FB: Centennial Conference

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I think the amount of fans (or lack thereof) talking about the conference goes hand-in-hand with how well they do on the national stage.

Of the 21 conferences who are granted an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs, the top five with the least amount of posts on their conference thread are:

1) Centennial Conference - 523 posts
2) Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association - 1,003 posts
3) New England Football Conference - 1,053 posts
4) Midwest Conference - 1,864 posts
5) Illini-Badger Conference - 2,341 posts

Since 1999, here are their NCAA playoff records:

Cetennial (4-8)
MIAA (0-6)
NEFC (0-7)
MWC (1-7)
IBC (0-6)

[patcummings]

Well mine is bigger than yours Barnhart...

You are more mature than arguing with stats like this.

Oh, and YOUR MOM.   

And if anything...I think your stats point to show that number of posts does not correlate with playoff performance.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I think it is fair to say that the CC dominated the ODAC in 2006 regular-season play.

I don't think you can make any past or forward-looking opinions beyond just stating the obvious for this year. 

And really, regardless, the chances are significant that both Dickinson and W&L will be having Thanksgiving at home this year.

Call it what you want - his (or her) point was that the Centennial was strong and worth talking about.

If that's the case, where are their own fans?

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Well mine is bigger than yours Barnhart...

You are more mature than arguing with stats like this.

Oh, and YOUR MOM.   

And if anything...I think your stats point to show that number of posts does not correlate with playoff performance.

lol ... you're right.  I didn't state my point correctly, let me try again.

There are less people talking about the Centennial than there are about the next four least talked about conferences who are a combined 1-26 in the playoffs since 1999.

Better?

And c'mon Cummings - just because you're 6-foot-3 doesn't mean you have a big ...

Argh ... let me be frank.  Bridgewater wasn't that good this year, we're sitting at home on Nov. 11, and it's past my bedtime.  So I felt like picking a verbal fight?  Can't blame me.

[mandfense]

I think the fact that there aren't a lot of posters talking about the Centennial Conference correlates to where football stands for these schools on a national level.  In the grand scheme of things, it's not that significant.

That being said, they play some solid, competitive football within the conference and that's the way they like it. 

Unfortunately to the dismay of the numerous loyal and diehard ODAC posters, in 2006 the CC as a whole was better than the ODAC (and yes, I know that's the exception rather than the rule).

[patcummings]

I think the fact that there aren't a lot of posters talking about the Centennial Conference correlates to where football stands for these schools on a national level.  In the grand scheme of things, it's not that significant.

That being said, they play some solid, competitive football within the conference and that's the way they like it. 

Unfortunately to the dismay of the numerous loyal and diehard ODAC posters, in 2006 the CC as a whole was better than the ODAC (and yes, I know that's the exception rather than the rule).

I believe you hit it right on the head. 

Football is another cog in the athletics departments, but I would find it amazingly shocking if a CC team jumps up and competes on the national level, say, getting to the final eight.  They could win a game, maybe two - but beyond that would be monumental. 

The ODAC isn't just Bridgewater contrary to the inordinate number of BC posters on that board.  You have to take the good with the bad, and that means Catholic and Randolph Macon too.  Game for game, the CC was well above the ODAC.

I'd also believe Bridgewater would beat any CC team on any day this season.  Any one want to give some of my karma back?

[Llamaguy]

I didn't takeith the karma but I will gladly giveith.

On a more important note to me. Where do the D3 guru's, more specifically you, stay while in Salem? You can PM me if you don't want your room egged when you get there, lol! I'm rolling into town on Friday afternoon with grill in tow. We are planning a get-together to watch the D1-AA Nat'l Championship game that Friday night, maybe at Hooters in Roanoke. Will begin tailgating by 10am Saturday.

ps. Looking forward to commentary on the field this year. I got my tix yesterday and will be "on the rail", 50 yrd-line, East side, with my Stone Station banner a flying.

[BearTracker]

I was at the UC - Dickinson game on Saturday. The stadium stands were packed on both sides, the weather was perfect, and the game was close - OT determined the winner. What an exciting game!

I've been to every UC game (home and away) since 2004. The competition in the CC is fierce and any team can win on any given Saturday. That's what makes for exciting football games. I'm glad that the same one or two teams in the CC don't dominate every year. How boring would that be?

The student-athletes in the CC are a lucky group - they get a first class college education and the opportunity to participate in competitive athletics along the way. Makes me wish I could do it all over again!

Looking forward to Juniata and Moravian football joining the CC next year. Congratulations Bears on a great season and looking forward to an exciting 2007!

[BearFan01]

Pat.... of course bridgewater could beat any CC team on any saturday.

Of course though any CC team could beat bridgewater on any given saturday.   Would Bridgewater win the majority, probably, but unless bridgewater ups its academic standards 5 fold and moves to the CC we'll never know.   


I would be curious to hear Pat's comments on the CC versus the Liberty League.....  I mean that is an academic conference......  do you think football is just another cog in the athletic department wheel in that conference as well?  RPI, Union, and Hobart have all made deep runs into the playoffs, with RPI going to St Johns in a tight game in the final 4 or elite 8 round (can't remember).  If they can do that, and they have the same approach to football as CC teams, then why couldn't a CC team do it?  No one is claiming Mount Union status for the CC, but just looking for comments.   

I am no longer going to mention the ODAC in supporting the CC, obviously their fans get all flustered when they are brought up. 

Fan support in the CC is good at times, but has its poor moments as well.  The UC F-M game this season was senior day at F-M and UC brought more fan than F-M had there..... not good. 

[bearsfan1]

For as much fun as it might be to argue about the validity of the CC, I think that there are more important matters for the time being.  Dickinson goes on the road to play a very good Wesley team.  Any thoughts?  Also UC gets to host Widener for the ECAC Southwest Bowl Championship.  The game should be a good one but I really know nothing about Widener.  The atmosphere should be great considering how great it was this past weekend against Dickinson.  Its going to be a great college football weekend all around.

[patcummings]

I believe that, for the most part, the Liberty League is stronger from top to bottom in football than the Centennial.

Dickinson played Hobart tough, but it was Hobart's first game.  Other than that, I think most CC teams would have it tough against the Liberty League.

D3football.com stays at the Hotel Roanoke for the Stagg Bowl.

[Reserved Seat]

The other problem for these 3 schools is they are arguebaly the most academic ones in the conference.

This might help with your basis for your statement.

US News rankings--Liberal Arts College

Dickinson --41
F&M --41
Gettysburg --45
Haverford --9
Johns Hopkins --16(National Universities)
McDaniel --
Muhlenberg --74
Swarthmore --3
Ursinus --69
Washington--

[BearFan01]

I was more thinking Pat do you view the Liberty League schools as academic ones that have football as just another cog in the athletic department.......

I would agree the Liberty was stronger than the CC this season, and probably the last 2 or 3 seasons.  I do think it would be great to have a contract between the Liberty and CC like the North Coast and UAA now have.  Makes more sense for the CC to play like minded schools academically than the MAC's of the world.     

Pat no mention of the ECAC games in the around the region ??  A ton of Mid Atalantic teams compeating in those........

Does D3football.com not like to talk about the ECAC games....as policy?  Over the years I am not sure how much I have seen the site really mention them.......

[Pat Coleman]

Between NCAA playoffs and the basketball season tipping off this weekend for D3hoops.com, we tend to leave the ECAC games by the wayside, yes.

[PA_wesleyfan]

Are there no Dickinson fans out there to chat up about the game?