Quote from: Macon on September 20, 2019, 12:50:16 PM
Looking forward to conference play, as we'll learn a lot this weekend as to where teams line up.

Conference games always seem to bring some interesting and unexpected drama, but in my opinion the most interesting matchup of the week is the out of conference game between AU and Ferrum. Should be a great Saturday

I neglected to mention the GC v Methodist and SU vs NCWC games.  Thanks for bringing that up. Both are interesting in that it's the first tilt for a couple of teams.   Can the sophomore qb lead the hornets and how will the Monarchs fare after the excitement of Dorian made them leave last week. Good luck to your Quakers    Should be a great day of football

With some interesting matchups coming up Saturday this board seems fairly quiet.  I would think that Bridgewater v Stevenson, HSC v CNU or RMC v AU would be great discussion games

Quote from: Wild Horse Rider on September 09, 2019, 12:03:53 PM
My week one predictions were alright.  The Greensboro loss does not shock me at all but I was a little surprised by the LaGrange win.  Especially since it appeared offensively they relied more on their ground game than they have in the past.  So for week 2 I see it like this:

NCWC wins at home against Shenandoah.  Week ones production was dominated by returning starters and upperclassmen headlined by the QB Totten
Ferrum beats Greensboro badly and Mann may have 300 yards rushing if he plays long enough
Brevard has enough offense to beat Apprentice
Berry stops LaGrange's win streak at one
Huntingdon continues their offensive output and beats Birmingham-Southern.  It will be interesting to see if there is any improvement in Huntingdon's D
Centre beats Maryville in a low scoring contest but this wouldn't surprise me to see the Scots pull an upset but it would likely need to include a special team or defensive TD

The game of the week (in both the ODAC and USAC) where Randolph-Macon travels to Averett.  I will hopefully be able to watch some of this one online.  Averett appeared to struggle offensively and defensively last week against HSU but their special teams stepped up big.  I think RMC defense may be really good.  In a very close game I think Averett's special teams will be the key and it will not have to be in the form of a return.  Averett's SR K/P Westberry will play a big role in field position.  I can't call a final score but I can't really see this one getting out of the 20's.

Finally for my game of the week (since I will be in attendance) Methodist vs Guilford.  Guilford kept up punch for punch with Huntingdon in the first half.  The score in the second half was lopsided but I believe it was a result of some bad breaks (2 fumbles by guilford and a blocked kick led to 21 Hawk's points) .  This annual contest between the Quakers and the Monarchs has been going on for this the 31st season in a row (since MU started a program in 1989).  With Guilford not holding the Soup Bowl against Greensboro I would imagine that this is the longest running non-conference game for any team in both conferences.  Unfortunately this is a contest that has favored the Quakers 19 wins against 11 losses.  The last 5 games have not been very close either with Guilford's average margin of victory being 30 points.  I expect a lot of points in Fayetteville this weekend.  Guilford will probably put up points and yards through the air with Manley back after a good SO season.  I am assuming Guilford's SR WR Houston and JR LB Smith must have been injured and unable to play in Alabama on Saturday.  Both players were All-ODAC performers last season and are on the roster but did not show up on the box score or starter list last week.  As far as the Monarchs go I believe that the offense will also but up big numbers but likely on the ground with SR RBs Howard and Baker.  Hopefully the SR QB who has 2 years of starting experience and 3 WRs with experience will be able to provide a spark and some big plays through the air.  The OL will be replacing 2 all-conference players but return I believe 4 with significant time last season rushing for an average of 230 YPG.  The defense returns players in the second and third levels but I believe only one player up front in SR DL Bagley.  I heard rumors that there are some improvements on that side of the ball.  I am probably relying on my head a little more than my heart on this pick but I am all in on a Methodist win this Saturday.

Week one USAC 3 ODAC 0
Week two USAC 3 ODAC 1 hopefully
/quote]

Well thought out, and I look forward to reading your posts as the season continues.  Good luck with your picks this week.

Will there be a ODAC pick em contest again this season?  Really appreciate @HSCTiger74   running the event last season

[Initial thoughts:  No surprise at #1, big target on RMC's back.  Solid pick for #2, also given Coach Arruza gave BC his vote.  #3-#6 is tightly packed and rightfully so, but I think FC should have the #3.  SU loses their outstanding QB and poll reflects that.  Hasa, what's happening at the non-OD (AC) school?  SVU is obviously no surprise, but I'd not be surprised if they were to trip up at least one ODAC team.
[/quote]

I think you are correct about Ferrum.  They are returning some solid pieces.  Patti is one of the best offensive lineman in the district, Mann is a beast of a RB and Clifford returns at QB.  They will get tested early with a very good Averett team on the 21st, and RMC on the 28th.  This is lining up to be a great season with some really talented teams in that upper tier. 

ODAC Preseason Poll has been released

#9 Southern VA 8 points
#8  Guilford 19 points
#7 Shenandoah 21points
#6 EH 33 points
#5 WL 38 points
#4 Ferrum 44 points
#3 HSC 46 points
#2 Bridgewater 51 points
#1 RMC 64 points

Quote from: Macon on August 24, 2019, 01:23:24 PM
Air Raid, good luck to SU as well.  I know little about SU, but I see SU as an outlier in the ODAC, given it's larger size and history as a music conservatory.  You mentioned SU as marketable, why so?  Honestly interested in your thoughts especially on the athletic front as to why a football player would go to SU over another ODAC.  (BTW, an R-MC fraternity brother was SU president for many years.)

IMO, logistics plays a factor for some students. Located in northwestern VA allows proximity to Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia in addition to the Commonwealth. Winchester is a decent sized town without being overwhelming.  DC is within an hour for those that like metropolitan areas  They are ranked by Niche.com as one of the top 16 values for the costs with the state ( W&L is number according to this poll). The conservatory does a fantastic job for the arts.  They also have a good selling point in the medical field (occupational and physical therapy) and sports management programming ( which has allowed students to attend the Super Bowl and D1 championship game).

Quote from: Macon on August 15, 2019, 11:07:34 AM
I assume that in DIII, there is a high correlation between winning programs and player retention.  Recently, RMC has maintained an approximately 93+% player retention.  I'd think that's extremely high among most DIII programs.  If you're playing with a high number of juniors and seniors, you're probably winning games.  Recently, RMC is fielding 30+ juniors and 30+ seniors.  I wonder how other ODAC teams do on this front?

Well stated -kind sir.    Honestly, I have heard on several occasions about the connection that Coach Arruza has with his players.  Everyone on the roster feels a sense of belonging and like they are part of the family. The jackets success is a testament to that end. Good luck this season

Quote from: D-BAT on August 24, 2019, 09:58:31 AM
With all the coaching changes that the new Shenandoah University AD is making for teams not being more competitive within the ODAC, is she eyeing the football program this year? 

Is a 16-25 record in the ODAC after 6 years good enough?

2018 was suppose to be the program's year but they went 5-5.

Interesting thought.   He has obviously struggled to consistently be competitive, and his decision making skills are very questionable at best.  This year will be no exception as they will struggle to replace several players. I think one of their issues is player retention.  They had talented players last season which lead to high expectations but only had about 9 seniors.  That indicates a higher than normal attrition rate, and should be of concern to the athletic department.  The school is very marketable and recruiting is not the issue as they had 80-90 freshman players come in this season.  Player mismanagement is the overwhelming key issue. I believe a coaching change will be imminent.  Athletic directors typically like their own personnel in place that share a common vision. 

Quote from: Wild Horse Rider on August 15, 2019, 01:18:19 PM
Unfortunately I think with D3 specifically it is hard to point at one factor and say that is why this program wins consistently.  Cost of attendance, endowment, retention, recruiting pools (location), admission requirements, and recruiting requirements play a hand.  There are state schools vs private schools as well as well endowed schools vs tuition driven schools.  Retention certainly helps but in the case of a W&L the fact that they do not have but so many players on the program has likely hurt them in different seasons/games.  Injury's happen and when you may only be 1 or 2 deep at a position is a real problem for schools like that.  I know it is a completely different animal but the Mount Union's and Mary Hardin-Baylor's of the world since they have extremely large rosters and conversely poor retention rates but injuries are not as scary for them.  I would look at it from conference to conference to determine what the biggest factor in consistency is.  In the ODAC I believe over the past few seasons HSC, RMC, and W&L are usually competing for the top spot.  I would imagine those three schools have the largest retention rate but also likely not required to bring in large freshman classes.  All three of those schools are not driven by the cost of attendance and could function just fine without football.  In the USAC I think all of the programs have requirements to bring in large numbers of freshman year in and year out therefore the retention is not as high.  Recently Huntingdon and Maryville have owned the conference.  I think in both their cases the location and their respective recruiting pools play a large part as well as consistency from a head coaching perspective.  Coach Turk has been at Huntingdon for 15 seasons this coming year and Coach Hayes at Maryville has been with the program since 2008 (this will be his 5th season as the head coach).

Great post(s) (including the added coaching point).  The relationship between coaches and players has a direct yield to retention rates. All of the coaches across the USAC and ODAC are talented, but the coach-player bond between Arruza (RMC) and Adams (AU)  is what has helped both of their schools be preseason favorites for their respective conferences. I have heard of at least one school in the ODAC with almost 90 incoming freshman starting camp.  We shall see how that school does with that large number over the next couple seasons.

Quote from: jknezek on July 05, 2019, 10:48:37 PM
Ummm.... bleh. Most years NNA can barely hang with the bottom of the ODAC. This seems awkward.

Historically, I agree with you.  However, Coach Davis (former Gallaudet Assistant HC) and his staff (including Elton Brown former UVA offensive lineman) have done an excellent job of turning the trade school program around. I see it more as a great recruiting tool and way to increase tourism in late November I'm assuming it will be the highest ODAC team that doesn't make the D3 playoff bracket.   It gives the kids an extra game which is always a good thing

If I understand the rule correctly, he will keep his 4 years of eligibility intact.  A (D1 or D1AA) player maintains his year of football eligibility as long as he has played in 4 games or fewer , and meets the progress toward degree criteria.  I believe It is something called the 10 semester/15 quarter rule. 

E&H landed one heck of a transfer from U. of Richmond.  Grayson Overstreet broke VHSL records and will be a big force in the conference.  Look for him to get minutes on both sides of the ball, very talented and intelligent young man

Quote from: tigerFanAlso2 on March 27, 2019, 02:14:32 PM
don't sell BC short .... they almost beat RMC in Ashland last season

I agree that the Eagles played really well last season, and Clark is as smart as they come.  The issue that I find is to move them up, a team must be moved down.  Ferrum returns their star tailback in B. Mann, and one of the better o-linemen in J.Patti.  HSC- K. Smith is a tremendous do everything sparkplug that can change a game in a heartbeat.
W&L? -maybe....but I learned (the hard way) to never count out the Generals they always find a way. (note-they lost another coach to Davidson this offseason).