FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Hard to believe that MHB, MU & Wesley continue to beat teams so badly in the round of 16. I often wonder if it makes more sense to have an 8 team field and eliminate all of the bad beatings leading up to the round of 8. Back in the day only 8 teams made the field and I'm sure there was a reason. Certain schools have distanced themselves from most of the D3 world and it doesn't seem like there is any way for 99% of D3 schools to catch up but I do enjoy watching them try.

The focus is regional and conference-based.  The explosion in D3 athletic opportunities has come with the adoption of the Pool system.  Win your conference championship and you get a Playoff bid!  Schools have added plenty of sports, especially "minor" sports and formed conferences to get the Pool A bid

For the great, great, great majority of athletes, it is the quest for the conference title!  The ODAC had a great title chase this year. That is the goal in D3 athletics, not a national chaampionship.  The National title is just "gravy" for those schools who are that calibre, and the ODAC does have those schools in other sports besides football.

[emma17]

Hard to believe that MHB, MU & Wesley continue to beat teams so badly in the round of 16. I often wonder if it makes more sense to have an 8 team field and eliminate all of the bad beatings leading up to the round of 8. Back in the day only 8 teams made the field and I'm sure there was a reason. Certain schools have distanced themselves from most of the D3 world and it doesn't seem like there is any way for 99% of D3 schools to catch up but I do enjoy watching them try.

Believing and striving is the American Way. UW Oshkosh has never even made the playoffs before and now they're one of eight.  The tiers exist for sure, but they aren't closed to new members. 

[tigerfanalso]

I know they are not "closed" to new members which is why I said it is fun to watch the other teams try to catch up. Still don't understand how the same teams, year over year, have the players to perform at such a high level. I understand the program "concept" and why quality players want to be apart of a winning tradition but one would expect MU (for example) to have a down cycle occassionally. That coach and program are unbelievable and MHB, Wesley and a few others are just a step behind. Fun to observe and those programs are to be congratulated. Sustainablity is difficult at best and these coaches have performed every year for a very long time. 

[jknezek]

I was thinking about it the other day. UMU is just an insane outlier. Give UWW credit for making a fantastic run recently, but UMU is a different animal altogether, and this year just proves that point. UWW missed the playoffs and lost 3 regular season games this year.

UMU hasn't missed the playoffs since 1991 and hasn't lost 3 games in one season, INCLUDING playoffs, since 1988. They haven't lost a game other than the Stagg since 2005, and haven't lost a playoff game outside the Stagg since 2004. They haven't lost a playoff game prior to a national semi-final since 1994. The last time UMU missed the Stagg for two straight years was the 94/95 seasons.

They have won the OAC every year since 1992 and have only finished outside the top two (including a tie) once since LK became coach. Speaking of LK, as coach he is something like 330-24-3 since 1986. He averaged less than one loss per year, including playoffs, for something like 27 years. Overall he wins 12.185 games for every one he doesn't win (24 losses plus the 3 ties). In the OAC, he wins 20.9 games for every game he doesn't win (8 losses plus the 3 ties). Given the OAC plays 9 conference games since 1989, LK loses a conference game less than once every 2 seasons, and only twice in his career did he lose two conference games in one season, 87 and 88.

The dominance of UMU in DIII football is just unbelievable. I'd easily put it up as one of the greatest dynasties in college sports, possibly the greatest in all divisions of the big 4 college sports (football, m and w basketball, baseball).

The question of why this happened is a different one altogether. I think primarily you have a good football state, an incredible coach who has been an amazing evaluator of coaching and playing talent, and a school that has supported the program and acknowledges the program's success as a component of the school's success.

LK is a phenomenal football mind, he has convinced a slew of other strong football minds to become and stay his assistant coaches, he has recruited a fertile area and managed to recruit players that could easily play at higher levels but CHOOSE to play for him, and he has had the support of the school to build and maintain facilities.

And still that doesn't really explain or justify the kind of amazing outlier UMU represents. The stability of UMU's excellence is almost incomprehensible and you can really do nothing but be amazed by it and the people who have made it happen and keep it rolling year after unbelievable year.

[beenhit2hard]

Having coached at MUC/UMU (1998-2005) for 16 seasons I would say you have hit the nail right on the head,,on the many reasons that they are dominant,,but the main one is LK !!

[narch]

The dominance of UMU in DIII football is just unbelievable. I'd easily put it up as one of the greatest dynasties in college sports, possibly the greatest in all divisions of the big 4 college sports (football, m and w basketball, baseball).

umu's football "dynasty" certainly ranks up there with any d3 dynasty

i'd put kenyon swimming at the top (31 straight national championships), followed by methodist women's golf (24 national titles in 26 years...9 of them in a combined d2/d3 tournament when they were the national runner-up behind a d2...so technically they've been the top d3 team in the country for 26 years running and they own the longest active national championship streak (15) in ncaa sports - in fact, i'm not sure mu has ever lost to a d3 team even in the regular season), then umu football

i don't think that any other "dynasty" compares to umu when you talk about the big 4 sports - florida state had a nice run under bowden, but not what umu has done in terms of national hardware - ucla hoops had a good run under wooden, but it wasn't sustained at the same level for the same time period - uconn and ut in women's basketball were great for a long time, but not this long - i can't think of a stretch in college baseball at any level like this, either

[jknezek]

Narch there are some serious wrestling dynasties at all levels as well. That's why I went with "one of the greatest" of all college dynasties and then created a sub-set for the big 4 sports. Kenyon and swimming is also one I was thinking about when I wrote the original post.

[DGPugh]

although i have nothing of real value to add to this conversation (never stopped me before), in 2004 i was working in central ohio, found them on the map, and did a pilgrimage to Mounts campus, visited the athletic area, bought 3 'Mount Union Football' T shirts and had a good ole time

i did the same (while in San Antonio) at Trinity, just after the Mississippi Miracle game.

Huntingdon missed the playoffs, Auburn stunk it up this yaer, and the bammers are out in full force running their mouths and i missed talking to smart folks........................... sorry
keep the faith

[@d3jason]

I assume you're asking "how bout em Dogs?" this week or are going to be a big Irish fan soon.

[DGPugh]

well, "how bout dim dawgs' is hard for me to roll out of my mouth...but this weekend i will say that along with 'Go Wesley"

now... being an Irish fan.................... not gonna happen, sorry
keep the faith

[tigerfanalso]

Roll Tide Roll !!!!!!

[DGPugh]

tigerfanalso
As if i dont have to hear that 300x a day

i might vomit any minute.

Yall have a most wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and hope to see some of yall folk ODAC at the Stagg
keep the faith

[Ralph Turner]

Roll Tide Roll !!!!!!

New chorus in the Aggie War Hymn...

Saw Vars'ty's horns off

Saw Big Al's tusks off!   

[DGPugh]

Obi Wan
Gig Em
War Eagle, Go Hawks...and Wesley this weekend
keep the faith

[D-BAT]

Hey D3football.com. Have you heard anything on the search for Shenandoah finding a new coach? When do you think a new head coach will be hired?

January 2013