FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Chicago University to Wabash is only 142 miles.

That is an easy three hour drive from Chicagoland.

How many HSC alums live in the midwest?

[jknezek]

ODAC gets what can only be considered a very lucky first round matchup with Centre. Centre is beatable as W&L almost had them earlier in the year. H-SC, if they play like they did versus W&L, could get a win on the road. If they play like they did against R-MC, there is no shot. Of course, the second round is most likely Mt U, but hey, I'll settle for 1 win for the ODAC rep!

[HSC85]

HSC travels to Centre, which is in Kentucky.  There is one common opponent, W&L.  Both teams beat W&L on their own field by a touchdown.  Good Luck Tigers!

[wesleydad]

i agree, since most of us thought h-sc would head to hopkins or wesley.  good luck this week.

[SafetyGuy]

I hope to have a lot of my family from Cincinnati down to see H-SC take on Centre.  Not too far from alma mater Asbury College now University.  It will be a long 11 hour drive from Chesapeake but well worth it.

[hasanova]

Quakers were down a touchdown to E&H with a quarter to go, but a few turnovers in the wrong end of the field led to the final E&H scores.  Mildly disappointed in E&H coaching decision to kick a FG with 26 seconds to go in a 30-6 game that was already decided.  I would have taken a knee.  The opposing coach usually remembers later when the tables are turned.    E&H was the better team today, nonetheless, and congratulations to them for finishing 5-5.  GC finished at 2-8 with an ODAC win, so some noticeable improvement over 2010.

Hasa, first, please accept my apologies for not getting by to see you. I got tied up with friends before the game and at half. Most of the game was defined by two hard fighting defenses. I was noticing particularly #55, as he played nose tackle on many of the plays. I spoke to him after the game to congratulate him on his play. Without a doubt, your program is going in the right direction. With the number of freshmen and sophs starting, the Quakers have alot to look forward to in the next year or so. I have no explanation for the FG with 27 secs remaining. I scratched my head as well. I just know that Coach Monty is not a rub your face in the dirt kind of person. I just don't know. For what it is worth, I offer my apologies for that play.

On an up note, my prayer was answered ... There were no serious injuries during the game. My parting thought is to thank all of the posters on this board. You have added to my enjoyment of 4 years of ODAC football. Best of luck to the Tigers. Bring us an ODAC "W" in the playoffs!!  WM

No apology needed, waspermike.  I scanned the visitor stands before the game to see if I spotted you and didn't.  We'll connect another time.  Glad your son and others played injury free.  As I noted, E&H was the better team, but I think the final score was a little deceptive of how the game went for three quarters.  Also as I mentioned, I was only mildly disappointed by the last FG, but perhaps your coach had a reason for sending them out rather than taking a knee.

Anyway, basketball season is here and I'm looking for a great season there.  Methodist and Greensboro, respectively, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. 

Good luck to the HSC Tigers versus the Centre Colonels on Saturday!

[Jacketlawyer]

If H-SC plays like they did against W&L, solid, mistake free football, they will not have much problem with R-MC. If R-MC gets the turnovers that never came against W&L, the game could be a toss-up. R-MC is a good football team, they just aren't as good as H-SC. Expect two teams that play very similar styles, but the better athletes and execution SHOULD be on H-SC's side. I know it's a rivalry game, and H-SC could have a let down after the W&L game the way they almost looked past Guilford, but it really shouldn't be a major problem for the Tigers.

Good analysis; not much to add.  The fact that it's a rivalry game is the x factor and I've seen some crazy things happen over the 28 years I've been going to this game.  But the brutal reality of the Pedro-Marty series is that Pedro has won once over the last seven years and I don't expect win number two this Saturday.  Marty has his number.

Having said that, GO JACKETS.

Eating a snack of crow this morning.  Don't usually serve it to myself, but I was plainly wrong about Saturday.

Good luck to The Tigers this weekend!

[abnrgr]

Tigers lose. Maybe knowing they were in the show aleady affected them. Let's hope it was they ate too much after wrapping it up. I imagine a week of running will refocus them.  Good luck you Tigers. Anytime you get in anything can happen

[jknezek]

If H-SC plays like they did against W&L, solid, mistake free football, they will not have much problem with R-MC. If R-MC gets the turnovers that never came against W&L, the game could be a toss-up. R-MC is a good football team, they just aren't as good as H-SC. Expect two teams that play very similar styles, but the better athletes and execution SHOULD be on H-SC's side. I know it's a rivalry game, and H-SC could have a let down after the W&L game the way they almost looked past Guilford, but it really shouldn't be a major problem for the Tigers.

Good analysis; not much to add.  The fact that it's a rivalry game is the x factor and I've seen some crazy things happen over the 28 years I've been going to this game.  But the brutal reality of the Pedro-Marty series is that Pedro has won once over the last seven years and I don't expect win number two this Saturday.  Marty has his number.

Having said that, GO JACKETS.

Eating a snack of crow this morning.  Don't usually serve it to myself, but I was plainly wrong about Saturday.

Good luck to The Tigers this weekend!

Not really. The analysis was predicated on H-SC playing like they did against W&L. From what I heard on the radio, and looking at the stats, that didn't happen. Four turnovers and 8 penalties on the Tigers is very different from the team W&L faced. Oh well. H-SC lost to the two best teams they played on the road, W&L lost to 2 of the 3 best teams they faced on the road. R-MC went 1-1 versus the two best teams they faced, both at home.

Another year in the ODAC with a bunch of good, but not great teams. Makes for great conference play and I thoroughly enjoyed the shear number of close games involving combinations of Catholic, E&H, Bridgewater, R-MC, W&L and H-SC. With Guilford improving toward the end, and Shenandoah playing competitive against Bridgewater and R-MC, I think the ODAC is going to continue to be a nicely balanced conference.

The ODAC got a very good break for the Tigers to get matched up with Centre and I'm hoping they can pull together a decent road game. The ODAC could sure use a playoff victory. We'll see if the home team that played W&L and Ferrum arrives, or the road team that was weak against Huntingdon, Guilford and R-MC travels to Kentucky.

[tigerfanalso]

Old fashion butt kicking in Ashland this past Saturday. Congrats to Macon. I don't know what has happened to the HSC defense the last four games, but if they don't figure it out soon Centre is going to have a field day. HSC has given up 168 points over the last four games; I don't care how good your offense is you just simply cannot dig that deep of a hole and expect to win week over week. Hopefully the staff and the players will figure it out before Saturday. The winner plays Mt. Union and what an experience that will be to play against the best program in D3, on their field in a playoff situation. Playing against the best will only make you better and I hope HSC gets that opportunity. The ODAC has a real opportunity to get a playoff victory and that is important for the entire league. 

[HSC85]

Old fashion butt kicking in Ashland this past Saturday. Congrats to Macon. I don't know what has happened to the HSC defense the last four games, but if they don't figure it out soon Centre is going to have a field day. HSC has given up 168 points over the last four games; I don't care how good your offense is you just simply cannot dig that deep of a hole and expect to win week over week. Hopefully the staff and the players will figure it out before Saturday. The winner plays Mt. Union and what an experience that will be to play against the best program in D3, on their field in a playoff situation. Playing against the best will only make you better and I hope HSC gets that opportunity. The ODAC has a real opportunity to get a playoff victory and that is important for the entire league.

I completely agree with the assessment of the opportunity to win a playoff game.  They must play better.  The defense has been suspect all year due to the number of new players as first year starters.  However it is week 12, there are no first year starters anymore.  HSC lost the battle at the line of scrimage last week.  If that happens again, it will be another long day for the Tigers. 

However, on the other side, last week's game looked like the past three playoff games that HSC has played.  Since 2007, HSC has had an emotional game to win to earn the right to be in the playoffs.  The following week they did not have their best game.  The game against RMC had the same feel after the W&L win.  Now they have a second chance to make this an historic season.  HSC must learn how to treat the playoff game as the next biggest game of the year.  Do not be satisfied with making the Dance.  HSC must win a playoff game to get to the next level in program building.  By making the playoffs in 4 of the past 5 years, they are a frequent flyer, but to be a top 20 program they need to start winning some playoff games. 

The Tigers are capable of winning on Saturday.  Unfortunately they are capable of losing too.  LOL

[HSCTiger74]

Although Centre is very capable of making Saturday a long day for the Tigers, I'm still glad H-SC got them instead of Wesley or one of the Texas trio (or Hopkins or Salisbury for that matter). If the defense can tighten up to the early season level and the offense eliminates turnovers I think there's a real good chance we'll get to see what a playoff game in Alliance is like. 

[tigerfanalso]

Tiger74

I agree with your thoughts,; better defense and fewer turnovers will probably win the day. Lets hope that happens. I'm making the drive so I'll see first hand how it plays out.

[abnrgr]

MATT
Where will you post your playoff bracket?

[HSC85]

Congratulatons to all of the players and coaches for earning All-ODAC honors.


http://odaconline.com/sports/fball/2011-12/releases/111611-fball-allconference