FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[boller]

I made it to the BC/WJ game with 3 other 1971 alumni and very much enjoyed the result! After listening to the games all season it was my first chance to see BC in person. I was concerned about our defense but they came through with a great game. Let's get another win at Thiel!

[muchacho]

Congratulations BC for winning on Saturday. After facing the pass happy ODAC this year, its no wonder your team had 4 picks. Looks like next year's starting backfield of Highfill and Young showed that they are ready to play. Since Thiel and W&J played it close in their game this year, it looks like you have another chance for a W this week. Good luck, and does anybody else think that W&L or HSC could have done better than 3 points against Rowan?

[Olinemom]

 does anybody else think that W&L or HSC could have done better than 3 points against Rowan?

Absolutely, I think they both could have done better.  But we won't know.  Our conference members need to win more games out of conference so that we can get more than one team in next year.

[muchacho]

ODAC teams definitely need to do better out of conference next year. Stated before and will be stated again.

ODAC coaches meeting tommorow? I heard that somewhere and wonder if anybody knows if thats true. Will the coaches finally settle the debate that ODAC posters have been having for the last few weeks regarding POY?

[gcballer]

yes the meeting is tom. and yes they will be deciding the debate that has been going on about the POY. I think it has to go to J.D. Ricca though and that is because of all the records that he has broken while he has been at Hampden-Sydney.

[xbcdad]

Wow! What a pleasure to see the BC D consistently make stops and big plays while the opponent played on a short field most of the day thanks to the speed of Krepps. It took a while to figure him out but my hit of the day goes to the gunner (#14?) that took him down in his tracks on the last BC kick off.

On the other side of the ball it was good to see the the offense show the ability to grind it out on long drives. This was probably the best (balanced) effort I've seen from BC in a long time.

Kudos to the warriors on both the O and D lines. Get well quick! You kept pressure on Edward and gave Highfill time to work. I've not checked the match ups but I expect Hammering the ground game will continue to be the theme.

[xbcdad]

Just checked the Theil (Greenville, PA) 10 day weather. Looks like snow showers most of the week including a 30% chance on Saturday with a high of 28. The good news  is they apparently have a rubber filled field which may help the speed game even if it is cold. Looks like typical trip to PA. Sorry I'll miss this one. Rock the stands Eagle Fans! (all 1400 ) 

[mizzou_mafia]

After watching the ODAC teams this year, and then watching playoff regular W&J this weekend, I think several teams in this conference are only some defensive upgrades away from being a playoff caliber team.  I don't mean any disrespect to W&J's offense, because they are a good unit, but I think there were 2-3 offenses in the ODAC besides Bridgewater's this year that were more potent than the Presidents'. 

[Llamaguy]

Here is a little Thiel info to chew on: 

Size of Players:

• Oline avg= 5'-11" , 268lbs
• Dline avg= 5'-11 1/2", 202lbs
• Lbackers avg= 5'-10 1/2", 200lbs
• Secondary avg= 5'-9 3/4", 172.5lbs
• RB avg= 5'-10", 181lbs
• FB avg= 5'-9", 215lbs
• QB = 6'-0", 180lbs
• WR avg= 6'-0", 181lbs
• TE avg= 6'-2 1/2", 235lbs

Looks like they will be small and fast on defense. They have done well against the run so they must get alot of hats to the ball. The receivers have size. The Dbs are not tall.

And a most interesting stat to me was: They only played 36 players in last week's playoff game against Hopkins. Kind of reminds me of a W&L team we have already seen this year.

In comparison BC used 51 of its alloted 52 players against W&J.

[religion_major]

Thiel seems to have a nose for winning close games this year.  I think with what Llamaguy has just said about their size that shows that they play all out.  I think this one will be a dog fight the whole way.

[Llamaguy]

Thiel seems to have a nose for winning close games this year.  I think with what Llamaguy has just said about their size that shows that they play all out.  I think this one will be a dog fight the whole way.

I don't know RM? My early thoughts are if we cut down on their big plays, limit our turnovers and run exclusively up the gut. We win by 2 TDs. Just an early prediction though.

Remember we are just as big as the W&J team they beat, only much faster. Not to mention our QB's will run before throwing into coverage like Edwards did.

[religion_major]

Just analizing the stats leads me to believe that they are scrapy fighters who find a way to get it done.  I agree that we are just as big as W&J only faster, but I have also seen BC shoot itself in the foot this year by making stupid turnovers.  I agree that the best way to run at a small fast team is right at them, but I wonder what effect the conditions may have also.  Early weather reports indicate cold and snow.  My gut is that Thiel will put up a good fight, but if we do run the ball on them we could open it up.  That being said, we have let teams come back on us this year and Thiel has come back to win games this year.  All in all I think BC wins a close on, but that's just an early score prediction.

[Llamaguy]

Turnovers will be the difference. Zitzleberger = big back = 72 yrd rushing against Thiel. Mendel = sm back = not much rushing yardage.

W&J rushed for 85 yrds against BC, 67 yrds against Thiel.
W&J passed for 275 yrds against BC, 328yrds against Thiel.
W&J = -1 in turnovers against BC, -4 against Thiel.

And just for comparison Minton had 138 yrds rushing, 62 of which came in the 4th quarter and OT. W&J held him in check until they got tired. We keep our substituion pattern in order, we will be ready for the 4th quarter.

And finally Thiel has fieldturf so it may be cold but unless the forcast changes, the snow showers will be nothing more than a nuisance.

[religion_major]

I am with you on the turnovers.  I don't think that we can turn the ball over and expect to win.

On the comparison using the common opponent W&J, remember what Coach Clark said about Hampden-Sydney, "We prepare well for them because we see them every year, but I would hate to have to prepare for them in one week never having played them before.  If they ever make the playoffs they will put 50 up on somebody." 

Thiel and W&J see each other every year, which changes the game dynamic a bit.  They both know what each other likes to do.  I think the Bridgewater as a team prepares well especially for big games, but I wonder what impact on the flow of the games the lack of farmiliarity will have? 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

[...]
ODAC coaches meeting tommorow? I heard that somewhere and wonder if anybody knows if thats true. Will the coaches finally settle the debate that ODAC posters have been having for the last few weeks regarding POY?

Last year's All-ODAC teams and awards were annouced on the Tuesday after the first round of the playoffs (Nov. 23, 2004) ... so expect them either later today or tomorrow.