#SWARM - The Reboot

[SilverBullet19]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

HUGE WIN. Way to bounce back from that Ohio game. It's awesome you got back to back snow games though, great for realism up there. I can't believe you're actually leading the division at this point, that's wild lol

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

December 1st, 2015

WESTLAKE STATE WILL PLAY IN THE LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA BOWL

Westlake, OH -- The Swarm are officially going bowling! Westlake State did not make the MAC Championship game, as Kent State took down Buffalo, but the Swarm will still get a chance to plat at Ford Field: Westlake State will take on 6-6 Iowa in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, marking the first bowl game in school history. We're previewed the matchup below.

Swarm Keys to The Game: Score early. This team thrives passing the ball, and our pass defense is the nation's worst. If we don't stun them early, there's no chance, we can't go shot for shot with this team.

Our pick: Iowa 45, Swarm 17

I have to give Bullet and Guru the credit for the preview, I ended up just taking parts of each of their's and mashing it together lol, tried and true formula and anything I created was very similar. Also, season recap will have a CAC recap and CCG results along with the rest of it.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

HUGE WIN. Way to bounce back from that Ohio game. It's awesome you got back to back snow games though, great for realism up there. I can't believe you're actually leading the division at this point, that's wild lol

I love snow games, and it was great to see them. We had a ton of weather this year, had like 4 rain games too. Unfortunately, Kent State came back from a 10-0 hole and scored 24 unanswered to win 24-17, so those guys played NIU and lost. I think the division should be ours next year though, we were close this year with a garbage defense and up and down QB play. Granted, the division was awful this year. Buffalo looked to have it locked down until we beat them and they lost 3 straight, Akron lost a couple after losing to us as well. Kent State snuck in there. Can't be too mad, they did obliterate us. A rivalry forming there, perhaps. Same with the Redhawks, our games are always good.

Thanks for checking in, and wish us luck in our first bowl! Gonna kick it off very soon, I'm hyped even though we're probably gonna get our butts kicked lol. Big step for the program, getting to play a P5 team in a bowl.

[SilverBullet19]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Congrats on making a bowl! No conference title this year but I think it's still a success, for sure. Iowa is a tough opponent, I don't expect a win but hey, you took down K-State last year!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Congrats on making a bowl! No conference title this year but I think it's still a success, for sure. Iowa is a tough opponent, I don't expect a win but hey, you took down K-State last year!

Thanks bro. Definitely a successful year. Bowl game has been played, I'm gonna do the recap today. Offseason is gonna come out over the next couple days, I wanna have season 4 started on Monday or Tuesday. Season 4 will be the last one I'm gonna be able to speed through, cause once I get back to school, I'll get 3 games done a week if I'm lucky. Just wanna get one more "foundational" year done, just to be a step closer to being top tier.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Y3 Bowl Game - Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl vs Iowa

December 17th, 2015

Blackout: Swarm don black alternates, ride 21 point second quarter to 35-33 upset of Iowa

Walker shines with 348 yards, 4 scores through the air -- Iowa nearly complete 21 point comeback, outscore Swarm 26-7 in second half -- Godfrey makes game-saving pick, but should it have stood?

TOP: De'Aaron Walker led the Swarm to a win, throwing for 348 yards and 4 scores
BOTTOM: Swarm fans celebrating

Detroit, MI -- Westlake State have won their very first bowl game! No one, not even us, gave the Swarm much of a chance, but an aggressive passing attack led by freshman sensation De'Aaron Walker got the Swarm out to a 28-7 lead at the half, and they weathered the storm to come out with the slimmest of victories.

Sean Louis started us off with a bang returning the opening kickoff 46 yards to give the Swarm great field position. But a holding call, followed up by a a false start pushed Westlake State back to a 1st and 25. Walker overthrew a pass, then Tristan Cox was stuffed after just a 3 yard pickup. But on 3rd and 22, Walker found Daniel Thompson deep downfield in single coverage, and the Iowa corner never saw the throw until it was too late. Thompson caught it for 51 yards, and a couple plays later, Walker found Cox on a slant for a TD (Cox's first college TD) that gave the Swarm a surprise lead.

Tristan Cox had somehow not scored all season despite leading the team in catches and being its third leading rusher

Nate Stanley-led Iowa did strike back with a score of their own fairly quickly, with a quick drive ending in a Devante Young TD from 14 yards. Young gave the Swarm fits all day, catching 7 balls for 159 yards and the aforementioned TD.

A good De'Aaron Walker run followed by a facemask on Trent Brantley sparked another good drive. Walker ran for 15 yards, then threw to Calvin Foster on 3rd and 8 for a first down. But on 3rd and 11 from the 19, freshman tight end Blake Bentley dropped a beautiful throw that would have resulted in a TD. Grant Marquardt sliced the 35 yard field goal wide, and it was still tied.

It would stay that way for the rest of the first quarter, as Iowa punted, then pressured Walker into throwing his lone interception. But the Hawkeyes couldn't even gain a yard, and Terrance Daugherty missed a 42 yarder.

Walker was pressured, and corner Cedric Boswell (#17, in white) had himself an easy pick

Westlake State went down the field, but faced a 4th and 5 from around midfield after Calvin Foster dropped a pass. They got the yards they needed, and after a 15 yard throw to Tristan Cox, and a decent run from Walker, they were knocking on the door as time expired in the first.

Tristan Cox caught his second TD of the game 8 seconds into the second quarter, and the Swarm had the lead. Iowa punted, and Westlake State looked menacing, up until Walker overthrew Calvin Foster, who was wide open after Iowa bit on a play fake. The Swarm punted, but so did Iowa after Nate Stanley tried to test Sean Louis deep and failed.

Walker found Tristan Cox for 7 yards, then Brantley was stuffed for a loss. On 3rd and 3, Walker had to roll left, and evaded the rush for a 10 yard scramble, picking up a first down. He then found Daniel Thompson for 50 yards after he got behind his man, and Thompson went down at the 1. Trent Brantley vultured away the score, and the Swarm were up 21-7.

Walker's elusiveness has bailed him and his team out a lot this year

It got worse for the Hawkeyes, as they would punt again from their own 40. But the Swarm went 3 and out, and Iowa gained momentum after linebacker Manuel Kirk, back from injury, dropped what should have been a pick-6. Nate Stanley found Devante Young deep for a huge gain, but the Iowa drive stalled out, and Daugherty missed another field goal, this time from 44.

Darnell Woods misplayed this ball

So with about 1:30 to go in the first half, the Swarm had a shot to go up by 3 scores, and all but put the game to bed. They did just that. They needed 2 plays before the electric Sean Louis got behind everyone, and Walker threw a beautiful deep ball for a 63 yard score. Iowa's Hail Mary attempt was picked, and it was 28-7 at the break, in Westlake State's favor.

Walker looks long as Sean Louis (#5, in black) breaks away

Iowa woke up at the half. Kirk Ferentz must have laid into them, because they came out swinging. HB Ivory Kelly-Martin gashed the Swarm for multiple big gains en route to a 2 yard rushing score from his backup, Toren Young.

Westlake State would score again, with Walker making a perfect throw on the run to Calvin Foster in the endzone for a 37 yard score, as the play action worked perfectly. 35-14, Westlake State. But that would be the last time the Swarm scored in this game.

Iowa went on a tear, first kicking a field goal, but then getting a stop as Walker misfired on 3rd and short. Kelly-Martin ripped off a big run, then Young broke free for 41 yards and just missed going all the way. It would cost Iowa, as Arnold Godfrey would stuff the run, and then Darnell Woods flew in to spectacularly bat down a pass on 3rd and 3. Another Iowa FG, but the tides had clearly turned.

Hell of a play from Woods.

Tristan Cox had back to back runs of 16 and 10 yards, and the Swarm would convert a 4th and 3 from the 37. Trent Brantley then ran for 11 yards, but a sack put them right back at the 37, facing a 3rd and 18. Walker ended up having to throw it away, and the Swarm punted.

Clayton Thorson would continue his excellent freshman campaign by getting a sack to force a punt, and Sean Louis returned it for 20 yards, setting the Swarm up near midfield. But Trent Brantley got rocked, and coughed up the ball. Noah Clayburg, replacing starting safety Amani Hooker after Hooker was injured, scooped up the loose ball and ran 66 yards for the TD. But, the 2 point conversion was no good as Stanley's throw to a wide open Noah Fant wasn't the best, and Fant couldn't get a foot down.

If Fant pulls in this 2-point conversion, Iowa likely take it to OT and win against a team that couldn't score for the last quarter and a half.

Brantley's woes continued as he was stuffed for no gain on first down, then was De'Aaron Walker who lost 2. A false start made it 3rd and 17, and Tristan Cox would drop a pass that wouldn't have gotten his team the first anyway.

Westlake State did almost manage a stop, as they forced a 3rd and 11. Iowa, bizarrely, ran a draw, and they got nothing. But an 18 yard screen on 4th and 11, and an 11 yard run the next play, had Iowa looking menacing. Enter Arnold Godfrey. The senior linebacker has been excellent all year, was excellent all game, and he made possibly the biggest (and easily the most controversial) play of his career. He deflected an errant throw, and then with almost superhuman reactions, scooped up his own deflection for a pick.

Iowa was not happy, as they felt the ball had hit the ground, and thus should have been ruled an incompletion. But the on-field refs called for a video review before Ferentz could even throw his challenge flag, and they determined that the pick was good.

Tristan Cox got the Swarm a first down with a 13 yard run, but they were eventually forced to punt with 52 seconds left.

Sean Louis doesn't make many mistakes, was huge today, and it's unfair to man corners that we don't really highlight them when they don't mess up. But Louis messed up here. He allowed Devante Young to make a 45 yard diving grab as he positioned himself badly and couldn't make a play on the ball. The Hawkeyes scored 2 plays later as Stanley found an open man for a 3 yard score to make it 35-33.

Another misplay, this time from Louis.

But all Westlake State had to do to walk out victorious was recover an onside kick, and they did just that. De'Aaron Walker took a knee, and Westlake State had completed the upset.

Dion Barkley was elated in the postgame press conference.

"It's a great great feeling", he said of winning his first bowl game. "I won some Super Bowl rings, I even stepped in as a backup and won one. but this is very very close to that, I mean I came here and took over a new program, and we just won a bowl over a Big Ten school in year 3. I gotta give credit to my great staff, my team, obviously it ain't just me, but man, what a feeling. Thank you to AD Williams for believing in me, the fans for coming out even when we went 2-10, it feels great to repay everyone's faith."

De'Aaron Walker spoke to us as well, about his up and down freshman year.

"It was tough. Super tough. I was more athletic than everyone in high school, I threw harder, everything. This year I come in and everyone's fast, strong, understands the game better. Then I get hurt after a 1-3 start, Ricardo starts tearing it up and I thought that was it for me, at least until next year. Then we fold as a team against Kent, and I get to step back in. It sounds bad but I'm almost thankful for that loss. [laughs]"

De'Aaron Walker celebrates the win

Barkley is expected to sign a big extension this offseason, as his 3 year contract is up.

Westlake State finish with a winning record for the first time, sitting at 7-6, and 5-3 in MAC play.

Photo Gallery

Ivory Kelly-Martin ran for over 100 yards on just 17 carries



Stanley finds a wide open man near the goal line for an easy TD



Senior Nate Stanley reflects on the loss by himself



De'Aaron Walker was pressured all day despite only going down twice



Noah Fant was good with 6 grabs for 78 yards



Calvin Foster catches a 37 yard score




Clayburg scoops up Brantley's fumble, outruns everyone

[the red c]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Huge bowl win for the Swarm! What a first half explosion. You guys came out just hot enough in the first half to do enough damage and secure the win. We'll take the bowl win, controversial call or not. This should really motivate the team heading in to the offseason. And with a game like this by Walker, he could be in store for a nice campaign next season.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Huge bowl win for the Swarm! What a first half explosion. You guys came out just hot enough in the first half to do enough damage and secure the win. We'll take the bowl win, controversial call or not. This should really motivate the team heading in to the offseason. And with a game like this by Walker, he could be in store for a nice campaign next season.

What up C, glad to have you following bro! I was shocked when we went up 28-7, and was thinking we were gonna kill them, honestly was kinda worried the sliders were getting too east. But I was lowkey ecstatic at their near comeback, like we were really an iffy pick and a foot out of bounds from losing. JKits sliders with my adjustments is easily the most sim video game football I've ever played, shoulda known better than to doubt his set.

We will definitely take this bowl win. Huge, huge boost for this program and just Walker's confidence I think. He was throwing absolute darts today, faded towards the end but the whole team was just holding on at that point. I think Walker will take this and build on it, fantastic end to what was really a very mediocre and frustrating freshman campaign for him. He enters spring ball firmly entrenched as our guy, Marble is going to play WR and McKinley is still gonna be too small. Wouldn't be surprised if he transferred out, honestly. Came in at the same time as a guy who looks like an absolute superstar.

I'm really excited to see what Tristan Cox can do as a HB/WR next year. Think I may put him on returns as well. He actually led us in catches despite playing 9 or 10 games, you'll see when I put up the stats. Kinda reminds me of a faster Le'Veon, I try to use the same kind of patient one cut style when I use him too, as opposed to Brantley, when I have him out there I'm just looking for 3 yards and him to fall forward.

Thanks for checking in bro, gonna get the season recap up tonight I think, then get the offseason started tomorrow. Just realized I sped through the year in 9 days, that's gotta be some kind of record lol. Gonna see if I can speed through one more, I'm back at school on the 4th I believe.

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[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

2015 Season Recap






Conference Champs

Conferences with no CCG: Texas wins the Big 12 at 12-1, 9-0. Arkansas State wins the Sun Belt at 8-5, 5-2.

This was a really interesting week, as SMU and Auburn came in undefeated and beat good teams in their bowls. They both win, and that's the national title matchup. That game is below, along with the other BCS bowls.

Heisman, Player Awards

MAC Standings and Bowls




CAC Year in Review

Record: 6-6, no bowl

Season Synopsis: A 1-4 start, including a loss to Westlake State (still not over you guys injuring Walker lol... hope the injury doesn't come back ) had the Chippewas in a tough spot. However, they went on to win 5 of their last 7 games, including a win over Tennessee, who were a top 10 team at the time. A gut-wrenching 31-24 loss to rivals Eastern Michigan left them out of a bowl, but with blue chip QB Ray Williams in line to challenge for the starting job after redshirting, the future looks bright in Mt. Pleasant.

Record: 6-7, lost Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to #20 Houston

Season Synopsis: The Falcons also started slow, but they ripped off 3 straight wins, including an upset of then #5 (I think) Clemson to sit at 3-3 in Week 9. They then alternated wins and losses for the rest of the year, actually losing 28-25 to CMU in week 13, before losing to #20 Houston by a point in their bowl game.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

2015 Coaching Carousel

The most notable firing is probably Georgia Tech parting ways with Paul Johnson. The Yellow Jackets went 4-8 in 2015, and will effectively swap head coaches with South Alabama, as Tim Daoust moves to GT while Johnson brings the triple option to the Sun Belt. I'm actually very interested in seeing how this goes, since the option is so OP in this game. Could the Jaguars rise up?

Bryan Harsin is out at Boise State, and will land at FSU as their new OC, replacing Mike Locksley as he takes over Maryland, who are fresh off of a 1-11 season. Locksley is expected to bring in new CAC Cedric Bishop (bdiddy), as the new DC. More on him later.

P.J. Fleck is gone after 2 disappointing seasons at Minnesota, in which the Golden Gophers went 5-7 and 2-10. Chip Kelly is now the OC at West Virginia after he disappointed at UCLA.

One thing I never realized was that Lane Kiffin somehow ended up at Kansas. No clue what happened there.

TCU looks like they might be in some deep trouble. They fired Gary Patterson last winter after a 3-9, and they just fired Clayton White, who will be the new DC for title-winning Texas, after an identical 2015 campaign.

In the MAC, Bowling Green's Mike Jinks will get one more shot before the team looks to replace him. OC Bryson Post (thesportsguru11) is waiting in the wings.

Ohio hired fired Baylor HC Matt Rhule after they went 3-9. Kent State's Pat Narduzzi fills the vacancy at TCU. And UNLV HC Tony Sanchez will replace NIU HC Rod Carey, after Carey took the job at South Carolina, who are fresh off a 3-9 season.

New CAC for 2016

Thanks to bdiddy for the submission.

Cedric Bishop is a former 3 star recruit at inside linebacker out of Baltimore. He went to Maryland, and after redshirting, broke out and started all 4 years. He was a consistently good player despite constant coaching turnover, and was picked up by the Detroit Lions as a UDFA. He would bounce around the league as a solid depth linebacker for 5 years, picking up 2 Super Bowl rings along the way, before retiring due to nagging injuries. He immediately went back to Maryland to be a graduate assistant for a couple years, then took his talents to HS football. He won 5 consecutive Maryland state titles thanks to his ability to get the most out of all his players, and his institution of a hard-nosed, old-school style of play that sent more than one opposing player to the hospital. He received interest from colleges after his 4th straight state title, and when new Maryland head coach Mike Locksley offered him the DC job at his alma mater? He didn't even need a second to snap that up.

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

National Signing Day, 2015 Offseason

February 7th, 2016

Swarm pull in impressive 71st ranked class, future looks bright

Westlake, OH -- Signing Day is over, and recruiting news will take a backseat for a few months as teams bring in the prospects who they hope will help their programs succeed.

Westlake State had a good 2015, and this recruiting class looks to be one that can grow this program by the time these guys graduate. The 22 man class isn't really marked by a single standout, but what's impressive is the depth here. There are 10 or so players who are good enough to see significant playing time in their first years at the school, including a pair of JUCO guards who will likely be instant starters in Ahmed Heath and Brandon Galloway, although the 6'7 Heath will likely move to tackle.

Outside linebackers Mason Richardson and Malik Price will also look to start as true freshmen. Richardson could move to either inside linebacker of defensive end, as he's technically very sound, can tackle and rush the QB, but his top end speed is mediocre, as is his coverage ability. Price, a late find for the Swarm, is a New Jersey prospect who stands at 6'3, 222. He's a freak athlete who moves well enough to play DB, running a 4.5 40 and possessing incredible burst. But, he very nearly didn't qualify academically, and it's the reason that Pac-12 schools like Stanford and Oregon dropped him early on. He's pretty good in coverage for a linebacker and can get off blocks OK, but he misses a ton of tackles. Still, he should help this defense tremendously... if he can stay eligible.

The full class can be found below.

Note: These overalls are subject to change after injury edits/manual progression. I do 1 gem/2 busts for incoming players.

Around the Nation

National runners-up Ohio State pulled in the #1 class, grabbing the #1 prospect, ATH Kyle Cobbs, who's projected to play either running back or receiver. The Buckeyes signed 3 other 5 stars, and 9 4 stars. Urban Meyer should be winning another title before too long.

#1 QB Matt Logan, from Kennett, MS, committed to Wisconsin over Ohio State. Kennett is a pro-style QB with a big arm and good accuracy. He could give CAC DC Cedric Bishop (Maryland) fits.

Bishop's Terrapins have the top class of any CAC school, coming in at #35. Coming in right behind him is Central Michigan (OC Paul Lees) at 39, as they landed a 4 star tailback in Matt Talley. Bowling Green (OC Bryson Post) came in at 62, with their top player being 4* G Jeremy Keller.

SPARQ Top 20

So with this done, all that's left to do is position changes and cuts, then i can get to the preseason. I've decided I won't be speeding through this season, this is the season I'm gonna start doing previews and national recaps every week. I figure this is when the dynasty will really start to get interesting, I'm really starting to feel invested in my team now. Really excited to see how this recruiting class does too, could be the foundation for some very good squads in the next few seasons.

[moose141]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

I have a lot to catch up on, so I'll post my thoughts on the end of season NCAA recap and recruiting and what not separately, and just comment on the season for right now. Congrats on making the bowl game and the bowl victory! Not a great record, but some little steps forward for sure! That blowout loss was the wildest thing I've seen, but you rebounded and made the most of it for what really ended up being a great season. Walker I'm sure was motivated by Marble having a couple solid games, and he really is a playmaker! He's like Williams in your last Swarm dynasty, he just has that quality about him that he can make so many plays but he just seems to be careless with the ball sometimes. If he can get those turnovers under control, he could really be a superstar for you and be in the Heisman race by the time his senior season comes around!

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

I have a lot to catch up on, so I'll post my thoughts on the end of season NCAA recap and recruiting and what not separately, and just comment on the season for right now. Congrats on making the bowl game and the bowl victory! Not a great record, but some little steps forward for sure! That blowout loss was the wildest thing I've seen, but you rebounded and made the most of it for what really ended up being a great season. Walker I'm sure was motivated by Marble having a couple solid games, and he really is a playmaker! He's like Williams in your last Swarm dynasty, he just has that quality about him that he can make so many plays but he just seems to be careless with the ball sometimes. If he can get those turnovers under control, he could really be a superstar for you and be in the Heisman race by the time his senior season comes around!

Thanks bro! Huge huge season for the program just as a whole, winning a bowl is so big for us. Definitely not a consistently great year, but winning a bowl over a damn good Iowa team makes it a huge success. That blowout was insane. Like I have never, ever lost that bad. Not even in my first Swarm dynasty. Was all on me too, I was actually playing up until it was 50-0. I was blindsided, after it was done I just turned off the Xbox and went outside lol.

Walker is awesome. There are guys in this game who just make plays, and he's one of them. No rhyme or reason to it, but they just make it happen. Maybe there's some hidden ratings somewhere, I love the way some guys have that it factor and others don't. Like you said, he's like Joey Williams in that regard. Same turnover issues too, fumbles like crazy. I think he'll be really really good by his senior year, your Heisman race prediction could very well come true! Wish I never lost that OG file though, had some unfinished business there...

Thanks for checking in bro, season 4 is gonna be crazy for sure.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Operation Sports mobile app

[young22]

Re: #SWARM - The Reboot

Westlake State Swarm Football Staff Communications

From: Head Coach Dion Barkley

To: All Coaching Staff

Cc: Position changes and cuts

Hi all. Spring ball is here, and we've moved some guys around and had to make a couple cuts. Here they are.

Ahmed Heath is moving to LT, logical fit for a 6'7, lanky athletic lineman. Freshman C Kevin McClelland will move to LG, as ATH Zach Bonner will actually play C for us and not DT as we initially thought he would.

Brian Hall will move from end to DT, he's more of a 3-4 end. Mason Richardson will slide down from OLB to end, he's too slow to be in coverage.

Khari Anderson is now officially a strong safety after starting there last year. Bo Armstrong moves from corner to be the backup at FS.

Jason Bowser will be a middle linebacker. He'll redshirt to bulk up and learn the position, but he should challenge Tyreke Brewer for the spot in 2017.

Only 2 cuts this year: DT Will Miller and MLB Jason Barrett. Both walk ons last year, they're just not good enough for FBS football. Had to let em go.