FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Jacketlawyer]

I know the hype for THE GAME is fun for everyone, but all R-MC Yellowjackets everywhere need to remember (especially any players reading this) that we must focus and concentrate on a tough Bridgewater team this coming weekend.   Bridgewater has earned the respect of all ODAC fans due to a hard-nosed and championship brand of football.  If Randolph-Macon wants to earn that same measure of respect in the future, it all comes down to beating the Eagles first.   This going to be a very tough game.  I have great confidence in the Yellowjacket football team and expect the Jackets to stay focused and win against Bridgewater, but the Eagles are an incredibly tough and formidable opponent so we must stay focused. 

As far as Coach Arruza goes, he has my utmost respect.  He is not only an exceptional head coach, but he is also an individual with exceptional character and the highest ethics.   I have always liked and admired him for his coaching abilities and overall personality.  I think Randolph-Macon College is fortunate indeed to have Coach Pedro Aruzza as the Head Coach.  (By the way, he was also a heck of a football player at Wheaton).   

Good post BlkJck2486.  Absolutely no one can afford to take the Eagles lightly, so for all practical purposes, there is no such thing as the Hampden-Sydney Tigers for this week.
The Eagles will be difficult at Bridgewater, and even at the start of the season, I thought this was going to be the toughest road game of 2007 for our Jackets.  I'm planning to come to Bridgewater for the game, but will have to wait until later in the week to make firm plans.  Due to the sometimes absurd nature of my job, I don't get to get away so easily.

Your comments on Pedro are well-taken.  I think most people forget how much time it takes to build a good program, and as accurately stated on earlier posts, he inherited a bit of a challenge.  I'm not only happy for the players, but for him as well.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

[...] Bridgewater has earned the respect of all ODAC fans due to a hard-nosed and championship brand of football.  If Randolph-Macon wants to earn that same measure of respect in the future, it all comes down to beating the Eagles first. [...]

Yeah, I think W&L's ODAC title felt a bit empty without beating the Eagles last year.

Bridgewater can't play spoiler for the championship this season, but if they can beat R-MC (and they beat H-SC), the Eagles can say for the second season in a row that they were the only conference team to beat the eventual ODAC champ.

Hey, I'm just trying to put a positive spin on a possible 8-2 season.

[allsky7]

[...] Bridgewater has earned the respect of all ODAC fans due to a hard-nosed and championship brand of football.  If Randolph-Macon wants to earn that same measure of respect in the future, it all comes down to beating the Eagles first. [...]

Yeah, I think W&L's ODAC title felt a bit empty without beating the Eagles last year.

Bridgewater can't play spoiler for the championship this season, but if they can beat R-MC (and they beat H-SC), the Eagles can say for the second season in a row that they were the only conference team to beat the eventual ODAC champ.

Hey, I'm just trying to put a positive spin on a possible 8-2 season.

     Please stop kid.....you are breaking my heart!!    Guess you know your program is on firm ground when 7 and 3 or 8 and 2 is a tough year. 
     Don't let the Eagle fans start acting like Vol fans. After the Bama game they were ready to tar and feather Fulmer. Now they are in first place in their division of the SEC. Go figure!!  GO VOLS!! 

     

[marc]

Someone mentioned on this board that they would give info on where to park for THE GAME. Is there a map of the college grounds and contiguous area so that we can get an idea? I was there two years ago when it was at Macon. Even with no championship on the line it was packed. Any help would be appreciated.

[Jacketlawyer]

Someone mentioned on this board that they would give info on where to park for THE GAME. Is there a map of the college grounds and contiguous area so that we can get an idea? I was there two years ago when it was at Macon. Even with no championship on the line it was packed. Any help would be appreciated.

I've had to park across the railroad tracks before.  Will do it again. 8) 

[Jacketlawyer]

     I understand Jacket....first things first. I'm sure the Eagles will be on a mission Saturday 8) With all due respect to my Eagle friends, I am pulling for the Jackets. The BC and Huntingdon games probably don't mean much other than staying lubed. It would be nice if both the Jackets and Tigers can win Saturday to add a little more to the aura of Nov 10th. (as if it needed any  )
     I predict 10k+.  Only problem is, can 10k+ fit inside Day Field? I have seen some huge crowds there over the years but just not sure of the numbers.

I know we can't handle seating for 10K, but we've had more than that in Ashland before.  Plenty of people stand around the field, and will for this one. 8)

So much for the planned low profile on the boards.   Another great theory blown to heck by the facts. 8)

I'm also glad you plan to be there, Allsky.  I've gone to the ones even when we were bad, so this time will be no different.

[fallguy]

Why wouldn't Pedro and Marty look past this weekend ? These games mean little, why not stay healthy and play for all the Marbles on the tenth

[Pat Coleman]

The game is still important for seeding. You don't want to be the last seed in the bracket.

[Jacketlawyer]

Why wouldn't Pedro and Marty look past this weekend ? These games mean little, why not stay healthy and play for all the Marbles on the tenth

They might mean little as far as stats, but they mean a lot when it comes to other unquantifiable things.  Huntingdon looks to be like the beast that Bridgewater has recently been over the years.  I checked the stats on them and they've outscored opponents 127-25 in their last four games.  Good luck and go Tigers.

Besides, I know our seniors want a chance at Bridgewater.  The Eages have been the standard in the ODAC for all of their four years.

[e h dad]

ehcwasp00,

I really don't know what you mean by the definition of intensity. Is it just being purely physical, overly aggressive, and playing past the whistle? In regard to your statement about the other EHC52 -- Kevin Rogers, All-American, you are absolutely right. He was probably a very intense player. Stating the obvious, he was probably one heck of an athlete and possessed the raw talents to be a good football player. My point is intensity has to be instilled and developed by the coaches. Intensity is mental alertness, focus, drive, maintaining self-control, and most of all, composure in critical situations. Discipline can be instilled without the "in your face" and "run until you drop" type of coaching philosophy. Evidently, you think that I am being too hard on the coaches. This may be the case, but it does not mean that I don't respect them for their dedication to these young men and the long hours that they put in. What I am saying is what they are currently doing does not seem to be working and maybe it's time to step back and reevaluate their long and short-term goals, personnel, and maybe think out of the box and try something new. Again, if it seems that I'm being hard on the coaches, I like to think of it more as being brutally honest and frank. I know that Don Montgomery has a very thick skin and what I say in this blog will have very little impact if any. That does not make me respect him any less.

Peace,
E&H Dad

[yellow jacket]

If anyone needs to know some hidden parking spots in Ashland, PM me and I will be glad to provide.

[muchacho]

Why wouldn't Pedro and Marty look past this weekend ? These games mean little, why not stay healthy and play for all the Marbles on the tenth

Macon might be good this year, but they could still get blown out by BC if they "looked past" the Eagles. Before playing for a championship, would you rather have your team coming off a big win against a good team, or coming off of a loss that you could have done more to avoid?

If Pedro or Marty want their teams in the playoffs, then they need to have the mentality that they win whatever game is put in front of them every week. I fully believe these coaches understand that.

[algernon]

The game is still important for seeding. You don't want to be the last seed in the bracket.

What do you think is the highest that HSC might be seeded if the Tigers win out and finish 8-2?  #6?  #7?

What about the Yellow Jackets if they finish 9-1?  Would they have any chance at all of being seeded as high as #4?

[Pat Coleman]

The No. 4 seed didn't seem likely but if they could get to No. 5 they might be in line for a decent first-round matchup.

I would think the regional rankings might look like this this week:

1. Washington and Jefferson
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor
3. Wesley
4. Muhlenberg
5. Salisbury
6. Trinity (Texas)
7. Waynesburg
8. Randolph-Macon
9. Ursinus
10. Hampden-Sydney

[algernon]

The No. 4 seed didn't seem likely but if they could get to No. 5 they might be in line for a decent first-round matchup.

I would think the regional rankings might look like this this week:

1. Washington and Jefferson
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor
3. Wesley
4. Muhlenberg
5. Salisbury
6. Trinity (Texas)
7. Waynesburg
8. Randolph-Macon
9. Ursinus
10. Hampden-Sydney

So it looks to me like these are the most likely first round opponents for the ODAC Champion:

#9 Washington & Jefferson College,  Washington, PA.  (369 miles from HSC)
#8 Wesley College, Dover, Delaware.   (270 miles from HSC)
#16 Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA.  (374 miles from HSC)
#11 Salisbury College, Salisbury, MD.  (291 miles from HSC)

Distances from Randolph-Macon to each of the above locations would be 30-90 miles fewer.