Mexico State
12	vs Louisiana Tech
13	BYE
14	vs Montana

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

I will be following this....gonna be hard with that team.

Thanks. After reading your dynasty, I decided to buy BBCF. I spent all of last week playing around with it before I knew what I wanted to do with this dynasty.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Checkup

Hey Dad,

Just checking in. Classes started on Monday, and the guys are really looking forward to the game on Saturday. I wish I could say the same.

Wisconsin is BEASTLY. Their lineman on both sides of the ball are bigger than ours, and their WRs are bigger than our linebackers. Vegas has UW as a 9 point favorite. I'd take the Badgers to cover the spread, so feel free. It won't hurt my feelings. Just don't tell anyone about this insider information. :wink:

I don't know if I'll check in again before the game. The school has me teaching a PE class. Gotta go teach that right now, actually. Wish us luck!

- Pax

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject:

Wow.
Just wow.

Attached the box score.

- P

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

Montana State Bobcats at Wisconsin Badgers
	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Montana State Bobcats (0-1)	0	0	0	0	0
Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)	17	16	7	3	43

Team Stats Comparison
	MTST	WIS
Total Offense	132	402
Rushing Yards	-6	196
Passing Yards	138	206
First Downs	3	24
Turnovers	4	1
3rd Down Conversion	2-15	4-16
4th Down Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	0-0-0%	6-6-100%
Penalties	6-44	3-20
Possession Time	23:24	36:36

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Keeping my head up

Hey Dad,

Sorry again about the last email. I was pissed, and understandably so. We just got dominated on both sides of the ball. I'm so disappointed in my offense. Negative six yards rushing? -6?!

Anyway, it's a new week. I've got to look forward. We've got Akron in the home opener this weekend, and we're a 9 point favorite.

How can a team that just lost 43-0 be a favorite to win anything? Akron must be REALLY bad. It's their first game, so I don't even have recent tape to watch on them. I guess we'll find out on Saturday.

Love ya, pops.

- Pax


PS: Met a nice lady up here. I'll tell you about her later. :wink:

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: When it rains

Dad,

Just found out I have 15 players on academic probation! So my players are dumb and untalented.

Why did I leave Capital again?

Not great news before tomorrow's game. Wish me luck against the Zips. God knows I'm going to need it.

- Pax

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: Lost again

Dad,

We lost again. This time it was 35-24. I don't know whether I should be pissed that our defense is giving up 39 points per game or be happy that our offense put 24 on the board despite averaging just 1.8 yards per carry.

Roger Sweeney's been great under center, but the boy needs some help. I have to find a running back who can impact the game. Everyone's getting snaps at HB this week in practice. Seriously, even my TEs.

I don't know what to do about the defense. Obviously, we're not getting the job done. My starting SS, starting FS, and backup FS are 3 of the top 4 tacklers on the team. MY BACKUP FS, for Christ's sake! You got any remedies for a front seven that lets everyone by? I could use some advice.

We've got Florida International at home this weekend and somehow we're a favorite again. Who comes up with this stuff?

- Pax


PS: No box score for this game. I'm too depressed.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

NCAA moves to playoff system
16 team tournament set to begin this season

Indianapolis--The NCAA has reached an agreement with the FBS conferences and independents on a 16 team playoff system to determine the National Championship for this year. The news is a big surprise given the agreement reached in the offseason for a 4 team tournament that would have begun in 2014.

"The conference commissioners saw an opportunity to make some money this year, and they jumped," a source close to the talks said.

Yahoo! Sports reporter Pat Forde broke the news on Wednesday night, and NCAA officials confirmed the report Thursday morning.

"Doesn't make a lick of difference to me," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said after practice on Thursday. "We've got a game this weekend. I can assure you that's the only thing on my mind."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer responded in an email to reporters.

The NCAA has yet to release the methodology for selecting the 16 participants in the National Championship tournament, but rumors are swirling about which conferences do and do not have automatic qualifying status.

UPDATE: Officials representing the NCAA have confirmed that bowl games will still exist in some capacity for programs that do not qualify for the tournament.

[jdx66]

Re: X's and O's: The Paxton Patrick Letters [BBCF]

To: JPatrick_1953 [AT] aol.com
From: PPatrick [AT] MTST.edu
Subject: News

Woah. Did you see the news? I mean, my team's nowhere near getting into the tournament, but it's still exciting.

- Pax