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Absolutely a perfect football afternoon in Abilene, where in a little over an hour the #9 Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders will try to derail the #3 Hardin-Simmons Cowboys. I’ll be keeping a running blog of the events here.
Funny; for some reason there are a LOT more press representatives in the box today (this early) than there were the last time I was here (HSU’s 51-13 demolition of Louisiana College in Week 3). Amazing how two top ten teams will draw the media. 🙂
Well, this is a change of pace.
Normally I arrive fashionably late to the weekend Daily Dose parties, but this time I’m the first one here. So I’ll just throw in my two-cents (plink, plink), munch on some hors d’oeuvres and wait for someone else to arrive.
Wish you were here: In my opinion there are two Top 20 teams with must win games this weekend, No. 9 Mary Hardin-Baylor and No. 20 Ohio Northern. The next loss will be the second for either team and will put them firmly on the playoff bubble. In a perfect world I’d watch the Crusaders fight for their playoff life against Hardin-Simmons in Abilene.
UMHB can’t win the ASC because of its rain out versus Louisiana College, so Pool C is its only door to the postseason. Would a 7-2 national runner-up make the playoffs as a Pool C team? Maybe, but it certainly isn’t a slam dunk. And Cru fans know the pain associated with relying on an at-large bid.
This is as close as we’re getting to a playoff game in Week 8. Let’s get it on.
Game that will disappoint: Usually this is Pat’s department, but I’ll “borrow” it since it connects with my last point. It seems every year we go into the off season saying, “You know, if [insert OAC runner-up here] brings everyone back, in the right situation they can beat Mount Union next year…”
Nope. Doesn’t happen. Just ask Baldwin-Wallace, Capital and John Carroll. And I can’t see it happening for ONU either, especially in Alliance.
Don’t sleep on this one: Trinity (Texas) hasn’t blown out anyone this season and I don’t see why that would change with 6-1 Centre in town. In the USAC Methodist gave Ferrum a fight last Friday night. I’d be surprised if they don’t do the same when CNU comes to their place tomorrow.
Most Likely Top 25 Team to Lose: There isn’t much to pick from other than the games involving two Top 25 squads. Maybe Brockport upends a travel-weary Wesley in New York.
Gordon’s Super Ridiculous Pick of the Night: Four words for you — Kenyon Lords, Conference Champs. If they beat OWU tomorrow, it becomes more than a mathematical possibility. PS — I still haven’t nailed one of these. I’m due.
Saturday Night’s Alright: After a quiet Week 7, west coast visitors and night owls get a treat when the other undefeated pacific coast team with an exciting QB plays Redlands. Occidental is the favorite and would be a very compelling Pool C candidate should the Tiger stumble. And it’s always fun when both broadcast teams do such a good job that you don’t know whom to listen to. We’ve got links to both broadcasts on the scoreboard.
There are always a few extra activities going on surrounding homecoming week, and this year’s homecoming was no exception. We were fortunate enough to have former Notre Dame head football coach, Jerry Faust speak on campus and attend a Thursday afternoon practice.
Having a man who once held such a prestigious position address the team after our practice was quite an honor. He handed our program plenty of genuine compliments and it was a thrill to see him get fired up as he stressed to us the importance of team ball. I was impressed with the amount of knowledge he had of our program from over the years and it was flattering to hear him say that he would be following us in the paper in the following weeks. We were fortunate enough to have had the experience of meeting Coach Faust as it was a positive note heading into Week 8 as we took on Illinois Wesleyan University.
The Titans came to Rock Island with a 1-4 record, but records are thrown out the window bearing in mind the tradition this game has held throughout the years. Though Augustana has won 18 of the last 24 meetings, including the last four contests, Coach Barnes was quick to remind us that Wesleyan is the only school in our conference that still has the edge over us in the overall win-loss column.
As the defense played well again, the game broke open in the second half as fullback Mike Guzman tied a school record when he made his way to the end zone from 97 yards out. The final score was 41-15 as the senior class walked away knowing they were one of a few Augie classes that had never lost to IWU.
This Saturday we head down to Decatur to take on the Big Blue of Millikin. I have been looking forward to this game because one, they are a tough team with plenty of athletes, and two, one of my good friends from high school plays for them. Max Warner, our high school quarterback has found himself on the other side of the ball at Millikin and since then there has been plenty of good natured trash talk.
As a team we look forward to the challenge Millikin brings us this Saturday as every game from here on out is our biggest game yet. There is no doubt this will be a hard fought game on both sides of the ball. Just hope no flags get thrown if I meet Max on the field.