FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Llamaguy]

Had a great time tailgating to all who came to Stone Station this weekend. I'm sure the BC faithful are dissappoited, but its not the end of the season.
Simply put, BC is an explosive team with in the words of Pat Cummings "Inexpierence at QB". Pat I will have to say that was true for this game. Lewis had some difficulties under pressure but you have to realize this was his first game as "the man" since high school. He had some overthrows, and the INTs but also had some exceptional passes as well. Time to teach off this tape, take care of the ball, and capitalize on the talent BC has.
Bottomline, a combination of no sustained scoring drives, turnovers, the kicking game, and having the defense on the field too long came back and bit us in the second half.
This week is a new week with another very good defensive team ahead. Week 2 should tell us alot as to which of the 2 BC teams we saw yesterday will be BC's make-up for the 2005 season!

Go Eagles! Time to step-it up at Ole' Shenando!

[muchacho]

Wow...what a lousy Saturday for the ODAC.

Thanks Uncle Jessie for the nice comments on Catholic. SU/CUA was a great game yesterday, and while Catholic's defense controlled SU, the Hornets did a great job of not making mistakes in order to win that game. Shenandoah didn't give up any sacks, and were lucky that Catholic's 1st half scoring play was rightly called back because the QB was over the line of scrimmage. Catholic moved the ball well, but the 2 interceptions and the 5 sacks(Safety included) really killed the Cardinals. 
Catholic went with a 3 quarterback rotation to start the game, but Keith Ricca was definitely the better looking of the 3. He did get sacked a lot and threw a pick, but it was not altogether a bad outing for his first college game. He looks like he will join his brothers Kevin and J.D. as great D3 QB's.
The TD pass to Bowman that was called incomplete looked like an awful call. One official looked like he saw it differently than the backjudge, but the incomplete call stood. ODAC officiating strikes again. However, SU still would have probably won the game. Despite the loss yesterday, this was a much better showing from the Cards than anything I remember from 2004. The young Cards looked like they belonged from start to finish, and with a less than stellar performance by every ODAC team besides HSC, it looks like the Cardinals should be winning games in the ODAC again this year.

[cuaplayer]

Looks like another big test for the cards next saturaday.

I surprised to find out that they are playing Augustana next Saturday. Then I found out this team from Illinios. Then I found out they've won 4 national championships and have some ridiculous streak of winning seasons. Looks like Clark is sending the new Cards through the firing squad. I like that. I can't be positive but I think that BC became a good program by not playing any bad teams even when they were going 0-10. I still remember Tom Clark always saying that Bridgewater was going to be something special. We were 10-0, they 0-10 and we won by maybe 2 points (35-33 i think)and didnt deserve the W. It be nice to see Catholic make a turn around like that. Who cares what our record is this year if its never going to amount to a championship program?

BC putting up 33 in the first half has got to have the rest of the league(save HSC, no other teams looks to have an offense capable of that) saying expletives.  Didn't see the game so I can only guess that BC wins that game 9 times out of 10 going away. Sometimes losing your first game can be a blessing in disguise, especially when you should have won. If the team is truly great I believe it will only make them better and more focused. They are not going to BS with anyone else, and if the 33 points in the 1st half(agaist McDaniel who is a solid team year in and year out) is indicutive of anything, then I can only predict that this is the last weekend this board will be so vacant of BC posters. 

Good Luck to all the ODAC teams in this upcoming week.

[cuaplayer]

Just read that Augustana runs the wing-t and had all of 3 passes last week in a game that went to overtime. Every 60 something year old football fan should come to the duf next saturday as it looks like it will be the kind of game only an old-timer could enjoy. Of course, right now all the jokers will be saying "NOONE IS GONNA ENJOY A CATHOLIC GAME NO MATTER WHAT". Touche.

Don't know how good Shenandoah is but that could be a good thing for the cards since they looked pretty solid against the run yesterday. Also, read that Augustana was plagued by PI calls which could be nice. If the entire CCIW is built on running teams maybe the cardinal receivers(who looked pretty solid yesterday and made some catches in traffic) can take advantage of a scheme that isn't built to be successful against the pass.

Workin Hard, gettin better. I gotta be close to make varsity soon here Pat.

[xbcdad]

CUAplayer
Good to hear from you. SU should be a pretty good test. Sounds like Clark has the ship right side up and headed in the right direction. i wouldn't be surprised that most of the Stone Station crew are taking sunday afternoon naps. They were working hard since Friday evening and probably need some recovery time especially following that bitter loss. They'll be back.

RE: BC/McD, how can you go from a 1st Team all ODAC kicker to 2 missed PAT's and 3 missed Field goals. Seemed like some snaps were high and timing was off. ...Maybe he was hanging out at Stone Station Friday night  . Give credit to McD, their coaches made the right adjustment bringing pressure in the 2nd half. Reminded me of Lutz in his soph. year. Brilliant at moments and then that i'll advised pass to kill a drive. Takes me bake to Miz' preaseason question about starting Highfill. If you are going to have to take your lumps with the learning curve do you do it with the guy who has more years to take advantage of the experience. We could be in the same position next year. Clark is fair and loyal, but i think I'd like to have seen a different QB after the momentum changed and the 2nd pick was thrown. Or maybe they swap series in the first half to give an opportunity to see who is most effective  vs,. the Defense. That said, Jake did make some great throw and hung in the pocket very well. I think he may be more effective as he learns when to tuck it and run for the first down.

Re: E&H, is the OAC that superior? Did Marrieta have Monte's number? Was Monte sand bagging and using a limited play book intentionally? Or were the expectations over hyped. I can't see the E&H nation being patient very long when your wunder kind QB is seemingly written out of the playbook. I'm responding to some previous comments so enlighten me if I'm wrong.

[cuaplayer]

xbcdad,
didnt mean to imply that bc posters were not loyal...hope i didnt come off that way...i meant i think they are in shock, but won't have to worry about that too much more this season...good luck next weekend

[EHCTailgate]

Well, It looks like our rushing game is nonexistent , our passing game so-so and our run defense in the second half was not to good. I hope we lost to an extremely good OAC team and not the cellar dwellars that Marrietta has been in the past.( Other than last year) Realistically, all I can say is, I don't know. I do know Marietta returned a bunch of players from last years winning season team, which having a winning season in the OAC is an accomplishment.  So, I hope the players and coaches take their lumps, learn from their mistakes, keep their heads up, and work their butts off to make sure it doesn't happen again. I as a fan, I evidently did not cheer my team on hard enough, so, I have a lot of cheering practice to do. My team expects as much out of me as I do them, I am the 12 man.

[xbcdad]

CUA Player,
No offense taken. I was mostly giving a tongue in cheek explaination of why they've been quiet today. Tailgating is hard work! I predict at least Llama will be back before the evening is out. The kid is probably busy with the JV game this afternoon and the pick em contest update.

Looking forward to another great weekend coming up but it is a pain going back to SU two years straight.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

The kid is probably busy with the JV game this afternoon and the pick em contest update.

Not to mention the Division III Fantasy League

Also keep in mind that Sundays are probably the most quiet days of the week on all boards/threads.  I'm sure by Monday us BC fans will have all our excuses ready

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Talk about a team dropping in the poll!  BC went from #14 to "#26" ... good to see McDaniel crack the Top 25 (#24) ... to hold the Eagles offense to no points in the second half at Jopson ... heck of a defense!

[abnrgr]

Kid
I still think 8-2 for BC and the playoffs.  The QB has just started his first game right. He's been in the system.

[1HStiger]

congrats to HSC on step 1... next one in, 5.5 days...



monday counts.



1

[bcsportswriter]

Had  great time this weekend at Stone Station playing poker and hanging out.  I appreciate all of you guys letting me take your money...jk.  I always knew momentum was big in games, but I've never seen momentum change like it did Saturday during the game.  Had a bad feeling when things started going against us.  Also, we always seem to find a way to win those games in the past despite the adversity.  This game was different...i hope that isnt indicative on the upcoming season.  I am sure the BC boys will be fine and will turn things around.  Staying healthy has to be a key too. 
Looking forward to more fun next weekend in Winchester.  Will be up there with the same crew as last year at around 2. 

[gogreenterror]

Just thought we would let all of the teams in the ODAC know that when you play bridgewater, no matter what the score, i guess, it is OK to run off the field with out the traditional hand shake.  SO when all of you other teams beat them...let the celebration begin.  No need to wait around at mid field for them.  They will be running to the locker room like little pup's that just got whipped with their tail's between thier legs.  What a bad showing for your conference.  Hopefully the rest of you are a bit more respectable.

[miz]

Congratulations to McDaniel.  As always, a well-coached and disciplined team.  QB is a tough kid, hope he's not hurt bad.

As far as the Eagles' performance, I thought these things:

1. If we play like we did in the first half we can have the best year at BC since '01.  The talent, speed, etc. is all there.

2. Marcus Washington is one of the best and most explosive D-3 players I've ever seen.  However, he needs to find a way to stay healty and stay in games.  That #1 kid wasn't quite "ready for prime time" so until Winston gets back, Marcus needs to be in there. 

3.  Collectively, McDaniel showed more heart and resolve in this game.  They also were more disciplined which showed up in their lack of penalties and turnovers (we had plenty of both).  Our coaches/players need to correct this if this team will reach its potential.  We can beat most teams and maybe even win the ODAC playing like we did today but that will be as far as we get.  That '01 team had a lot of hunger and played every game with seemingly a chip on their sholder.  Don't see that right now with this team. 

4.  Lewis did some good things but made way too many mistakes for a senior.  Again, if we're going to have a guy throw 4 INT's if I'm in charge it's not going to be a senior when you have a Soph. that is by all accounts a very good player.  I'll fully support whoever is out there but I think it's something Clark needs to look out while there's still a lot of time before the game in Farmville that will now decide the Eagle's fate. 

5.  1 blocked PAT and 3 missed field goals.  Not much else needs to be said there. 

I guess when you add all that up it's a wonder we only lost by one.  Hopefully this will be a great wake-up call for the whole team and coaching staff. 

Again, good effort by McDaniel.  Hope you guys go 10-0.