Wisconsin Badgers

[Evernight]

I finished my first season going 8-4 (5-3 conf). My team was B overall, B- offense, and B defense. We ended up being a 4 star team, with 5 stars in academics. During the season, I was able to recruit 4 players: an RT, WR, RB, and MLB, all of which were four stars. My total recruits for the season (including offseason) were: 2 5*, 7 4*, 4 3*, 6 2* I had 1 offensive lineman go pro.

[Evernight]

I finished my 2nd season going 9-4 (4-4 conference) My team was B overall, B- offense and B defense. At the end of the season we became a 5* program and remained at 4* in academics. We had a much tougher time moving the ball on offense this season, in large because the 3 best receivers graduated the previous year and our starting impact HB was injured early in the season for 9 weeks. We finished out the season by beating Ole Miss 35-21 in the Outback Bowl. We were #19 on the Top 25 Polls. During the season, we were able to recruit a 4* CB, FS, DT, and a 3* ROLB. My total recruits for the season were: 4 5*, 17 4*, 3 3*. My recruiting was very defensive heavy though, as not many offensive players wanted to join my program. I had the top class. I had no players, not even my 94 OVR hb, go pro.

[Evernight]

I just got off probably the most insane game I've played so far. It was me vs Michigan State. I came into the game 6-0 and Michigan State was 5-0. We were the only undefeated teams in the division, so this looked to be a clash of the titans.

The first quarter of the game is a virtual stalemate. No team can get anything going. Both teams go 3 and out after 3 and out and it ends with 0:02 left in the quarter with me kicking a 33 yard field goal. Wisconsin - 3 Michigan State - 0

The second quarter sees an excessive amount of action....just not for the team I wanted. I go 3 and out after 3 and out (yet again) and Michigan State goes on a roll. With 3:53 left in the quarter they break a 65 yard run. Wisconsin - 3 Michigan State - 7. They get the ball back again and with 1:44 left put together a drive that nets them a 2 yard run for a touchdown. Wisconsin - 3 Michigan State - 14. They get the ball back again and with 0:43 left send a zinger into the endzone for 58 yards. Wisconsin - 3 Michigan State - 21. But wait.....it doesn't end there! They get the ball back one last time and with NO time left send one last 65 yard pass sailing for a TD! Wisconsin - 3 Michigan State - 28!

By the start of the third quarter, things were looking pretty glum for my Badgers. Then, finally, with 2:53 remaining we finally saw some offensive production when a 72 yard pass hits its mark for a touchdown. Wisconsin - 10 Michigan State - 28. Michigan answers this, however, with their own pass for 80 yards for a td with 2:40 left. Wisconsin - 10 Michigan State - 35. We managed to put together another small drive wich ends with a 48 yard field goal with 1:52 remaining. Wisconsin - 13 Michigan State - 35. On their next drive, Michigan sails another 84 yard pass with 1:38 remaining for a td. Wisconsin - 13 Michigan State - 42 :eek: I figured we're pretty much done for at this point, so I sub in my 2nd team offense. This is where things start getting interesting.

To start our first drive, we're pinned way back in our own endzone. On the first play of the drive, we bust open a 93 yard run (a school record) with 0:36 left for a td! Wisconsin - 20 Michigan State - 42.

The fourth quarter heats up even more. On our first drive, we sail a 48 yard pass with 4:14 remaining in the 4th for a touchdown. We just barely miss a 2 point conversion. Wisconsin - 26 Michigan State 42. We get the ball back again and put together another drive which ends with a 13 yard pass for a touchdown wiht 2:53 left. Yet another failed 2 point conversion attempt. Wisconsin - 32 Michigan State - 42. We finally had a glimmer of hope!........which was soon crushed on the following drive when Michigan State broke a 41 yard run for a td with 1:19 left. Wisconsin - 32 Michigan State - 49. We we'rent done fighting yet, however. On our next drive we pull off an 18 yard pass wiht 0:34 left. Wisconsin - 39 Michigan State - 49. After another 3 and out for Michigan, we received the ball for what looked to be the final time. After several failed pass attempts, one finally hit its mark with NO time left, a 37 yard pass for a touchdown. Final score: Wisconsin - 46 Michigan State - 49.

[Evernight]

My third season just ended with our record being 12-1 (7-1 conference) We were B+ overall, B offense, and B+ defensively. At the end of the season we became a 6 star program (a little too easy imho) and remained a 4 star academic program. We topped off the seaon by shutting out Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 28-0. Marcus Randle El, my 2nd WR, won the Heisman Trophy with 1,681 yards and 23 total touchdowns in 47 receptions, including 4 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl victory. He also set school records for most receiving yards in a season (1681), most receiving yards in his career (2900), most receiving touchdowns in a season (22) and most receiving touchdowns in his career (32). My current pipeline states are: Wisconsin, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania (Ohio and Pennsylvania were added last year). During the season we were able to recruit 3 4* WRs (3 of my starters are graduating) and 1 4* DT. My total recruits for the season were: 3 5*, 14 4*, 6 3*. I had my 92 ovr QB attempt to go pro, but I talked him out of it as I need him for leadership as I would have only 1 QB without him. I also talked my 91 ovr HB out of going pro as well so he could also come back and provide my team with his leadership. I let my JR (RS) CB Jack Ikegwuonu and RT Kraig Urbik go pro, as they desired to. I was sad to see my 92 ovr kicker, 98 ovr DT, and none of the 3 starting senior WRs went pro (including Randle El :( )

[VTHokie32]

How long are your quarters, and what is your difficulty setting? I'm switching to Madden this year, because I think NCAA (which I've been buying every year for about 7 years now) is too easy and repetitive. Each year, I master the option and proceed to blow out the CPU, especially after a few years of good recruiting lands me a team full of studs. Last year, I never lost a game in my dynasty, and I went for about 4 seasons on AA then moved it up to Heisman.

[Evernight]

I usually play about 5 minute quarters on AA with CPU sliders bumped up quite a bit

[Evernight]

My fourth season is finally in the books. We finished 12-1 (8-0 conference). We ended B+ overall, B+ offense and B+ defense. At seasons end, I received coaching offers from Florida State and Cal. I chose to take a 6 year contract extension with Wisconsin instead. We remained a 6 star program and a 4 star academic program. We ended the season by barely beating out #7 Florida Sate 25-24 in the Rose Bowl on a safety. My HB Jamil Walker (SR (RS) won the Heisman this year with 3244 All-purpose yards and 29 total tds, including 151 yards and a touchdown in the Rose Bowl. My running game was very effective this season. My passing game, however, was not. After losing my 3 starting WRs to graduation last season, my passing game is nearly non existant. It's almost an exact opposite of last season. During the season I was able to recruit 2 4*s and 2 3*s. My total recruits for the year are: 4 5*, 15 4*, 7 3*, 1 2*, and 1 1*. I had my 89 ovr LG Jack Gray and 94 ovr RG Aaron Dawson (both JRs) go pro. For some reason, Bryan Savage (96 ovr) and Jamil Walker (95 ovr) (QB and HB I had try to go pro that I talked into coming back last year) decided to graduate instead of going pro. :confused:

[Evernight]

My fifth and final season for awhile just got wrapped up. We finished 12-1 (7-1 conference). We finished with A- overall, B offense, and A+ defense. We ended the season by beating Nebraska 28-17 in the Rose Bowl. I received coaching offers from Oklahoma, Nebraksa, and Virginia Tech, all of which I turned down. We remained a 6 star program and a 4 star academic program. My running game was about as effective as it was last year, and passing game was slightly more effective as well because my new starting QB is a scrambling qb with a pretty decent arm. During the season I was able to recruit 1 5* and 4 4* players, marking this as the first season I was able to land a 5* player in season. My total recruits were: 7 5*, 16 4* and 2 3*. At the end of the season I was very pleased to see that 3 of my top defensive players decided to go pro (which will hurt a bit next season). They are: FS Anthony Robinson (JR) 92 OVR 66 tackles, 10 INT, 2 FF, 3 TD, and 41 passes deflected; SS Sam Thorne (my personal favorite player) 92 OVR (JR), 158 tackles, 14 sacks, 22 INT, 3 fumbles forced, 4 tds, and 24 pass deflects; and CB Jacob Wynn (JR) 95 OVR 71 tackles, 4 sacks, 10 INT, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered, 2 td, 22 passes deflected. I also had my Jr (RS) 85 OVR LG Odell Davis go pro as well.

[Evernight]

After playing 5 seasons and not simming a single game of this (I play for fun, and have just as much fun blowing out weaker opponents as I do having to mount comebacks against stronger ones) these are my general thoughts:

** This game is overall better than last years IMHO, and because of it I actually spent time playing it unlike last years where I simmed a great deal. My sole purpose of buying this game was to supply decent rosters instead of the horrid ones Madden usually generates.

** There was SOME slowdown, especially on kickoffs which was kind of annoying but not something that really dragged down gameplay. It just made tackling them a bit more difficult

** While I haven't found a way to raise my academic score yet, I found that raising my prestiege score is pretty easy to do if you have a few winning seasons.

** Recruiting in season is hard at first, but I was usually able to land at least 4 guys. I started out trying to get around 8 or so in season and found that I came out with 4 in the end. I generally shoot for 5 in seasons now.

** Offseason recruiting is really pretty easy. My total recruits after 5 years (yes I kept track of all this :cool: ):

Season 1
4* program
5 stars: 2
4 stars: 7
3 stars: 4
2 stars: 6
1 stars: 0

Season 2
5* program
5 stars: 4
4 stars: 17
3 stars: 3
2 stars: 0
1 stars: 0

Season 3
6* program
5 stars: 3
4 stars: 14
3 stars: 6
2 stars: 0
1 stars: 0

Season 4
6* program
5 stars: 4
4 stars: 15
3 stars: 7
2 stars: 1
1 stars: 1

Season 5
6* program
5 stars: 7
4 stars: 16
3 stars: 2
2 stars: 0
1 stars: 0

Totals:
5 stars: 20
4 stars: 69
3 stars: 22
2 stars: 7
1 stars: 1

[VTHokie32]

I can only assume that if you are compiling those kinds of defensive stats, you must've been playing like 12 minute quarters? 32 picks by 3 guys?

[Evernight]

I can only assume that if you are compiling those kinds of defensive stats, you must've been playing like 12 minute quarters? 32 picks by 3 guys?

No, 5 minute quarters. I get heat on their qb just about every single play when my defense is out there. My front 4 are all excellent players. Most of the picks come from lower tier opponents though.Wasn't odd for me to pick off 4-5 in those games.