FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[D-BAT]

SU gets the win over 2nd year program Stevenson by the score of 26 to 16 in Owings Mills, MD.  Special note, defensive coordinator, Coach McCullough was acting interim Head Coach, so congrats on his 1st collegiate win as an head coach.

[ECU]

When I raised some legitimate concerns earlier in the week about guilford College I caught flack on this board and what I said was disputed by a man who is obviously an employee of the athletic department at Guilford. I was a 4 year starter at Guilford. My junior year I sustained a major injury and underwent a total knee reconstruction surgery. I then came back and started every game my senior year. I was as committed to Guilford football as all the kids who play there are now. All the frowny face symbols and smart comebacks don't change the truth or help those kids. At one of my coaching stops at a D2 school the head coach was fired and the new coach convinced me to stay on the new staff. This new coach wanted to prolong his honeymoon period at the school so he either ran off or sat the upperclassmen. This way we as a staff could say that we were playing all freshman and rebuilding a program. We played alot of kids who were not ready physically or mentally for college football just so the head coach could extend his tenure as long as possible. Alot of kids quit and alot of kids were injured because they just weren't ready. Those freshman steadily and quickly left football because it was such a bad experience and the upperclassmen were already gone. That head coach lasted only 3 years and that was 3 years too long. Greensboro also played alot of freshman and look what they did to us. They realistically should have scored two more touchdowns on us. Next week Methodist will push the corners up to the line and hit our receivers in the mouth. They will then bring everyone at that freshman quarterback and try to knock him out. The staff will not be able to force them out of that strategy and chances are that kid will get hurt. Then good luck dealing with Guilford's insurance company.

[HSCTiger fan]

When I raised some legitimate concerns earlier in the week about guilford College I caught flack on this board and what I said was disputed by a man who is obviously an employee of the athletic department at Guilford. I was a 4 year starter at Guilford. My junior year I sustained a major injury and underwent a total knee reconstruction surgery. I then came back and started every game my senior year. I was as committed to Guilford football as all the kids who play there are now. All the frowny face symbols and smart comebacks don't change the truth or help those kids. At one of my coaching stops at a D2 school the head coach was fired and the new coach convinced me to stay on the new staff. This new coach wanted to prolong his honeymoon period at the school so he either ran off or sat the upperclassmen. This way we as a staff could say that we were playing all freshman and rebuilding a program. We played alot of kids who were not ready physically or mentally for college football just so the head coach could extend his tenure as long as possible. Alot of kids quit and alot of kids were injured because they just weren't ready. Those freshman steadily and quickly left football because it was such a bad experience and the upperclassmen were already gone. That head coach lasted only 3 years and that was 3 years too long. Greensboro also played alot of freshman and look what they did to us. They realistically should have scored two more touchdowns on us. Next week Methodist will push the corners up to the line and hit our receivers in the mouth. They will then bring everyone at that freshman quarterback and try to knock him out. The staff will not be able to force them out of that strategy and chances are that kid will get hurt. Then good luck dealing with Guilford's insurance company.

When my son was being recruited it became obvious to me as to which football coaches and programs used the "let's throw it against the wall and see what sticks method". To be fair Guilford was being coached by their last coach (3 years ago). I cannot say this is the approach by the new coach.  I would tell anyone being recruited by a d3 program to look at the roster of the team recruiting them and see how many seniors they have versus freshmen.  Guilford typically brings in about 60 freshmen and only has about 5 -10 seniors.  This is true at many d3 football programs. You will see similar numbers like this at all USA South schools except CNU.  Parents need to know that some coaches are paid bonuses based on the number of kids they bring in. I would encourage every d3 prospect to ask a lot of questions to the coaches on their recruiting trips as to why the coaches like them. Ask what they saw on film that made them like the prospect.  Ask if they can recall anything specific the coach liked on film.  I bet half the coaches we asked this question to had never watched film on my son. HSC, RMC, W&L,  and Catholic, in the ODAC had very specific things to say about my son's abilities.  Not just coach speak. Not just telling us what we wanted to hear, but real tangible comments that were relavent to his specific abilities.  We new they wanted him as a student and as a football player not just as an enrollment number. 

[ECU]

Very good point and excellent advice

[ECU]

3 quarterbacks took snaps for Guilford in the recent LOSSfor Guilford College, The starter threw for 145 yards in the LOSS. Last years starting quarterback, who threw for 300 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions in the WIN against Greensboro, was the only quarterback who did not take a snap in the recent LOSS. This is the same quarterback that averaged almost 240 passing yards per game last year and threw 7 touchdown passes against Hampden Sydney. Not only that, he spent a week in the hospital during the season, came back and played getting the only conference win of the year for Guilford. The school paper did an article about what a good leader he was for the Quakers. Also, the best defensive lineman and Guilford team captain was on the bench for 3 out of 4 quarters in the recent LOSS to Greensboro College. This defensive lineman was not injured and not ejected from the game. He got an unsportsmanlike penalty called on him and was pulled. The coach then tried to make him leave the stadium in front of his family and all the fans right in the middle of the game. Thankfully, the player stayed on the sidelines rather than be humiliated unnecessarily. I sawe what he did in the game. He and another player were pushing and shoving after a play and he made the last big push and was seen by the ref. Yes he should have been taken out for a play or two or even a series. However, the ref obviously did not think the actions warranted an ejection so why would the coach try to embarrass the kid and his family. I know that both of these kids have been completely committed and loyal to the Guilford football program during the past miserable three years. However, it would not surprise me at all if one or both of them decided to leave the team in the next several weeks. The stats don't lie and the facts are the facts no matter how the staff tries to spin the information. My wife and I both attended Guilford College and it makes me sick to see how Guilford is treating kids who commit themselves to the school both financially, physically and emotionally.

[tigerfanalso]

Sounds like the coaching staff at Guilford has some issues to deal with. I was at Guilford last year when they played HSC. The Guilford QB made our defense look silly. Can't imagine why he is not playing this year but I'm certain there is a reason.
Benching a kid for getting a PF called on them is a bit over the top. If that is truly what happened the coach over reacted and reduced the chances of his team winning the game. Difficult for any team to overcome bad decisions made by the coaching staff. If this is truly what is going on at GC they will continue to live at the bottom of the ODAC. 

On another note, the top three preseason favorites in the ODAC struggled in week one and that prehaps E&H and BC are better than advertised. It will be interesting to see how the ODAC plays out.   

[abnrgr]

For the kids sake I hope ECU is wrong but I can sense when somebody has their sh&t together and sounds like ECU does.

My son Brian caught some of this kind of crap in early 2001-4. He was all an SOUTH performer   and he sat the bench at HSC and BC during critical drives. Nerve wracking MOFO's

Gawd bless em all

[ECU]

Alot of people can't imagine why last years QB isn't playing. Many of them are wearing Guilford football uniforms on Saturdays.

[football fan]

My son is a current Guilford player and the practices I watched before the season started the starter did not surprise me at all.  Matt has a good arm and you could see he should have been the number 1 at least from what I saw early.

[Jacketlawyer]

Greetings Hasa!  Hope the off season was good to you.

This will be a sweeping generalization but I think it's too early to say what anyone will do for the rest of the season.  While I did not necessarily expect R-MC to beat JHU, I certainly thought they would make a better showing.  Hopefully we can right the ship with Averett this week.  I expect Guilford will figure it out as the season progresses.

[78rmc]

Greetings Hasa!  Hope the off season was good to you.

This will be a sweeping generalization but I think it's too early to say what anyone will do for the rest of the season.  While I did not necessarily expect R-MC to beat JHU, I certainly thought they would make a better showing.  Hopefully we can right the ship with Averett this week.  I expect Guilford will figure it out as the season progresses.

I, too, hope the Jackets 'right the ship' for Averett and the re-opening of the new Day Field.  Was not at the Hopkins game, but from the stats, I think the Jackets have three things they need to work on and improve.  They are: 1) the O-line, 2) the O-line, and 3) the O-line.  There's only one returning starter on the line with 3 Freshmen and a seldom used Sr.  These guys will need time to jell, but they need to be quick about it, and I wish them luck.

[jknezek]

The ODAC got off to a flying start last year, this year much more of a mixed bag. Here's to HSC helping prove the conference's bonafides with a good game against CNU and R-MC and W&L can get on track this weekend (Averett and Sewanee). E&H, Bridgewater, Catholic, and our newbie Shenandoah did a nice job carrying the flag. Sad to see the comments about Guilford. Hopefully this is just some early season road bumps as I really thought they were heading in the right direction late last year.

[hasanova]

Greetings Hasa!  Hope the off season was good to you.

This will be a sweeping generalization but I think it's too early to say what anyone will do for the rest of the season.  While I did not necessarily expect R-MC to beat JHU, I certainly thought they would make a better showing.  Hopefully we can right the ship with Averett this week.  I expect Guilford will figure it out as the season progresses.

Thanks for your note, Jacketlawyer.  I think the Quakes play at R-MC this season - not sure I can make the trip, but it's always on my radar.  I thought the Jackets would have a better showing versus JHU, but they're a tough opponent.  I also thought the Greensboro game at home was a possible win for Guilford, but what do I know?  lol  Always good to hear from you!

[abnrgr]

Alright Hasnova. Back on your head at work. 

Work harder and faster. Always lessens the pain

[ECU]

The freshman at Guilford will be a good player in the future if he is brought along properly. He is just too young and he is not ready. He has accuracy but lacks arm strength. That is why the tight end took the snap at quarterback to throw the hail mary at the end of the LOSSto Greensboro. Great decision coaches. Playing a kid who is not ready does not help him or the team. Matt can be allowed to mature and learn without being thrown to the wolves or he can be sacrificed by a coaching staff that is more concerned with manufacturing their own employment longevity. I'm not the only alum at the games that recognizes what is going on. Alot of former Guilford players became coaches and have seen this before. It is nothing new. Unfortunately, you will see on Saturday what I am talking about. Greensboro is not representative as to what kind of players and coaching Guilford will face this year. Methodist will be fast and mean as hell. Their coaching style is aggressive and attacking. who knows, maybe I'm just full of $*** and have no idea of what I am talking about. Maybe I've been walking around for the last 30 years with my head up my rer-end. Maybe hasanova and the staff at Guilford are the football geniuses they bill themselves as. Time will tell.