Around the Nation board

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks.  While we've become internet friends, I've never had the pleasure of meeting him.  I was guessing it was either Ralph or the coach, and the d3sports connection made Ralph seem more likely.

[Pat Coleman]

It is Ralph. However, since I don't have an ID on the student in the middle it was more prudent to ID nobody.

[Ralph Turner]

It is Ralph. However, since I don't have an ID on the student in the middle it was more prudent to ID nobody.

I want to thank Keith and Pat for the support that we have received at McMurry.  The McMurry family is ecstatic that Keith caught the essence of how we feel about Homecoming.   

[Josh Bowerman]

Pretty nice work, Keith.  Thanks for allowing me to be a part of it.

[K-Mack]

It is Ralph. However, since I don't have an ID on the student in the middle it was more prudent to ID nobody.

This had been taken care of by the time I signed on today.

I knew him as Todd, the cross country kid ... I left my notebook that morning, thinking Ralph and I were going to breakfast, checking out the scene at Tipi Village (which I had seen the night before) and then planning to catch up later at the game. Luckily, knowing we had access to Ralph, I didn't have to write the kid's last name on my hand.

Ralph showed me around campus from about 8 to 12.

Lots of great stuff left over from that which I couldn't squeeze into the column this week. Hope to share some here later.

[billrt66]

Pat:  Franklin knocks off Mt. St. Joe on the road tomorrow?......finally will the Grizzlies get some respect and be ranked???

[billrt66]

Pat:  Grizzlyball.com is a site which began this year for Franklin fans, alums and students to keep up with highlights, stats, etc.  It is managed by a group of students with cooperation from the football office.  For a DIII football program, it seems very well done to me.
Thanks

[K-Mack]

Saw that site earlier today. Interesting arrangement.

Given than an undefeated MSJ can't get ranked, I imagine it would be several weeks before Franklin could move up into the top 25, since they already have a loss. IMHO.

[K-Mack]

OK, I promised a few off-the-beaten path Texas updates that I couldn't squeeze into the column.

Here's one:

Where did I mention the autograph, on the ATN board? Funny story, I wanted to get it in the column but just ran out of time.

Sitting next to a reporter from medium-to-small-sized Texas paper at HSU/UMHB. He tells me his daughter reads the site all the time. OK, not too uncommon a thing to hear. And she's 42. Nothing wrong with that.

Then he says he's forbidden to disagree with me when they talk D3 football at the dinner table. If I've written it, it's gospel, he says.

Well that's not such a bad thing, is it? Kinda funny.

Then, as the UMHB game gets out of hand, he asks if I would sign the media guide for his daughter. Sure, I figure, as long as too many of the real journalists don't give me the evil eye. How can you say no to an autograph request, right?

Then the reporter calls his daughter in the stands -- from press row -- and says "Guess who I'm sitting next to? Keith McMillan!"

Definitely an odd moment.

I meant to give "Donna" I shout in the column, but just ran out of time.

So much more stuff from Texas, hopefully I can find time to share.

[billrt66]

K Mack:  Yesterday's (Thursday) USA Today had the Div. III rankings and they had Wabash 10th and Mt. St. Joe 14th.  Interesting that D3.Com is that different?

[Pat Coleman]

rt66: Welcome back. We added a link to Grizzlyball.com when you started this conversation a few weeks back.

The coaches' poll always has some odd results. I like our track record.

[K-Mack]

K Mack:  Yesterday's (Thursday) USA Today had the Div. III rankings and they had Wabash 10th and Mt. St. Joe 14th.  Interesting that D3.Com is that different?

Yes, interesting, but not at all surprising.

Many newspapers, including USA Today, publish the coaches' association rankings, in this case is the AFCA. It especially behooves USAT to back the AFCA, since they are the purveyor/partner in the Division I-A coaches poll.

No poll is perfectly accurate, and even if it were, teams don't necessarily play to their capabilities each week.

But, it's generally understood that the AFCA poll gives respect to undefeated teams, regardless of conference affliation. I have not looked at that poll recently, but I can virtually guarantee there's not but one or two teams with a loss in the top 15 at this point in the season.

D3football.com voters have generally given more respect to strength of schedule and conference strength, to the point where our poll doesn't necessarily reflect the AFCA poll.

We believe our poll, which mixes coaches, SID and media balanced to the different regions across the country, is an improved model because the mix negates the inherent biases or time constraints each group might have. Particularly, coaches' polls are difficult because coaches have a primary interest in their own teams during the season, and although they have insight that other people don't have (mostly through watching film of other teams and talking to fellow coaches), sometimes that insight can be limited to the area or region in which they play.

I'm sure the AFCA poll is regionally-balanced however, it's just typically been friendly to any team who has not yet lost, regardless of who it has played, or who teams with one loss have played.

FWIW.

['gro]

D3 plug on ESPN...

RPI made it onto ESPN today, albeit on Page 2:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/amjump?page=amjump/071012

[billrt66]

Pat:  Well the Grizzlies did it!!  Went on the road to Mt. St. Joe and beat the Lions 28-19.....now they control their own destiny as far as the winning the conference and making the National Playoffs is concerned.  Besides being a Grizzly fan I am also a Kentucky fan and I was in Lexington today and witnessed the Cats upset # 1 ranked LSU!!!!!   Nothing like college football!!!!!  Nothing!!!!  I believe!!!!  Go Grizzlies.....Go Cats!!!!!

[Pat Coleman]

Yep, I think neither Keith nor I are surprised, either.