FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[blackhats]

Your point validated my point...thanks Pat.  Comparing scores and past games in past seasons is futile.  Realize that there is no desperation in Ferrum...we are just validating that we are better AT THIS POINT than the "experts" predicted that we would be; and we deserve some recognition like the others in the south (VA specifically) who have started their seasons out well in the past four or five seasons.  

Ferrum dominated Shenandoah just as much as Bridgewater did, so should they be ranked ahead of BC who lost to the McDaniel who had to take 2OT to defeat mighty Catholic??  See, all of the comparisons are illogical.  Just give respect to the Panthers for winning five...we are in no way claiming the national championship or even the USA South championship, just that in 2005 we have done the job that was asked of us.  

Will it take 10-0 before the Panthers will gain respect?  I guess by then Bridgewater will have lost one more to one of the great teams of the ODAC but still be in the top 20.  Truthfully, BC has done nothing this year to warrant that rating.  Their recent success over the past 7-8 years has gotten that for them, and hopefully Ferrum can rebuild some consistency to accomplish the same.  Neither team deserves to be ranked at this point...and you know what, neither does any other team in America.  

[cnusfinest54]

Allen C I would say that by no way CNU is a lock to win the Conference title. CNU has a very young  this year and even with the guys from last year they found a way to loose one conference game. I think what people mean to say when they make reference to CNU and the conf. title is that if a team wants the title they will have to beat  CNU to take it.  If you remember 2 years ago CNU went to Ferrum with an undefeated conf. record and the #1 seed in the south region playoffs on the line and choked.  The Ferrum and Methodist game should be an interesting one and it seems to close to call right now. Another thing that has yet to be seen is how the young Captains play when they take the show on the road. The young guys have played four games with and average of 3500 fans to support them. It will be interesting how they react to the overnight trips,l ong bus rides, and much smaller but a few hostile crowds that hate their guts. I can remember the intense game we played at Methodist last year, their fans talked a lot of smack before the game and it was obvious that we were not liked at all. MC came out fired up forced a turnover a proceeded to drive it down the field for a score. Only difference was that our veteran guys settled down the crowd by making big plays on offense and shutting down the high powered Monarch offense in route to a 24-10 win.

[blackhats]

OBTW Pat...Chowan is still well ahead of where they were last year...Twice as many wins half way through.

[Allen C]

Good point Blackhat...Wish I had thought of that

[Allen C]

Narch

I know what you mean...I am not real confident that that cant happen to Ferrum v. Maryville

[Pat Coleman]

Because Chowan played Southern Virginia this year and didn't play them last year. So what?

[blackhats]

Bridgewater played G. Mason and did not play them last year...why did they jump up inthe ratings---maybe because it was a win?  A win is a win, and five is five.  For every rebuttal that you have I'll find another...so what?

[blackhats]

The polls are flawed...how can undefeated McDaniel who beat Bridgewater at their place be ranked below them...illogical.  Where is the sanity?  Polls must die.

[narch]

blackhats - what exactly are you looking for for fc? ferrum is being talked about more on this board and on d3football.com than i can ever remember - they're recieving top 25 votes - there are TWO people actively posting about ferrum (getting internet access that far in the woods was a tricky thing, i'm sure ) - a few of us have talked about what a great option qb pitts is - what additional affirmation of ferrum's success do you need?

i do agree with your points about some teams being ranked on the merits of past success, but that's the nature of rankings - i think you're picking on the wrong odac team, though - the fact that hsc BARELY beat guilford makes me wonder about them - they'll probably go 9-1 and make the playoffs, though

papi - rayford and mcswain came out of the game on saturday - coach sy said both could have come back, but with a big lead there was no reason to risk either of them - both are important, especially in the return game - nevin had a 32 yard punt return on saturday and is averaging around 13 yards per punt return (and the freshman back up did not look good, although i think returning punts is the hardest thing to do in football...takes some stones) - mcswain had a 97 yard return for a td and spells mike hill, so the monarchs need both of those guys healthy

[Pat Coleman]

Blackhats,

Please continue to argue points about which you know nothing. It does wonders for your credibility.

1) McDaniel has had major injuries since beating Bridgewater and is not the same team that took the field in Week 1.
2) George Mason is an exhibition game. It doesn't count. Most of our voters don't even know this event took place.

You should stop. You have no idea what it takes to vote on a national ranking.

[Ryan Tipps]

they're recieving top 25 votes

Darn it, narch, I was researching that very point when you posted it!  

I can't find a single instance in the past two years where Ferrum has even been mentioned in the voting, and the fact that they are getting votes speaks volumes about how far that team has come.

[narch]

my bad, make that 2 1/2 ferrum posters...legacy, i can't figure out if wabash guy or a ferrum guy, so i'm making you a 1/2 ferrum poster

[blackhats]

No kidding Pat (club football never counts), but it is obvious that the polls don't reflect the outcomes of head to head competition (injuries or not).  They reflect what people across America read and don't see.  We don't have national tv so that the voters can see for what they are voting...they like me check the scores and read the write-ups.  Most of your voters vote for tradition, what they have read, or what they have heard.  How about I get in on the voting?  Believe me when I say that I am a lot more knowledgable than any SID out there.  Maybe then logic and research can be thrown into the equation...of course that may be too illogical for d3football.com.

[Llamaguy]

Will it take 10-0 before the Panthers will gain respect? I guess by then Bridgewater will have lost one more to one of the great teams of the ODAC but still be in the top 20.  Truthfully, BC has done nothing this year to warrant that rating.  

Not the best Analogy Blackhat! An ODAC loss for BC is always possible but considering BC is 31-1 with a 30 game ODAC win streak since 2000 your prediction is highly unlikely.

In defense of the Top 25, its all a product of the system. You start with a pre-season ranking which IS based on the previous year's performance and this year's prediction. Then as long as those teams start with a quality team, even a loss will not drop them far. Either you shock the world like a Thiel beating W&J at #6 or you slowly work your way up the ladder. In BC's case it took a shocking play-off victory at W&J and an overtime loss at Trinity in the 2000 playoffs to break onto the national scene and into the Top 25.

BC would love to introduce the Blackhats to the topend of the ODAC come November!

[Allen C]

Well this being my first day on the board, I must say I have enjoyed the points and counter points as everyone supports their favorite school.

Hope I have not been overbearing. Gone for tonight.

Thanks again for the enjoyable postings. Pat this is a great forum!


GO FERRUM