FB: American Southwest Conference

[UMHB03]

Ok Nobody really surprised with HSU vs MHB. However, tell me why move St John to this region.  Why put Centre in North? Distance lmao. Makes more since to move St. John to north or leave in west. Please please make a logical
Arguement on this. No reason other than messing over island teams of texas and give Mt. Union and UW-WW a easy path to semis and were down umhb and St. John. It is pure favoritism and political point blank.

No doubt another money saving ploy. Stack the deck against the "island" teams in the hopes of getting them eliminated as soon as possible to save money on flight over the course of the playoff. I hope UMHB costs them as much money as possible flying teams to Texas in weeks 2-4.

[CowboyAlum261]

Edward,  I've seen John Carroll play twice this year. Mt. Union and Ben Wallace. They are a good team. However, HSU is a tab better(not just us thinking but check the polls). Who has John Carroll beaten?

Who did HSU beat?

This is fair. I've assumed the committee made it a point to separate HSU sand UMHB over the last two years in order to reward UMHB as a #1 seed. HSU played well enough to deserve to get in, but we were all expecting to play a really good team on the road (UMHB, Whitworth, Berry, etc.), so the argument really has to be made on the UMHB side, that they've done enough to justify facing a bottom 4 team in the field... how much of this do you think is because of the 26-0 margin for UMHB? If that game was 26-14 is HSU going to Whitworth this week?

Nope. This is just about money. The committee chair said as much.

Just saw that update... He makes it sound like this is the only possibility from here on out.

[Ralph Turner]

Just a reminder of how the 2004 CRU did it from the Top 10 South Region Teams board.  The Cru went on the road for all 5 playoff games.

1) 2)  2004 UMHB -- (13-2) Did it Ginger Rogers style.  (Refers to the old joke, who was the better dancer...Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers?  Rogers did everything that Astaire did, backwards and in high heels.)  Was a Pool C bid, back when there were only 3.  Beat #7 Trinity by 29, #3 HSU by 14, #5 W&J by 36 and #1 Mount Union by 3 on the road.  Lost to Elliott's #2 Linfield in the Stagg, 21-28.

[wally_wabash]

Ok Nobody really surprised with HSU vs MHB. However, tell me why move St John to this region.  Why put Centre in North? Distance lmao. Makes more since to move St. John to north or leave in west. Please please make a logical
Arguement on this. No reason other than messing over island teams of texas and give Mt. Union and UW-WW a easy path to semis and were down umhb and St. John. It is pure favoritism and political point blank.

No doubt another money saving ploy. Stack the deck against the "island" teams in the hopes of getting them eliminated as soon as possible to save money on flight over the course of the playoff. I hope UMHB costs them as much money as possible flying teams to Texas in weeks 2-4.

None of this is true or reasonable.  You're embarrassing yourself now. 

[Ralph Turner]

...geographic proximity... It strikes again.  I think that we need to commission a trophy, maybe something artistic of mesquite wood, barbed wire and a cowboy boot to award to the winner of the Texas Sub-bracket.

I am excited to see the 2nd round game that is against South Region foes. There are South Region teams in 3 of the 4 brackets so we can gauge the strength of the region from them.

[Ralph Turner]

Candidly, this tourney really cranks up in the round of 8. Those will be good games.

[DFWCrufan]

I don't see UMU going through without challenge, actually I think it's a pretty balanced tourney, of course I was hoping for a SCIAC or NWC first game, but that's the breaks.

Just go game to game....

[UMHB03]

Ok Nobody really surprised with HSU vs MHB. However, tell me why move St John to this region.  Why put Centre in North? Distance lmao. Makes more since to move St. John to north or leave in west. Please please make a logical
Arguement on this. No reason other than messing over island teams of texas and give Mt. Union and UW-WW a easy path to semis and were down umhb and St. John. It is pure favoritism and political point blank.

No doubt another money saving ploy. Stack the deck against the "island" teams in the hopes of getting them eliminated as soon as possible to save money on flight over the course of the playoff. I hope UMHB costs them as much money as possible flying teams to Texas in weeks 2-4.

None of this is true or reasonable.  You're embarrassing yourself now.

Given the NCAA's stated #1 priority (saving money), and it's open lack of respect or concern for fairness when it comes to those pesky island teams, it is all perfectly reasonable. Even obvious, as a matter of fact.

[Toby Taff]

looking at last weeks Regional rankings the path for the #1s is

UMHB: S#5, S#2, W#2, W#1
UWW: NOT RNKD, N#4,N#2 S#!
UMU: NOT RNKD, S#4, N#3, E#1
BROCK: NOT RNKD, E#3, E#2,N#1

So really the only issue is the first two rounds and that every game after 1 in UMHB's bracket is a flight. If i count right that bracket will have 6 flights by the semis if chalk wins out

[Mr. Ypsi]

looking at last weeks Regional rankings the path for the #1s is

UMHB: S#5, S#2, W#2, W#1
UWW: NOT RNKD, N#4,N#2 S#!
UMU: NOT RNKD, S#4, N#3, E#1
BROCK: NOT RNKD, E#3, E#2,N#1

So really the only issue is the first two rounds and that every game after 1 in UMHB's bracket is a flight. If i count right that bracket will have 6 flights by the semis if chalk wins out

Nice summary.  The ONLY real difference is round one (which the NCAA bean-counters mandated, over-ruling the selection committee).

[OzJohnnie]

looking at last weeks Regional rankings the path for the #1s is

UMHB: S#5, S#2, W#2, W#1
UWW: NOT RNKD, N#4,N#2 S#!
UMU: NOT RNKD, S#4, N#3, E#1
BROCK: NOT RNKD, E#3, E#2,N#1

So really the only issue is the first two rounds and that every game after 1 in UMHB's bracket is a flight. If i count right that bracket will have 6 flights by the semis if chalk wins out

Nice summary.  The ONLY real difference is round one (which the NCAA bean-counters mandated, over-ruling the selection committee).

A fine bracket.  If you're goal is to center play on a geographically convenient location.  The south and the wild west make it a little difficult, but bunch up the north, east and most of the west and then you're gold.

We should just make UMU, UWW, Brockport and MHB permenant hosts of each region and be done with the regional ranking buildups.  They are superfluous and seemingly ignored to enable matchups not driven by quality.  So why bother with the charade?

[Redtooth]

As a long time D3 football player, coach, fan and former AD I feel the need to share some observations and thoughts on the playoffs and the selection process that seems to change (without notice) almost every year at appease the flavor of the day of the committee.  This year's goalposts (figurative use) were in different locations than last year when I was AD for a school in consideration for a Pool C bid.

There has been a long time belief (supported by everything discussed by the NCAA) that 4 geographic regions exist in Division III; West, North, South and East....over the past couple of years while Regional Rankings have been created and used prior to selection, no pure region has been created for the tournament...with the exception of the EAST.  Two years ago, the committee sent Mount Union there and as expected they ran through the region like crap 💩 through a goose.  Why does the committee feel so compelled to protect the weakest region of the country under every possible measurement or metric?  This year.....3 ranked teams make up the juggernaut of a bracket known as the EAST.....and one of them is guaranteed to make the Semis.  If I had won either the big Mega Millions or PowerBall last month I would bet that money that St. Thomas could have won that bracket without a game within 28 points...that includes Brockport.  Who did Brockport play that gave the committee the belief that they deserve a #1 seed?  Incredibly weak rationale to protect them.

The sometimes used criteria about conference matchups was completely upended this year:
SJU and Bethel- different Regions, same side of the Semis
Mount and JC- same Region, could meet in the Quarters
Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg- different Regions, same side of Semis
Berry and Centre- different Regions, could only meet at Stagg
UMHB and Hardin Simmons- ROUND 1

ZERO consistency with this item on a year over year basis OR even in the same year!  4 teams were absolutely screwed on this item this year...I will leave it to you to figure out who.  The lack of uniformity on this one item calls into question the whole "the NCAA slapped our hands about travel money" from the Chair.

Last point I will make is the need to move to seeding the brackets more inline with what FCS and DII do...best teams get seeded based on a National ranking system....this isn't rocket science and could easily be handled in DIII.

Very proud of what SJU has accomplished this year and believe they have the right formula for a deep playoff run similar to those we made from 2000-03.

[QB Jock Itch]

As a long time D3 football player, coach, fan and former AD I feel the need to share some observations and thoughts on the playoffs and the selection process that seems to change (without notice) almost every year at appease the flavor of the day of the committee.  This year's goalposts (figurative use) were in different locations than last year when I was AD for a school in consideration for a Pool C bid.

There has been a long time belief (supported by everything discussed by the NCAA) that 4 geographic regions exist in Division III; West, North, South and East....over the past couple of years while Regional Rankings have been created and used prior to selection, no pure region has been created for the tournament...with the exception of the EAST.  Two years ago, the committee sent Mount Union there and as expected they ran through the region like crap 💩 through a goose.  Why does the committee feel so compelled to protect the weakest region of the country under every possible measurement or metric?  This year.....3 ranked teams make up the juggernaut of a bracket known as the EAST.....and one of them is guaranteed to make the Semis.  If I had won either the big Mega Millions or PowerBall last month I would bet that money that St. Thomas could have won that bracket without a game within 28 points...that includes Brockport.  Who did Brockport play that gave the committee the belief that they deserve a #1 seed?  Incredibly weak rationale to protect them.

The sometimes used criteria about conference matchups was completely upended this year:
SJU and Bethel- different Regions, same side of the Semis
Mount and JC- same Region, could meet in the Quarters
Johns Hopkins and Muhlenberg- different Regions, same side of Semis
Berry and Centre- different Regions, could only meet at Stagg
UMHB and Hardin Simmons- ROUND 1

ZERO consistency with this item on a year over year basis OR even in the same year!  4 teams were absolutely screwed on this item this year...I will leave it to you to figure out who.  The lack of uniformity on this one item calls into question the whole "the NCAA slapped our hands about travel money" from the Chair.

Last point I will make is the need to move to seeding the brackets more inline with what FCS and DII do...best teams get seeded based on a National ranking system....this isn't rocket science and could easily be handled in DIII.

Very proud of what SJU has accomplished this year and believe they have the right formula for a deep playoff run similar to those we made from 2000-03.

Good insight. Thanks

[Frank Rossi]

Seems to ignore what Frostburg did in another "region" last year.  Also conveniently misses the mark on some other key facts about the actual setup, the history, how we got here, Brockport, and a lot more.  I'm glad you started your statement by identifying yourself as a "former AD" with an ax to grind because you missed out in Pool C.  By the way, it's kind of foolish for an admin or former admin to write on a message board like this to this degree.  It almost equates with foolishness of a parent of a player like a starting QB frequently writing on here incognito...

[Redtooth]

Seems to ignore what Frostburg did in another "region" last year.  Also conveniently misses the mark on some other key facts about the actual setup, the history, how we got here, Brockport, and a lot more.  I'm glad you started your statement by identifying yourself as a "former AD" with an ax to grind because you missed out in Pool C.  By the way, it's kind of foolish for an admin or former admin to write on a message board like this to this degree.  It almost equates with foolishness of a parent of a player like a starting QB frequently writing on here incognito...

Frank,

I saw someone post on another board that you were a touch sensitive on items dealing with the East Region so I should have guessed you would respond in this fashion.  I will tackle your items in reverse order; I have no axe to grind about missing a Pool C bid last year when I was AD...the teams that deserved to get in got in...we weren't one of them.  The last time I checked, there wasn't a rule that prohibits someone not affiliated with a team (and knowledgeable about the process, criteria and history) from posting on the Boards.  I have been posting on here for over 10 years and have never done so incognito.....

What history, setup and other stuff am I missing on Frostburg and Brockport?  Brockport won a cupcake bracket last year and were shut out 24-0 by the UHMB in the semis.  Frostburg gave up 70 to Mount in the region finals. 

Reality is the East hasn't been a Stagg winner (Ithaca) since 1991, when I was playing.  The last time(s) an East team played in the Stagg was 1999 and 1998 (Rowan) and they lost both times.

Unfortunately, you missed the points I was making about an improved process and better matchups.