FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Ralph Turner]

Wow!  E&H last went to the playoffs in the Clinton administration!   

[regaleagle]

The funny thing? The best team in the conference, right now, is Guilford in my opinion... They have those two games at year end to see what they are made of. I know the game this weekend was 23-20, but the Quakers never trailed and it was a two score game with a few minutes to go. So Bridgewater getting one of them back just let Guilford run out the clock. The game looks closer than it was. And we all know what playing at Bridgewater is like. Bridgewater and E&H are the toughest places to play in my opinion. Yes, H-SC is usually better, but if you go to Jopson or Selfie, an upset is always on the table.

I don't envy H-SC and E&H with Guilford still looming.

nope can't let that go. BC won that ballgame everywhere except on the scoreboard. Yes I'm aware that's all that really counts in the end. It was a 3 point game with 3:00 left when an awful penalty was called on 4th down that gave GC life. Saw it live seen it on film. Player jumping up and down convinced a ref 30 yards away when the one guy on top of the play said incomplete.
We shot ourselves in the foot too many times but moved the ball up and down the field and actually threw it down the field instead of sideways, but hey I would too if my WRs blocked like that.GC won the game but it was no cakewalk and they were fighting hard to not let that last score in. I'll see how good WL is in person this Sat. I watched earlier game when they beat GC and they had a good handle on things when your QB got knocked out.

I disagree with your statement that "BC won that ballgame everywhere except on the scoreboard."  The Eagles had three turnovers and GC one.  GC won the punting game and special teams. BC had 221 yard passing and Guilford 220.  GC had I'm sure a lot more yards rushing (actually, BC by about 50 yards).  I remember some calls that could have gone both ways ... the one you cite is so unremarkable I don't even remember it.

seriously. Unremarkable? You don't score last touchdown of you don't get that call on 4th down. Passing 224-220 BC Rushing186-133BC time of possession BC. You are correct you won the turnover battle and special teams. Offensively BC 3 tds GC 2 tds 1 fg . Two of our TOs were in red zone. I'd say we gave you the game and you finally found a way to take it.

[jknezek]

W&L will be looking for their 500th win this weekend. Take a look at these game notes to see how they compare to other Va schools, including 3 other ODAC programs, and lots of other fun facts that I play with below:

http://generalssports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/Bridgewater_Notes

Maybe in my lifetime we will get to a .500 winning percentage as well, though that would be pretty ambitious as we spent a long time digging our hole.

W&L last week had 383 yards of total offense, 266 came in the second half. Yes, the first half was not good. Fortunately the Generals return home this week where they have won 24 of their last 28 games. Lexington has become a hard nut to crack. Salisbury is creeping up on the Generals number 1 ranked national running attack, as less than 10 yards, on average, now separates the two teams.

W&L really does do a nice job with their game notes...

[tigerFanAlso2]

Good stuff ... that is a sad number attached to VMI. I often wonder if they should convert to D3.
Looking forward to your odac predictions for the week. You have been fairly accurate, luck or not ?

[jknezek]

You have been fairly accurate, luck or not ?

To be fair we've really only had one shocking game, Guilford losing to W&L, and I got that wrong. Losing a potential all-conference QB early can do that. Otherwise it's been a lot of chalk.

What else was all that surprising?
W&L winning at H-SC is a mild surprise this year
H-SC winning at E&H is mildly surprising
R-MC losing to Catholic

None of those are shocking in my book given how the teams played coming into the games.

[jknezek]

VMI wants to be in the same category as the Citadel. They are afraid of what happens if they aren't. Think about it this way. How do you think of the Coast Guard Academy and how do you think of West Point? That's what terrifies VMI. So even though it makes sense for VMI to play DIII football (although they'd be stuck with some seriously over sized facilities), they can still do OK in basketball and that balances it out when considering the reputation issues.

To be fair, it also terrifies the three national service academies when they think about going FCS, even though at least Army should. Army's size restrictions pretty much make it impossible for them to field FBS offensive and defensive lines, and if you can't play in the trenches you are screwed.

[hasanova]

The funny thing? The best team in the conference, right now, is Guilford in my opinion... They have those two games at year end to see what they are made of. I know the game this weekend was 23-20, but the Quakers never trailed and it was a two score game with a few minutes to go. So Bridgewater getting one of them back just let Guilford run out the clock. The game looks closer than it was. And we all know what playing at Bridgewater is like. Bridgewater and E&H are the toughest places to play in my opinion. Yes, H-SC is usually better, but if you go to Jopson or Selfie, an upset is always on the table.

I don't envy H-SC and E&H with Guilford still looming.

nope can't let that go. BC won that ballgame everywhere except on the scoreboard. Yes I'm aware that's all that really counts in the end. It was a 3 point game with 3:00 left when an awful penalty was called on 4th down that gave GC life. Saw it live seen it on film. Player jumping up and down convinced a ref 30 yards away when the one guy on top of the play said incomplete.
We shot ourselves in the foot too many times but moved the ball up and down the field and actually threw it down the field instead of sideways, but hey I would too if my WRs blocked like that.GC won the game but it was no cakewalk and they were fighting hard to not let that last score in. I'll see how good WL is in person this Sat. I watched earlier game when they beat GC and they had a good handle on things when your QB got knocked out.

I disagree with your statement that "BC won that ballgame everywhere except on the scoreboard."  The Eagles had three turnovers and GC one.  GC won the punting game and special teams. BC had 221 yard passing and Guilford 220.  GC had I'm sure a lot more yards rushing (actually, BC by about 50 yards).  I remember some calls that could have gone both ways ... the one you cite is so unremarkable I don't even remember it.

seriously. Unremarkable? You don't score last touchdown of you don't get that call on 4th down. Passing 224-220 BC Rushing186-133BC time of possession BC. You are correct you won the turnover battle and special teams. Offensively BC 3 tds GC 2 tds 1 fg . Two of our TOs were in red zone. I'd say we gave you the game and you finally found a way to take it.

We will agree to disagree.  Actually, I do remember that call now ... it was the one where the BC defenders pulled Smith's jersey so hard he spun around.

[tigerFanAlso2]

Hasa

Did you and Regaleagle watch the same game this past Saturday ?
Glad you are back and ok. Sounds like your Quakers are still hanging.
Hopefully HSC will be 4-1 coming into Greensboro, meaning that game
will be important to both teams. We must get by SU and BC for that to happen
which will not be easy, but certainly doable. W&L is in the drivers seat with wins
against GC an HSC. Minus a significant collapse the last 4 weeks, I see nobody
catching W&L. odac is crazy, not sure it is that crazy. as of today W&L is a huge favorite 

[jknezek]

Hasa

Did you and Regaleagle watch the same game this past Saturday ?
Glad you are back and ok. Sounds like your Quakers are still hanging.
Hopefully HSC will be 4-1 coming into Greensboro, meaning that game
will be important to both teams. We must get by SU and BC for that to happen
which will not be easy, but certainly doable. W&L is in the drivers seat with wins
against GC an HSC. Minus a significant collapse the last 4 weeks, I see nobody
catching W&L. odac is crazy, not sure it is that crazy. as of today W&L is a huge favorite

Much too early for this. W&L has two home games and two road games to go, including what is probably their hardest remaining game, E&H, on the road. Less than 1/2 the conference games are played and while I agree W&L is in the driver's seat since they control their destiny, that's a far cry from stamping out the rings.

As a fan it's hard to go one week at a time, especially since I'm making plans to visit E&H if W&L wins this week. But in the ODAC you simply can't look ahead. Really hoping W&L internalized that lesson after their visit to Day Field.

[hasanova]

Hasa

Did you and Regaleagle watch the same game this past Saturday ?
Glad you are back and ok. Sounds like your Quakers are still hanging.
Hopefully HSC will be 4-1 coming into Greensboro, meaning that game
will be important to both teams. We must get by SU and BC for that to happen
which will not be easy, but certainly doable. W&L is in the drivers seat with wins
against GC an HSC. Minus a significant collapse the last 4 weeks, I see nobody
catching W&L. odac is crazy, not sure it is that crazy. as of today W&L is a huge favorite

tfa2 ... it would appear not. I promise, I was on the fifty the other side of the field.  My brother, who has a PhD and studied Divinity at Duke and Oxford in England, taught me a word that also applies here:  hermeneutics, people see or read the same thing and get completely different interpretations.  Quakers are prepping hard for every game, but realize they need help to be the ODAC champ ... c'est la vie.  In the last four games, GC has three at home (RMC, HSC and E&H) and CUA on the road.  Five and one after two home games and four road games is still good.  I agree, I hope a lot will be on the line when HSC visits on November 7.  I'm okay, just awfully busy with many things ... thanks for your concern and kind words.

[hasanova]

W&L will be looking for their 500th win this weekend. Take a look at these game notes to see how they compare to other Va schools, including 3 other ODAC programs, and lots of other fun facts that I play with below:

http://generalssports.com/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/Bridgewater_Notes

Maybe in my lifetime we will get to a .500 winning percentage as well, though that would be pretty ambitious as we spent a long time digging our hole.

W&L last week had 383 yards of total offense, 266 came in the second half. Yes, the first half was not good. Fortunately the Generals return home this week where they have won 24 of their last 28 games. Lexington has become a hard nut to crack. Salisbury is creeping up on the Generals number 1 ranked national running attack, as less than 10 yards, on average, now separates the two teams.

W&L really does do a nice job with their game notes...

Thanks for posting this ... +1

[tigerFanAlso2]

Jk

Hard for u to admit W&L is in the drivers seat, I guess.
We all know anything can happen BUT I don't see W&L dropping 2 of the last 4
when they already have GC and HSC in their hip pocket.
Enjoy the season and safe travels to E&H. I guess that is about 6 to 7 hour drive for.

[jknezek]

Jk

Hard for u to admit W&L is in the drivers seat, I guess.
We all know anything can happen BUT I don't see W&L dropping 2 of the last 4
when they already have GC and HSC in their hip pocket.
Enjoy the season and safe travels to E&H. I guess that is about 6 to 7 hour drive for.

Less than 1/2 the conference games are played and while I agree W&L is in the driver's seat since they control their destiny, that's a far cry from stamping out the rings.

   Oh I can and do agree with that. You don't need W&L to drop 2 of 4. You need W&L to drop 1 to E&H. Then E&H and H-SC have to win out. That's a three way conflicting tie. Then it becomes tie breakers. Drivers seat? Yes. But a lot can happen yet.

E&H will be closer to 6 hours than 7 in a car. Hopefully I'll get the chance to find out. I think W&L will win at home, but I'm betting it will be a close game.

[hasanova]

Jk

Hard for u to admit W&L is in the drivers seat, I guess.
We all know anything can happen BUT I don't see W&L dropping 2 of the last 4
when they already have GC and HSC in their hip pocket.
Enjoy the season and safe travels to E&H. I guess that is about 6 to 7 hour drive for.

Less than 1/2 the conference games are played and while I agree W&L is in the driver's seat since they control their destiny, that's a far cry from stamping out the rings.

   Oh I can and do agree with that. You don't need W&L to drop 2 of 4. You need W&L to drop 1 to E&H. Then E&H and H-SC have to win out. That's a three way conflicting tie. Then it becomes tie breakers. Drivers seat? Yes. But a lot can happen yet.

E&H will be closer to 6 hours than 7 in a car. Hopefully I'll get the chance to find out. I think W&L will win at home, but I'm betting it will be a close game.

There would have been another three way scenario if E&H had held on versus HSC ... but they didn't.  I was hoping for E&H over W&L and GC over E&H with the W&L result over GC already in the books.

[HSCTiger fan]

Jk

Hard for u to admit W&L is in the drivers seat, I guess.
We all know anything can happen BUT I don't see W&L dropping 2 of the last 4
when they already have GC and HSC in their hip pocket.
Enjoy the season and safe travels to E&H. I guess that is about 6 to 7 hour drive for.

Less than 1/2 the conference games are played and while I agree W&L is in the driver's seat since they control their destiny, that's a far cry from stamping out the rings.

   Oh I can and do agree with that. You don't need W&L to drop 2 of 4. You need W&L to drop 1 to E&H. Then E&H and H-SC have to win out. That's a three way conflicting tie. Then it becomes tie breakers. Drivers seat? Yes. But a lot can happen yet.

E&H will be closer to 6 hours than 7 in a car. Hopefully I'll get the chance to find out. I think W&L will win at home, but I'm betting it will be a close game.

If point differential against tied teams is the tiebreaker I don't see any way for HSC to win a 3 way tie with EH and WL.