Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents

[thewaterboy]

I believe Howe has been battling nagging injuries since Salisbury. Need him back for Charlotte though. Wolverines are spread thin at receiver especially after losing Bundy for the year.

Great, I didn't hear about Bundy being out.  I wonder what other great news we have in store.  This is one scarred offensive squad! 

-Ski

Bundy went out against VUL with a shoulder/arm injury (listening to Coach Drass' interview before the Rowan game, it was an AC Separation). Stinks, but at least its not a knee.

I think if Wesley can yank out a victory from UNC-Charlotte it puts them in good position for a playoff spot. IMO, it will make it hard for the committee to say no even with the loss to Rowan and the bludgeoning we took at UMHB. Its definitely within reach.

[Teamski]

Well, it is a 50/50 proposition at this point.  I started my "hope we get in the playoffs" beard just in case. 

-Ski

[D3MAFAN]

Well, it is a 50/50 proposition at this point.  I started my "hope we get in the playoffs" beard just in case. 

-Ski

There is always hope, once upon a time...this kid made a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKh6XxYbbIc that no one thought was possible.

[thewaterboy]

Im always hopeful. Im sure at halftime of this game, no one thought it was possible. So I think of it as Wesley making the playoffs as a little more likely than this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXOpHZoDq8

Sorry, had too. Was in the mood for a little bit of Wesley nostalgia.

[D3MAFAN]

Im always hopeful. Im sure at halftime of this game, no one thought it was possible. So I think of it as Wesley making the playoffs as a little more likely than this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXOpHZoDq8

Sorry, had too. Was in the mood for a little bit of Wesley nostalgia.

If Wesley does get in, they may have to take the cross country trip this time...which I am sure it is nothing to Wesley.

[bleedpurple]

Im always hopeful. Im sure at halftime of this game, no one thought it was possible. So I think of it as Wesley making the playoffs as a little more likely than this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXOpHZoDq8

Sorry, had too. Was in the mood for a little bit of Wesley nostalgia.

If Wesley does get in, they may have to take the cross country trip this time...which I am sure it is nothing to Wesley.

I obviously know very little about this year's version of the Wolverines, but the thought occurred to me that Wesley making the playoffs this year could be very bad news for a higher seed.  Sometimes, a talented team experiencing the fresh start of a second chance actually becomes more focused ands comes together.  I think of the wildcard teams that barely made it into the playoffs and then ended up going on a run to win the Super Bowl.  Anyway, if Wesley makes it, a relatively high seed who had a great year (for them) may be looking at the bracket and see themselves staring at Wesley in the 2nd round. 

[wesleydad]

I believe Howe has been battling nagging injuries since Salisbury. Need him back for Charlotte though. Wolverines are spread thin at receiver especially after losing Bundy for the year.

Great, I didn't hear about Bundy being out.  I wonder what other great news we have in store.  This is one scarred offensive squad! 

-Ski

Bundy went out against VUL with a shoulder/arm injury. Stinks, but at least its not a knee.

I think if Wesley can yank out a victory from UNC-Charlotte it puts them in good position for a playoff spot. IMO, it will make it hard for the committee to say no even with the loss to Rowan and the bludgeoning we took at UMHB. Its definitely within reach.

Unfortunately this game has no influence on the playoffs whatsoever since it is not a D3 game.  There are some who have said that the committee may look at these out of division games, but according to the criteria they supposedly mean nothing.  A win would look good and the team could use a good win.  Making the playoffs will be tough, but there are some suspect Pool B teams who may be looking at loses in the next couple of weeks that may make Wesley look good.  If the regional rankings come out and 4 or 5 of the teams that Wesley has played are ranked then they look even better.  There is hope, it is just not very bright right now, the question is is the sun rising or setting on the wolverines chances?

[thewaterboy]

While its true that it is not supposed to bear weight when the committee comes together. I cant help but think that Wesley had the home field vs. Linfield in 2011 in part because of their win over Charleston Southern. To me, a win against Charlotte, or at least a formidable challenge will put it into the committee's mind that Wesley is a team talented enough to make the playoffs over a 9-1 Millsaps or a 9-1 TLU. Wesley has impressive victories over at least 2 pool A teams, perhaps more depending on how the rest of the season shakes out. Widener, and Rowan are very much alive. Best case scenario is that Wesley maintains 1 SOS and goes 4-2 against pool A teams and a D1 school. That makes the argument even for all schools trying to nail down a pool B bid. Im optimistic.

And hopefully bleed is right maybe this is a team that goes out and makes a run after sneaking into the playoffs. Not sure if this is a Stagg or even semifinal team, but they can make some kind of run for sure, provided that they heal up this week and stay healthy the rest of the season.

[DE Wesley Fan]

Im always hopeful. Im sure at halftime of this game, no one thought it was possible. So I think of it as Wesley making the playoffs as a little more likely than this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXOpHZoDq8

Sorry, had too. Was in the mood for a little bit of Wesley nostalgia.

If Wesley does get in, they may have to take the cross country trip this time...which I am sure it is nothing to Wesley.

Hey, maybe THAT'S the problem - not enough long road trips this year has made us all out of sorts

[Womb_to_Tomb_Wildcat]

Can't wait to make that trip up to Wesley next year for rematch. That game we had against them last season in Pineville was awesome between two great teams, and playing against Wesley really taught us what it takes to be a championship team, which has helped us a lot since then. They are a 1st class program top-to-bottom.

LC has never played anywhere away from home that far away. Sul Ross (12-13 hours) is the farthest trip, by far, we ever make. Delaware will be a completely different animal.

[DE Wesley Fan]

Womb_to_Tomb - We were very impressed with LC when we made the trip down there last year.  You had some really tough ball players, and the general vibe of the place was certainly that of a program looking to grow and gain respect in a tough conference.  Seem to remember that your fans were pretty cool and made us feel welcome in the stands.  If anyone cared for my opinion I'd vote for Wesley to play down there every year so we could add on a few days for a visit to New Orleans!

[wesleydad]

I decided to take a look at the Charlotte roster and saw that they have some big boys on both lines.  Hopefully Wesley can get some people healthy during this off week and work on some of the things that have been holding them back this year.  The lines are going to have to step up to the plate and protect Callahan on O and get pressure on the QB for Charlotte.  I noticed that Charlotte played and crushed Chowan, a team that Wesley used to play, holding them to - 2 yards rushing.  This will be a tough game at any point of the season, but may be tougher this late in the season.

I saw that Bundy was injured, is he out for the season if so that is a big loss.  He gave them the size to forcing teams to worry about him and giving the smaller receivers more room.

There are some big games this week to watch if Wesley is going to make the playoffs.  La Coll needs to beat Tex Luth.  1 loss may be enough with their horrible SOS to drop them behind Wesley.  Also, hope Millsaps keeps winning giving Rhodes a 2nd loss.  Chicago and Wash U losing would also help immensely.  Rowan has to beat Cortland St and hopefully win the NJAC, that makes the loss look less bad.  They are in the discusion, just wish they had more D3 games.  6 - 2 would be much better in the discussion with who they have played.

[Teamski]

Everybody won except Salisbury......  Charlotte lost to Coastal Carolina Saturday, 50-25.  They are currently 5-5.  They are going to be tough to beat versus Charleston Southern.

-edit-  Widener lost as well.... 

-Ski

[thewaterboy]

Wesley needs help from Salisbury and Huntingdon the rest of the way out. I think that will push Wesley in. It seems that the committee is putting some weight on Wesley's SOS getting ranked above undefeated Millsaps. If Millsaps OR Texas Lutheran takes 1 loss the rest of the way out, I see Wesley's path a lot easier because their SOS is so high compared to Millsaps and even TLU. If Millsaps and TLU go undefeated, I would think Wesley goes in ahead of Framingham St. for that third spot. I guess that is the one advantage of being an independent top 25 team: you have to schedule those tough teams cause no one else wants to play you.

Charlotte will be a test this weekend. Even though it doesnt technically count, it is an important game to win. A win over an FCS team gives Wesley a little more leverage to the committee in considering how good Wesley is compared to teams like Framingham, Millsaps and TLU (and it will put an exclamation point on a down season).

[wesleydad]

awful quiet around here when there is no game.  hope that wesley got healthy this week and they can compete in the game.  they need to do some things well, win or lose.  o line has to step it up and callahan has to avoid the sloppy int's.  defense just has to keep doing what they have been doing in most games.