FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[MOJO]

Posters,
The type of kids going to Mt. Union are a whole different grouping than standard D3 kids.  Many of these kids historically are kids that could not make it at Ohio State, or other D1 schools, either academically or athletically, or both.  They recently had a kid that was a top lineman recruit at Ohio State, but could not get the magic 700 on his college boards.  Look no secret here, if you want to have a consistently top program in D3, you gotta find a way to attract athletes first and students second.  Yea, I know this statement will anger some readers, but it is what it is, THE TRUTH.  Wishing all readers a blessed holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

[Lyco80]

Lyco... you need to dumb down your posts for the Gro, my brain hurts.

I Don't know what to think about MUC's stance at the top of D3. As a fan, seeing them win just about every year gets boring. But they do set the standard of excellence... so when a team like SJU beats them (and handles them soundly) like in 03... it's big news.

A few years back it was Marshall and Youngstown St that owned DI-AA... Marshall made the move, Youngstown didn't.

I really don't know where this post is going so I'll just stop here and say "when in rome".

[Lyco80]

Gro,

Sorry - not intended to cause pain only to spark comment.  By the way, you have some of the funniest comments to date on any league's page and I enjoy you and your LLs banter very much - especially LewDog (sp?).

How is GrampaGro doing?

The Stagg Bowl showcased two very talented and powerful teams and I remain curious about the pilgrimmage of WR Garcon and think his journey is likely to remain a mystery.

Perhaps Cold Case can examine the forensic evidence for us all.

All The Best

[Lyco80]

Posters,
The type of kids going to Mt. Union are a whole different grouping than standard D3 kids.  Many of these kids historically are kids that could not make it at Ohio State, or other D1 schools, either academically or athletically, or both.  They recently had a kid that was a top lineman recruit at Ohio State, but could not get the magic 700 on his college boards.  Look no secret here, if you want to have a consistently top program in D3, you gotta find a way to attract athletes first and students second.  Yea, I know this statement will anger some readers, but it is what it is, THE TRUTH.  Wishing all readers a blessed holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Mojo,

Thanks for the info.  Hence my suggestion that maybe they are really a D2 team masquerading at the D3 level. 

Therefore, all the attempts to improve your program will not undo the edge they enjoy in recruitment.  I suppose they benefit from Ohio State and Michigan being such nearby D1 powerhouses with hardly many D2 schools in the area as viable alternatives.  This, plus their national reputation creates an inherent imbalance that sheer will from other schools is unlikely to overcome. 

I cannot speak for other regions in the country but such is not the case in PA with its Kutztown's, Slippery Rock, etc. who naturally will be happy to enroll quality players unable to compete at the D1 level for Joe Pa.

Like I said earlier, if this were going on at a higher level there would be all sorts of outcries to fix something and yet at D3 it is just another year for MUC and the Purple Raiders.  Fascinating.

All The Best

[Warren Thompson]

... and I remain curious about the pilgrimmage of WR Garcon and think his journey is likely to remain a mystery.

What's the "mystery"? Apparently, he went where the action is ....

[Lyco80]

Oh there is always more to the story than meets the eye.

Where is the mystery?

How about these questions just to get the ball rolling?

1) Why Norwich in the first place when MUC was there all along?

2) What happened at Norwich after he arrived to dissuade him only to subsequently matriculate at MUC?

3) Who "alerted" him to where the action was?

4) How come he was ignorant of this until after he arrived at Norwich?

5) How come he did not enroll at Linfield, the current NCAA D3 champion?

6) And maybe even this one - what sort of network does MUC have that they can see into Florida or the Northeast to track a player given that this is just D3 athletics and all and no scholarships or anything available?

These are but a few questions that immediately come to mind.  Naturally, there are others, but since there are no obvious answers I remain convinced of the existence of "the mystery."

ATB

[Pat Coleman]

Oh there is always more to the story than meets the eye.

Where is the mystery?

How about these questions just to get the ball rolling?

1) Why Norwich in the first place when MUC was there all along?

2) What happened at Norwich after he arrived to dissuade him only to subsequently matriculate at MUC?

3) Who "alerted" him to where the action was?

4) How come he was ignorant of this until after he arrived at Norwich?

5) How come he did not enroll at Linfield, the current NCAA D3 champion?

6) And maybe even this one - what sort of network does MUC have that they can see into Florida or the Northeast to track a player given that this is just D3 athletics and all and no scholarships or anything available?

These are but a few questions that immediately come to mind.  Naturally, there are others, but since there are no obvious answers I remain convinced of the existence of "the mystery."

ATB

Lots of speculation. If you'd listened to our Stagg Bowl broadcast or read Mark Simon's piece in September on the subject, you'd know the following:

1) An acquaintance of Garcon's high school coach was coaching at Norwich.
2) Coaching change.
3) He read about Mount Union on D3football.com
4) Good question -- but how much do you think Division III is on the radar in Florida, since there are no D-III schools in the state and no D-III football programs in Georgia either?
5) Dunno. Maybe he thought Oregon was too far from home, or that there were too many returning receivers at Linfield.
6) They didn't track him in Florida or in the Northeast at all.

[Lyco80]

Pat,

Truly, you are amazing and within two hours too.

Still, Garcon self-recruits to MUC underscoring my point that the rich get richer so how will the rest of D3 ever catch up if such is the case.

Coach K should send the folks at D3football.com and autographed game ball for the assist.

I did watch the game but plead ignorance to listening to your broadcast and did not fully engage on here until October so I missed the article.

Still - you are everywhere and most impressive in your grasp of the matter. 

My hat is off to you.

ATB

[PBR...]

congrats to dvc's off. center damien ciecwisz and qb adam knoblauch to being named first and third team all americans by d3football.com....well done!!!!

[Billman56]

upbrmeasap....Congrats to the Aggies who made the All American teams...That goes without saying. Listing Knoblauch on the third team was a disgrace in my opinion.  He had another great year and ended an incredible career. Maybe you could point out to me the criteria needed to be placed on the 1st team. If he didnt have the credentials I dont know who would. He didnt step down from DI to play with the little guys in D3.

All the best to you and your family over the holidays.

[Bwana]

Pat,

Truly, you are amazing and within two hours too.

Still, Garcon self-recruits to MUC underscoring my point that the rich get richer so how will the rest of D3 ever catch up if such is the case.

Coach K should send the folks at D3football.com and autographed game ball for the assist.

I did watch the game but plead ignorance to listening to your broadcast and did not fully engage on here until October so I missed the article.

Still - you are everywhere and most impressive in your grasp of the matter. 

My hat is off to you.

ATB

One add-on to Pat's observations...starting in 2006 LaGrange College of Lagrange, GA.  will field a D3 football team.  But that will be it for D3 football teams in FL and GA, and I think maybe even SC and AL.

[Pat Coleman]

Maybe you could point out to me the criteria needed to be placed on the 1st team.

Be the best quarterback in Division III.

[PBR...]

his numbers speak volumes about that pat.....

[Pat Coleman]

If you go by numbers, Mitch Tanney would've been considered the best QB in D-III entering the playoffs, and what exactly did it get Monmouth against St. John's? Three points and 3.9 yards passing per attempt.

I see Knoblauch with little more than half the touchdowns and nearly twice the interceptions of Brett Elliott. I see Elliott throwing for 700 more yards in 18 fewer attempts than Knoblauch. Elliott has 60 more yards of total offense per game than Knoblauch even though Knoblauch benefits in that stat from all his rushing yardage.

[PBR...]

then also compare the teams they played against...i dont have the benefit of knowing the quality of teams elliott played against...as well as did elliott play entire games and pad his stats late in a blow out game? i am not trying to a wise arse here, i figure you have much better resources than i do for that information. Also not knocking elliott he is a very very good qb. Just seems a little strange that knoblauch sets an incredible yardage marker and third team?