FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

Well, W&L is coming off championships in two of three seasons and a close second in the middle. To be honest, it's easy to look and say this year won't be the same as the last three. It's not that I think the Generals are going to be bad, or that the triple option will not be challenging to defend, it's just that I don't think they will be as good as they've been and it's not like they completely outclassed the ODAC the last few years, they just found ways to win all but a couple games. Plus they have the harder ODAC schedule this year.

W&L is going to be a hard out for everyone. I don't think Bridgewater wins in Lexington for example. But I could see them finishing with 2 or 3 conference losses this year. We'll see. I'm hoping they sweep the non-conf and build some momentum, but F&M is going to be a tough way to open the year, as usual.

[hasanova]

I don't think the ODAC frontrunners should assume (and I don't think they are) that they'll go 4-0 versus CUA, E&H, GC, and SU.  Guilford, for example, got a home win over BC last season and a road win over RMC ... and I think the Quakers will be improved this season.  CUA got a surprising victory over HSC as well.  What this parity at the top (and uncertainly against the second tier) really means is ... don't expect a dominant national team to emerge and, unless I'm mistaken, we'll get another tough (and deserved) draw in the NCAA playoffs.  I anticipate an 8-2, 7-1 or maybe even 7-3, 5-2 ODAC champion in 2013.

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

Given the fact that I watched HSC get their lunch handed to them at CU last year, I'm well aware the "bottom" tier teams can cause problems, and will. If the ODAC champ does in fact finish the season 7-3 (and it could happen) off to MU they go for the first round game, Wesley maybe but I'm thinking MU.

Is this conversation a statement about the overall weakness of football in the ODAC OR is it a statement of strength ? I think the answer lies in recent ODAC playoff results, but none-the-less, I enjoy watching it.

[hasanova]

Hasa

Given the fact that I watched HSC get their lunch handed to them at CU last year, I'm well aware the "bottom" tier teams can cause problems, and will. If the ODAC champ does in fact finish the season 7-3 (and it could happen) off to MU they go for the first round game, Wesley maybe but I'm thinking MU.

Is this conversation a statement about the overall weakness of football in the ODAC OR is it a statement of strength ? I think the answer lies in recent ODAC playoff results, but none-the-less, I enjoy watching it.

tfa, I enjoy watching as well and would love for GC to be considered a contender for the ODAC title.  I think it's a statement of a) parity in the ODAC and b) mediocrity on the national stage.  Just my 2 cents worth.  For those planning a Nov. 23 trip to Alliance, OH, the exit's right off I-77. 

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

Hopefully the Quakes will continue to improve and beat RMC each and every year !!!!!!

[jknezek]

  I think it's a statement of a) parity in the ODAC and b) mediocrity on the national stage. 

What a great way of putting it. I think the ODAC champion lines up just fine against a 4 or lower seed in most years. Maybe not winning them all, but being competitive. However, getting that matchup is proving very difficult thanks to the parity in the conference. When we have had the matchup in the last couple years, HSC both times, it has been competitive even if it hasn't been a victory.

[tigerfanalso]

JK

You are correct but in order to get that matchup the ODAC champ needs to be 10-0 or 9-1 and that is not happening on a regular basis. 2011 the Tigers played Centre College a competitive game, the next week Centre played MU respectfully, so it can happen, just has not in a long while.

[jknezek]

JK

You are correct but in order to get that matchup the ODAC champ needs to be 10-0 or 9-1 and that is not happening on a regular basis. 2011 the Tigers played Centre College a competitive game, the next week Centre played MU respectfully, so it can happen, just has not in a long while.

Well yeah, if you're the winning 4 seed in an 8 team region you're going to get the 1 seed the next time out. HSC was a competitive 5 seed, although they didn't pull out the victory, and HSC was a competitive 4 seed when they hosted the NJAC team. I think we agree tfa. It can happen, it has happened, the games were competitive, the ODAC rep just didn't win them. Unfortunately we're on a long streak of also having an ODAC rep as the 6 through 8 seed, which isn't going to be real competitive (though I think W&L was the most competitive 7 seed last year, for what little that is worth).

Hasa put it perfectly. The conference has too much parity for the champion to regularly be 9-1 or 10-0, and since the champion is really only a mediocre D3 playoff team, going 8-2 or worse and being a lower seed leaves the champion uncompetitive in the first round of the playoffs.

It is what it is. Would you rather have the competitive conference season or one dominant team? If it was OUR team (whichever one that is) being dominant, I'm sure we'd all choose domination. But it's way more entertaining the way the ODAC currently plays out... At least until the first week of the playoffs.

[tigerfanalso]

I do like the parity as long as we can avoid the champ being 6-4 (RMC several years back) and getting embrassed in the first round. If my choices are that or having one dominant team, not sure the direction I would take.

[D3MAFAN]

I know we discussed about a month ago, but with the parity, how does the ODAC actually become competitive on the national stage. We mentioned scheduling and I think that may be the factor, you have to schedule tougher opponents during the season and I know travel restrictions is tough for the ODAC. If you know you are going to go 9-1 or 8-2, at least let one of the those losses be to a quality team. I know Hampden-Sydney has done it more recently with Salisbury and Randolf Macon with Johns Hopkins, but as whole, the conference need to step it up.

[tigerfanalso]

HSC has Wabash home and away beginning in 2014. That's a pretty big step up. RMC vs. Hopkins and W&L vs. Centre and F&M,all good OCC games. OCC schedules otherwise w/i the ODAC remain average to weak and I certainly understand the reasons behind that; mostly driven by $$$$$. 

[hasanova]

I know the ODAC did well nationally when BC was so dominant 8-10 years ago, but let's face it, the rest of the conference was playing for second.  And it was, unless you were an Eagle fan, boring.  Personally, I like the parity and, if all the teams are strong, then that doesn't have to translate to failure on the national front.

[hasanova]

Hasa

Hopefully the Quakes will continue to improve and beat RMC each and every year !!!!!!

Thanks!  Expressed like a true HSC fan!

[jknezek]

W&L's Connor Hollenbeck (senior tackle) listed as second team preseason All-American at D3football.com. He is the only ODAC player on the select list.

[tigerfanalso]

Congrats to Mr. Hollenbeck. I wish him the best for his Senior season. Pleasantly surprised the ODAC is represented on the preseason AA team.