Quote from: Jeremybozz on November 24, 2005, 06:58:58 AM
  Not that there will be lots of Field Goals kicked on Saturday with the weather but with Thiel being 3 for 11 on FG's do they go for it on 4th down inside the opponents 25 more than most teams? Not that BC is stellar at 6 for 14 on FG's.
  I was just surprised that with all of the Thiel OT wins they did not have a more effective Kicker.

That has been a major concern of mine throughout the season.  Thiel's field goal unit has been less than stellar to say the least.  Not just missed kicks but bad snaps and blocked attempts as well.  If the game comes down to a field goal attempt late in the game it will be very interesting. 

Bob, it looks like turnovers killed W&J in both of their losses.  Anyway you look at it, it looks like Thiel, W&J, and Bridgewater are all pretty evenly matched.  Should be a great game this weekend.  I think turnovers will be a huge deciding factor in the game.  It will be interesting to see how Thiel's 9th ranked rushing defense does against Bridwater's 9th ranked rushing attack.  It looks like both teams have great speed.  In my opinion, the team that has the most balance on offense and wins the turnover battle will come out with the victory. 

PittTBC, I was 15 of 16 as well.  I missed the Hobart - Cortland game. 

Quote from: Bob.Gregg on November 17, 2005, 10:15:33 AM

Quote from: Dutch12 on November 17, 2005, 10:07:22 AM
Bob, if Thiel should lose to W&J ... I reserve the right to play "the better team won that day" card...

And if you have the stats to show that to be the case, bring it on!

I'm not sure saying "the better team won that day" would be bringing it on.  I think we agree the better team won that day in the first match up, and if there were to be a second one we would also agree the better team won that day.  Right? - Anyway, hopefully both teams win this week and represent the PAC well. 

Quote from: Bob.Gregg on November 17, 2005, 09:57:08 AM

Quote from: PittTBCW on November 16, 2005, 06:41:58 PM
Everyone will doubt Thiel until they prove otherwise. Heck they go 10-0 play a harder schedule then W&J and still are not higher then them in any pool. I figured they would jump them even though its only spot.

As I've said for the past seven weeks, the better team Oct. 1st won that day.  Perhaps we'll get to see if that team is the better team, PERIOD!

Best wishes to the Tomcats, and to the Presidents Saturday.  Here's looking hopefully toward a drive up I-79 for something other than taking the wife shopping at the outlets at Grove City.

Bob, if Thiel should lose to W&J in the second round (if they both win this weekend) I reserve the right to play "the better team won that day" card until their next meeting.   

Good luck to the Tomcats and the Presidents. 

Quote from: Amish Allstar on November 17, 2005, 09:15:43 AM
Wishing Hopkins the best this weekend.  Noone seems to think that they will get it done. 

I think the guru's on the around the nation thread have given JHU a chance.  They think JHU's defense is good enough to upset Thiel and at the very least force a very close game.  Regardless of who wins, it's clear they don't think JHU or Thiel can win in the second round. 

Quote from: Ron Boerger (BfB) on November 16, 2005, 06:19:42 PM

Quote from: oldtimer4774 on November 16, 2005, 06:00:37 PM
Puzzling to me how Thiel isn't getting much respect in "Around the Nation" - anyone else have any thoughts on that??  What else do they have to do?  Win a few playoff games I suppose

Having to go to OT to defeat two .500 opponents has a lot to do with it.   

Good news:  Got the W's
Bad news:  Should have won the games in the first half

This is true.  The good thing for Thiel is coming back from 21-0 at Waynesburg, 14-0 at W&J, and down 28-14 with 14 minutes left in the game at CMU helps prove to themselves that they are never out of a game.  They certainly didn't play 60 minutes of great football in these games and in the playoffs you will need to do so.  That said, the experience of battling back and winning these games in pressure situations should help them when faced with similar situations in the playoffs. 

Not to mention for a couple years Alfred was in the PAC.  That put a team from New York in the South Region!

The PAC all conference teams are now listed on the conference website (www.pacathletics.org).  Congrats to Jack Leipheimer for coach of the year and Chris Edwards for player of the year. 

badbadman, you pretty much nailed it there.  Thiel's O-Line has played outstanding this year & the defensive front rely's on their quickness.  The D-Line has been out-sized in every game, but so far it hasn't been much of a factor.  The majority of Hess's rushing yards came in the second half (I think he only had 8 carries for 15 yards in the 1st) so Thiel did a good job of making adjustments at halftime. 

Just got back from the Thiel game.  Thiel was down 28-14 with 14 minutes left and they were able to come back.  Chambers was unbelievable today - 15 catches 177 yards 4 touchdowns and the two point conversion catch to win it in OT.  CMU played a great game.  CMU was certainly not as one dimensional as I thought.  They threw the ball with pretty good success.  Congrats to the Tomcats for never giving up.  10-0 for the first time ever. 

rabriggs, the "so called - Benedict Arnold game"  - that's great. 

As always good column this week.

 

ThielFan,

I graduated in '99 so we were at Thiel at the same time.  I can't figure out if I know who you are.  Did you play football? 

Quote from: Bob.Gregg on November 08, 2005, 08:55:42 AM

Quote from: Dutch12 on November 08, 2005, 08:45:08 AM
...I would expect people to start thinking Thiel is the better team THIS YEAR.

That having been said, were I participating in a poll, I would vote Thiel ahead of the Presidents if the Tomcats beat Carnegie-Mellon.  If the Tartans win, well, that's another story.

I just think you have to based on what's happened this season.  Just my opinion. 

I'll be surprised if CMU beats Thiel.  They are too one dimensional, they run the ball 81% of time - Thiel has defended the run very well this year.  The last two games (TMC & Buff State) Thiel has given up 34 net yards rushing on 58 attempts and that was against teams that forced them at the very least to respect the threat of a passing game. 

Agreed Bob, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who believe W&J really is the better team.  Obviously, at least on average, the pollsters still feel that way. Either way I think they are pretty evenly matched - Just a topic for discussion, that's really all the polls are good for.