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Post by Sonic on Mar 12, 2008 8:31:35 GMT
This is definitely going to the end game. Recruiting this season is definitely going to be like drilling for oil with a toothpick if this form keeps up like it does. It's much like my attempts to get a loan signing into the conference division in England and i"m in the top 5 teams :moop:
I'm hoping your not going to win that Florida International game[/reversepsyschology]
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Post by Narcizo on Mar 12, 2008 12:03:34 GMT
I'm just scared that my recruiting seasson is going to be very poor, because I don't know what I'm doing, which is going to ruin us next season. The players aren't good - most of the good ones are leaving. If I don't bring in some good players and have to rely on walk ons, I'm totally, totally forked. I'd have thought that the quality or lack of your recruiting class should only really shag you in two-three years time. I'd imagine you're shagged next year whatever happens. Words of comfort for you there.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 12, 2008 12:06:24 GMT
That makes me feel much better. :moop:
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 12, 2008 13:25:53 GMT
Florida Atlantic 17 Florida International 14Florida Atlantic 14 3 0 0 - 17 Florida International 0 14 0 0 - 14 Well, alright then. According to the Athletic Director Board this is the only game that was a must-win this season and we eke out an ugly, ugly victory with all of the scoring done by halftime. The Golden Panthers (silly name) hold halfback Reggie Yang in check, but thankfully quarterback Irving Flores has a good game, completing 18 of 29 passes for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Flores' scoring passes give us a 14-0 lead as he hits Kenny Munson and tight end Tommy Adams for touchdowns. FIU fight back to tie the score, but then Flores launches a 51 yard bomb to a sprinting Rob Yang who makes up for his poor performance on the ground with five catches for 99 yards to set up Jonathan John Jonny Johnson for the game winning field goal with 10 seconds to run in the first half. ScoringFirst Quarter FAU TD 05:37 7-0 Kenny Munson 19 YD Pass from Irving Flores (Jonathan Johnson Kick). FAU TD 02:49 14-0 Thomas Adams 33 YD Pass from Irving Flores (Jonathan Johnson Kick). Second Quarter FIU TD 10:24 14-7 Troy Thompson 61 YD Pass from Bobby Fuller (Emmanuel Campos Kick). FIU TD 03:59 14-14 Craig Walker 12 YD Pass from Bobby Fuller (Emmanuel Campos Kick). FAU FG 00:10 17-14 Jonathan Johnson 40 YD Game MVPStrong Safety Louis Combs gets the nod for the game mvp thanks to nine tackles, two stuffs and an incredible three fumbles forced, one of which he recovers himself. Injuries![](http://www.theage.com.au/images/icon/icon_injury.gif) Probable : Dennis Hardy - FS - Quadricep Pull. ![](http://www.theage.com.au/images/icon/icon_injury.gif) Probable : Joseph Bowen - SS - Hamstring Pull. ![](http://www.theage.com.au/images/icon/icon_injury.gif) Probable : David Garcia - OT - Bruised Tail Bone. ![](http://www.theage.com.au/images/icon/icon_injury.gif) Probable : Jorge Fowler - OT - Groin Pull. ![](http://www.theage.com.au/images/icon/icon_injury.gif) Questionable : Marvin Murphy - OT - Elbow Bone Chips. = = = My injured players are finally getting healthy. Just in time for the end of the season... A really tough 6-6 season too, which turned into something of a debacle after a 4-0 start. We score a whopping 98 points in seven conference games, but finish 4-3 in the Sun Belt behind Arkansas State, who we actually beat during the season, 19-16 in overtime. But then two weeks into the post-season I find out that that's actually not the end of our season. We just found out we will be heading to a postseason bowl this year!
The New Orleans Bowl has extended us an invitation to take on Rice during week 18.
- Alexander Davis - Athletic Director.
Ian-terestingly, FAU were invited to the New Orleans Bowl in real life this season, for whatever that's worth. Even more Ian-terestingly, Rice are owls too, so it's Owl-versus-Owl in a battle to the death!
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Post by hornet on Mar 12, 2008 14:12:16 GMT
I imagine an owl-fight is the two of them sitting there giving each other the Fruits death-stare until one turns to stone.
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Post by Sonic on Mar 12, 2008 23:31:35 GMT
![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) It couldn't be worse than what Stu's already sat through this season. And no, don't do it, don't post that picture of the owl. It'll kill me.
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Post by Moo on Mar 13, 2008 13:08:44 GMT
I'm just scared that my recruiting seasson is going to be very poor, because I don't know what I'm doing, which is going to ruin us next season. The players aren't good - most of the good ones are leaving. If I don't bring in some good players and have to rely on walk ons, I'm totally, totally forked. Admit it... you love the challenge.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 13, 2008 13:29:42 GMT
Eh. I'm looking at the part of the season schedule that says "Job Offers" with interest, hoping something better comes along.
Like the guy who collects trolleys at the local supermarket.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 13, 2008 13:57:34 GMT
I imagine an owl-fight is the two of them sitting there giving each other the Fruits death-stare until one turns to stone. This calls for... War Owl! ![](http://i30.tinypic.com/25f4uaw.jpg)
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 13, 2008 20:54:19 GMT
R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL - New Orleans, Louisiana. ![](http://i32.tinypic.com/2501o3p.jpg)
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 13, 2008 21:44:46 GMT
Florida Atlantic 16 Rice 19Florida Atlantic 0 6 3 7 - 16 Rice 6 7 3 3 - 19 Gah. With most of our players back from injury we actually look something like a football team again, but not enough to win the battle of the Owls as a slow start sees us chasing the game, eventually losing to a 32 yard chip shot field goal with five minutes left to play. Following the kick Irving Flores makes a decent attempt to lead us down the field, converting three third downs into first downs - two of them by scrambling - but the fourth one was a bridge too far and a sack on fourth down ends our hopes of tying the game with the ball on the Rice 40 yard line. When we get the ball back again there are only 14 seconds left in the game and Flores' deep, desperation pass is picked off. Our problems were of our own making early, as missed blocks, penalties and dropped passes left us trailing 16-9 going into the fourth with all of our scoring coming from the boot of Jonathan Johnson, as we consistently killed our own drives and had to settle for field goals. However, receiver Chris Parks tied the game with 12 minutes to play when he caught a 13 yard pass from Flores, but our defence had really struggled to contain Rice halfback Irving Day and he bulled the other Owls down the field to set up Benjamin Hirsch's winning kick. ScoringFirst Quarter RICE TD 06:09 6-0 Christopher Rodriquez 13 YD Pass from Robin Godfrey (Benjamin Hirsch Kick Failed). Second Quarter FAU FG 06:09 6-3 Jonathan Johnson 43 YD RICE TD 02:17 13-3 Irving Day 4 YD Run (Benjamin Hirsch Kick). FAU FG 00:07 13-6 Jonathan Johnson 28 YD Third Quarter FAU FG 08:33 13-9 Jonathan Johnson 39 YD RICE FG 00:09 16-9 Benjamin Hirsch 35 YD Fourth Quarter FAU TD 12:48 16-16 Christopher Parks 13 YD Pass from Irving Flores (Jonathan Johnson Kick). RICE FG 05:11 19-16 Benjamin Hirsch 32 YD Game MVPNo question about the MVP as Rice's Irving Day rushes for 191 yards and a touchdown on 29 attempts. With only one touchdown on offence and one sack and no interceptions on defence it's tough to find a deserving winner on my side of the game, so I'll give the game ball to kicker Jonathan Johnson who landed three of three field goals, with a long of 43 yards and his one xp attempt to finish with ten points.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 14, 2008 2:04:27 GMT
After the bowl game the season runs to its end with the Louisiana State University Tigers being crowned as National Champions. There's no chick with chalk to follow in this game, but we do get a lovely graded report, which makes for moderately ugly reading. Team Performance : FRoster Talent : FRecruiting : DBoard Expectations : BPrestige : COverall : C-I'm not sure how I get a D for recruiting when I haven't actually done that yet, but there you go. I don't really know anything about this game yet. The board expectations is about right as I finished in the top three and beat Florida International, which is what they asked for. I'm going to guess that having a team performance rating that matches the roster talent isn't too bad. Just when I'm feeling fairly solid about the performance, I get this email. You will have $1,750,000 available for your athletic budget. This marks a change of $10,000 from last season.
Remember, this money needs to go towards scouting, assistants, other staff and medical training.
You will also have $36,250 to spend on recruiting actions each week. Your weekly recruiting budget may also be impacted by efforts put into bringing other college-level transfers and is based on the alumni funding, other outside donations (helped by our prestige) and the number of scholarships available.
So, good luck and spend wisely. Your job may depend on it.
- Alexander Davis - Athletic Director
:humb:
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Post by Sonic on Mar 14, 2008 5:50:27 GMT
Ah well. It was a good effort. The Fuits owl was needed for sure, as it would have stared down that war owl in a blink of an eye. And killed me in the process. This recruiting thing looks like it'll be interesting bystanding. Bring on next season ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) :thumb:
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Post by Narcizo on Mar 14, 2008 8:11:37 GMT
Why does the game rate you (slightly) superior in offence, defence and special teams and then think that the game is going to be even?
Anyway, your owl is quite clearly the harder looking (it looks like a right avian psycho) so I award you the moral victory.
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Post by Moo on Mar 14, 2008 9:05:11 GMT
Nice e-mail. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) GL with this, fella. I'm actually tempted to buy this game. No, really.
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Post by hornet on Mar 14, 2008 12:43:51 GMT
Nice to see the tradition of being sent to total disaster areas for your bowl games has made it across from the other game. :humb:
Unlucky, man. Still, at least your boss isn't passively-aggressively piling pressure on you, eh?
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 14, 2008 12:59:58 GMT
Why does the game rate you (slightly) superior in offence, defence and special teams and then think that the game is going to be even? Anyway, your owl is quite clearly the harder looking (it looks like a right avian psycho) so I award you the moral victory. A more-owl victory? Sorry. The game made us even because even though it rated my team higher, Rice's stats were better. I've scored 20+ points roughly twice in the last decade.
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Post by Narcizo on Mar 14, 2008 15:08:53 GMT
![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) And you say you're not funny any more.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 14, 2008 22:19:02 GMT
2006 AWARDSFAU 2006 MVP : L Combs - SS Sun Belt Conference First TeamQB : Irving Flores TE : Thomas Adams OG : Woodroow Woodall LB : Richard Snider SS : Louis Combs FS : Dennis Hardy Sun Belt Conference Second TeamWR : Kenny Munson TE : Fabian Morris LB : Jay Nelson CB : Charles Fisk FAU Team Records
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 14, 2008 22:27:21 GMT
RecruitingI think it's fair to say that recruiting totally kicked my arse. I ended up just about getting enough players to cover the gaps coming from graduation, but my recruiting class was ranked #110 in the country. On the plus side, there was this : Coach Bismarck,
I am good friends with Frederick Riley. We met at a national camp a while back and have stayed good friends ever since. I now live in Illinois, but I would love to play on a team with Frederick.I know I am probably not even on your radar right now, but I would love to visit Florida Atlantic and meet with you and the other guys.
I am currently playing Outside Linebacker and think I could really help out your team next season. I know you have a limited number of scholarships, but Frederick and I had talked about both playing at Florida Atlantic over the past year or so.
I think I would be a great fit for your time and hope you will consider me in your recruiting.
Sincerely,
Russell Kelley
Having sent me a love-note it's no surprise that I manage to land Kelley and he's the highest rated player I'll end up signing. He's also given the "(A)" rating which means I could convert him to another position. He gained 897 yards rushing at 4.0 yards per carry in his last year in High School, as well as the 11 sacks and 89 tackles he got for the defence. On the bad side, halfback "M. Tanner" who spent the entire season being my highest rated player with any interest of coming to FAU snubs me to sign for Florida International. So now I have a "list." That didn't take long, did it? Here's what I ended up with. ![](http://i30.tinypic.com/2crsh86.jpg)
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Post by Sonic on Mar 14, 2008 22:55:02 GMT
I'm not sure what to make of those recruits. I think they need a round of speed dating to get them up to scratch.
Wait, when did this become a dating game?
Incidentally, how many of these new recruits are decent with the books? None of them studying smiles this year?
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 15, 2008 0:54:17 GMT
I was warned that recruiting was hard in this game and that's how it turned out. I think we got trainable players, but no one who's going to be hood enough this year to replace the people who left.
I experimented by going after someone with a "5" for interest and spending $4,000 a week in recruiting efforts for four weeks, only for him to go elsewhere.
There are going to be no suddent TCY-style turn arounds here.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 15, 2008 23:35:27 GMT
Training CampDespite having four of five players on my team who could have moved to other positions, I decided to sacrifice any flexibility for next season by making players focus on their own positions and spending virtually no time on adaptability. I also bumped up study time, where possible, in the hopes that I won't lose anyone to academic ineligibility next year. Offensive Guard Fred Riley wins the who ate all the pies award by adding almost an entire stone in weight in his off-season. Full Back Douglas Beck adds seven to his hands rating. Quarterback Mike Thornton adds seven to his accuracy rating and three to his touch passing. Wide Receiver Jesse Nixon adds 13 to his running ability. Tackle Kenneth Jude is most improved on the offensive line, adding six to his run blocking and three to his pass blocking. Inside linebacker Kevin Naylor has a big off-season, adding six to his pass rush moves, seven to his point of attack defence, six to his tackling and three to his pass coverage. Outside Backer Michael Patten also does well in camp, going +2, +2, +4 and +1 in the same areas. Pre-SeasonThe scheduling section went rather well, as I managed to get three non-conference home games to bring in some extra cash for next season. WEEK OPPONENT 1 Bowling Green - 2 OPEN - 3 at Central Florida - 4 Arkansas State - 5 Colorado State - 6 OPEN - 7 Temple - 8 at Middle Tenn St - 9 Louisiana-Monroe - 10 North Texas - 11 Louisiana-Laf - 12 at Troy - 13 at Wash State - 14 at Florida Int - 15 OPEN - Finishing with three straight road games isn't ideal, but playing seven of twelve at home is positive. With the schedule set I wait with interest for me email telling me how awful I'm supposed to be this season. I'm not disappointed when I get this : Well, this probably won't be our year. Still, shoot for a win or two in the Sun Belt and a competitive game against Florida International.
Conference Projection : Eighth.
Well, it's going to be tough to come in under the projection of eighth, out of eight, but I'll see what I can do.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 16, 2008 14:55:39 GMT
FAU 2007 Roster - Offence
- Quarterback - Freshman Robert Barton and Tim Pierce will see redshirts this year and Randall Lange and Mike Thornton are just not the answer. So the whole weight of the position is on the shoudlers of redshirt Sophomore Peter Mims.
Mimis is accurate, but doesn't have much of a deep game and although he's quite intelligent, his instincts need developing.
- Runningback - Robert Yang - the guy from Christ Missionary and Industrial - will heft the ball for us again, splitting time with freshman Blake Ray and Fullback William Armstrong.
Yang put up 813 yards at 3.2 per carry last season but he would be better off as a change-of-pace back behind a genuine talent and left to focus on his good kick return skills.
Ray is much of the same and will fight for time with Jason Clark who is poor on skills but long on work ethic.
Fullback Armstrong could develop into a decent receiver out of the backfield.
- Receivers - Christopher Parks was a revelation last season, playing way above his skills to end with 65 catches and 897 yards. We'll find out how good he is this year as he'll have little help following the graduation of Kenny Munson.
Jesse Nixon will start early this season to see what he can do with his above average speed, but his position is not at all concrete.
Behind Nixon I have a collection of receivers who would make one decent receiver if I could just invent some sort of gene splicer. Donald Cannon runs decent routes, Dexter Upton has decent hands and Irving Jones has decent speed.
Ronald Burgess is a half-useful blocker at Tight End with above average hands and no speed. Behind him, Brandon Johnson can do more things well, but isn't the blocker Burgess is.
- Offensive Line - The line is rubbish this year. Even more so than last season. Steve Stout is abysmal at Center, while freshman Chung Bennett is going to be thrown into the deep end at Guard to start in his first year.
On the outside, Marvin Murphy seems to have been born to draw penalties, while Kenneth Jude could develop into a good player. So it's a shame that this is his last year.
Star (I use the word advisedly) of the unit is Guard Woodrow Woodall who seems to be taking the owl thing too far, picking up three separate eye injuries last season. He's a respectable blocker, but is injury prone and a really horrible player to rely on.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Mar 16, 2008 15:22:41 GMT
FAU 2007 Roster - Defence
- Defensive Line - John Johnson is listed as our best defensive player and he's not bad. At 6'8", 266lb he'll not be pushed around too much and he's a good tackler with reasonable pass rush moves. The question will be if I can keep him academically eligible as he's a bit fick.
James Miller will start on the other side and offers a bit more danger on the pass rush.
Our weakness at Tackle forces us to switch to a 3-4 this season which will give the start to Richard Figueroa but only because Ray Reid, who should start, is too stupid to pass any of his classes.
Paul Diaz and Jason Donald are decent cover at End, but both are too weak to offer anything more than a situational presence.
- Linebackers - We have a good amount of depth here, but our talent level is almost flat, as we have no stars. Freshman Russell Kelley sent me a personal email asking to come to FAU and I'm glad he did, as he's our best backer, although he lacks instincts.
Gordon Carter will play on the other side, but despite being on the active roster all of last season, he wasn't good enough to get on the field. He's not making anyone mistake him for Lawrence Taylor.
Jay Nelson is the leader in the middle, with good instincts and discipline which should cover for some average abilities.
He'll be paired with Kevin Naylor who has the potential to be an above average player in a couple of seasons with the experience he'll gain this year.
Freshman Christopher Ritchie can play across the four positions and could probably make a decent Tight End and Halfback too. If we could afford to risk switching him to the offence.
- Secondary - We had a reasonable backfield last season, but that's gone this year. Larry Smith will start as the primary corner and has decent coverage skills, but like almost my entire secondary he's way too slow.
Smith will be the old man at the back too, as he'll be partnered with freshman Derek Archuleta, who is intelligent but indisciplined, which will led to a lot of yellow flags this year.
At Safety William Farmer can't cover, tackle or run. My only hope is that he fails a class, which means I can drop him without annoying him.
He'll also be twinned with a freshman, as Daniel Santana will be thrown to the lions. Santana has the same skillset as Archuleta, meaning I'm going to habe on side of the field filled with gambling, slow, inexperienced defenders.
A recipe for victory there.
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