FB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

How I would rank the West region if my predictions for the final week play out:

1. Willamette 10-0
2. Occidental 9-0
3. UW-Whitewater 9-1
4. Monmouth 10-0
5. St. John's 8-2
6. Wartburg 8-2
7. Redlands 8-1
8. UW-Stevens Point 8-2
9. Linfield 8-2
10. St. Thomas 7-3

Comments are welcome

SCIAC only allows a 9 game schedule.

That bracket would probably look something like this:

Occidental
@Willamette

St. Johns
@Monmouth

unk
@unk

Wartburg
@Whitewater

I don't know if a 2 loss UW-SP gets in and Redlands needs more things to happen than probably will. Geography and a suspect OWP/OOWP is against them.

[MWCalum]

you cant really expect a 7-3 st. thomas team to get in with all the 8-2 teams out there.  They will move people before they put a 3 loss team in i think they arent conference champ are they? im too lazy to look so sorry if im wrong.. but there are plenty of teams still in the hunt for that limited number of spots.

I spoke with the coach from lawrence on saturday after the ripon game (he is on the regional committee) and he actually said ripon is alot higher up in the talks then people think. They have a pretty slim chance with the MWC's reputation and strength of schedule but they are in the mix and do have a chance to get in.. obviously they need some help but its a possibility.. 2 conference teams in the playoffs?  armageddon? 

[BoBo]

I spoke with the coach from lawrence on saturday after the ripon game (he is on the regional committee) and he actually said ripon is alot higher up in the talks then people think.

Ripon isn't even in the top 10 in the latest rankings, so it's kind of hypothetical how much support could they be garnering?  But, I'll take your word that they are being discussed.

With that said, let me begin by saying I assume you are not on the committee yourself.  In my view, if it's not unethical, it probably doesn't look too good for a member of the committee to be speaking to an outsider, or someone who is not a member of the committee, about what is or isn't being discussed within the committee. I'm trying to think what his motivation might be? The D3 football playoffs is not a matter of national security, but I would think op-sec (i.e. operational security) would be important for the integrity of the committee.  It must be something they are careful to maintain.  Loose lips, sink ships!!

Furthermore, did the coach from Lawrence know you would be reporting your conversation with him in this venue? Just doesn't add up to me.      

[The Roop]

I don't think anything particularly noteworthy was revealed so I see no problem with repeating what the coach said. Besides it's old news anyway as I've been making a case for Ripon for a couple weeks. Now (for scotties benefit) here's the proof that I wasn't smoking anything. 

Unfortunately too many things need to happen that probably won't. The short version of that is Redlands, Wheaton and UW-SP need to lose for Ripon to have any chance. I don't think the committee will move North Central into the west if UW-W is the Pool A. However a Wheaton win may set up a Wheaton @NathCon Pool A scenario in my unknown @unknown game. It would certainly be convenient from a travel perspective and wouldn't blow up the seeding process.

[BoBo]

I don't think anything particularly noteworthy was revealed so I see no problem with repeating what the coach said. Besides it's old news anyway as I've been making a case for Ripon for a couple weeks. Now (for scotties benefit) here's the proof that I wasn't smoking anything. 

I just think it sends out the wrong message when a committee member starts talking about confidential discussions (if it actually happened - I'm not convinced).  No more from me about it.

BTW, I hope you didn't break your arm patting yourself on the back  .  Maybe you and the Lawrence coach are in cahoots!!      

[gbpuckfan]

The Scots move up one spot...


Through Nov. 9
                                Record  Pts  Pvs
1. Mount Union (Ohio) (39)        9-0   999   1
2. Wabash (Ind.)                  9-0   913   2
3. North Central (Ill.)           9-0   893   4
4. Muhlenberg (Pa.)               9-0   879   3
5. Millsaps (Miss.)               9-0   803   6
6. Cortland State (N.Y.)          9-0   800   5
7. Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas)     8-1   746   7
8. Wisconsin-Whitewater (1)       8-1   724   8
9. Willamette (Ore.)              9-0   679   9
10. Hardin-Simmons (Texas)         9-1   612  11
11. Case Western (Ohio)            9-0   611  10
12. Wesley (Del.)                  7-1   577  12
13. Wisconsin-Stevens Point        8-1   498  14
14. Occidental (Calif.)            8-0   443  15
15. Monmouth (Ill.)               10-0   428  16
16. Washington & Jefferson (Pa.)   8-1   346  18
17. Otterbein (Ohio)               8-1   327  13
18. Ithaca (N.Y.)                  8-1   313  19
19. Montclair State (N.J.)         8-1   270  21
20. Trine (Ind.)                   9-0   228  24
21. Redlands (Calif.)              7-1   221  22
22. Franklin (Ind.)                8-1   126   -
23. Salisbury (Md.)                7-2    87  25
24. Hampden-Sydney (Va.)           8-1    85   -
25. Rensselaer (N.Y.)              7-1    57  17
     

[MWCalum]

first of all its not like ripon isnt right there.. i didnt say that they are in.. i said they need a few things to happen and hopefully they get some love.. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure it out (actually it might  ) but at 8-2 they are obviously going to be in part of the discussion after taking a wiac team within 1 and monmouth down to the last 3 minutes... i understand the mwc team is probably NEVER gona get two in unless its a 10-0 and 9-1 and thats after a couple playoff wins by someone (GET IT DONE MONMOUTH! haha) maybe the football gods will smile on the conference this year and throw a couple wrenches in the mix for Wheaton/Redlands/Point

[BoBo]

but at 8-2 they are obviously going to be in part of the discussion after taking a the last place wiac team within 1 and monmouth down to the last 3 minutes...

Life ain't half bad when you can say that!!   

(pardon me for the edit)

[The Roop]

BTW, I hope you didn't break your arm patting yourself on the back  .  Maybe you and the Lawrence coach are in cahoots!!      

No, it's more like he came around to my way of thinking. LOL.

WOW....................... Wabash is still ahead of North Central in the national poll. Get ready for some major shake ups in the brackets. Should be an interesting seeding process.

[Scots4]

There is no chance Ripon will get in.

[MWCfan787]

Bobo...Stevens Point needed OT to beat Oshkosh so even though they are in last place they can play, that conference beats up on itself.

MWCalum...I never said I thought St. Thomas was getting in...just because your ranked regionally top 10 doesn't mean you're getting in. (count the regions...there's only 32 spots)

I don't care who loses Ripon has no chance whatsoever they are 8-2 with no wins over anyone who is even remotely close to being regionally ranked (SNC is their signature win, a 3 loss team in the MWC) and they didn't win their conference, case closed.  I'm sure a MWC coach on the committee is gonna have some respect because he personally got spanked by Ripon, but overall chance of them getting in is 0.  Monmouth doesn't have a great schedule or a great signature win over a regionally or nationally ranked team either, but they did run the table and win their conference and there is something to be said about that which is why I think they'll be hosting on Nov. 22nd.  I suppose you think Boise St., Utah, or Ball St. should be in the national championship right now instead of Alabama and Texas Tech too.

[The Roop]

Rankings are subject to personal opinion. You need to look at the in region record, OWP and OOWP. Ripon isn't likely to get in but they are closer than most think; and yes it could happen.

Promote the MWC teams on the board for once people. Redlands won't make it in but they got some discussion on the podcast this week for the very fact that people keep bringing them up.

[Scots4]

I would promote them, but I just dont think they deserve to be in. Just my opinion. If I felt they deserved it, then I would be the loudest one on here.

I don't think this conference will ever deserve two teams unless someone makes some noise in the postseason.

[scottie]

I think Grinnell should be in.  Even though their defense is questionable, they usually lead the country in scoring.  And Grotberg is a force.   

[MWCalum]

  I suppose you think Boise St., Utah, or Ball St. should be in the national championship right now instead of Alabama and Texas Tech too.

hell no.. haha.. i think there should be a playoff where these teams would get stomped and remove all doubt.. I believe the system they use is a joke.. im almost embarrased to be a fan.. I mean i just dont understand why there is not a playoff.. i understand the big money bowls get but you can still have bowls but have an 8 team playoff.. i wont get into it cause i could go all day about this mess...

anyway, im not asying ripon has any sort of major chance.. they need a friggin miracle basically but it is still a chance..
Bobo: WIAC=best conference in nation.. anytime a team would play them and make it close, especially a team who is usually decent in oshkosh, it looks good.. they took the conference champ to OT.. obviously not a bad team, just young and inexperienced.. i think its respectable for teams like ripon and st. norbert to play quality teams.. Loras is good but not where UWO and Wartburg are..