FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[tigerfanalso]

Jk

You are right one, no adjustments were made on either side of the ball and allowing the 2nd half kickoff to be returned for a TD was the final straw. The Tigers were beat at that point, only scored 3 points in the 2nd half and our defense got pushed around, let BC take the game to them and never once tried anything different, and allowed BC to totally control both lines of scrimmage. Hard pill to swallow and certainly hard to watch. If this type of game planning/execution continue, the Tigers are done. We'll find out on Saturday if the Tigers are for real or if they have been over hyped. I still have faith in them and fully expect a rebound. The seniors have had too many successes together to allow this season to get away from them.

On a totally different subject, the HSC student body loss one of its brothers yesterday in a single car accident. But the family and friends in your prayers. 

[abnrgr]

That was an interesting weekend in the ODAC. Only Guilford versus Catholic went as I suspected. Nice job Quakers taking care of business.

Didn't think W&L would get blown out as bad as they did, but it is looking like the Generals the last two weeks have started to mail it in a bit. Not a good sign. E&H continues to look good. They jumped on W&L early, as many teams have this season, and kept their foot down.

Bridgewater... where has this been all season? They just weren't that good until this game. Bridgewater has always been a tough place to play, and HSC fell apart under the conditions. Not something I expected from a veteran HSC team. Nance and Walker were made to look very pedestrian and when the original game plan wasn't working, it didn't look like Coach Favret had a back up idea. An interesting case study going forward.

RMC went up to Shenandoah and smacked down the upstarts. I'm not very high on RMC this year, but this was a good effort for them. I figured Shenandoah would rebound from last week, especially at home. But if you don't show up, you can't win in the ODAC.

So what to make of it all? I don't know. HSC looked awful. They didn't just lose, they looked hopelessly outclassed. I think they will bounce back, but if that is all they can do against a physical defensive line they aren't going to match last year's playoff win. Either they will lose the ODAC crown, or they won't survive the first round. Crunch time for the Quakers and the Tigers. Who wants it more? Also on tap is the battle for the bottom, as the Generals travel to the Cardinals.

Over the years the BC/HSC match ups have not been controlled by who was better. from about 98-2006 HSC had  the proverbial monkey on it's back, HSC could not close the deal. When they finally handled BC after several years of close ones they never maintained. It's like I said on the pick ems I hate grudge games; especially, these 2. I think the BC fans even consume more alcohol on this one weekend of the year; more than normal. That is a lot I may add.  ;)It is like GA/FLA, FSU/Miami, they just do not like each other and that makes for surprises. Well...that's what I think anyway. 

[hasanova]

Jk

You are right one, no adjustments were made on either side of the ball and allowing the 2nd half kickoff to be returned for a TD was the final straw. The Tigers were beat at that point, only scored 3 points in the 2nd half and our defense got pushed around, let BC take the game to them and never once tried anything different, and allowed BC to totally control both lines of scrimmage. Hard pill to swallow and certainly hard to watch. If this type of game planning/execution continue, the Tigers are done. We'll find out on Saturday if the Tigers are for real or if they have been over hyped. I still have faith in them and fully expect a rebound. The seniors have had too many successes together to allow this season to get away from them.

On a totally different subject, the HSC student body loss one of its brothers yesterday in a single car accident. But the family and friends in your prayers.

Our thoughts go out to the entire Hampden-Sydney community.  Peace.

[GillCJ1]

On a totally different subject, the HSC student body loss one of its brothers yesterday in a single car accident. But the family and friends in your prayers.

  Thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by this loss.

[tigerfanalso]

Thanks Hasa, your thoughts are appreciated. I hope to finally meet you this coming Saturday. The HSC community is struggling right now and I'm thinking a home football game, against a very good Quaker team, will help the community heal.
It is very difficult to explain to 20 and 21 year old men why certain things happen, and even harder to explain that there is no human answer for the question of "why" these types of life ending accidents happen, other than to state the obvious which often times does not address what their young minds are thinking nor does it address the pain and anger they are feeling. Many of our players are directly impacted by yesterday's events, I'm hoping they can find peace and figure out how to put this into perspective.

Safe travels to Farmville !!!!

[hasanova]

Thanks Hasa, your thoughts are appreciated. I hope to finally meet you this coming Saturday. The HSC community is struggling right now and I'm thinking a home football game, against a very good Quaker team, will help the community heal.
It is very difficult to explain to 20 and 21 year old men why certain things happen, and even harder to explain that there is no human answer for the question of "why" these types of life ending accidents happen, other than to state the obvious which often times does not address what their young minds are thinking nor does it address the pain and anger they are feeling. Many of our players are directly impacted by yesterday's events, I'm hoping they can find peace and figure out how to put this into perspective.

Safe travels to Farmville !!!!

Thanks.  Similar events have happened at Guilford over the years and it's a tough time for all. 

I believe I have two or three other Guilford alumni who will make the trip with me.  Guilford has traveled well this year ... and this is a HUGE game with one of the shorter traveling distances ... so I believe several hundred other Quaker fans will also be in attendance. 

[hasanova]

It's HSC, not HSU

Haha this is great for those who saw the CUA/ CAU controversy.

In addition to Central Arkansas University, neighboring Texas has DIII Hardin-Simmons University. 

[CUACARD59]

On a totally different subject, the HSC student body lost one of its brothers yesterday in a single car accident. Put the family and friends in your prayers.

Unfortunately we had a similar tragedy at CUA last year when a senior All-American Lacrosse player passed away. Very tough on the community, thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected at HSC. 

[hasanova]

Congratulations to Guilford WR Adam Smith on being named to d3football's TOW.  In a game I personally watched, Smith had a great game versus Catholic, catching six passes for 204 yards and scoring three times from 16, 29 and 78 yards to help the Quakers to a 42-21 win over the Cardinals.

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

I hope he got it all out of his system against CUA. Very impressive stats. I look forward to watching Mr. Smith play.
Besides your QB, who are the other studs for the Quakers ?

[GC2005]

I am sorry to hear of the events that have unfolded for the HSC community over the past few days.  Personally, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.  I can relate by saying that most of us that attend small colleges are more like family than anything else, so when we lose someone it really hits home.  I know the HSC family will endure through their loss and be strengthened by these unfortunate events. 

TFA,

I know your question was directed at Hasa, but I have been to three of the games this year and I have been able to follow some of them online as well.  As far as your question goes, I think the GC defense is getting better as a whole this year.  They have recently stepped up against the run.  However, safety Satir Stevenson sticks out as one of the better players on this defense.  He is a senior and like a lot of safeties he seems to be relentless and always near the ball and ready to make a play.  I have also been impressed with defensive backs as a whole.  I believe that Jamario Gooch has made some big plays with 5 or 6 interceptions this year.   

Offensively, of course Pawlowski and Smith have been making plays.  Josh Schow and De'Eric Bell have been coming along nicely.  Schow is not a big back, but he runs hard and has the ability to fight for extra yards.  Bell has been a nice surprise as he is only a freshman.  He really had a big game against W&L I think it was, with over 150 on the ground and 90 in the air.  Bell is more of a speed back.  I can't forget Hayden Read, he reminds me a lot of a Welker or Amendola (sp?) type of receiver.  I don't know what makes him a playmaker, whether it is precise route running or speed, but he has the ability to make things happen.  Guilford has a couple of tall receivers as well who are developing and they could be problems for teams in the future. 

Lastly, kicker/punter Tyler Hunt is normally on his game.  Some people don't think about punters but I think they are a crucial part of the game due to the favorable field position they can provide.  On the other hand, if the punter is off of his game it can be a disaster. 

[hasanova]

Hasa

I hope he got it all out of his system against CUA. Very impressive stats. I look forward to watching Mr. Smith play.
Besides your QB, who are the other studs for the Quakers ?

Tyler Hunt is a great kicker/punter.  He can win a game with field position or a FG.  De'Eric Bell is a freshman RB who's coming on stong.  RB Josh Schow is also a great runner ... he had a game-breaking 62-yard run against RMC and is GC's nominee for ODAC play of the week again for a nifty 25-yard catch and run for a TD vs CUA.  There are many other capable receivers for Pawlowski and the defense has some players too ... watch Stevenson and Gooch, among others.

Guilford's Offensive Coordinator is former Quaker standout WR Chris Barnette.  Chris had a great career at Guilford and his brother, Jamie Barnette, is a former starting QB for the NC State Wolfpack.

[algernon]

HSC coach is very impatient. He doesn't run the football.

Whatever descriptor you want to put on Marty Favret's coaching, I think you need to add something else ... along the lines of "but what he does seems to work extremely well."

Favret took over a program that went 4-26 in the three years before his arrival.  His record at H-SC is now 110-44 (a 71.4% win percentage), and the Tigers have gone to the NCAA playoffs in 5 of the last 7 years.  There's no coach in the ODAC with anything close to Favret's record over the past 10 years.

Hampden-Sydney hasn't always been this good ...
   Joe Bush at H-SC (1986-1996):  61-48 (.560)
   Phil Culicerto (1997-1999):           4-26 (.133)
   Marty Favret (2000-2014):        110-44 (.714)

[tigerfanalso]

No questions about Marty's record/abilities; HSC has won 8 ODAC Championships in total since 1976 (year odac was formed) and Marty's teams have won 4 of those; Marty has won 72% of his ODAC games/76% of his total games; 5 playoff appearances/only coach in HSC history to win a playoff game and best yet; he holds a 10-4 record vs. arch rival RMC.
Human nature allows one to question certain play calls, but to question his accomplishments and what he has meant to HSC football is laughable. I remember the days of Culicerto and the later days of Coach Bush and the program was so bad it was an embrassement to the school; few people attended and those that did rarely left the tailgating areas. People have forgotten that BC was at it's best when Marty took over, had his timing had been a little different, no doubt he would have more ODAC Championships under his belt. Our football program is the only program on campus winning championships, in fact can't remember the last time any other sport has done so (basketball around 2007 ?), don't remember a baseball or soccer championship (nor do I really follow/have any interest in). I think tennis won one several years back and not sure about golf. Point is our football program is king bee w/i our athletic department and competes most years for the odac title; in fact this years senior class has the chance to become the only class in HSC history to win 3 odac championships. Think about that and remember there are seniors on most odac teams that have never won a championship, period.

[tigerfanalso]

Jk

As always, please provide your opinions on odac play on Nov. 8th. I always enjoy those post.