FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[algernon]

Algernon

Everything is relative; What I meant is I don't think the Tigers will be favored or expected to win the odac. They will be good but not real good. E&H and Guilford should be at the top of the odac next year based on returning talent; E&H could be really special in 2016 if they keep everybody in school and on the team. Could HSC beat them, sure, but they will not be favored to win.

I hear you. Emory and Henry could finish 9-1, so the Wasps are already pretty special this year.

Next year's quarterback will not be Nance.  That's clear.  Could be someone excellent, though!  Certainly, none of us had a clue at the end of the 2006 season that Corey Sedlar would be the quarterback of the 2007 ODAC Champs.

[tigerfanalso]

Algernon

Agreed, I don't think the offense is going to be the problem next year. Marty's program will always have good skilled players an the OL will be older and improved next year; however, the Tigers will have a difficult time replacing all the defensive talent that are now in their senior year. I see a fairly large drop off at several key positions. Regardless, I'll be there each and every Saturday pulling for them.

[Bombers798891]

Wanted to throw my hat into the ECAC discussion.

I think the games are stupid, played in front of nearly empty stadiums, often in crappy weather, and often when the rest of the students have gone home for Thanksgiving break

That said, I never played, so what does my opinion matter? I can tell you this though: From talking to people around the IC program, reactions can vary from year to year. I had one person closely associated with the program tell me that the players had no desire to go to Union for an ECAC game after losing their last two regular season games in 1999—apparently, the players' conversations on the bus were mostly centered on going to a nearby casino. The team no-showed in a 31-7 loss

The year before? The team was convinced they were screwed from an NCAA berth, wanted to prove something and beat Hartwick 40-6.

The individual temperature of the team is inevitably what makes these games worth it or not. The trouble is, you may not know a team has no desire to play in the game until it's too late

[hscathletics]

Some would argue DC isn't the South!

Oh hell to the no. DC ain't got nothing to do with the South   

Can someone remind me how to get to the ODAC board to post here? Do we click on the North Region or East Region link? And if someone from Catholic were to make an All-Region team same question: North Region or East Region?

I'm somewhat familar with the ECAC bowls; for the life of me I cannot figure why a senior would want to put in a extra weeks worth of practice to play in a meaningless game in front of a very small crowd (I'm assuming) with final exams, senior papers, and other semester ending work looming, and miss the opportunity to finally watch college football on the tube with a cold one in your hand.
What am I missing

tfa no disrespect but did you play college ball? I would have killed for an extra game as a senior or any year for that matter. Even if that game was at 3am on a Tuesday night with not a soul watching. In fact I'd give up ever watching college football on tv again for a bowl game last year. Would make that trade in a heartbeat any day
I cant really even imagine comparing the opportunity to play in a college bowl game vs the "opportunity" to watch college football on tv. I've got my whole life to do that man

NCAA has some New Jersey schools in the South Region for some sports, that doesn't mean New Jersey is in the South!

[tigerfanalso]

Jk

Still awaiting your predictions for the final week of odac play !!!

[jknezek]

Jk

Still awaiting your predictions for the final week of odac play !!!

Pain and blood.

Seriously, only a win in The Game can really put a good face on RMC's season. I expect them to come at H-SC with everything they have and a few things they probably don't. H-SC has given up their feel of overwhelming strength the last few weeks and I expect RMC to smell blood. However, I just don't see H-SC losing. I've said this all season long and it is time for H-SC to finish proving it: The Tigers are the class of the ODAC in terms of quality. At times they haven't played like it, but that isn't unusual for a team getting everyone's best shot. Losing The Game would make this season fall well short of what H-SC was capable of. One last ODAC game for Nance and Walker and I hope they set off some fireworks. H-SC by 10

Bridgewater should beat Catholic in D.C. Catholic got off the mat beating W&L in the big city last week, but while both teams made it entertaining, neither team is much good. Bridgewater is simply better and if they want to claim a part of the title this is their chance. A nice bounce back after a disappointing 2013 should have the Eagles excited to go out on a high note. Catholic should be looking to build for next year. Respect the seniors but play some of the younger guys and try to make sure they come back. Bridgewater by 14

Shenandoah at W&L. Oh my Generals, what happened? At the beginning of the season the defense held the team together while the offense was learning. The last two weeks each side of the ball has taken a turn being poor. E&H throttled the offense, Catholic spent the second half making the defense look helpless (to be fair W&L's offense spent most of the second half making Catholic's defense just as helpless). What team will show up for Shenandoah? The offense, the defense, or for really the second time all season, both? For that matter which Shenandoah team will show up? The team that started the season well or the defense that has leaked 42+ points each game the last 3 weeks? Shenandoah by 5 in a game that puts up 90+ points combined. Whatever the line, take the over.

And the really fascinating game:

Guilford at E&H. I never would have suspected at the start of the season that I'd be thinking E&H wins this game. But Guilford has struggled on the road. Guilford has gotten better playing on the road each week, good thing because it had to be better than the neutral site win over SVa. Still, I think Guilford gave it all last week and I expect the disappointment to linger. Coach R really has his work cut out for him this week, as shades of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl are wafting from Greensboro. E&H on the other hand never really had any expectations. They started the season on a roll, lost only a game they were expected to lose, and have consistently punished opponents this year. I never really dove into E&H's line up this year, so I don't know if Coach Newsome really made a difference with existing players or brought in a whole bunch of new ones, but either way they have been impressive. Nothing to let down after 3 straight wins over the bottom of the ODAC, I expect one more win at Selfe for the Wasps, by 5.

[tigerfanalso]

I mostly agree. The RMC vs HSC game should be interesting. If HSC plays football they should win by +10; if HSC goes out and plays like they did against BC, RMC wins by +10. HSC is a senior dominated team, I don't think the seniors will let it get away from them.

I see W&L winning, of course I've said that several times earlier and it did not happen.

Does E&H have any chance for the playoffs if HSC wins and they finish 9-1 ? 

[jknezek]

Does E&H have any chance for the playoffs if HSC wins and they finish 9-1 ?

If Centre, TLU, Hardin Simmons and Muhlenberg all lose E&H will only be blocked by TMC. So no they don't. Maryville and Guilford not getting regionally ranked killed them.

[tigerfanalso]

Doesn't TMC have 2 loses ? If so, why would E&H be blocked by TMC ?

[jknezek]

Doesn't TMC have 2 loses ? If so, why would E&H be blocked by TMC ?

Because the Regional Ranking Committee has TMC at 8 and E&H is unranked. TMC's two losses are to undefeated Wesley (regional ranking 1) and undefeated W&J (regional ranking 4). Both of those teams are ranked well above HSC, Regional Rank 9. So TMC's resume is pretty good. TMC is also done for the year, and Guilford is not Regionally Ranked. So E&H with a win won't really help their resume much versus TMC.

[Michael Herbert]

Doesn't TMC have 2 loses ? If so, why would E&H be blocked by TMC ?

Because the Regional Ranking Committee has TMC at 8 and E&H is unranked. TMC's two losses are to undefeated Wesley (regional ranking 1) and undefeated W&J (regional ranking 4). Both of those teams are ranked well above HSC, Regional Rank 9. So TMC's resume is pretty good. TMC is also done for the year, and Guilford is not Regionally Ranked. So E&H with a win won't really help their resume much versus TMC.

Thus, leading to any ODAC team making a trip in the first round.  Bummer!

[jknezek]

Doesn't TMC have 2 loses ? If so, why would E&H be blocked by TMC ?

Because the Regional Ranking Committee has TMC at 8 and E&H is unranked. TMC's two losses are to undefeated Wesley (regional ranking 1) and undefeated W&J (regional ranking 4). Both of those teams are ranked well above HSC, Regional Rank 9. So TMC's resume is pretty good. TMC is also done for the year, and Guilford is not Regionally Ranked. So E&H with a win won't really help their resume much versus TMC.

Thus, leading to any ODAC team making a trip in the first round.  Bummer!

Most likely. Two losses will do that. H-SC was insanely lucky in their draw last year considering their two losses. Don't expect such favors two years in a row. A 2 loss ODAC champion typically is a 6 or 7 seed in an 8 team grouping or a 3 or 4 seed in a 4 team pod.

[tigerfanalso]

Agreed, but HSC got paid back for the 1st round bonus game. Flying cross country, no thanks.

[HSCTiger fan]

I might be wrong but in the past 2 loss teams have found it difficult to get into the tournament without the AQ.  It was either last year or the year prior that D3Football had in an article how they were excited about a couple of 2 loss teams getting at large bids.  I'm not debating your argument. It makes perfect sense to me and it is most likely accurate. But the NCAA does not seem to always pick teams based on common sense.  Nothing against GC, but I'm pulling for EH to win and get a long shot bid to the tournament.  Assuming of course the Tigers can take care of business at home this weekend against RMC.

[jknezek]

I might be wrong but in the past 2 loss teams have found it difficult to get into the tournament without the AQ.  It was either last year or the year prior that D3Football had in an article how they were excited about a couple of 2 loss teams getting at large bids.  I'm not debating your argument. It makes perfect sense to me and it is most likely accurate. But the NCAA does not seem to always pick teams based on common sense.  Nothing against GC, but I'm pulling for EH to win and get a long shot bid to the tournament.  Assuming of course the Tigers can take care of business at home this weekend against RMC.

You are somewhat missing the point. The whole list of things required to get E&H on the table to be discussed as a Pool C would be unlikely. Even then, the way Pool C teams are selected is by using the Regional Committee rankings, as approved by the national committee. So if E&H is behind TMC in the final regional rankings, which we won't see but they are behind them in the final ranking we have seen, then they won't make the table to be discussed unless TMC is already selected. So even if Centre, TLU, Muhlenberg, and H-SU all lost and dropped out of the regional rankings, if TMC is still above E&H then TMC would have to be selected before E&H would even be discussed.

It's extremely unlikely.