Around the Nation board

[K-Mack]

There are some simple points re: NESCAC. Most of them have been made.

A couple semi-new ones: When we ask people in the NESCAC, they are as curious about where they stand as we are. I am not so convinced they would be one-and-done, but it also would not be a five-week tournament. Three is possible, for Williams, Amherst or Trinity. Nine (or maybe eight) of the schools would have no change at all and keep right on going the way they're going.

I have argued before that no student-athlete anywhere would be more well-equipped to deal with the challenge of balancing school work and football than those who go to our academically most prestigious schools. Chicago and Pomona-Pitzer and Carleton and Carnegie Mellon kids figure it out just fine.

The NESCAC is being silly and self-contained, as is its right. They are blatantly hypocritical by not allowing football to do what all its other sports do, as is their right. The day the Ivy League changes its stance, the NESCAC will consider it.

They are harming no one. People on both sides of the argument have an interest in seeing how they'd do; we're all competitors or competitive observers and we'd welcome the NESCAC's participation.

As it stands, not only are they freeing up a bid for everyone else, but so is the 16-team NEFC laying claim to just one and not two. Ralph is right, the playoffs can't ever really expand beyond 32. So each Pool A conference that comes on board steals a B or C.

Hazzben, great questions. It's our best estimates, as a lot of things are in absence of what we know.

Circles have been run around the phrase "intellectual consistency." I'm hijacking my board back. We shall move on.

Next person to mention the NESCAC better be talking about how beautiful the fields are or how fun the game they went to this year was. Don't make me post at length about other D3 topics to distract you!

(You are, of course, free to continue arguing, but please don't)

[Pat Coleman]

Or, if you like, you could argue it on the NESCAC board, where it's also been beaten to death but is more on-topic.

[WarhawkDad]

Or, if you like, you could argue it on the NESCAC board, where it's also been beaten to death but is more on-topic.

Amen.....so how about those semi-final games coming up this Saturday!   

[bleedpurple]

Or, if you like, you could argue it on the NESCAC board, where it's also been beaten to death but is more on-topic.

Amen.....so how about those semi-final games coming up this Saturday!   

My "one-line" take on keys to victory for each team:

Wesley: Strike quick and get a two score lead, forcing UW-W to play come-back.
UW-W: Put more pressure on Sottilare than he's ever faced.
Bethel: Keep the game close into the fourth quarter and force a couple Purple Raider mistakes.
Mount Union: Just keep executing if the going is a little tougher against an excellent defense.

[K-Mack]

bp, I like where that is heading.

I'm notoriously awful and semifinal and Stagg picks, I guess because i think everyone's good at this stage ... and I guess I have to withhold my opinons until Friday.

But re: your keys ...

I feel like UW-W is one of those teams that could be patient and run & run & run and score late. Like that 31-26 Stagg Bowl except not kick so many FGs.

Sotillare ... good observation. I think Wesley would screen, draw and quick hit if their line is being eaten up by UWW.

The other one, if Bethel can double-cover Shorts and limit him, MU will have to get Miller and Jasper Collins involved ... I think it might be a slow first half with both offenses feeling the defenses out.

Just not sure how Bethel is going to score on UMU. Can they line up and pound it down the throats of one of this year's best defenses? If so, it would go down in history with the other teams who have been able to run against UMU and beat them. Nobody I can think of has beaten them without being able to establish the run.

All that was off top and means maybe not a hill of beans ... just expanding the convo here

[HScoach]

^ If you want to beat Mount Union, you have to win the battle at the line of scrimmage.  If you lose the battle up front, the game is over.  Period.  Winning the LOS doesn't guarantee you win the game, but losing the LOS does guarantee you'll lose the game.

I'm really looking forward to Mount's offense going against Bethel's defense.  The last 3 rounds have been against solid defenses, but nothing close to approaching good or great.  If Mount plays as sloppy as they did against Alfred, they're going to really struggle to score and this will be a game to the end. 

[K-Mack]

all great points.

all great sig lines too. LOL @ bikinis/statistics.

[WarhawkDad]

bp, I like where that is heading.

I'm notoriously awful and semifinal and Stagg picks, I guess because i think everyone's good at this stage ... and I guess I have to withhold my opinons until Friday.

But re: your keys ...

I feel like UW-W is one of those teams that could be patient and run & run & run and score late. Like that 31-26 Stagg Bowl except not kick so many FGs.

Sotillare ... good observation. I think Wesley would screen, draw and quick hit if their line is being eaten up by UWW.

The other one, if Bethel can double-cover Shorts and limit him, MU will have to get Miller and Jasper Collins involved ... I think it might be a slow first half with both offenses feeling the defenses out.

Just not sure how Bethel is going to score on UMU. Can they line up and pound it down the throats of one of this year's best defenses? If so, it would go down in history with the other teams who have been able to run against UMU and beat them. Nobody I can think of has beaten them without being able to establish the run.

All that was off top and means maybe not a hill of beans ... just expanding the convo here

K-Mack

The interesting thing about Warhawk pressure is that it is mostly done with 4 down lineman, so the linebackers stay home.   Throwing screens actually plays into the defensive strategy.  We actually have a package where a linebacker blitzes but the d-end usually Louissant drops into coverage and he is fast enough to do it.  This will be a great test and I agree with HSCoach that the battle in the trenches will determine the outcome.

[K-Mack]

It's always about the trenches this deep into the playoffs. Maybe quite honestly every year.

[hazzben]

^ If you want to beat Mount Union, you have to win the battle at the line of scrimmage.  If you lose the battle up front, the game is over.  Period.  Winning the LOS doesn't guarantee you win the game, but losing the LOS does guarantee you'll lose the game.

Nail on the head.

If we're outclassed in the trenches, we are in trouble, bigtime. If we can compete there, then we've probably got ourselves a game. Keep an eye on who plays LG for BU. All MIAC LG Penz went down last week with a leg injury, but 'hoped' to play through it today. Didn't hear the final word, but it was initially diagnosed as a broken Fibula - the non-weight bearing bone in the lower leg. If that's the case and he's plays, holy smokes toughness on display! If he's out #70 will have to have a big game against the toughest D-Line we've seen to date.

[K-Mack]

Found what I was talking about re: Kehres. Just occurred to me that wasn't on this thread, but HSCoach it was item 29.

Candle and Campbell called plays, and Bruney coached QBs.

http://archive.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2006-01-27/105+ways+to+remember+2005

[skunks_sidekick]

Found what I was talking about re: Kehres. Just occurred to me that wasn't on this thread, but HSCoach it was item 29.

Candle and Campbell called plays, and Bruney coached QBs.

http://archive.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/2006-01-27/105+ways+to+remember+2005

Great stuff Keith....at times we Mount fans/LK affectionados forget all of his sublime moments because there are so many of them. 

I have a feeling there might be a few more at this Stagg Bowl.   

[K-Mack]

Like the time you told me pregame that he was planning to pass early because he felt they'd be keying on Kmic and then he went up top to Shorts twice right away?

Maybe the best fan tip I've gotten in the D3 era. And I've gotten some good ones.

[K-Mack]

Getting a lot of the usual questions this week from non-D3 folks in other walks of life who know what I do. Here's one short exchange:

Re: xxxGUYFROMWORKxxx message of 12/13/2010 6:14:34 PM: "its getting a little borign with MU - WW 6 yrs in a row ... "

Are you trying to be funny?

The theme of our podcast this week is don't confuse lack of variety with "boring."

Sure it's the same ol' teams, but the game won't be boring. They're evenly matched, and if it were a random year without the history, we'd love the idea of two heavyweights matching up on the field for the title after four weeks of playoffs.

[MountUnion12]

Can anyone tell me some info why mcmurry moved up