FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[Bob.Gregg]

Your point is, you know, what, CPA?

[SaintsFAN]

You know, I don't know if I like the tone the conversation has taken on here. 

Where are all the W&J guys this year?  You know, last year they were pretty much, you know, everywhere.  You know, since you know W&J has 8 more games, I mean, we should probably see a few more of them.

[SaintsFAN]

Good road win for the young Thomas More team today at Waynesburg.  Sounds like the defense played really well, only giving up one TD.  Waynesburg has a weapon at kicker, they'll get the offense back on track. 

Westminster comes to play on the new field this week at TMC... Homecoming and alot of former players are going to be back on campus. 

[the_burghboy]

Waynesburg will be without All-American runningback Robert Heller, who, according to Yellowjacket mentor Rick Shepas, has left the program. 

"As of right now, as far as Robert Heller is concerned, I mean, he has been stating that he has a high ankle sprain. I mean, we don't really have a lot of evidence to that effect. He hasn't visited with our trainers to validate any of those things....and actually hasn't been with the program, you know, since, you know, we haven't seen him very much at all since the Wooster game. So, you know, in our program we've moved forward.  You know, he's a great athlete and a great player and while he resolves his issues we've just chosen to move forward."

This quote comes from the PAC Football Report (linked below), starting at the 2:50 mark.

PAC Football Weekly Podcast

I find that interesting because the O-R had an article on Heller and him quoting his 'injury' around the same time Shepas noted he hasn't been seen.

[stingdad]

Becker looks to be a good running back, but doesn't really have the moves that Heller did. But as I recall before the season started, Heller was looking to move to Slippery Rock and I have also heard a rumor about Mount Union.

I just know in the first game he missed picking up the blitzing back 5 times. Then he would slap himself in the helmet for blowing his assignment.  We turned the ball over 3 times yesterday, 2 more interceptions and a fumble. It looks like they are getting gunshy about throwing the ball now judging by the number of times it was 3rd and long and they tried running the ball.

[Bureau chief]

Saints Fan

Maybe W&J posters are waiting for the defense to show up at the games.. Who knows? Thought it was amusing to read the game summary of the TM-Wbg game, and see that Robert Heller kicked all those field goals. The freshman kicker wore Heller's No.. 3..thus the confusion. Nonetheless, congrats on a big win. I think TM might well be the President's biggest challenge this year, especially playing in Ky. Concern I have is if the offense somehow falters, the defense is not prepared to be a gamesaver, unless things begin to improve immediately. Grove City put up 41 points against Bethany, so they must have some fire power.. Don't really know anything about Bethany's D, though.

I think it will be a very interesting year in the PAC.  Frankly, it could be a toss up when November comes around

[South Willy]

I made the trip up to Grove City and the night game had great atmosphere and a big croud. Strangle game as neither team could stop the other in the first half and BC could have had a larger lead except for two turnovers. Then we started the second half and nobody could move the ball via ground or air until GC's final drive.
I think the PAC will be pretty much what we said prior to the season, an even group of teams, except maybe W & J, playing some very competitive games.

SaintsFAN... Great win at Waynesburg and looking forward to Homecoming at BC in two weeks.

[Mad Anthony]

This is my first year watching D3 football. I didn't know what to expect at first, but I do admit to being a little disappointed. I attended the Waynesburg vs Wooster game and it looked much like a scrimmage. I'm not sure that camp is long enough to get the athletes ready. Even high school gets 2 weeks of camp.

Just judging by general confusion on the field.

Gotta remember Stingdad, this is little more than high school football minus the best players who have gone away to play Division I & II. My first exposure to D3 was the W&J v. Waynesburg game in 2003. At first I thought I was watching a tape of the game being played at 3/4 speed, then it occurred to me that with the D3 scholarship ban, I couldn't expect to see the kind of performance that characterized the Waynesburg teams of the '60s. Many of the "stars" of D3, like Robert Heller, have got to harbor in their minds the thought that they could also make a big splash in DII and maybe even DI and that they are wasting their time and talent in non-scholarship football. Robert Heller seems to me to be one of those confused young men. He needs to make a final decision soon to either go elswhere and eliminate a great distraction at Waynesburg or retake the field at Wiley Stadium give it all he's got and make the best of his situation.

[Bureau chief]

Not so sure the decision is Heller's to make

[Bob.Gregg]

Not so sure the decision is Heller's to make

Not sure why you'd think that, chief.

Shepas said "...while he resolves his issues..."

Sounds like the HC is saying Mr. Heller has decisions to make.

[Bureau chief]

Well Bob, if we believe what is written and quoted it seems no one is quite sure whether he is injured or not. Shepas said Heller has not been treated by the school's training staff; hasn't been around much since the Wooster game; didn't accompany team to Hanover, but instead watched W&J and Frostburg; contemplated transferring after last year. This can't be sitting well with his teammates.

How long is Shepas willing to let Heller "resolve his issues?" This whole thing is playing out like a Shakesperean tragedy. I am willing to bet, despite all the discord surrounding the Heller saga, that if he  does resolve whatever issues he has, he will back in the lineup.

Maybe his teammates should be asked if they want him back. The longer this festers without a resolution, I think the Wbg. program is going to suffer.

[Bureau chief]

The PAC Web page reports in its week 4 conference notes: "Waynesburg head coach Rick Shepas announced that preseason All-American sophomore RB Robert Heller has left the Yellow Jacket program." Not sure if Shepas made that announcement before he commented on the "resolution of issues" thing.

Nonetheless, it appears the "tragedy" has been played out (even though no one died)

"Tragic heroes contribute to their own destruction by acts in which we see a flaw in their character, or, by tragic error."

[South Willy]

Interesting story on Heller but I can't understand why he would leave the program. We've seen reports that he talked transfer with MUC, Pitt and a buddy told me Heller talked with Slippery Rock & California,Pa. It appears his real problem has nothing to do with football but rather he isn't eligible to compete at other programs. Shepas said he was OK after of summer school but if that's the case, he should have been OK at the other schools, except maybe D1 Pitt.

Sounds like Heller's next stop may be playing his football at an NAIA university or Community College.

[Mad Anthony]

Nonetheless, it appears the "tragedy" has been played out (even though no one died)

"Tragic heroes contribute to their own destruction by acts in which we see a flaw in their character, or, by tragic error."
[/quote]

But... Is this the Tragic Resolution ?
Whatever that may be, in the interim, Waynesburg needs to assume that the King is dead so that they can concentrate on attempting to salvage what was a very promising season.

[Bob.Gregg]

chief, the audio podcast last week said (Joe Onderko speaking) "according to Yellow Jacket mentor Rick Shepas, 'has left the program'".

Shepas never said those words in the interview segment that the PAC report featured.

The Observer-Reporter articles on Heller and the Jackets loss to Thomas More contained a quote attributed to Shepas, stating that Heller "is not with the team."
OR Waynesburg vs Thomas More

Is that "is not with the team"?
Is that "is not with the team today"?
Is that "is not with the team this week"?
Is that "is not with the team this year"?
Is that "is not with the team ever again"?

I still believe that the decisions to be made first are those rattling around the head of a 20-ish year old, talented, but troubled young man.

Once those decisions have been squared, then, and only then, does the University, the coaching staff and "former" teammates have any decisions to make.