FB: Midwest Conference

[The Roop]

I believe Roopadomus called all that on November 3rd.

West Coast teams will square off in round 1 and I don't see any way around that, regardless of rankings.

Occidental
@Willamette

UW-Whitewater
@Monmouth

MIAC
@WIAC 1

IIAC
@North Central

So it was written.......................

[janesvilleflash]

WW doesn't draw that well in playoffs. Only 4000 or so for home games. Lucky to have 1000 travel.

[The Roop]

It's a bus ride either way so if Mt. Monmouths stadium satisfies the NCAA I think that's the bracket we will get if/when Point wins the WIAC. I can't see them sending a 10-0 Pool A to a 9-1 Pool C.

Northwestern (MN) could be a factor in this but they're not looking real strong as a Pool B candidate.

[fightintitan2006]

I have never been a proponent of the WIAC being in DIII, so can Roop or anyone else tell me who I should be rooting for today in hopes that MC gets a first-round game against a "real" DIII school?

[The Roop]

Root for UW-L to beat UW-SP. That's the shortest scenario to theorize about. I don't think Point gets in with a loss (too few in region games) so that opens the possibility for Ripon getting in. That changes the bracket dramatically but I think Mt. Monmouth hosts either way.

However, they should host a "real" DIII team if the latter is the case.

[scottie]

FT06, I couldn't agree more.

I heard a rumor that if Monmouth "ho$t$," it might be at another in$titution with a more $ecure (ie. exclu$ive) venue.  Augu$tana, for example.  I gue$$ we'll know more tomorrow.

It's a funny, funny thing:  Of all the big time NCAA football programs which are supposed to be revenue producing for their institution, only a small fraction of them actually make a profit.  WHY, then, is revenue such a top priority for a first round DIII game?

[Fort Knox]

Bad info Scottie...but typical of a Monmouth grad

I talked to some Monmouth folks last week...they are all set with temporary fencing if they get the bid to host. The NCAA OKed it.

[scottie]

Well, rumors are called rumors for a reason, I guess.  I can't wait to see the temporary fencing....slum the campus down like their neighbors to the east. 

[MWCfan787]

Wabash's loss and Cortland State's loss makes me think Mount Union could get moved to the East (they've been moved there before) and NCC stays in the North as the new #1 so......who will be moved to the west (I think they'll reject Redlands to save money)....I say possibly Aurora gets moved over.  If so: Occidental@Willamette, Aurora@Stevens Point, Wartburg @ Monmouth, St. Johns@Whitewarter

[The Roop]

With DePauw beating Wabash look for a bracket something like this as North Central probably doesn't get moved now.

Occidental
@Willamette

Wheaton
@Mt. Monmouth

St. Johns
@UW-Stevens Point

Wartburg
@UW-Whitewater

The Wheaton/Monmouth game could be switched with the St. Johns/Point game to keep the UWs on opposite sides of the bracket.

[wc2viking]

Hey, Lawrence avoids the 0-fer this season, beating Minnesota-Morris.  They'll start next season with a 1-game winning streak!  Congrats, 1 is infinitely greater than 0.

[coco]

Occidental having to travel to Willamette sucks! Where else do you have that except in D3 where the #2 team has to travel to the #1 team in the first round?

All about the cash, and the West takes it in the shorts once again.

Your kids haven't been out to the west coast for a playoff game, at least in the recent past. They ought to get a shot at one for a change.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm a west coast guy, and I don't like the bracket being set up for financial reasons rather than what's best for the players.

[The Roop]

Perhaps Redlands and an independent like Chapman should join the UMAC for football only. Thereby creating another Pool A bid in the west in 2 years. That's the only way 3 west coast teams will ever get in. And I agree, it's not fair.

[fightintitan2006]

It seemed like the NCAA finally treated the #1s like #1s a year ago...perhaps they continue that pattern and dont matchup the two in the first round.

[coco]

I'm hoping they'll do the right thing and fly teams out to both Willamette and Oxy. It could happen. We'll see tomorrow.