FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[abnrgr]

Hasa
I meant beatable this week pops. But I did give you a "applaud for your castration of me. 

I deserved it

[HSCTiger fan]

I know with Wabash it is all about defense. Wabash only played 4 teams that scored over 250 points last year.  Wabash played 3 teams that scored 143, 169 and 174 total points for the year!  Yet unbelievably they played another that only scored 69!   That's 4 games against complete offensive ineptness. 4 teams that combined to average less than 14 points per game.  It wasn't just the Wabash d that looked great against these teams.

Whoa.  You are way out of line here.  It is COMPLETELY believable that Wabash played a team that scored 69 points.  Did you SEE that Allegheny offense last year?  It was brutal. 

But seriously, I love it when we start to compare the bad teams on one schedule to the bad teams on another schedule and use it as evidence that one team is probably better than another or one team probably isn't as good as you might think.  When good teams play against good teams, I don't want to know how those teams did against the bad teams they played.  Totally irrelevant.  I want to know how those teams did against the good teams they played.  That's useful information.

Who was a good team that Wabash beat?  Denison? Wooster? Those are the only teams they beat with winning records.  Neither Denison nor Wooster beat a team with a winning record. In fact both Denison and Wooster had winning records for the first time since 2008.  The only other team Wabash played with a winning record was Wittenberg - who beat Wabash by 18 points. I compared the bad teams because there were not any good teams to compare.  It's the Wabash guys on the boards boasting about having the number 1 ranked defense in the country.  I have no doubts they are a exceptionally talented group. But bottom line Wabash played a lot of sub-par offensive teams in a weak conference that helped their stats look more impressive.

HSC played 6 teams with winning records. They won 4 and were within striking distance in the 4th quarter in both losses.   If HSC had played the same schedule as Wabash last year they most certainly would have had better defensive statistics than the very impressive stats they had. If Wabash had played HSC's schedule last year they most certainly would given up more points/yards. I hope you found this more useful.

[wally_wabash]

Denison? Wooster? Those are the only teams they beat with winning records.  Neither Denison nor Wooster beat a team with a winning record.

Denison and Wooster played, so somebody had to win.  I think it was Wooster.  They actually play for a lantern.  It's cool...you should look it up if you're into obscure rivalry trophies. 

But look, I get it.  Anybody who isn't paying particularly close attention to the NCAC understands the NCAC to be a VERY bottom heavy league.  That reputation, if I'm being fair here, is well earned.  the 2000s were not a good decade for the bottom half of the league.  Even before that, Oberlin was (and to many still is) the team that lost 40 games in a row.  Sadly, the amount of time that it takes to get rid of that kind of shade can only be measured on the geological time scale- but look, I get it.  It isn't fair, it isn't particularly accurate at the moment, but I understand why it is. 

It's the Wabash guys on the boards boasting about having the number 1 ranked defense in the country. 

Ok, for a moment of clarity here- some of the guys get a little amped up.  I know.  Technically though, they are right.  You can check the stats.  That's a real thing that happened.  I don't think anybody is saying that Wabash was or has the best defense in D3.  Maybe some are, but that's a minority.  I'm not.  One of the best?  Hard to argue that. 

HSC played 6 teams with winning records. They won 4 and were with striking distance in the 4th quarter in both losses.   

Just so we can keep things apples-to-apples here, if Wabash got two playoff weeks they'd have played 5 such teams instead of 3.  On the 10-game regular season schedule, the score would be 4-3 in favor of H-SC.  But if we're going to be quick to dismiss Wooster and Denison as noteworthy wins, why do we have to count wins against 6-4 teams?  Or even the 7-3 Macon team?  What makes them special?  You see how moving that line around of what counts as quality gets a little dicey? 

If HSC had played the same schedule as Wabash last year they most certainly would have had better defensive statistics than the very impressive stats they had. If Wabash had played HSC's schedule last year they most certainly would given up more points/yards. I hope you found this more helpful.

Every bit of this is pure speculation based on "my conference is better than your conference" bloviating.  I'll agree that H-SC could name their score against Allegheny.  The rest though?  I don't know.  They're better than you think.  They are not all good.  But they aren't as god awful as people think.  And the other side of that coin is also unknown.  Do we know that Wabash playing your ODAC schedule would have tumbled their team's defensive statistical rankings?  I don't think we know that.  I don't think we can know that. 

Who was a good team that Wabash beat?

This....this right here is the only part of the post that has relevance.  And you're right.  If we are defining "good teams" as teams that can be something more than first round playoff fodder, then you are right.  Wabash did not beat any of those teams last year.  H-SC did beat one.  And that's what the whole thing comes down to on Saturday- playing well against a good opponent.  If one or the other team doesn't, it's going to get messy.  If both teams play well, we're in for a playoff quality classic. 

[HSCTiger fan]

This is the type of banter I like.  Good post.  I'm 100% convinced Wabash is talented. Without a doubt they can beat HSC. BUT I feel just as strongly that HSC can leave Crawfordsville with a victory.  It's going to be a great atmosphere, great weather, really talented football and a lot of fun.

[bashbrother]

For your Tiger Fans,  here is the link to the Wabash Weekly Sports Release on the game this weekend.  http://sports.wabash.edu/documents/2014/9/3//ReleaseSept32014.pdf?id=276    A pretty good read.

Also,  for those Tiger fans that cannot make the trip to Crawfordsville,  here is the link to the FREE Video Broadcast.   You will be pleased by the production quality.   One of the best I have seen in D3.   Tune-in 15 minutes early and watch the Erik Raeburn Show.

http://www.wabash.edu/live/

Cheers!

[CUACARD59]

Hey everybody, new CUA Football alum, hope to contribute with some much needed Catholic U perspective on the ODAC! Been reading the boards for a while now, look forward to joining the conversation. Good luck to everybody this year, can't wait for the season to start!

Welcome, always fun to have some former players on the boards

And former offensive lineman! Another small/ slow one at that

[hasanova]

Hasa
I meant beatable this week pops. But I did give you a "applaud for your castration of me. 

I deserved it

I was just messing with you.  E&H travels to Ferrum on Saturday and the Wasps have a new coach and someone will have to step up at QB.  I think it's a toss up, but, yeah, I think the Panthers could lose the first game ... even at home.

[HSCTiger fan]

The listed 2 deep line-up for the HSC v. Wabash game.

Seniors - HSC 18 Wabash 11
Juniors - HSC 16 Wabash 14
Sophomores - HSC 8 Wabash 15
Freshmen HSC - 2 Wabash 4

Maybe experience will make a difference. 

[tigerfanalso]

why isn't RMC supporters talking about their big game vs. JHU ? Have we've lost all of the RMC supporters from this board ? The JHU game is just as big as our Wabash game, at least it should be.

Hasa

Not hearing much from GC fans regarding your big rival game coming up. I'm enjoying Tigerfan and Wally Wabash going at it but that horse has been beate to death.

Jk

How about W&L's opener. I know it is Averett but would like you to bring us up to date on what to expect; Will W&L total 300, 400 or 500 yards on the ground ? Will W&L throw the ball at all this year ?

[hasanova]

why isn't RMC supporters talking about their big game vs. JHU ? Have we've lost all of the RMC supporters from this board ? The JHU game is just as big as our Wabash game, at least it should be.

Hasa

Not hearing much from GC fans regarding your big rival game coming up. I'm enjoying Tigerfan and Wally Wabash going at it but that horse has been beate to death.

Jk

How about W&L's opener. I know it is Averett but would like you to bring us up to date on what to expect; Will W&L total 300, 400 or 500 yards on the ground ? Will W&L throw the ball at all this year ?

I think there are some Quaker fans that read, but may not post.  The Pride faithful seem to have retreated to their den ... a 2-8 finish last year and a very low USASAC prediction this year may have something to do with that.

[CUACARD59]

I may end up just talking to myself about the upcoming Catholic vs. McDaniel game, but very important for this young team to start the season on the right note, build some confidence and find out who they are. Excited to see all the young guys I played with finally get their chance to play. Big shoes to fill in a few spots but think RB Evan Calvo will have a break out year if he can finally stay healthy. Also excited to see what QB TJ Tutone can do now that there is no longer a timeshare at QB. He has a great connection with some of the young wideouts, specifically classmates TJ Murphy and Jaime Young. 3 year starter at RT, Captain Mike Zolfo is the leader of the squad and CUA is expecting a big year out of him. Supposedly some injuries in the secondary worry me a bit as that is one area with most of the starters returning. Expecting a good year from OLB Vinny Caniglia, NG Matt Barton and a few others. All in all hoping for a similar result to last years matchup with McDaniel!

[ExTartanPlayer]

I may end up just talking to myself about the upcoming Catholic vs. McDaniel game...

We all do that a little bit on these boards.  No worries.  Might as well post your thoughts, it's good to get insight into all of the teams in a given league, and gives any readers from other teams an idea who to look out for on Catholic's squad as the league games approach.

[jknezek]

W&L should handle Averitt. I expect to see 350+ ground yards and hope to see an attempt to get 50-100 through the air. I don't have much to say about the Generals this year. I think they will be better than last year but not sure how much. I will know much more after I lay eyes on them at Sewanee not week two. Will miss the game Saturday but very irritated with the opponent anyway. Was much happier opening against a tougher opponent even when it cost us.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Will miss the game Saturday but very irritated with the opponent anyway. Was much happier opening against a tougher opponent even when it cost us.

In fairness, when was the game/series scheduled?  Sure, Averett is bad now, but if you look at them from 2003-2010, they only had one really bad season (2007) and a bunch of decent ones.  If you just look at the records from 2003-2010, it would have been hard to predict the monster fall-off that followed.  So if the game was arranged in the 2009-10 range, it looked like Averett wasn't all that different from Franklin & Marshall as a program.

[jknezek]

Will miss the game Saturday but very irritated with the opponent anyway. Was much happier opening against a tougher opponent even when it cost us.

In fairness, when was the game/series scheduled?  Sure, Averett is bad now, but if you look at them from 2003-2010, they only had one really bad season (2007) and a bunch of decent ones.  If you just look at the records from 2003-2010, it would have been hard to predict the monster fall-off that followed.  So if the game was arranged in the 2009-10 range, it looked like Averett wasn't all that different from Franklin & Marshall as a program.

All true and I have no idea. This home and home will be the fifth and sixth time the teams have met so they aren't ridiculous opponents, I just prefer Centennial schools in this role. It typically sends W&L to a more northern team which I think helps parents of kids from the northeast make a game. Scheduling is a tough issue and sometimes you get lemonade and other times you get lemons. There isn't a way of knowing 3, 4, 5 years out...