FB: Empire 8

[Mr. Ypsi]

As a reminder, the USA Today ranking isn't your typical magazine preseason ranking -- as long as it has been in existence, it has been put together by D3football.com staff. It's always been either me or Keith McMillan or a combination of the two of us.

Since you and Keith are only two of the voters, this isn't necessarily a 'sneak peak' at the d3football.com preseason poll, but is it a preview of 'Kickoff' (or is that process also different)?

[Pat Coleman]

Well, not really -- for Kickoff we've used the voters' cumulative opinion for the top 25 teams, even if it disagrees with our own.

We've had some discussion about how wise that is, though, and it could change, but I don't want to put out two separate top 25's with D3football.com's name on it.

[Jonny Utah]

Ju's Top 20 Poll

1. Ithaca
1a. Mount Union (Ohio)
2. UW-Whitewater
3. Wesley (Del.)
4. St. Thomas (Minn.)
5. Linfield (Ore.)
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas)
7. Wittenberg (Ohio)
8. Delaware Valley (Pa.)
9. St. John's (Minn.)
10. Central (Iowa)
11. UW-Stevens Point
12. Thomas More (Ky.)
13. Ohio Northern
14. Monmouth (Ill.)
15. Otterbein (Ohio)
16. North Central (Ill.)
17. Willamette (Ore.)
18. Hardin-Simmons (Texas)
19. Washington and Jefferson (Pa.)
20. Coe (Iowa)
21. Wabash (Ind.)
22. Trine (Ind.)
23. Huntingdon (Ala.)
24. Cal Lutheran
25. DePauw (Ind.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ju's Top 20 Poll

1. Ithaca
1a. Mount Union (Ohio)
2. UW-Whitewater
3. Wesley (Del.)
4. St. Thomas (Minn.)
5. Linfield (Ore.)
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas)
7. Wittenberg (Ohio)
8. Delaware Valley (Pa.)
9. St. John's (Minn.)
10. Central (Iowa)
11. UW-Stevens Point
12. Thomas More (Ky.)
13. Ohio Northern
14. Monmouth (Ill.)
15. Otterbein (Ohio)
16. North Central (Ill.)
17. Willamette (Ore.)
18. Hardin-Simmons (Texas)
19. Washington and Jefferson (Pa.)
20. Coe (Iowa)
21. Wabash (Ind.)
22. Trine (Ind.)
23. Huntingdon (Ala.)
24. Cal Lutheran
25. DePauw (Ind.)

Can we trust a guy with these math skills?!

[rams1102]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
    on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
    but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
    on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
    but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWU has HUGE graduation losses; I'll be pleasantly surprised if we are even top 50 in Kickoff.  Last year was "do it, or wait awhile" - they did it, but ran into UWW.

[rams1102]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
   on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
   but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWU has HUGE graduation losses; I'll be pleasantly surprised if we are even top 50 in Kickoff.  Last year was "do it, or wait awhile" - they did it, but ran into UWW.

We ran into MU and put the most points on the board against them in the playoffs until UWW took it to them. Also, congrats on your baseball success.

[Pat Coleman]

I was more concerned about UWW losing its entire secondary, which got the job done against Mount Union last year after being the Achilles' heel in 2008, than the fact that the Warhawks also lost their quarterback and have an unproven backup penciled in this year.

Winning last year's title doesn't grandfather you in for this year. New season. Otherwise, why are you other 237 schools suiting up?

[PBR...]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
   on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
   but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWU has HUGE graduation losses; I'll be pleasantly surprised if we are even top 50 in Kickoff.  Last year was "do it, or wait awhile" - they did it, but ran into UWW.

We ran into MU and put the most points on the board against them in the playoffs until UWW took it to them. Also, congrats on your baseball success.

where would you then put dvc if not at #8?

[Mr. Ypsi]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
   on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
   but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWU has HUGE graduation losses; I'll be pleasantly surprised if we are even top 50 in Kickoff.  Last year was "do it, or wait awhile" - they did it, but ran into UWW.

We ran into MU and put the most points on the board against them in the playoffs until UWW took it to them. Also, congrats on your baseball success.

Thanks.  The baseball win was totally out of the blue.   I knew they were better than their regular season would suggest, but THAT good - total surprise!

[rams1102]

The NJAC Board has been dead as expected so I ventured to the Empire 8 and noticed the USA Today Preseason Poll and have the following comments :

1. Whitewater S/B #1. Why is MU #1? It is no big deal, but it is still principal.
2. Del is definitely a Top 25 but not #8.
3. You could make a case for Albright, but their stud QB graduated, so OK.
4. You could make a case for Montclair. The "O" will be OK or better, but a few loses
   on "D" may force them out of the Top 25.
5. You can also make cases for Ill Wes, Case W, Miss Coll, Hampt Sid and Hopkins,
   but don't know personal loses or gains.
6. Why did the Pointers and H-S make the Top 25?

Preseason is Preseason and this allows all of us D3 Football fans to have a little fun. All comments appreciated. I will also cut and paste this to the dead NJAC Board.

Let's  Go  Mighty  Red  Hawks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IWU has HUGE graduation losses; I'll be pleasantly surprised if we are even top 50 in Kickoff.  Last year was "do it, or wait awhile" - they did it, but ran into UWW.

We ran into MU and put the most points on the board against them in the playoffs until UWW took it to them. Also, congrats on your baseball success.

where would you then put dvc if not at #8?

Somewhere from #11 thru #15. They are a very good team but not a Top 10 team yet.

[rams1102]

I was more concerned about UWW losing its entire secondary, which got the job done against Mount Union last year after being the Achilles' heel in 2008, than the fact that the Warhawks also lost their quarterback and have an unproven backup penciled in this year.

Winning last year's title doesn't grandfather you in for this year. New season. Otherwise, why are you other 237 schools suiting up?

Thanks for the information. Didn't MU lose their QB?

What are your thoughts on Montclair?

[fisheralum91]

geez-
I didnt mean for many of you to think that i was whining about fisher and IC being left out.
God, I said that it would have been nice.
Will it work out in the end-it always does.
I will say that with what i saw last year coming back, fisher has a better than average chance of winning the E8 outright.
again my own humble opinion

[AlfredSaxon8]

I was more concerned about UWW losing its entire secondary, which got the job done against Mount Union last year after being the Achilles' heel in 2008, than the fact that the Warhawks also lost their quarterback and have an unproven backup penciled in this year.

Winning last year's title doesn't grandfather you in for this year. New season. Otherwise, why are you other 237 schools suiting up?

Thanks for the information. Didn't MU lose their QB?

What are your thoughts on Montclair?

Then what is the basis for ANY pre-season poll.  Wouldn't you agree that most teams in the top 25 are "grandfathered in" from their teams success the previous season?

Someone has to be #1 so doesn't the team that finished last year at #1 get a chance to defend that?

And I think MU has proven before that they can win with quarterbacks of little or no previous experience... They have a system designed where they can rely on other positions to carry the load.  A team that deep doesn't have a make or break at 1 position.  Whoever their quarterback is, it's more important he plays a minimal role and simply manages the offense than it is for him to put the game on his shoulders.  Very similar to Da Bears a couple years ago with Kyle Orton.  As long as Orton wasn't putting the defense in bad positions, forcing the football, or throwing interceptions, Da Bears were winning football games.  

My quarterback's coach used to ask us this all the time... What can the offense do that the defense can't?

Punt

It's all about playing smart, systematic football and making as little errors as possible.  I understand that an inexperienced QB is prone to make more errors but MU will just have to find ways to take mold him into more of an efficent player than a gamebreaker.  And eventually, he will get more comfortable and his talent will come out and he will be able to play a bigger role in the offense.  

When all things break down, people look to gamebreakers to make plays.  If the experienced players and the coaching staff prevent plays from breaking down, they will limit the things the QB is forced to do.  A smart coach (which MU undoubtly has) will make an inexperienced QB a role player until he is comfortable enough with game speed decisions.  The rest will come naturally.  And games that may have been a little closer in score early in the season, will turn into blowouts at the end of the season.    

[AlfredSaxon8]

Somehow I made the whole statement bold than just the part I wanted.  I only wanted to make the "grandfather in" statement the bold part.  I guess that's why I'm still a second stringer...