FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[CamCat]

What I know about Benzel comes from a friend who is a former All-American QB at Linfield.  Benzel was his backup.

I agree with Sabre about Collins.  He is probably the best athlete in DIII.  In fact, he probably has been the last couple of years.   I think he would have been recognized more at the national level if Oxy would have advanced deeper into the playoffs last year.  I don't think many people who vote on things like All-American could have seen him play but he is a special athlete.

I was absolutely amazed the way he played against Linfield last year, the only game I've seen him play.  The guy is an incredible talent.

[Tezbaseball]

I would like to put faces with names. So anyone interested is a baseball game let me know. Lancaster will be in Lake Elsinore on the 10,11,12 and at Inland Empire on the 14,15,16 and at Cucamonga on the 28,29,30.

[Eye of da TIGER]

Despite if Collins lands on Pre Season All American lists or not, you can count on him being there at the end of the season!!! Its hard to improve on a 2900 yd pass season with 31 tds,  and 470 rush yards with 7tds, but Collins is capable.  For one, I believe he will start to run much more, maybe rushing for closer to a 1000 yds rather than 500!!! This will be a scary thought for the SCIAC, but running has been his last option the last two years and look what he has done.  When he looks to run, it causes many problems for opposing defenses.  Look what he did against Linfield, the best defense hands down that we faced last year, in which he ran for 123 yds and 2tds!!! Has there even been a guy in the SCIAC that has passed for 2000 yds and rushed for 1000?  He is one of those guys you cant stop and can only hope to contain!!!

[rockcat]

Despite if Collins lands on Pre Season All American lists or not, you can count on him being there at the end of the season!!! Its hard to improve on a 2900 yd pass season with 31 tds,  and 470 rush yards with 7tds, but Collins is capable.  For one, I believe he will start to run much more, maybe rushing for closer to a 1000 yds rather than 500!!! This will be a scary thought for the SCIAC, but running has been his last option the last two years and look what he has done.  When he looks to run, it causes many problems for opposing defenses.  Look what he did against Linfield, the best defense hands down that we faced last year, in which he ran for 123 yds and 2tds!!! Has there even been a guy in the SCIAC that has passed for 2000 yds and rushed for 1000?  He is one of those guys you cant stop and can only hope to contain!!!

He is capable of all of that.  However, for him to get real serious A-A consideration Oxy will need to make a nice playoff run.  If Oxy doesn't win a couple of playoff games strength of schedule might hurt him.  It is hard to impress with numbers when you're playing Lewis and Clark, Colorado College, etc...especially when most people will never see him play in person unless they make the Stagg.  All that said, I still think he is probably the best athlete in DIII right now.

[downtown48]

Of course he went for 123 and two TD's...He's all they had on offense.  He's gonna need some help if you expect to make a deep run into the dance.  I felt genuinely bad for the kid last year at Linfield.  He was beaten to a pulp and looked sooo frustrated by the lack of contribution from anybody else on offense. 

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Now I didn't make it to the game in McMinnville, but I think that the characterization "by the lack of contribution from anybody else on offense" is just plain wrong and a disservice to the other Oxy players.  Those guys played their hearts out all year . . . and I got a pretty good report of what happened in the Linfield matchup.  It was simply a matter of the Oxy boys being overmatched in terms of size, speed and strength.  It most certainly was not a lack of contribution, effort or heart.

Is Collins the best athlete on the field?  No doubt.  But this is a team game, and from what I know of Collins, he knows that and respects and loves his teammates.  He does not suffer them.

Here is some of the help that Andy did get:

2005 Football Gazette All-American, 3rd Team
2005 D3Football.com All-West Region, 1st team
Wide Receiver - Josh Jones, Sr

2005 Football Gazette All-West Region, 2nd Team
2005 D3Football.com All-West Region, 2nd Team
Linebacker - Mike Bryant, Sr

2005 Football Gazette All-West Region, 3rd Team
2005 D3Football.com All-West Region, 3rd Team
Offensive Line - Alfredo Gamiz, Sr

2005 Football Gazette All-West Region
3rd Team - Linebacker - Joe Zackary, Jr

As well as the following conference award winners:

Zinda Award      
First Team Offense
Ric Fukushima   OXY   WR   SR   Honolulu, HI
First Team Defense      
Derek Turbin   OXY   DB   SR   Honolulu, HI
Second Team Offense      
Mark Bohnstedt   OXY   OL   SR   Lake Havasu, AZ
Second Team Defense   
Scott Ferguson   OXY   DL   JR   Lake Oswego, OR
Robert Theofanis   OXY   DL   JR   Woodland Hills, CA
Anthony Ostland   OXY   LB   SO   Las Cruces, NM
Caleb Small   OXY   DB   SR   Littleton, CO
(I did not include Collins in any listings or the All American/All Region winners in the All Conference listings)

So downtown48, take your win, be happy for your team but don't disrespect a program and group of players that earned their way to the dance and gave it their best shot.  If the draws were based on rankings, Oxy very well could have gone a lot further in the playoffs.

We all hope that there's another meeting between the 'Cats and the Tigers later this year . . . preferably not in the first round.

Eye o' da Tiger or El Tigre . . . care to comment?

Io Triumphe

[downtown48]

Easy Tiger...

Before you sick your boys on me, I never said there was a lack of effort or heart.  Your boys played hard.  Never said he didn't like his teammates either, so relax.  On that day and the year before for that matter, he didn't get much help other than from Josh Jones.  So your program wasn't disrespected at all.  If you play sports in front of spectators, than the teams are going to be talked about.  Anybody else who saw that game would have said they had Collins, Jones and not much else. 

I'm not afraid to say that Linfield's loss to UW-W had a lot to do with the absolute lack of a running game that day especially down the stretch when they needed to run some clock.  That doens't mean their running back and O-line weren't good players, it meant on that day, they didn't get it done.  So know that I wasn't talking about every game Oxy played last season...just one, and in that one, they were all they had.

[OXY Oswald]

Little late but,

I would not say there is a slam dunk favorite to win the SCIAC.  I would have to believe that Oxy's preseason rating has to a lot do with the success they had last year. 

What do you suggest we base the pre-season rankings on?

[rockcat]

Little late but,

I would not say there is a slam dunk favorite to win the SCIAC.  I would have to believe that Oxy's preseason rating has to a lot do with the success they had last year. 

What do you suggest we base the pre-season rankings on?

DGD's SCIAC knowledge comes from all of the games he has been to the last few years. 

[dawgs go deep]

WOW.....you guys are tough....I wasnt suggesting that YOUR TEAM should not be the favorite but that preseason rankings ARE partly based upon last seasons performance.  Certainly, there are a number of other factors , thats just one. From what I have read, the conference title will be a three way race.  Sorry, thats just my opinion.  Are your permitted to have one on this board?

This board has me battered and bruised.

[rockcat]

WOW.....you guys are tough....I wasnt suggesting that YOUR TEAM should not be the favorite but that preseason rankings ARE partly based upon last seasons performance.  Certainly, there are a number of other factors , thats just one. From what I have read, the conference title will be a three way race.  Sorry, thats just my opinion.  Are your permitted to have one on this board?

This board has me battered and bruised.

Where did you read that?

[dawgs go deep]

It's just my opinion....I base it upon what I have read on this baord, looking at returning rosters, preseason previews, etc....I think it will be a three way race between CLU, Redlands and Oxy.  Of course the Oxy people are obviously of a different opinion.  I can accept that, they can't.

[Gray Fox]

dgd,
This is the off season.  Many posters are missing.  Most of the Oxy posters lately are recent players.  Wait until Sept when a more balanced group comes on board and you will have plently of support as well as other schools (CLU) posting their opinions. 

As always - we hope for posters from the other schools to  "unlurk" and enter into the discussions.

[dawgs go deep]

Thanks, thats fine, THEY have and post opinions, and dont get blasted for doing so.  I really dont know how anyone can think objectivley that one team will dominate the SCIAC.  I am starting to feel the same way about Oxy as the Raiders!!!!!!

[downtown48]

DGD...

If it makes you feel any better...
Oxy had the same number of playoff wins as the Raiders last year...