FB: USA South Athletic Conference

[CNU85]

I finally have ESPNU!!!!

Now I just need to remember to record the show!

[narch]

Believe me if the Hornets can keep it close enough that they can run the ball they will be just fine.  All SU does is run the ball which is MU's weakness. 

this is absolutely true...in 9 games this season, the monarchs have held only 3 opponents below their season ypc average...au, ehc and gcq...even g'boro, which averages an anemic 2.3 ypc (1.4 ypc in conference) on the season averaged 3.4 ypc vs. the monarchs  - overall, teams tend to realize about a 25% increase in ypc vs. the monarchs - su averages 3.6 ypc on the season (which ranks near the bottom of the conference) - if this trend continues they'll average around 4.5 ypc vs. the monarchs

of course, mvc had a 6.0 ypc average and lost to the monarchs and the cnu, fc and chowan games were all close, and those teams averaged 6.6, 7.2 and 5.5 ypc against the monarchs, respectively...maybe the key to winning isn't stopping the run, but stopping the runner from getting into the end zone...i think if the monarchs can do this, they'll probably win

[ProudFightingScot]

Believe me if the Hornets can keep it close enough that they can run the ball they will be just fine.  All SU does is run the ball which is MU's weakness. 

this is absolutely true...in 9 games this season, the monarchs have held only 3 opponents below their season ypc average...au, ehc and gcq...even g'boro, which averages an anemic 2.3 ypc (1.4 ypc in conference) on the season averaged 3.4 ypc vs. the monarchs  - overall, teams tend to realize about a 25% increase in ypc vs. the monarchs - su averages 3.6 ypc on the season (which ranks near the bottom of the conference) - if this trend continues they'll average around 4.5 ypc vs. the monarchs

of course, mvc had a 6.0 ypc average and lost to the monarchs and the cnu, fc and chowan games were all close, and those teams averaged 6.6, 7.2 and 5.5 ypc against the monarchs, respectively...maybe the key to winning isn't stopping the run, but stopping the runner from getting into the end zone...i think if the monarchs can do this, they'll probably win

Great stats Narch.  Just wanted to throw the compliment out to ya.  Good luck this week against SU.

[cnusfinest54]

Congrats to CNU on a solid win last week. Sounds like you guys did a pretty good job of taking it to a less talented team. Keep up the good work and finish out the year strong against Ferrum. 7-3 aint bad for most teams but I know we measure our success/failures at CNU by what we do in the playoffs. I feel bad for the seniors, but let this be a lesson to the young guys that playoff berths are earned during the offseason and won by being ready to play in big games.

[moshergc9]

7-3 is pretty solid.  Does anybody remember seeing Tim Mcgraw in Friday Night Lights?   If one isn't careful they could end up losing touch with what football at this level is really about.     

Pride gets the Big W against the Bishops this week!

Roll Pride!

[CNU85]

you can tell it's the end of the season. This board is quiet!

Let's all rally behind NCW and wish them well in 2 weeks!

[Uncle Jessie]

   Here is an article from today's Winchester Star about how SU is tied with  Worcester State for the most fumble recoveries in the nation with 19. http://www.winchesterstar.com/article_details.php?ArticleID=2443
Not a bad stat to be tied with for a change .

   The article also has a short section on Coach Barnes job security.
"Under Barnes, the Hornets have posted just a 5-24 record since appearing in the Division III playoffs in 2004 (one 2005 win was stripped away because of the use of an ineligible player), but they have won two conference games thus far, the most since that 2004 season."By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star
    It goes on to read that perhaps one reason why they have a negative win/loss record is because the schedule was front-loaded with an opponent 27-16 record in the first 5 games. I just cant buy into this. Charles Barkley said it best once on Monday Night Football. "You are what your record is." They have the same schedule next year as well. What will be the excuse then?
    Here are a few other stats to look at from the past 3 years. SU's offense (not total team) has scored 322 points. That's an average of 11 points a game. That should show any coach that the style he brings every Saturday is not working.
One other stat and I think could be the biggest one of all is the attendance of the home games.   In 2005 a total of 13,002 (avg 2,600) fans came to Shentel. In 2006 the total was 9,981 (avg of 1996) In 2007 8,380 fans came to see the Hornets with an average of 1676. That is a huge drop of about 35%

    Barnes said in the article this ""If people could look at us behind the scenes, they'd see how hard we work and see players doing the right things, and they'd see we're on the right path,"

I have never questioned Barnes' work ethic. He may be the hardest working coach at SU and I'm sure he really cares for the players and parents also very much. I would be shocked however if SU lets Barnes go at the end of the season for 2 reasons.
1: Simply because SU will be getting a new president next year and the current one may not want to be the bad guy in his last year.
2: And this is most likely the main reason is from the SU school paper of what  assistant AD Scott Musa wrote in the September 26 issue is that pretty much SU cares more about having a full roster than it does about winning. As long as the tuition is being paid it seems all is fine in Winchester.

    I wrote this about a month ago saying most likely SU will never be a Mount Un. But why should we settle for 2 wins a year?
    In the Sept. 26 http://www.su.edu/pr/publications/sun/Sept26.pdf issue Musa wrote this. "Remember where we are. Saying the university should make a change in the coaching staff because we aren't winning as much as the fans think we should is an attitude that has no place at a Division III institution." This is ridiculous!  I simply don't understand some thinking that Div. 3 should be pretty much exempt from looking at a coaches win/loss record.
    Let's bring in some new life on the side lines. Coach Barnes may be the nicest guy on the planet but he has not shown He is willing to change. It would be one thing if the Hornets were competitive in the losses that they have accumulated over the years. But they have a average score of SU 9 opponents 31 in those 23 losses (not including the fore fit game). You are what your record is. 

[narch]

another fine uj rant...which is obviously being used as a ploy to fire up the team so that they can beat the monarchs

for all the su players reading this...he doesn't mean it, he's just trying to get you fired up...you're smarter than that...don't fall for this - you should come out this saturday as flat as you've been all season...no reason to get worked up

[Uncle Jessie]

LOL, your crazy narch . One point for you. Its just so hard to see how much the players practice and give the hearts out week in week out. Believe me I would much rather be witting about an SU team dominating the conference than what we fans have been watching over the years.

[Uncle Jessie]

A big congratulations to  Chris Dooley and Wes Fry having been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III team.  http://www.su.edu/athletics/hornets_news.cfm?spid=1811

Also here is the game notes for this Saturdays game against Methodist.
http://www.su.edu/athletics/Football_gn.pdf
GO HORNETS!!

[CNU85]

nice piece on Adrin Diggs, CNU LB (or as one un-named poster says...one of those "chicken leg" LBs).

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt_cnufeature_1108nov08,0,3725361.story

[Uncle Jessie]

Nice article 85 on Diggs. Its always an enjoyment to read about a player that was not projected to have much of a chance and prove to all the "experts" that they were wrong. CNU picked up a great player and I'm sure he is going to be a beast the next 3 years.

[CNU85]

Thanks UJ.

I guess the good part about this time of year (if there is a good part) is that the teams that are not going to the playoffs usually highlight other aspects of the team/game. The article is a nice example. Also, the recognition for Dooley and Fry is another good example. Congrats to those young men. I'm glad their hard work is rewarded, especially after such a tumultuous season. Something positive for them and for the team to end the year.

[ProudFightingScot]

Normally D3 gets absolutely no love, except in the championship game or if we have a 13 lateral performace, but I just wanna give a big YO (Lee Corso reference) to ESPN for bucking the SEC and other marginal matchups around the nation and having their college gameday at a D3 rivalry game between Williams College vs. Amherst.  Finally some national love!  It was pretty cool to see the college preview Saturaday nigh with all the Williams College Fans.  They should do D3 proud!!  Maybe in the coming season they can hit up the USA South Conference.  Maybe it is wishfull thinking but we have to start somewhere.

[ProudFightingScot]

7-0 Maryville in the 1st