FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

I can't say enough how impressed I am with Coach R at Guilford. Sure he's still trying to get over the H-SC hump, but the coaching and recruiting job he has done the last few years is nothing short of impressive. I really figured Guilford would have a letdown game. It's so common after leaving it all on the field the week before and not getting it done. But somehow those kids and that staff did an amazing job getting the Quakers ready to play again.

I think Coach Newsome will get COY, and he's worthy. But if you are looking for a coach that has done the most over the last few years, I'd put that tag on Coach R. Congratulations to all the teams tied at the top of the conference. Truly a conference season hard fought.

I think Coach Newsome at E&H deserves the 2014 COY.  What a job in his first season!  jknezek, I agree with you, Coach Rusiewicz has done an amazing job in his four years at Guilford.  The Quakers were 0-10 the year before his arrival ... in his stint at the helm, GC's steadily improved going 2-8, 5-5, 6-4 and 8-2 giving him an overall winning record of 21-19. 

[wally_wabash]

Remember about this time last year when Nash Nance went all dime-dropper on Linfield for 20 minutes?  Go be that guy again on Saturday.  Good luck, gentlemen!

[jknezek]

Remember about this time last year when Nash Nance went all dime-dropper on Linfield for 20 minutes?  Go be that guy again on Saturday.  Good luck, gentlemen!

Going to need more than 20 minutes...

[HSCTiger fan]

I agree JK.  Wesley is better this year than Linfield last year and 20 minutes of solid offense was not nearly enough.  If  HSC does not play better and coach better this week than they did in 2 of the last 3 Saturdays it could get ugly very fast.  It might get ugly even with great effort.

[jknezek]

H-SC looks tired to me. They rode two horses a long way this season. I think they got up for the Guilford game knowing they had to, but it might have taken everything they had left. We'll see. I hope they show well, but I don't have a lot of faith. Then again, I don't have a lot of faith any other team in the ODAC would do any better against Wesley...

[narch]

Then again, I don't have a lot of faith any other team in the ODAC would do any better against Wesley...

i don't have a lot of faith that anyone until mt. union will give wesley much of a problem...they just played a solid scholarship program and beat them in every phase except score...they put up 530 yards of total offense on charlotte

congrats to hsc on a great season, despite the end, and congrats to ehc/guilford/bc on the co-championship

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

I know you made the right decision but I'm sorry you had to miss the E&H game. Sounds like GC might have played their best game of the year.

Next year could possibly be the year of the Quakers. I know E&H and BC will be good, don't know about RMc but ya'll seem to handle them regularly, W&L will be a year older/smarter, HSC will be in a rebuilding mode somewhat, SU should be improved and you don't know what CUA will bring, all said, 2015 could be your year.

Enjoy the playoffs and I guess on to b'ball for you. I like b'ball put really can't get into until after Xmas break. 

[hasanova]

Hasa

I know you made the right decision but I'm sorry you had to miss the E&H game. Sounds like GC might have played their best game of the year.

Next year could possibly be the year of the Quakers. I know E&H and BC will be good, don't know about RMc but ya'll seem to handle them regularly, W&L will be a year older/smarter, HSC will be in a rebuilding mode somewhat, SU should be improved and you don't know what CUA will bring, all said, 2015 could be your year.

Enjoy the playoffs and I guess on to b'ball for you. I like b'ball put really can't get into until after Xmas break.

Thanks, tfa.  With a 11/12/13 birthday, I think Saturday parties for the twins are going to be de rigueur for the last week of the DIII season.  lol  I think this Guilford team will be really motivated for the 2015 season ... there are some key losses in this year's senior class, of course, but much of the team is made up of underclassmen.  The early signs point to a formidable team next season, but, hey, other teams in the ODAC can say the same.  Having never been to the NCAA playoffs in football, I'd certainly like to see an outright ODAC championship.  Next season's schedule should be favorable as well, with SU, HSC, RMC and E&H at home.  We should draw W&L, BC and CUA on the road.

Basketball is off to a 2-0 start, but not against teams high on the DIII ladder (Maine-Farmington and William Peace).  Greensboro is on tap Wednesday night in their tiny Hanes Gym.  The last game played there was a raucous affair in the fall of 2007.

[tigerfanalso]

Jk

I agree, the Tigers look/play like they are tired. I think the four out of five on the road in the middle of the season took it out of them plus I think they are little more banged up than usual. Not an excuse as all teams travel. This past Saturday was weird. Huge turnout, but HSC crowd very quite/HSC team very low key. The opposite of that on the RMC side. Not really sure how that happens for The Game but the Tigers just didn't seem to be into the whole thing. Two of our better players went down with injury early and that certainly did not help, but no excuses RMC beat our butts.

I'm not discounting HSc, but I'm not sure there is any team in the country that can beat Wesley at Wesley this year. How does a D3 school go on the road and almost beat a D1 school ? Answer, Wesley has D1 talent and evidently lots of it. Not sure how that happens, but good for them. IF HSC gets blown out posters will be on this board saying " I told you so" HSC is not that good. Maybe, maybe not but if any other odac school thinks they can give Wesley a game @ Wesley, put them on your OOC schedule and see how it works out for your team. Certain no odac school would do that and I don't blame them !!!!

[jknezek]

I saw Wesley last year and the year before. Neither team was as talented as this year's team, and the teams I saw were f'ing good. Like all of the big 4 teams, it's just a different game for them most of the time. But you have to go play, you have to give it your best. And I stand by my original comment, Wesley as the opponent or no, every team in the ODAC would trade with H-SC to be playing one more week.

Go Tigers!

[wesleydad]

I saw Wesley last year and the year before. Neither team was as talented as this year's team, and the teams I saw were f'ing good. Like all of the big 4 teams, it's just a different game for them most of the time. But you have to go play, you have to give it your best. And I stand by my original comment, Wesley as the opponent or no, every team in the ODAC would trade with H-SC to be playing one more week.

Go Tigers!

JK, I am on record that this is the best Wesley team I have seen since I started following the in 2005.  The loss last week is rather impressive as was stated by Narch

Then again, I don't have a lot of faith any other team in the ODAC would do any better against Wesley...

i don't have a lot of faith that anyone until mt. union will give wesley much of a problem...they just played a solid scholarship program and beat them in every phase except score...they put up 530 yards of total offense on charlotte

congrats to hsc on a great season, despite the end, and congrats to ehc/guilford/bc on the co-championship

They were able to move the ball, inside the 50 four times without scoring.  Even though they gave up 38, that is I believe to be at least 7 below Charlottes yearly avg.  This team is really good.  The defense is tough and fast.  The receivers, 5 - 6 run under 4.6 with several under 4.5.  As usual with Wesley it is all about the O line and they certainly showed well last week.  I agree with all of you, they are going to be tough for anyone to deal with.  The results from the last few weeks seem to indicate that HSC is running out of gas.  If the top receiver is not available HSC is in trouble since they already struggle running the ball.  I hope that HSC shows up healthy and ready to play because if not it could get ugly real quick and with the rosters cut for the playoffs it is hard to step off the gas.

[tigerfanalso]

WesleyDad

How does Wesley get the talent they have ? I understand D1 recruiting is not a perfect and a lot of good players get overlooked by D1 schools, but how in the world does a D3 school gather enough talent to compete against a pretty decent D1 school ? I am impressed.

[Pat Coleman]

I think part of it is that Wesley is one of those programs that keeps winning and that becomes a draw. Probably lack of D-II programs in the state helps a little, although there are two strong FCS programs and Delaware is small, with good proximity to the PSAC schools.

Surely there are other factors which could play in as well.

[dedragon]

[/quote]

They were able to move the ball, inside the 50 four times without scoring.  Even though they gave up 38, that is I believe to be at least 7 below Charlottes yearly avg.  This team is really good.  The defense is tough and fast.  The receivers, 5 - 6 run under 4.6 with several under 4.5.  As usual with Wesley it is all about the O line and they certainly showed well last week.  I agree with all of you, they are going to be tough for anyone to deal with.  The results from the last few weeks seem to indicate that HSC is running out of gas.  If the top receiver is not available HSC is in trouble since they already struggle running the ball.  I hope that HSC shows up healthy and ready to play because if not it could get ugly real quick and with the rosters cut for the playoffs it is hard to step off the gas.
[/quote]

Totally forgot about the roster limits for playoffs. That makes my jobs a lot easier in the booth, but doesn't bode well for over-matched teams in the first round. Poor Macalester.

I seriously doubt HS-C is coming to Dover thinking of the end of season. I'm sure they're happy and excited to put their helmets on and toss the pigskin around. Best of luck and safe travels! Welcome back to Dover.

[Mr. Ypsi]

When you can't go to 3rd and 4th stringers, what are ways of holding down a score that are not even more insulting than running it up.  Certainly go to plain vanilla offense and stop long passes, but what else?  (I'd rather a team hang 100 on my team than do things like punting before 4th down or 'falling down' on the 5 on a TD run!)