Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

[ViLLiO]

I bought this game on release, and played it pretty heavily the first month or two. I was addicted to online play/dynasties until the patching began, causing defensive play-calling to not be as fun. I didn't like how most of the players backed up 20 yards instead of standing in the pocket, and since a four man rush was rendered useless, he would have all day to back up and pick apart the sorry coverage.

Then, the option was broken, where the CPU defenders would literally stand there sidestepping while both the QB and RB both zipped past him. This ultimately was a game breaker for me because a lot of people would exploit this online. Anyway, enough of the gameplay rant... I recently decided to brush the dust off (7 months) and put it back in. Why? I love college football.





I attempted to play an offline dynasty as I was not having fun playing the game anymore, but I love college football and I love the thought of building a program from the ground up into a contender. I love the recruiting aspect. I love setting gameplans and analyzing my opponents pre-game. It really made me feel like a coach.





I decided to choose Idaho because they seemed like a fun school to build on. My initial plan was to put them in the Pac-14 in a few years along with Boise once they started dominating. Since I don't enjoy playing this stupid game, I found some great CPU vs CPU, 9 min quarter sliders.




Three years later......








I have no idea what Idaho's record was before I took over, but I'm 100% certain that they would not fire a coach who went 8-5 his first year, and 9-4 the next two years. Three straight bowl appearances and a finish in the top 3 every single year in the conference standings. Not to mention a coach that is bringing in a lot of talented 3-4* prospects from around the nation.





Surely my job is secure, right?




Are you ******* kidding me? I have literally spent days upon days just on this one dynasty. Year 3, 9 minute quarters, not a single sim, endless analyzing of opponents and high school prospects that will fit my ideal scheme, etc. Days, literally. All down the drain. Why in the hell did this happen? Better yet, HOW could it happen? I have a 26-13 career record at one of the worst schools in the country, and bringing in a top 25 recruiting class in just my third season.

I'm done with this. I could start over and have 'Coaching Contracts' switched to [OFF], but I just invested too much time in my Idaho dynasty to care anymore. I watched every single play of every single game over the course of three years, and genuinely got excited while watching a lot of those close, OT games. I even risked looking like a complete nerd in front of my girlfriend for rooting for an imaginary football team.

Anyway, I'm out. I'm not about to be the offensive coordinator for Colorado (best offer).




Hopefully the coaching carousel won't be broken in NCAA 13. Please, share your stories of coaching carousel failures. I need a good laugh.

[cyclone2426]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I hate how the contracts never reflect your playbook/coaching style. If I'm running the Run N Shoot, half my goals shouldnt be rushing related. I've seen coaches fired because of it too. One funny thing I do remember is one season I won the Championship, then my D Coordinator took a HC job at a smaller school, then my school turned around and hired the coach that got fired at the small school to be our D Coordinator.

[Andrews85]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I literally had the same exact experience with the University of Buffalo. I had three winning records and three bowl appearances and was "let go" (no contract extension). I honestly don't think EA actually plays its own game or they must think everyone just wins the NC every year with any team they play with.

[prowler]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I had a similar situation. I started with a TB squad with a decent core of juniors and seniors and a weak underclass. The idea being I have a short attention span and tend to restart dynasties a lot so I would focus on playing games early on just in case I restart I wouldn't have wasted time trying to build up a team.

First two years were as expected, 9-10 wins and a couple bowl victories. Because the contract structure is so silly, my first contact was only for two years so following the second season I was given an extension but my goals were a LOT harder. Also my core of juniors and seniors were now long gone and I purposely neglected recruiting so I would have to rebuild, call it a delayed cupcake dynasty.

First year I went 4-8 and failed a TON of goals and ended up on the hot seat, no problem I had three years to turn it around. I don't remember my exact record over the next three seasons but there was a one-loss season in there and two 8-9 win seasons. Not bad right?

Never got off the hot seat, still got fired because no new goals were added to replace the ones I failed in that 4-8 season.

[ViLLiO]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I was just curious as to where my class ended up, because I recruited my *** off this season.





EA Sports.... It's in the game.

[afbrother]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

Which goal(s) did you fail to meet? Now I am really scared, just started an offline dynasty with WSU and hope the same doesn't happen to me!

[XI CMURDER IX]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I have never had this happen to me before, but maybe it has something to do with who replaced you. You are only a C prestige, so that may have something to do with it. If there was an B or even A prestige that they offered instead of you.

[Broncos86]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

Would've liked to see your contract.

[fcboiler87]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I am 100% in agreement. The carousel is the only reason I bought the game last year. It is pretty bad. If it isn't fixed tremendously in this year's addition, it's a no go for me. I wrote a huge blog about it and have tried to bring attention to this over and over so we can only hope it'll be something they address in the dynasty blog. The problem is that things are so tied into goals. Goals are good and well, but the one thing that trumps all is winning. You win games, the AD doesn't care how many yards you throw for or how many recruits you bring in. Just win baby.

[invisiblespoon]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

Yes. I have said before the carousel is broken. You can miss arbitrary goals and be fired despite a winning culture. Hopefully this will be fixed next year.

[cparrish]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

As soon as I heard every coach progresses to an A+ I always played with coach contracts turned off. Maybe I don't understand, but doesn't an A+ mean perfect, as in 100% correct? So please explain to me how so many coaches and coordinators could have an A+ or even an A rating?

[Kaiser Wilhelm]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

Rushed features end up broken.

Here is my theory to the problems of the football games is because they try to add in so many features (My player, franchise, random mini-games as well as editors and what not) that not one area of the game gets enough resources or attention to truly let it shine.

[LionsFanNJ]

Problem is in this iteration was that all the coaches progressed at a rate raster than yours. They can go from D to a B+/A in one season if the teams do well enough. You, the user, could not. Therefore none of the big jobs ever opened up to you.llto top it off if you start your career as a coach you never would get HC jobs anywhere else.


Tiburon just needs to add to it. Fix the progression issues, better contract goals and a better hire/fire logic. I mean it took about 4 iterations to get CC to where it was in CHoops 2k8, so I'm not going to write this feature off yet. Now if NOTHING was done in this regard then I think its worry time.

[akacesfan]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

Coach Prestige goes up quickly for humans too. In my first year as the OC of Arkansas State, I went 11-2 (lost my bowl game to Tulsa) because I played a very, very crappy Sun Belt schedule. I played a tougher schedule this year and I'm 8-3 going into my bowl game. I'm scared I might be fired now despite having a B prestige.

[BathSaints]

Re: Coaching Carousel is Trash. Re-invent it in '13.

I'm struggling to find any logic behind it.

After being fired as UAB HC during a season with only 1 defeat (7-1) I became OC at Wisconsin. One 1-11 season later I am HC at 5* Auburn. 4 National Titles in 5 years later I decide I want a change. My first head coach offer: 2* ULL.

Performance means nothing in their arbitrary system deciding who gets what job.

Also, the inability to allow you to wait for the idela job to come along means you are locked into taking crappy jobs.