FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[OldPhart]

It only stands to reason W&J would have moved up at least ONE spot given those FOUR losses.

After seeing the rankings of some teams dip - like both ranked PAC teams this week -  despite solid wins I suggest  that, while it might stand to reason, this kind of reasoning is not necessarily the guiding force in the minds of some voters.  I think voters like to reward teams that exceed expectations under challenging circumstances - such as Whitewater nearing perfection in the WIAC. Voters want to make allowances for them, having them leapfrog also currently undefeated Del Valley, Oxy, St. Johns & Trinity.  Knowing how the voters view the WIAC and the PAC, I think the voters likely would place Whitewater above the imaginary undefeated W&J.  Also consider: Undefeated Trinity has only moved up from preseason 11th to present 9th - despite the fact that 7 of the 10  teams ahead of them in the preseason have lost one or more games.  Rankings are fun but I would rather see the PAC make some noise in the playoffs.

[oldtimer4774]

I think W&J is a top ten team- and I think its funny that if they wouldnt have lost to Thiel then they would be in the top five---but now they are not getting as much respect--maybe the case is that Thiel and W&J are both top 10 teams?? Just a thought

[Bob.Gregg]

The question wasn't "Is W&J a top ten team?"

And had W&J beaten Thiel, Thiel certainly wouldn't be in the top 10.  They're not in the top 10 now, and they won the game.

My final point is this:  The pollsters thought enough about W&J before the season to put them at the 6 spot.  Four weeks later, they still thought that highly of them.

I acknowledge that other teams may have leapfrogged them, but I also know that an undefeated W&J team (a team that MADE some playoff noise a year ago, and for the past 22 years) WOULD be in the poll's top 5 given the losses suffered by the 2-5 teams I mentioned earlier.

Thoughts/impressions of conferences was mentioned, and that's certainly applicable.  While the PAC may not yet be all that well thought of, in many regards the Presidents have lived above that.  That may not be the case today.  But it has been.

[Dutch12]

W&J would probably be in the top 5, definately the top ten had they beaten Thiel.

I know the polls are meaningless in the grand scheme of things, but I think it's funny W&J is still ranked ahead of Thiel this late in the season, allbeit one spot.  The only reason for this is that W&J has a better history than Thiel.  There are so many teams in D-III that pollsters can't know everything about every team so they are forced to rely on a teams history and past post-season appearances.  That makes the poll seem it's really ranking teams based on their record from the past couple of years, rather than a snap-shot of how teams should be ranked now. 

I can see how W&J would be ranked ahead of Thiel right after the game because some people will assume it was just an upset and you have to take that into consideration -upsets do happen, but after going 9-0 and winning the conference I would expect people to start thinking Thiel is the better team THIS YEAR.

[Bob.Gregg]

...I would expect people to start thinking Thiel is the better team THIS YEAR.

There have always been funny (and sometimes not so funny) twists about polls.

But one other side that you brought up, albeit inadvertantly, is that polls are most often a statement of belief by the pollsters about who IS the better team.

As I have written on this thread many times, Thiel won THAT day, and they are to be congratulated.  But I do not believe Thiel is the better team.

That having been said, were I participating in a poll, I would vote Thiel ahead of the Presidents if the Tomcats beat Carnegie-Mellon.  If the Tartans win, well, that's another story.

[Dutch12]

Agreed Bob, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who believe W&J really is the better team.  Obviously, at least on average, the pollsters still feel that way. Either way I think they are pretty evenly matched - Just a topic for discussion, that's really all the polls are good for.   

[Dutch12]

...I would expect people to start thinking Thiel is the better team THIS YEAR.

That having been said, were I participating in a poll, I would vote Thiel ahead of the Presidents if the Tomcats beat Carnegie-Mellon.  If the Tartans win, well, that's another story.

I just think you have to based on what's happened this season.  Just my opinion. 

I'll be surprised if CMU beats Thiel.  They are too one dimensional, they run the ball 81% of time - Thiel has defended the run very well this year.  The last two games (TMC & Buff State) Thiel has given up 34 net yards rushing on 58 attempts and that was against teams that forced them at the very least to respect the threat of a passing game. 

[OldPhart]

On a totally different topic within the PAC - any thoughts to Waynesburg/Westminster    I think that Wburg will salvage a little self-respect and force a 3-way tie for 4th place by pounding Westminster.   The alternative of a 6th place Waynesburg with 3 home losses just seems to be too bizarre to contemplate. 

[SaintsFAN]

I agree with the assessment of CMU....I was NEVER impressed with the Tartans or whatever they call themselves.....

Gimmick offense, classless fans and coaches that complain about late TD's on Senior Day...

[firewater]

Talking to some W and J fans, they are looking forward to playing Theil again.  I have seen W and J play twice and watched Theil beat them,  the other was a blow out of Bethany.  Theil and W and J better hope the first round team is weak or neither will be in the second round game.  There are 3 or 4 teams in the OAC that are much better.

[professor]

Why, of course..The OAC always has teams better than anyone else

[d3fbalumn]

Theil and W and J better hope the first round team is weak or neither will be in the second round game.  There are 3 or 4 teams in the OAC that are much better.

It's too bad that "3 or 4 teams in the OAC" won't get a chance to prove it since they won't be getting invited to the show.

[critic]

speaking of the OAC, is it safe to say that the OAC does well in the playoffs because of their depth at every position??

[Cleveland Cartel]

No its safe to say the OAC does well because of those Ohio boys who know how to play football!!!!

[Cleveland Cartel]

PAC Board,

Anyone going out to the games this weekend?

Unfortentatly I will not most likely be at the Thiel game, but the other game I would not mind taking in this weekend would be the Westminster vs Waynesburg.  Should be an interesting game that could go down to the wire, or could be a blowout if Waynesburg is able to get its run game going with Ables and Daniels.


Any predictions this week??