Keith deals with it in the Game Day blog post and comments, but Justin Beaver’s injury is a big blow for UW-Whitewater. Remember, fellow All-American Steve Angiletta broke his collarbone in a scrimmage in Week 1 and Union hasn’t gotten him back yet.
Can UWW make the playoffs without Beaver? Definitely, though this upcoming week’s game at Platteville has a different tenor to it. The UMHB game was never a gimme and is less of one now. We’ll know a little more next week.
Cortland State is officially the best team I’ve seen this year. (Competition for that “honor” comes from Wilkes, Hobart, Williams and Delaware Valley.) With Alex Smith they should be a Top 10 team, though I only saw him today for a drive and a half. Ray Miles was pretty decent as a replacement.
“We’re not a Top 25 team”
That’s what one Bridgewater fan communicated to me this afternoon. While I think that’s a bit harsh, I’m not surprised about the loss. Unfortunately, Bridgewater was floating upwards in our poll (and higher in the coaches’ poll) because of the attrition around it. Teams do not float on my ballot, at least not much. I feel pretty happy about the 17 that Bridgewater was at on my ballot and they will probably slide in at about 21 on mine this week.
One of the things I like about our poll is that when it’s not broken, our voters don’t fix it. I expect more of the same this week when voters analyze No. 4 Capital winning by a touchdown at No. 17 Ohio Northern. Doesn’t that prove the poll was pretty accurate, at least relative to those two?
Mt. St. Joseph has never been higher than No. 25 in our poll and has a shot at getting there this week. That would be about right after this week.
The sun’ll come out
There are some lingering questions about Rowan and they’ll be in the spotlight tomorrow at noon against Buffalo State. John McGraw will be there to call the game for D3football.com.
There was good news about injured Alfred player Julio Fuentes, as it was reported he has feeling in his legs. Continued best wishes for his recovery. He was injured back in September against Thiel.
Hmm …
Coast Guard won at Bridgewater State which makes the Bears the favorites in the NEFC Bogan. They did not win a game in two years in the Liberty League before moving. Curry remained unbeaten on the other side of that league.
Also …
Olivet wins at Albion to stay unbeaten in the MIAA. … CCIW could be a two-bid league if Augustana and Wheaton win out. … Similarly the SCIAC if Cal Lutheran beats Occidental, though that seems less likely after CLU’s two-OT loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. … Hmm, yeah, more St. Norbert dominance. … Some Oshkosh fans were bemoaning the playoff system on the board and in e-mails to us this week. Those arguments just went Splatteville. … Carnegie Mellon still unbeaten. Waiting for the game at Wash U and the finale with Thiel before we know for sure what the Tartans have.
Cortland played its best game of the season so far. A real shame about Alex Smith, but as Pat mentioned Ray Miles did a solid job. Cortland will need Smith back for Rowan and Ithaca. Next week is up in the air, and Montclair is a tough place to play. I want to congratulate Stef Sair for setting the all-time interception record at Cortland with his 13th pick. Anybody who has seen this kid play knows how special he is, and how lucky we have been to have him at Cortland.
The Top 3 of the E8 continues to impress. Springfield had a comfortable victory over Brockport, but I cannot help but think Brockport is hitting collapse mode at this point of the season. They have played a brutal schedule and it is biting them. The Pride victory makes a victory over Fisher a viable threat, and could potentially re-open the door for Ithaca to get back into the conference title picture.
Was Salisbury’s 65 points necessary against Morrisville? Good going guys. That makes up for the 3 you scored against Brockport.
Whitewater rips Lacrosse. I Never saw that blowout coming. I wonder if they can make it back to the Final 4 without their tailback though.
I may try to make it back to Cortland tomorrow for the Buff State-Rowan game. It’s either that, or sit in the comfort of my own home listening to the Johnny Mac Extreme D3 Broadcast.
That’s a great point about Coast Guard not winning a game in the past two years; I was thinking that very same thing myself. It’s a great testament to the liberty league and New York State D-3 football in general. That’s just shows how strong of a conference the LL is. But none the less good for Coast Guard it’s much better for their program. How about Hobart’s win today; quite a dominating defensive performance with 10 sacks and offensively over three hundred yards on the ground. All this after many were predicting a Merchant marine upset of them. I think some questions may have been answered as to who is a top the liberty league. Also I agree I never saw UWW totally dominating UW-La Crosse the way did. I thought they would win but it would be a close game. The loss of beaver should make things interesting, but I still think they have the fire power to get it done. There seems to be a great deal of room between the top two teams in the country and everyone else.
28-0 at half-time. Final 28-21. Union’s second half benevolence once again almost proved their undoing. When will this team embrace the fact that there are four quarters in a football game? We could hear the groaning from the Union faithful all the way to Palm Beach. But they hang on and notch another “W”. With next week a bye, the Dutchmen have ample time to evaluate their season and prepare for league leading Hobart, preceded by a hungry St. Lawrence team. Will Union exhibit a late season kick as they did last year? If Angiletta does return, will that be the deciding factor? Stay tuned!
I’m not sure if Coast Guard is a credit to the Liberty League, or a sign that the NEFC is all-out horrible.
Having watched Keith Elias at Princeton and then with the N.Y. Giants for 4 or 5 years, I have a question. What kind of shot does Justin Beaver have at making the NFL? He has the same height and weight dimensions of Brian Westbrook of the Eagles (who only played at D1-AA Villanova…….a team that most on this board probably thinks UWWW would beat handily).
Elias was no sprinter but hung around long enough to collect a nice NFL pension. Does Beaver have decent enough (not blazing…isn’t necessary) to at least warrant a long look?
A New Sheriff…Uh…I Mean General In Town?
According to one radio announcer, Washington& Lee is the best team Hampden-Sydney has faced this year. Since H-SC has already played Bridgewater and Guilford, could it be the Eagles run in the ODAC is in jeopardy? The smoke will clear in the next two weeks. Should be fun!!
Congrats Guilford Quakers!! A HUGE win for your program. With the loss to H-SC, I’m still not quite on board yet. Beat W&L next week and you will have my attention.
So whats up with W&L’s winning ways? They really must have lowered the bar over there in Lexington. Bet they are letting in dumb jocks with 1500 SAT scores. 🙂
Count me as among those who think that Whitewater will be back in the playoffs without Beaver and they might still be the West favorites. Linfield and SJU don’t appear as consistent or dominant in their leagues as in previous seasons. Both have potentially tough games remaining on their skeds.
UWW appears scary good. While comparing scores is always a minefield, let’s remember that the team they dominated yesterday is still probably among the top three or four teams in a traditionally strong region. And recall that win LaCrosse posted over d1aa scholarship S.D. State, which has won three straight 1aa games, including a road upset of No. 16 McNeese State.
Still, if UWW loses next week and SJU manages to get through unbeaten, then it would be an interesting seeding process in tgeh West …
You know if you do not have any preset plans this weekend, I have a feeling that the Fisher vs. Springfield game is going to be a great one. For one, this is the first time that they have both been undefeated while playing each other, not to mention it is two of the top teams in the East and POSSIBLY the winner will be the winner of the E8 and the AQ into the postseason play. We must not forget however that both teams have great running games, with Fisher using a one two punch with Robinson and Reile. I would call it thunder and lightning, however with Robinson trimming down the weight and adding a little speed, it is like lightning striking twice. And look across the feild next week and you will see who is statistically the best rusher in d3 football up through week 8 in Sprinfield’s QB, Chris Sharpe.
Lets also mention that this game will be an unpredictable one when it comes to the scoreboard. The Pride is 17.5 points per game on defense (6 games) which is well under Fisher’s season average of 37.86 ppg.
On the flip-side, Fisher’s defense is allowing a stingy and amazing 8 points per game, through 7 games. That includes shutouts in weeks 1,3, and 7. SC’s offensive points average is just under that of SJFC’s at 36.17 ppg.
So my question is with these powerful offenses, and seemingly stingy defenses, what kind of game will we see? Is it going to be a barn burner where both teams throw up their season averages in points and then some. Will it be a defensive game where both teams do what no one they have played yet has been able to do which is keep each other off the score board? It will one team be ready and blow the other out. I have my hopes on which one it will be, and I have a feeling it will be something different than what I hope for. I think this will be a hard faught victory by one of the teams, which I hope will show Fisher on top of the Pride for the third year in a row.
Anyone else have some thoughts on this?? And I hope to see some representatives for d3football.com there, afterall this has the looks of being the game of the week and one of the games of the year.
Go Fisher, don’t stop what you have been doing and just dominate!!
D3football.com Game of the Week enough for you? 🙂
Mr. Coleman~
I like to sound professional at least. I am glad to hear that it made the game of the week. just 2 questions from that, what are your thoughts on it, and you gonna be there? i will buy you a hotdog and coffee
Back home alive and well. My latest ballot found room for Platteville and Baldwin-Wallace, believe it or not. I might be one of the only ones on the latter. With Mount Union next week, it could be a short stay.
Cal Lutheran’s loss to CMS was definitely a shocker. After not really buying on the Kingsmen last, I was beginning to appreciate their consistency.
As far as Beaver in the NFL, it’s probably too early to tell. With another year after this, I imagine he’ll win a Gagliardi … and every Gaglardi winner has had a shot in the NFL.
I’d guess he’ll get an invite and struggle to stick, but you never know. I thought Blake Elliott was as good as we’d sent to the NFL in years at the skill positions and he didn’t last. (and yes, I did mean Blake although Brett is the deal too).
Anyway, that’s way in the future. Beaver probably just hopes that 4 weeks is a legitimate prognosis.
Did anyone catch that the best back in Division I-A also broke his collarbone falling on his shoulder at the end of a run yesterday, and he’s “out for the season?”
Other interesting scores from yesterday, and I gotta make this quick, the ‘aints are driving against my Iggles here in the 4th quarter. We need a t.o. (but not T.O.)
Wittenberg beating Wabash might mean that the NCAC won’t send a powerful rep to the playoffs this year, but it might also open the door for Kenyon and it’s odd schedule to take the bid. I don’t know the specifics on it, but NCAC teams don’t all play each other and Kenyon misses both Witt and Wabash.
Witt and Oberlin lead the league at 3-0, 4-2.
McMurry over Howard Payne and Sul Ross over Texas Lutheran shows that the ASC is turning over.
Puget Sound staying with the NWC crowd.
More later.
K-Mack:
Glad you’re back in one piece.
I heard the Willamette broadcast of the Bearcats’ game with UPS. The Loggers seemed to play pretty well.
As for the NCAC, Kenyon’s playoff hopes took a serious hit when they lost to Allegheny yesterday. Not playing Witt and Wabash works to their advantage in one sense because they avoid two of the stronger conference contenders. But it hurts in that the Lords don’t an opportunity to beat the Tigers or the Little Giants head-to-head.
Want to really muck up things in the NCAC? Then consider this…If Kenyon wins out, and Allegheny beats Witt (which happened last year), there’s a very real possibility of having four teams with 6-1 conference records in the NCAC: Allegheny, Kenyon, Wabash and Wittenberg.
Not sure how that would work out come AQ time.
I will admit that it hinges on a few “ifs.” And someone might have to double-check my math, but that seems pretty crazy! Can anyone recall when was the last time there was a four-way tie?
There was a five-way tie in the Centennial Conference in 2004.
Check out the standings on this page:
http://www.d3football.com/previous_info.php?school=Ursinus&year=2004
Tipps,
Conference tiebreaker scenarios are great fodder for late-season ATRs and ATN columns.
Gordon, four-way ties are less common than three-way ties because I don’t it’s possible in some of the conferences where everyone plays each other to have a four-way split.
Anyway …
Agreed. But I’m not sure if they are less common than five-way ties. 🙂
Ha! That five-way tie is great. I had never seen that before. Thanks for the link.
One that I can remember vs. none that I can remember.
Sounds less common to me!
Fisher:
I don’t usually delve into predicting regular season games. I did that a few times and it ended up being used by SIDs in press releases when their teams lost. That wasn’t something I wanted to be associated with the site. There is no official opinion of the site on who will win any particular game, and people equate my personal opinion with that.
I won’t be at that game. I’m helping a friend out by calling another game on their network.
With Mt. Union once again obliterating its opponents, one has to wonder why they are able to schedule anybody in DIII. Averaging over SIXTY points to their opposition’s SIX points clearly indicates that they are a total anomoly in the division. Perennial dominance is one thing but their status has really reached the provocative stage.
theduke
They schedule who ever will line up outside of the conference. They only have one open date a year. They scheduled Averrett home and home ’06-’07. They also agreed to do the away game first because it fit Averett’s schedule better. That gave the Raiders only four home games this year. Averett wanted to measure their programs progress and even though the score was lopsided it appears Averett may have taken something out of it. Averett also scheduled Wesley and lost but they have now run four in a row including beating Guilford who has beaten Hamden-Sydney and Bridgwater. Averett also beat Ferum who appears to have fallen off of there playoff run of last year but have a very good program.
Funny I don’t hear anyone from the OAC asking them to leave. It would seem that’s where it would start. The OAC teams welcome the challenge and ONU met it last year and knocked the Raiders off. Is it just a coincidence that recently there were three OAC teams in the top 10 and still all three are in the top 25?
Provocative? Yep. How does a program continue to be able to do this? Is your suggestion they should be punished? Or “Please would you go away so we can have a chance?” I’m sorry I don’t know your allegience but like Averett maybe your favorite should measure its progress in ’08-’09 …Raiders are open. Give LK a call.
What is the difference between “perennial dominance and provocative stage?
As the old saying goes “To be the best you have to play the best.”
Just musing over a program that has very little in the way of competition in DIII.
Gotcha
Still interested where you loyalty lies. I should know since we have written before?
Raiderguy is right. At every division you have teams have dominate year in year out. Granted Mt. Union does it with a little more regularity than most. You have to play the best to be the best. Averrett did that this year and is finding it easier to play against conference foes. Ferrum, Averrett and CNU all bulked up their schedules. Well maybe Ferrum only added Bridgewater to bulk up and Guilford for a easy win (can anyone say Backfired?). Now since my panthers have packed it up for the year, I am hoping CNU or Averrett, if not both of them have a great run in the Playoffs and represent the USAC.
Next time Mt. Union has a schedule opening- it would be interesting to see them schedule a top 25 D2 team.
Raiderguy,
Just an LL man.
I have no problem with the Purple Raiders being the force that they are. I’m sure they didn’t get there by chance. I’m sure it took and continues to take many hours of blood, sweat, and tears. As they say, it is even tougher to stay on top once you arrive because you have a bullseye on you back. As long as the playing field is reasonably level (it will never be perfectly level) and I believe that it is, all the rest of d3 can do is tip their hat to MU and keep working harder. Someone will rise to the challenge. It is just a matter of when.
On another matter. Is there anyone else out there as fed up as I am with all the trash talking and taunting that has permeated sports? At the higher levels, rarely a play goes by that there isn’t some form of this. Unfortunately, it goes on at the d3 level too. Apparently, there was quite a bit at the W&L / H-SC game Sat. After the Miami / FIU fiasco, it comes even more to the forefront.
pumkinhead – I was going to suggest staying in state and playing Tiffin but Mount Union is already at that level so it wouldn’t be saying much.
How about keeping it in state and playing Youngstown State? Could you imagine the shot in the arm D3 football would get if Mount Union could hang tough with the Mighty Penguins??
Let’s get the AD’s / coaches together to make it happen!!!
Playing a Division I-AA opponent does nothing for Mount Union with regards to getting into the playoffs should they not win the OAC and automatic bid that goes with it. Here is one for you to ponder though, if Mount Union was in the West instead of the North, would they have moved through the bracket as easy as they have in the past? I think the West is the toughest region and has been for the last few years.
pumkinhead,
Why?
We have a great rivalry chance 40 miles down the road. They would hardly have to change highways. Just get on Route 30 east, to I77 north a couple of miles and take Route 62 east. The sign even says Alliance, ya can’t miss it!
There, maybe it was because they didn’t know how to get to Alliance.
Problem solved.
C’mon Wooster! Pony up. At least you showed up for a JV game finally.
We played Whitewater in a home/home in ’02-’03. Traveled to St Louis to Wash U and now 500 miles to Danville, Va to play Averett. I am pushing for St Johns in ’08-09 but dreaming as well probably. That would start the season off with a bang.
Mount is slippin’…they lost to a “high school” team in a JV game two weeks ago.
VOJ,
YES.
To carry the water for all of Division III……..we want Mount Union to step up and knock out Tiffin or hang tough with Youngstown State!!!
AllSky-
Well said. The “swagger” stuff has to go. If you cannot win with class, you are better off not playing at all. I think this has to start with the officials. Trash talking has to draw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. These incidents almost always begin with trash talking.
As far as Miami goes, their program is pathetic. Even before the FIU incident, did you see what happened with them at Louisville earlier this season? They all came out to midfield before the game and starting jumping up and down on the Cardinals symbol. Then Louisville proceeded to kick them all over the field. Beautiful.
I missed the Miami / Louisville game but did see the incident you refer to on SC. Miami has been the poster child for this type of behavior over the years but there are many more. Keeping it d3 and going back to the H-SC / W&L game I posted about earlier, I will say that the officials did throw a flag on one of the “more serious” episodes of trash talking. If they had thrown it sooner on one of the “less serious” episodes, it wouldn’t have escalated to the point it did. The solution to this has to start at the top. The NCAA and the individual conferences have to get serious about it. Now here is a novel idea. Perhaps the NCAA could focus their time and energy on cleaning this mess up instead of worrying about someones mascot. Oopsie, forgot that we were finished with that topic. 🙂
I have an answer to all the people who hate Mt. Union Football. Instead of having some Division 2 or some Division 1 AA beat Mt. Union for you. Just have your team do the things that Rowan, St. John’s, ONU, and UMHB. All of these teams found a way to beat us. I have said this in the past. During the late 80’s. Mt. Union was still winning but ran into Augustana and Wisc. Lacrosse and lost in the playoffs. Instead of whinning about those teams they knew they had to get better. Mt. Union did just that, now its up to your team to do the same thing. And for the record, I want to see Mt. Union play a D2 school as well. However, win or lose we will still see YOU in the playoffs.
jimjearsa – Count me in as someone who loves both D3 football and Mount Union football. I don’t know who exactly you are talking about with “all the people who hate Mt. Union Football”, but I know that it wasn’t directed at me.
Some good D3 programs do step up and play a game each year against a D2 or a D1-AA…….as do D2’s stepping up to play D1-AA’s and D1’s……and as D1-AA’s step up to play D1’s!!
With Mount Union representing the best of D3…….by some distance at that, I would love to stick out my chest as a proud D3 lover when the Mount beats Tiffin or gives Youngstown State a heckuva game. I’ve looked at both rosters and they are not loaded with future NFL players. Ask any player on the Mount (as I have in recent years) if they would love the opportunity, and to a player, the answer is yes!!!
We’re not talking about a bottom feeder D3 team taking on Ohio State here…….we’re talking about a stud D3 team (with numerous players having D2 and D1-AA talent) playing a D2 or D1-AA (as Rowan did this year) team. There is very little size differential and no more risk of injury than in any other game.
I’m stunned that you assumed that Mount Union would automatically lose to a Divison 2 or Division 1AA team!! Have more belief in your team……at least as much as I do. The Mount is like the Yankees at this point…….you should win the title and if you do…ho hum. But if you don’t….what happened!!!
Make us all proud and beat a D2 and play a good D1-AA tough….you’ve certainly go the horses to hang with some penguins!!!
After reading all the comments about Mt. Union, I will probably catch the devil for my comments, but I can’t help but think these folks are eat up with jealously. I saw Mt. Union play at Averett this year and was extremely impressed with their size, speed, discipline, and their coachs. At first I thought Mike Dunlevy had lost his mind for scheduling them but after I watched them play, I undestand. Averett was able to hold them scoreless for 9 minutes and actually stayed with them until the middle of the 2nd quarter. Finally Mt. Union had enough and turned on the fire. But the learning experience Averett got from Mt. Union and then the following week against Wesley, they couldn’t have gotten that anywhere else but on the field with those teams. Averett was able to realize what was needed on all levels Coaching, players, size, speed, facilities, discipline, etc., to get the next level and beyond.
It should be every DIII’s coach’s dream to be able to field a team like Mt. Union. Don’t be jealous and put them down and say they need to go to another level or treat them like they are monsters. When in fact they have worked hard to get where they are and deserve the glory for their work.
My son is on the Averett team and he already knows what his work ethic needs to be in order to get his skill level up to the Mt. Union players. And I can see it in his eyes and know it is in his heart, HE WILL GET THERE. It will take more work and more dedication on his part but he will get there.
So don’t put them down, get on your AD to schedule them and learn from your experience.
OK, now you can tell me what an idiot I am and to shut up.
After reading all the comments about Mt. Union, I will probably catch the devil for my comments, but I can’t help but think these folks are eat up with jealously. I saw Mt. Union play at Averett this year and was extremely impressed with their size, speed, discipline, and their coachs. At first I thought Mike Dunlevy had lost his mind for scheduling them but after I watched them play, I undestand. Averett was able to hold them scoreless for 9 minutes and actually stayed with them until the middle of the 2nd quarter. Finally Mt. Union had enough and turned on the fire. But the learning experience Averett got from Mt. Union and then the following week against Wesley, they couldn’t have gotten that anywhere else but on the field with those teams. Averett was able to realize what was needed on all levels Coaching, players, size, speed, facilities, discipline, etc., to get the next level and beyond.
It should be every DIII’s coach’s dream to be able to field a team like Mt. Union. Don’t be jealous and put them down and say they need to go to another level or treat them like they are monsters. When in fact they have worked hard to get where they are and deserve the glory for their work.
My son is on the Averett team and he already knows what his work ethic needs to be in order to get his skill level up to the Mt. Union players. And I can see it in his eyes and know it is in his heart, HE WILL GET THERE. It will take more work and more dedication on his part but he will get there.
So don’t put them down, get on your AD to schedule them and learn from your experience.
OK, now you can tell me what an idiot I am and to shut up.
I do believe they would win. My comments are towards the few on here who feel The Purple Raiders need to move up. Just find a way to beat us. Thats all you need to do. Believe me when I tell you. Coach Kehres is trying to find away to beat you right now. And as far as Mt. Union not winning the title. If they don’t then they will shake hands with the team that beat them and go back to work for next year. The Purple Raiders are only young college men and not Superman. Go Mt. Union and Go D3football
Kicker13
Thank you! That is exactly what Mt. Union did in the mid 80’s. They found away to be just like The dynasty of that time ( Augustana)
JimJearsa- Ease up on that purple cool-aide you’ve been drinking.
I was merely suggesting as a D3 fan- that it would be nice to see Mt Union schedule a D2 or 1AA team next time they have an opening in their schedule- and NOT another D3 cupcake(Averett). You guys have plenty of opportunities to kick all the D3 butt you want through the conference and post-season games.
Pumpkinhead
I didn’t catch what D3 school you follow. Averett doesn’t need to be called a D3 cupcake. If I’m not mistaken, they aren’t afraid to schedule the current # 1 and # 5 teams in the country to start their season off. Nice way to see how your team measures up. They also have a game later against Christopher Newport which is ranked # 19.
Kicker 13
Well said. I was at the Averett game as well and was impressed with the way the players played through the whole game. When I read the preseason info about Averett and their goals I thought it made sense.
Seeing what Averett has done the rest of the year would indicate they did learn from the first two games and it has made them tougher as they entered their conference schedule.
Best of luck and win the conference and we might see you again!
Who is your son if you want to share that info?
Averrett playing both Mt. Union and Wesley to open the year up took guts but was it worth it? Besides their opening two games, all the other teams were expected to have down years or have played poorly(ie Ferrum). The only thing Averrett has done is gather national D3 attention for playing Mt. Union and Wesley. CNU is the game in which they can measure themselves. Nothing against Averett, but the USAC is down this year…besides CNU and possibly yourselves. Also as for Mt. Union, they certainly are heads and shoulders above the rest of D3. It is up to them and only them to decide whether to make the jump to D2. Until they decide to make a move schools should plan to knock them off…no complain. On a side note, I would also love to seem them play a D1-AA school. If anything it would have people talking about D3 athletics.
JimJearsa-
I take back my cupcake comment about Averett- but Mt did beat them 64-7. So let’s call Averett an “up and coming program”- ok?
The point is- what does Mt Union get out of playing a non-conference game against an opponent like that? We know what Averete gets out of it- national exposure, measuring stick, learning experience, butt whooping, all that good stuff.
Back in the day- there were only 4 regions and 4 teams from each region made it to the playoffs. One defeat and your playoff chances were in serious jeopardy, if not over with.
So in today’s D3 world- please tell Larry we want to see one of the greatest dynasties in all of sport- take on some of the better D2 competition 1 time a year- just to see how D3 measures up
Pumkinhead
Ok, I too would love to see it too. I have been going to games as far back as I can remember. Averett has OAC ties. The Head coach was an Otterbein grad. The match up wont take place next year either becuase we have a game scheduled with Averett at our house. So, if it happens it will need to be in 2008.
Jim-
There’s even a further link than that. Averett scrimmages against Emory & Henry, where Don Montgomery now coaches. It was Monty who put the bug in the Averett coach’s ear to give LK a call about scheduling.
Pumpkin-
I kinda cringed to hear Averett called a cupcake team, but calling them an “up-and-coming team” is a very fair assessment. That, to me, sounds like a good way to dub them.
Last week I got ‘blasted’ for living in the past by bringing up the ’04 DEL-VAL-FISHER play-off game, so now I will ‘live’ in the future… Fisher has scheduled Mt. Union week one in ’08 at Mt. Union…so that takes care of any speculation about who Mt. Union might schedule out of conf in ’08.
I dont think Mt. Union should schedule any teams out of D3 unless they see fit. They are D3 football and are there to be beaten on ‘any given sunday’ except that rarely happens. If they had the opportunity and thought it was the right move they would take a step up to D2 ETC… Until then, they’re here, they play their schedule and they beat whoever lines up opposite.
It is ‘honorable’ for everyone else (fans of every other D3 team not named Mt. Union) to offer the Raiders up as a sacrificial measuring stick by asking them to play a ‘higher’ division team…it is not ‘our’ choice…Mt. Union will play who they want and the rest (outside OAC) can shoot for the Stagg Bowl and take their chances there. Meanwhile Fisher got lucky by getting Mt. Union to schedule them in ’08…
Maybe we will get a look at them this year though in the game that counts.
RunFerrum –
You ask was Averett playing Mt. Union and Wesley worth it? Based on the way Averett came back in week 3 and 4 against Guildford and Ferrum, I would say yes. They could have easily been discouraged and gave up for the rest of the season.
As far as Averett gaining national D3 attention, I disagree. Mike Dunlevy knew he would lose the first two games and yet he wanted to show his team what a solid playoff team really looked like and could only hope that they gained confidence and learned from it, which I believe they have. They went up against Guildford right after those two loses and a that time Guildford was averaging just around 370 yards per game in the air against two fine teams (Ferrum & Methodist). Yes, Averett gave up over 500 yards in the air buth they matched every score in the first half by putting it in the end zone on the ground. Averett had a balanced attack with 426 total yards and scored 54 points. Then they went up against the #2 rusher in the country (DIII) who had been averaging over 185 yards rushing himself and that was aginst good teams as well (Guildford, Bridgewater) plus Shenandoah. Averett held Pitts to just 60 yards rushing. Again Averett used a balance attact for 308 total yards.
Granted this has been a crazy year so far for USA South teams but looking at the bottom line, Guildford upsets bridgewater however Averett beat Guildford by 20. NC Wesleyan takes Maryville to overtime and both socre over 45 points, and Maryville gets 31 against CNU, CNU only gets 17 against Shenandoah, then Shenandoah gets 36 against Greensboro and wins. Its crazy yes, but I don’t think the USAC is down this year. I think the conference is strong; CNU and Averett are just a little above because of returning experience.
Finally I agree with you, Mt union is the “King of the Mountain” right now, but they are not “GOD” and sooner or later these other DIII colleges across the country are going to catch up with them and knock them off the mountain. We all should be looking at this as a great challenge for our schools to get to that mountain and knock them off. Don’t run them off to another division , BEAT THEM
One of my biggest disappointments as an Aggie fan last year was not just losing that close game to Rowan in the semi-final round of the playoffs, but knowing that we almost had a chance to take on Mt. Union. With fear and dred, we almost had the most prestigious team in D3 coming to our field. And that’s the point – When your the Detroit Tigers and you beat the New York Yankees, you feel like you’ve accomplished something. Having Mt. Union as the pinnacle of your sport and having the opportunity to stack up and take ’em on tells you where you’re at. Now maybe it was best for us not to know, but I’ll always wonder “What if…”