I went to the MSJ v Rose game.  Rose had their chances, dropped multiple INTs in the first half that could have changed the way the game went.  The game was won in the trenches, MSJ QB had all day to throw and had a ton of room to take off an scramble as they just ran the ends up & the Rose QB was under pressure the whole game.  In the running game MSJ pounded the rock and put the game away especially in the second half.  When you own the trenches you win most of the time.  Been a long time since i have been to a d3 game, my kid is now starting recruiting, it was a great time.   

Defiance first year in the NAIA is still HCAC heavy with the 2024 schedule released.  love it still ends with Bluffton.  Wish it still had @MSJ but my kid goes to Rose so maybe i can go nuisance Sokol there.

2024 Defiance Football Schedule
Sept. 7 at Concordia (Mich.), 1 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Saint Francis (Ind.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Judson (Ill.), 1 p.m. (Home Opener)
Sept. 28 vs. Siena Heights, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Manchester, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 12 at Saint Xavier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Rose-Hulman, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Taylor (Ind.), 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Hanover, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Nov. 16 at Bluffton, 1:30 p.m.

I have not figured this one out either outside it allows Bluffton to take advantage of a larger resource pool which reduces their costs.  the whole the schools combine but keep their mascots and Bluffton stays D3 and Findlay stays D2 with no changes to athletic teams has me wondering what this is really.  is it still 2 separate schools but merged administration?  Agree this is likely the first step of a larger plan.  would imagine this hurts bluffton recruiting, why go where they may no longer exist in a short time frame...if not then why isn't their more info of what is happening

Quote from: Darryl Nester on October 13, 2023, 02:39:34 PM

Quote from: GrizFan on October 07, 2023, 03:12:22 PM

Quote from: dc_has_been on October 05, 2023, 10:48:43 AM
It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

I don't have any additional input about what they will have to spend scholarship-wise in order to be competitive, but at the recent HCAC administrative meeting*, their AD summarized what they had considered in making the decision, and one expected benefit of the move is a considerably reduced travel budget: They will be near the geographic center of their new conference (the WHAC), with their maximum travel time in the neighborhood of three hours—so no overnight stays for conference play. (And as a side benefit, less missed class time.)

Regarding the NAIA being less prestigious, I don't disagree. I recall when Bluffton, Defiance, and other members of the old HBCC made the transition from NAIA to NCAA D3 thirty-plus years ago, and how not long after that, the NCAA had to put a pause on letting in NAIA schools.

*I cannot share everything that was said in that meeting, of course, but this particular item did not feel confidential.

they have stated the less travel expense as a key reason in the announcements they put out explaining the move.  Reality is only Hanover and Transylvania are the only 2 overnights that you have to do as MSJ is right at 3hrs. The new conference for football has Olivet Nazarene, Judson, St Francis IL all over in the Chicago Area which is about 4hrs.  Its not really a factor for football but all of the other sports I can see how this will be a lot better.   

When it comes to Scholarships, in one of the letter's they send out  I think it said they will be giving out close the same grant money as before but now it can be packaged up differently so their costs do not increase but they have a lot more flexibility on how to give it out.   if done correctly i can see how this can be leveraged to increase enrollment.  hand out a bunch of partial athletic scholarships to folks that may not have qualified for needs/merit grants before.  Spend the same amount but spread the wealth and get more to attend. 

Will be interesting to see how this all pans out.  I have no idea who I am supposed to hate now that its all new teams.  I am going with disliking Sienna Heights just cause they are in Adrian.  Either way that game for the Hammer this year with Bluffton will be huge and could determine who owns the hammer forever!

been away from the boards for a while but came back just to say DC got screwed on that last call.  he was in by a yard!

it's amazing what a little experience will do for a team and the Defiance offense finally has some seasoned vets playing.  looking forward to seeing them in the top half of the league standings.

Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on September 11, 2022, 02:34:09 AM
Most of the games went about as expected... except Hanover

Anderson lost 55-0 to DePauw, Bluffton lost 51-2 to Albion, and Manchester lost 49-7 to Alma. None of those results were too surprising.
Hanover lost 33-0 to Adrian. It was still close after 3 quarters but Adrian put up 23 points in the 4th. Just 161 yards of offense and 3 turnovers for the Panthers.
Franklin was looking decent early in the 2nd half, drove down the field to start the 3rd quarter but only got a FG to cut the lead to 21-13 then a quick stop on defense. All looking promising... but it went downhill quickly from there. Grizzlies managed just 1 FG the rest of the way while Aurora scored a TD every time they had the ball until they kneeled out the clock. 49-16 final.
On a positive note, MSJ now sits at 2-0 after their 43-37 win against Alfred. I am concerned that their defense might let them down if the offense has an off day. Next week against Hope should be their toughest test yet.
And finally there's RHIT. Leading Trine 23-3 at halftime, they had some QB injuries I believe. Trine managed 2 TD in the final 6 minutes to pull out the 24-23 win.

If healthy I think Rose is still the team to beat, but if not... I'm not very confident in anyone going unbeaten in conference play.

My kid goes to RHIT (not a player) and i know Coach Sokol from his days at DC so I watch the RHIT games.  Starting QB looked like he got his leg rolled up and missed the second half no idea what the injury was.  in the second half the offense was much different as the passing game was not the same threat allowing Trine to play the run.  by the end they had all the momentum and the RHIT D was gassed on the field the whole time.  They are a very good team for HCAC and still the team to beat, hopefully the QB injury isnt too bad. 

Quote from: dc_has_been on September 06, 2022, 06:12:18 PM
I am not sure who felt it was a good idea to schedule this game for Defiance or Mount Union, but I do recall during my freshman year at DC, we played Mount Union to a similar result that DC had this past weekend.  Fast forward three years later, we were 7-3, and the year after that, winning the HCAC.  Let's hope lightning strikes twice .

wasn't quite that bad.  that one was only 55-0 and they never tried a FG on first down  but we did get roasted in that game.

No idea why coach Matzakis thought it was a good idea to schedule this 3 years ago when he was losing to Hope 80-0.

It's been several years since I have posted but I remember an exchange I had with Cave2Bens right after he first started posting where he told me where the name came from.  I searched my email but it It looks like those older messages I lost a few years back when I lost my hard drive.  if i remember correctly when he went to defiance there was a Bar there named Bens and when they decided to go out they would end up caving in and going to bens or something like that.  He was a great guy and definitely lived a cool life.


I've watched all of defiances games this year and the are starting to improve and have some real talent.  this spring should be huge for their development as their big issue has been consistency which is what you get with a young team.  they have a couple rbs that can play with a speed back and a 5'10" 275lb power back who is really fun to watch.  i predict some big movement for them going into the fall especially if the SRs return.  will be interesting to see how the matchup with franklin this week if they are healthy.  they gave away the game vs bluffton, big learning experience.

Quote from: cave2bens on August 21, 2014, 12:10:36 PM

Quote from: badgerwarhawk on August 21, 2014, 09:51:23 AM

Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on August 10, 2014, 12:45:16 PM
The coaches have picked Franklin to re-re-re-repeat.

T4) Defiance                   

With the new Castithan coaching staff and the Biomen, Volge and Sensoth recruits I think Definace could make noise in the league this year.   

Well played, Sir.  +1  Wonder how many are searching for Volge and Sensoth on the posted roster?   

yea this one hurt my brain...nice play

Quote from: SaintsFAN on April 03, 2014, 11:31:10 AM

Quote from: D3FTBALLFAN on March 25, 2014, 03:10:49 PM
Any thoughts or reaction to MSJ dropping TMC? In my opinion I think they are cowards!!

The MSJ Program is clearly outmatched.  This either signals a de-emphasis on the program or is just the 2nd period they've decided to step away.  1995-2001 was the last time they felt like they couldn't compete either.  Frankly, with the coaches believing this (not one voted to keep playing TMC), they really can't. 

The problem isn't dropping TMC, it's the way they did it.  After telling TM there would be a game in 2014 - they informed TM Coaches of the change in wishes to play. 

What does Thomas More do to their schedule?  They added a road game at Wesley.  These programs are headed in different directions.

This reminds me of when TMC got gun shy and walked from the DC game SaintsFan that one is for you!

Quote from: dc_has_been on November 16, 2013, 10:23:39 AM
I am actually going to take offense to, "The Battle for the Toilet" comment, as I take great pride in being a Defiance College Alum and former player for the Yellow Jackets 1997-2000.  Good luck to both teams on their 89th meeting and Go Jackets!!!

Haha TMC and MSJ already play for it. Doesn't that clay pot they play for look like something a homeless guy in iver the Rhine would deuce in!

FYI Michigan offense is garbage

Earlam representing!

Watched sone of Defiance and looks like had a different QB today not sure what happened to hcac player of the week from last week. They show elements of a good but young team. Play well but bad penalties and bad turnovers while dominating the stats. Held Adrian to 200yds of offense but can't give them the ball on the 9 no matter how well D is playing. I predict Defiance will make some waves in league play. They are playing well just need to clean it up.

Defiance seems to of found a QB. Been a while. Gotta hold onto the rock

It will be interesting I don't see ND taking out MSU next week.  I thought Purdue was going to give them fits.

Defiance showed a lot of improvement. While they did not get the W they had a lead halfway in the 4th before an Adrian WR made a great play on a 45yd TD.  The lines played with a little attitude which was not there last week.  Adrian is a good ball club and was predicted to win the MIAA (my money is doubled down on Albion)

Good game by Albion. Watched them play Defiance and they were great big win for them today. Good game brewing at Adrian where they are up 9-7 over Defiance at The half. There is a nice video feed at www.defianceathletics.com if you want to watch