Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents

[Pat Coleman]

Your assessment lost a level of credibility when you called HSC - HSU an excusable mistake.

Ahem ...

Heven forbod ther's evr y typo.

[Teamski]

My add is that we find ourselves in the opposite position we are typically in. Every ODAC team for the last several years has their date with HSC circled. We get every ODAC teams best shot. This group of seniors has 3 ODAC championships. They have been thru tough games. This game may very well be their toughest yet. But I have a feeling when the pairings were announce on Sunday more than half the Wesley team said "who's that". Heck they assumed a win before the game was announced. What they may not realize is that HSC felt the same way about Wesley. Many had no idea as to who Wesley was, where they are located, and how good there are. They like Wesley just assumed they can win. I doubt that attitude has changed for either team. I  know if HSC were to win it will be a huge upset. But I was in the Big House when App St beat Michigan. So I've seen with my own eyes what can happen when the better team looks ahead and the weaker team plays lights out.  You guys are already talking about 3rd and 4th round match-ups. We like that kind of thinking. Especially when our entire mindset is this Saturday.

Having spent a lot of time traveling with the Wolverines, I know that when it comes to the playoffs, the motto is always "one more."  The coaches and the players never overlook a playoff game.

-Ski

[tigerfanalso]

Going to Linfield last year HSC was upbeat, coming off a great end to the season, won its first playoff game ever and was healthy. This year, not so much. Season didn't end well and not so healthy BUT HSC will give all they have to give. Last time we were at Wesley, 2007, we got beat 45 to 17 in first round. Everybody knows HSC doesn't have much of a chance and would be foolish to act/talk otherwise, but if the favorite won every game there really would not be any reason to play the game. Elite teams don't lose often (other than to each other) but upsets of the elite do happen (although I really can't think of one in D3), and thats all HSC have to hang their hats on. Play your best and see what happends, lay an egg and get blown out.

[HSCTiger fan]

Wabash

You mean when the players for each team were as young as 11?  No it sure didn't. But that was HSC's first ODAC title under coach Favret. Lots of things have changed since then. I've said it most likely won't matter. But we have to play the game regardless what you or anyone else thinks the outcome might be.

Maybe you guys at D3 can start writing your headline that throws Nance under the bus before the game is played. It might be you last chance to take a shot a him.

[Pat Coleman]

Yeah -- I don't get why you think we want to throw our second-team preseason All-American quarterback under the bus. I don't know why you can't get that we're talking about how the opposing defenses actually physically hit and sack him -- if anything, we're pointing out the performance of the opposing defense first, THEN the offensive line, THEN Nance, possibly, third.

I know there have been H-SC fans that have been sensitive to every possibly unfavorable mention of Nance ever since he transferred in, but this isn't what we're doing here.

I look forward to you finding a third platform to bash us on on this subject.

[jknezek]

It has at times seemed like if you didn't declare Nash Nance the second coming a certain part of the H-SC crowd has gotten upset. But it has been an interesting year for Nance. Certainly the team has not done as well as was expected and the stats are mixed on the issue of whether Nance has been better, though he has had every bit an excellent year.

His yards per completion and yards per attempt are up and interceptions are down. Both important and positive numbers. However, his completion percentage is down. Passing TDs are up but rushing numbers are well off across the board. So he's been asked to do more through the air. Sacks are actually down for the year, despite the early beating offered by Wabash, though that could go up in the playoff game. H-SC is still two games short of last year, which is why I'm staying away from absolute yards gained. Finally, Nance's rushing ypg are off. And he only has half the touchdowns rushing he had last year, which seems huge but the Tigers are actually scoring more points per game this year than last anyway.

Again, some of these numbers will move this weekend, and if an upset happens they will be more comparable if you do a 12 game schedule. But for the most part I think Nance has had a similar season to last year's stellar work. The emphasis on passing has probably cost him a bit on his accuracy, but he's really made the most of it and taken care of the ball better. On the other hand, he hasn't been the same dual threat he was last year, especially in the red zone. Overall though, points per game are up, even just comparing across the conference schedule.

So the offense has been very comparable in output, if not in how they got there. Nance is instrumental in that success, given the added emphasis on throwing the ball. The difference between last year and this year in stats and prestige is probably going to be that extra conference loss leading to a tough playoff pairing in conjunction with last year's very favorable first round playoff match up.

The biggest change for the Tigers, though, is defense. They have given up almost 90 more ypg this year than last year. They also are allowing 6 more points per game. Six fewer take aways and 1/3rd as many sacks play a role as well. None of that can be laid at Nance's feet.

** All stats courtesy of the H-SC website **

[wesleydad]

Watched HSU a couple of times.  They have an ok QB and not much else.  They do not run the ball well and got beat handily by a Bridgewater team that I thought was just ok when I saw them.  They will have trouble dealing with Wesley's speed on both sides of the ball and will struggle scoring.  The next game is nothing more than a scrimmage, like the Mt. Ida game a few years ago.  The winner of the Hobart/Hopkins game could be a competitive game.  Then on to Mount or John Carroll likely.  Could not be an easier road to the semis since I have started watching them in 2005.

Your assessment lost a level of credibility when you called HSC - HSU an excusable mistake. But to say they have an "ok QB and not much else" is laughable.  They have an All-American QB and WR.  Holton Walker may be the best and most highly rated WR in all of D3.  He is the only receiver in D3 listed as an NFL prospect on www.NFLDraftDiamonds.com. Wesley does not have the benefit of having a coach that has played HSC year in and year out like RMC and BC.  Wabash had all spring and fall camp to get ready for HSC.  Wesley has had 5 days.

We know the odds are against our team. We know the likelihood of victory is slim to none.  HSC is a senior laden team. They are not going to go to Dover to just lay down in front of Wesley.  It may get ugly. But I think Wesley will have a more difficult time than they and you might think.

I keep messing up the HSC - HSU thing.  Now on to the more important stuff.  I am well aware of all the accolades that the HSC players have received and that is great.  I go be the eye test and I saw Bridgewater play against Wash and Lee live and found them to be ok against a not too good team.  The following week I did not go to a game so I decided to watch the Bridgewater/HSC game.  In that game what I said is what I saw an OK Qb with not much else going.  They could not run the ball and they were handily beaten by an ok team.  I know I come across as understating/overstating, depends on how you read it when it come to my assessment of other teams, but I am looking at things on a "can you win the whole thing mentality" since that is what I see when I go watch Wesley.  So with that in mind, I don't think Nance is as good as Callahan and don't waste time with stats.  If HSC had trouble scoring on Bridgewater and Macon then they will certainly have trouble scoring on Wesley.  They will not have played any team as fast as Wesley on either side of the ball at any point this year.  As far as Wesley only having 5 days to get ready for HSC, I don't think that will matter.  They have made it to the 1/4's since 2005 so getting ready for anyone has not been an issue.  Finally, I am not afraid to say where I think Wesley will get to each year in the playoffs so I don't see them having any issue this week or the next 2 for that matter, but I don't play for the team so my looking ahead has nothing to do with the outcome.  I am sure that the coaches will have the players more than ready for anything the HSC will bring to the field on Saturday.  I hope all of your injured players from last week are healthy this week so that they get to play.  Enjoy the game.

[tigerfanalso]

WesleyDad

If you watched the Bridgewater vs. HSC game you certainly saw a really bad HSC team that looked absolutely horrible, same thing vs. RMC this past week. So I totally get where you are coming from and would have to agree with your observations.
We stunk it up, really bad at just about every position on the field. Nothing good happened in either of those games, nothing.

I look forward to watching your team play. Sounds like they are loaded and ready to challenge this year.

[Teamski]

WesleyDad

If you watched the Bridgewater vs. HSC game you certainly saw a really bad HSC team that looked absolutely horrible, same thing vs. RMC this past week. So I totally get where you are coming from and would have to agree with your observations.
We stunk it up, really bad at just about every position on the field. Nothing good happened in either of those games, nothing.

I look forward to watching your team play. Sounds like they are loaded and ready to challenge this year.

So you are going to make the game?

-Ski

[Pat Coleman]

It has at times seemed like if you didn't declare Nash Nance the second coming a certain part of the H-SC crowd has gotten upset.

This. Exactly. +1

[tigerfanalso]

Teamski

Will make the drive to Dover to support the Tigers !!!

[Teamski]

Teamski

Will make the drive to Dover to support the Tigers !!!

Hope to catch you there.  I will be on the wide camera on top of the press box......

-Ski

[Teamski]

HSC posted their game notes....

http://hscathletics.com/sports/fball/2014-15/notes/11.22.14_WC.pdf

-Ski

[wesleydad]

Teamski

Will make the drive to Dover to support the Tigers !!!

Tigerfanalso, I hope to see you there also.  I will be wearing a wesley football 13 sweatshirt, since it will be a little chilly this weekend.  safe travels to dover.

[DE Wesley Fan]

Welcome Tiger fans - having some chatter on the board makes this much more fun.  Won't pose as an expert on your team as I haven't seen film, but from comments here and a cursory review of your stats it would appear the best chance for HSC's success would be to put together a solid passing game and control time of possession to keep Wesley's offense off the field.  Wesley's secondary can be vulnerable if the D-Line doesn't get good pressure, but has something of a "bend, don't break" philosophy.   Bring it on, and may the best team win.