phimutau Maze
Everyone likes to work whilst they sit so at the Maze we decided to do that with phimutau. Legendary coach who surprised the Maze by accepting to do the sit down with a low level outfit like ours. We have not been on our game lately but we will try our best to get back to it. Hopefully everyone will enjoy our sit down.
huskerfan26
Hey phim curious if you want to do a little interview to kind of walk through why you are leaving your program and moving up among many other things
phimutau
Sure
I’m at little league ball games until about 9pm central
I can respond on here as I can though
I’m just taking money at the gate
huskerfan26
I was thinking we could just do it here with me asking questions and we go back and forth
phimutau
No prob
huskerfan26
Okay great
Let me start by saying, thanks for doing this.
What are your thoughts on the season?
phimutau
Really disappointed actually. I was trying to break dukelegends record for most passing yards in Wilk D1AA history. I came up 180 yards short. Had I made it to the semis or natty I would have destroyed it
I really felt I had a national championship team this year.
My QB was right in line with my previous title winning qbs
But I had some shortcomings in recruiting and didn’t quite put the team around him he needed
Plus it’s very hard to beat a team three times in one year. Especially a good coach like schoolywe
huskerfan26
You had a #14 GUESS roster which is impressive. I have known through the season not to bet against you
Beating a team twice in one season is usually hard for me, but getting beaten twice is easy
phimutau
My receiving core was my weak link. They just weren’t as good as the past championship WRs
I had two Sr and two So that were rated 77 OVR. When I win the titles I had WR ranked in the 80’s
huskerfan26
The WRs and RBs were still impressive but I think schoolywe figured out something
Is he the one you would put your money on to win it all now?
phimutau
He has a very good chance. I have my own ratings system. And he is second behind Northern Iowa as far as starters rankings. But all 4 coaches that are left are outstanding and any of them could win it.
But my money is still on the three time champ
I think I helped motivate his run by beating him in my two title wins lol
huskerfan26
I'm sure he is glad not to see you again
phimutau
He’s the scary one now. Anytime you have three trophies sitting behind you, it’s intimidating
Three consecutive*
huskerfan26
That's the truth right there
During the play-offs is there ever a coach you might meet and you think oh no?
I have a long list of coaches I do not want to face
phimutau
Sorry got stuck in concession stand.
huskerfan26
That's okay
phimutau
Well a lot of those coaches that really scared me moved up to D1A. After I won a couple of titles and beat Orangepace three years in a row in the playoffs I kinda felt like a big kid on the block. I don’t ever get overconfident though, I will gameplan my butt off for anyone, but the fear subsided after I got a couple under my belt.
huskerfan26
So you do not just set a plan and let it ride on either side of the ball?
phimutau
Not when I face a coach. I study his user games and try to adjust accordingly. Now when I had a team that I knew wasn’t a contender, I did have a tendency to tune out and run the set and forget system.
huskerfan26
That is good to know. Note to self, study your opponent
phimutau
That’s the problem with finally getting a couple titles. You know the formula for a championship and you know when you don’t have it. Those years you don’t have it kinda drag out.
huskerfan26
I am yet to figure out what the formula is and will be working towards trying to figure out what my formula is
Do you think there is only one formula?
phimutau
Last year I set it and didn’t pay much attention to it until the playoffs. I knew we were paper tigers
huskerfan26
Paper Tigers with a CC
Still a nice trophy but I guess once Tigers are used to NCs, CCs do not cut it anymore
phimutau
I felt good about this team in 142, but was a little worried about he defense and the WRs
huskerfan26
The WRs were decent for a deep run when I looked at them, but then again my standards are not NC level standards
Do you always set your teams to make deep runs every season or is it more of every other year?
phimutau
I’ll have to get back in a little bit, some games just ended and we are getting swamped.
huskerfan26
That's okay
phimutau
I set up my team to take three skill positions on offense and redshirt them, then recruit the rest defense. The following year I take a DL, LB, and DB and redshirt them and recruit the rest on offense. That way, my redshirted kids will always be playing with SRs their 5th year.
Gives me a real good team IQ on my SR led side of the ball. Which in turn always makes me competitive. You could always count on the Bobcats being in the mix and I think my class structure really helped they
That*
huskerfan26
I might need to incorporate that in my plans. So I'm guessing you do not like unbalanced classes
I try to RS guys as well but it's random for me for the other two positions. QBs are always RS
phimutau
I’ll just send you a pic of it. Just a sec
phimutau
11, 11, 12, 13. That makes 47 because you will always have 3 redshirted from previous year
huskerfan26
I need to step my game up
That's an impressive spreadsheet
phimutau
At least that’s how I made it work. I want to try to keep this going at D1A but it will be tough since it takes s while to structure your classes
And you can get fired while trying to build
That’s just the tip of the iceberg lol
huskerfan26
I have tried to structure classes but it's tough
Have you decided what schools you want to pick up?
phimutau
huskerfan26
This is now scaring me
I have nothing close to that
phimutau
I’m very partial to Texas schools. So I’m wanting to stay here since I’m so familiar with this area. If truedevil leaves I’m definitely putting in for Houston. However, I kinda want to rebuild SMU.
I have a team page like that for all 120 schools lol
huskerfan26
That's an impressive spreadsheet. Will need to talk off the record.
phimutau
I just finished building a D1A spreadsheet tool as well. It took me FOREVER!!!!
huskerfan26
Texas schools are good. There's usually enough talent to go around
I can only imagine how much work it took
phimutau
I just finished building a D1A spreadsheet tool as well. It took me FOREVER!!!!
phimutau
Oh I forget to mention earlier that I screwed my class up by forgetting to redshirt my RB and WR this season. That’s really what pushed me over the edge on leaving.
huskerfan26
I worked on a lil spreadsheet for recruiting, trying to figure out how to get it done. But it was nothing like this
phimutau
I was already leaning towards leaving and after that happened I was done here.
I lobe column A in this tool. It ranks every player in D1AA against their respective position
Love* not lobe
huskerfan26
On the leaving front, truedevil always says he's leaving but never does
Does Baylor have a coach and would you consider them?
phimutau
I’m afraid to jump into a BCS conference. It takes me a while to get things built. So I would get fired before I could get it structured.
That’s goal #1 for me. Class structure. It’s like a solid foundation. I’m a loyalist. See 31 years at last school. So once I land somewhere I’m not leaving
huskerfan26
Makes sense
Have to have a great philosophy and stick to it
phimutau
I learned all of this from Pete.
huskerfan26
What a guy to learn from
phimutau
You have to think long term if you want to take this approach.
Job hopping is not an option if you want to really put your dna into a team.
Shit that sounded dirty lol
It’s gonna be hard to watch someone unravel what I’ve built though
huskerfan26
Lol
phimutau
But I already started it by forgetting to RS those two guys
My dream job is A&M in the SEC. I can’t take them as long as they are still Big 12
huskerfan26
I say you take Baylor and turn the BIG XII into a powerhouse conference more than it is
I have coaches the Aggies in the BIG XII lot of fun
phimutau
It’s tempting but I’m really scared of getting fired lol
huskerfan26
You won't get fired
You are too good
phimutau
I had a good formula for D1AA recruiting. I’m gonna be out of my element in D1A
That’s what worries me the most
Thanks man.
huskerfan26
I will not lie but D1A recruiting is exactly the same as D1AA
phimutau
132 miles from Texas State to Baylor. Hmmm would be interesting for sure
huskerfan26
Baylor gets my vote
phimutau
Never even considered it, but now you’ve got my wheels turning. I’m gonna definitely do my research and try to find s team that can get to my TX St class structure the fastest.
huskerfan26
I'm here to help
phimutau
I like building my own too
They’ve been sim a while
huskerfan26
Building teams is always fun so I get it
I like building at D1AA
phimutau
I will definitely miss the playoffs
The lack of content also drove me out. D1AA media pretty much became a ghost town. Every article and slack chat topic was always D1A. That also pushed me to leave.
I just want to give the highest level a shot.
huskerfan26
Playoffs are always interesting
phimutau
I will say I’ll be ok, but doubt I make any big waves.
huskerfan26
I say you will be making tsunamis
phimutau
Lol
huskerfan26
Quality coaching always works
And along with your recruiting skills you will be a problem for many
phimutau
I hope you’re right. I’ll give it my all no matter what.
huskerfan26
If you pick up a mid major I see you being on par with Troy State and they are making tsunamis
Did he factor into your decision at all?
His work
phimutau
I think I’d be more comfortable doing that, but we will see. I’m definitely looking forward to Thursday.
All the big time coaches that have done well with mid majors have enticed me. Pete at Hawaii, mcbethbr at Troy St, ebel at Houston. Those are the first that come to my mind.
So I know it’s possible, I just have to learn how to recruit at that level. I’ll be doing some research for sure
huskerfan26
I think with your recruiting spreadsheet you will be able to dominate recruiting
phimutau
I know there’s a lot of luck involved, but I’m still wondering how I was able to pull in a few single digit ranked classes for a few years and then seemingly forget how to do it.
huskerfan26
You think the competition caught up?
phimutau
I had a stretch of 6th, 9th, and 7th and those really helped me get my two titles
I know for sure that Texas Tech being occupied really hurt me.
huskerfan26
I bet on level footing you give them a good running
phimutau
I had a nice pool of players I could get out West that no other D1AA school was close to. I was pulling in some great talent out there. That all came to a hault when Texas Tech got a coach in 137
First it was slicknick and then darryljones, they both took some great green kids from me that I used to get with ease.
huskerfan26
I remember slicknick
Darryl Jones is a good coach. Fully expect great things from him
phimutau
Yep. He’s very active in this chat too lol
huskerfan26
He's active everywhere
phimutau
I don’t know how these guys have multiple teams. I have to put all my focus in one. I tried having multiple with my other ID and it was just too much and I think both teams suffered
huskerfan26
I have a few teams and they are mediocre
Though I feel like it allows me to experiment more
Not sure if the experimenting is working
phimutau
That’s true. It’s fun to experiment too
huskerfan26
Again thanks for doing this.
phimutau
No problem. You got more questions
huskerfan26
I always have questions.
Thoughts on the NC game?
phimutau
Nitros is looking tough, but he is 0-4 vs jddriscol. It should be a nail biter and come down to the last possession in my opinion. I still have to lean JDs way but Nitros can knock him off.
huskerfan26
I have to agree with you on that front
What would you advise nitros to do?
phimutau
I’d have to study up on JDs games and see what he’s been doing and how he defends to answer that honestly. Looking back at his recruiting classes just blows my mind. He’s had the top ranked guess recruiting class 5 out of last 7 years, and the two off years were 2nd and 4th.
huskerfan26
That's impressive. I wish I could do that.
phimutau
That’s freakin insane. If he keeps this up and gets the win he could keep the streak going for many years
huskerfan26
How do you a portion importance between recruiting and game planning?
phimutau
Recruiting is about 75 to 80% of the game in my book. If you recruit great teams you can put them on autopilot for most of the year and then really buckle down and gameplan those meaningful games. However, you can’t discount game planning because some of the top ranked teams that recruited well get beat early and often in the playoffs.
JD seems to have the formula figured out right now.
huskerfan26
Yes he does
phimutau
His location really helps him
Not much threat from big boys
huskerfan26
I try to get good talent to mask my deficiencies
phimutau
I would have to go look because I can’t remember, but I never took on sims. If I did it was very rare
huskerfan26
Like real estate, location location location
phimutau
I aimed low and intended to grow.
That was once I had my structure in place of course
huskerfan26
I have tried to get high potential guys but in Wilkinson at Cal it's tough
phimutau
I just feel lucky to have gotten those two titles. There was definitely some luck involved in the first one.
huskerfan26
I just get what I can
I'm guessing the aim is to get more NCs at D1A and solidify your greatness
phimutau
That’s the goal. But I’m looking super long term. I’m gonna plant my roots and build something great if I can avoid getting fired
huskerfan26
I can guarantee you that you will not get fired
I will also guarantee you that they will build statues of you whatever school you go to
phimutau
Lol thanks man
huskerfan26
Now let me ask you this, do you think it matters what formations you run?
phimutau
I think once Gridiron Champions comes out in 2020 that I will probably lose a lot of interest in this game.
I think if you stick with a plan and recruit for it that you can make any formation work
I prefer Ifo and Pro because they run the same personnel and it helps me grow my young guys
huskerfan26
I have seen a lot of coaches run Pro Set and win
What about on defense?
I'm guessing it's a similar philosophy
phimutau
I like the 3-4 because you can run a 6-1, 5-2, and 4-3 with it. It’s very versatile and can be useful against these pass heavy teams.
But I am not that great at defense. I allowed a lot of points against me even in my title years.
I’m tempted to branch out and try something different on defense though, especially if I take on a sim team
huskerfan26
With that in mind you might have shown defense doesn't win championships
phimutau
Yeah not in this game. I have yet to see a defense just really shut someone down
I don’t think it works very well in the formulas of the engine.
huskerfan26
I have to agree with you
The engine is pass happy
phimutau
I would absolutely love to be a ground and pine physical team on offense and have a juggernaut D if this game allowed for it.
Pound* not pine
huskerfan26
Do you have thoughts on the rumor that the engine has changed?
phimutau
I have heard that rumor and it might be true, but I am not sure. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t disclose that info. But who knows
Their are so many variables from one game to the next that it would be hard to tell unless you had seasons of data to back it up
huskerfan26
I think it's just looking funky. I have run a few experiments and seen some inconsistent numbers using the same plans
I expected to have consistent results but nope
At the Maze we would like to say many thanks to phimutau for taking the time to chat with us. Until the next time, take it easy.
