Interesting to see Lycoming finally do something. Before today, the Warriors had gone 4-12 since wide receiver Ricky Lannetti died of a staph infection the night before the 2003 national quarterfinals. Sometimes tragedies such as a death of a coach or player have lingering effects. Hopefully Lycoming can get back to respectability.
And that win came against a team I was thinking might be the best in the East region before today. The two-headed backfield monster of Alex Baez and Jamie Donovan combined for just 15 carries, with Donovan limited to one carry with injuries.
Then again, Ithaca might still be the best team in the East considering Rowan’s struggles today and the loss of Mike Orihel. If it’s temporary, that’s one thing, but long-term it’s a big blow to the Profs.
Nobody has run the table in the WIAC since UW-Stout did so in 2000, but the way this Whitewater team is rolling, it seems possible. Their schedule wraps up with what is traditionally the bottom three teams (Oshkosh, River Falls and Platteville) at home and a trip to Stout, although Oshkosh is 2-1 and has already beaten Stout, so the Titans can’t be forgotten.
Congrats to Linfield, extending its own record for consecutive winning seasons — it’s now 50. A half-century over .500 is great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a record that someone can easily chase, nor has Linfield been in any danger lately of failing to have a winning season. Since it’s not much of a surprise, it’s hard to get all excited over it outside of McMinnville, Ore. Sorry.
Lakeland finally got past Concordia (Wis.) for the first time in five years and has three games (one against Aurora, one game back) left to decide the IBC title. I still remember their weeping and gnashing of teeth from Lakeland’s staff (two or three coaches ago) on the Selection Sunday conference call in 1997 after they went 10-0 against weak competition and justifiably did not make the tournament. (Picture making the North Region field without an automatic bid — not likely.) They’re a few steps away from getting their first chance.
Saw Johns Hopkins on Friday night against Gettysburg. They do have a defense worthy of a couple of playoff wins, but I am not sure who is going to score for them. Gettysburg came in allowing opponents 38 points a game and Johns Hopkins managed 14 — on a blocked punt and one long pass play. That isn’t going to get it done nationally, although if the Blue Jays face another Mid-Atlantic team in the playoffs they might just win, because nobody else in the subregion is that good either.
Interested in:
The whole stretch run for the IIAC, which should be interesting again. Central travels to Wartburg in Week 10. Coe has already beaten Central and lost to Wartburg. Luther’s not out of it yet.
Benedictine quarterback Efi Eyo. Man, this guy has been everywhere, started off at I-AA Fairfield, played at McDaniel, was in camp at Catholic, finally gets a W today for Benedictine, 22-13 against Eureka. Long, strange trip … or something like that.
UW-Oshkosh. Are they for real? no. Real enough to cause trouble down the stretch in the WIAC? You betcha.
Concerned about:
Thiel. Needed double OT against Waynesburg and has four games left against teams that are all at .500 or better right now.
Union. Hail Mary to beat 2-4 F&M? And you want to be my latex salesman …
Bridgewater. That’s a lot of points given up. Surely they knew when Guilford put up 45 on Hampden-Sydney that the Quakers weren’t to be taken lightly. So Guilford scored 46 on Bridgewater.
Oh, and Ferrum and Trinity (Conn.) still have Division III football programs. Now you can’t complain that we’re not talking about you. All those Ferrum gripers out there, hey, I voted for you the last three weeks. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, these types of issues are usually worked out on the field. There will always be fans and teams that argue that a certain squad should have gotten a bid to the exclusion of some other team. However, with the current number of teams allowed into the playoffs, no one can legitimately claim that they could have won a national title, but did not get a bid. Let’s just be thankful that the playoff system has changed over the years. I remember in ’81 or ’82 (I hope there are others out there who can remember back that far) when Wabash had a tight end by the name of Pete Metzelaars and was undefeated, including a win over an always-strong Dayton team. As I recall, the top 2 teams from each region made the playoffs. Two other teams from this region were ranked 1 and 3 in the country (Augustana and Baldwin-Wallace maybe?) and Wabash was ranked 5th or 6th, but stayed home. This can’t happen now. All of the deserving teams will eventually make their statements on the field, not in some poll. That is one of the things that makes D3 football so great.
Thanks Pat for the heads up. I should have seen that from the title of the chart on the NCAA listing for Quality of Wins Index.
Is there anything at all to be taken from this chart?
Just a dumb question?
You can’t really use it as a measure for determining the quality of a team.
You can use it to help determine how the NCAA might select at-large teams and how it might seed teams.
Raider Guy,
I think Linfield was hoping the Stevens Point would be the big preseason game but it would clearly appear that the Pointers are pointing down (tough schedule and all).
Linfield has the same schedule as last season but some of the more traditional tough teams are down this season (PLU, SOU, UW-SP, etc.)
Hey, I’m pretty sure Linfield wouldn’t mind hooking up with Mount during the regular season. If they seek out Hardin Simmons for a two year deal, I would think they wouldn’t mind playing the Raiders.
pcole,
wondering how you can say St. Olaf doesn’t deserve to be in the top 25 when Coe was ranked as high as 15 this week. A couple reasons:
1. Coe beats Luther 14-10, St. Olaf beats Luther 34-14 AT Luther.
2. Coe beats St. Thomas 24-21 at home, St. Olaf beats St. Thomas 53-27 at home.
Johnnienation,
Will enjoy beating the Johnnies for the second year in a row, only this time at your place like back in 2001. Except, unlike you and other johnnies fans, we wont make excuses about watering the field before games no matter what the outcome.
I graduated from Ferrum in ’93…..and I pride myself on being objective. That being said…unless the Panthers pickup their defense, it don’t look good! On the flip side, with Pitts, Mulford, Hamoy and Hawkins tot’n the mail…..they will score at least 24 on anybody in the land of D3. They have a couple of guys (Chris Silk), who can catch the ball and get in the end zone as well.
You may outscore them…but this ’05 group is good for the 24.
old fighting scot.
Alas, I do not have the power to set up the ‘showdown’, but if we could set up a CCIW-MWC day (#1 vs. #1, #2 vs. #2, etc.), I would give even money on the CCIW going 8-0, and 5 to 1 odds on the CCIW going at leat 6-2.
Win a second playoff game (ever!) before you start trash-talkin’!
And I don’t even consider the CCIW to be THAT elite in fball (at least a few notches below bball)! While you may usually have a champion who would finish in the top half of the CCIW, usually your second-place team would finish about 6th or 7th.
blackhatsonthehill
I think you need to be still a little more objective.
“24 on anyone in the land of D3.”
While it appears you can run the ball it only sets you up to have to pass to score. A good defense will force you into that and as the #206 of 228 teams in passing I think there will be plenty of teams that will take that challenge and win it. It all goes back to who you are getting these yards and points against. With some good fortune you will get the chance to score those 24 on some teams a little more on the ball.
I can name four teams without even blinking that would end that steak.
Cat 11
I think it would be great too. We are having to travel great distances just to get our one non conference game a year. Next two years it is Averett in Virginia. They look like an up and coming program. The last two years has been Washington University in St Louis.
We have so many great chances for local rivalries but can’t get them to play us. Wooster was an old time conference rival and they are only 30-40 miles away. We can’t even get them to play our JV squad. Even though we have them on the schedule they come up with some reason not to play the game all the time. Did it again this year too.
I guess it is a chance in the playoffs at best for now. Good luck this week.
Raiderguy
I agree Ferrum is not pressing the numbers on the passing game. Yet to say that running the ball “only sets you up to have to pass to score” is somewhat puzzling. The ability to pass, opens up your run game, and while the Panthers are not a passing team at all….they can and are respected as such.
pcole,truefan and cabonney
You all make fantastic points – you guys know reality.
I may be an anxious CCIW fan, but I still have the brains to realize that the MWC is WEAK. I really like the odds cabonney put down on the CCIW vs. MWC fantasy pairings. I would put every dollar I have on the CCIW winning at least 6 of the 8 games. Honestly, I would really consider putting all my money on the CCIW going 8-0.
Old Fighting Scott is a loyal fan of his conference – the MWC needs them. There is no way, and I mean NO WAY that his (or her to be fair – even though I think it is a guy) claim that the top MWC team could compare to the top CCIW teams! NO WAY!
The CCIW has had times of dynasty – Augie winning 4 consecutive National Championships not so long ago. The top CCIW teams (that’s TEAMS) are always some of the most competitive in the country (that’s the ENTIRE USA). The top teams in the MWC are lucky they have weak schedules, because if they played the CCIW schedule – they would be miserable.
Lets look back just a few years when glorious Monmouth didn’t win a game for two whole seasons. I loved it. I am from Monmouth, Illinois and I knew the guys on the team – they acted as if they were Mount Union, or Linfield despite the record they posted. They actually scrimmaged Augustana and were partying the night prior saying, “We are gonna do alright”. I still remember that. Augie killed them. Had a score been kept Augie would have won 91-0, and that is no lie!! It would have been even worse had they not whistled plays dead when the Monmouth QB was running for his life in the wrong direction.
Monmouth is the best team in the MWC right now, but that really does not get much respect knowing that they have a weak schedule. They could go undefeated in the regular season, but they are going to get killed in the playoffs – I hope they play a CCIW team so Ye Olde Fighting Scott can realize what we are all talking about.
The CCIW has 3 teams in the d3football.com poll top 26. Monmouth is 36th or something.
GO AGUSTANA, AND GO CCIW!!
According to Massey, Monmouth’s SOS is 109th best right now. That’s in the upper half, though below the normal SOS for the CCIW.
Hey Raiderguy –
Averett (USAC) does seem to be an up & coming program. They’ve only had football about 5 years and may only be 20 years removed from being an all girls school (starting a football team was one strategy to attract more male applicants).
One other intriquing possibility for a home & home series with Mt. Union is ODAC power (at least since 2000 or so) Bridgewater. They had two possible opponents back out on them this year (Thomas More was one, not sure about the other) and had to fill out their schedule with a 45-0 whitewash of Geo. Mason U.’s club team. BC has been arguing with the NCAA & the ODAC about counting the win & inidvidual stats (they won’t be allowed to do so), but BC says they’re going to count them in their school records. lol
Maybe the BC Eagles have some future open dates? I bet they’d love to play Mt. Union.
Signed, a Guilford Quaker in NC
blackhatsonthehill
What was so puzzling about my comment. A good defense is going to put 8 in the box as the saying goes and shut down your run game. Dare you to beat them in the air and there is nothing that indicates the #206 passing attack in the country is suddenly going to morph into the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning.
I was more puzzled by the fact that “the Panthers are not a passing team at all…they can and are repected as such.” Refer above #206?
hasanova,
Our only problem is we are set for 9 conference games every year so there is only one opportunity for non conference match ups.
We are set as I understand for the next two years with Averett.
It would have to be the first game of the season for anything to happen.
2008 & 2009? There is plenty of time to work out the details anyway.
Raiderguy,
You are correct about teams putting 8 in the box, but if you look at the USAC stats, Ferrum is first in passing touchdowns. I wish the team was more balanced, but until someone seriously can stop the rushing game, the passing game will be only when needed. Yes Ferrum College only throws for 106.9 a game, but when they do throw the ball they connect, usually on big plays. QB Jermaine Pitts has an Efficiency Rating of 177, which leads all USAC QB’s. I really believe (since the end of last year) that Ferrum will be a 10-0 team after the regular season. On the other side of the ball, the Ferrum defense seems to step up when the team needs it to.
raiderguy
No doubt, 8 in the box will definitely stop Ferrum’s run game. The problem is…..your endzone is not a good place to finely do it. Look at the scores, their defense allows schools who are not elite D3 programs to rack up points, and the offense replys by continually ending drives with a visit from the extra point kicker.
And 8 in the box is not a good defense for an option offense. An option “O” is defeated with a steady diet of corner blitz’s, a four man front and a decent rover or 2.
But all and all….Ferrum needs to get into the playoffs. 7-0 is a great start, but winning out and reaching the post season is the meat and potatoes.
My final point on this still comes back to who are you putting these numbers up against? I know you have a conference schedule to play and that is a given. There is only one team in the conference who ranks above 115th out of 228 in the country in defense and you haven’t played them yet.(CN is 87th)
Everyone else is in the lower 50% and five are in the bottom 25% nationwide. (190,204,207,211,214) out of 228.
Win out and we will see you run through the playoffs.
Everyone knows that CNU and Ferrum will be the game of the USAC, no matter what the outcome; Ferrum has had a great season. The playoffs this year is just icing on the cake. Next year should be sweet. Though win or lose, Ferrum should be in the Playoffs. I think what Ferrum has done this year is special and many fans think the same.
CNU still has Methodist away, NC Wesleyan at home, & Averett away before the Nov. 12 game at Ferrum. They may win all 3, but I wouldn’t look past these opponents, especially Methodist. Ferrum still has Greensboro at home & NC Wesleyan away before the season-ending CNU game. IF everyone wins out, it will be a bigger game & some of the lustre will be gone if either team drops a game. If Ferrum is 9-0 going into the CNU game, I’m sure they’ll have a HUGE crowd anyway. Most teams don’t get the opportunity to go undefeated very often & some never do. (For example, I know Guilford has been playing football since 1893 or so & they’ve never done better than several 8-2 seasons & a 7-1-1 campaign.) I’m sure a lot of Ferrum alumni & fans will come for this reason in addition to the students, families for Senior day & CNU fans. Does Ferrum have any plans to move this game to a bigger venue if all this falls into place?
This email will hopefully put to rest those who claim that Monmouth College and the MWC conference can hang with the CCIW and the WIAC.
Go to this link (Massey Ratings): http://www.masseyratings.com and you will find ratings for all D3 teams and confernces.
This is what I learned about the CCIW, WIAC and the MWC – enjoy.
I will go in order in the order of CCIW, WIAC and the MWC. Remember there are only 219 teams total.
RANK TEAM SCHEDULE RANK
5 North Central 37
13 Wheaton 24
17 Augustana 32
21 Carthage 13
31 Millikin 22
38 Elmhurst 102
75 North Park 58
98 Illinois Wesleyan 10
1 W-Whitewater 4
9 W-LaCrosse 2
16 W- Eau Claire 1
25 W-Oshkosh 47
34 W-Stevens Point 3
47 W-Stout 45
54 W-River Falls 8
105 W-Platteville 12
18 Monmouth 109
37 St. Norbert 39
69 Ripon 100
74 Carroll WI 72
112 Lake Forest 150
116 IL College 142
136 Knox 163
148 Beloit 38
151 Lawrence 49
181 Grinnell 119
Massey Ratings has WIAC as the number 1 conference in the Country and the CCIW as the #2 conference in the country. The CCIW had the best non-conference record in the Country (21-3). The Schedule strength number with Massey only reflects games played so far. So, the CCIW and the WIAC teams strength of schedule will only become more impressive and the MWC teams will get worse.
Oh, also, every team in the CCIW (with the exception of Illinois Wesleyan) has earned votes in D3 Football.com polls this season. That may also be true with the WIAC (all teams in conference).
Check out Massey Ratings.
GO AUGUSTANA.
I have no idea how someone could actually say that Monmouth could hang in the CCIW or the WIAC. Lets put that thought to rest.
Actually, North Park hasn’t gotten any Top 25 votes either.
Good discussion this week. We’ll table it and come back after week 8, I suppose. 🙂