FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

okay, looks like I killed off the USASAC Board this week... sorry fellas.  Somebody toss out a poem or something to kick things off again for PSBBG. 

I can't think if any poems, and I have no crazy formulas to throw out there.  I do have a few questions though and I hope it sparks some board activity.

Which team is poised to surpise some people?  Which team is poised to really disappoint? (this with knowing what teams are expected to return.)

     No bias here  but the Fighting Scots may be "poised" to make a run at the conference title this year. The last few years they have lost quite a few games by small margins. If they can get those games to go their way this year, watch out.
    The Scots offense returns mostly intact. This includes the offensive coordinator position, which hasn't had much continuity recently. Of course the big loss was at QB so that will be key, particularly in the first few games. If that position can gel before the conference schedule starts, anything can happen. 
    I posted this last year but will post again. Rommel Hightower is an outstanding running back. He is only a SO. If he stays healthy and continues to improve, he will be a force in the conference. With most of the O line back from last year, this could be a breakout year for him.
     GO SCOTS!!  8)

I went to all but 2 games last year for the Pride. I would say that I really liked Hightower (wasn't that the name of Bubba Smith's character in the movie Police Academy.)  Anyway, Rommel Hightower was my favorite RB of the ones I saw. I think he is a talented back who will really help Maryville this year.  Replacing a QB is always an issue for any team that would be one of my concerns.  How is the defense going to be I read that article on Maryville's website.  Losing 4 core guys, as the article said, but returning 7 isn't too bad.  Maryville's defense did give up almost 29 pts a game last year. However I do think you have a good arguement for the Scots

"We came through spring with the most returning players (65) since I've been here," Ierulli said.
http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/athletics/news-detail.asp?sportNameID=3&id=2018

65!!!

I saw that you had transfer RB from Lenoir-Rhyne. (They are trying him at safety) I don't think you need to worry about a QB, you could always run the wishbone offense.

[CNU85]

okay, looks like I killed off the USASAC Board this week... sorry fellas.  Somebody toss out a poem or something to kick things off again for PSBBG. 

There once was a 'baller from Nantucket
During the off season, said F$%# - it

didn't condition
now he's in position

in August to be puking in a bucket

[CNU85]

 Now that was good!!! Bring on da Karma, baby!!!!

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

okay, looks like I killed off the USASAC Board this week... sorry fellas.  Somebody toss out a poem or something to kick things off again for PSBBG. 

There once was a 'baller from Nantucket
During the off season, said F$%# - it

didn't condition
now he's in position

in August to be puking in a bucket

Very good!

Now that was good!!! Bring on da Karma, baby!!!!

If you ask you shall receieve
This karma is for you I believe
CNU85 I hope this helps your stress
But with this poem my karma should be less

[CNU85]

plus one for you!

[allsky7]

okay, looks like I killed off the USASAC Board this week... sorry fellas.  Somebody toss out a poem or something to kick things off again for PSBBG. 

I can't think if any poems, and I have no crazy formulas to throw out there.  I do have a few questions though and I hope it sparks some board activity.

Which team is poised to surpise some people?  Which team is poised to really disappoint? (this with knowing what teams are expected to return.)

     No bias here  but the Fighting Scots may be "poised" to make a run at the conference title this year. The last few years they have lost quite a few games by small margins. If they can get those games to go their way this year, watch out.
    The Scots offense returns mostly intact. This includes the offensive coordinator position, which hasn't had much continuity recently. Of course the big loss was at QB so that will be key, particularly in the first few games. If that position can gel before the conference schedule starts, anything can happen. 
    I posted this last year but will post again. Rommel Hightower is an outstanding running back. He is only a SO. If he stays healthy and continues to improve, he will be a force in the conference. With most of the O line back from last year, this could be a breakout year for him.
     GO SCOTS!!  8)

I went to all but 2 games last year for the Pride. I would say that I really liked Hightower (wasn't that the name of Bubba Smith's character in the movie Police Academy.)  Anyway, Rommel Hightower was my favorite RB of the ones I saw. I think he is a talented back who will really help Maryville this year.  Replacing a QB is always an issue for any team that would be one of my concerns.  How is the defense going to be I read that article on Maryville's website.  Losing 4 core guys, as the article said, but returning 7 isn't too bad.  Maryville's defense did give up almost 29 pts a game last year. However I do think you have a good arguement for the Scots

"We came through spring with the most returning players (65) since I've been here," Ierulli said.
http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/athletics/news-detail.asp?sportNameID=3&id=2018

65!!!

I saw that you had transfer RB from Lenoir-Rhyne. (They are trying him at safety) I don't think you need to worry about a QB, you could always run the wishbone offense.

     Not sure on the D. Losing the quality players that they did will surely be tough to replace. I read the same article you did. It looks like they will be deeper on D than they have been but not sure about the talent level. My gut feeling is they will be a better overall team than the past few years but they will still need to get a few breaks (stay injury free and win the close ones) in order to be a contender.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

I am working on something new here.  I am trying to figure out how one career of a player from one USASouth school compares to another player of another school.  I have just came up with one concept so far and it this for WR's.

I took Torrey Lowe and compared him to two WR's of CNU.  Here is what I came up with.

Nathan Davis 796
George Jones 904.

The closer you are to 1,000 the closer your career resembles to the player being compared.  Some of you may think you have seen this before, its quite possible.  This concept is from Bill James' book,  The Politics of Glory (p. 86-106) It is a concept for comparing baseball players.  I have taken the basic parameters and used football statistics instead.

I think if you compare the two careers of Torrey Lowe and George Jones you will find they are quite similar.

I brought this up because someone noted earlier, comparing Chris Roncketti of Methodist and Cedric Townsend of NCWC.  Once I figure out the scoring system I will see how they compare.

[Pat Coleman]

<-- Big fan of Bill James' similarity scores.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

ok I think I have all the needed stats covered.  I didn't use the Effic% because it should be already worked into the stats I used.  I wanted to include fumbles but those stats aren't together in the record books.  I wanted to compare Chris Roncketti of Methodist and Cedric Townsend of NCWC. The following is thier number (first 3 years)

Player Chris Methodist Cedric NCWC

GP 29 21

P Comp 230 240

P Att 483 426

P Yard 3060 3340

P TD 16 23

INT 24 8

Com % 47.6 56.3

R Att 248 184

R Yard 1159 834

R TD 25 11

I use my determined numbers and I came up with 931 out of 1000, when you compare the two QB's.  I am assuming that you all want to see my numbers to where I drew the comparison.

One point is subtracted for the difference of every 4 GP
-For 14 PA
-For 7 PC (50% completion)
-For 100 P Yard
-For 3 P TD
-For 3 INT
-For .5 COMP %
-For 5 R ATT
-For 20 R Yard
-For 3 R TD

I think my numbers look solid.  If anyone feels the numbers need to be tweeked then I will try to get them as close as possible as needed.

[kickerdad]

This could be a year full of surprises. NCWC, Maryville, Greensboro, CNU of course, Methodist, Ferrum and yes even SU and Averett have the potential to pull a few upsets.

All the teams look like they are set to play a tough out of conference schedule and depending on who comes out of the gate (first 3 games) the strongest may have the upper edge.

CNU is going to be there, but from what I witnessed last year, NCWC, Maryville, and Methodist could be hanging right there with them at the close. Averett, SU, Greensboro and Ferrum could also pull some major upsets and make this thing go right down to the wire.

Natually I am betting on Averett to be there but what do I know. I am just a washed up old offensive center that had his brains beat out 40 thousand times and have mash potatoes for knees.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Can anyone explain to me this EA Sports Elite 11 camp or whatever it is?  Is it some hyped up, means nothing idea or does it have any weight what so ever anywhere?  I saw there are quite a few big names that were once on the list.  It included Matt Leinert.

[SU97]

secondly, this is how the conference will finish out this season:
cnu (first outright champion)
ncwc
mu, m'ville, averett (tie)
gboro, ferrum (tie)
su

Not so sure if CNU is such a slam dunk this year Narch, they lose 24 TD's from 2006 with Hilliard and Jones graduating - and as long as NCWC is returning Townsen, Bush and Haywood, I am thinking they might be the team to beat.  Cedric Townsen was by far the best talent I saw on the field last year. 

Kickerdad - I'm sticking to CNU and NCWC leading the pack. I keep hearing that Maryville has a strong group of upperclassmen returning, which in my mind is an important piece of the puzzle.  Outside of that I think the rest of the conference is in a fight for those 3rd-6th place slots.  I also thin that AU has lost way too much talent due to graduation and will have a very tough season ahead.  SU has nowhere to go but up.

[allsky7]

secondly, this is how the conference will finish out this season:
cnu (first outright champion)
ncwc
mu, m'ville, averett (tie)
gboro, ferrum (tie)
su

     
Not so sure if CNU is such a slam dunk this year Narch, they lose 24 TD's from 2006 with Hilliard and Jones graduating - and as long as NCWC is returning Townsen, Bush and Haywood, I am thinking they might be the team to beat.  Cedric Townsen was by far the best talent I saw on the field last year. 

Kickerdad - I'm sticking to CNU and NCWC leading the pack. I keep hearing that Maryville has a strong group of upperclassmen returning, which in my mind is an important piece of the puzzle.  Outside of that I think the rest of the conference is in a fight for those 3rd-6th place slots.  I also thin that AU has lost way too much talent due to graduation and will have a very tough season ahead.  SU has nowhere to go but up.

       I really don't know that much about NCWC but I think CNU is "King" until someone knocks them off.  Anyone know why the CNU/ Maryville game is being played in Williamsburg?

[kickerdad]

[kickerdad - I'm sticking to CNU and NCWC leading the pack. I keep hearing that Maryville has a strong group of upperclassmen returning, which in my mind is an important piece of the puzzle.  Outside of that I think the rest of the conference is in a fight for those 3rd-6th place slots.  I also thin that AU has lost way too much talent due to graduation and will have a very tough season ahead.  SU has nowhere to go but up.



[/quote]

       I really don't know that much about NCWC but I think CNU is "King" until someone knocks them off.  Anyone know why the CNU/ Maryville game is being played in Williamsburg?


[/quote]
I think someones SID doesn't know the difference between Williamsburg and Newport News. CNU has it on their schedule as a home game (Newport News)

SU - I am sure you are right but if I said anything different, they would tar and feather me here at home and at Averett.

[SU97]

CNU always seems to put it together.  Too count them out is just plain maddness.

Not counting the captains out - just saying it could be a tight race to the finish.   

I do think CNU is the front runner, just think that if NCWC returns the core talent they had last year it could be really interesting. 

CNU is in a different situation than the rest of the conference with recruiting, although CNU85 has mentioned the increasing admissions standards at CNU may have an impact on their team (maybe that was on the hoops board from the winter, can't remember).  It seems to me that the rest of the schools in the conference would not be able to sustain that type of dominance because of the challenges they face in bringing in kids.  Curious, I'd like to examine this a little more, but I don't have a piece of information needed:  do you guys know how many kids start in camp at each school? 

SU starts each year with 115-125 players, probably 60+ are frosh.  What about the other schools in the conference?  I ask because I wonder if part of CNU's dominance is related to an issue that I assume the rest of our schools deal with:  that football is an enrollment tool in addition to the sporting aspect.  I would wonder if that is even a consideration at CNU.  Does the administration care if CNU has 130 kids on the roster or 100? 

CNU85 - any thoughts?