FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[Bureau chief]

I don't really know, and I am getting to the point I don't really care

One last Shakespeare reference: "Much ado about nothing."

[Dr. Acula]

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.

If that's the case then I wish him success academically first.  No doubt it would be a shame to lose his talent on the field, but it would be a far bigger shame for him to not reach his potential in the classroom.  Wow, I sound like my parents.  That's not good...

[the_burghboy]

I'll say it, though I have no proof (but this is a message board):  I have heard on several occasions that Heller is lazy when it came to his academics, and some even said he was 'dumb as a rock'.   Now, I don't know how valid the latter is, but obviously he didn't meet the role of 'student/athlete'.

That leads me to the comment earlier that I read about how D3 players "is little more than high school football minus the best players who have gone away to play Division I & II."

I disagree with that remark to a degree.  Most players are obviously not meeting the criterea of Division I football, but Division II I don't feel is a huge jump in many scenarios.

Not to get into 'war stories', but when I played at W&J, I had a choice between playing there and having scholarship opportunities at several Division II schools in the PSAC, as well as some I-AA opportunities.  I wasn't alone, and there were plenty of folks I played with more talented than myself.   Once I looked at the academic opportunities, I decided I would much rather play at what is reported as a 'lower division' of football, and have a better edcuation in my opinion after four years.

I know of many kids that are in the same situation today, and would not play at some Division II schools due to better academic opportunities, and getting grant money that would not be any difference (or little difference) in paying for an education that one would get in a scholarship offer at a Division II level.   Not to name certain schools, but those admission standards aren't as solid as a W&J, or Grove City for example. 

It's all subjective.  I have watched programs around my area on the Division II and III level that had players that probably were not very talented.  I think there are Division III programs you could put in the PSAC or match against the Robert Morris' and Duquesne's in my area and be just as competitive (I believe they are IAA on a partial scholarship basis). 

That previous post put the student/athlete on the Division III level as someone that has been hashed through DI and DII levels, and have no further option than to play at DIII.  I disagree with that strongly, and there are many reasons despite athletically that someone plays at that level.   On the global scale there are better athletes on the DII level, but let's not paint with such a broad brush.  There is plenty of talent at the DIII level, and many programs where DII athletes could not compete academically or athletically.

[SaintsFAN]

agreed, burgboy.. 

Same deal here for me, only bigger boat.  I had Ohio St* and Notre Dame** after me..  but I wanted crappier competition, so I went D3. 

Seriously, I've heard the same things about Heller (both cases).  Lets just hope he gets his $hit together before its too late for HIM.  Forget Waynesburg..  they knew the risk when they recruited him.. they'll survive. 

*a normal college recruiter came to visit my school.  It got me out of 3rd period science.. hell no was any football involved.

** threw that in there, because I tried like hell to get into ND.  Even with a cousin's husband a tenured professor in South Bend, I couldn't get in. 

I also disagree with the previous notion about D3...there are MANY reasons one ends up at Division 3. 

[the_burghboy]

Love the sarcasm Saints.   I agree with what you are saying.

Another example since I work in a local school district, as well as my wife:  There is a kid that has record breaking high school numbers here, and had some sniffs from Division I schools, though not as a running back.  Good kid, but not the brightest bulb.

He went to a DI program, and was highly overmatched.   Flunked out after a semester, and came back home.  He was interested at that time in coming to W&J, but the administration and coaching staff (at that time) could not find any way to bring that kid to school with his academic issues. 

Kid ended up playing at DII, and never graduated, which was a shame.  In all honesty with the talent level at the time at W&J, I don't know if he would have done more than split time.   I'm not making that a case for W&J, because there are plenty of programs that are better at the DIII level (as evidenced by their loss to an 8th seed on home turf last year and quick oustings in recent playoff competition).

DIII is not a basket for student/athletes that want to play and have no choice elsewhere. 

[HScoach]

If he isn't serious about the academic part, then scratch Mount Union off the list.  Shepas might have needed his football talent enough to overlook his academic shortcomings, but that isn't the case with Kehres anymore.    I'm not saying Mount is Ivy League, but LK has built enough depth and talent into his program that he doesn't need to take a risk on a questionable transfer simply because the kid has football talent.  That might have been the case when LK was building MUC up, but not anymore.

Sounds like Heller is pissing away more than just his football playing days.  And even if he does land somewhere else, it's probably only a matter of time before he's done there too.   For his sake, I hope he gets his head screwed on right.

[South Willy]

I wonder if Heller is actually still taking classes at Waynesburg as he said? In a smaller school campus, he would be face to face with teammates and coaches all day.

[stingdad]

I'll ask around and see if I can find out. I feel bad for the kid, but he needs some head tightening from someone (and it would be better to do it on his own).  Waynesburg definitely has some work to do if they want to make the post season.

Their defense needs to start playing hard right after the national athem instead of waiting 25 minutes like they have the last 2 home games! And they need to quit turning the ball over. You don't win many games when you're on the wrong side of the turnover ratio.

Hoping for a great game against St. Vincent this weekend before the bye.

[South Willy]

Where are all the PAC fans. At least your teams are playing this week. Bison are idle with nothing but a JV game yesterday. Only tough pick this week might be Geneva/Thiel but I will go with Thiel, W & J, Waynesburg and Thomas More.

Everyone have a great weekend.

[SaintsFAN]

Great win by Thomas More today.  10-10 at Halftime as the Thomas More team was feeling the Titans out....and Saints come out and play with their hair on fire in the 3rd Quarter.  The team speed was the difference today as Thomas More made Westminster look slow.  Final 31-10.

Next week is a tricky roadtrip at Bethany.  We haven't played well the last two trips up there.  Hopefully we get some great efforts from the defense and come out with another decisive win. 

It would be nice to see Thomas More go through one game without having a crappy call go against them- today's was Kendall Owens' 80+ yard punt return for a touchdown that saw a holding flag come from the referee's pocket AFTER he was 15 yards downfield and no action was taking place at that spot.  I can only imagine that with TMC 2-0 in PAC play this year (first time we've started 2-0), its not going to get better. 

Is the PAC wide open this year?  I certainly hope so.. I think Thomas More has a shot, if they continue to play with tremendous heart and speed.

[spikegrouchy]

Yeah, your Saints really took it to my alma mater yesterday.  I was able to listen to the second half over the internet.  Westminster doesn't have the speed to play with good teams.  If their offense can't score, the Titans will lose, as they did yesterday.

I think Thomas More has the best chance of unseating W & J, if not this year, maybe next.  Unfortunately for Westminster, I don't see them close to competing for a PAC championship for a long time.  Their progam is going downhill right now. 

By the way, there is a Pick'ems board set up for the PAC now.  It seems that I am the only one posting on it.  I wish that others would post and pick games so I don't feel as though I am talking to myself....

[SaintsFAN]

Yeah, your Saints really took it to my alma mater yesterday.  I was able to listen to the second half over the internet.  Westminster doesn't have the speed to play with good teams.  If their offense can't score, the Titans will lose, as they did yesterday.

I think Thomas More has the best chance of unseating W & J, if not this year, maybe next.  Unfortunately for Westminster, I don't see them close to competing for a PAC championship for a long time.  Their progam is going downhill right now. 

Not trying to be insulting here, but it appeared to me that Westminster just isn't fast enough to defend a spread offense (I think this is what Heidelberg did to them as well) and has an offense doesn't have much besides some quick throws because of a real lack of speed on offense as well.  They may not be far away...but they've got to get some speedy recruits, IMO. 

Hopefully this is the year, as you say, that Thomas More challenges W&J...but, that remains to be seen.  Though, we've got some tough games ahead of us...starting with a road trip this week to Bethany.  I know Bethany has our full, undivided attention because of the way we've performed up there in the past.  In addition to Thomas More taking the Bison seriously, they need to really play well up there too.  Its too early to start talking about challenging W&J for Thomas More since we don't play the Presidents until November 1st. 

I think its going to be a wacky PAC Conference Season... the conference strength may be down, but parity is going to ensure that the champion keeps its focus from week to week.

[South Willy]

SaintsFAN...Looking forward to Homecoming this week. Should be a good game. Bethany for whatever reason shut down the passing game at Grove City after scoring 35 in the first half. Bixon should have beaten GC as bad as W & J did yesteday.
TMC speed won't be an issue for Bison and keys to the game IMO are:

1. Bison freshman QB needs to do a better job in getting the ball to receivers on time and limit mistakes
2. The Bison Defense - No one knows what we'll get game to game.

I expect TMC to play well, much better than last years game.

[stingdad]

I hear that Heller is still taking classes at Waynesburg.

Waynesburg looked much better defensively against STV this week. Offensively they still were hit and miss, but we did complete some passes to some different people! Waynesburg has the bye this week which coincides with my work schedule nicely.

[Bob.Gregg]

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