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12-17-2003, 11:31 AM
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#1 | ||
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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The rise of Big Sports U.
The story:
I am sitting at my desk when a call comes from Al Davis. "I'm getting into the colllege game and starting up my own univeristy: the Big Sports U. Outlaws". Al explains that the Gateway football conference is going D1 and had to leave behind a couple of members and are looking for a new school to join their ranks. "It's going to be based in Chicago to reap all the local talent. I have already got Tarkanian to coach basketball but I need a football coach. I don't have a lot of money to spend so we won't have any fancy classrooms or a nice stadium to start. If you want a shiny new stadium your going to have to earn it. If the kids had wanted an education they would have chosen another school so feel free to cut their study time. We are currently transforming a vacant lot into your stadium so you have to play a couple of games on the road first. One last thing. Just win baby!!" TCY info: I will be starting in the SCE in Illinois. The rest of the Gateway members are: Illinois State(our rival) Western Illinois Eastern Illinois Southern Illinois Northern Iowa Southwest Missouri State Indiana State The last three are just outside of actually fitting but are very close. The other rivals are based off geography: WIU - SIU SWMS - NIU InSU - EIU In case you are wondering I had to kick out youngtwon state and Western Kentuky and EIU and BSU are new. House rules: On the field performance is the only thing that counts - you must try to get the most out of every player - study time will be based off of a 28 - I+A (e.g. I+A of 8 gives 20 study time) - Students who get less than a 2.0 and a D- can be bumped up a point in study time the next year - Students who get less than a 1.5 and a D- can be bumped up two points in study time the next year We run a "clean" program here - the NCAA will be looking for any way to shut us down so no bribing players Did I mention your job is on the line - High coach movement on the highest difficultly level with the 1.2a patch Playoffs - I want things to be decided on the field Other info: I expect this to be a pretty tough challenge. We should drop to the bottom Acedimically in a year or two which should make recruiting very painful. We start as the #78 school academically and tied for dead last in prestige. Our offensive coordinator runs the wishbone. I have never really run a full fledged option attack but maybe this makes sense for our team. I can focus on QB's who run well and skimp on WR's and only bring in FB/TE who run block well. |
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12-17-2003, 11:37 AM
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#2 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Not a lot of talent on the roster. In fact we are the least talented team in our conference, according to our scout.
Still, we have some players at key positions and, while we aren't deep, we might have an outside chance at ending in the top half of the conference. Code:
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12-17-2003, 11:48 AM
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#3 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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The College Years
2003 Big Sports Schedule Rival: Illinois State Stadium Capacity: 37,000 Season Tickets Sold: 5,500 Code:
Al told me that we would have to start on the road but this is crazy. 6 straight road games and only 3 home games all season. It could be a very long year. I would guess that we go 0-4 out of conference though we could beat Louisiana-Monroe. In conference we should be able to pick up a couple of wins but I wouldn't be surprised if we have a two or three win season. Our home games could be like a ghost town as well if we don't pick up a win or two on the brutal road trip. |
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12-17-2003, 01:56 PM
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#4 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Opening week of the season and we face Bowling Green on the road. We are 14 point underdogs and they don't have as big of a talent differential than I thought. Hopefully we can at least keep the game close.
We get the opening kick and drive 71 only to have Elis throw an interception in the endzone. You could see all the emotion leave the team and we get waxed. Elis had a lot of trouble running it himself so we are going to move down the QB runs for the next game. Code:
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12-17-2003, 01:58 PM
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#5 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Our second game pits us against BYU at Provo. BYU lost their first game but look more talented than Bowling green so we could be in for a long game. We are only 10 point underdogs which doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Sure enough BYU takes the opening kick scores a TD and never looks back. On the bright side we do get our first score of the year a 34 yard FG off a BYU turnover. The offense continues to be unable to move the ball on the ground. We won't be able get much out of the pass all year so unless we can jumpstart the running game this could be a long year. Code:
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12-17-2003, 02:02 PM
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#6 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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On to Stillwater while we wait for our stadium to be finished. The Cowboys should be the best team we face yet Though their QB has been a bit sketchy this year.
We get our first TD of the season on a intercept return for a TD. Cassidy showed off his leg with a 52 yard FG and we actually we within 7 and had the ball late in the third. Our offense just couldn't get on track again and our running game looks lost at this point of the season. Our defense played pretty respectable and created several turnovers. Garibay had 13 tackles showing that he can play the run well but it's never a good sign if your SS needs to be making all those tackles. I get a phone call from Al in the locker room. He tells me the team looked much better this game but there are no moral victories in football. Al wouldn't fire me after one season would he? Code:
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12-18-2003, 11:23 AM
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#7 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Louisiana-Monroe is the exact opposite of our team. They run the run and shoot to our wishbone. They are 0-3 on the season as well so we have a shot in this game. Their QB lookes terrible and we will be blitzing him every chance we get.
We pull victory from the jaws of defeat as we will 24-20. We took a 24-0 lead only to see it almost dissapear as LMU was driving in our territory before a last minute interception. Our running game final got on track with no player getting more than 14 carriers but 4 players above 10 carries and we got over 200 yards on the ground. Brennan, our stud center, get MVP honors even though he didn't have the most key blocks on the team and didn't even get a stoke. Code:
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12-18-2003, 11:25 AM
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#8 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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We open our conference schedule at Western. They have a solid team lead by a solid OLine. Their front 7 on defense looks weak though and we plan to run the ball even more than usual.
We blowout Western with a dominating running attack. Brennan again get MVP with 8 key blocks and no stokes. Gariday lead us in tackles and had two picks, making a run at game MVP, but both were after the game had pretty much been decided. This was the only conference game on tap so we take an eaarly lead in the conference. We now have a week off before going to SWMS. If we win that game we would be contenders for the conference championship. Code:
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12-18-2003, 11:30 AM
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#9 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Our last road game before our stadium gets completed. Southwest Missouri State runs a three wide set with a pretty devent QB but not a lot of talent at reciever. We are going to bump up the pass coverage and let the dogs loose.
Strange game as both teams put up two touchdowns in the first quarter then only a FG by Cassidy after that. We ran wild in the first half but couldn't really get anything going in the second. SWMS missed three FGs and couldn't convert a key forth down late in the game. SIU won again this week leaving the two of us tied atop the conference. Brennan again got the MVP with a solid blocking job up front. Donaldson scored both our touchdowns and is deserving of a couple more carriers which he will get next week. Code:
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12-18-2003, 04:17 PM
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#10 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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We finally get a home game!! Lot's of empty seats for our first home game but there were lot's of walk up sales as we only sold 5,500 season tickets. I wonder who would buy a three game season ticket though. Anyway, EIU has a pretty solid team with a very good ground game lead by Monty Sinclair. They aren't as strong on the defensive side of the ball so hopefully we can move the ball on them.
A horrible beginning to the game as our offense can't move the ball and they score two quick touchdowns to take a 14 point lead. We cut the lead to 7 in the third quarter but still can't seem to get too much going on offense. EIU scores again late in the forth but they miss the extra point. Could that come back to haunt them? Our team rallies behind the arm of Ross Ellis and drive 80 yards in just over a minute to close to within 6. Don't look at me I didn't think he had it in him either! Eastern fumbles on the first play from scrimmage on their next series and we are in business at their 31 poised for the go ahead score. It's not to be as Ellis is hit and fumbles the ball back to EIU two plays later. They get a first down and we have to us all our timeouts to get the ball back with 20 seconds left but can't do anything with it. A pretty dissapointing loss but we really didn't deserve to win as they out gained us by over 100 yards. Code:
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12-18-2003, 04:34 PM
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#11 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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We try to bounce back on the raod against Northern Iowa after our first conference loss of the season last week. They haven't won a game all season but they do have a little bit more talent than we do. NIU runs the pro set so we are going to have to be ready for anything.
Only 4,000 people show at this rain soaked event. NIU starts strong scoring on their first two oppertunities. We finally get the offense going in the second quarter but NIU scores again and, up 19 to 7, go for two. Our defense wakes up and stops them but they have a 12 point lead going into the second half. In the third quarter we move the ball up and down the field but can't convert in the red zone due to a fumble and two straight unecessary roughness penalties. We finally put everything together as we get a short field off a bad NIU punt. Ellis hits our fullback Ackerman on a screen pass and he rumbles into the endzone. Less than 5 minutes left but our defense comes strong as Garibay steps in front of one of their reciever and we have the ball back near midfield. We get one first down but are faced with a forth and 5 that we can't convert. TMQ writes game over in his notebook. NIU gets a first down on their next play but our defense shuts them down on the next three runs and we have the ball back at our own 12 with under two minutes left in the game. On the sidelines I tell Ross that the game is in his hands and he has to make some big plays to move us downfield quickly. A couple of midrange passes and a pass interfernce call puts us at the NIU 28 with 15 second left. Ellis drops back and looks for the endzone. Key is there but is double covered. Ross throws a jump ball in the endzone... ... and Key comes down with it. Our sidelines go nuts. Game over! Key was huge in the forth quater getting 123 of his 158 yards and the game winning touchdown to grab MVP honors. Code:
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12-18-2003, 04:51 PM
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#12 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Back at home for a showdown with Indiana State. They have two conference losses to our one but we are both looking up at SIU who is undefeated(in coference) for the year. If we win this we will have a showdown with them for top spot in the league next week. Sensing the importance of the game ESPN+ carries the game regionally. Our first game under the lights.
As in the last few games we come out of the blocks very slow as INDU score on their first attempts and are looking for more on their third drive when Sammie Hilton reads the QB's eyes and grabs a pass intended for their RB. Hilton has nothing but green in front of him and runs 80 yards for a TD! Our defense keeps the pressure on and they are forced to punt and our offense gets something going and we move into FG range to tie the game at 10. INSU isn't fazed though as they come right back and score a TD on their next possession. A fumble puts them in great position and they go up 14 with only a couple of minutes left in the half. Ellis steps on the field again and lites up their prevent defense quickly moving us down field and hits backup WR Brooks for a TD to pull us close. I would be happy to go into half down 7 but INSU gets the ball back and wants more. Three plays and a couple of time outs later thay have to put taking almost no time off the clock. We get it back and after a run up the middle to make them think we are going to just run the clock Eliss steps back and hits brooks again in stride on a fly pattern. Brooks avoids the safty and runs 65 yards for the TD. All tied up at halftime and we have the momentum. The second half begins with lots of punts and we manage to drive a bit to get in FG range to take the lead. INSU comes back with a long drive a couple of series later to take the lead 31-27. We get the ball back and grind the clock down with our running game and Cooper find the endzone of a short plunge to retake the lead 34-31. with just over 2 minutes left. They get a good return though and are in position. INSU moves the ball brillantly and are in FG range. We stop them on forth down but an offsides penalty on the kick gives them another chance. I'm am yelling at the ref to tell me who was offsides or how much he bet on this game but I get no response. INSU gets into the endzone and our chances for a conference title are lost and the fans go home unhappy again. Code:
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12-18-2003, 04:58 PM
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#13 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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After a rollercoaster last couple of weeks we find ouselves basically out of the hunt for the playoffs. SIU is still undefeated in the league and we would need a win and a whole lot of help. It's no wonder SIU is unbeaten they clearly have the best roster lead by their star RB Brant Alley. Even with our loss ESPN is intrigued with SIU bid to go undeated and we are on ESPN2 early matchup.
We were totally outclasses this game. We scored first after stopping them on defense with Ellis keeping it on an option but that was about all we could muster. On the bright side we did hold them to a lot of FG in the red zone but never were really in the game and they end up winning 23-10. We host our arch rivals Illinois State in our season finale. Code:
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12-18-2003, 05:04 PM
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#14 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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We wrap the season up with ISU at home. It is a pretty miserable day out with rain turning into sleet later in the day and only 6,900 people show up. A pretty sad showing for our rival but the air has left the balloon with the last couple of losses. Illinois state looks pretty weak as they only have a couple of wins on the year and we are big favorites at home.
We completely destroy our rivals as our nickle back Halpern intercepted a pass on their first drive and took it to the house. We never looked back as we ran up over 300 yards on the ground and Brennan again gains MVP honors. ISU scores a meaningless FG late in the 3rd quarter to keep this one from being a shutout. Code:
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12-18-2003, 05:12 PM
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#15 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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We end the season in the middle of the pack of the gateway. Not a bad result but we missed an oppertunity to get end over .500 for the year and maybe have a chance at the title. SIU gets drilled in the first round of the playoffs by OU. Miami beats Alabama for the title.
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We srpead the carriers around so non our our ballcarriers made all confrence honros but we did land 3/5 of the Oline and a couple of defensive players. Our front 7 was pretty weak this year except for Hicks who has a couple of years left and maybe some room for improvement. Garibay ended up leading the team in tackles, interceptions and passes defended. |
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12-18-2003, 05:27 PM
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#16 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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As far as recruiting goes we eneded up with a lot more talent than I had expected. A lot of these guys have low Athletic prep. scores so we will see how well they develope. Washington our QB recruit wasn't our first, second, or third choice. He is listed as "likes to run" above average but has very few rushing attempts on the year. Hopefully our scout sees something in him that the numbers don't show. Larimer looks ready to play right now. He is coming from WV and we beat out a couple of schools out west for him. Pretty smart as well he could be a big time player for us. Alcott and Willis are both from the city and I didn't really expect to land either player. Alcott espcially has a good attitude and is very smart but a low Ath. Prep. scared the big schools away. Willis was getting a lot of attention from schools like Wisconsin and Illinois and Benson was landed first. I left the Scholarship out their for Willis and late in teh season all of a sudden the big named schools went away and we were the only ones still offering a scholarship to him. Jarvis was a late find in week 9. Nobody was offering him anything and I only had a call left but offered him a scholarship and he took it right away. He isn't very smart and only has marginal Ath Prep but hopefully he will turn out.
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12-18-2003, 06:30 PM
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#17 |
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High School JV
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: WA state
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Are you the same DixieFlatline of CM's Cartaganova fame?
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12-19-2003, 11:55 AM
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#18 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Nope. sorry.
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