FB: Northwest Conference

[D O.C.]

I, too, want to welcome HSCTiger fan over here since we swamped the ODAC board.

A fact left .....

# School (1st votes) Rec Pts Prev.
1 Mount Union (18) 10-0 616 1
2 Linfield (5) 9-0 592 2
3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (2) 10-0 588 3
4 North Central (Ill.) 10-0 536 4
5 UW-Whitewater 10-0 520 5
6 Bethel 10-0 515 6
7 UW-Platteville 9-1 471 10
8 Hobart 9-0 420 7
9 John Carroll 9-1 403 9
10 Johns Hopkins 10-0 375 11
11 UW-Oshkosh 8-2 360 8
12 Wittenberg 9-1 330 12
13 Pacific Lutheran 8-1 312 13
14 Illinois Wesleyan 9-1 308 14
15 Wesley 8-2 288 15
16 St. Thomas 8-2 266 16
17 Wabash 9-1 223 17
18 Heidelberg 8-2 187 18
19 Wheaton (Ill.) 8-2 157 21
20 Franklin 7-3 110 23
21 Thomas More 9-1 105 25
22 Concordia-Moorhead 8-2 64 --
23 Millsaps 9-1 61 19
24 Ithaca 8-2 51 20
25 St. John Fisher 8-2 43 --

[bluenote]

I agree. I truly believe HSC can win. I have a feeling many of you think that thought is a fantasy. We'll find out Saturday.

That's great you have your team's back but you're not going to find anybody in here thinking anything else but a Linfield victory on Saturday.  Looking forward to it.

Of course we're looking for a Wildcat victory....but it doesn't hurt to keep everybody on their toes and not be taking this game lightly! From what I can tell these guys have a pretty legit passing attack. Not sure about their defense but I'm sure they will have some talent on both sides of the ball. I'm liking all three phases of the Linfield attack right now and I think we know what we need to do this Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the coaches devise their game plan, this being kind of a short week with the vacation. I guess there is some film on these guys on YouTube.

[speedybigboy]

Both teams have great defense - LC ranks 7th Nationally allowing 250 yards per game.  HSC ranks 18th allowing 279. 
HSC ranks 28th nationally in preventing 3rd down conversions and your Cats rank 23rd. 
On forth Down LC has allowed 8 of 24 (33%) attempts and HSC has allowed 20 of 42 or (47%)
HSC ranks 14th in passing yards allowed and LC ranks 83rd.
But against the run LC ranks 2nd to HSC 77th.
Scoring defense LC averages giving up 12 points HSC 18
I am excited about the game.

...you really have to throw out all the stats because this is a playoff game....any body could win. !!!!! I'd just say....for both teams....just try your best....and think about Mom and Dad....who helped you get where you are.     

I agree. I truly believe HSC can win. I have a feeling many of you think that thought is a fantasy. We'll find out Saturday.

That's what I thought last week....  I think the tigers are in for a world of hurt.  A porous defense vs. this Wildcat offense equals a ton of points for Linfield.

Porous defense?

No disrespect intended HSC but I see scores like those to mid-level teams like Shenandoah, Catholic, and the latter part of your schedule and I dont see a dominating defense.  Linfields offense is top tier.  My alma maters defense (PLU) was purported to be pretty decent and Linfield went thru it pretty much at will.  In addition the Linfield defense is equally as good. 

[wartknight]

Okay... I take it back... I misspoke... I meant to say... Rarely has Linfield given up 34 points in a game over the past few years...Hey I'm just a fan... My kind won't be on the field come Saturday. But rest assured I don't underestimate the Tigers resolve and ability...

What is your KIND? Sorry, couldn't resist

[HSCTiger fan]

Both teams have great defense - LC ranks 7th Nationally allowing 250 yards per game.  HSC ranks 18th allowing 279. 
HSC ranks 28th nationally in preventing 3rd down conversions and your Cats rank 23rd. 
On forth Down LC has allowed 8 of 24 (33%) attempts and HSC has allowed 20 of 42 or (47%)
HSC ranks 14th in passing yards allowed and LC ranks 83rd.
But against the run LC ranks 2nd to HSC 77th.
Scoring defense LC averages giving up 12 points HSC 18
I am excited about the game. I

...you really have to throw out all the stats because this is a playoff game....any body could win. !!!!! I'd just say....for both teams....just try your best....and think about Mom and Dad....who helped you get where you are.     

I agree. I truly believe HSC can win. I have a feeling many of you think that thought is a fantasy. We'll find out Saturday.

That's what I thought last week....  I think the tigers are in for a world of hurt.  A porous defense vs. this Wildcat offense equals a ton of points for Linfield.

Porous defense?

No disrespect intended HSC but I see scores like those to mid-level teams like Shenandoah, Catholic, and the latter part of your schedule and I dont see a dominating defense.  Linfields offense is top tier.  My alma maters defense (PLU) was purported to be pretty decent and Linfield went thru it pretty much at will.  In addition the Linfield defense is equally as good.

Really top tier?  In who's eyes?  You guys beat 2 teams with winning records PLU twice and Williamette.  The combined wins of the teams you played counting PLU twice is 42 wins.  HSC played teams that won 57 games. Maybe the best team we played would not have beaten the worst team LC played. But I don't think I would call your schedule top tier.

Sorry I miss read. You guys definitely have a TOP TIER Offense. But so do we.

[HSCTiger fan]

We are looking forward to a good game ,  you have some studs (25,45,) ( what do you feed these boys ? raw meat? 91,92)  film looks good BUT[/b who Did you play ?  Coast Guard?  C'mon man ,    And keith's  old school  R & M   .   And you play in the ODAC too...(cheap shot)

Film looks good BUT who Did you play ? Lewis and Clark? C'mon man.

[bluenote]

Really top tier?  In who's eyes? 

Pretty much everybody that knows anything about DIII football. Including the people that vote in the poll above. I must be blind but I didn't see a school named Hampden-Sydney anywhere on the list?

[wildcat11]

Both teams have great defense - LC ranks 7th Nationally allowing 250 yards per game.  HSC ranks 18th allowing 279. 
HSC ranks 28th nationally in preventing 3rd down conversions and your Cats rank 23rd. 
On forth Down LC has allowed 8 of 24 (33%) attempts and HSC has allowed 20 of 42 or (47%)
HSC ranks 14th in passing yards allowed and LC ranks 83rd.
But against the run LC ranks 2nd to HSC 77th.
Scoring defense LC averages giving up 12 points HSC 18
I am excited about the game. I

...you really have to throw out all the stats because this is a playoff game....any body could win. !!!!! I'd just say....for both teams....just try your best....and think about Mom and Dad....who helped you get where you are.     

I agree. I truly believe HSC can win. I have a feeling many of you think that thought is a fantasy. We'll find out Saturday.

That's what I thought last week....  I think the tigers are in for a world of hurt.  A porous defense vs. this Wildcat offense equals a ton of points for Linfield.

Porous defense?

No disrespect intended HSC but I see scores like those to mid-level teams like Shenandoah, Catholic, and the latter part of your schedule and I dont see a dominating defense.  Linfields offense is top tier.  My alma maters defense (PLU) was purported to be pretty decent and Linfield went thru it pretty much at will.  In addition the Linfield defense is equally as good.

Really top tier?  In who's eyes?  You guys beat 2 teams with winning records PLU twice and Williamette.  The combined wins of the teams you played counting PLU twice is 42 wins.  HSC played teams that won 57 games. Maybe the best team we played would not have beaten the worst team LC played. But I don't think I would call your schedule top tier.

Sorry I miss read. You guys definitely have a TOP TIER Offense. But so do we.

Speedy is a PLU backer so don't lump him in with us.  The last thing a Lute wants to be call is a Wildcat so don't insult him. 

We've actually beat 3 teams with a winning record (PLU x2, Willamette, Pacific) and we've played one less game that HSC so that total victory number might be a little overinflated when doing a side-by-side comparison.

Linfield has been in the top 10 of SOS in multiple years in the past including having the number one SOS last season.  The program and the fans are very familiar with top end competition in Division III.  This year our SOS number has suffered dramatically since CLU and Hardin-Simmons took a bad turn this season and it's why we're sitting here with a 2 seed. 

HSC looks like a heck of a club, and as you say, they'll be expecting to win (all 16 teams should feel that way this weekend).  It should make for a good football game.

[Michael Herbert]

We are looking forward to a good game ,  you have some studs (25,45,) ( what do you feed these boys ? raw meat? 91,92)  film looks good BUT[/b who Did you play ? Coast Guard?  C'mon man ,    And keith's  old school  R & M   .   And you play in the ODAC too...(cheap shot)

Film looks good BUT who Did you play ? Lewis and Clark? C'mon man.

The reason behind playing Coast Guard was because the AD at USCGA is a Hampden-Sydney alumnus.  We pride ourselves in having a tight network and helping each other out.  I wouldn't necessarily say that we helped out USCGA, but it was a chance of connecting with one of our own in a different way.  With that being said, maybe we can connect with Mac Freeman '89 http://blogs.hsc.edu/engage/index.php/catch-up-with-mac-freeman-s-vp-denver-broncos/

[wildcat11]

We are looking forward to a good game ,  you have some studs (25,45,) ( what do you feed these boys ? raw meat? 91,92)  film looks good BUT[/b who Did you play ? Coast Guard?  C'mon man ,    And keith's  old school  R & M   .   And you play in the ODAC too...(cheap shot)

Film looks good BUT who Did you play ? Lewis and Clark? C'mon man.

The reason behind playing Coast Guard was because the AD at USCGA is a Hampden-Sydney alumnus.  We pride ourselves in having a tight network and helping each other out.  I wouldn't necessarily say that we helped out USCGA, but it was a chance of connecting with one of our own in a different way.  With that being said, maybe we can connect with Mac Freeman '89 http://blogs.hsc.edu/engage/index.php/catch-up-with-mac-freeman-s-vp-denver-broncos/

It's great seeing D3 guys working in the NFL.  Linfield has stayed tight with our guys working in the league.  Great resources to have.

http://www.seahawks.com/team/staff/lance-lopes/20959358-d996-4f38-b5c6-132256e09a3c
http://www.chargers.com/team/staff/randy-mueller/9e19bffd-807f-460d-a5e4-2d2be4b8c7a5
http://www.chargers.com/team/staff/ed-langsdorf/25ad364f-222a-4abe-bee6-ec6b3c985254
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/staff/ryan-powell/7b1273a2-a6d9-46ca-9d07-48c7f91caf92

[HSCTiger fan]

Really top tier?  In who's eyes? 

Pretty much everybody that knows anything about DIII football. Including the people that vote in the poll above. I must be blind but I didn't see a school named Hampden-Sydney anywhere on the list?

You're not blind. But there aren't 25 teams left playing. There are only 16 and we are one of them. Maybe your team is the best of that group and maybe we are the worst.  Polls mean nothing but if you want to see a poll with us in the top 25 here's one. http://www.compughterratings.com/D3/ratings.

[badgerwarhawk]

I would rank Hobart higher than Mount Union too.   

[d-train]

Film looks good BUT who Did you play ? Lewis and Clark? C'mon man.

Well, it looks like Lewis & Clark has a Gagliardi finalist:

http://www.d3football.com/notables/2013/11/gagliardi-finalists-announced




(No, I'm not implying that they are any good; and no, he wouldn't get my vote.)

[bluenote]

....that's a different poll....never seen that one before?

[Pat Coleman]

....that's a different poll....never seen that one before?

Don't confuse a computer ranking with a poll. Call those what they are: rankings.

Also, don't confuse the "final 16" with the "top 16" -- each team got here in a different way. Almost nobody who is still alive played a ranked team last week, but Linfield did.