FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

It was reported today that Emory & Henry pulled in their second Top 100-ranked player from the state of Virginia.

They had already gotten a commitment from wide receiver Jonathan Hawkins (Rural Retreat HS) who is ranked No. 97 in The Roanoke Times' Top 100 Virginia Football Prospects ranking.  Offensive lineman Tommy Burgess (Cave Spring HS), ranked No. 86, will be joining Hawkins as a Wasp in 2006.

Bridgewater has the only other known Top 100 player heading to a Division III school in No. 58th-ranked Wynn Sigmon, a tight end from Franklin County HS.

60 of the Top 100 have signed with Division I programs, with over 25 still uncommitted at this point.

[Pat Coleman]

Regarding Shenandoah-Catholic playing on Thursday night...It makes sense to start the season on Thursday, because it will give both teams more time to get ready for their second game, and work out any issues they may have in their opener. Having those extra 2 days will give them more time to make adjustments early in the year. Shenandoah will have time to send coaches to scout Bridgewater on Saturday, and will already be done reveiwing Thursday's game film when Bridgewater is still looking at theirs from their opener.
The only other time it might make sense to play a Thursday game would be after coming off a bye week. That would shorten the bye and also allow you a few extra days for the following week.

You make some really good points, muchacho.   I guess one of my concerns would still be how difficult it would make it for some fans (parents especially) to make a mid-week night game.

The campuses are not very far apart. Catholic draws from a wider geographic area than Shenandoah does, but at least the team travel isn't extensive.

[hasanova]

Regarding Shenandoah-Catholic playing on Thursday night...It makes sense to start the season on Thursday, because it will give both teams more time to get ready for their second game, and work out any issues they may have in their opener. Having those extra 2 days will give them more time to make adjustments early in the year. Shenandoah will have time to send coaches to scout Bridgewater on Saturday, and will already be done reveiwing Thursday's game film when Bridgewater is still looking at theirs from their opener.
The only other time it might make sense to play a Thursday game would be after coming off a bye week. That would shorten the bye and also allow you a few extra days for the following week.

You make some really good points, muchacho.   I guess one of my concerns would still be how difficult it would make it for some fans (parents especially) to make a mid-week night game.

The campuses are not very far apart. Catholic draws from a wider geographic area than Shenandoah does, but at least the team travel isn't extensive.

Well, I realize the campuses aren't very far apart and, therefore, the team travel won't be extensive, but I was looking at it from another angle.  If my son played for SU or Catholic and I lived in, say, Williamsburg or Pittsburgh, I might always make the trip if the game is at 1 PM on Saturday.  If it's played on a Thursday night, however, I might not be able to make it due to work obligations - at least not without taking a couple of days of vacation if I could get them.  I understand why DI/DIAA  teams do it for additional TV exposure and revenue, but I just don't think  it's worth it for DIII.  Someone would have to show me some numbers - from either a financial or a public relations point of view - to convince me it's beneficial.

[Bwana]

Yeah, it isn't D3 football per se, but it is so off the wall it had to be shared...plus I imagine there might be some D3 footballers affected...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/04/27/bc.fbo.teamfired.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Owner fires entire team...dang!

[Hug]

'kid' is that VA Top 100 list available online? I'd like to take a gander.

[Pat Coleman]

Regarding Shenandoah-Catholic playing on Thursday night...It makes sense to start the season on Thursday, because it will give both teams more time to get ready for their second game, and work out any issues they may have in their opener. Having those extra 2 days will give them more time to make adjustments early in the year. Shenandoah will have time to send coaches to scout Bridgewater on Saturday, and will already be done reveiwing Thursday's game film when Bridgewater is still looking at theirs from their opener.
The only other time it might make sense to play a Thursday game would be after coming off a bye week. That would shorten the bye and also allow you a few extra days for the following week.

You make some really good points, muchacho.   I guess one of my concerns would still be how difficult it would make it for some fans (parents especially) to make a mid-week night game.

The campuses are not very far apart. Catholic draws from a wider geographic area than Shenandoah does, but at least the team travel isn't extensive.

Well, I realize the campuses aren't very far apart and, therefore, the team travel won't be extensive, but I was looking at it from another angle.  If my son played for SU or Catholic and I lived in, say, Williamsburg or Pittsburgh, I might always make the trip if the game is at 1 PM on Saturday.  If it's played on a Thursday night, however, I might not be able to make it due to work obligations - at least not without taking a couple of days of vacation if I could get them.  I understand why DI/DIAA  teams do it for additional TV exposure and revenue, but I just don't think  it's worth it for DIII.  Someone would have to show me some numbers - from either a financial or a public relations point of view - to convince me it's beneficial.

I understand that ... and I did mention that Catholic draws from a wider area than Shenandoah was with the specific consideration of how it would affect parent travel.

Another thing to consider is that it will be the only (so far) D-III vs. D-III game that night. The opening games on Friday nights in the past have always gotten a big splash from us and I'm sure this game will too.

[hasanova]

I understand that ... and I did mention that Catholic draws from a wider area than Shenandoah was with the specific consideration of how it would affect parent travel.

Another thing to consider is that it will be the only (so far) D-III vs. D-III game that night. The opening games on Friday nights in the past have always gotten a big splash from us and I'm sure this game will too.

Yes, you did mention that CUA draws its student body (and players) from a wider geographic area than SU - I was also pretty sure that was the case.  Perhaps you're right - maybe sports fans are so strarved for football by the end of August than any college game - even a DIII vs DIII matchup - will catch their attention.  If Andy Warhol was right, the Cardinals and the Hornets will not only have 15 minutes of fame, but three hours from the kickoff to the final gun.  By the way, would a "big splash" from d3football.com this year be just partially due to its fearless leader being a CUA alumnus?   

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Shoot ... I'll definitely be making the one-hour trip up to Winchester to catch the SU-CUA game.  Had it not been on a Thursday night, I wouldn't have been able to go (seeing that I go to all BC games).

So there's a good example of having this game on Thursday night being a smart thing.  They'll have $10 more dollars (or whatever they charge) than they would have had otherwise.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

'kid' is that VA Top 100 list available online? I'd like to take a gander.

Unfortunately, it's not.  Weeks ago, I surfed all over the net for it (especially the Roanoke.com site which "sponsors" it) ... but never found it.  So I emailed the author of it, and he emailed me the top 100 with an up-to-date listing of who has committed to where.  I emailed him again today for an updated list, so once I get it from him, I'll host it on my site and post the link here.

[Hug]

Thanks!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Thanks!

Still nothing from him yet.  If I don't hear from him in the coming days, I'll just post the last list he sent me.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

hasanova -

I heard from a pretty reliable source that the scuttlebutt down at the ODAC baseball tournament this weekend was that arguable Guilford's top offensive player (QB Vogelbach) and defensive player (FS Baker) aren't coming back in 2006.

Have you heard anything to the contrary?

That would of course be huge news if true.  For the ODAC's and Guilford's sake, I sure hope it isn't.

[hasanova]

hasanova -

I heard from a pretty reliable source that the scuttlebutt down at the ODAC baseball tournament this weekend was that arguable Guilford's top offensive player (QB Vogelbach) and defensive player (FS Baker) aren't coming back in 2006.

Have you heard anything to the contrary?

That would of course be huge news if true.  For the ODAC's and Guilford's sake, I sure hope it isn't.

Gosh kid, don't give me a heart attack!  I haven't heard either of those rumors.  I don't know Josh Vogelbach personally, but I do know Taylor Baker and his parents (Taylor and my nephew were starters on Hayesville's 2004 NCHSAA 1A state basketball championship team).  My brother lives in Hayesville and knows Taylor's parents really well - let me see what I can find out ....

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

let me see what I can find out ....

Please do.  I trust my source, but would certainly believe it more if heard from someone "in" Greensboro.

There was also a Quaker running back that wasn't returning, but my source forgot his name/number.

[hasanova]

let me see what I can find out ....

Please do.  I trust my source, but would certainly believe it more if heard from someone "in" Greensboro.

There was also a Quaker running back that wasn't returning, but my source forgot his name/number.

I just spoke to my brother and he said my nephew spent a few hours with Taylor and some other friends a week or so ago and nothing was said.  My brother also said Taylor's parents told him a few days ago that Taylor was going to stay over in Greensboro this summer to work until football practice.  So far, I have no indication the rumors are true.  With Vogelbach's freshman numbers, however, I'm sure it's possible that a full scholarship program might dangle a carrot ...