FB: Centennial Conference

[splik]

Was Muhlenberg 'on the radar' before the season started?  I was under the impression Dickinson (not be confused with Dickinsin or Dickinson Law School) was preseason favorite to repeat.  Preseason polls are tricky for DI where schools get covered by ESPN, it must be a lot harder to get a good poll together for DIII.

[Pat Coleman]

Just wondering how you guys feel that Muhlenberg is out of the top 25 while the a team they beat 15-0 to start the year in New Jersey is ahead of them ranked in the top 25? any thoughts ?

The team they beat has done a little more lately, beating two Top 25 teams.

[Red Devils 07]

Picks

Moravian
Gettysburg
Ursinus
Muhlenberg

[old ends]

Muhlenberg's ranking, or lack of, may just be do to history of the Centennial Conference. Checking past records and stats it seems to have a hard time winning out of conference games. Most of the Centennial Conference schools have an average of 2200 - 2500 students, which is small for Div III.  This may or may not be the reason but it looks like in the past few years the conference did not do well in post season play. The people who vote may consider this, the old strenght of schedule issue. Last year it seems Dickinson and Ursinus both lost in the first round. Just something to consider.

[Ralph Turner]

Muhlenberg's ranking, or lack of, may just be do to history of the Centennial Conference. Checking past records and stats it seems to have a hard time winning out of conference games. Most of the Centennial Conference schools have an average of 2200 - 2500 students, which is small for Div III.  This may or may not be the reason but it looks like in the past few years the conference did not do well in post season play. The people who vote may consider this, the old strength of schedule issue. Last year it seems Dickinson and Ursinus both lost in the first round. Just something to consider.

The D-III Membership Document (page 26 of 185) states that the 50%-ile for membership in D-III is 2200-2500 students.   That puts the Centennial right in the middle.

[old ends]

MR Turner:

You are right, the Centennial Conference is in the middle for student population. There are 439 schools in DivIII NCAA. Only 53.3% sponser football, which is a second tier sport. That would indicate that schools with lower student enrollment would not have football but rather sponser basketball, a first tier sport.  Therefore I will correct my statement to say that the Centennial Conference, thought in the middle of the spectrum for student enrollment, maybe smaller in those who sponser football. I think within the Centennial Conference there are schools that do not sponser football. Penn State's Commonwealth Campus schools do not have football.

[Ralph Turner]

old ends,

I strongly encourage all D3 fans to read the document which I provided above.

Actually, the document shows that D-IV's, like the Centennial pay their coaches more, sponsor more sports, spend more per student-athlete and have more full-time coaches than the "D3's".

AS the Voting blocs and Sports sponsorships were analyzed, the Centennial, CCIW, the NESCAC and the North Coast are the most restrictive.  (See page 150.)

This should be interesting.

[pizzashop]

Moravian at F&M - Live Streaming Video: http://godiplomats.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101207aac.html

[old ends]

Mr. Turner

I read the article you mentioned before you posted it. That is where I came up with what I had stated before your challenge of the statement. I also used those figures to restate not thinking anyone would really look at the article.

You knew all about it. I think that adding or trying to merge NAIA into NCAA may prove to costly for some and therefore drop a few sports.

You are correct that many others should read the article for a better understanding of where the money goes and why.

[Ralph Turner]

Mr. Turner

I read the article you mentioned before you posted it. That is where I came up with what I had stated before your challenge of the statement. I also used those figures to restate not thinking anyone would really look at the article.

You knew all about it. I think that adding or trying to merge NAIA into NCAA may prove to costly for some and therefore drop a few sports.

You are correct that many others should read the article for a better understanding of where the money goes and why.

old ends, I too have concerns about "merging" the NAIA into the NCAA.

Those of us who moved to the NCAA D3 in the mid 1990's made the "cultural" shift from the NAIA to D3.

I guess if the "D-IV's" want to move the bars to even more restrictive criteria, I think that it will happen.

The D-IV's have led in the Director's Cup standings prior to this, and I think that they will continue to succeed.

It just looks like these next few years will a challenge.

[old ends]

The stats so far show me that if Muhlenberg maintains thier pace they could win out.

Having a +6 for turnovers and only losing only 1 fumble very good. They need to improve the game penalties which ave 62 yds/game.
Ursinus, on the other hand, gives back 2 turnovers for everyone they get.  7 fumbles and interceptions over 4 games could hurt them as the season goes forward. Ursinus also likes to get penalties for they are right up there with Muhlenberg and 60 yds/game.

I am not picking on either team it is what is in the stats. When you look on how to improve your team look at what hurts your team. Any of these teams can change a negative to a positive and it will help the overall cause.

[BITMAT.24CB]

Results after week 7
Out of a total possible 37
PLAYER                                    Wins         
BTEXPRESS                                24                     
BITMAT.CB24                             23
OLD ENDS                                 23
WR#1                                       21                                 
RESERVED SEAT                        16                                  
RED DEVILS                              14
BULLDOG                                  13 
MURPHY                                    12     

Week 8 Schedule   
Dickinson @ Gettysburg
Juniata @ Moravian
Ursinus @ McDaniel
Muhlenberg @ Franklin & Marshall
 

[WR#1]

Dickinson @ Gettysburg  (Should be a great game high scoring offense vs. a stout D)
Juniata @ Moravian
Ursinus @ McDaniel (Battle in the bowl: the past two times UC has traveled to McDaniel, great games which came down to the wire ensued.  Always a close game)
Muhlenberg @ Franklin & Marshall

Trying to make my way back to the top.  Now is the time we see who are the real teams. 

[BTEXPRESS]

I am feeling the pressure to stay on top. Three of this week's games look easy. It is the Dickinson vs Gettysburg game I am worried about. Here goes:

DICKINSON over Gettysburg( The Red Devils are rested after a bye week. They go into a hostile enviroment against the Bullets but find a way to win in a close one)
MORAVIAN over Juniatia(The Eagles go down again)
URSINUS over MCDaniel(see above)
MULENBERG over F&M(The Mules go to 7-0)

[old ends]

this weeks picks

Muhlenberg
Gettysburg
Moravian
Ursinus

as always it is only a game