Some valid points, Burghboy.

I still think W&J football is where it needs to be. I find it hilarious that an alumni (I am guessing) is complaining about a program that averages 10 wins a season and is one of the top two programs every year in the conference.

But, you obviously call them as you see them.

Anway, any predictions for this weekend, and how good is TMC this year? St. Vincents seems to be ready to win a PAC game.

And the bashing of the W&J football team begins. Did I miss a few weeks or was it just week 1?

Burghboy, you continually complain about the current football staff at W&J and try to compare them to years past? If you have not noticed, the PAC has expanded and has changed the conference a lot.

Also, when you say current staff, do you limit it to just the coaches or do you mean administration (i.e. Athletic Director, Admission Staff, President) also?

Now, TMC looked great against Hanover. Seems to be the front runner in the conference. As for the rest of the conference, all the teams seem to be rather even with a few teams still trying to find an identity. Anyone have any insight on St. Vs or Waynesburg?

I look forward to another week of Football.

Oh and Bob, when is the last time Bethany beat W&J?

I believe that there is no doubt the W&J will be out of the PAC over the next couple of years.  I believe this change is another one of those "INSTITUTIONALLY THINGS". 

Does W&J make the playoffs if they win out?

Where does Thomas More get seeded?
Is there a possible Thomas More/W&J rematch in the playoffs?

Bob, have you ever seen that type of defense game like the one on Saturday at W&J?

Yessir,

I do not know if the speed factor was that big of a difference in 2004. If I recall, there were WRs for W&J running wide open. The difference may have just been in special teams. I am pretty sure W&J had a good bit of speed at the WR position that year along with in their secondary. Let's do not forget PJ was drafted to play baseball so he was a pretty special player. I would say that speed was more of a difference in 2006.

I would venture to say this years game will be rather interesting. W&J's defense has been much better against the run as of late. Also, W&J's passing game is very efficient and as long as the run game can keep them from throwing the ball downfield too many times than this game should be close. I would say turnovers make the difference in this game and if UMHB can hold onto the ball then it could be a long day for the Presidents.

How do the UMHB RB's compare to those of 2004 and 2006, Rollins was a pretty special athlete?

Pat and Ralph,

I may not be such avid D3 fans. But, I do not think a coach is going to bus his team 8+ hours on a bus to play in an NCAA playoff game. So, you guys make zero sense on that one. So, where do you see a bus trip???

Also, not much talk about Millsaps and W&J. Everyone must think Millsaps is just going to roll to another victory. Should be an interesting one? I think it may be one of the longest football games in NCAA playoffs! The ball may be in the air over 100 times combined. I think if Swallow can complete around 70 percent of his passes W&J will win. That being said, W&J does not fair well in games where their QB throws 50+ times, so Curt Jones will need to run the ball effectively.

Last, it will be interesting to see how W&J defends Millsaps. They do not seem to run the ball much but are very effective when they do. It seems to me that they throw a lot of shorter passes in the 7-10 yard range, more of a spread a defense horizontal approach.

Interested to hear what others have to say. Especially the guys that think a coach would bus his players 8+ hours for a playoff game....

All of you CNU fans, I am wondering how you rank this years CNU team vs. the CNU teams of the past that played against W&J? I have seen all of the past team plays and I am just wondering what you guys think. I feel that your team in 2006 was pretty scary both on the offensive side and defensive side.

Also, I believe that this years W&J team has a much better defense than in the past. The offense has a great QB but not one individual is the key to the offense. I think this is one of the most balanced W&J teams in awhile.

Also, I have heard some ranting about how this is about revenge.. I would love to hear some predictions on the game?

Man, I have been away for too long. I have been following the conference all year. And now is the appropriate time to make some noise on the board.

Some of the teams in the conference have taken a turn for the worse. Thiel is beginning to look like the team that was the doormate of the conference at one point. Grove City is still the stingy team they have always been. Westminster is no where near the Waynesburg teams that Jeff Hand built, what is goin on? Thomas More is beginning to build a dynasty like before. I do not care much about Geneva or Saint Vincent because they do not count yet. Bethany is the team that just does not know how to win games. W&J the same as usual.

Now, SouthWilly are you always this negative of a person? Your head coach made a call to try to win the game and now you are saying you could do something better. I would love to hear your ideas since it is now a week after the game. I think your tone would be different if the Bison could have pulled out 2 out of the 3 games against GCC, Westminnie and Thiel.

I love the conversation between Pat and Bob Gregg, All I am going to say is Does W&J President even go to the games?

Last, W&J will beat Thomas More by 3 TDs. Thomas More is just a little young right now. As for the rest of the conference, Bethany will beat Geneva in a close one, Waynesburg will beat GCC in a rebound win, Thiel and Saint Vincent will be a close one but Liep will be ready.

Question: Is W&J really a top ten team in the country this year? Or are they a benefactor of a bad conference and weak non-conference games?

Quote from: SaintsFAN on September 02, 2008, 10:46:36 AM

Quote from: spikegrouchy on August 31, 2008, 08:47:26 AM
O.K. PAC fans out there, here are my picks for the first week of D3 action.

Saturday, September 6

McDaniel over Saint Vincent
Washington & Jefferson over Oberlin
Otterbein over Bethany
Dickinson over Grove City
John Carroll over Thomas More
Marietta over Thiel
Heidelberg over Westminster
Wooster over Waynesburg
Seton Hill over Geneva

Looks like it is going to be a long weekend for PAC teams. 

Of course, I never said I was an expert!

What are your picks...?


I feel that the PAC should have a decent opening week with some surprises possible.

McDaniel over Saint Vincent - still struggling in only their second year but improving
                         McDaniel-35    Saint Vincent- 17
Washington & Jefferson over Oberlin - Swallow picks up where he left off last season and look for the President's to run the ball well and play better defense with the new schemes.
                         W&J- 52          Oberlin- 7
Bethany over Otterbein- Possible upset here. Could be a real shoot out with the lack of defense from both teams.
                         Bethany-35     Otterbein- 28
Dickinson over Grove City- Didonato has a big day but the wolverines can get past Dickinson.
                        Dickinson- 24    Grove City- 14
Thomas More over John Carroll- Could be called an upset but with the return of the LB and QB from two years ago, look for a different year from the Saints.
                        Thomas More- 28    John Carroll- 17
Marietta over Thiel- Liep struggles in this one and an OAC team defeats the Tomcats in a close one.
                        Marietta- 24           Thiel-7
Heidelberg over Westminster- Heidelberg rolls over Westminster in a shoot because of the lack of defense Heidelberg could possess. Many of their athletes are on the offensive side of the ball.
                        Heidelberg- 42      Westminster-31
Waynesburg over Wooster- Heller Alert! He could run wild and will need to in order for the Yellow Jackets to start out 1-0.
                        Waynesburg- 24    Wooster- 17
Geneva over Seton Hill- Does not matter if there are scholarship players on the field the Tornados defense is stout. Look for a low scoring affair here.
                         Geneva-14        Seton Hill-10

I do not see why Bethany would need to go and watch W&J and Mount Union Scrimmage. They do not play each other until the second to last game. Bethany will most likely get all of the game films from the season so it is no big deal.

So, I do not see the point in going to watch a scrimmage?

Awful Quiet on this board with opening games only about a week away.

I was just wondering how some of the other teams in the conference are fairing? I have not heard much about any teams besides Thomas More, Bethany, W&J? How is Westminster, Grove City, Waynesburg, Thiel, St. Vincent's, and Geneva? Has anyone scrimmaged in the conference yet?

Also, I hear that Waynesburg is primed to overtake W&J in the conference. Heller is looking better than last year and that all of the new guys they brought in are studs. I am sure W&J was happy to escape last year but rumor has it that Waynesburg has marked that game down as revenge.

Other than W&J and Waynesburg, who has a chance to win the conference? Can Thomas More surprise anyone? And what happened to the Tomcats? Also, can DiDonato lead the Grovers to the PAC championship like R.J. Bowers?

Just looking for some answers and trying to see if anyone is interested in talking on this board.

SouthWilly, who is Bethany Scrimmaging this year? And any word how camp is going?

Saintsfan, who does TMC scrimmage? And are there any injury updates?

Cannot wait for the PAC to start.  P.S. - Shepas should be the democratic rep. for President.

New to the board! Wanted to see who some of the PAC teams were scrimmaging this year?

I have been reading many of the posts. Saintsfan, Does Thomas More plan on using some incoming freshmen right away or is the QB situation going to make that much of a difference?

Also, SouthWilly, you seem to be down on Bethany. What is the situation there? I see that they are upgrading their facilities and have brought in some quality recruits, what is the deal? Also, do you think Cruse will make it through a whole season this year?

My main concern is in Waynesburg, will they be able to stop anybody after losing so many key factors to their defense?