FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

Jk

Hopefully the ODAC will earn more respect next year.

My predictions for week 11 are;

GC over E&H    35 to 24
HSC over RMC  35 to 28 (just because it's time for a HSC victory)
W&L over SU    45 to 28
Wash U over BC  35 to 21

Thoughts

Have you seen where I fall in the Pick'em? I agree with your picks, I just changed the numbers

GC over E&H -- Playing for Pride Bowl  28-21
HSC over RMC -- The Game. 28-24
W&L over Shenandoah -- The Sort-of Championship Game 48-42
Wash U over BC  -- The Please Let us Go Out on a Win Bowl  28-14

[tigerFanAlso2]

not sure E&H has any pride

[jknezek]

not sure E&H has any pride

Had enough to beat the Generals or this weekend wouldn't matter at all.

[tigerFanAlso2]

only one win after being picked atop the conference. W&L has gotten better; E&H went the other way

[HSCTiger fan]

Looks like the weather should not be an issue this weekend.  Winds less than 5 mph, sunny, but chilly. Should be a great day for football. 

I see the WL/SU game going one of two ways. It's either a close high scoring game or WL wins in a blowout.

RMC/HSC the only thing that scares me is jk picks HSC to win. You have not picked the Tigers since at least before the WL game. Heck I'm not sure you have picked them to win a conference game all year!  Why start now?!

Regardless, I see HSC clicking on offense scoring close to 40. I see RMC in the mid 20s.

Not to sound insensitive but I have put no thought into GC/EH. My initial thought is GC wins then EH fires their coach.

[D-BAT]

SU Football Notebook: Despite setback, Hornets still have a shot to 'crash the party'

NOV 8, 2017
BRAD FAUBER
bfauber@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER – Since joining the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in 2012, Shenandoah University's football team is 1-12 in games played in November, including last week's 49-43 loss at Hampden-Sydney. The Hornets can buck that trend in a game with major implications this weekend.

SU hosts Washington and Lee in a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday that will go a long way toward deciding the 2017 ODAC champion. The Hornets, still very much alive in the conference race, have yet to win an ODAC title and could make a resounding statement against W&L.

"To be honest, we're tired of knocking on the door at the party," Hornets head coach Scott Yoder said on Wednesday. "You know, let's be the party. Let's crash the party. That means we've gotta get the win."

http://www.nvdaily.com/sports/local-sports/2017/11/su-football-notebook-despite-setback-hornets-still-have-a-shot-to-crash-the-party/


(Removed remainder to honor paper's copyright./pc)

[Scots13]

My initial thought is GC wins then EH fires their coach.

Maybe. Maybe not. I can't find fault in the idea that E&H might contemplate telling him to kick rocks, but he's an alum and that makes it a sticky situation. They'll probably have a nice Come To Jesus meeting rather than firing him, at least this year.
If E&H loses on Saturday, they'll finish up 3-7; Newsome would be 23-17 in 4 years.  They were 8-2 in his first year and I think many people expected him to turn the program around quickly, but he really hasn't. Kind of shocking considering his pedigree.  I mean, the man coached with Frank Beamer and they're in SW VA for crying out loud. That should get kids begging to come to E&H. Couple that with the kinds of coaches he's been able to get (can we call Emory, VA, Emory, East Hawaii yet, or should we wait?) and the transfers he's gotten and you would think it would be perfectly fine to assume E&H would be around the 8 win mark every year.

[jknezek]

A link probably would have been just fine for the Shenandoah story.

Anyway, in other W&L news from around the ODAC and a bit more at the bottom:

W&L's field hockey team won their first ever NCAA tournament game yesterday following an ODAC championship. A double OT defensive battle over Denison. Judging from the stats, I'm guessing it came against the run of play. W&L travels to top ranked Messiah Saturday for the second round.

The men's soccer team hosts a pod in the NCAA tournament this weekend, playing CAC champion Mary Washington and hopefully the winner of Ogelthorpe/NC Wes. In my mind, the Generals struggled a bit this season, finishing 3rd in the ODAC regular season and runner-up in the tournament to Lynchburg, who also hosts a pod. I think getting a home pod is a bit of a fortunate break.

The W&L men's and women's cross country teams swept the ODAC and are nationally ranked heading into the NCAA Regionals and Championships.

The women's volleyball team came up short to RMC twice this season, finishing second in the regular season and the conference tournament.

The women's soccer team struggled a bit this fall. Despite a nice preseason national ranking and an expected top ODAC finish, the Generals took 3 conference losses and bowed out in the ODAC quarters.

Finally, and most fun for me as a former player, the W&L Screaming Minks Rugby Club is having another excellent fall. They have advanced to the National Small College Rugby regional tournament defeating Roanoke, H-SC, Radford, E&H, JMU's JV squad, and Duke, while only losing to VMI. I will say I don't fully understand the format, as VMI seems to play in a different division, but W&L will take on Clarkson the weekend before Thanksgiving in Massachusetts. 2 wins would send W&L to the spring National Tournament. Last year W&L lost in the regional finals to Trinity, who then lost to National Champion Bethel.

When I played we just scheduled who we could find. There was no conference or tournament, and generally we did well against small schools and got killed by Radford, VMI, Duke, UVa, and, in a game I'll never forget, Navy's JV or club team which basically pulled our pants down, kicked our rears, and laughed all the way to beating us to a pulp while sending me to the hospital. I woke up from a vicious though clean hit halfway there in the ambulance...

[Pat Coleman]

A link probably would have been just fine for the Shenandoah story.

Agreed.

[jknezek]

Looks like the weather should not be an issue this weekend.  Winds less than 5 mph, sunny, but chilly. Should be a great day for football. 

I see the WL/SU game going one of two ways. It's either a close high scoring game or WL wins in a blowout.

RMC/HSC the only thing that scares me is jk picks HSC to win. You have not picked the Tigers since at least before the WL game. Heck I'm not sure you have picked them to win a conference game all year!  Why start now?!

Regardless, I see HSC clicking on offense scoring close to 40. I see RMC in the mid 20s.

Not to sound insensitive but I have put no thought into GC/EH. My initial thought is GC wins then EH fires their coach.

This is true. I have been dead wrong on H-SC almost all through the conference season. When you are wrong you are wrong, though I will say the way they rolled over like dead fish while playing W&L didn't help. Anyone who watched that game wouldn't think much of H-SC. They must have really just flopped that game and I never adjusted from that being the exception to their season. And it shows in my miserable standings in the Pick'em.

As for this weekend, sometimes you just have to throw in the towel. I'm waiving the surrender flag. And frankly, H-SC just has to show some pride when The Game comes around one of these days, right?

[jknezek]

My initial thought is GC wins then EH fires their coach.

Maybe. Maybe not. I can't find fault in the idea that E&H might contemplate telling him to kick rocks, but he's an alum and that makes it a sticky situation. They'll probably have a nice Come To Jesus meeting rather than firing him, at least this year.
If E&H loses on Saturday, they'll finish up 3-7; Newsome would be 23-17 in 4 years.  They were 8-2 in his first year and I think many people expected him to turn the program around quickly, but he really hasn't. Kind of shocking considering his pedigree.  I mean, the man coached with Frank Beamer and they're in SW VA for crying out loud. That should get kids begging to come to E&H. Couple that with the kinds of coaches he's been able to get (can we call Emory, VA, Emory, East Hawaii yet, or should we wait?) and the transfers he's gotten and you would think it would be perfectly fine to assume E&H would be around the 8 win mark every year.

I don't think so. In 2 of his 4 years he's won 5 games in the ODAC. Prior to that, E&H hadn't won 5 conference games since 2000. This is his first sub .500 season and I don't think they'll be so quick to yank him. They are getting good numbers in recruiting and, as mentioned, he's an alum, so I think there is little cause to fire him following one bad year. Montgomery survived a lot more with less success. But with E&H you never know.

[Scots13]

My initial thought is GC wins then EH fires their coach.

Maybe. Maybe not. I can't find fault in the idea that E&H might contemplate telling him to kick rocks, but he's an alum and that makes it a sticky situation. They'll probably have a nice Come To Jesus meeting rather than firing him, at least this year.
If E&H loses on Saturday, they'll finish up 3-7; Newsome would be 23-17 in 4 years.  They were 8-2 in his first year and I think many people expected him to turn the program around quickly, but he really hasn't. Kind of shocking considering his pedigree.  I mean, the man coached with Frank Beamer and they're in SW VA for crying out loud. That should get kids begging to come to E&H. Couple that with the kinds of coaches he's been able to get (can we call Emory, VA, Emory, East Hawaii yet, or should we wait?) and the transfers he's gotten and you would think it would be perfectly fine to assume E&H would be around the 8 win mark every year.

I don't think so. In 2 of his 4 years he's won 5 games in the ODAC. Prior to that, E&H hadn't won 5 conference games since 2000. This is his first sub .500 season and I don't think they'll be so quick to yank him. They are getting good numbers in recruiting and, as mentioned, he's an alum, so I think there is little cause to fire him following one bad year. Montgomery survived a lot more with less success. But with E&H you never know.

Donnie was a Mountie and couldn't get it done even with apparently stretching the definition of Division III ethics. One would think a guy that has a link to Mount Union could recruit a solid football team anywhere in the DIII world, but nope. Couldn't win consistently. So, E&H goes out and gets what I would call a high profile guy for DIII in Newsome who's been at Tech and JMU. Makes you wonder what kind of salary they're paying him. Has to be a good amount since his official title at JMU in '13 as Assistant Head Coach and OL Coach.  Don could be an acceptable reason for a short leash on Curt, but salary might have something to say, too.

[tigerFanAlso2]

I hope E&H keeps him.

JK is right, it is about time for HSC to step up and refuse to lose to Macon; play with pride, kick some butt and do not let the seniors leave without a win over Macon.

[jknezek]

D3football's mock bracket pairs W&L with UMU should W&L get in. Personally I think they are wrong. I think you'll see a four team pairing of Berry, Huntingdon, W&L and Witt/Franklin. Witt/Franklin/W&L and Berry are within 500 miles, leaving likely cost saving in the second round.

I've done mock brackets in the past and been monkeyed so many times I have no desire to do it again. But I know a W&L/UMU/Witt type match up would not bode well for the Generals.

[Scots13]

I hope they keep him, too, honestly.  I mean, the guy does have a winning record and he was dealt a crappy hand when he got there. Seems to be an outstanding guy. I just wonder if E&H fans will revolt like UT's seem to be doing. By the way, I hope that doesn't happen. No room for that in small college football. Over the last 15+ years, E&H has seen Bridgewater, HSC, W&L have their turn at the ODAC title and Macon, Guilford sprinkled in the mix.  I'm sure E&H fans are wanting their time in the spotlight again. It's been awhile and it's overplayed to talk about the '80s and 90s.