We recently sat down with college football guru Phil Steele. Click below to see what he had to say as we covered many topics including his experience, the FCS magazine, and much more!
JBS: Our first question is that you started doing preview magazines many years ago but what made you decide to start publishing them at the time you did?
I have been writing a football newsletter since 1982. The preseason magazines never had enough information for me so 18 years ago, as my staff grew larger, we started compiling information ourselves and put it into a book form and 15 years ago put out the first magazine. This is the magazine I use as my quick, easy reference tool throughout the entire season and I have all of the information on the same spot on every page for every team.
JBS: You went a long time without covering the FCS in your magazine. What made you decide to start covering it a few years back?
Once again, finding information on FCS teams is almost impossible, there is very little of it. This year alone there are 57 FCS teams that play FBS teams. In order to have accurate power ratings for my FBS schools I need to know the strength of their opponents. I also find the FCS games very interesting and enjoy going through the individual teams when complying the magazine.
JBS: It is only a matter of time before everyone considers you the guru on FCS, like they do in FBS, and a big reason for them is your power ratings you use. What are they exactly? Why do you think those power ratings work so well in predicting team performance?
I have 9 different sets of power ratings which factor in many different equations. I then plug the 9 sets of power ratings into the schedule to give me an idea of what should then become of the upcoming year. Most of my power ratings are not based on last year’s final scores but more on the statistics of the games and that has proven to be a key indicator. I also weigh in the offensive line, defense and special teams much more heavily. I feel the average football fan just looks at a team’s QB, RB and receivers and last year’s final record when making their final forecast.
JBS: How many people actually help write the information or do research along with you on the FCS content?
I have approximately 30 employees on staff year round working on college football. For the FCS, in particular, Josh you were a big help and I also had 3 staff members assisting in writing the individual teams. This year I am going to assign an FCS conference to each of my FBS conference coordinators which they can work on during the offseason. I would like to have a full page on each FCS team next year.
JBS: Are you possibly going to branch out to do D2 and D3 at some point down the road?
There is a strong possibility we could get into Div II and Div III football as those teams play some of the FCS teams. I need to see an interest in FCS football to make it worth my while of investing so many hours and to produce and publish such a magazine.
JBS: What has been the thing you enjoy most about doing these magazines?
I love college football and I love the fact that my power ratings have made our magazine the most accurate over the last 10 years. It’s great fun coming up with sleepers that nobody else has picked to do well on the upcoming year then watching the results at the end of the season.
JBS: What is the biggest thing you have learned about making your information so accurate over the years?
That college football is an ever evolving sport and you must adapt to the changes every year always looking for a new method or system in analyzing teams which will keep us the most accurate.
JBS: Can you give us a hint or even tell us if you have anything new planned for the magazine in 2010 or if you perhaps plan on putting out a separate magazine for FCS?
I would love to put a stand-alone FCS magazine version on the newsstands but I wonder how well it would go over. I am surprised that there has not been more interest in my FCS magazine (the ACC/Big East Regional) as it really is a quick easy reference tool to the FCS and has probably 10 times the amount of information on the market. I would think with the solid attendance at these FCS schools that it would have had a larger reception and it makes me hesitant to put a stand-alone FCS book on the newsstands for fear of a low sell through rate.
JBS: Our last question for you is that many people still don’t know about this great magazine and that it truly is the best you can buy. Please tell our readers how they may purchase one online and which retailers they can find it.
As always, the best way to get the magazine is to purchase it directly off the newsstands or even at a Wal Mart. Unfortunately, at this time of the year most newsstands are sold out so you can go to philsteele.com to pick up the publication or call 1-866-918-7711. If you are an FCS fans, there are 136 pages in my ACC/Big East Regional which is just $6.99 plus shipping and you can order it today at philsteele.com.
We would like to thank Phil Steele for taking the time out to sit down with us and discuss his magazine and the work he provides to college football fans and professionals. We encourage our readers to visit www.philsteele.com for his latest blogs, stats, updates on the magazines, and much more!!
