FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[abnrgr]

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OQnU1t7UzgM

I wanted to to do a ODAC Family Day like this. At Stone Station since they are in the heart of cool country

Nothing like a blonde on a 7.62 electrically operated air cooled mini gun.

[abnrgr]

Who wins the ODAC? Bow Ties? I guess we will not get a second team in

[jknezek]

Who wins the ODAC? Bow Ties? I guess we will not get a second team in

No. It was clear before the conference schedule opened that we would only get one team through this year. You just can't have 2 losses and get a Pool C bid, although the situation with UWO (losses to UWW and UMU) would have been interesting if they hadn't choked last weekend.

As for who wins, I expect this to be a close game decided by mistakes rather than one team being better. With W&L on the road, I'm giving the nod, reluctantly, to H-SC. H-SC is going to draw a big crowd, as usual, and I'm wondering if the crowd for this game won't outnumber The Game next weekend. I expect the 12th man to play a role. In Lex I'd be all over the Generals this year, something I wouldn't have done last year. I really think this W&L team is a few steps better than last year, but I won't count on getting 5 turnovers from H-SC to stay out in front.

I would like to see a W&L win (obviously!) and a rematch with TMC. I think this year the Generals would be able to give them a game as I don't think TMC is quite as good or as tested in a weak PAC.

I'm thinking 49-42, Tigers win. I'm also thinking the ODAC goes on the road in the first round making it another year with a likely ODAC loss. Best case is we get TMC or SCAC winner. Worst case, entirely possible, is another trip to Wesley or UMHB. Of course, if they move us out of region, I wouldn't mind a shot at Del Val out of the MAC.

Regional ranking should be released this afternoon. That should provide some clarity on where the ASC and/or the SCAC stand in getting a second bid.

[abnrgr]

J
Trip to Wesley!! That sounds fun

[jknezek]

J
Trip to Wesley!! That sounds fun

Almost as fun as major surgery. What was the score of that R-MC at Wesley game a few years ago? I believe it was even worse than W&L's debacle at Wilkes in '06 (aided by Wilkes' giant mud puddle of a field. Anyone running an option offense in 2 inches of mud is going to get buried, literally). There are certain teams that just aren't going to make you look like you even belong, and being a 7 or 8 seed pretty much guarantees that. How I wish W&L or H-SC were undefeated and looking at a mid-bracket game.

Like all of college football, there are a few programs that are just head and shoulders different than the rest of the universe (Winner of the SEC versus the winner of the Big East anyone?). While the ODAC champion wouldn't win the ASC, I think we could finish in the middle somewhere. However, going to UMHB, flying down there, and playing to their strengths... it's just going to be ugly. The same thing with Wesley. These teams are just on a whole different level. But that's what you get for losing a game.

[HSC85]

In 2008 RMC played at Mount Union not Wesley.  In 2007, HSC played at Wesley and lost 45-17.  In that game the Wesley DL completely dominated the HSC OL.  Wesley was on a completely different level as they are most years.  In 2009 HSC lost to Johns Hopkins 23 -7 and in 2010 HSC lost to Montclair St.  16-14.  I feel both games could have gone either way.  The HSC offense disappointed in both games getting off to slow starts.  I would say that the ODAC has not had a team that could compete against the top 8-10 teams in D3 since the Bridgewater teams from 2001-2005.  However, I know that during the past 5 years that HSC has been good enough to compete with the the rest of the top 50 teams in D3.  They would not go undefeated against that group, but I feel that they certainly could win more than they would lose.  I think that for the ODAC teams to gain success in the playoffs they need to continue to play tougher non-conference.  This year W&L playing Centre and HSC playing Huntingdon are good examples.  Last year HSC went to Salisbury and that win allowed them to gain a Pool C bid.  It also prepared them for a playoff game and they nearly won.  As long as the ODAC teams are playing a soft non-conference schedule, I do not think that they will be prepared to win playoff games whether they are undefeated or not.

[abnrgr]

Nice recap 85. Dead on

[jknezek]

Completely agree with HSC85. Although W&L and Centre is not the result of "tougher scheduling"... just luck. They have played, except for the last couple years, ever since the mid 50s. It was nice that they both had good teams this year, though it is a shame the game fell on a Centre home date (then again, Centre has generally had W&L's number over the years, that can't be denied).

And yes, I agree that the ODAC champs can probably play with teams from 15-50 in just about any poll imaginable. But yeah, those top 8-10 teams, ouch. Just a different level of play. And having a 1 loss ODAC champ may not guarantee a game against one of those 8-10 in the first round, but it makes it pretty likely.

I'm hoping W&L's program is on a decent long-term upswing, but we'll have to see. We lose a lot of impact seniors this year and the program could revert back to its traditional spot in the middle of the ODAC. I'm not sure I want to be scheduling traditional out of conference powers for 4 or 5 years into the future. All that being said, you are correct that the ODAC needs some teams to step up and do that scheduling and come through if we want to earn the benefit of the doubt when tournament seeding comes around.

Especially as we lose a non-conference game next year as we go to an 8 team conference. I'm assuming W&L will keep traditional games with Sewanee and Centre, though the size of the SAA will have something to say about that obviously. That leaves only 1 spot for a different out of conference opponent. We traditionally play a CC team, and it has been JHU, F&M, Gettysburg, Ursinus at least in recent memory. The schedule is set before we know which one may be on an upswing in any given year. So you are kind of at the mercy of your opponents...

It seems like H-SC is either getting lucky in their scheduling (I don't know much about Huntingdon historically) or is purposely trying to schedule harder (certainly Salisbury would fit this category). I do applaud their efforts though.

[tigerfanalso]

HSC should play Hopkins & Salisbury every year. Travel expense is a factor so that really creates a problem; quality opponents within a reasonable distance. One reason Hopkins every year makes sense for both schools. CNU maybe, but I'm not certain how that impacts SOS. The Huntingdon team is competitive but not sure if it makes sense to travel to Montgomery every other year from a cost stand point.  Difficult situation but I agree with the concept.

[jknezek]

Both W&L and H-SC make the first NCAA Regionally Ranked list found here:

http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/category/regional-rankings/

I didn't expect both to make the list and it will give this weekend's winner a win over an RRO. Sometimes that can be important for tournament seeding.

[abnrgr]

I always thought it was wise to play a money game. Sort of like when one of the alphebet Mich schools goes to Michigan. Play up one level. Carson Newman DII type. Gardner Webb etc. Upset there gets you quality win and $$$$. ALA Wesley and CHarleston Southern.

Bridgewater in the early 2000's could probably could have popped somebody

You have to play somebody every year that you may not think you can beat.

[HSCTiger74]

HSC should play Hopkins & Salisbury every year. Travel expense is a factor so that really creates a problem; quality opponents within a reasonable distance. One reason Hopkins every year makes sense for both schools. CNU maybe, but I'm not certain how that impacts SOS. The Huntingdon team is competitive but not sure if it makes sense to travel to Montgomery every other year from a cost stand point.  Difficult situation but I agree with the concept.

I agree with you in principle, but I very much doubt that Hopkins would agree to play the Tigers (or anyone) every year. Being in a ten team conference they only have one OOC game per year and I'd have to think that they would want some variety in the schedule. I don't think that a two year home-and-home would be out of the question, though.
Another possibility might be Stevenson, once the program has become more established and they're less likely to diminish the SoS.

[tigerfanalso]

I've got the out of conference game for HSC; Wabash. Only all male schools remaining and this matchup could develop into a special weekend for both schools; plus Wabash has an outstanding program. Travel time within reason.

[Michael Herbert]

I've got the out of conference game for HSC; Wabash. Only all male schools remaining and this matchup could develop into a special weekend for both schools; plus Wabash has an outstanding program. Travel time within reason.

That would be a great idea and there have actually been talks in the recent years about having a men's weekend -- something of the friendly type.  There would be seminars about single-sex education, masculinity topics and men's issues, and of course a football game.  We'll see if anything actually happens.

Timing is the difficult thing about it.  It would be great to have it at the end of the season and have a football game on the Saturday and a basketball game either that night or the Sunday afternoon.  The only trouble with having it at the end of the season is that who knows about playoffs and what could happen with the football postseason.

[tigerfanalso]

First game of year is over Labor Day weekend which would be perfect for the fans traveling anf for players; no work nor school on Monday. Stay away from end of year. The GAme adds enough pressure and don't want the guys looking past Wabash to RMC.