FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[RFMichigan]

At this point already there are some teams scoreboard watching (CUC & AU) and hoping someone can take down BU. If BU wins Saturday vs. CUW, there are only a few  more "opportunities" for BU losses, and frankly CUC and AU need BU to lose twice (or hope for the goofy three-way tiebreakers to take effect.)

By the way, in regard to my thoughts from a couple weeks ago about comparative strength of the NAC and the MIAA, I am more intrigued than I was two weeks ago. Trine is head and shoulders (and probably knees and toes) above anyone in the NAC, and I also think Adrian is a pretty quality team as well. But now Hope is playing well and gunning (in my opinion) for 2nd place in the MIAA, and that's after two losses from midlevel (again, IMHO) NAC teams.
     
On the other hand, Bennie, who looks to be the class of the NAC, lost to K-zoo, who lost to Hope . . . (not to mention North Park, who appears much improved but still looking up at the rest of the CCIW.)

On the lower end of the conference standings, Rockford hung around with Alma for three quarters, and I wouldn't mind seeing Maranatha or Rockford taking on Olivet.

So the lesson is . . . what lesson? There's lots of football left to be played, and the cream will eventually rise to the top. (I've got an addendum to that little saying which I think might fit here, but I don't want to get a post deleted!)

[dizzle52]

This is a very interesting website...supposedly this is a very good ranking system that is getting lots of attention...there are some very interesting rankings in there (Mt. Union ranked #62)....there are 3 teams from the NAC in the bottom 8


http://www.sportsmetrix.net/NCAA_DivIII_Football_Ranking.html

[WLCALUM83]

WLCALUM83's guesses for this week:

Aurora

Benedictine

Concordia-Chicago

WLC  -- A) the Warriors are at home and B) they want to improve on last season's near miss against the Muskes

[Just Bill]

This is a very interesting website...supposedly this is a very good ranking system that is getting lots of attention...there are some very interesting rankings in there (Mt. Union ranked #62)....there are 3 teams from the NAC in the bottom 8


http://www.sportsmetrix.net/NCAA_DivIII_Football_Ranking.html

If Mount Union is #62 it is not a good ranking system. Anyone on Earth believe there are 61 teams in D-III better than Mount Union?  Thought not. There's not even 6 teams better than Mount Union.  Thank god we have a playoff so we don't have to let computers pick our champion.

[WLCALUM83]

This is a very interesting website...supposedly this is a very good ranking system that is getting lots of attention...there are some very interesting rankings in there (Mt. Union ranked #62)....there are 3 teams from the NAC in the bottom 8


http://www.sportsmetrix.net/NCAA_DivIII_Football_Ranking.html

If Mount Union is #62 it is not a good ranking system. Anyone on Earth believe there are 61 teams in D-III better than Mount Union?  Thought not. There's not even 6 teams better than Mount Union.  Thank god we have a playoff so we don't have to let computers pick our champion.

I agree with Just Bill on this!

[WLCALUM83]

Hey, hey! Warriors finally get off the schneid against Lakeland!

[bleedpurple]

HELP WANTED:

Looking for Pollsters for a "soon to be unveiled" D3 TOP 25 FAN POLL.

Publishing site: www.uwwfootball.blogspot.com

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Commit to submit a ballot ranking the D3 Teams 1-25 by stated deadline. I'm thinking that will be midnight on Mondays.
2. Research the teams and try to be as unbiased as possible in ranking them.
3. Think through your own philosophy as to how much to weigh previous ranking, won/loss record, your sense as to who would win head to head, national performances in recent years, quality wins, and whatever reasonable criteria you care to choose.   
4. Submit a ballot EVERY WEEK by the deadline. Missing a deadline will be cause to forfeit your spot. Create and submit your ballot BEFORE viewing the D3football.com poll. You can look at previous weeks polls to get you started if you are having a hard time filling out the last few slots.

PURPOSE OF POLL

This poll is to promote meaningful and fun discussion on d3boards.com.  It is simply something that will be fun to contrast with D3football.com's poll. D3football.com's poll is the one legitimate poll we have in D3 football in my opinion.  This poll is not even intended to become #2. I just think it would be an interesting point of comparison and discussion. 

HOW TO APPLY

Send me a private message. In your message indicate:
1. you are applying to be a pollster.
2. What team/conference you follow.
3. Whether you can submit a poll as early as this Thursday. (That is not mandatory, if everyone can we may do one this week).

WHO WILL BE CHOSEN?

The first 25 respondents will be our initial group of pollsters.  This group will remain the D3 FOOTBALL FAN POLL TOP 25 pollsters unless they resign their position or miss a deadline.  Pollsters, I will never post your names on the boards.  If you choose to, that is fine. If you are beyond the first 25 responses, your name will be placed on a "waiting list".  If there are fewer than 25 respondents by midnight on Wednesday, we will go with what we have and continue to have "open" slots to be filled.

Remember FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! 

[Boss]

Game of the Week:
CUW - AU  (AU gonna be just too much here folks...it will probably look a lot like last weeks CUW/BU game!)
                                      AU 35 - CUW 10   

LC - CUC      (CUC at home...offensively will be running a track meet!)
                               CUC 35 - LC 7

MBBC - BU     (MBBC quick duck!)
                                BU 42- MBBC 0

RC - WLC     (RC...No way...No how...No where to hide!)
                               WLC 35 - RC 0                   

[d3fan1515]

Some thoughts on BU vs. CUW, BU's D had it's best game of the year if they would have played like that against NPU and KZOO they would be unbeaten right now! The D now needs to take this momentum into the remaining weeks. Offensively BU played well again, CUW stacked the box having 8-9 in the box on each play so the passing game was very effective. This week BU plays MBBC, MBBC always play tough and I don't expect anything different this week. BU can't over look anyone remaining on their schedule or they will not like the outcome. A win against MBBC brings BU one game closer to a conference championship!

[d3fan1515]

Football - Defensive
Kaylan Gaines, Wisconsin Lutheran College   
...5-11, 216...Senior...Defensive End...Lake Worth, Fla. (American Heritage)...
Gaines recorded six tackles, three of which were sacks, on Saturday in the Warriors' 20-9 win over Lakeland.

Other nominees: Al Sarno (Benedictine), Josiah Brendemuehl (Maranatha)

Football - Offensive
Jamal Thomas, Concordia University Chicago
...5-10, 180...Sophomore...Wide Receiver...Weirsdale, Fla. (Lake Weir)...
Thomas had touchdown receptions of 60 and 47 yards in the Cougars' 44-0 victory over Rockford. He had 147 yards on five receptions for a 29.4 yards per catch average.

Other nominees: David Gray (Aurora), Preston Earl (Benedictine)

Football - Special Teams
Pedro Hardy, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...5-10, 150...Sophomore...Kick Returner/Punt Returner...Milwaukee, Wis. (South)...
After fumbling a punt which led to a Muskies field goal trimming WLC's lead to 13-9, Hardy redeemed himself by returning the ensuing fourth-quarter kickoff a school-record 100 yards for a touchdown to seal a 20-9 win for the Warriors Saturday at Raabe Stadium.

Other nominees: Anthony Beres (Rockford)

 
Congratulations to these players.

[sflzman]

D3 Top 25 Fan Poll Released

Team       
1. UW-Whitewater (16)   400
2. Mount Union                381
3. Wesley                        361
4. St. Thomas                  346
5. North Central               332
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor      328
7. Delaware Valley           262
8. Wittenberg                  261
9. Hardin-Simmons           252
10. Ohio Northern            240
11. Linfield                       218
12. Thomas More             216
13. Wartburg                   213
14. Wheaton                   187
15. Montclair St.              183
16. Trine                          171
17. St. John Fisher           164
18. Bethel                        136
19. Coe                            123
20. Central                       99
21. Pacific Lutheran          88
22. Hampden-Sydney       85
23. Cal Lutheran              46
24. Ursinas                       36
25. Case Western            17


Also Receiving Votes:
Wabash (15), Franklin (12), Rowan (12), Willamette (12), Illinois Wesleyan (6), Cortland State (6), Augustana (5), Depauw (4)

www.uwwfootball.blogspot.com

[old 40]

My Guesses this week;

CUW@AU- AU with a big statement on D and O. AU wins 44-3.

LC@CUC- Not much of a game as CUC pours it on LC 56-7.

MBBC@BU- BU with no trouble here, BU wins 38-0.

RC@WLC- WLC continues to roll and wins 46-0.

Good Luck to everyones team.

[WLCALUM83]

WLCALUM83's guesses:

Aurora
Concordia-Chicago
Benedictine
WLC

[Pat Coleman]

This is a very interesting website...supposedly this is a very good ranking system that is getting lots of attention...there are some very interesting rankings in there (Mt. Union ranked #62)....there are 3 teams from the NAC in the bottom 8


http://www.sportsmetrix.net/NCAA_DivIII_Football_Ranking.html

It seems like these guys have reconfigured the math. Mount Union is in a more reasonable place now. Not where a human voter would put the Purple Raiders, but based on what games have been played so far, it's in the ballpark.

http://www.sportsmetrix.net/NCAA_DivIII_Football_Ranking.html

[bleedblue]

This week guesses:

AU- Closer then you may think

BU- MBBC never quits but they just aren't good enough yet.

CUC- Rumor has it that the LC team is in total disarray.

WLC- Sorry RC ...Not this year either.