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ATN Podcast 318: A muddy playoff picture

Another week of thrilling games leaves us able to practically smell the NCAA Division III football playoffs. But while nearly half of the 27 automatic bids to the 32-team playoff field have already been claimed, the at-large playoff picture seems clear as mud. Aside from UW-La Crosse, which should be as much of a shoo-in as there can be for an at-large bid if they win next week, it’s hard to make a definite case for any particular at-large candidate. Pat and Greg run through the candidates as they stand today, and will revisit them this week.

This edition of the podcast is sponsored by the hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIX, and we look forward to seeing all of you in Annapolis, Maryland, for the Division III football championship game on Dec. 16.

And one of those possible at-large candidates is the runner-up in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where co-leaders Albion and Alma, both 9-0, will square off on Saturday. We go a Fast Five with Alma coach Jason Couch — he’s the one coaching in a kilt on the photo on this page, and his Scots live by the KILT philosophy, which Coach Couch will explain.

Meanwhile, Greg gives his impressions of Mount Union, now that the Purple Raiders have finally played an opponent of note. Are we worried about Mary Hardin-Baylor’s recent performance? Has Bethel lost its quarterback again? Who’s looking to make the next step in the OAC? Plus, Pat does an in-person visit as Keystone gets its first-ever home win and celebrates its first Senior Day (already?) and there’s dancing in the sheets, if not the streets. Plus, how bad is Pat’s voice this week, anyway?

In addition, Pat and Greg hand out game balls, spotlight the unexpected in Stat of the Week, make guesses about Week 11 games and more.

Fan question in the mailbag from @rgyfo: What’s the history on seeding for Pool C? Thinking team like UWL actually ranked higher than AQ from its conference.

Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Mentioned on the pod: Adding football, why and how (Feb. 4, 2006)

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Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com; Carl Schmuland for Bethel athletics; Alma athletics file photo

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ATN Podcast 317: The most entertaining season

This post was re-uploaded on Nov. 3 after a site crash. It was originally posted Oct. 31.

Susquehanna stops the two-point conversion for the final time with 49 seconds remaining and the River Hawks defeat Johns Hopkins to really take control of the Centennial Conference standings for the first time. We talk about that game and coach Tom Perkovich stops by for a Fast Five minutes as we talk about that game, its importance, and its final scoring drive. And then the WIAC’s big three games all have dramatic finishes, and you’ll hear them all.

How can this not be the most entertaining season of Division III football? Pat explains this take in a couple of different places in this week’s podcast.

We’ve talked about this in a previous podcast, but what does a coach say after a player or a team has lost in a devastating way? Morrisville State coach Ed Raby had to figure that out for himself this week after his team’s loss to Utica, and he shared with us what his message to his team was. Plus, a stat of the week of zero, a first-ever mention of a Springfield wide receiver on our podcast, a game ball going to someone with two blocked kicks and a key pick, and more.

In all, 62 schools merit serious mention in this week’s podcast. That includes a rundown of all the teams in each region who could clinch an automatic bid to the playoffs this week, either alone or with help.

In addition, Pat and Greg hand out game balls, spotlight the unexpected in Stat of the Week, look ahead to Week 10 games and more. There’s a list in small type at the bottom of this page of all the teams that are talked about.

Fan question in the mailbag from @D3FBHuddle: Where does this wkd’s Utica vs Morrisville controversial finish rank in the all time “controversial #d3fb game finishes” you’ve seen / covered over the past 20+ seasons?

Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

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Photo by Todd Slabaugh for Morrisville State athletics; Susquehanna athletics photo

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ATN Podcast 311: Breaking through to the other side?

In a week where some of us didn’t really expect any upsets, instead we got a couple of big ones, where Loras got two shots at a last-second field goal to beat Central, and Case throttled Washington & Jefferson’s offense. Plus, two of this week’s No. 1 votes went to unlikely places. Why did Hardin-Simmons get a No. 1 vote, and why does it not really actually matter?

We talk with Albion coach Dustin Beurer after his team won handily at Rose-Hulman on Saturday to improve to 3-0. He tells us he had one big takeaway from last year’s playoff loss to UW-La Crosse, and what his players had to do to get better, and it may not be what you would expect. He talks about that, the backup who is now leading them for the near future, and how he keeps the tradition of the Britons’ 1994 national title alive for his players, in our Fast Five segment.

Albion broke through into the Top 25 this week, but can the Britons break through and win a playoff game this year?

Plus, are pass breakups the new assists? What actually happened at quarterback for Hobart in Week 2? Pat and Greg talk about key stories from each region. Look at the bottom of this page to see all the teams listed. That’s who we talk about in this podcast, and probably more.

Fan question in our mailbag from Brock Reisler @brockreisler: Is the ARC Wartburg’s league to lose now? Does yesterday’s Loras/Central say more about the Duhawks or Dutch? #d3fb

Is this a breakthrough game for Loras? Or does this talk more about Central?

Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation covering the wide range of Division III football.

Greg gave his game ball to Gallaudet’s Brandon Washington. Here’s what was said:

Greg: My game ball’s going to Brandon Washington, a sophomore slot at Gallaudet. Washington rushed 28 times for 160 yards and one touchdown. He also completed three of five passes for 80 more yards and two more touchdowns. And he caught two passes for 60 more yards. And one more touchdown. The receiving touchdown would be the go ahead score in the Bison’s 34 to 31 win over the University of New England, a phenomenal effort by Washington and for passing, running, and receiving touchdowns all in the same game, he gets my game ball.

Is there a name for that, Pat? Is that a hat trick? A triple crown? What do they call that?

Pat: I don’t have a good name for it. We’ll have to find that out. If you have a good name for it. Hey, tweet it at us using the #d3fb hashtag. Great performance for Gallaudet going all the way up to Biddeford, Maine also, and coming away with that 34-31 win.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

Theme music: Power 2 by DJmentos.
Photo by Owen Funke for Loras athletics; Savannah Waddick for Albion athletics