K Mack: I have spoken with the publisher about your idea for a D3 rivalries book.....he is very interested!  (He's a Sewanee grad) As soon as the season is over, I will get back with you and maybe we can move this along?  Thanks for your dedication to D3 sports!!!
GO GRIZ!!

Regarding Mike Leonard........and I realize I look at this through Grizzly coated lenses, but the fact is....he's not finished with the incredible rebuild job he has underway at FC.  Money is not the issue.....FC will meet or exceed anything HC would offer....thats not it.  Knowing the kind of person he is and what's important to him in his life, his word and the commitments he has made to the players he has recruited there really are far more important than making what could only be best described as a lateral move within your conference.....there's no good reason to "start another rebuild" when the one you have is working so well and you're still working on it.  Mike really embraced the tradition and legend of Red Faught and he understands where the program was and how he has returned it to where it should be.  If a D1 opportunity came along as an OC, thats a different story, but to slide sideways for no more $, have to relocate family, move kids out of schools where they are comforatble and established, etc., etc. makes very little sense.  Mike is too smart for that!

Saints Fan:  You're correct......I was at the UK/LSU game that particular day.  I was also at the Franklin/Wabash game, week 2 of the season, and I did in fact catch an MSJ game during the year so I have seen both teams.  If you read the whole thing, there was no disrespect from me regarding MSJ, in fact I gave them a lot of "props"..... just an opinion based on what I observed watching both teams THIS season.  I hope for the good of the conference that MSJ wins!

Most Known, Unkown:  Don't forget about Robbie McAtee who played two years for Franklin as a backup wideout (playing behind Danny Sears)....he transferred to UK and walked on and is now playing defensive CB in the best D1 conference in the country......the SEC!!!   Another example of the "hidden talent" in Div. III !
Go Griz!!!

Wally:  As a self proclaimed long time Grizzly fan I can tell you that MSJ has a great personnel,  are well coached and they play really excellent defense. My impression from watching them over the past several years when the played Franklin is that their defense is consistently ahead of their offense....lots of D line size and linebacker speed. They like to control the ball and are not very likely to go for the home run, rather consume clock with an offense that is happy to play in front of your defense....they don't really stretch the field. Having said all of this I think Wabash is more balanced on both sides of the ball.....they remind me more of Franklin in that they can score in a number of different ways and can score in bunches.  Wabash's D is as good if not a little better and I give the nod to Wabash as a more balanced attack.  I said it earlier in the year, but I really think the Franklin Wabash game has the excitement to become a real anticipated "war" each year.....I for one hope it continues.  I can't wait until Saturday.....its going to be "nuts" at Faught Stadium in Franklin!!!!   GO GRIZ !!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously I don't know a great deal about North Central, but as a confessed "homer" for the Grizzlies, it is really gratifying to have them not only in as the HCAC champion, but hosting a first round game as well!! They certainly deserve it. Being left out of the field of 32 last year at 9-1,  obviously their goal this season was to first win the conference and then let the selection process play itself out......clearly their patience and focus has been nicely rewarded. Nice that the conference also qualified their first at large team in Mt. St. Joe as well.  Can't wait for Saturday.....it will be "nuts" at Faught Stadium on the Franklin campus!!!

Dude, read the entry....... didn't say it was a more historical rivalry, just made the point that Wabash clearly has the upper hand in talent and should keep the Bell easily. No homer goggles needed to easily see that.  Learn to accept a compliment from a competitor.....it will help with the blood pressure this week!

I've seen Wabash play in person the last two years against Franklin, both games going to the home team, last year Franklin, this year Wabash and its clear to me Wabash will punish Depauw.  The Bell is safe in Wabash's talented hands.  In Indiana, the Franklin-Wabash game is quickly becoming the most competitive and excitng game each season.....I for one hope it continues for years to come!

K Mack or Pat:  Does Pool B or Pool C assignment come from a geographical origin or is it quality of wins, strength of schedule, conference strength, etc.? In addition, are conference AQs always Pool A?

K Mack:  write me an email off the message board.  I have a close friend who is in the business of publishing specialty books.  He has already done a number of what are commonly referred to as "coffee table" kinds of books for colleges and universities.....this might really be something he would want to get his teeth into. I'll get back to you with some more specific information if you have have an interest.

All of this points to the need for an expanded field of teams.....32 just simply isn't enough when you have as many automatic qualifiers from conferences.  Last year only 8 at large teams??  There would be no impact on class time, fiinances, etc. if the field were expanded to 40....it would just help to end the arguements over lack of common opponent data.  Obviously D III schools don't travel across country during the season, and in an expanded field there might be more travel but it is an opportunity to ignite fan bases that have traditionally not had to travel....could wake up a sleeping giant in terms of renewed interest for all programs!

K Mack:  I would STRONGLY suggest that you do a D III rivalry book.  You could travel on sort of the "blue road" kind of tour and pick maybe 10 or 20 that just have to be done! It would take a couple of years since all the games are on Saturday, but you could be the new GAMEDAY guy!! ( God Knows you'd be better than Corso and Herbstreet)  My guess is you could get some sponsors at every stop who would love to see your perspective in print!! I know I would.
Bill

K Mack: Thanks very much for the response.  I mean that.  You are absolutely correct about my enthusiasm for the Grizzly program and it may well be that when I attended Franklin, football was a real powerhouse....we played at that time many schools that are now Div. II ( Butler, Evansville, Morehead State, Georgetown (NAIA)....those were the days of Red Faught, who passed away a couple of years ago after a long illness.  Those years produced players like Terry Hoeppner, the coach at Indiana who recently lost his battle with cancer.  Since then, the program has honestly been a bit of a roller coaster....some very good years, and some very mediocre ones.  The late 90s were particularly bad.  In 1998 we recommitted the program to focus on better student athletes, better citizens and facilities that at least were as good as or better than our competition.  Slowly this vision has come to fruition with the success of last season and the successes so far this year.  Franklin is a very small school ( +/- 1100 students) and the athletic program is I think appropriately in "its place" in terms of priorities, as it should be.  The school is experiencing some its "best history" in terms of student quality, endowment growth, academic reputation, etc. and admittedly my enthusiasm may be "gushing out" a little too much!  I will endeavor to be more containbed in my posts so that they don't appear to be a cheerleading session.  Being one of two schools left out of last year's playoffs has made me wna to be a sort of one man lobby!!  Hope you understand!  I really enjoy D3.com....I know it is a labor of love by those of yoou who contribute so much to its success.  BTW, I'm sure you noticed that Franklin did go on the raod yesaterday and knock of Mt. St. Joe 28-19....hope they finally get a little respect!
Bill

Pat:  Well the Grizzlies did it!!  Went on the road to Mt. St. Joe and beat the Lions 28-19.....now they control their own destiny as far as the winning the conference and making the National Playoffs is concerned.  Besides being a Grizzly fan I am also a Kentucky fan and I was in Lexington today and witnessed the Cats upset # 1 ranked LSU!!!!!   Nothing like college football!!!!!  Nothing!!!!  I believe!!!!  Go Grizzlies.....Go Cats!!!!!

K Mack:  Yesterday's (Thursday) USA Today had the Div. III rankings and they had Wabash 10th and Mt. St. Joe 14th.  Interesting that D3.Com is that different?