FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[Cleveland Cartel]

ITS GAME DAY!!!! Goodluck to everyone in the PAC and around the Nation today.  And also to the Presidents and Tomcats in Washington, PA!

[Bob.Gregg]

THUD

Thiel 38
W&J 35 in overtime

FINAL

[the_burghboy]

Just got back, and want to give my congrats to Thiel and it's supporters today.  It was a enjoyable game from a football perspective to watch. 

I want to post a lot of things questioning W&J's play and strategy, but it may come across as discounting what Thiel did, which is not my intent. 

In light of that, I'm just going to hold off on those thoughts for now.  It's Thiel's day, and they should enjoy it for their accomplishments.

Again, my congratulations to you folks that have stayed with the Thiel program through thick and thin.  You deserve it 

[SaintsFAN]

Just got back from Homecoming at Thomas More.  The Saints continued to play great defense in holding Waynesburg to 7 points.  Those points came on a short field after at TMC fumble.  The offense is doing what it has to do--eating up yards and clock.  I like this team.  One down note though.  Starting QB Berkley is done for the season after breaking his ankle and tearing all the ligaments down there.  He was scheduled for surgery this afternoon.  He's a senior and I feel bad because I know thats not the way he wanted to go out.

I have one comment about the game.  Waynesburg could be the most undisciplined team I've seen in a long time.  From personal fouls to their corner (#8) getting thrown out for throwing punches to their fans getting mouthy with the Thomas More fans...this program is an embarrassment. 

All day complaining about the refs calls.  The refs didn't cost you that game, TMC's Coaches and players did a brilliant job and WON this one.

[mizzou_mafia]

Anyone who thinks Thiel has a chance vs the Prezidents should never watch football again.

Give me a break Thiel could not even sniff the jocks of this offense let alone stop them. 

The closest they get to the endzone is when they spot the ball at the 20 during warm-ups.

W&J 50 - Theil 0

Wow, hope you didn't put any money on those comments.

[OldPhart]

SaintsFAN - Congratulations to TMC.  Reading the front page here, I discovered that Thiel had not only defeated W&J, but also obtained the lead in the PAC.   

I suppose on a percentage basis, Thiel shares the lead with TMC.  Despite the big win over W&J, Thiel is only 2-0 in conference play and has to continue to pick their way through the PAC in order to catch up to TMC.  Do I think they can do it?  Yup.  The players have to take it one game at a time - but I can look forward to having the PAC championship determined in Greenville on October 29th with TMC at 4-0 and Thiel at 5-0 in conference. 

Sorry to hear about your QB.  It is tough enough when you are a starter, but as a Senior it is miserable.  

I hope you will make it to Greenville for what I hope will be the conference championship.  Our student services hosts a tailgate serving up fried chicken (always) and some selection from the kielbasa, smoked sausage, jambalaya food group.  Visitors welcome  - donations accepted.

I think you will find the Thiel fans a hospitable crew overall - although it just takes one jerk to make the rest of us look bad. 

[PittTBCW]

Thiel beats W&J.

From what I heard that was one of the best games anyone has seen in a while. Obviously I am glad Thiel won the game, however they still have to win out in the conference. They face several tough games coming up. I believe 2 teams will make the playoffs from this conference. Thomas More is recking  house thus far in the PAC. Kudos to a job done well. I know everyone wants to second guess W&J on how they loss, but lets give credit to where credit deserves. And that of course is Thiel College. The coaching staff and players had the will to win. A few years ago after trailing 14-0 early on they would have packed it in and lost by 50 or 60. Instead, they turn it around and unthrown the defending PAC champs. Congrats Tomcats!!! Remember 1-0 every game all season long. Do not look ahead and take each team one at a time. Do not let a break down ruin this truly great season. See both teams in the playoffs.


Thiel you have something special in front of you. Take it game by game. DO NOT LOOK AHEAD.

I am truly so proud of you men.

Keep it up.

On another note, as I called all week long, 2-0 @5:15 PM, Baldwin wins and earns a playoff berth In the WPIAL QUAD EAST.

GO FIGHTING HIGHLANDERS & TOMCATS

[PittTBCW]

      I find it hard to beleive there is no action after comments made after Thiel beat W&J. I think it must be our board. All the W&J babies are trying to think of ways they blew it, instead of giving credit to the better team, the Thiel Tomcats. Could it be true that W&J falls to 3rd in this conference after TMC beats them? Maybe that will create some posts because if the #1 team in the conference gets beat and nonone posts, its obvious to say that the posters are W&J people.
     Face it dudes, you lost to a good team. Its not like you lost to a bad team. Thiel should run the table and win all of there games. You will be 9-1 and Thiel will be 10-0 thats right PAC champs aslong as they take care of buisness. Both in the playoffs and who knows.

Best of luck the rest of the way to the Tomcats and the rest of the PAC conference

[Cleveland Cartel]

After watching the WJ and Thiel game you saw two things:

1.  The heart from both teams to come back from deficits and continuing to work through adversity.

2.  Both teams were well coached and had great strategies from the start of the game.

Ultimately Proud of both teams, it was a great competitive and electrified 4 quarters of football. 

What I am most proud of is the heart of the Tomcats who were down 14-0 with 8 minutes in the first.  Reminded some of last years game when Thiel was also down 14-0, but these are the same kids who have a year more of maturity, discipline, focus, and leadership.  Today they overcame adversity and a hostile environment at legendary Cameron Field and came away with a W.  I am truly impressed but by no means shocked in the play of the Tomcats.  I will wait to post more, but I must say this.......In Response to PAC 4 Life's diss on the Tomcats team...This is his quote....
FROM PAC 4 LIFE:
I think one is so short that he can't even ride the big boy rides at Disneyland. I think you get my drift.


After that short DB picked off Edwards and ran it 45 yeards to the house untouched Disney called up and gave him Clearance to offically ride the big boy rides!!

[Cleveland Cartel]

PITTTBCW:

It is late and we will see tommorrow if anyone else besides burgh boy is man enough to give credit to where credit is due.  So heres one right now....Burgh Boy you have my ultimate respect and I look forward to hearing your post game remarks.  Gnite PAC board....

[Dutch12]

Great game between Thiel & W&J yesterday.  I thought Thiel RB Minton took the game over late in the second half picking up critical first downs and getting some very tough yards.  In the end Thiel picked Edwards off 5 times (one coming in overtime) and it proved to be too many mistakes against a worthy opponent.  That said, it was one of the best games I've seen in a long time between two very good teams. 

[the_burghboy]

First of all Cleveland-apprecicate the kind words.  I don't have any reason to make excuses or rationalize something that didn't happen.  If W&J wins or loses, I still get the same amount of sleep, and my mortage and paycheck don't change because of it.   

That said, my comments about the game probably go between A.) enjoying college football and watching it from a fan perspective and B.) utter disgust as to how W&J (in my opinion) approached it and their performance.  I know my comments under 'B' may be taken as 'sour grapes' by some that are not W&J suppporters, and all I can ask is that you understand that it's not meant to dismiss what Thiel did yesterday. 

So with that in mind, let me give my opinions from point A.   I posted this last week:

 I maintain the formula to compete with W&J is ball control on offense, and a defense that can be physical and keep them inside the hash marks.

I don't look at statistics, but in my opinion Thiel controlled the clock enough and made good on their possessions to keep W&J pressing.  Thiel was clearly more physical, and it showed as Edwards looked rattled, their defense had their hands on their hips in critical situations, and running backs looked tenative.  That in my opinion is a product of smacking your opponent in the mouth, and that's what Thiel did.  Minton was fun to watch and took on players carrying the ball.  That's a guy and philosophy that I like.   The 80 yard drive that Thiel had  was all you had to know to this game, even though there was still a lot of football left at that time.

Again, best wishes to Thiel the rest of the season.  I'm seriously thinking about going to see them play Thomas More in late October if things continue to play out conference wise.

Now for the B.) point in my noodle.  May want to look elsewhere, and apologize in advance if people take it wrong:

The running joke in our section was that Walt Harris wasn't in Stanford, but was in Washington yesterday.  The pass happy offense with no real comittment defensively or to a structured running game catches up eventually to a team that can play the way Thiel did yesterday, and have enough talent to back that up.   

Most teams on the Presidents schedule can't, and it's fun to watch the multiple receivers and not think about the big picture, because let's face it, they are winning games.  However, in the end, they play a finesse style and one that won't get them to where they want to go.  It's a defense that game up big points and yardage (and not 'mop up' numbers) last year to Waynesburg late last season, and in two of the three playoff games in the postseason. 

The coach made comments yesterday stating Thiel is "the best team we've played in the regular season since 2000.  I keep telling people but no one believed me"

Apparently part of those 'people' were your own players.  Granted, this is not the Thiel Tomcats of old, but I'm sorry (and not meant to offend):  If you are a top Division III program, you don't lose to THIEL on your home field.   They didn't roll over after 14-0, where maybe in years past that was expected.

Now, it wouldn't take much of an argument to say I don't know what I'm talking about if one wants to raise it.  That said, the facts are that this is a coaching staff and program that despite last year's success looks to not be able to win their own conference two of three years, and now a playoff appearance looks to be (contrary to what the opinion written in today's O-R article) far from a lock.   

I remember hearing the same thing in 2003 after W&J lost the PAC to Waynesburg, then late in the season lost to 2-8 Buffalo State.   I will say I'm encouraged that this team will not falter like that team from their ability to battle back at times yesterday, but it's still early October, and a lot can happen.

That may sound harsh to people that don't follow W&J, but the cold reality is those are the expectations.   I'm much more interested on their play between the lines than reading quotes on how hard it is for the program in win.  I'm willing to wager I'm not alone in that opinion.

That's my two cents.  I'm sure all arrows and shots will be served, and willing to talk about them for what it's worth. 

[Cleveland Cartel]

Burgh that is a solid analysis I must say.


1.  No matter who your playing you do expect to win at home and on Homecoming.  I agree with that 100%.

2.  Krepps has sick moves and kept WJ in the game as best he could.  Because of the attention put on him the other recievers were able to get open and score touchdowns.  Truly impressed with Krepps and his abilities.

3.  Edwards had the worse game of the season by far with 5 picks, but he went up against a well coached and active secondary of the Tomcats.  A few balls were tipped and a few were just Tomcats D making plays.  WJ goes as far as Edwards can take them and you can be sure he will be on top of his game this week in practice, next saturday, and for the rest of the season.  The kid is still one of the best QB's on the field every Saturday.

4.  WJ's running game does not put a fear of god into anyone like the 4 or 5 wides will.  The two backs did not do too much damage in the game and maybe accounted for just over a 100 yards?

5.  Overall WJ is by no means out of anything and they are still a ranked and quality football team.  Goodluck to them the rest of the way.  The more PAC teams in the playoffs the better the representation.

Congrats again to the Tomcats!

Burgh Boy if the season continues to go the way they are you should definelty make the trip to Thiel and stop into one of Greenvilles fine establishments in the area.

Also is there anymore feedback about that Waynesburg vs. TMC game?   How bad was the officiating?? Was it really as aweful as the Waynesburg fans thought?  I would like some more views and feedback of that game.  Sounded like it was a dramatic game with some unexpected on field actions between players. 

Also, in the post game report it  had a briefing about TMC's linebacker making a huge play and it was stated something like this:
TMC's linebacker caught up to Ryan Abels at the 4 yard line after he had broken free almost for a 90 yard touchdown run.  That is a Highlight I would love to see and a Linebacker with some natual freakish Ability!

Did anyone see that play and how great was it? 

[spliskin]

"If Thiel couldn't beat W&J in 2003, then there is NO WAY they will beat them in 2005."
                                                    --- Bob Gregg, August 2005 ---

Sorry Bob - no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't resist.

[spliskin]

Feel free to knock my Karma down to -3 for that last post.