Around the Nation board

[K-Mack]

Unrelated, i think we have early leaders for ATN YIR, in the to-be-renamed categories of best/worst/least memorable recognition by an outsider, for the DeLand column in the SCTimes (best) and the whole Post-Gazette poll and blog post.

I'll collect links (for my own edification and yours) when I get a moment. But the good column is highlighted in What We're Reading, and the other is addressed in this week's ATN.

[K-Mack]

Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

[smedindy]

Blocked kicks can by heartbreakers for the team that has been blocked.

Ohio Wesleyan has had five punts blocked and others batted away (as noted by their defensive stats showing seven blocks...some shoddy statwork there, Lou). Their GROSS punting average is 22.9 for the year.

[HScoach]

Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

.......sound of crickets chirping..........

[Ralph Turner]

Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

.......sound of crickets chirping..........

I interpreted the silence as your having the final word, and all agreed to the wisdom of that proclamation.   

[K-Mack]

Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

.......sound of crickets chirping..........

I interpreted the silence as your having the final word, and all agreed to the wisdom of that proclamation.   

I'll accept that answer!

[K-Mack]

Blocked kicks can by heartbreakers for the team that has been blocked.

Ohio Wesleyan has had five punts blocked and others batted away (as noted by their defensive stats showing seven blocks...some shoddy statwork there, Lou). Their GROSS punting average is 22.9 for the year.

Ouch.

[smedindy]

Blocked kicks can by heartbreakers for the team that has been blocked.

Ohio Wesleyan has had five punts blocked and others batted away (as noted by their defensive stats showing seven blocks...some shoddy statwork there, Lou). Their GROSS punting average is 22.9 for the year.

Ouch.

After their 6th loss, it improved to 24.4! They averaged 36 yards a kick and didn't have one blocked.

Still, the Bishops should probably play by Madden rules...

[dlippiel]

Great ATN this week Keith! dlip is a HUGE fan of the triple option offense and has always said that it causes many problems for the opposition for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Out here in the East region year in and year out we see teams like Delong and the Pride drive opponents crazy. Most teams  struggle with their game preparation and defensive execution trying to stop this potent offense. Yet on the other side we have seen time and again (not always of course) when a triple option team gets behind early they struggle playing catch up and many times are forced out of their comfort zone. Thanks for the article!

[02 Warhawk]

Great ATN this week Keith! dlip is a HUGE fan of the triple option offense and has always said that it causes many problems for the opposition for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Out here in the East region year in and year out we see teams like Delong and the Pride drive opponents crazy. Most teams  struggle with their game preparation and defensive execution trying to stop this potent offense. Yet on the other side we have seen time and again (not always of course) when a triple option team gets behind early they struggle playing catch up and many times are forced out of their comfort zone. Thanks for the article!

I'll pass on the triple option...how many teams you see go deep into the playoffs with that offense?

[HScoach]

Great ATN this week Keith! dlip is a HUGE fan of the triple option offense and has always said that it causes many problems for the opposition for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Out here in the East region year in and year out we see teams like Delong and the Pride drive opponents crazy. Most teams  struggle with their game preparation and defensive execution trying to stop this potent offense. Yet on the other side we have seen time and again (not always of course) when a triple option team gets behind early they struggle playing catch up and many times are forced out of their comfort zone. Thanks for the article!

I'll pass on the triple option...how many teams you see go deep into the playoffs with that offense?

I agree with 02.  It's kind of like the spread was 20 years ago.  A gimmick offense that allows a marginally talented team to be better.  Not great, but better.  It's a great high school offense though.

A truly one dimensional team, whether all pass or all run, is likely going to face someone in the playoffs that is a terrible match up and lose.  I will say that a dominant running game is less weather dependent and therefore less upset-likely than a pass happy offense, but you have to have some balance to win deep in the playoffs.   If you're not balanced offensively, you better have a lights-out defense to offset it.

[WarhawkDad]

Awesome. I am clearly not writing about anything that anyone cares to discuss.

(takes a load off)

.......sound of crickets chirping..........

I interpreted the silence as your having the final word, and all agreed to the wisdom of that proclamation.   

Kind of what I thought too!

[WarhawkDad]

Great ATN this week Keith! dlip is a HUGE fan of the triple option offense and has always said that it causes many problems for the opposition for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Out here in the East region year in and year out we see teams like Delong and the Pride drive opponents crazy. Most teams  struggle with their game preparation and defensive execution trying to stop this potent offense. Yet on the other side we have seen time and again (not always of course) when a triple option team gets behind early they struggle playing catch up and many times are forced out of their comfort zone. Thanks for the article!

I'll pass on the triple option...how many teams you see go deep into the playoffs with that offense?

Well 02, triple option, maybe not, how about triple threat.....when healthy,  Stanley, Coppage, Anderson.  Looks like three options to me!   

[108Vincent]

This might not be the best place to post this, but I just read the Dave DeLand article you had a link to about SJU/What D3 is and isn't, and I wanted to add some thoughts.  Yesterday, I spent $10 to take a family of four to a good, quality football game between Ohio Northern and Baldwin-Wallace.  My wife and daughters don't get as much out of the game as I do, but they think the pep band is great.  All in all, it was a really nice Saturday afternoon for everyone.

In contrast, my buddy (who I consider a D3 convert) is a longtime UGA fan.  He was able to get tickets to a game in Athens, but the cost was fairly substantial (more than $10).  It was difficult to see much action on the field, so he spent most of the game looking at the Jumbo-tron.  There were a good number of drunk students in his seating section, one of whom vomited on the steps next to him.  He was also a little annoyed with the number of TV-timeouts.  There is something to be said for witnessing the spectacle of an event that draws 80K, but he probably won't make the effort to attend another Dawgs game anytime soon.

So if you're a fan of the game of football, I think the question is, do you want to see a good football game or do you want to see the spectacle of a football game?  The more true fans of the game become aware of what D3 offers, the more I think they'll choose the former.

[HSC85]

Well said 108!