FB: Midwest Conference

[Pat Coleman]

To summarize his reports of what he's encountered in camp: "Dad! This f$%&@#g-s&#t is real football! Just cuz it's D3, doesn't mean it ain't serious.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done."  That said, he's loving it.  I think he thought it would be like going into 13th grade football. 

Good. That's reality. It isn't like high school at all, even if it is Division III.

Honestly, no one is any more clear on that than I am now!  The analogy I've been using to describe it, to those even less familiar with D3 than I am, is that it's kind of like a men's 6' and under basketball league.  Great players.  High level of play.  Great games to go watch.  Just as serious about the competition.  Just no 7 footers...  And that is not to suggest any inferiority. Some of the players simply don't fit the D1 "template".  But I've learned players, coaches, and fans take it just as serious. It's just as sophisticated. For that matter, I'm officially a convert.  My on is developing as a player and while being allowed to pursue his education.  I am exceptionally glad my son is where he is. Not just D3, but IC.

I am not sure D-III players would appreciate the comparison. But it's been called worse by ignorant coaches and writers.

[Mr. Ypsi]

To summarize his reports of what he's encountered in camp: "Dad! This f$%&@#g-s&#t is real football! Just cuz it's D3, doesn't mean it ain't serious.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done."  That said, he's loving it.  I think he thought it would be like going into 13th grade football. 

Good. That's reality. It isn't like high school at all, even if it is Division III.

Honestly, no one is any more clear on that than I am now!  The analogy I've been using to describe it, to those even less familiar with D3 than I am, is that it's kind of like a men's 6' and under basketball league.  Great players.  High level of play.  Great games to go watch.  Just as serious about the competition.  Just no 7 footers...  And that is not to suggest any inferiority. Some of the players simply don't fit the D1 "template".  But I've learned players, coaches, and fans take it just as serious. It's just as sophisticated. For that matter, I'm officially a convert.  My on is developing as a player and while being allowed to pursue his education.  I am exceptionally glad my son is where he is. Not just D3, but IC.

I am not sure D-III players would appreciate the comparison. But it's been called worse by ignorant coaches and writers.

While the 6' and under analogy may be a bit over the top, I fully understand what Blu is saying.  The BEST players in d3 are fully d1 quality who are either late bloomers or are too light/too short/too something (or honest-to-god student athletes ).

Blu, I just checked the IC schedule - I'll root for you in 8 of the ten games.  I can't root for you against Monmouth because of my niece; much earlier I would have rooted for you in your opener (Millikin) as they are IWU's more hated rival, but now I see them as CCIW vs. the infidels!

[SNCOLDAD]

blu, I too are happy for you and your realizations that you have made about D3. I find it difficult watching some D1 games especially with all the hype and showboating that goes on. I too was converted. Probably not as quick as you were but I still saw the light.

I will state it again, I look forward to IC visiting SNC this year and both teams undefeated in MWC play!


GO GREEN KNIGHTS

[scottie]

Geez, how about a group hug already!!!???  

[SNCOLDAD]

Only if you are not wearing that skirt you are so attached to. 

[BoBo]

scottie, you should know that everyone loves an underdog!! 

[gbpuckfan]

Hey MC and SNC, would y'all quit sucking everytime you get to the post season? Y'all are making my position much harder to defend!   I guess if we want something done right, we'll just have to do it ourselves.

Trust me, I sat through SNC's 55-7 loss at Central in 1989 (the conference's only at-large bid to the playoffs, I believe) and other playoff games. We'd love to win a few more and help the conference.

I think you'll find once playoff time comes, we do cheer for the conference. It was great that Lawrence hosted the D3 men's hoops final four a few years ago ... now if they had only won a game at it!

[Just Bill]

It was great that Lawrence hosted the D3 men's hoops final four a few years ago ... now if they had only won a game at it!

Whoa there!  That was a sectional final, not a Final Four.  Let's not get carried away.

[SNCOLDAD]

Playoffs for the MWC seems to be a Catch22 situation. Because we have not had success, we get a low ranking and usually play higher ranked teams. At best the MWC representative is seeded close to even. The result is what is expected most of the time.

The exception was Monmouth last year. And the results were different. They were able to get a couple wins in the playoffs.

So basically until we are able to deliver an upset or 2 in the playoffs and then sustain that for more than 1 or 2 years, this is how it is going to be.

No sour grapes. It is what it is!

[blu thru n thru]

Pat-  I'm probably deserving of the vieled "ingnorant" reference.  Particularly when/if I should try to match wits with most of the D3 posters, and let alone, the administrator, on the subjects of D3 football.  

But any offense taken by the 6 & under reference, is taken out of a misunderstanding of what I was trying to relate.  And, that is one of the problems inherent with the medium.  No matter how much you try to take any defamatory reference out of it, someone will find a way to located one.  

I have a significant familiarity with the circus that is D1 recruiting.  Not just through my son, but by involvement with many others.  However, I will limit this to my experience with my son. Since the reference is more easy to recall and relate.  All fatherly bias aside, I cannot relate the # of times I watched him, or others like him (6' or under), VASTLY outperform the supposed "studs", only to have their efforts go unnoticed b/c the coaches weren't looking at them.  They were too busy fawning over the 6'4" kid who Rivals said was the real deal.  My most vivid recollection was at a Bowling Green camp last summer, but by no means was it isolated to them.  At BG, he could have been performing naked and not one coach would have noticed.  Meanwhile the 6'4"'s, who couldn't throw or run, were swatting the coaches of them, like flies.  Probably a contributing factor to BG's lack of success in the MAC.  But I digress...

The point was not to whine about what I perceived to be the snubbing my son.  Not at all.  It's about the fact that D1 recruiting is a lot like sheep following one another.  There is a template.  And that template precludes a lot of very talented players.  It also ignores, as was mentioned in an earlier post also responding to my "6 & under" reference, the late bloomers.  My intent was to flatter and pay respect to what I've come to learn about the level of play, quality of player, quality of program, and quality of coaching, and D3 football overall.  

[blu thru n thru]

Hey MC and SNC, would y'all quit sucking everytime you get to the post season? Y'all are making my position much harder to defend!   I guess if we want something done right, we'll just have to do it ourselves.

Trust me, I sat through SNC's 55-7 loss at Central in 1989 (the conference's only at-large bid to the playoffs, I believe) and other playoff games. We'd love to win a few more and help the conference.

I think you'll find once playoff time comes, we do cheer for the conference. It was great that Lawrence hosted the D3 men's hoops final four a few years ago ... now if they had only won a game at it!

Amen Brotha!  When the playoffs roll around, I'm MWC Thru n Thru!  Of course in the near future, it'll be easier since I'll be cheering for the Blueboys.

[blu thru n thru]

blu, I too are happy for you and your realizations that you have made about D3. I find it difficult watching some D1 games especially with all the hype and showboating that goes on. I too was converted. Probably not as quick as you were but I still saw the light.

I will state it again, I look forward to IC visiting SNC this year and both teams undefeated in MWC play!


GO GREEN KNIGHTS

New deal!  When that game arrives, assuming y'all can hold up your end of the bargain and two undefeated square off, you can introduce me to cheese-curds!

[BoBo]

The exception was Monmouth last year. And the results were different. They were able to get a couple wins in the playoffs.

In the immortal words of Just Bill:

Whoa there!

I was under the impression that Monmouth lost in their first round game last year to St. Thomas 43-21. Who did they get those two playoff wins against?

[SNCOLDAD]

Did I goof? I thought they lost in the 3rd round to St. Thomas. The last 2 years that they have been in the playoffs are a blur. I will need to go back in records to correct any error. Sorry.

[BoBo]

No problem SNCOLDAD...I thought that it was my memory going you-know-where in a handbasket!! Whew!!