FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[spliskin]

Pitt,

Why do you care what the h*ll pollsters think or who W&J has played now that you've finally beaten them? You're ruinning your team's hard earned victory with your babbling. From where Thiel came from (the bottom of the land fill as recently as 5-6 years ago) - you guys finally exploded through the glass ceiling to the top of the D3 world. Be happy and move on. Take the high road and let this matter rest with the results on the field.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Board,

All of you have made very good comments. I think you are right that we maybe went over board a little. Sorry about that. However, the thing that bothers me is that W&J is ahead of Thiel in the poll when they beat them fair and square on the field. [...]

Of the 14 times where an unranked Division III school defeated a top 10 team, only once did the unranked team jump above the top 10 team the rankings the week following the upset.

In 2003, Ithaca went from "33rd" to #22 ... while Brockport St. dropped from #9 to #24.  But the only reason that happened, so it looks, is because Ithaca was already fairly high in vote total and really jumped only 11 spots in the rankings (the smallest jump of the 14 times).

How far Thiel moved up and W&J moved down is par for the course after an upset (at least in the D3football.com poll it is).

Great research, Kid!
[...]

Thanks

[Bob.Gregg]

The better team SATURDAY won the game.  Period.  Now, with all due respect to Saturday's winning team, let us not forget:

W&J turned the ball over four times in regulation, one of which was returned immediately for points, another ultimately led to points.

And despite that, Kyle Sidebotham was within three yards left, and 6 yards short from 52 of winning the game in regulation.

Thiel has come lightyears from where they were.  This is not a surprise to us at WJPA.  We've seen how close the Tomcats have been to celebrating a win of this magnitude for several years.  And they did what no Thiel team in 24 years had done--win AT W&J.  But before the celebration spills over into Engraving the National Championship trophy, take a deep breath and realize:

1)  There is a lot of football left, for everyone.
2)  Given the geographic restrictions on NCAA, these two could well meet again in a game even more meaningful to the BIG picture.

Congratulations to the Thiel family.  And take this advice from someone that's been around the NCAA Football playoff scene for more than 20 years for what it's worth: Take care of business in front of you, and everything else will take care of itself.

[Ralph Turner]

Anyone out there think that TMC would climb into the ranking if they win against Frostburg and Anderson?   I know I am looking far into the future and there is no guarantee that either TMC or Thiel will continue their winning streaks until their matchup on October 29th. 

Oldphart, I don't think that a win over a #22-25 Thomas More will help Thiel, because a #16 Thiel (that week's hypothetical ranking) ought to defeat a #22 TMC.

[SaintsFAN]

Cartel,

I saw the play when our LB caught the RB at the 4 yard line.  Our LB's our fast, fast, fast.....but this particular one used to be a DB.  It was athletic ability and the desire to hustle which helped him walk down the Waynesburg RB....imagine how that RB reacted to being walked down....

On to the fans of Waynesburg crying about officiating.  Granted I am a TMC former player, alum and supporter but there was nothing wrong with the officiating.  Waynesburg fans were VERY frustrated their offense couldn't move the ball (take out that play and what did they have?) and were looking to assign blame.  

Officiating was very fair, and they did a great job of keeping order.  There was a lot of "jawing" going on and multiple personal fouls on both teams being called...along with a punch thrown by a Waynesburg player.

[SaintsFAN]

BTW,

I don't want the Saints to be ranked.  I want this team to continue flying under the radar..

[Dutch12]

Good points bobgregg, still a lot of season left.  Should be fun watching TMC, W&J and Thiel battle in the coming weeks.  

You'll probably have to forgive the Tomcat faithful for getting overly excited about last week's win and about being ranked in the top 25.  Tomcat fans have endured some pretty thin years and I know I personally was on the ugly end of some 50 and 60 point beatings by the presidents, so the fact that Thiel has been competitive and has the program going in the right direction is very exciting.  - Not a position the Thiel faithful quite frankly have been in for a long time.

[Bob.Gregg]

Dutch,

I was NOT saying don't be excited by a win against a program that had used Thiel as a doormat for years.  By all means, celebrate.

But don't let the facts of Saturday's win escape evaluation either.  To do so could set you, and the Tomcat faithful, up for a big letdown later in the year.

[Dutch12]

bobgregg, I know what you meant and I agree with everything you've said.  I was just making the comment in general.  There are a lot of games left to be played and any team with aspirations of a conference championship or playoffs has to take care of business the rest of the way and not have let-downs against opponents they will be favored to beat. 

[OldPhart]

Anyone out there think that TMC would climb into the ranking if they win against Frostburg and Anderson?   I know I am looking far into the future and there is no guarantee that either TMC or Thiel will continue their winning streaks until their matchup on October 29th. 

Oldphart, I don't think that a win over a #22-25 Thomas More will help Thiel, because a #16 Thiel (that week's hypothetical ranking) ought to defeat a #22 TMC.

IF, and it is a huge if, Thiel wins out,  I would hope that a win over a ranked TMC would put them in a better position for seeding for the playoffs.  As far as rankings go, it couldn't hurt.  At the same time I recognize that when the team is ranked, it gets a target painted on its back. I understand  SaintsFAN view about TMC "flying under the radar."  But at 4-1, even without a win against a ranked team, the Saints can no longer operate in "stealth" mode.

My take on ranking is that while it is fun, anyone would rather see their team go 5-0 in the postseason than worry about where they end up in the top 25 during the regular season.  If a win over a ranked TMC would help Thiel - remember I am looking at this all based upon the huge IF that Thiel wins out - get a better seed I really could care little about what it does for the rankings.  Let wiser heads guide me here - are wins against top 25's taken seriously in the seeding? 

All that said - anyone think that a 6-1 TMC might break into the top 25 (whether or not SaintsFAN wants it)?

Yeah, I know this is all hypothetical with lots of football to be played  & "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts - we would all have a merry Christmas"

[OldPhart]

BTW - Before SaintsFAN volunteers - I have NO interest in whether or not anyone thinks that a 7-1 TMC will make the top 25. 

[professor]

To those agonizing over a team's placement in the polls...The D3football.com and AFCA polls are meaningless when it comes time for Selection Sunday. For instance, take a team that wins its conference with a 6-4 record. No chance that team was ranked in any poll, but yet it still qualified for the playoffs. What the polls may do is provide some conversational fodder for potential Pool B and C teams. NCAA regional rankings will give a pretty good idea how selection committee is thinking

[Bob.Gregg]

THAT'S why you're the professor, professor!

[SaintsFAN]

Lets not talk about any new team in this league from the state of Kentucky.

[Dutch12]

Saintsfan, Looks like TMC has a good defense.  Don't know much about there offense how much will they be affected by the starting QB going down?