FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[narch]

alright...here is my lowdown - first off, i think the monarchs might be one of the best one-win teams in the country - aside from the blowout they suffered vs. ncwc, they've been in every game, and this was no exception - first series mu looked horrible, but for most of the first half, the monarchs really were dominating cnu...they got 3 to's and i'd be willing to bet they outgained the captains by 80-100 yards in the first half (although i didn't see a box score, so i could be wrong)...and it was 10-2 at the half - i thought the monarchs should have gone for it on 4th and 3 instead of kicking the fg near the end of the half because i felt like they needed 7's instead of 3's...but there is no guarantee the monarchs would have picked up a 1st down or scored a td - opening drive of the second half and the captains just shoved the ball down the monarchs throat with #20...he was a beast on that drive and i thought "uh oh...here it comes" - i think the monarchs went 3 and out on the next series (more doom and gloom set in for me), then cnu gets the ball and big #20 breaks a nice run...and puts the ball on the carpet and the monarchs recover - i told the guy next to me "they need to go up top" and sure enough, the first play is about a 30 yard pass...a parks run and two mcguire runs later, the monarchs are in the end zone and up 17-10 - now i'm thinking "maybe these guys can pull it out", but cnu drives right back down the field and scores to tie it at 17 - cnu went up 24-17 and i felt like the monarchs were done, but they drove the ball down the field AGAIN and parks hit his receiver in the end zone on 4th and 9...only to have a cnu defender make a nice play and jar the ball lose on what would have been a HUGE catch

[narch]

a couple things i liked about the monarchs today - first, and most importantly...they didn't quit - this is a team that has to be very disappointed with the way the season has played out, but they keep fighting and clawing and scratching...i like the fight - second, parks showed me that he is going to be special...he made great decisions today knowing when to run and when the play was there, he made some really nice throws and he ran the read plays to perfection...i bet when the coaches look at the film there will be very few missed reads and that kid runs HARD...always looking to finish runs (which might not be good for a qb ) - third, the monarchs have found 2 young rb's in harrison and mcguire that should be able to produce nicely over the next 3 years - the fact that mike hill didn't suit up and the monarchs were still very much in this ball game is in large part because those guys are pretty good...very different styles, but both great runners - i loved the offensive sets when the monarchs had both of them flanking parks in the shotgun...tough to defend

[narch]

lastly...i'm going to jump on the "cnu isn't as good as they used to be" bandwagon - i'm not ready yet to say that ncwc will beat them, especially since the game is in pomoco, but other than #20 running all over the monarchs and a couple of solid throws by faison i just didn't see any players for the captains that made me go "wow" - they looked smaller than they have in past years, especially on the lines (although one of the dt's was HUGE) and most especially at lb - most of the lb's looked like db's...maybe that's because they're young at that position...maybe they're emphasizing speed over size in the recruiting process...who knows - the first few years of cnu football those guys LOOKED like scholarship players (i guess 'cause many of them previously were) - maybe i'm not giving the other teams in the usasac enough credit, though...maybe cnu isn't much worse, but the rest of the conference is catching up - i'd like to think that is the case and i'd like to think that the monarchs, despite being 1-6, are a team that can compete with cnu on a regular basis...next weekend will tell us a lot - wonder what kind of spread tipps is going to put on the cnu/ncwc game

[narch]

ok...actually this is my last post and it has to do with game atmosphere

i've been following mu football for a long time, and i'm really pleased to see what has happened this season - i saw at least 5 or 6 guys with their chests/faces painted today along with a group of 3 young ladies with their stomachs painted (they couldn't get more than a few letters on their stomachs...GO on one, M on the other and U and the last...if i decided to paint mine, i could spell out GO METHODIST UNIVERSITY MONARCHS, WIN TODAY!!!!!) - the "monarch zone" has been a nice addition this season and today it was in high gear with a number of MU clubs selling grilled brats, bbq ribs, chicken and polish sausage...great eats, a great fundraising idea and it really adds to the atmosphere to smell those grills going - since i started following mu football i've always thought the parking lot across from the stadium was a perfect place to tailgate, and it has happened this season - i hope everyone will continue this through the last home game in a few weeks and into next season - it's going to take some time for this "tailgating" to really settle into the mindset of monarch football fans, but it's great to see the effort being made by the campus leaders who are trying to build spirit and i hope they don't let it die - the pep band has been great all season and i'm hearing that a marching band might be on the horizon - i've said it before, but monarch stadium has SO MUCH potential to be a great d3 football venue...now if we could just get the fans that are there to understand that they need to get LOUD

oh yeah...gc wins 21-19 on a blocked fg as time basically ran out...sounds like averett came to play and almost pulled off the (mild) upset

[CNU85]

Narch,

Good posts. I listened to the game on radio. The MU fans were into it.
I told you the game would be close.....and yes...MU has to be the best 1 loss team in the land. I was actually looking at your schedule tonight and wondering how many plays you guys are away from being 5-2 or even 6-1.

[CNU85]

lastly...i'm going to jump on the "cnu isn't as good as they used to be" bandwagon - i'm not ready yet to say that ncwc will beat them, especially since the game is in pomoco, but other than #20 running all over the monarchs and a couple of solid throws by faison i just didn't see any players for the captains that made me go "wow" - they looked smaller than they have in past years, especially on the lines (although one of the dt's was HUGE) and most especially at lb - most of the lb's looked like db's...maybe that's because they're young at that position...maybe they're emphasizing speed over size in the recruiting process...who knows - the first few years of cnu football those guys LOOKED like scholarship players (i guess 'cause many of them previously were) - maybe i'm not giving the other teams in the usasac enough credit, though...maybe cnu isn't much worse, but the rest of the conference is catching up - i'd like to think that is the case and i'd like to think that the monarchs, despite being 1-6, are a team that can compete with cnu on a regular basis...next weekend will tell us a lot - wonder what kind of spread tipps is going to put on the cnu/ncwc game

good points. Can't argue any of them...just offer a different view. I think the LBs are a little smaller than in the past...but I haven't looked at rosters to compare...could be just an impression and not the actual case. I do think that some teams are catching up to CNU. However, GC, AU, and SU aren't catching up with anybody. I think the conference is going in a few directions. NCW, MC, are drastically improving...GC, SU, and AU are headed in the other direction. More specifically GC is about the same...bad....AU and SU have problems rebuilding....they'll be back. FC is always a lurking team. MU is just having an off year....The QB sounds solid....not sure about the rest of the roster as far as who is returning next year....they should be ok.

[narch]

here is the game story from the fayetteville observer (with the closest thing i've found to a box score)

and here is a story about brandon parks and the read option from yesterday morning

[Old Ref]

Narch, Always felt NCWC caught MU on a low day. I think they(Methodist) have proven they are a strong team and one to be delt with in the future.  Agree with you all the way. Congrats to CNU on a big win!

[Smith Reed]

Big conference game this week -- NCW vs CNU I'll be there.
Where is Pomoco Stadium and how do I get there off of 64E?
Is it on the CNU web site?
GO BISHOPS!!!!!!!!

[CNU85]

Big conference game this week -- NCW vs CNU I'll be there.
Where is Pomoco Stadium and how do I get there off of 64E?
Is it on the CNU web site?
GO BISHOPS!!!!!!!!

POMOCO...take the J Clyde Morris Blvd exit....Rt 17 South. Stay on J. Clyde...cross Jefferson Ave and then you have options. Probably the best way is to turn right on Warwick....lots of construction going on....turn left on University Dr at the Freeman Center. It's a couple of lights down. Parking is right there. Then follow all the CNU fans as they head towards POMOCO and another CNU victory!!!

[Hampton U SID]

I know one who will be following live stats of that game sitting in Lynchburg
along with ACFC battle for #1 Wesley-Salisbury

all while at NNA-So Va.

[MU_ftbl51]

Narch- Great posts man. I am glad to see the boys down there are still playing trying to salvage whats left of the season. The game with CNU has turned into a great rivalry. I agree with what you said though, they are probably the best 1 win team in the nation. I have not had the pleasure of going to a game yet, though i will be down on nov. 10 to watch the game there against SU. I have looked at their stats, they are performing, just not getting the W. They will be ok in the next couple of years. Look at Rocket, his Junior year was his breakout year. Might be the same tradition to continue. Parks will know the offense, and can perfect it. The line will  be solid, and very experienced. Good things are coming to Methodist.

[Swish3]

SHOWDOWN at POMOCO!

GO CAPS!

[ProudFightingScot]

This might be NCWC's year.  CNU has come off 2 down prefomances against Methodist (winning by 7) and Maryville (winning by 14).  Then again CNU doesn't lose at POMOCO field... something has to give.  This will give CNU a chance to reaffirm their dominance in the conference, or show their run of finishing on top of the conference is over.  This is gonna be a great game!  I hope it comes down to a field goal.  Maybe that extra field goal practice that CNU got late in the game against Greensboro, that lead to someone leaving our board  , will pay off.

[used2b]

I am new to this board and have only put a few posts up here.
-Anyone think NCWC's offensive speed will just be too much for CNU? I'm leaning towards a game that might not be too close, looking at the comparative scores.