FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Ryan Tipps]

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.

I like that idea in theory -- always have. But I've talked with folks at both Bash and Sydney, and because it's not an in-region game, it's *probably* never going to happen in the regular season. Both teams have too many options (read: other quality teams) nearby to make it worth weakening their Pool C candidacy with an out-of-region game. Not to mention travel costs, potential for missed classes, etc...

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.

Interesting twist on the idea!

[Pat Coleman]

I like that idea in theory -- always have. But I've talked with folks at both Bash and Sydney, and because it's not an in-region game, it's *probably* never going to happen in the regular season.

Wabash and Hampden-Sydney is a regional game. Both are in administrative region 3.

[abnrgr]

For all those seniors who read this board remember this is the last time you probably will suit up.

Do not let one second of your last game escape you. Play like it is your last heart beat.

Listen Vide Cor Meum right before the game.

Congratulations and graduate

[Ryan Tipps]

I like that idea in theory -- always have. But I've talked with folks at both Bash and Sydney, and because it's not an in-region game, it's *probably* never going to happen in the regular season.

Wabash and Hampden-Sydney is a regional game. Both are in administrative region 3.

I stand corrected! Thank you.

[HSC85]

Go Tigers!!

[jknezek]

Go Generals!

Sorry... couldn't resist...

[tigerfanalso]

very quite considering the championship is going to be decided tomorrow !!!!

Who are probable playoff opponents for the ODAC champion ? Does a 9-1 ODAC champ have an opportunity to host ?

Does the ODAC champ have a resonable chance to advance to the second round ?

[HSC85]

Which team benefits from a wet natural grass field?

[tigerfanalso]

How wet !!!!!  wet is not good for the passing game nor the ball handling required for the option run game.

I guess the game ends a 0-0 tie and HSC wins on a field goal in the 4th overtime !!!!

[jknezek]

very quite considering the championship is going to be decided tomorrow !!!!

Who are probable playoff opponents for the ODAC champion ? Does a 9-1 ODAC champ have an opportunity to host ?

Does the ODAC champ have a resonable chance to advance to the second round ?

We'll know a lot more after this week, but with 4 undefeated teams in the south (UMHB, JHU, Centre/Trinity winner, and TMC) the odds of the ODAC champion hosting are very low. The only way I see that happening is if TMC loses one of its remaining games. Their SOS is weak enough to move them down, and even then I'd consider it a long shot because you still have Wesley to account for.

I think the best chance the ODAC champion will have to advance is either HSC getting Centre (W&L would most likely not be matched that way do to the committee's desire to avoid regular season rematches in round 1) or HSC/W&L playing at TMC. While this worked out badly for W&L last year, I think they are a better team this year and TMC seems slightly weaker.

Going on the road to UMHB or Wesley would be an extremely bad matchup. Going on the road versus Trinity, JHU, or McM/La Col, would be slightly better, though I'm listing them in what I believe would be easiest to hardest. Yes, I believe the ASC 2 team is going to be the 3rd best team in the south, behind UMHB and Wesley, though JHU might be in the same tier.

I really don't see much hope for the ODAC champion moving out of the first round, though if we are moved to the East region in a 4/5 matchup (possibly the reverse of last year's Montclair St to HSC), that could be a possibility with a lot of variables.

[jknezek]

Which team benefits from a wet natural grass field?

I'm thinking a slippery field helps H-SC as W&L's running game to the outside relies on small and fast. Heinsohn up the middle is always a weapon, but it works best when Westfal and Murray are able to stretch the defenses horizontally. W&L's pass defense is going to give up big yards, it's built into the play calling, so the Generals are going to need to run for 300+ and throw (including the shuffle passes) for probably a 100 more if they hope to win. If the Generals can't move the ball on offense, and I'm calling that at least 350-400 yards of total offense, I'm thinking H-SC wins easily. If the game turns into a shootout, my money is on the Generals in a close game decided by turnovers.

If the field is a mud bog, that will definitely help H-SC. I remember watching W&L try and run the option in a 2006 playoff game at Wilkes. It had rained over 4 inches in the previous couple days and the field was nothing but a mud bog. That facility lines a river, behind a flood wall, with a ridiculously high natural water table (my parents are Wilkes grads and were around for the 1970s floods, I have heard stories...). Four inches of rain was way more than could have drained and a season's worth of wear and tear had already almost eliminated the natural grass. W&L was never able to move the ball as their small and fast option play looked like it was stuck in taffy. Wilkes' much bigger defensive lineman just crushed the offense into the ground and W&L was blown out. I don't think W&L would have won on a dry field, but they would have put some points on the board and kept some possession to limit the damage.

[HSC85]

3" - 4" of rain last night and this morning at HSC. 

[hasanova]

Good luck to the Guilford today at Catholic!  Play as hard as you did against the Tigers and good things will happen.  Go Quakers!

May the best team win today in the W&L/HSC game.  It sounds as though the field conditions may be a factor.  Hopefully, the strongest team will emerge and carry the ODAC flag deep into the playoffs.  Go ODAC!

[jknezek]

Generals just getting absolutely hammered by H-SC. Offense going nowhere and no stopping the H-SC passing. A turnover deep in W&L's half gives H-SC a 21-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter. H-SC defense all over W&L's running attack.

[jknezek]

Having huge problems with H-SC's video feed. Just can't get it to run at all. Or rather, it runs until the ball is snapped, then it freezes until the ball is placed, then runs until the snap again. Annoying.

Generals intercepted twice so far. Once inside their own 10 and once in H-SC's endzone. This is not looking good for W&L but you have to admire the way H-SC has come to play. They are dominating this game on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Tigers are winning through the air and over the ground. The only thing you can point out that H-SC is not doing well is they have had some key penalties. The Generals have also had some great chances throwing as H-SC has stacked the box, but they have either overthrown the man or dropped the pass. We are witnessing a textbook example of a one dimension offense that is struggling to make that dimension work.

Even if the Generals make some adjustments at halftime, going in with a 3 TD deficit is looking like a mountain right now. If the Generals are going to get back in this, they are going to need to play a heck of a lot better and get some help from H-SC.