FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[abnrgr]

No harm no foul J.

I always say don't talk smack if you are not willing to get it shoved back at you. I love this talk. My team does not have football anymore (LeesMcRae). I love how everyone is loyal to their alma mater.

I thought WL would go down to the last play. I was off by who's last play.

I'll be pulling for the wine and cheese crowd if they get in. WL... the mini UVA

[HSCTiger74]

Concur HSC74. I'll eat crow.

You know it's funny. I actually read your original post wrong. I thought you meant the Generals would win on an interception late in the game, making you incredibly accurate. I skipped over the reference to "magnificent streak" as W&L's conference win streak. Hmm, that makes a couple of my subsequent posts read as either a) pretty obnoxious or b) just plain stupid. My apologies to everyone.

Ditto what JK said. The way I read the original post I thought you were referring to W&L's 1-9
"streak" against R-MC. No smack talk was intended. 

[HSC85]

Was just checking the SOS numbers and found it interesting that W&L (38), E&H (36) and H-SC (19) are all inside the top 50 right now. With no possibility of having two 9-1 teams this year, it looks like we'll probably pull only one playoff spot. However, if the SOS stay high, maybe a home game in the offing for the conference champion?

I really doubt if the ODAC champion, even at 9-1, will get a home game.  In my opinion if the playoffs were seeded today, the ODAC champion would travel to Johns Hopkins, Thomas More, or Wesley.  If Wesley loses then we may have a shot to host especially if Trinity, TX wins the SCAC.  I do not expect Wesley to lose though.  I think there may be 4 undefeated teams in the South Region along with a one loss Wesley and the possibility of moving Salisbury into the South Region if they are a one loss team.  That is a pretty crowded field for the ODAC champion to climb against especially since we do not have any significant wins out of conference this year.  If W&L would have beaten Centre or HSC would have beaten Huntingdon they would have a road win against a good team and they would have a chance to be undefeated.  At 9-1 either team will be traveling in the playoffs to a 2 or 3 seed.  I think that the only thing that could get the ODAC Champion a game against a 4 seed is if there is a Texas only bracket with two games in TX and the USA South Champion goes to the 2 seed. 

[jknezek]

I really doubt if the ODAC champion, even at 9-1, will get a home game.  In my opinion if the playoffs were seeded today, the ODAC champion would travel to Johns Hopkins, Thomas More, or Wesley.  If Wesley loses then we may have a shot to host especially if Trinity, TX wins the SCAC.  I do not expect Wesley to lose though.  I think there may be 4 undefeated teams in the South Region along with a one loss Wesley and the possibility of moving Salisbury into the South Region if they are a one loss team.  That is a pretty crowded field for the ODAC champion to climb against especially since we do not have any significant wins out of conference this year.  If W&L would have beaten Centre or HSC would have beaten Huntingdon they would have a road win against a good team and they would have a chance to be undefeated.  At 9-1 either team will be traveling in the playoffs to a 2 or 3 seed.  I think that the only thing that could get the ODAC Champion a game against a 4 seed is if there is a Texas only bracket with two games in TX and the USA South Champion goes to the 2 seed.

This is really good analysis. I hadn't really thought that much about it, just was surprised by the SOS and hopeful. That being said, I absolutely agree with everything you wrote. Unfortunately we'll just have to deal with the facts on the ground. I think the best shot would be a W&L win over H-SC because it would give W&L a ranked road victory. I don't think a home H-SC victory over W&L will be considered as impressive. You combine that with some luck and maybe W&L gets a home game... very unlikely though.

Still, seeing how Thomas More eeked out a win this weekend it might be a better game than W&L gave them last year. And I really don't have a feel for JHU. W&L didn't cruise past 2-4 F&M, which would be the only common opponent, but for a first game we did get a good result. JHU plays F&M in early Nov, so first to second to last game would be a tough comparison anyway. Facing Wesley or UMHB is just not where I'd want to be on the road. I wouldn't mind another crack at Centre, but I know the committee tries to avoid first round rematches. Flying to Trinity TX would not be on my list for the Generals to do. I'd have loved a W&L at B-SC game, simply because I live in Bham, but that now looks very improbable. I'm almost positive I don't want to play Salisbury. Oh well, lots of football to play so we will see.

[abnrgr]

Oh Crapola. I was being complimented. That has NEVER happened before. Sorry 74 and J. L

OL

[tigerfanalso]

In all likelyhood, the ODAC is going to be decided on 11/5 when W&L comes to HSC. Has anyone seen both teams, if so, give me your predictions on what we should expect. I'd be very interested as I've not had the opportunity to see W&L. I'm assuming they are about the same as last year. My gut is if HSC continues to turn the ball over at its current rate, they could be in for a very long afternoon, without turnovers HSC should be in a good position to win the ball game.

[jknezek]

Haven't seen a H-SC game this year, so I can't completely answer the questions. However, for W&L I think we are executing on offense a little better this year and throwing quite a bit more. Although quite a bit more than pretty much 0 still isn't very balanced play calling. Defensively we are improving throughout the season like last year. The pass defense against F&M, Centre and Alma was brutal, but since we've hit ODAC play we seem a bit better. Teams are still getting the yards, but I'd rate the defense a notch above where it was to start the year. Like last year we are opportunistic with a big turnover advantage and generally only a few penalties per game.

Not sure how to put this, but I'd say we're about 10% better than we were at the end of last year. Not a whole lot, but the team last year was pretty good by season's end. E&H is the only common opponent so far, so not much to go on. Maybe an E&H poster will chime in here.

[tigerfanalso]

I saw the W&L game last year and HSC was horrible committing 5 turnovers. Hopefully both teams will play to 110% of ability and we'll see a great game. I wish they were playing this week !!!!!

[jknezek]

I saw the W&L game last year and HSC was horrible committing 5 turnovers. Hopefully both teams will play to 110% of ability and we'll see a great game. I wish they were playing this week !!!!!

Me too if it meant that both teams had won out. W&L is, thankfully, back at home, but there is nothing simple about facing Bridgewater. Catholic, while admittedly up and down, isn't going to be a walk in the park. While I think W&L should win the next two, gameday in the ODAC always has me nervous.

[tigerfanalso]

Bridgewater is tough, athletic and well coached. Much to be concerned about but I think W&L should win.
CU not so much but you mst play decent pass defense to beat them.

I get so nervous on game day that I'm concerned about our trip to Greensboro next week; I'm definitely concerned about our last two games.

Who does W&L consider to be its biggest rival ? I've been following ODAC since my playing days back in the 70's and I've never known the answer.

[jknezek]

Who does W&L consider to be its biggest rival ? I've been following ODAC since my playing days back in the 70's and I've never known the answer.

In football you'd probably have to say Sewanee. We've played them every year since 1955. Centre was in the same boat until we took a 5 year break that ended this year. Of course, we've done well against Sewanee (37-22) and less well against Centre (22-35-2).

If we are talking the ODAC, the only two teams that we played consistently prior to the mid 60s would be H-SC (32-35-2) consistently since 1955 and sporadically beforehand, and R-MC (27-28-3), consistently since 1957 and sporadically beforehand. Of course we are by miles a lesser player to either of them than they are to each other, so it probably doesn't count.

I don't think W&L really has a rival. Not for any other reason than one just never developed. We certainly don't have a named rivalry game. When I was there (96-00) I believe the game we got up for most was E&H, simply because they beat us every year from 1983 until we finally won in 2002. That losing streak, however, does not make for a rivalry, just a long series of disappointments.

[wasper68]

Nice link below.

http://taylortailgates.com/2011/10/18/tailgating-at-emory-henry/

[wasper68]

Haven't seen a H-SC game this year, so I can't completely answer the questions. However, for W&L I think we are executing on offense a little better this year and throwing quite a bit more. Although quite a bit more than pretty much 0 still isn't very balanced play calling. Defensively we are improving throughout the season like last year. The pass defense against F&M, Centre and Alma was brutal, but since we've hit ODAC play we seem a bit better. Teams are still getting the yards, but I'd rate the defense a notch above where it was to start the year. Like last year we are opportunistic with a big turnover advantage and generally only a few penalties per game.

Not sure how to put this, but I'd say we're about 10% better than we were at the end of last year. Not a whole lot, but the team last year was pretty good by season's end. E&H is the only common opponent so far, so not much to go on. Maybe an E&H poster will chime in here.

Missed the W&L game but if scores are any indication then it should be a great close ballgame.  E&H gave great field position to HSC with the fumbles early in the game so I think the game could have been closer throughout the first 3 qtrs minus the fumbles.  Listening to the W&L game, it sounded like a close game all day.

I think there is a ton of parity within the ODAC this year unlike years past where 1-2 teams have dominated everyone then duked it out for the title.  Good luck to both teams the remainder of the year and hopefully both teams will be healthy when they play.   

[hasanova]

I get so nervous on game day that I'm concerned about our trip to Greensboro next week; I'm definitely concerned about our last two games.

Ouch.

[jknezek]

I get so nervous on game day that I'm concerned about our trip to Greensboro next week; I'm definitely concerned about our last two games.

Ouch.

Hey Hasa I'd take that as a compliment. Now if it had read "I get so nervous on game day that I'm EVEN concerned about our trip to Greensboro next week;" Well, that would have stung a bit!

Looking at the schedule I'm kind of amazed. W&L and H-SC are almost mirror images. Last year I very much appreciated having R-MC and H-SC at home and Guilford and Catholic on the road. Bridgewater on the road and E&H at home were a wash. This year I'm not at all happy about having the opposite. I'm also not at all happy about having our bye week the last week of the season. I have to believe that has something to do with the Alma game. Oh well. So far the Generals have come through with flying colors.