-- Covering preseason through week 6
I'm continuing to write about Climps Hansen's quest to lead BYU ... to something great. Either a NCAA title, a promotion to the P12, or 30 straight wins over Utah. For a more thorough explanation of what this is, click here. Credit to Ricky O'Donnell for the idea. Remember all games are simulated. I just manage recruiting and coaching strategy.
A review of the 7-6 2013 season is a mixed bag. The great? We upset nationally ranked Utah and rose as high as #16 in the polls. The good? We went 3-0 in rivalry games, beating Utah, USU, and Boise. The average? We beat a middling Virginia team led by our former coach. The bad? We went 2-4 against P5 opponents. The horrific? We lost to Nevada and Houston by a combined 38 points.
Here's how our wins look, from best to worse:
win over 8-5 CSU
win over 6-7 Utah
win over 5-7 Virginia
win over 5-6 USU
win over 5-7 Boise
win over 5-7 Temple
win over 3-9 Akron
And our losses, from best to worst:
lose to 12-1 Notre Dame (finishes the year #3, lost to Washington in the BCS title game)
lose to 12-2 Wisconsin (wins the B10; finishes the year #7)
lose to 9-4 Georgia Tech
lose to 7-6 Texas
lose to 8-5 Nevada
lose to 8-5 Houston
I knew coming into 2013 that it would be a challenging year. We went 5-4 in our big games, so there’s that. Victories over Utah and Virginia were pleasant surprises; losses to Nevada and Houston were disappointments. Like Jerry Seinfeld, I come out even I guess.
Just how hard was our schedule? We faced 9 first team all-americans and 6 second team all-americans. And none of those 15 include the 5 pre-season first teamers we faced against Texas. That's nuts.
Maybe that's the reason why Tom Holmoe had mercy on my DC Travis Peterson and gave him an extension. How do I know Tom Holmoe gave him the deal? Because I sure didn't. Peterson would have been canned if I were at the reigns.
In recruiting I'm feeling pretty locked in on the guys I've been going after all year. With a few extra minutes available in the budget I decide to take a few big swings during the offseason. I target Joe Craft, the #2 FS in the nation; Kevin Mason, a DE out of Michigan ranked 78; and Barry Utridge, a tempting MLB ranked 76.
Shockingly I go one for three on the hail marys, signing Kevin Mason. What a surprise win! My defense is trash so he'll likely start day one as a freshman alongside newbie Ostrander.
When all is said and done I end up with the 3rd best recruiting class in the country. Eleven 4-stars, twelve 3-stars, two 2-stars, and one 1-star. So much for Heisman mode! Climps Hansen has skills. Part of my high ranking is due to the fact that I maxed out every scholarship I had, which means now I need to cut about 14 players from the team to make roster size. Shoot. I didn't think of that. How lucky that I don't get punished for cutting guys I just signed.
In general, my goal in recruiting for the upcoming year is to thin the pool and take some bigger swings at higher ranked players. I chickened out a little this year with the bump to Heisman mode, but you saw what 13 hours of conversations did to Ostrander. I'm hoping I can work that magic on a few other 80 range players. Plus the last two years of max class sizes has thrown some depth onto the team. I don't need to blow it out this year with 25 signees; what I truly need is 4 or 5 meaningful commitments on defense.
The next step in the offseason is position changes, which means (gulp) it's time to deal with the three tight ends and the four athletes I signed. And we stumble upon instant bad news: this game doesn't believe in switching tight ends to defensive ends. Every guy I try to move gets instantly demoted to a 40 rating. Crap. I guess I'll just be like the real BYU and have 9 TEs on my team?
In a similar vein, I was hoping that at least one of my athletes would be suitable to play a LB role. No such luck, although they would each make fine additions at QB, RB, or WR, aka the positions I'm stacked at. I tag redshirts on most of the incoming freshman class -- including athlete Eric Gates who is rated a 77 at RB, we'll keep an eye on him -- besides the defensive contributors (Ostrander, Mason) and our new kicker who will start immediately.
Finally it's time to look at off-season training results. The whole complexion of my future changes if Latimer jumps into the 80s ... and Latimer jumps 4 spots all the way to a 82 rating. Say hello to your new QB Cougar Nation! The days of the Culver Coaster are no more. Also, my offensive linemen worked their butts off. From left to right I'll have a 89 rated LT, 89 rated LG, 92 rated C, 82 rated RG, and 82 rated RT protecting Latimer. I'm starting to get excited about our offensive prospects.
One final bit of news. Newly recruited freshman kicker Oliver Stegall is good enough to displace Chris Malone on punting duties. Wow. Sorry Mailman junior.
Pre-season 2014
The oddest news of the offseason is that the Akron Zips offer me their head coaching position. The audacity!! You play my team tough in one game and suddenly you think I want to coach you? I'm not leaving BYU unless dragged by police for cavorting with a co-ed.
Sean Stanford is, however. Stanford hails from my original recruiting class, a 69-rated RB signing who wisely sees the blockade in the running back room and decides to transfer to New Mexico. I get it but I'm bummed.
Our best players lost to graduation are Ryan Brown (94-rated K), Steve Reid (91-rated RB), Terry Robinson (88-rated OLB), and Troy Campbell (88-rated FS). Of these four, three are drafted. Terry Robinson to the Eagles in the 5th round, Ryan Brown to the Cowboys in the 7th, and Steve Reid to the Texans in the 7th.
My best players returning this year are:
C Brandon Johnson - redshirt senior, 92 rating
WR Billy Butler - redshirt senior, 90 rating (99 rating in kick return)
LT D. Brown - redshirt senior, 89 rating
RB Pete Young - redshirt senior, 89 rating
LG John Bain - redshirt senior, 89 rating
See, I told you I'm doing well on offense. Defense is another story. Only 2 of my top-10 players hail from the defensive side of the ball. One other ratings note to keep an eye on. Remember Albert Scott, the offensive lineman I signed my first year out of Grantsville? He redshirted last season and improved in training all the way to a 85 rating, making him my 7th best player as a freshman. Every other player in my top-10 is a senior. There's a pathway to Albert being rated as high as 95 by the time he's a senior. I’m giddy.
On to scheduling. Throughout this project I plan to preserve as much of BYU's original schedules as possible, but man the 2014 schedule sucked. Still, I only make two tweaks: adding Nebraska and Utah, while cutting Middle Tennessee and Savannah. Compared to last year's A+, my schedule this year is rated a C+. Here’s how it looks.
at Uconn
at Texas
vs Houston
vs Virginia
vs Utah State
at UCF
vs #21 Nebraska
at Nevada (revenge game)
vs Boise State
vs UNLV
at Utah (I don't skip rivalry games)
at Cal
By the way, if you're curious how I rank the past decade of Indy schedules, see below. I value Indy schedules primarily based on number of P5 opponents and meaningful November games. The 2014 season ranks dead last.
1. 2013 (6 P5s, 3 at home, 2 meaningful November games)
2. 2016 (6 P5s, 2 at home, 1 November)
3. 2018 (5 P5s, 1 at home, 2 November)
4. 2012 (5 P5s, 2 at home, 0 November)
5. 2015 (4 P5s, 0 at home, 2 November)
6. 2011 (5 P5s, 1 at home, 0 November)
7. 2019 (4 P5s, 3 at home, 1 November)
8. 2017 (4 P5s, 2 at home, 0 November)
9. 2014 (3 P5s, 1 at home, 1 November)
Also, the original 2020 schedule featured six P5 opponents, two at home, with two meaningful November games (maybe three if you count SDSU). Last year would have been the second best schedule behind only 2013. Screw you, Covid.
Let's get to the season.
Week 1 BYE
I'm not in action for week 1. I build my big board of recruits knowing I'm facing a crisis on defense, especially at cornerback where I need to replace three starters at the end of the season. My other priority needs are at MLB (1), WR (2), and DT (1). As I mentioned earlier, I'm ready to take some big shots this year. Here's a sampling:
Larry Jordan, #5 rated WR in the country (80 rating)
Ray Moore, #1 MLB (81 rating)
T.J. Sampson, #3 WR (80 rating)
Jon Moss, #7 DE, out of Riverton (78 rating)
Brian Harris, #4 DE (79 rating)
Aaron Mitchel, #1 CB (79 rating)
Justin White, #4 DT (77 rating)
Jonathan Johnson, #26 DT, out of Payson (73 rating)
George Wheeler, #9 DE, out of Kearns (75 rating)
As always there aren't as many CBs on that list as I'd like.
Also, I thought it was weird that most of the guys I targeted rarely got scholarship offers from other teams. I now know that's because those players were mostly crap. All of the guys above have at least three offers by week two.
Week 2 - BYU at Uconn
Here comes the season opener. The first game of the Steve Latimer era. The first game of my coaching career without workhorse Steve Reid to rely on. Uconn has a pre-season all-american at cornerback, and besides that not much. Let's start the simulation and hope my coaches have drawn up a gameplan that keeps Latimer away from this CB.
We're up 24 to 17 at halftime. Latimer throws three TDs. Wow! Things are looking rosy.
And then we're outscored 35 to zero in the second half.
I'm speechless. What a horrifying way to start the season. Now you know why I'm taking so many desperation shots on the recruiting side.
Week 3 - BYU at Texas
A win would be nice here, but I'm not expecting anything. The primary objective today is for Steve Latimer to learn what it's like to face a top team in front of 100,000 fans.
He learns it's painful. Our offense scores 21. Our defense allows twice that many. We lose 42-21, and our defense is making Bob Barker proud, getting spayed and neutered every which way. Myself and the fans alike are confused at why our DC was extended during the offseason.
Week 4 BYE
Look, making the schedule work in this game is a little tricky. Most of the opponents I need in order to recreate the original BYU schedule are booked by the computer on the weeks I need them, so I have to throw in a few weird things to get the jigsaw to fit (like byes in weeks 1 and 4 for instance).
I'm #1 on Jon Moss's list. I need him. He's a 78-rated DE out of my town, Riverton. I'm number one on another Utah DE's list, George Wheeler out of Kearns. I sense I have them on lockdown as they both rate proximity to home as a high priority.
Week 5 - BYU vs #23 Houston
Last year's game against Houston was regarded by our coaching staff as one of those hinge games that could swing a season in either direction. Similarly, a win this season would be an enormous about face as I enter a more manageable part of the schedule.
And dang it, we lose 38 to 31. Houston scores the winning TD with a minute left in the fourth quarter. I'm proud of our guys fight, but we're 0-3 against a schedule I expected to have real success against. Evaluating the team, Peter Young is having a horrible senior year. So is Billy Butler, he's been pretty much a non-factor. By the way these are supposed to be my second and fourth best players. I guess it’s a good sign that Latimer is having success despite a lack of contributions from his primary weapons?
I nab my first commit of the year. Grant Pittman, a 71-rated DE out of Oregon. Larry Jordan, the #5 WR in the nation, who had me second on his list, signs with Wisconsin. Justin White, a 77-rated DT signs with LSU with me as runner-up as well. I'm starting to feel the burn of targeting high flying recruits.
Week 6 - BYU vs Virginia
It's a weird home crowd for this game. Unusually excited and tense considering we're 0-3. But that's what you get when a coach like Bronco, who the fans both loved and hated, returns to town. Last year Steve Reid gave us the win at their place. This year, well ...
I'm 0-4 on the season.
Back on the recruiting board I lower my standards a bit as I cast new nets for WRs and DTs. I'm in a battle with my alma mater for Jonathan Johnson, a 73-rated DT out of Payson. I've been skimpy on the love I've shown him so far but now that I've cut bait on some higher profile targets he deserves a long call.
That's all for now. Let's hope the next time we meet things go better.
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