D3Football.com released its All-America selections today. One ODAC player was chosen -- offensive tackle David Munoz from Shenandoah made the second team.

https://www.d3football.com/awards/all-americans/2024

WOW, this is quite interesting.  RMC releases its 2025 fall schedule.  First, it's a very early release.  But, more interesting is that RMC will travel to Iowa to play Central College, an 8-2 team in 2024.  You'd think RMC could have found a much closer opponent.  Why is RMC doing this, certainly a team in NC, MD or PA would have been available?  How and why did such an obscure (for RMC) opponent come to be?

Things must be going well at RMC to fly an entire football team across the country.

A couple of additional observations on RMC 2025 schedule.  The Homecoming game is November 1st, the latest that I can ever remember.  Additionally, the bye week is just before the HSC game.

You might see some other odd matchups this year. I have no inside information, but with both Roanoke and Gallaudet joining the ODAC football rotation, and Ferrum moving to D2, teams went from needing three non-conference games to two.

But the timing was all kinds of odd, so it's possible teams set games, cancelled games, and then scrambled to find what they need, possibly in a one-off. The whole SAA challenge last year was kind of last minute due to B-SC closing, and that could have also played havoc with games scheduled as a series.

Basically I suspect ODAC teams had to really work the phones for the last 2 years, and every time they thought they had something set, another bomb dropped. Eventually you just take what you can get.

   I had a similar reaction a few years ago when HSC had a one-off with Platteville, but I've felt for a while now that it would be good for the league teams to expand their vision in regards to non-conference games (if feasible for them). Bravo to the Jackets for picking up this game. Central has had consistently good to excellent teams for the past 15-20 years so it should be a good matchup.

Quote from: Macon on January 30, 2025, 03:15:36 PMWOW, this is quite interesting.  RMC releases its 2025 fall schedule.  First, it's a very early release.  But, more interesting is that RMC will travel to Iowa to play Central College, an 8-2 team in 2024.  You'd think RMC could have found a much closer opponent.  Why is RMC doing this, certainly a team in NC, MD or PA would have been available?  How and why did such an obscure (for RMC) opponent come to be?

Things must be going well at RMC to fly an entire football team across the country.

This is a great matchup. I think it is great for D-III.

^^^ Agreed, Pat.  A good game for Central, RMC, and DIII.  I'm just curious how this game came to be given the distance and cost.  Certainly a major change in scheduling perspective for RMC.  It will be a great experience for those RMC players that go to Iowa.  Also, is this a one game deal or two?

I do know that there's a significant number of our Football alums( like our Mens basketball alums) that don't mind reaching into their respective wallets and helping pay for travel costs when the need arises. Im sure if they need help underwriting some travel costs,  theyll find the $$.....they always do! If any of you RMC guys remember what the Football facilities were when we were there in the 80's vs what they are now you'll know how much things have changed in Athletics, especially in the Football program. Since Robert Lindgren took over as President of RMC there has been a HUGE influx of money into the athletic program without sacrificing our academic values. He( President Lindgren) is retiring this year, and one of the main focuses of the Board of Trustees, besides the Academics and other normal things you look for in a new President, is one who has the same type of focus on athletics that President Lindgren did. I know this because I know some members of that Board, and they have all told me the same thing!  There's one thing you have to hand it to Pedro Arruza for- he's not afraid of ANYONE! He doesent schedule out of league PATSIES, thats FO SHO! He'll play ANYBODY< ANYTIME< ANYWHERE! You have to respect him for that, and we're extremely fortunate to have him!! He makes MEN!

I wrote about long distance scheduling in a piece that featured Central's trip to Thousand Oaks, CA last year!  I wouldn't have said this is an obvious game to make, but after talking to Coach McMartin last fall, this game is exactly the kind of contest he's talking about in the piece. 

This is an exciting game, IMO.  Definitely a non-con highlight for 2025. 

I'll also say this for Randolph-Macon -- a number of their non-conference games in recent years were dictated by league scheduling alliances, so Pedro did not have full control over their schedule.