Atlantic Central Football Conference/Independents

Roll Gulls 56 · September 13, 2007, 05:12:39 AM

Since the current OC has been at Salisbury, there may have been one or two games in 6 years where a defense has shut SU down...when SU doesn't score pts it is because of poor execution and lperformance...I will give credit where credit is due but turnovers not due to big hits and missed assignments not being overpowered is more due to lack of execution than the 11 guys across the ball. I think CNU has an athletic team...but Salisbury this year I feel is the best CNU has seen them for a while especially offensively...and frankly...if we execute the next two weeks like the last two...we can rumble into week 9 against a top 10 Wesley...you never know what can happen in that game...and we will then see just how good MHBU really is.

CNU 85, it is good to see you are still on here. Looking forward to the game this week. I know CNU can be one of the most hostile environments to play in D3. It is the kind of game as a player you love being a part of no matter which side of the ball you are on. Friendly wager, I think you are wrong and Salisbury scores 37 with a defensive/Spec. teams score, 3 offensive TD's and 3 FG's. Updated predicted final score...SU 37 CNU 24

@d3jason · September 13, 2007, 07:41:56 AM

Execution and avoiding turnovers is the key for the Salisbury offense. As far as the Gulls being the best CNU has seen.....time will tell. Salisbury and Mary Hardin-Baylor are similar teams scheme-wise. Both run the option to death, although the Crusaders will get in the I formation a little more. The defenses are also similar, not overly large but very fast. However, it is premature to compare the Gulls to UMHB just yet. Win this week, impressively.

SU Backer · September 13, 2007, 10:08:16 AM

Conrad, I had to jump in for support of a fellow "Gull Nation" guy- I believe Roll Gulls said that this is the best Salisbury team that CNU has seen. I have seen enough SU games to think he is probably pretty close in that assesment, but I think the '04 team with Dustin Johnson, Brad DeHaven, Leroy Satchell, etc. was more talented. You are correct in that this game is a litmus test of sorts....I think SU is up for that test. That said CNU is tough at home ( as are most teams) anyway, hope they all come out healthy and GO GULLS!!

Pat Coleman · September 13, 2007, 10:14:53 AM

I'm looking forward to seeing the result of this game. I think Salisbury is firing on all cylinders right now and CNU showed it was vulnerable to a good ground game last week. That entirely new linebacker corps is going to get another workout.

njlincolnlion · September 13, 2007, 10:19:58 AM

Conrad:

I just wanted to add that in addition to Salisbury typical option attack, the Gulls has an accurate drop passer that they didn't have in the pass.

njlincolnlion · September 13, 2007, 10:23:10 AM

Pat:

I agree, that the Salisbury/CNU game is going to be interesting and set the tone for the rest of the season for the two programs.

Pat Coleman · September 13, 2007, 10:41:05 AM

Quote from: njlincolnlion on September 13, 2007, 10:19:58 AM
I just wanted to add that in addition to Salisbury typical option attack, the Gulls has an accurate drop passer that they didn't have in the pass.

Nice Freudian slip.

@d3jason · September 13, 2007, 11:01:38 AM

Quote from: SU Backer on September 13, 2007, 10:08:16 AM
Conrad, I had to jump in for support of a fellow "Gull Nation" guy- I believe Roll Gulls said that this is the best Salisbury team that CNU has seen. I have seen enough SU games to think he is probably pretty close in that assesment, but I think the '04 team with Dustin Johnson, Brad DeHaven, Leroy Satchell, etc. was more talented. You are correct in that this game is a litmus test of sorts....I think SU is up for that test. That said CNU is tough at home ( as are most teams) anyway, hope they all come out healthy and GO GULLS!!

I wasn't down on the Gulls, I'd love to see them beat all of their nonconference opponents. I've been their biggest supporter over on the South Region Poll board.

Haven't seen the Gulls his year yet but that '04 team was very good. Really should have made more noise during the playoffs, but turnovers will kill you. D.J. was a special player. Even if the defense covered every option, he would bust a tackle and go the distance.

I agree that the ability to be accurate with their down field passes makes them very tough to stop, but option is still what they do.

SU Backer · September 13, 2007, 12:08:50 PM

Conrad, sorry I misjudged your post - I too don't think SU is in UMHB league just yet. I know what you mean about that '04 playoff loss to CNU....turnovers cost them that game and ended a tremendous run. I take Pat's opinion in good measure because he sees many more games and has a better understanding of how teams stack up from different areas. If he thinks SU can play with CNU this year I like to hear that. This game is going to be a good one, the stadium at CNU is one of the best in D3 and the crowd is good too.......the visitor stands are not much though. I'll be there win or lose and can honestly say I have never had a bad time at any D3 game I've been at.
Anybody heard where the ACFC is going and Salisbury in particular? It would be nice to either get in a conference that has a AQ or at least have enough conference teams that would make a good schedule and develop some real rivalries. GO GULLS!!

njlincolnlion · September 13, 2007, 01:46:37 PM

Pat:

Hopefully the Gulls will prevail on Saturday, so the past history with CNU will "fly away" with the pass.

Roll Gulls 56 · September 13, 2007, 05:06:20 PM

I tell yah...all this talk about this weekend is really getting me excited.

I think that most of what is being written is very true...one thing however I am not real sure about it the difference in talent between now and '04. I will agree with everybody about Dehaven. In my opinion, the best overall ball player I ever played with...and he was only a sophmore my senior year. I think however the comments about DJ were questionable. I agree that when he had the ball in his hands he could do things that were unbelievable. The only negative thing that I have to say about him is that I feel he really never came close to reaching potential...My senior year he was a freshman starting qb...He thrived because he wasn't asked to be the field general and also a captain and leader of the team...he could just be the qb. I don't think that he got better for 4 quarters. I look at Curley and recognize that he doesn't have the athleticism that DJ had but this guy is peaking at the right time. He came into a system and bought into everything. He made it his life to know this playbook and be a master of this offense...and he is darn close to this...if DJ does this and is a master, I think we would be talking about a legend in the D3 arena...however, he is a really talented qb that brought some good seasons to the Gulls and really helped with recruiting...I would argue that the system in place(2 qb) is as good if not better because of the physical and mental preperation of Curley and the change of pace of the new guy.

BTW, I was DJ's roomate...he is a great guy...I am not talking bad about him but just making some comments about how good I think the current situation is.

Roll Gulls

CNU85 · September 13, 2007, 07:30:10 PM

Roll Gulls,

good to see you again, too. I'll take that friendly wager.

Pat is right - the LBs for CNU will be tested again. If they play the way they did against Rowan, we'll be ok.

Oh - to the guy who mentioned something about dominance. I never said CNU would dominate the Gulls. I just said the D would not give up 28 points. And Roll Gulls...you agreed...you said 3 offensive TD's and 2 FGs.....that's 27 points if the PATs are good!!!!

It'll be a fun game....CNU wins because they are at home! I have to go look in the newspaper to remember the score I predicted last month.

PA_wesleyfan · September 13, 2007, 10:28:57 PM

Headed to Chester tomorrow for the Wesley/Widener game so have to do this now

This week could be a telling week for the Conference. all on the road.

Frostburg st @ Randolph-Macon. Have to give the edge to R-M here Fostburg St.
just hasn't been able to get over the hump. Last weeks loss to NNA doesn't look to give a good sense that they will win a game in the conference this year.

Brockport St. @ Cortland St. Cortland St. gets the nod here. B-Port St. takes on the though schedule every year and this years version is no different. Cortland ST. still has that bad taste from lats year NCAA miss.

SSU @ CNU one of the two big showdowns that have regional implications especially for the ACFC schools. CNU wants to erase last weeks loss and if they want to stay in the race for an at large bid they can't lose here and then not win the USAC. SSU needs to keep an unblemished record the next three weeks with Del Val and an up and coming NNA before the schedule eases. With Welsey on the horizon the last week of October. This is a toss-up. Got to give the home field edge to CNU in a good one.

Wesley @ Widener. The weather could be a factor. Depends on which westher man you listen to in Philly. Going to be cool with dropping temps. great football weather.. under the lights. If Wesley holds onto the ball and doesn't give Widener a short field they will win. Wesley is in the middle of a tough schedule stretch and can ill afford to stumble out of the blocks again this week. Widener had a good lead last week against NCW on turnovers but held on for the win. I look for Wesley to come out with a little more fire this week and a win but it wont' be easy.

ryanfbsport · September 13, 2007, 11:18:26 PM

I assume no one want to talk about Gallaudet University football team this fall.

I have one question for Pat Coleman, what if Gallaudet went through the season unbeaten, will they qualify into NCAA Div 3 playoffs.

Ryan

PA_wesleyfan · September 13, 2007, 11:24:52 PM

Quote from: ryanfbsport on September 13, 2007, 11:18:26 PM
I assume no one want to talk about Gallaudet University football team this fall.

I have one question for Pat Coleman, what if Gallaudet went through the season unbeaten, will they qualify into NCAA Div 3 playoffs.

Ryan

Welcome to the boards Ryan
If you go to the frint page of the D3 site you will see a quality of wins icon. There you will see a criteria the NCAA uses to rate teams in regions. But the chances are that Gallaudette making the playoffs would be very slim.

Pat will definately explain this better to you.

Again welcome and keep posting,,,