FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

Thanks Raider68.  Indeed, this is baffling and so disappointing.  While I feel bad for all the players, I feel it the most for the seniors since they could very well be on three consecutive 3-7 teams if Hope only wins one of two remaining games (after this upcoming Saturday's "bye", they have Adrian @ Adrian, then finish up at home against Olivet for the Annual Senior Day).  I also feel bad for the coaches because they not only feel bad for the players, but are doing everything they can in trying to keep encouragement (i.e. that "old college spirit") and rectify things.  I guess one thing that can be learned by the players from this season is about facing adversity and perseverence even when things are not going well.  They'll face that in later life, beyond football once their careers are done as nothing in life always goes like we would like to have it.  And that, as we all know, is really what is most important here even though all of us love the college game so much.   

Also, I figured that your Mount would win fairly handily against Capital since I had heard that the latter, like Hope, is in a down period.

Formerd3db,

While football in college is important to a player as well as winning, my most favorite memories are the people , brothers and character of the school.  As an alum I remain very interested in Mount Union and still have contacts and some on-going involvement. Keeping the spirit up is key!

If Hope College keeps positive, it will happen!

[formerd3db]

Thanks Raider68.  Indeed, this is baffling and so disappointing.  While I feel bad for all the players, I feel it the most for the seniors since they could very well be on three consecutive 3-7 teams if Hope only wins one of two remaining games (after this upcoming Saturday's "bye", they have Adrian @ Adrian, then finish up at home against Olivet for the Annual Senior Day).  I also feel bad for the coaches because they not only feel bad for the players, but are doing everything they can in trying to keep encouragement (i.e. that "old college spirit") and rectify things.  I guess one thing that can be learned by the players from this season is about facing adversity and perseverence even when things are not going well.  They'll face that in later life, beyond football once their careers are done as nothing in life always goes like we would like to have it.  And that, as we all know, is really what is most important here even though all of us love the college game so much.   

Also, I figured that your Mount would win fairly handily against Capital since I had heard that the latter, like Hope, is in a down period.

Formerd3db,

While football in college is important to a player as well as winning, my most favorite memories are the people , brothers and character of the school.  As an alum I remain very interested in Mount Union and still have contacts and some on-going involvement. Keeping the spirit up is key!

If Hope College keeps positive, it will happen!

I agree with you Raider68.  Also, thanks.  Yes, hopefully they will keep positive and give that 110% no matter what happens.

[Raider 68]

Adrian vs. Albion, who wins this one, the numbers say it will be close:

                               Adrian                   Albion

Scoring                       181                      191
Pts. per game             25.9                     23.9

First downs                  136                      127

Rushing yards              1022                    1144
Ave. per game             146                      143

Passing yards              1509                    1505
Ave. per game             216                      189

Total Offense               2531                    2659
Ave. per game             362                      332

Points allowed               148                      200
Ave. per game              21                        25

Fumbles-lost                12-6                       9-6
Penalties                    53-518                 47-433
Time of Poss.               30:22                   28:16
3rd down Conv.             43%                     35%
4th Down Conv.             50%                     14%
Red-Zone scores            74%                     65% 

[BoredatWork56]

Adrian v Albion looks like a toss up, but along the same lines, has there been a bigger statistical mismatch than Trine v Olivet? I am not going to lay out the stats like Raider, but take a look.  Its pretty staggering.  I have a feeling that this could be over early and turn into a game where Trine gets to empty the bench.

On the other hand, i do remember a 0-6 Tri-State team upset a 6-0 Olivet team...

[Uncle Rico]

I will have to go with Adrian on this one.  Their strength of schedule is much tougher than Albions, and if their stats are that close, it shows Adrian did it against tought opponents.

http://d3football.com/seasons/2010/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

[sflzman]

D3 Top 25 Fan Poll

1. UW-Whitewater (20) 500
2. Mt. Union     479
3. Wesley    453
4. North Central   435
5. St. Thomas   417
6. UMHB    394
7. Delaware Valley  336
8. Hardin-Simmons  318
9. Ohio Northern   305
10. Linfield    300
11. Wartburg    288
12. Wittenberg   269
13. Thomas More   264
14 Wheaton    242
15. Montclair St.   233
16. Trine    210
17. Coe     169
18. Bethel    167
19. Central 134
20. Hampden-Sydney  133
21. California Lutheran  90
22. Ursinas     84
23. St. John Fisher   56
24. Alfred     46
25. Pacific Lutheran 46

Dropped Out: Case Western Reserve

Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve (36), Depauw (21), Rowan (17), Wabash (17), Franklin (16), Cortland St. (12), Willamette (8), Augustana (4)

[Raider 68]

Although the numbers are close, I would pick Adrian by 7pts over Albion. Just a better defense, IMHO!

[BoredatWork56]

In case you havn't seen it, the first regional rankings are out. Here is the North Region:

1. Wheaton (Ill.) 7-0 7-0
2. North Central (Ill.) 7-0 7-0
3. Mount Union 6-0 7-0
4. Ohio Northern 5-1 6-1
5. Case Western Reserve 6-0 7-0
6. Trine 6-0 7-0
7. Baldwin-Wallace 6-1 6-1
8. Franklin 5-1 6-1
9. Wittenberg 6-0 8-0
10. Wabash 6-0 6-1

[dc_has_been]

At least we know that Wheaton or North Central will have at least one loss since they play eachother.  I also don't think CWRU is going to win out as they have two tough games coming up in their league action.  Baldwin-Wallace will add one more loss to their season too.  Witt and Wabash have to play eachother as well, so one of them will knock themselves out of the top 10. Overall I would predict that Trine would be a top four team by the end of the season if they win out. 

[Raider 68]

At least we know that Wheaton or North Central will have at least one loss since they play eachother.  I also don't think CWRU is going to win out as they have two tough games coming up in their league action.  Baldwin-Wallace will add one more loss to their season too.  Witt and Wabash have to play eachother as well, so one of them will knock themselves out of the top 10. Overall I would predict that Trine would be a top four team by the end of the season if they win out. 

IMHO, I think Trine does stand a chance of being in the top 4, Here is what I see for the top five at this point:

1. Mount Union - Do not think a CCIW team is ahead of them
2. North Central or Wheaton - I'll go with NC
3. Ohio Northern - a good year except when they played MTU
4. Trine - They will win out, while some others fall
5. Wittenberg - They beat Wabash in a very close game

[dc_has_been]

Raider 68, I agree with you with your top 5.  The only reason the CCIW teams are ahead of mount is b/c they have more regional wins.  Mount will be the 1 seed what ever region they get placed in come playoff time. 

[sflzman]

Does anyone see any chance of there being a non-UWW/Mount U Championship game?

[Raider 68]

Does anyone see any chance of there being a non-UWW/Mount U Championship game?

sflzman.

It will depend on the brackets to a degree, but let's see who "could maybe" beat either one them:

UWW:
1. Linfield- played UWW tough last year

2. St. Thomas- has had a good year against some tough teams

3. Mary Hardin Baylor- pretty good year, but has struggled against UWW

Mount Union:  
1. North Central- depends where they play, but NC is having a good year
                           but has to beat Wheaton first

2. Wesley- good year so far, but their competition in the second half of the
                 season is much weaker, lost to the Raiders in the semi's 24-7 in '09 but
                 Mount lost their QB in the first quarter of the game

3. Ohio Northern- a rematch for Coach Paul against his Alma mater is possible
                            ONU has had a good year, except for the 27-0 loss to the
                            Raiders.

So what are the odds that UWW and Mount Union meet for the 6th straight time, it could  be 3:1 at this point, IMHO

[Pat Coleman]

Raider 68, I agree with you with your top 5.  The only reason the CCIW teams are ahead of mount is b/c they have more regional wins.  Mount will be the 1 seed what ever region they get placed in come playoff time. 

I doubt this is a factor. They're all undefeated and that's all they really look at for winning percentage in football. SOS is a big difference right now, however.

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

Yes, IMO, in one sense, it really doesn't matter (i.e. the regional rankings) because...as you say, Mount Union will be ranked as the #1 seed in any region they are placed in (it is unlikely that they wouldn't be and if they aren't, I will be surprised).  Yet, also, regardless of "who is placed where" as a result of the regional rankings at the end of the regular season, any one team still has to get by Mount Union in their bracket to make it to the next step on the way to the Stagg Bowl.  That is a tough challenge as everyone knows, although as history has shown (and as nicely outlined in KM's ATN article), Mount has been upset a couple of times in the last decade+ during the playoffs.  Again, a difficult task to pull off; not impossible, but odds against it, unless Mount has an off day.  It seems to some extent that they are not the great powerhouse type of team this year as they've had in the past, however, they "always rise to the occasion" when the playoffs are in process.