FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

JK, you said " The big exception being the end of game interception which a blind referee with earmuffs on could and should have called pass interference. The W&L receiver was horse collar tackled while the ball was 5 yards away allowing the safety? to take position for the pick. No idea how those two zebras managed to screw that up."

Is that the same play as the Play of the Week on the ODAC site?  I've watched it several times, and I simply don't see it the way you did.  Doesn't seem that the receiver was even touched.

I think I see what jk is talking about. At the very beginning of the video W&L's #87 -- on the right side of the offense -- has his jersey grabbed at about the 5 yard line and falls down. The QB was looking that way, but when 87 went down the QB started to scramble left and threw the interception. Hard to tell if it was a horse collar, but it looks like it could have been at least called as defensive holding.

[jknezek]

Is that the same play as the Play of the Week on the ODAC site?  I've watched it several times, and I simply don't see it the way you did.  Doesn't seem that the receiver was even touched.

Yeah. I've described it completely wrong. Take a look at the play. The first view is the best. Watch the right side of the formation. W&L #87. Pause it at 7, 8, 9, 10 seconds. At 7 seconds the RMC LB is beaten, at 8 seconds he horse collars the receiver as he goes past. At 9 seconds the receiver hits the turf, and the W&L QB is forced to move off the read. In fact, at 9 seconds you can pause it and see the QB looking right, arm cocked, feet set. That ball is about to be thrown. And at 10 seconds it's a scramble drill that results in a bad decision. Not pass interference for sure, but 100% defensive holding that ruined the read.

There are 2 W&L receivers on that right side. Without the LB dragging down one of them as he goes past, you have 2 receivers and one deep cover. In other words, one of those guys is going to be wide open. Does that result in a completion or a TD, who knows? With only a 50% completion rate it's even money that there would be a connection let alone in stride to score. But there is no doubt the LB dragged down the tight end from behind when he got beaten badly on the play.

Even if W&L scores, can they get the two points? As I said in my original analysis, I'm skeptical. But... for a "play of the week", RMC got away with a massive penalty.

[jknezek]

JK, you said " The big exception being the end of game interception which a blind referee with earmuffs on could and should have called pass interference. The W&L receiver was horse collar tackled while the ball was 5 yards away allowing the safety? to take position for the pick. No idea how those two zebras managed to screw that up."

Is that the same play as the Play of the Week on the ODAC site?  I've watched it several times, and I simply don't see it the way you did.  Doesn't seem that the receiver was even touched.

I think I see what jk is talking about. At the very beginning of the video W&L's #87 -- on the right side of the offense -- has his jersey grabbed at about the 5 yard line and falls down. The QB was looking that way, but when 87 went down the QB started to scramble left and threw the interception. Hard to tell if it was a horse collar, but it looks like it could have been at least called as defensive holding.

You beat me to it Y-Jack. +K I was out getting lunch and doing that pesky thing called work. But to be fair, I did completely describe it wrong originally... Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote the original post.

[CMR]

JK, you said " The big exception being the end of game interception which a blind referee with earmuffs on could and should have called pass interference. The W&L receiver was horse collar tackled while the ball was 5 yards away allowing the safety? to take position for the pick. No idea how those two zebras managed to screw that up."

Is that the same play as the Play of the Week on the ODAC site?  I've watched it several times, and I simply don't see it the way you did.  Doesn't seem that the receiver was even touched.

I think I see what jk is talking about. At the very beginning of the video W&L's #87 -- on the right side of the offense -- has his jersey grabbed at about the 5 yard line and falls down. The QB was looking that way, but when 87 went down the QB started to scramble left and threw the interception. Hard to tell if it was a horse collar, but it looks like it could have been at least called as defensive holding.

You beat me to it Y-Jack. I was out getting lunch and doing that pesky thing called work. But to be fair, I did completely describe it wrong originally... Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote the original post.

Yes, #87 was held.

[jknezek]

JK, you said " The big exception being the end of game interception which a blind referee with earmuffs on could and should have called pass interference. The W&L receiver was horse collar tackled while the ball was 5 yards away allowing the safety? to take position for the pick. No idea how those two zebras managed to screw that up."

Is that the same play as the Play of the Week on the ODAC site?  I've watched it several times, and I simply don't see it the way you did.  Doesn't seem that the receiver was even touched.

I think I see what jk is talking about. At the very beginning of the video W&L's #87 -- on the right side of the offense -- has his jersey grabbed at about the 5 yard line and falls down. The QB was looking that way, but when 87 went down the QB started to scramble left and threw the interception. Hard to tell if it was a horse collar, but it looks like it could have been at least called as defensive holding.

You beat me to it Y-Jack. I was out getting lunch and doing that pesky thing called work. But to be fair, I did completely describe it wrong originally... Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote the original post.

Yes, #87 was held.

I don't mind the holding, but he got dragged down from behind. It should have been an easy call for the ref. They just missed it completely. It's a bummer, but... RMC deserved to win that game. They shut W&L down and did enough offensively to win on the road. That a solid win for the YellowJackets and that missed penalty doesn't change it.

[CMR]

I agree that it should have been called, but the sideline ref's view was blocked by the other WLU receiver, the middle ref was watching the line play, so I maybe can see how they missed it.  Tough call.

[jknezek]

I agree that it should have been called, but the sideline ref's view was blocked by the other WLU receiver, the middle ref was watching the line play, so I maybe can see how they missed it.  Tough call.

It happens. Again, it's not like they called back a winning td. Even if they make the call, W&L still needs to score and add the 2 pts. Important? Yes. Reason the game ended the way it did? Probably not. I don't like it. It's obvious W&L was passing and they should have been watching the receivers, but it happens.

Honestly, we've spent too much time on it and I don't want anyone reading this thread to think it takes away from how well RMC's defense played all game long. That is really the story. Not some missed penalty. I'm sure we could find some going the other way.

[CMR]

Nice article -

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/colleges/randolph-macon-ends-washington-and-lee-s-odac-winning-streak/article_60553150-9b1f-52d4-a617-dad544f57128.html

[CMR]

RMC vs Guilford, where's HASA when you need him?   

[Swish3]

He might be suffering a bit like me...tends to happen when your team takes a nose dive.  He's a class act, though, so I'm sure he'll chime in soon....

[HSCTiger fan]

GC has beaten RMC each of last 4 years. Should be an interesting game.

Hasanova disappeared as RMC posters started showing up.  Coincidence?

[jknezek]

GC has beaten RMC each of last 4 years. Should be an interesting game.

Hasanova disappeared as RMC posters started showing up.  Coincidence?

Those were different RMC and Guilford teams. That being said, I do think a balanced team can knock off RMC. As a W&L fan I hope it happens. As an ODAC fan, I'm not sure it's in the best interest of our league. A 9-1 RMC team is probably our only shot for a winnable playoff game. A 7-3 W&L, or 8-2 Shenandoah, is getting sent somewhere unpleasant.

[HSCTiger fan]

GC has beaten RMC each of last 4 years. Should be an interesting game.

Hasanova disappeared as RMC posters started showing up.  Coincidence?

Those were different RMC and Guilford teams. That being said, I do think a balanced team can knock off RMC. As a W&L fan I hope it happens. As an ODAC fan, I'm not sure it's in the best interest of our league. A 9-1 RMC team is probably our only shot for a winnable playoff game. A 7-3 W&L, or 8-2 Shenandoah, is getting sent somewhere unpleasant.

As much emphasis as Pedro puts on "The Game" might have RMC looking past GC to HSC.  Just because they beat WL with very good defense does not convince me they are our best shot at playoff glory. This doesn't speak well to HSC, because they've not looked good in conference play but, IMO the conference is overall as weak as I've seen it in years. 

Furthermore,  where the ODAC is sent doesn't seem to matter much. The outcomes have been abysmal.

[CMR]

I've not ever quite understood the HSC guys demeaning Arruza for the focus on the Game.  Not even sure why you'd think it's more focus than it should be?  Is it because of some stupid clock?  And, why not focus on it?  At 1-4 against RMC over the last five years, maybe you'd like to forget it.  Plus, I'm expecting this year to be a blow out.  But, then again, it's the GAME and anything does and can happen.

[tigerFanAlso2]

I'm one of those HSC fans that totally understands and appreciates how Coach Arruza emphasizes the importance of the game held the second Saturday in November, each and every year as I'm one of those old timers that would prefer to beat RMC, period. The hell with everything else. Coach Favret had his way with Coach Arruza for along time, but no longer. This rivalry has experienced many trends and we are currently in a bad trend that needs to change, don't think that will happen this year, but I'll hold out hope until the final horn blows around 4pm on the 12th.