FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[Scots13]

With great power comes great responsibility, or so they say. It's a pretty good feeling knowing I've been entrusted with the power to smite. Guess I've made it to the big leagues, and now it looks like my Alabama buddy DG has the power too.

Watch out, fellas. Smites are coming!

[jknezek]

closest thing to a smack down i have heard/read on this board in 7 yrs

that is what i love about this board (well one of the many things)  jknezek's fun barb to Scots is about as nasty as it ever gets amongst the regulars

That's about as nasty as I try to get. And Scots is being a good sport giving it back.

[Scots13]

closest thing to a smack down i have heard/read on this board in 7 yrs

that is what i love about this board (well one of the many things)  jknezek's fun barb to Scots is about as nasty as it ever gets amongst the regulars

That's about as nasty as I try to get. And Scots is being a good sport giving it back.

You don't have to worry about me getting nasty about the game on here. I'm letting all my H-SC buddies back home have all the nasty stuff.

[PantherGuy]

Just to follow up on my earlier post, my step-son played at Maryville from 2008-2011 and played on the JV team his first 2 years.  He played in 3 JV games as a freshman.  During his sophomore year, 2009 Maryville played 2 JV games against University of the Cumberlands.  In Division-3, there is no red-shirting unless it is a medical redshirt.

Without a doubt, LB Dylan Wolfbarger played in those JV games which counts as 1 year of eligibility. My step-son played along side of him during those games. Looking at the MC's media guides, Wolfbarger is listed as a freshman in 2009, a sophomore in 2010, and a junior in 2011.  He was a backup as a sophomore and a starter as a junior. That is 3 years of eligibility.

Then, during the coaching transition at Maryville, Wolfbarger was listed as a junior again in 2012.

Wolfbarger started at LB for Maryville in 2012 and 2013.  That's 5 years.....   The word around MC is that documents were changed to get him an extra year.  It seems that the athletic trainer and AD were involved in this.....

Does the NCAA really cares about Division-3 ethics??  Who knows.  But if this is our representative in the playoffs when a team like Methodist seems to do it the right away.  Then we should be concerned.

I wonder if the USA South commissioner will look into this....   Probably not.....

[Scots13]

I can't remember if Wolfenbarger played in the JV games or not, but I do know that he was injured his freshman year. That I can attest to. If a player is injured before the completion of the 3rd game of the varsity season, or before 33% of the season is played, a medical red shirt can be given (I fairly certain of that, but I could be wrong). I'm not a compliance director, so I don't know how that all happens.

[narch]

Just to follow up on my earlier post, my step-son played at Maryville from 2008-2011 and played on the JV team his first 2 years.  He played in 3 JV games as a freshman.  During his sophomore year, 2009 Maryville played 2 JV games against University of the Cumberlands.  In Division-3, there is no red-shirting unless it is a medical redshirt.

Without a doubt, LB Dylan Wolfbarger played in those JV games which counts as 1 year of eligibility. My step-son played along side of him during those games. Looking at the MC's media guides, Wolfbarger is listed as a freshman in 2009, a sophomore in 2010, and a junior in 2011.  He was a backup as a sophomore and a starter as a junior. That is 3 years of eligibility.

Then, during the coaching transition at Maryville, Wolfbarger was listed as a junior again in 2012.

Wolfbarger started at LB for Maryville in 2012 and 2013.  That's 5 years.....   The word around MC is that documents were changed to get him an extra year.  It seems that the athletic trainer and AD were involved in this.....

Does the NCAA really cares about Division-3 ethics??  Who knows.  But if this is our representative in the playoffs when a team like Methodist seems to do it the right away.  Then we should be concerned.

I wonder if the USA South commissioner will look into this....   Probably not.....

while i like the sentiment, i don't think the monarch coaching staff is getting ready to board a bus for farmville

as scots13 said, we don't know what happened with respect to a possible medical redshirt

but statistics do confirm the following:
2009
http://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2009-10/files/mvc.htm#team.ind
1 varsity game...how many JV games?

2010
http://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2010-11/files/mvc.htm#team.ind
10 games

2011
http://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2011-12/teams/maryvilletenn?view=lineup
9 games

2012
http://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2012-13/teams/maryvilletenn?view=lineup
10 games

2013
http://usasouth.net/sports/fball/2013-14/teams/maryvilletenn?view=lineup
10 games and counting

on the surface, i could see why someone would think he has used his eligibility...and if he didn't get a medical redshirt for 2009, he is indeed ineligible per my understanding of the rules, but don't trust media guides...for instance, right now jordan vann is listed as a junior, but i'm almost 100% certain that he is just a sophomore eligibility-wise - many outside of the mu program wouldn't know that patrick jacobs had a medical redshirt season...these things are common, and unless you have absolute, verifiable proof that wolfenbarger played in at least 2 JV games in 2009 (assuming scots13 is correct that the 3rd game would trigger the use of a full year, and i think he is), his eligibility is not in question

[Scots13]

As I stated in an earlier post, we played one jv game early in the year and one later. If he was hurt and couldn't play in more than one varsity game, then why would he have played in a meaningless jv game?
Stats for jv games and who played in what aren't kept, so there is no evidence he played or didn't play.

[abnrgr]

I remember Scots 13s opening shots.

He had confidentially advised me that he has seen a "naked man in a Turkish bath" at a MU game. I was a little taken aback as I knew Narch was partial to women's underwear. Perhaps there was some confusion.

[Scots13]

I remember Scots 13s opening shots.

He had confidentially advised me that he has seen a "naked man in a Turkish bath" at a MU game. I was a little taken aback as I knew Narch was partial to women's underwear. Perhaps there was some confusion.

I read somewhere a few weeks back that said the original script of Forrest Gump had "A Methodist game is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." They decided to change it to "Life is like a box of chocolates" after a courthouse protest at the filming location of a odd man wearing a green toga trimmed in yellow riding a stick horse with a quote "majestic, carnival booth quality life-sized, stuffed lion strapped to his back."

[Highlander]

Seldom poster, but continuous lurker of this forum... First, let me congratulate the Maryville Fighting Scots and the Hampden Syndney Tigers on winning their respective conferences to receive an automatic bid to this years D3 playoff championship. Here are some of my random thoughts/questions regarding this Saturday's matchup between the Fighting Scots and the Tigers:
(1) I am going to show my age with this, but, Hampden Syndney was the site of my last Football Road Game as a Fighting Scot in 1999. Which, by the way, was a 13-3 victory for the Fighting Scots. Hopefully that is a good omen...And, The Fighting Scots finished that season the following week with a victory against those Wasps from E&H to finish the season with a 7-3 record...
(2) We have all heard fans of each of these respective conferences debating for several years about which conference was stronger. Well, on this upcoming saturday we are going to get a one-time shot at bragging rights for whichever conference champ wins.
(3) One question that needs to be asked is, "How is each of these teams going to respond after their respective games last weekend?" For examples: The Fighting Scots traveled to Huntingdon and lost to a good, but not as good as they usually are, Huntingdon team. I feel that one must remember that games between those two teams have always been great. And, each of those teams know almost everything about the other given their history and the fact that Coach Rader was an assistant at Huntingdon for so many years. While that lose may have hurt, I feel that it can be used to help focus and humble a young team that has never ever been in the position that it is in at the present time. On the flip side, The Tigers traveled to Ashland to compete in "The Game" and returned victors. Will that combined with the unexpected opportunity to host a first round game lead to a slight bit of overconfidence for the Tigers? Who knows? I certainily hope so 
(4) While we all know that this game is going to hinge on the Tigers passing attack versus the Fighting Scots rushing attack, I feel that in order for the Fighting Scots to be victorious there are a couple of things that must happen. First, I feel that the Scots need to receive the opening kick and either score first, or at the very minimum establish field position early. Second, the Fighting Scots MUST win the turnover battle. CNU proved that the best way to beat the Tigers is to turn them over. Third, the Fighting Scots must not have any more special teams breakdowns. Those will get you beat against good teams, which at this point, everyone is. Fourth, I feel that it is important that the Scots gameplan must mirror the things that have gotten them to this point. Don't fix things that aren't broke.
(5) As great as it would have been for the Fighting Scots to have been able to win last week and have the shot at hosting, I feel that being on the road may actually play into the Scots favor since they have never been in this position before. I always felt as a player it was much easier to focus the week of, night before, and day of an away game. Especially, one that is an overnight trip.
(6) Given this matchup, I am 100% sure that each team and its fans feel that this is a winnable game for each of the respective institutions. It's not like the ODAC champ or the USAC champ was shipped to Belton or Alliance I feel that this matchup is great for the schools and the conferences that they represent. On this train of thought, I have read all about the criteria regarding the selection of the brackets and where each team is placed. One question that I have not heard is that maybe the selection committee saw this as an oppportunity, given the results in the South and East last weekend, to ensure that one of these conference champs make it to the second round
(7) Win or lose, I am extremely proud of my Fighting Scots!!!
(8) I look forward to others comments and posts leading up to the matchup this saturday.

P.S. "Panther Guy" Those are some pretty serious accusations. I just do not believe that Maryville would do anything that does not follow the model of D3 athletics and the respective NCAA rules. I know that Lagrange has certainly had a difficult period as of late, and that you have had a family member play at Maryville. Which you have never stated that your stepson graduated from Maryville. And, that you have a current son playing at Lagrange. I just hope that all of these circumstances has not allowed you to post such serious accusations that may ultimately just be commonplace scuttle.

[kickerdad]

Congrats to Maryville Scots on winning the conference. Great job.

[kickerdad]

Hopefully, Averett will be able to rebound soon and get back in the mix of things. I saw them play this year at CNU and they looked fairly good for 3 quarters. One thing I noticed was they were extremely small. No size on the line. Lots of heart but no size. Also, they are young. I think they had mostly Freshmen and Sophmores playing. I know what those rebuilding years are like, we went 0-10 in 2007.

[allsky7]

Highlander.....I am pretty knowledgeable about both of these programs so I will take a shot at commenting. I have good friends/ former teammates that will be pulling for the Tigers and the Scots. This is an attempt by someone that has much love for both of these schools to be objective. I have seen the Tigers play in person once this year and both teams several times on video. I regret missing MC HC this year but that is another story. IMO.....all things equal.....on paper the Tigers are a 7-10 point favorite. But as we know...the game is not played on paper. This is a big deal for the MC program. I expect the Scots to be sky high. Hopefully....the Q1 jitters will be minimal. Emotional X Factor +1 Scots. Coming off a big emotional win against Macon....I do not expect Q1 jitters from the Tigers. However.....I think it entirely possible HS comes out a little flat on Sat. The Scots need to set the tone early. The Tigers will come out and do what they do. Anyone that follows the ODAC knows.....look for any thing at any time from the Tiger O or special teams. Onside kick.....reverse.....hook and ladder....etc. I expect both teams to score but the Scots will need a better defensive effort than last week against Huntingdon. That game was a track meet and unfortunately.....the Scots blinked first. I realize the Hawks have an outstanding offense.....so does H-S. The Tigers will move the ball but MC will need to bend and not break and create some TO's (and capitalize). If the Tiger team that played Shenandoah shows up....Scots win. No dis intended to SU as they are a team probably better than their record but IMHO....the Tigers headed to frat row to celebrate HC after their third possession in Q1. Give SU credit....you could see their confidence grow with each possession and the Tigers did not put them away early when they had the chance. I even made a comment at the game in Q2 to that effect. Back to this Sat. If the Tiger team that totally dominated (on both sides of the ball.....sorry Hasa) a very good Guilford team shows.....could be a long day for the Scots. IMO....MC needs to stay with what got them to the show with maybe a little wrinkle in the mix somewhere. H-S will get theirs....don't panic. Control the tempo and try to keep the H-S O off the field. YES...I know Macon did this....won the TO battle and still lost but in the end....it took a valiant 2nd half effort by a (what had to be gassed) Tiger D and came down to a 2 point conversion. I never dreamed this match up would happen but am thrilled to see it. It is a good draw for both teams. I am lucky....no matter the outcome Sat.....I will have a team to pull for next week. Until then.....GO SCOTS GO!!!

Prediction #1: Scots at least +2 on TO's.........MC 31   H-S 28   
Prediction #2: Scots less than +2 on TO's........H-S 42    MC 31


Note: Disregard everything I said above. I have just ensured a 7 to 6 defensive slug fest! 

[tigerfanalso]

AllSky

I agree with your comments but I would add, the HSC defense is probably better than what MC has seen this year and HSc's O line is probably better or certainly as good as any OL MC has seen.

That said, we all know anything can happen and that is why the game is not played on paper.

Turnovers, as always, could decide this one.

[Scots13]

AllSky

I agree with your comments but I would add, the HSC defense is probably better than what MC has seen this year and HSc's O line is probably better or certainly as good as any OL MC has seen.

That said, we all know anything can happen and that is why the game is not played on paper.

Turnovers, as always, could decide this one.

I'll agree with that. Although Huntingdon's line was pretty dang good last week, I think HSC might have a slight edge. HSC's defense will be the best they've seen. I think we got CNU's defense on an off week due to the loss of one of the coaches.