FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

One-dimensional offenses can get you a couple weeks into the playoffs but it's been a long time since one won it all.

I don't disagree. An option team would have to be really, really special to win the national title. But you can get a round or two in the playoffs with the right seeding and good play. To be honest, getting to the last 8 of 242 (232 or so that actually participate) would be outstanding.

All that being said, W&L was an ODAC mid-tier or bottom tier team for a lot of years trying to run a balanced offense. Since switching to an option attack they have become much more relevant. So for W&L's purposes, it's been great. But I also don't have too many illusions of W&L making a short trip to play in the Stagg...

[tigerfanalso]

The heck with winning it all; only a handful of teams have that ability the others might as well have fun along the way !!!

Jk

Nice passing game. No wonder your TE left for CAU. Any team not putting 9 or 10 in the box against W&L, shame on them.
Good luck this weekend !!!

[jknezek]

The heck with winning it all; only a handful of teams have that ability the others might as well have fun along the way !!!

Jk

Nice passing game. No wonder your TE left for CAU. Any team not putting 9 or 10 in the box against W&L, shame on them.
Good luck this weekend !!!

Yep. I remarked a bit about the anemic passing game, even by W&L standards, after the Centre loss. It's going to be a problem. It's not that the Generals need the 30-50 yards passing they should get every game, it's that it just keeps the defense a little more honest. If they can't start connecting for those yards, every game will get a little harder.

I do miss Evans, but I'm glad to see he's caught a few balls for Catholic this year. Hopefully he is enjoying it.

But go ahead and put 10 in the box. It won't be anything new. You still have to stop the option. And if our wonder first year can keep up the big game he played last week, W&L isn't going to be easy for anyone to beat. He may be the big play threat we were missing in the first two games, but I want to see him play a bit more, against better competition, before putting any hopes on his back.

I was also pleased to see that both ODAC Players of the Week last week were W&L underclassmen. I know only W&L and Catholic played, so it was light competition, but it looks like W&L has some horses coming through the pipeline. That makes me very happy after the couple big classes we graduated the last two years.

[Bombers798891]

The heck with winning it all; only a handful of teams have that ability the others might as well have fun along the way !!!

This.

Given the way D-III football has titled to the heavyweights in the last 10-15 years, I'd say 90% of the teams in the country shouldn't base their offensive system on "What can win us a Stagg Bowl"? It's not that you shouldn't aspire to it, but realistically, there's what, 200 teams that don't really have a shot at the Stagg Bowl? Why not do something that works for the types of players you can recruit, or the type of system your coaches are confident running?

[jknezek]

The heck with winning it all; only a handful of teams have that ability the others might as well have fun along the way !!!

This.

Given the way D-III football has titled to the heavyweights in the last 10-15 years, I'd say 90% of the teams in the country shouldn't base their offensive system on "What can win us a Stagg Bowl"? It's not that you shouldn't aspire to it, but realistically, there's what, 200 teams that don't really have a shot at the Stagg Bowl? Why not do something that works for the types of players you can recruit, or the type of system your coaches are confident running?

I would say it is significantly less than the 32 or so remaining tournament eligible teams. In any given year, there are maybe 10 teams that, with a dose of luck, could win the Stagg. There are probably only 5 or fewer that could win without a large dose of luck.

So yeah, I'm pretty happy with W&L being ODAC relevant. Even if it has been frustrating three times around Thanksgiving...

[abnrgr]

well this is "marginally" ancillary to the discussion but Air Force (Academy) went 3 games without a pass and won all 3. 2009-2010 maybe.

[odacsuperfan]

I will be attending the RMC E&H game. I  think Boden is a great QB but E&H really hasn't been tested this year. This game should really tell a lot about both teams. Catholic also is better and at HSC could prove how much ? The injury to HSC QB before CNU game was worse than people knew. He only played 2 Quarters last game. Im sure the bye week has helped too. Favret will be looking to avenge last years upset too. Safe picks would be RMC & HSC but E&H and Cathoiic could surprise. 

Thoughts on the HSC vs. CUA & the RMC vs. E&H games this weekend.

It's a chance to find out who is for real. To be honest, not one of these teams has beaten a good team. HSC and RMC lost to the only good teams they played and CUA and E&H haven't really played anyone they wouldn't have been expected to beat. CUA's win over CMU might be the exception, but given CMU's start to the year, and that the game was in D.C., I have a hard time believing that is a statement win. 

Personally I think HSC wins. Catholic caught them sleeping last year, won't happen this year. Especially since CNU already caught them flat once. If Catholic wins, HSC is not the team we think they are. I'm torn on RMC and E&H. I think this E&H team is better than the last couple years. Just a gut feeling. I am given some pause by the fact that E&H looks like they rolled Ferrum, but Shenandoah also beat Ferrum. They eeked Maryville at home, and I think the Scots are maybe the 3rd best team in the USASC (maybe LaGrange as well). Then they blew out a Methodist team, on the road, that I don't think is all that good (despite beating Guilford, one of my reasons for questioning Guilford this year).

If the game was at E&H I'd take the Wasps. At RMC, I think the Yellowjackets win the first ODAC battle of stinging insects. But I'd be surprised if they won by more than a TD.

[D3MAFAN]

The heck with winning it all; only a handful of teams have that ability the others might as well have fun along the way !!!

This.

Given the way D-III football has titled to the heavyweights in the last 10-15 years, I'd say 90% of the teams in the country shouldn't base their offensive system on "What can win us a Stagg Bowl"? It's not that you shouldn't aspire to it, but realistically, there's what, 200 teams that don't really have a shot at the Stagg Bowl? Why not do something that works for the types of players you can recruit, or the type of system your coaches are confident running?

Great points. I think teams have to understand what level they are as a program. If your program is only winning between 1-5 games a year, then I believe that you should do whatever would make you relevant in your conference. Then their are teams that win between 6-10 games a year, contending for conference championshiops year in and year out, they should be striving for regional supremacy. As for teams that reach the playoffs on a consistent basis, I think the mindset should be seeing how you can win the championship. However, I think if as a coach you are somewhat sastified in just winning a couple games or conference, I think you are cutting the program short and coaching with a loser mentality. As you aforementioned, I know currently their are few teams that really have a chance. I think they should live by the code "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" or in D3 Football language, "When competing for championships, do as Mount Union do."

[jknezek]

well this is "marginally" ancillary to the discussion but Air Force (Academy) went 3 games without a pass and won all 3. 2009-2010 maybe.

+K for a fun fact. I'm hoping W&L doesn't go that route, but I could see them going 3 games without COMPLETING a pass the way this year has gone.

[jknezek]

Well, two of our 3 undefeated teams go down. Was surprised Catholic was as close as it ended, though it seemed like Catholic got a late score to make it look better? Was also surprised E&H lost as bad as they did. I expected RMC to win, but I thought that would be closer. Maybe looking at the same old E&H.

So far W&L's first two possessions have both been killed by penalties. Seems like they'll move the ball, but asking for 25 yards for a first down instead of 10 consistently is a little much in the early going. Can't imagine why.

[jknezek]

W&L looks terrible. Guilford looks fired up. 10-0 Guilford leading at the half. Too many penalties. Too many mistakes from the Generals. Guilford able to move the ball pretty well and the kicker, both as punter and kicker, is a weapon.

[wesleydad]

watching the bridgewater game and shenandoah is putting it to them.  controlling the game in all facets.  bridgewater was very sloppy in the first half.

[wesleydad]

great call on 4th and 4 and Shenandoah scores again.  95 yd drive for 29 - 7 lead.  funny listening to the announcers getting all giddy as shenandoah is winning.  They sound so surprised by everything that is going right for their team.

[wesleydad]

bridgewater trying to make a comeback.  down 29 - 14 with 9 to go in 4th.  odac looking to be wide open with Guilford putting it to W&L.  Looks like Randolph Macon and Hampden Sydney move to the front of the line.

[wesleydad]

wow!!!!!pick 6 for bridgewater but a bad snap on the extra point and they are still down 2 scores.  Shenandoah looks like they are now playing not to lose and making mistakes.  keep taking it to em, you have dominated the game.  go out and win it.