FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[AdmiralPapi]

BBallguy...the only person who keeps bringing up gboro being voted last or finishing last is you. 

Maybe CNU does play Mt Union or Wesley better than AU did or maybe they don't...point is AU had the guts to play them (as has CNU) and I'm sure they will benefit from it.  I wish Methodist would take a similiar approach to scheduling but until they do I am certainly not going to run my mouth about how other USASAC teams lost to teams in the top tier of d3 fooball.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

there is still plenty of time for the lady lions to finish last

I am not the only one.

I only bring up scores,  When the scores are brought up.  Defense win championships.  I am skeptical of AU's defense.  Grant it they won against guilford while giving up so many yards.  Great team in AU.  I just don't know if it will hold up on the season, to get them a conference championship status. Greensboro may not have scheduled those schools.  (MU is better then the teams Greensboro has scheduled, but good teams don't want to play you if you have been a bad team over the years.)  Greensboro scheduled the top rushing team in D-2 and last year D-1AA team.  Best we can do.)

If Greensboro gets blown out against CNU.  I will be much more neutral on this board.  (That could change if we beat them, or FC, or AU .)

Hold me to that.

[Ryan Tipps]

last time I checked greensboro has never finished in last place and eveybody seems to think that its going to happen this year.

I seemed to have missed this whole cadre of people who think Gboro should be last. Where was that again? As someone who isn't sold on the Pride, my point wouldn't be that Greensboro will be the last place team in the conference but rather that I don't expect them to be in the top spot. In fact, right now, I'd say they're definitely going to lose three games: to CNU, AU and FC. Christopher Newport and Averett are just way too good for the Pride, and Ferrum's run game is stellar. And BBallGuy, you've said it yourself that Gboro's weakness is it's run defense.

AU playing against Guilford at home gave up over 500 yds through the air.  Only picked off GC 4 times.  We held them to the lowest offensive output plus picked them off 5 times.  You blew them away. Got some lucky breaks.  Most teams would not win giving up that many yards.  I will give you credit.  Then you beat FC.  Good job. (Who also lost to Guilford, by more then what greensboro just did)

Yeah, I'm sure this victory was all "luck." Not likely. Things changed a lot after the half, and no matter what the yardage count was, the Cougars held the Quakers to, what, 6 points in the second half. AU's season has been going uphill since then. But if you want to talk yards, when was the last time a team held Ferrum to less than 200 rushing yards the way that Averett did. Do not underestimate the Cougars, my friend.

Greensboro may not have scheduled those schools.  (MU is better then the teams Greensboro has scheduled, but good teams don't want to play you if you have been a bad team over the years.)

It's not a matter of good teams not playing crummier ones. Most of the weaker teams are fearful of playing the big guys. Mount Union has struggled year in and year out to find a team to play. They would've played anyone who had the courage to say "yes." Averett had that courage this year, and it's paying off. CNU has been doing great these past couple of years putting some tough games on the schedule, too. And for a further reason that you can't say a good team won't play a bad team: Bridgewater did play LaGrange this year, didn't they? I'm sure Clark was pretty confident that that game was an automatic W for the Eagles.

[D3Newbie]

I think this question got lost in the shuffle of the dueling posts . . .

How much do you think CNU will beat Greensboro by?

Also:
Is CNU a running team, passing team or more balanced? What are they averaging per game rushing? Passing? Who do you think will be the CNU MVP in the Greensboro game?


Thanks, Narch and Hasanova for the nice things you said about The Pride.   

Hopefully The Pride will surprise somebody this year in the conference - and maybe more than just once. 

Greensboro is really the only team I know much about in the conference, so that is who I will be talking about - and maybe their opponents. But I enjoy the banter. What else can wannabees and hasbeens do for fun ? ? ?

BTW, I'm thinking about driving up for the game this weekend - any traveling tips I need to know?

ROLL PRIDE ! ! !

[D3Newbie]

Legacy - are you affiliated with Wabash College?  I have a friend I used to coach with that played there.

[Ryan Tipps]

Legacy - are you affiliated with Wabash College?  I have a friend I used to coach with that played there.

It's my alma mater, which is the best affiliation I can think of    but I live in Chesapeake now, so I only get back to campus about once a year (for the Wabash-DePauw game). When was your friend playing there?

Re CNU: The Captains have some nice balance to their offense. In their first two games, they were negative in rush yards and used their passing game to move the ball. In their second two game, it was all about the ground attack, which was the bulk of their offense then.

[D3Newbie]

Pete Metzelaars - I think he's coaching with the Colts now. He was Offensive Coordinator and I coached Dline and LBs at a local HS here about eight years ago.

He then went on to coach with former Buffalo & Carolina QB Frank Reich's brother, Joe, at Wingate University (DII) where Pete's son is QBing this year as a fifth-year senior.

Great guy, great athlete! I haven't seen him since he left the area a couple of years ago.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

D3Newbie
To anwser your questions

I think if greensboro loses,  it will be within the spread of what legacy said. I think 10pts.  (I will always root for GC to win.  I will give my keys to the game, later this week.  I think they match-up well.)

CNU is a defensive team.  They have always been as far as I know.  Based on stats they are a balanced (They have ran the ball more but have had little success.  They rank dead last in rushing offense.  Based on stats prior to this weekend) Plays into GC's favor.

CNU's MVP would be Roland Hillard.  If they are able to run the ball.

d3newbie- I will be at this game.  I am traveling up there.  I am leaving about mid-day friday.  Tips-avoid the traffic.

[hasanova]

D3newbie, you're welcome.  I try to be as honest as I can be about play on both sides of the ball.  Torrey Lowe, for example, is a fine player.  I believe he could play for almost anyone.  He ran for a TD, caught clutch passes and threw a 33-yard TD.  What a boxscore!  I'm still not sold on Greensboro's QB platoon system, but both certainly do a credible job - albeit with different skill sets - when they're in the game.   The Pride punting game did an outstanding job on Saturday, but, obviously, the FG attempts that went awry were keys to the game.

I know it's dangerous to play the "comparative score" game because there are so many factors that go into each game.  GC/GC, for example, is a real rivalry game.  MC had a true freshman QB playing his first college game when they played Guilford.  Then there's the weather, injuries, venue, and so forth.  Having said all that, it looks to me as though CNU will be the team to beat in the USASAC.   Then, in order, I see AU, FC, MC, NCWC, Greensboro, Maryville and SU, although I think the 4-7 slots are up for grabs or could be ties.     I'm basing that on three things:  head-to-head scores, the four teams that have played Guilford and USASAC performance versus ranked opponents.  Just my two cents worth, so feel free to disagree - and I'm sure some of you will! 

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

nova-

I can't disagree.  I think the 4-7 spots, are up for grabs.  The whole year I have been questioning this two QB sitiuation.  Each do have strengths.  Sometimes I think GC should keep one of them in after a good drive/scoring drive.  Help keep that momentum they built on GC's side not to rely on the other QB to keep it up.  If we can win doing it, my all means continue.  It forces teams to prepare for two QB's IMO.

[Ryan Tipps]

Pete Metzelaars - I think he's coaching with the Colts now. He was Offensive Coordinator and I coached Dline and LBs at a local HS here about eight years ago.

He then went on to coach with former Buffalo & Carolina QB Frank Reich's brother, Joe, at Wingate University (DII) where Pete's son is QBing this year as a fifth-year senior.

Great guy, great athlete! I haven't seen him since he left the area a couple of years ago.

Oh, wow! I never would've guessed that you were going to say that Metzelaars was your coaching buddy. Very cool! He's nothing short of legendary at Wabash.

I had the good fortune of meeting him eight or nine years ago while I was working for the student newspaper. He was on campus for an alumni basketball game/fundraiser, and I got to snap a couple of photos of him and chat a bit. He was a lot of fun to talk to!

[cnufan]

I think this question got lost in the shuffle of the dueling posts . . .

How much do you think CNU will beat Greensboro by?

Also:
Is CNU a running team, passing team or more balanced? What are they averaging per game rushing? Passing? Who do you think will be the CNU MVP in the Greensboro game?


Thanks, Narch and Hasanova for the nice things you said about The Pride.   

Hopefully The Pride will surprise somebody this year in the conference - and maybe more than just once. 

Greensboro is really the only team I know much about in the conference, so that is who I will be talking about - and maybe their opponents. But I enjoy the banter. What else can wannabees and hasbeens do for fun ? ? ?

BTW, I'm thinking about driving up for the game this weekend - any traveling tips I need to know?

ROLL PRIDE ! ! !

CNU is definitely more balanced after four games of the year. At Rowan and home against Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Captains had a rough time running the ball, which does in fact key their offense. At Salisbury, it was raining and focused more on the their ground game, which is why Hilliard ran for more than 200 yards. And at Shenandoah, the air game wasnt working (two picks by the QB) so Kelchner focused more on exploiting SU's run defense and Hilliard ran for 123.

The key for the Captains I think its being balanced. If they cant pass and come up against a decent run defense, they could find themselves in trouble. CNU has three excellent receivers in George Jones, Matt Hightower and Curfew Speight, those guys know how to catch, its up to Faison having the confidence to stand tall and find the open man.

As for tips on the area, what do you want to know? I live in Williamsburg, just 30 mins from CNU and can help you out.

[AdmiralPapi]

The way AU is rolling lately the Monarchs better be able to establish the run game early and use some ball control offense to keep the Cougars off the field.  Considering how AU stopped FC's running game that could be one tall order.

The next 3 weeks are gonna be tough for the Monarchs, at least they play AU and FC at home before traveling to CNU.  This is when we are gonna find out what they are made of.  Hopefully they can sneak out a win or two.  If nothing else this stretch should season whatever young QB is taking the snaps.

[CNU85]

From what I've seen and heard on the radio, Hightower has caught the cold more times than he has the ball. He seems to drop a lot.....and a few of the bobbles have led to INTs.

Travelling tips for the PRide faithful.......bring tissues...for the cry home!!

Seriously - I live about 2 miles from campus.....whatya need to know? It's an easy drive until you have to decide if you want to cross over on 58 or head up to Petersburg and take 295 to 64. Everyone has a preference. I always choose 58....mostly because of the scenery...much better than a concrete slab of interstate. Have any of you been up here before?

I used to tailgate until one weekend a few years back when we played Rowan and all these CNU faithful fans were supposed to show up....the only people to show were JT and his wife from Rowan....how embarassing was that?

If you have a really nice pair of digital headphones, you might be able to hear the game on 99.1 (which is in Gloucester and sometimes hard to pick up - what's up with that?).

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

I hope no one thinks that CNU will blow out the Pride.  I just don't see it happening.  We are on pace to force 45 TO this year.  (I think most in conference history)  Plus throw 26 less interceptions that were thrown last year.  This team can force TO and holds on the ball alot better this year then last.  (If you don't have the ball you can't score)  I will give my prediction for all the games this weekend by Thursday.  How to you all think CNU will beat the Pride.