FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[DE Wesley Fan]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1). 

[firstdown]

All of this reminds me of the old cry "Break up the Yankees" in baseball.  Mount Union and UWW have set a very high standard, and work hard to maintain that standard.  They set the bar very high for others as well.  As a Wabash fan, I can see the improvement that the Little Giants have made in their program in general from having the earned the right to play these team 3 times in the last 10 years.  I know how hard the players and coaches at Wabash work, and how the school administration and the alumni support the program.  By getting the opportunity for the Little Giants to test themselves and to measure their progress, I have nothing by the greatest respect for Mount Union and UWW and their achievements.  Sadly, we have seen the impact of dumbing down our educational standards on our primary and secondary schools rather demanding and producing excellence.  Life in the 21st century is highly competitive, and striving for excellence on the football field against the best only helps prepare football players at Wabash for the greater challenges that lie ahead as a part of their broader college education.

[Raider 68]

Based upon the D3 survey, 70% of those voting give the Raiders only a 30% chance to win. While I know UWW is favored, defending champions, I wonder how many voters want that to happen vs. what can happen. Like Ric said in an earlier post, the teams are just too even and either one can win the title!

[HScoach]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1).

When Wesley finally gets over the hump, and I'm sure they will sooner rather than later, please make sure they don't pull a Rowan and forget to show up the next week.  Beating Mount in the semi's does not win you a championship.  Unfortunately for KC Keeler he didn't realize that and it made us all look bad.

[repete]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1).

When Wesley finally gets over the hump, and I'm sure they will sooner rather than later, please make sure they don't pull a Rowan and forget to show up the next week.  Beating Mount in the semi's does not win you a championship.  Unfortunately for KC Keeler he didn't realize that and it made us all look bad.

And vs. a No. 7 seed  to boot ... but great for an old warrior like Frosty W. to get a title. Still a pretty boring, one-sided Stagg.

[DE Wesley Fan]

Unfortunately for KC Keeler he didn't realize that and it made us all look bad.

Maybe that's why he only gets to coach the SECOND best college program in Delaware now

[UMUplayerdad]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1).

it sure seems like wesley is close to breaking through-i sure hope  it happens on the other side of the bracket though

[formerd3db]

desertraider:
Good post.  I respond, if I may.  As far as the donations, you are correct as to "it depends on what the alumni donations" are going to.  For Hope, the issue is not that - i.e. Hope has a huge (major) campaign for massive funding of on-campus buildings and other improvements (they did so earlier this decade with the DeVos facility - the NBA style basketball (and volleyball) arena and athletic facilities) and now just started another huge building campaign.  This is in the mult-millions of dollars and they'll easily reach that goal, just as they did with the previous campaign.  The alumni also donate beyond that very well to fund the financial aid portion.  However, I guess my point was that, unfortunately, at Hope, the decisions as to how those financial packages are made do not compare to what is offered at some of the other MIAA schools.  In part, that is because of Hope's extremely high academic standards for admission, which is certainly a good requirement, but also, Hope is not hurting/struggling for enrollement (and will not be), unlike many other DIII schools.  Hope values athletics and will not drop those, however, its approach in the context I'm discussing is perhaps something that hinders it in athletics for getting to that next level on an even more consistent basis than it has in some sports, such as basketball (at least for now and at least that is the thought of some alumni).

As to the parity, you are correct.  The top "star" recruits will go to the major programs.  Where parity comes in, is the spreading of this to the "have nots".  Again, in some conferences it helps and there has been a definite difference for some since that 85 scholarship limit (with the 30+ preferred walk-ons) rule came into effect.

I don't mean to be picky, but don't you mean Lake Erie College as the newest DII school in the GLIAC?  Notre Dame College, it was my understanding is an NAIA scholarship program in football like Concordia-Ann Arbor and Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI (and like Malone, etc.)  Unless Notre Dame College has changed and is going the NCAA Div II route- if so, I must have missed that.

Also, you are right that Grand Valley State has the national recognition via their DII national championships.  However, that has translated into their conference i.e. the GLIAC gaining more of the same, so I believe that is another reason why their members schools have drawn more recruits away from our state's DIII schools, but again also due to the football scholarship availability.  As you know, with only 36 full rides allowed in DII per the NCAA, these schools usually split that so almost all their players receive a "half-ride".  When parents are offered say $9000 for that football stipend and the total tuition/R&B at those schools is in the range of $17,000-19,000 now, and their son has the talent to play at that level, certainly, unless they can afford a Hope (or let's say an Ohio Wesleyan which is 10G more than Hope - a Hope College education will now cost parents over $40,000 a year and closer to $44,000 by the time you figure in all the extra personal "little expenses", it is an easy decision to make, assuming all other aspects are equal (i.e. desired academic track, facilities, like of the coaching staff, etc.,etc.).  The other problem as you astutely describe is that, unfortunately, some of these players have difficulty meeting the academic standards at even the DII schools and then end up dropping out after a year or so (and/or if they don't get the p.t. they think they should have).  That then becomes a problem because if they can't make it a one of those DII schools academically, they certainly will not quailify for admission at some of the DIII schools.  Anyway, without question, there is a wide variety of parameters involved in all this ranging from the academic side to the financial side of the "football equation".

Enjoyed your perpective.  Again, thanks.

[rscl70]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1).

When Wesley finally gets over the hump, and I'm sure they will sooner rather than later, please make sure they don't pull a Rowan and forget to show up the next week.  Beating Mount in the semi's does not win you a championship.  Unfortunately for KC Keeler he didn't realize that and it made us all look bad.

Or a Mary Hardin-Baylor.

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

Hello, my friend.  I think you are correct about the split "perspective" on the game i.e. those who are wishing Mount loses to that situation that could happen.  My take is that, while Mount is not the type of powerhouse teams they've had in the past, they are good enough to beat UW-W.  I'm not sure that UW-W is the powerteam they've had of recent either.  Yet, in review of Mount's current playoff run, I think that the game will be either very close and that Mount certainy could win by a couple of point margin, yet if their recent momentum in offense sputters and if they fall behind, it could be a disaster.  At the same time, their tenacious defense could just cause big trouble for UW-W.  So, in a "sitting the fence" kind of way, in general, I think the game is going to be either really, really close (whoever wins) or someone is going to get blown out (implode) and if the latter occurs, which quarter of the game that might potentially occur if it does at all, I have not idea of how to guess.

I do hope the weather is without snow for the game for the benefit of everyone - players and the fans.

[skunks_sidekick]

Lake Erie........Notre Dame College..........Malone.......Walsh.  All in one stage or another of D-II status.

[raiderpa]

If I got the right weather Salem will be in the mid 50's with a few showers on Friday///

[Raider 68]

formerd3db,

Very good posts, and your perspective on the Stagg Bowl. If history says anything over the last 6 years, the game is full of great plays and more scoring than the defenses normally allow!

[rscl70]

Let me make sure I've got this right:  Either Mount Union or White Water will win, and the game will either be very close or a blow-out? 

[HScoach]

Agree completely with the point of your post. What people trying to "adjust" the system don't realize: if you somehow penalize the best team the title is diminished. If "their team" if gets to the Stagg or wins a conference title after an "adjustment", they will be playing for a less meaningful title. Just ain't worth as much.

Can't speak for the team but as a fan I wouldn't enjoy a Wesley trip to the Stagg if we got it because of some such adjustment.  I respect what MU and UWW have built for themselves.  Rather than want to tear it down, I would prefer to see other programs step up and build one of their own.  Wesley is a good example of that, as are a few others.  Drass has shown a true commitment to the school to stay and build the program, the school has put out the money to make some facility upgrades (still a ways to go in that area to be the best, but they are more than adequate), and we keep making positive strides towards a championship.  Does it hurt like **** to fall a little short?  Sure does.  But the victory will be all the sweeter when it finally happens.  I'm sure the other teams in your conference feel much the same about a conference title (and if they don't, then that may explain why they aren't #1).

When Wesley finally gets over the hump, and I'm sure they will sooner rather than later, please make sure they don't pull a Rowan and forget to show up the next week.  Beating Mount in the semi's does not win you a championship.  Unfortunately for KC Keeler he didn't realize that and it made us all look bad.

Or a Mary Hardin-Baylor.

I respectfully disagree.  MHB played Linfield very tough and had a chance to win that game.  Rowan on the other hand looked like Wilma playing PLU.