FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[E.115]

I'm starting to think CWRU's Week 1 loss to Chicago was a blessing in disguise.  It forced them to sit and think about it for two long weeks and learn from their mistakes...kicking them into gear against St. Vincent. Also, now there is no pressure for a perfect season, so the team seems to be playing loose.   Remaining schedule will be challenging.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Took in the Bethany @ CMU game last night.  Lots of offensive fireworks early, and it slowed down a little but never really stopped.  Bethany ran 106 offensive plays, which is as high of a number as I can ever remember seeing in a box score.  Game was rather chippy and two Bison players were ejected.  I'm sure some Bethany fans would argue that the officials were out to get them, but I actually believe that was a very well officiated game; the Bethany kids were, um, not very sportsmanlike.

For CMU, Benger ran for another 201 yards to reach 985 for the season in 5 games.  Zoinks.  The CMU passing game also found some legs, although I think that is a function of a poor Bethany pass defense.  Moving forward, I expect that the Tartans will be favored against Grove City next week, have a toss-up with St. Vincent, then favored against Thiel.  It would be marvelous to win all three and reach 5-3 entering tough games vs. Chicago and CWRU to close the season.

Much like last year, I think the league as a whole is very mediocre but also quite internally competitive in the lower reaches.  TMC and W & J are clearly a step ahead of the pack.  Case Western has not beaten a really good team yet but, to their credit, has blown everyone they've played in the PAC and probably is the only team capable of providing an interesting game for W & J and TMC from here on out.  I don't know if the whole team has risen a level or if Rob Cuda has just made that much of a difference, but holy heck, what a season Cuda has been putting up.

1. TMC
2. W & J
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3A. Case Western
3B. Westminster

These two will not play one another so we may not be able to award an official bronze medal here, but Case has blown out #5 St. Vincent, Thiel, Bethany, and Waynesburg (everyone in the non-heavyweight class) while Westminster

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5. St. Vincent
6. Carnegie Mellon
7. Bethany

St. Vincent's blowout loss to Case knocks them out of Tier 2, but they also have beaten Waynesburg, Grove City, and Thiel.  I think the CMU-St. Vincent game on 10/24 will be a toss-up that determines the #5 spot.  CMU has only 2 wins, but that's partly a function of schedule as they have only lost to higher-ranked teams and beaten #7 Bethany and #8 Geneva.  After seeing them in person, Bethany has a very impressive offense and no defense at all, but given their wins over Thiel and Waynesburg I have them here for now.  Geneva also has two wins, but having seen both in person CMU had a much easier time against Geneva (who they shut down) than Bethany (who they had to win a shootout).  Geneva maybe belongs in this tier as well.

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8. Geneva
9. Waynesburg
10. Grove City
11. Thiel

Geneva has beaten Grove City and Waynesburg.

Waynesburg has beaten only Grove City in the league. 

Thiel and Grove City have both struggled, but GCC has been more competitive while Thiel is getting killed every week.

[SaintsFAN]

I'm starting to think CWRU's Week 1 loss to Chicago was a blessing in disguise.  It forced them to sit and think about it for two long weeks and learn from their mistakes...kicking them into gear against St. Vincent. Also, now there is no pressure for a perfect season, so the team seems to be playing loose.   Remaining schedule will be challenging.

No.  And I'll tell you why:  pretty simple, if they finish with two losses there is no chance of a tournament bid.  If they go 1-1 against W&J and Thomas More, you are going to be upset at going to an ECAC Bowl (as you should be).  If CWRU is good enough to beat one or both of those teams, they belong in the dance.  And it won't happen with two losses.

The other thought is teams make the most improvement between games 1 and 2.  I think it can be even greater when an off week is involved (I refuse to call it a BYE).

[SaintsFAN]

ExTP:  I am picking up what you're putting down.  Other than a couple spots down low, I buy your logic.  You've seen more of the teams than I have.  Why don't you come to Kentucky on Halloween for their last regular season home game?

[ADL70]

SF -- I don't believe CWRU is an ECAC member, so they won't be eligible for a bowl.

XTP -- did you mean to say more about Westminster?

[ExTartanPlayer]

ExTP:  I am picking up what you're putting down.  Other than a couple spots down low, I buy your logic.  You've seen more of the teams than I have.  Why don't you come to Kentucky on Halloween for their last regular season home game?

Will have to take a pass on the Kentucky invite - my fiancee will be visiting me in the Burgh that weekend.

Re: sorting the teams, it's actually much easier this year than last year.  Go look at my rankings from Week 5 or 6 last year - there was a daisy-chain of 5 or 6 teams that had ALL beaten each other at least once.  Here the Case-Westminster thing is the only one we can't just settle because they haven't played one another, and they're both clearly better than everyone else below.

But from there on down...

St. Vincent > Waynesburg, Grove City, Thiel
CMU > Bethany and Geneva
Bethany > Waynesburg and Thiel
Geneva > Waynesburg and Grove City
Waynesburg > Grove City

...sorts out pretty easily.  For now, anyway.  There are no violated H2H results.  St. Vincent and CMU we don't really have clear data, so for now I am giving St. Vincent the benefit of the doubt with 3 wins vs. 2 wins, but we'll find out soon enough there.  CMU has beaten Bethany and Geneva, has to be ahead of them.  You could argue that Bethany and Geneva are about equal - similar wins - but again, I saw both in person against CMU and was much more nervous about Bethany (who scored enough that I was never quite relaxed until very late) than Geneva, who we had under control the whole game.  I mean, it's weird to have Waynesburg that low but they've already lost to St. Vincent, Bethany, and Geneva; there's just no possible argument for them to be higher.

ADL - whoops, good catch,  Went on to typing the rest of the post and forgot to address Westminster, lol.

[SaintsFAN]

SF -- I don't believe CWRU is an ECAC member, so they won't be eligible for a bowl.

XTP -- did you mean to say more about Westminster?

Thanks, sir. 

ExTP - if the game is for the PAC Marbles I may fly into Cleveland for the CWRU/TMC game.  I assume you'd be able to make that?  All depends on me being able to talk my wife into not being extremely mad that I'd be leaving Boston for the Midwest but not seeing them while I'm there.  And driving is out of the question. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

SF -- I don't believe CWRU is an ECAC member, so they won't be eligible for a bowl.

XTP -- did you mean to say more about Westminster?

Thanks, sir. 

ExTP - if the game is for the PAC Marbles I may fly into Cleveland for the CWRU/TMC game.  I assume you'd be able to make that?  All depends on me being able to talk my wife into not being extremely mad that I'd be leaving Boston for the Midwest but not seeing them while I'm there.  And driving is out of the question.

Unfortunately that weekend is out of the question...I would dearly love to see that game, but I happen to be at that stage in my late 20's where everyone (cousins, friends, the works) is getting married (I just got engaged a few months ago myself) and I have to go out of town seemingly every weekend (part of this also because my fiancee is currently living in Michigan so I travel to see her at least once a month as well).  Between traveling to see her, weddings, and a little bit of work travel, I have been out of town for more weekends in 2015 than I have been at home.  My fiancee is a champ - on one of her visits to Pittsburgh she went along to Beaver Falls to see CMU @ Geneva, and didn't even complain - but I think asking to skip her cousin's wedding on 11/7 for a football game (that doesn't even involve my alma mater) is probably going a bridge too far

I am enjoying the precious next 2 weekends before another onslaught hits.  Fortunately, I will get to see the Tartans at home at least twice more, on 10/24 and 11/14.

From 11/7 through 12/4, I will be occupied every weekend except 11/14 (when I will watch CWRU @ CMU).  If Mount Union is hosting a semifinal game on 12/11, if the matchup looks enticing, I might try to go...I have never seen a game at Mount and think it would be cool to take in a national semifinal.

[SpartanMom_2016]

From 11/7 through 12/4, I will be occupied every weekend except 11/14 (when I will watch CWRU @ CMU).

Congratulations on your engagement!

I will try to make contact with you at that game.  Since it will probably be Aaron's last game ever we will be in Pittsburgh for that game.

[SaintsFAN]

SF -- I don't believe CWRU is an ECAC member, so they won't be eligible for a bowl.

XTP -- did you mean to say more about Westminster?

Thanks, sir. 

ExTP - if the game is for the PAC Marbles I may fly into Cleveland for the CWRU/TMC game.  I assume you'd be able to make that?  All depends on me being able to talk my wife into not being extremely mad that I'd be leaving Boston for the Midwest but not seeing them while I'm there.  And driving is out of the question.

Unfortunately that weekend is out of the question...I would dearly love to see that game, but I happen to be at that stage in my late 20's where everyone (cousins, friends, the works) is getting married (I just got engaged a few months ago myself) and I have to go out of town seemingly every weekend (part of this also because my fiancee is currently living in Michigan so I travel to see her at least once a month as well).  Between traveling to see her, weddings, and a little bit of work travel, I have been out of town for more weekends in 2015 than I have been at home.  My fiancee is a champ - on one of her visits to Pittsburgh she went along to Beaver Falls to see CMU @ Geneva, and didn't even complain - but I think asking to skip her cousin's wedding on 11/7 for a football game (that doesn't even involve my alma mater) is probably going a bridge too far

I am enjoying the precious next 2 weekends before another onslaught hits.  Fortunately, I will get to see the Tartans at home at least twice more, on 10/24 and 11/14.

From 11/7 through 12/4, I will be occupied every weekend except 11/14 (when I will watch CWRU @ CMU).  If Mount Union is hosting a semifinal game on 12/11, if the matchup looks enticing, I might try to go...I have never seen a game at Mount and think it would be cool to take in a national semifinal.

Congrats on your engagement - definitely sounds like you have a keeper.  You're also ahead of the curve in picking your "battles".  I highly recommend attending a Mount Union-semi.  I've been lucky enough to attend this game a few times.  I've seen Wheaton, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Wesley.  The only real blowout was Wesley and the MHB game was a classic.  It's been very interesting to me to see those games and realize how far my alma mater had to go to compete.  I'd love to try again this year but I also want to be at the Stagg Bowl, so we'll see - pick your battles.  It will be hard for me to do both since I'm away from my girls during the week. 

[ADL70]

I'm starting to think CWRU's Week 1 loss to Chicago was a blessing in disguise.  It forced them to sit and think about it for two long weeks and learn from their mistakes...kicking them into gear against St. Vincent. Also, now there is no pressure for a perfect season, so the team seems to be playing loose.   Remaining schedule will be challenging.

(I refuse to call it a BYE).

We are of one mind. +k

I wish we did have the opportunity for an ECAC game, it would be a fitting reward for the seniors.

[ADL70]

Welcome to Texas ADL70.

The best book on Texas History is TR Fehrenbach's Lone Star.

Go on Amazon and get a 1968 or a 1985 version. His 2001 version is too politically correct and covers some of the "juicy" stuff you find in the real history.

Buy a Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine and enjoy some great high school football, especially in the smaller towns.

As for race relations in 2015?  Well, the head football coaches at both UT and A&M are both black.

"Nuff said."

Late in responding to this.  Not sure how race got into this, maybe from the book you mentioned.

I also just remembered that UT's hoops coach is a Kenyon grad.

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome to Texas ADL70.

The best book on Texas History is TR Fehrenbach's Lone Star.

Go on Amazon and get a 1968 or a 1985 version. His 2001 version is too politically correct and covers some of the "juicy" stuff you find in the real history.

Buy a Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine and enjoy some great high school football, especially in the smaller towns.

As for race relations in 2015?  Well, the head football coaches at both UT and A&M are both black.

"Nuff said."

Late in responding to this.  Not sure how race got into this, maybe from the book you mentioned.

I also just remembered that UT's hoops coach is a Kenyon grad.

Thanks ADL.

The 1968 and 1985 books characterize the hard racial struggles in Texas in the 19th century, slavery east of "Interstate 35" and with Tejanos, west of "Interstate 35".  I am glad that those are mellowing out.  McMurry is probably one of the most homogenously Texan and racially colorblind schools in the country, 50% white, 30% Hispanic and 20% black.

Also, there was literally a range war with the Comanches, Apaches and Kiowas from the 1820's to the mid 1880's to subjugate the indigenous peoples on the plains.  The Spaniards had been unable to do it from 1718 onward with their feeble mission system until Texas broke away from Spain in the 1824 Revolution.

I hope all will read the book. It is incredibly fascinating.

[ADL70]

I've just been told that Geneva says that there will be Internet video of tonight's game despite the link yielding "No events scheduled."

[ExTartanPlayer]

I don't think there were any surprising final results in the PAC yesterday, although the closeness of the TMC-St. Vincent and Case-Geneva games was kind of surprising.

1. Thomas More (7-0, 5-0) escaped a surprising test from St. Vincent yesterday (tied at 28 in the fourth quarter) and will try to stay awake for the next two weeks against Grove City and Waynesburg before the finale at Case Western.  At this point, even if Cases loses to W & J, it appears that game is likely to have some sort of league-title impact (if a 1-loss Case beat TMC, it would create a three=way tie).  Remains the heavy favorite.

2. W & J (5-1, 3-1) did about what I would have expected against Bethany after seeing both teams live vs. CMU.  The final of 66-42 makes the game appear somewhat more competitive than it was (52-21 at halftime, 59-21 after first possession of second half).  This week's game against Case Western is a must-win to keep playoff hopes alive, and also likely the last serious test for W & J in the regular season.

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3A. Case Western (5-1, 5-0) played probably their least impressive game of the season yesterday, but if we give Thomas More the benefit of the doubt for a shaky-ish game against St. Vincent, I think Case gets one freebie for possibly looking ahead to W & J next week.  CWRU offense was a little sluggish but they held Geneva to 124 yards and never were in danger of losing the game.  Next week's game against W & J is the biggest game for Case since Whalen graduated.  I am really, really interested to see what happens here...since the opening loss to Chicago (currently 5-1 themselves) Case has blown through the league's bottom half the way any good league champion should, but I think they have played the absolute bottom-five teams in the league, so any finish from 9-1 down to 6-4 is probably still in play here.

3B. Westminster (5-2, 4-1) has only one official conference loss (I assume either the W & J or Thomas More game was technically a non-league game) and does not play Case Western.  Going by common opponents, I think Case has been slightly more impressive (bigger blowouts of Bethany and Waynesburg) but the true deciding factor will be how CWRU performs against W & J and Thomas More, and also how Westminster does against St. Vincent this week.

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5. St. Vincent (3-3, 2-2) gave Thomas More an interesting game yesterday that should give some optimism heading into the back half of the schedule.  They have only notched wins against the very bottom of the league and their last four games are all against teams around them in these rankings.  How they do will determine a lot about how the final standings beneath the top three teams fall.

6. Carnegie Mellon (3-3, 3-2) has also held chalk against the teams below them and lost to the top teams.  CMU-St. Vincent next week will tell us a little about how to order all of these teams.  CMU does own h2h wins over Geneva and Bethany.

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7A. Geneva (2-4, 1-3)
7B. Bethany (2-5, 1-4)

We'll get our answer when these two meet next week.  I think Bethany is a little better (offense is really good with no defense) but might as well let them settle it with next week's game.

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9. Waynesburg (2-5, 1-4) unfortunately has to be beneath Geneva and Bethany, despite having the same league record, because they lost h2h against both (decisively, too).  These guys beat W & J last year, for Heaven's sakes!  What the heck happened?

10. Grove City (0-6, 0-4)
11. Thiel (1-5, 0-4)

Thiel has a win but it came against an Allegheny team that's legitimately among the worst in all of Division III.  They have been totally non-competitive since.  Grove City was competitive in their first couple of losses, although that has faded the last two weeks.  These guys will get to play in week 11 for some pride.