South Region playoffs

[Pat Coleman]

True, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

[Allen C]

Well I'm a Ferrumite, and while I do not believe that Ferrum is ready to claim the D3 National Championship, I dont think its a stretch to see them ranked. I dont expect it, because of the strength of schedule.(ooc)
I am curious as to how the strength of schedule/qowi affects the rankings? Is their alot of emphasis placed on this by the voters?

[Pat Coleman]

I would say many voters (can't make a blanket statement, of course, because we have 25 individuals) place a great deal of emphasis on strength of schedule, but definitely not using the NCAA's QOW formula.

[Ron Boerger]

Any team that is unknown has to do a number of things to start getting votes.  You don't have to do all of them, but the more you have going for you, the higher you're going to end up:

- Win ballgames (Ferrum has got this going, congrats).
- Be a member of a respected conference.
- Consistently win ballgames over a period of years.
- Beat people the voters have heard of. 
- Win playoff games.

Voters don't (IMHO since I don't vote!) look at the QoWI numbers, but they do consider the opponents a team plays and margins of victory.  Sometimes. 

[Llamaguy]

Week #7 Comparison

* ranking will be based on current QOWI w/in each loss column
@ - indicates teams eligible for Pool B bids

AFCA rankings to be updated Tuesday

"0" D-III LOSS TEAMS  with (overall w/l) (regional w/l) QOWI

1.  TRINITY                  (5-0) (4-0)   12.50        D3 #10    AFCA #8
    WESLEY @              (7-0) (4-0)   12.50        D3 #22    AFCA #25  
3.  JOHNS HOPKINS        (6-0) (5-0)   11.20                     AFCA #15                 
4.  THIEL @                  (6-0) (6-0)   11.17        D3 #18   AFCA #20
5.  HARDIN-SIMMONS     (6-0) (5-0)   10.40        D3 # 3    AFCA #4
6.  FERREM                   (7-0) (6-0)   10.33

"1" D-III LOSS TEAMS

1.   SALISBURY @            (5-1) (2-0)   14.50      D3 #17  
2.   WASH & LEE              (5-1) (4-1)   10.60
3.   ETBU                       (4-2) (4-1)      9.80
4.   WASH & JEFF @         (6-1) (4-1)     9.40     D3 # 16   AFCA #17
5.   BRIDGEWATER           (4-1) (3-1)      9.00     D3 #19    AFCA #14
6.   DEPAUW                   (4-1) (3-1)     8.75
7.   HUNTINGDON @         (5-1) (4-1)     8.60
8.   CENTRE                    (6-1) (4-1)     8.40
9.   UMHB                       (4-1) (3-1)     8.25      D3# 9     AFCA #10

* ETBU has only 1 in region loss and 1 loss to a D-II team, thus in the NCAA's eyes, a (4-1) D-III record.

"2" D-III LOSS TEAMS

1.   MCDANIEL                  (4-2) (3-2)    9.00
2.   HAMPDEN SYDNEY       (4-2) (4-2)    8.67
3.   CNU                          (4-2) (3-1)    7.75
4.   METHODIST                (4-2) (4-2)    7.50
5.   THOMAS MORE @        (4-2) (4-2)    7.33
6.   MCMURRY                  (4-2) (3-2)     6.80

*CNU has only 1 in region loss & would be considered ahead of 2 regional loss teams based on NCAA Primary selection criteria

* Once a team has more than 2 losses in region they will drop from consideration as the season progresses. Note: Pool A (automatic qualifiers) will throw "a wrench" into the number of spots available in the South Region. Total spots available in the DIII Playoff Field = 32.


South Region (Pool A) Berths (Conference Champions w/ Auto-bids)

American Southwest Conference -
Centennial Conference -
Old Dominion Athletic Conference -
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference -
USA South Athletic Conference -

* conference champions to be updated once official

[Pat Coleman]

Total spots available in each region = 8. In the South Region it consists of 5 Pool A (Automatic qualifiers) and 3 Pool B/C participants.

This is not true. There's nothing that says the South has to get more than five bids. They could get five, six, seven, eight, nine, even 10 if they all qualify. There is no set number of teams per region, just 32 selections which are then placed into brackets of eight teams apiece.

[Llamaguy]

Thanks Pat. I changed it so as not to confuse any posters new to the D3 playoff format.

And I'd be willing to bet that 9 or 10 invitations will go to South Region teams this year. Looks like the East will be getting visitors from the South and/or North yet again.

Still alot of football to play yet though.

[Ron Boerger]

Week #7 Comparison

*CNU & ETBU both have only 1 in region loss & would be considered ahead of 2 regional loss teams based on NCAA Primary selection criteria

Llama, this is a lot of work  --- thanks.

One thing about ETBU:  Their second loss is to a D-II school.  As far as the NCAA and the selection process is concerned, they're a one loss team.  The D-II game doesn't factor into the equation.

Slap me down if I'm wrong, Pat.   

[Ralph Turner]

Ron, you understand the primary criteria correctly.  IMHO, ETBU should be moved to the "one loss" group!  Great job Llama guy!  Plus one karma!

It is all about in-region records!  I have added the Pool A conferences to the list of undefeateds.

1.  TRINITY (SCAC)                 (5-0) (4-0)   12.50        D3 #10   AFCA #
     WESLEY @              (7-0) (4-0)   12.50        D3 #22   
3.  JOHNS HOPKINS  (CC)      (6-0) (5-0)   11.20                   
4.  THIEL @                  (6-0) (6-0)   11.17        D3 #18
5.  HARDIN-SIMMONS (ASC)    (6-0) (5-0)   10.40        D3 # 3    AFCA #
6.  FERREM (USAC)               (7-0) (6-0)  10.33

[PittTBCW]

Oh, let's be reasonable. Being down 21-0 to Waynesburg is the equivalent of being down 56-0 on Mount Union. That's just reality. Mount Union doesn't make unforced mistakes.

Pat,

Let me get this right then...If being down 21-0 and coming back vs Waynesburg is the same as being down 56-0 and coming back vs Mount. Wow you are really turning into a Tomcat fan!!! (HAHA)

I love all of the Thiel doubters!!!

Forget the fact that they came back against a decent football team who has won 14 straight home games, o yea forget that they came back after being down 14-0 @ W&J who has owned the PAC and have won playoff games for the past upteen years. Since Thiel has not faired very well for a while (not counting last year 7-3) they are lucky to be 6-0. They have not made the playoffs for years so that makes them not that good either. Since they do not play in Mount Union's conference again they are not good.

Remember they said Thiel can not even COMPETE with MOUNT!!!

No I am not saying Thiel would beat them so understand the difference before I get some dredded, makes it hard to sleep negative Karma!

Tomcats just take it one game at a time and surprise all these guru's who probably never strapped it up and played. The people who have seen you believe in you guys.

As always..."Take care of the small things, and the big things will happen!"


GO Tomcats!!!

[Toby Taff]

Forget the fact that they came back against a decent football team who has won 14 straight home games, o yea forget that they came back after being down 14-0 @ W&J who has owned the PAC and have won playoff games for the past upteen years. . . .

Remember they said Thiel can not even COMPETE with MOUNT!!!

Pitt,

I don't generally wade into these discussions, but I have to say something.  Thiel deserves respect for what it is doing, i.e. winning their games, but that said let's think about the nature of the competition compared to MUC.  You came back on W&J "who has owned the PAC".  I just went and looked at their playoff escapades for the past 5 years.  None of their playoff losses were within 2 touchdowns of the advancing team and in each of those years, Mount went to the final game save 2004 when UMHB eeked out the last second win.  Thiel, like MHB last year, may be on a roll that just won't stop.  It happens, but reality says that W&J and MUC are on different plateaus, maybe different planets when it comes to skill level.  Until proven otherwise, it is safe to say Thiel can compete if you mean they can suit up and play the game, but if you mean make the game fun for anyone but Purple Raider fan to watch, uh! uh!

[Bob.Gregg]

...Tomcats just take it one game at a time and surprise all these guru's who probably never strapped it up and played. The people who have seen you believe in you guys.

PittTBCW, I'm a "guru" who NEVER strapped it on in this sport, but believe me, I have a little idea what it takes to compete athletically.

I was not then, am not now, surprised by Thiel's success.

The Tomcats' win over W&J did not come out of left field, at least not to the WJPA broadcast crew.  We've seen it coming, and have written so in this forum.

Enjoy the moment.  As one who's been down the path a time or two, believe me, it vanishes rather quickly.

And, I repeat, don't start engraving the National Championship trophy just yet.

[Dutch12]

Bob you're exactly right.  I'm not sure why people are trying to guage how Thiel would due vs. Mount on some of these boards, but if Thiel fans want a quick painful end to a great season Mount would serve it up.  I'm a huge Thiel fan and certainly I am rooting for them to win every game, but let's try to keep things in perspective a bit Tomcat fans.  We should be concentrating on winning the PAC and a conference championship before we start claiming we're national championship contenders.  That is exactly what you are claiming when you say Thiel can compete with Mount because any team that "Competes" with Mount is a national championship contender.

[PittTBCW]

Trust me I am far from engraving the National Championship trophy or making reservations for the Stagg Bowl. I just honestly think that Thiel or W&J could compete with a Mount Union team in a playoff type atmosphere. I am not saying they would be them, but it would be a game that was interesting to both sides for a good portion of the game.

Thats all.

I know it vanishes quickly. Hopefully not too quickly.

[Llamaguy]

Thanks Ralph & Bonzo. Ask and you shall receive. I have moved ETBU to the new "1 D-III LOSS" column were they are now 3rd, based on QOWI, in that group. As I said at the beginnig, this is a work in progress, any corrections/suggestions are encouraged.

Not that much work to do this now that the template is there. Pat Coleman makes it easy to do with this site's resources. The real fun will be when be get down to " the nitty-gritty " in a few weeks and have to split hairs based on quality wins and  how many spots will be open to South teams based on the rest of D-III.

A college football playoff system is the best thing since popcorn. When will the NCAA D-1 guys figure that out? I know, when they figure out how to make more $ by doing it that way. Sad, just plain sad!