FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OxyBob]

BTW, teams traveling west can get distracted by the sunshine and warmth, not to mention all the movie star sightings. 

For years now CCIW basketball teams have been using that lame excuse when they lose out here.

OxyBob

[labart96]

OxyBob is not shouting in the wind, so it appears


Adam Samrov  Around the East

In the ATN Podcast, Pat and Keith talk about how Mount Union could still be imported to the East even if Alfred AND Albright finish undefeated. I know that the scheduling committee picks the top four teams, regardless of region, but if two actual East Region teams finish unbeaten and Mount Union still gets imported in, the whole Division III playoff setup is a farce. A complete farce. What do you think? Do you believe the setup is unfair? E-mail me at adam.samrov@d3football.com and put ATR as the subject line.

It made sense when the NCAA "imported" MUC last season into the "East" when Cortland collapsed in the Cortaca game. 

That said the concept of the NCAA recognizing true "regions" for the purposes of the play-offs was basically disproved by the head of the D3 tourney committee during an interview on the LL ITH radio show which was broadcast on/around 11/25/08.   You can hear the replay on the www.inthehuddlle.com website (see link below).

I too would view it as a disservice to the East this season if Albright and Alfred finish undefeated and MUC still comes in.

Still, I don't think that any of the best eastern teams would qualify as one of the four best in the nation, so if that's the NCAA standard then I guess a few more eastern teams will get their first or second shots at the Purple Raiders. 

Even though my alma mater (Hobart) eventually lost in the 2nd round to MUC, I have to admit it was exciting/interesting to see how we fared against the best team in D3.

Still, the east teams can't really complain that much anyway.  We still have a better "deal" than the NWC and SCIAC.  Except for the weather - which is part of the reason I now live in Los Angeles and not Upstate NY/New England anymore.

BTW - bummer the Oxy-CLU game is Halloweeen night.  No way the wife and kids will let me off the hook to go to a football game.

[D O.C.]

Tell them there is going to be a safe and insane Haunted House in the "old" gym and then I'll hang a sign there saying 'Canceled - Every Body Died to Get In'   

[Sabretooth Tiger]

So Linfield comes in ranked tops in the west for the first week . . . UWW at 4th (wow) . . . Oxy and Cal Lu at 8 and 9 respectively . . . I'm guessing the winner of this weekend's Oxy-CLU game will be the only one that stays in the top 10 in region.

[OxyBob]

This Saturday's schedule:

Whittier (2-4, 0-3 SCIAC) @ La Verne (0-5, 0-4)  1:00 p.m.
Cal Lutheran (5-1, 3-0) @ Oxy (5-1, 3-0)  7:00 p.m.
Claremont (3-3, 1-3) @ Chapman (2-4)  7:00 p.m.
Pomona (4-2, 2-1) @ Redlands (5-1, 3-1)  7:00 p.m.

ULV-Whittier should be a good close game. La Verne made it awfully uncomfortable for Oxy last Saturday. Another 10 yards and the Leopards might have had a chance to win the game with a FG. Whittier stepped all over itself against Pomona. Pick: La Verne.

Claremont-Chapman should also be competitive. The Stags played Oxy and CLU close, but gave Redlands way too much help with turnovers and were blown out by the Bulldogs. Chapman has struggled on offense. Pick: Claremont.

Pomona has played well, but a road win at Redlands is not in the Sagehens' future. Pick: Redlands.

Oxy-CLU should be a great game. On paper it looks like the Kingsmen have the statistical edge. The Kingsmen have scored more points than the Tigers, and allowed less points. CLU has been better against the pass than Oxy, but the Tigers have been a little better against the run. Cal Lutheran has averaged 422 yards per game to Oxy's 349, and CLU has allowed only 256 yards per game to Oxy's 321. But stats aside, Oxy finds a way to win. Pick: Oxy in a close one.

OxyBob

[Nihon Tiger]

Another 10 yards and the Leopards might have had a chance to win the game with a FG.

When was the last time anyone beat Oxy by a game-winning field goal?  I sure can't remember any while I was there.  Many tried, many failed.  Widolff brings the league's best FG block team every year.  Also the league's best rain dance.

[labart96]

Another 10 yards and the Leopards might have had a chance to win the game with a FG.

When was the last time anyone beat Oxy by a game-winning field goal?  I sure can't remember any while I was there.  Many tried, many failed.  Widolff brings the league's best FG block team every year.  Also the league's best rain dance.

This is true.  I was at last year's Oxy-CLU game.  That downpour was straight out of "All the Right Moves".

Unbelieveable.

[Kingsmen4]

None of the oxy-clu close calls were decided by a blocked kick, just scarily close missed fgs. As the holder I thought that 06 and 08 fgs were good, but apparently I had no say. Everyone knows what happened last year, but seemingly forgotten 06 oxy-clu all american connor pierce just missed a 61 yard field goal short to lose by 1 point. Andy collins scored what seemed like 4 unanswered 2nd half touchdowns to take the lead. No block that day, just a veeeeerrryy long shot that almost made it in. With preseason all american damron for clu struggling this year, I feel like he is going to finally settle in an make a few game changing fgs this week.

Go lu, go in with the same intensity that you left with at the rock two years ago and great things will happen.

[Nihon Tiger]

Good article about standout runningback Brian Stuart for CLU:

http://www.clusports.com/news/5918/

Cool article.  Stuart sounds like not only a standout running back but a stand up guy as well.  Occidental will be by far the best SCIAC rushing defense CLU has seen thus far.  This might be the most important match up of the game. 

As for the 2006 game, I promise that at least I haven't forgotten.  That was a hell of a game.  Chris Washington showed signs of his future success with 2 TD catches on the day as a Freshman.  Of course the big story that game, besides the missed field goal (which I remember being 59 yds and going 58 dead center, still ridiculous) was Andy Collins.  Dude had 236yds passing, 154 rushing (105 net).  That guy had the ability to take over a game singlehandedly.  I doubt we're going to see anything like that Sunday, it'll have to be a total team effort by either team to win. 

Also of note is that CLU has scored a defensive touchdown in its last two games vs. Oxy.  Couple this with an absolutely astounding 11 total turnovers by Oxy in those two games.  However, Oxy actually leads the SCIAC in TO margin this year, even including last week's 3 INT first half against La Verne. 

This matchup is intriguing in so many different ways...

[Sabretooth Tiger]

The orange and black defense will step up . . . if offense can execute, we're in the hunt . . .

Last home game of the year^* . . . IO TRIUMPHE, EAT'EM UP TIGERS!!
^* assuming, arguendo, that we take conference, and that round 1 will be a road trip to Linfield for our 2nd head to head of the year.  If we don't take SCIAC, moot point.

[Nihon Tiger]

One more thing I wanted to add re: the Stuart article.

It is very rare to find higher division drop downs who are 1)not burned-out on football and 2) willing to be humble and commit to being team players on a D3 club. It's like striking gold for the teams that are lucky enough to do so.  The SCIAC has been very lucky in the past few years to get 2 in Stuart and Andy Collins.  Please feel free to mention any others I've forgotton.

[OxyBob]

I doubt we're going to see anything like that Sunday*

*UTC/GMT +9 hours

OxyBob

[Gray Fox]

All college players want to play on Sunday, even if it is *UTC/GMT +9 hours.

[Kingsmen4]

Clayton Cardenas

Everyone gives him a hard time, but he overcame a lot to become a positive, silent leader for one of the best defenses in the nation last year. He is a very humble guy ... unless when disguised as a "relative" ... or when in a weightlifting battle with Calderon - in which they both would loose to the recieving core regularly

the CLU coaching staff does a great job of bringing in quality transfers with not only the ability, but mindset to accell as D3 student athletes. This year is an ode to that fact, but the freshman they have brought in the past 3 years have also helped build a solid foundation. Over recruiting to stack a team with transfers can prove to turn sour, luckily Coach Mac has found a happy medium - and from being around the team this year all 100 players are bought in. I am getting more nerves daily, feel like I am suiting up Saturday 

Go LU

[Gray Fox]

From the MIAC board:

West Evaluation Region
Chad Eisele, Knox College, co-chair
Mike Maynard, University of Redlands, co-chair
Andy Ankeny, University of La Verne
Glenn Caruso, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
Mike Durnin, Luther College
Chris Howard, Lawrence University
Duey Naatz, University of Wisconsin, Stout
Bob Owens, Chapman University
Joe Smith, Linfiled (sic) College