FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[AC24#724]

Wes
Sorry if I made you think that way on Abels about talent wise, didn't mean that at all. Yes, confused on what this season has brought so far but PAC play is just starting, can't answer the WJ 2004 game and player participation, the 5 turnovers what reason for the that loss, 3 QB interceptions. Of what I can remember he did play and had a decent average per carry but game lost on turnover's and a phantom call toward end of game.
Mendell is good back, never said he wasn't but he has 5 starter's back on O-line. That is big disparity from Waynesburg O-Line.
Being a follower of WPIAL since I played back in the 70's and also how these kids come to into small colleges locally. Abels was leading rusher in WPIAL in regular season where Mendel's team played in playoff's and also in Single A not 3AAA but regardless both good player's.
I agree with you WJ is still team to beat, Thiel lost alot of player's and had a good season last year with escapable wins at WJ, Waynesburg, CMU.
We all know you still gotta play the game and with turnover's being big part of how things play out could be outcome of game(s).
Week 2 of PAC play could bring out some interesting things, time will tell. After watching Waynesburg game last week and seeing first game played this year on new turf I did notice alot of players slipping on new turf, is this a norm for new sprint turf, had to be at least 6-7 slips from alot of different player's.
Good Luck to all in upcoming week

[Wes Mantooth]

AC very good points as there is a big difference in size in High Schools but as it turned out both have been productive at the small college level. It will be interesting to watch Kevin Mathews in the future as well who was a productive back at USC and is now a solid weapon for the Presidents. Turnovers are a big key and the reason why Thiel won the conference last year and ruined homecoming for the Presidents. On the turf note it is common on new turf for players to slip as the shredded rubber is very loose and has not been packed in so sometime cleats just go right through it.

[the_burghboy]

Wes.....Interesting observation and sounding like some hard feelings when Waynesburg upset WJ three years ago for PAC.

Funny, but I don't see any way the guy not being used in their offensive system as much and/or hearing that he is having friction with the coaching staff has anything to do with a football game three years ago.

Sounds more like there is a difference in offensive philosophy with the change in coaching staff more than anything, and the grumbling could be something as simple as having a back with a history of production struggling with the change.

[Cleveland Cartel]

Burgh Boy,

Great points, but definetly a mystery.  I was in Massillon, Ohio today and actually talking to some huge football fans down there and they have never been impressed with Shepas and his coaching including a 4-6 record at the highschool level in his last year.  They talked about the questionable play calling he has had in the in past.  All in all they are glad he is somehwere else and they all knew what would happen at Waynesburg once he got there.  I dont know if this will be a short lived homecoming at Waynesburg, but i will say if Abels doesn't get Playing time soon,  Waynesburg will not fare well in the PAC.  He is a playmaker and he needs to be out there on all down including your so called money downs.  Bottom line.

[Mad Anthony]

Last October I had the opportunity to speak with a member of the school administration at Waynesburg who was a veteran of Division II football and had informally helped Jeff Hand when he was the head coach. My concern at the time was the outrageous number of personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties being committed by the Jackets which was out of character for the team and the school. His reply was that the problem was being caused by a couple of players and that Shepas was lax regarding on-field discipline. That, plus the 5 losses in 2005 by less than a touchdown and some periodic bizarre play calling should have raised alot of red flags in the 'burg. The timing of Jeff Hand's departure created a big problem for Waynesburg but the solution was already there in the person of offensive coordinator Mike Uremovich, who, from what I understand, wanted the head coaching job but was turned down because he had no previous head coaching experience. Evidently, St. Francis had no such prerequisite!

[AC24#724]

CC,PAC Fan,Burgh Boy.
All interesting and some value to what was said.
CC , you sure seem to be an Ables fan....I agree totally with you on Ables on carries and what production he can produce but if your watching from sideline how valuable can you be for your team, it's all in hands of Coaching and play calling is big part of that call on who's out there and who's not. Standing on sideline trailing 14-10 in 4th quarter is not good football sense from last week as the fans were yelling from stands about why is Ables not in game. Someone said that he was hurt.
Hopefully thngs will get back on page this week for the teams sake(morale issue) where they can utilize other key players like Shields and maybe QB can get back on track after sustaining injury a game back or so. The fans from Shenendoah were all very appreciative about play calling while in rest-room and just said Thanks for giving us this one. Of course , the 4 picks didn't help but..........when you are suppose to be using running game to control clock and keep other team off field.
Coaching philosophy is it to the tee, saw some articles before season started about him and Waynesburg team relying on him to kinda carry the load....as football is team sport but has individual(s) and skilled player's that do and can stick out this may of also be reason that he is not being utilized.
Very interesting trip you had to Massilon sounds like some of the Wooster fans from a week back.
PAC Fan
Has really been somewhat of a mirage on how Coach's left, timing and new one's came in and that they were all competing for same job as Westminny and loser maybe going Waynesburg but they both will be  matched up at end of season. (Waynesburg VS Westminny)
New Coach to conference(Shepas, new guy on the block) was reason for all of the calls (alot of lousy ones)last year, TMC game had like 15-16 penalites and play calling too did also add to the 5 losses . Never Coached football before but I can tell you the easiest offensive play in football is turn and hand off to your RB and have your line open a gap and let the cards fall. Not a bad game plan to me ...but Grove City will be just wanting to pound their fullback off their Wing T offense and then catch em on a sleeper play and that will decide game. Uremovich did have some good play calling, can't take that away from him but he may be like 1-14 in his first two seasons at his new home.

[Mad Anthony]

AC24 -- True, Uremovich has had a struggle on his hands at St. Francis, but he inherited a doormat that had won a total of 3 games in the previous 2 years. That certainly could not be said of the situation that Shepas fell into. He took a conference championship contender and is turning it into a doormat.
Hiring Uremovich would have given Waynesburg some much needed continuity post Jeff Hand.

[AC24#724]

PAC Fan
Nicely put, from Top to Bottom (maybe)and already knowing your strengths on team as well.  Tough call for Coach Uremovich though on pre-req but then  he wanted to go West I had heard thorugh Alumni.
His favorite play was Fullback drag flat pass after faking handoff through line of scrimmage for always substantial yardage and key First downs.
If they threw that wrinkle into offensive play calling now  with FB  Davis who truely is a "House" the sky would be limit.
He's one piece of the mix that has also not been utilized, hey....who knows maybe it's Davis's turn this week.

[SaintsFAN]

Some Bulletin Board material presented for the Thomas More Saints:

Unbeaten teams that 0-2 Linfield is probably still much better than:
3-0
Carnegie Mellon
Case Western
Ursinus

2-0
Carleton
Newport News
Thomas More
WPI
Rhodes
DePauw
Franklin
WNEC
Miss. Coll.?
Wooster?
W. Conn.?
Puget Sound 

There are more, but I started to feel mean.

[Cleveland Cartel]

How about this one saints fan...

is an 1-2 Thiel team or a 2-1 WJ team better than a 2-0 Tmore team???

Great Question that right now I have to think about it more before i give a final answer, but Thiel's competition in the first 3 games has been impressive. Playoff caliber teams from last year and an upgrade from Blufton and OWU from years in the past.  WJ really challenged themselves against a Playoff caliber Salisbury team also.

Tmore has barely squeaked past their last two opponents with a touchdown past in the final minutes of their games.  Against a hanover team that WJ completely white washed  35-0, and against a Grove City team that was exploided by CMU the week before 28-0.  Tmore only beat GCC 21-20.

Tough game for Thiel in Kentucky no doubt about it.

But is a 2-0 Tmore better than a 2-1 WJ or an 1-2 Thiel college team??

That is the final question.....

[the_great]

Hi im new to this but there's one think i know is that is thiel is a good team but they did give up a lead in that last lost. I do believe W&J is the TEAM TO BEAT.. I KNOW THAT TMC HAS TO THERE LAST 2 GAMES LIGHTLY AND IT ALMOST HURT THEM.. I THINK TMC WILL BE READY FOR THE 2 OF THEM..  TMC LAST TO GAMES THEY LET BOTH OF THEM TEAMS STAY WITH THEM HURTING THEM SELF...  TMC FEELS VERY STRONG ABOUT THERE RUN D. AND FEELS THAT THEY CAN MIX THINGS UP WITH THIEL NEW QB..

[Llamaguy]

Some Bulletin Board material presented for the Thomas More Saints:

Unbeaten teams that 0-2 Linfield is probably still much better than:
3-0
Carnegie Mellon
Case Western
Ursinus

2-0
Carleton
Newport News
Thomas More
WPI
Rhodes
DePauw
Franklin
WNEC
Miss. Coll.?
Wooster?
W. Conn.?
Puget Sound 

There are more, but I started to feel mean.

Number of above teams who are most likely eliminated from playoff consideration with one more loss?

One, Linfield! 

[South Willy]

CC

I agree with "the great" that tmore has been looking ahead to Thiel and will prove to be a very prepared opponent. Thiel's offense has struggled through 3 games with little improvement. Their first 3 opponents have not been impressive in other games. I think Thiel is down this year and tmore will supply an early season knock out at home. Thiel's defense is only hope to keep it close.
W & J definitely the team to beat, more so as the season progresses.

[SaintsFAN]

Cleveland,

All I can say is one of those questions will be answered on Saturday.  Hanover is usually a tough team...but they are young and you have to look at their record as a number because of who they have played.  Thomas More, Butler, and W&J.  How many teams wouldn't be 0-3 after that run?

[AC24#724]

With a little add in on TMC vs Thiel game, if the magical flags start flying down in Kentucky it will be long day for Thiel.
Thiel's run game will get true test with Defensive Players on TMC especially #23. Should be a good hitting game, may the strong stand tall. Diffference will be key plays by QB.
Oberlin??will they have anything for W&J?
Big Red comes to Big Burnt Orange country where things will and must get better.
Hopefully a dry Saturday for all games until over, then the rain can come in.