FB: American Rivers Conference

[New Storm]

Remember there are 29 conferences in Division III, so if you're the Big East then likely someone else is, too.

It might be a stretch to call the IIAC the Big East. However, there's a big drop off in Division I between the haves and the have-nots. In Division III we have haves and have-nots as well, but we also have some leagues in between. I think the IIAC is in that group.

I have to agree with Pat on this one.  I am indifferent on whether a d3 team could beat d1 team.  I'd like to say that UWW could have hung with Buffalo last season, but still they would be playing against full scholorship players!

What about the Duke Blue Devils?   

Football not basketball 8) 8) 8)

[Klopenhiemer]

Remember there are 29 conferences in Division III, so if you're the Big East then likely someone else is, too.

It might be a stretch to call the IIAC the Big East. However, there's a big drop off in Division I between the haves and the have-nots. In Division III we have haves and have-nots as well, but we also have some leagues in between. I think the IIAC is in that group.

I have to agree with Pat on this one.  I am indifferent on whether a d3 team could beat d1 team.  I'd like to say that UWW could have hung with Buffalo last season, but still they would be playing against full scholorship players!

What about the Duke Blue Devils?   

What about the Toledo Mud Hens

[DutchFan2004]

I have a question. I have a cousin who starts at Receiver at UGA, and I was talking to him and he wanted to know the difference between Division III and Division I football.

I told him that there is an obvious talent level difference, but the gap isn't as big as he might think. I told him if he were to take some of the top teams in DIII they could defenitly beat some DII schools and prob. some of the smaller DI schools. Alot of the guys who play DIII are players who could prob. play at the DI level but want to stay close to home, go to a smaller school, etc. Then I told him if I was to compare the IIAC to a conference on his level I told him the ACC or possibly even the Big East.

Was I wrong with these answers? let me know what you think

D3 is different from D1 because the players are playing for the love of the game. There are zero athletic scholarship dollars on the field each Saturday. D3 athletes are not looking to be drafted to the NFL. They are looking to get a good job after graduation. Because of this, D3 recruits a different type of athlete -- they recruit student-athletes. Calling their ability level less is insulting to the players and the conferences. D3 is not a glorified high school program, or an intramural program as so many people believe.

Do the players look different at the D3 and the D1 level? Of course they do. Premier D1 level programs encourage their players to eat, sleep and drink football -- in that atmosphere, you churn out a certain breed of athlete. D3 takes a more balanced approach, which results in more balanced men. I'm tired of people believing that playing at the D1 level is better than playing at the D3 level -- personally, I think it's the other way around.

I agree totally with the statement that D3 is better to play in than D1.  How many guys are getting busted in the IIAC?  Only one I know of and he got off.  (Had to say that for the EVIL EMPIRE guys)  I think that the kids are here for the education.  There are some that may make the pros out of D3 but for the most part they are there for the love of the game and playing.  There are 32 NFL teams so at what 50 players per team you have 1600 jobs.  Not real good odds at making a team.  D3 IMHO has it right they get these men ready for life and gets them a degree they can hopefully use and earn a living with.  They also get to meet some guys and develop a life long bond hopefully.  

[DutchFan2004]

Remember there are 29 conferences in Division III, so if you're the Big East then likely someone else is, too.

It might be a stretch to call the IIAC the Big East. However, there's a big drop off in Division I between the haves and the have-nots. In Division III we have haves and have-nots as well, but we also have some leagues in between. I think the IIAC is in that group.

I have to agree with Pat on this one.  I am indifferent on whether a d3 team could beat d1 team.  I'd like to say that UWW could have hung with Buffalo last season, but still they would be playing against full scholorship players!

What about the Duke Blue Devils?   

What about the Toledo Mud Hens

I think you have the wrong sport 

[Klopenhiemer]

Remember there are 29 conferences in Division III, so if you're the Big East then likely someone else is, too.

It might be a stretch to call the IIAC the Big East. However, there's a big drop off in Division I between the haves and the have-nots. In Division III we have haves and have-nots as well, but we also have some leagues in between. I think the IIAC is in that group.

I have to agree with Pat on this one.  I am indifferent on whether a d3 team could beat d1 team.  I'd like to say that UWW could have hung with Buffalo last season, but still they would be playing against full scholorship players!

What about the Duke Blue Devils?   

What about the Toledo Mud Hens

I think you have the wrong sport 

Oh shoot...Thanks for pointing that out

[Klopenhiemer]

I have a question. I have a cousin who starts at Receiver at UGA, and I was talking to him and he wanted to know the difference between Division III and Division I football.

I told him that there is an obvious talent level difference, but the gap isn't as big as he might think. I told him if he were to take some of the top teams in DIII they could defenitly beat some DII schools and prob. some of the smaller DI schools. Alot of the guys who play DIII are players who could prob. play at the DI level but want to stay close to home, go to a smaller school, etc. Then I told him if I was to compare the IIAC to a conference on his level I told him the ACC or possibly even the Big East.

Was I wrong with these answers? let me know what you think

D3 is different from D1 because the players are playing for the love of the game. There are zero athletic scholarship dollars on the field each Saturday. D3 athletes are not looking to be drafted to the NFL. They are looking to get a good job after graduation. Because of this, D3 recruits a different type of athlete -- they recruit student-athletes. Calling their ability level less is insulting to the players and the conferences. D3 is not a glorified high school program, or an intramural program as so many people believe.

Do the players look different at the D3 and the D1 level? Of course they do. Premier D1 level programs encourage their players to eat, sleep and drink football -- in that atmosphere, you churn out a certain breed of athlete. D3 takes a more balanced approach, which results in more balanced men. I'm tired of people believing that playing at the D1 level is better than playing at the D3 level -- personally, I think it's the other way around.

I agree totally with the statement that D3 is better to play in than D1.  How many guys are getting busted in the IIAC?  Only one I know of and he got off.  (Had to say that for the EVIL EMPIRE guys)  I think that the kids are here for the education.  There are some that may make the pros out of D3 but for the most part they are there for the love of the game and playing.  There are 32 NFL teams so at what 50 players per team you have 1600 jobs.  Not real good odds at making a team.  D3 IMHO has it right they get these men ready for life and gets them a degree they can hopefully use and earn a living with.  They also get to meet some guys and develop a life long bond hopefully.  

Dutchie...I will agree with what you are saying and I do believe that d3 is an excellent brand of football. 

D1 offers something that D3 doesnt.  The ability to grant football scholorships which can pay for a kids education.  I do not think you will see a kid pass up a full ride scholorship to play at Central, based on the belief that it will make him a better man.  I know this is not what you were saying, that was merely my statement. 

The d3 kid who really loves the game does eat, sleep, and breath football.  He trains year round, studies film year round, and thinks about it year round.  The difference is they are not getting paid, they do not have the fancy frills, and they are not playing in the Big House on Saturdays. 

BTW:  Leaving college and not being beaten down with 25K in student loan debt wouldnt be to bad of a place to be.  When I left BV I had 40K in student loans.  I loved my experience, but if the Hawkeyes would have been calling out of high school with money, there is no way I would have passed that up. 

DF2K4...If there was a full ride on the table when your youngest son was coming out of high school, you have encouraged him to pass it up and head to Central?  I am not talking about 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 rides.  I am saying the full boat. 

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think any D-III team could beat a "I-A" team, but of course they beat "I-AA" non-scholarship teams all the time and I am sure they could beat many "I-AA" scholarship teams as well.

[DutchFan2004]

I agree with you Pat.  The Duke Blue Devil comment was in jest as there was an article about Duke being sued by Louisville I believe about cancelling a contract to play them.  In the contract the lawyers for Duke stated that the contract stated that there has to be a suitable replacement.  The Duke lawyer all but admitted that they were a poor team and that replacing them should not be to tough as the talent level was mostly above theirs.  Duke won the lawsuit I believe.  That was a joke. 

[DutchFan2004]

Well to tell you the truth Klop I did not have much to do with his decision one way or the other.  He made it all on his own.  Had he been offered a full ride YES I would have encouraged him to take it.  He was one of those players that have been talked about.  He would have been moved from QB to DB by some schools.  He wanted to play QB and have a chance to play those 3-4 years.  He did not want to wait and play one year if any.  So you are correct I would have encouraged him to accept a full ride, but it was totally his decision.  

[New Storm]

Well to tell you the truth Klop I did not have much to do with his decision one way or the other.  He made it all on his own.  Had he been offered a full ride YES I would have encouraged him to take it.  He was one of those players that have been talked about.  He would have been moved from QB to DB by some schools.  He wanted to play QB and have a chance to play those 3-4 years.  He did not want to wait and play one year if any.  So you are correct I would have encouraged him to accept a full ride, but it was totally his decision.  

It always seems to be about the money. Ys they will take the money 

[Purple Heys]

I don't think any D-III team could beat a "I-A" team, but of course they beat "I-AA" non-scholarship teams all the time and I am sure they could beat many "I-AA" scholarship teams as well.

I was going to get around to responding to the D3 vs. D1-A, D1-AA, D1-AA(NS), DII etc.

Pat, didn't you or Keith track a running total of the D3 vs. the others?  How many D3 vs. D1-AA and D1-AA(NS) games were there last year?

Locally USD is one of the top D1-AA(NS) teams in the country...but when they venture out to play a D1-AA Scholarship team like a 4-7 UC Davis, USD gets beat.  Two years ago, at 11-0, they lobbied  to get into the top 16 1-AA payoff pool but were denied...rightfully so after dropping the game to a sub .500 UC Davis

I think 1-AA(NS) is not too far removed from D3...it's there so teams can play other sports at the D1 Scholarship level.

I think the upper tier UW-W's and MUC's of the world would be top D1-AA(NS) teams too.

Dutch Fans:  How do think Central would do against Drake?

[Walston Hoover]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Drake=Coe.

[footballdaddy]

I believe that D3 is what the NCAA is talking about when they say "Most NCAA athletes go pro in something other than sports".

[footballdaddy]

As far as the D1-D3 comparison, take away the top 10% of D1 athletes and you would have about an equal talent pool. In other words, I'd think a game between a D1's #2's and a D3 team of the same standing could be a pretty good game.

[DutchFan2004]

I believe that D3 is what the NCAA is talking about when they say "Most NCAA athletes go pro in something other than sports".

I agree to a point with this.  Think of how many football players at the d1 level there are.  10,000 round numbers.  With only 1600 NFL jobs that leaves a lot of D1 players doing something other than sports.  Then you have to consider the other sports like track, swimming, gymnastics, there are not to many pro spots for those athletes.  Then consider D2 and D3 on top of that there are not to many NCAA athletes going on to professional sports.