FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

W&L over RMC  35 to 28 -- I don't think RMC has the defense this year to hold W&L like last year
SU over NNA by a lot -- yeah. This probably won't be pretty. Lot of starters should get rested for Shenandoah
E&H over HSC -- at E&H I'm going to give the Stinging Insects a slight advantage based on what I saw last week, which was bad.
GC over BC   35-24 -- I'm wondering if last week can kick start the Quakers a bit. I think those first 2 ODAC games were a hangover for the beatings they took. Guilford's issues this season are significantly magnified by their money grab. A shame for the student athletes.

[/b]

Really?  These teams are terrible. Ranked 246 (Jacksonville) and 255 (Davidson) out of 255 by Saragin.com. I doubt either would be a top 25 D3 team.  Neither are any better than JHU or UWP.

Terrible or not, they both put a licking on Guilford. A team that had shown some good promise at Huntingdon and, like most teams, mauled Methodist, then stumbled for 2 games before dominating Shenandoah. Something odd happened. Whether it was confidence or nicks or just a loss of momentum, those games weren't good for Guilford. I'm thinking a couple of DIII games where they didn't feel like the underdog, or weren't on the road the first 4 weeks of the season, probably would have set them up better for the conference games.

You mean like last year where they played a D3 non-conference schedule and went 1-6 in ODAC or the year before when they went 9-1 and played a D3 non-conference schedule and missed the playoffs because of it.

I know I'm being a smartass but I just don't see it the way you do. Are Davidson and Jacksonville better than most D3 teams?  Yes. But certainly NOT teams that are bigger, faster, stronger just because of their NCAA designation.

Your blindspot for Guilford is well known my internet friend! And with the way the Quakers play H-SC, it's well deserved. But that was a good team I saw Week 1 in Montgomery, and not so good a team I saw Week 6 in Lexington. Considering H-SC just squeaked past them, and I really didn't think much of H-SC last weekend, I'm guessing they weren't very good Week 5 either. But the part I watched on the computer in Week 7 looked pretty darn good, a lot like Week 1. So what happened? It doesn't seem like injuries like last year. The reasonable justification is the 4 straight away games and the unusual opponents in 2 of them caused a problem that lingered.

It's just logical to me. Of course logic doesn't always work in sports, or we wouldn't have to play the games. I really thought H-SC would win last weekend. Instead I can't figure out how they've won a game so far.

[jknezek]

Well... a big weekend ahead. W&L and RMC both need to win. H-SC needs to win, and Guilford, to keep any hope alive, needs to win. Bridgewater and E&H can play spoiler. Shenandoah gets a chance to get back on track after last week's beating.

I think the most drama can be kept alive by W&L, Guilford and HSC winning. Why not RMC? Because they've already played Shenandoah. W&L and H-SC still have that chore ahead.

7 team league, 4 still in tight contention, 2 control their destiny, 2 need a small amount of help, one more on the outside looking in with maybe some significant help. The difference between the top and bottom of the ODAC? Very little.

[Ralph Turner]

Well... a big weekend ahead. W&L and RMC both need to win. H-SC needs to win, and Guilford, to keep any hope alive, needs to win. Bridgewater and E&H can play spoiler. Shenandoah gets a chance to get back on track after last week's beating.

I think the most drama can be kept alive by W&L, Guilford and HSC winning. Why not RMC? Because they've already played Shenandoah. W&L and H-SC still have that chore ahead.

7 team league, 4 still in tight contention, 2 control their destiny, 2 need a small amount of help, one more on the outside looking in with maybe some significant help. The difference between the top and bottom of the ODAC? Very little.

ODACity...   

[jknezek]

The Generals out slog RMC in a fierce battle. The game was a mirror image of last year. Both teams made mistakes and came up with drive killing defensive stands. Nice to see the Generals persevere for a very tough win. No let downs next week hosting Bridgewater. W&L owes them for last year.

I'm massively impressed with the defensive improvement this team has made since the E&H game.

[hasanova]

Convincing win by the Quakers at BC today, 49-23.

Guilford scored 9 times today, 3 FGs and 6 TDs.  A couple of mistakes, but overall a good offensive and defensive effort.  Nice homecoming crowd on hand in Bridgewater on a perfect day for football ... it was also homecoming two years ago when GC won at BC.  When I was a student, GC played in 6 homecoming games a year ... our own and every road game.  lol  Those days are over, I hope.  I think the Quakers were still smarting from the last second 42-41 loss in Greensboro last year after holding a 2 TD lead and driving for a third, so an unrelenting effort today.

Anyway, a good win that got the Quakers to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the ODAC.  I believe the Eagles are now 4-4, 1-4.

[hasanova]

I predict Guilford QB Karsten Miller will be the ODAC Offensive Player of the Week:  24 of 35 for 429 yards, 4 passing TDs and zero interceptions is a pretty good day.

[hasanova]

W&L over RMC  35 to 28 -- I don't think RMC has the defense this year to hold W&L like last year
SU over NNA by a lot -- yeah. This probably won't be pretty. Lot of starters should get rested for Shenandoah
E&H over HSC -- at E&H I'm going to give the Stinging Insects a slight advantage based on what I saw last week, which was bad.
GC over BC   35-24 -- I'm wondering if last week can kick start the Quakers a bit. I think those first 2 ODAC games were a hangover for the beatings they took. Guilford's issues this season are significantly magnified by their money grab. A shame for the student athletes.

[/b]

Really?  These teams are terrible. Ranked 246 (Jacksonville) and 255 (Davidson) out of 255 by Saragin.com. I doubt either would be a top 25 D3 team.  Neither are any better than JHU or UWP.

I've seen Davidson, Jacksonville, W&L and HSC in person this year.  In my opinion, both W&L and HSC would lose to both Davidson and JU on the road by by 3-4 TDs.  There is a noticeable difference in size, speed and strength.  No disrespect meant, but just my honest opinion.

[HSCTiger fan]

W&L over RMC  35 to 28 -- I don't think RMC has the defense this year to hold W&L like last year
SU over NNA by a lot -- yeah. This probably won't be pretty. Lot of starters should get rested for Shenandoah
E&H over HSC -- at E&H I'm going to give the Stinging Insects a slight advantage based on what I saw last week, which was bad.
GC over BC   35-24 -- I'm wondering if last week can kick start the Quakers a bit. I think those first 2 ODAC games were a hangover for the beatings they took. Guilford's issues this season are significantly magnified by their money grab. A shame for the student athletes.

[/b]

Really?  These teams are terrible. Ranked 246 (Jacksonville) and 255 (Davidson) out of 255 by Saragin.com. I doubt either would be a top 25 D3 team.  Neither are any better than JHU or UWP.

I've seen Davidson, Jacksonville, W&L and HSC in person this year.  In my opinion, both W&L and HSC would lose to both Davidson and JU on the road by by 3-4 TDs.  There is a noticeable difference in size, speed and strength.  No disrespect meant, but just my honest opinion.

Jk refers to it as my blind spot for Guilford.  I'm actually defending GC. He says those games might have cost you the HSC and WL games and that a D3 schedule might have been better for the Quakers.  Maybe he's right, but playing the D3 schedule GC chose to play has not helped GC the last few years. My opinion is you play whosever on your schedule as best you can - without excuses. Injuries? Whatever. Bigger, stronger, faster? No one really cares.  D1 vs D3?  So what.

These are D1 schools I get it. But they're also non-scholarship just like D3. Who do you all think they recruit?  Davidson has to recruit kids that have a 1350 or higher on their SAT.  My son was recruited very hard by Davidson until he got back an 1150 SAT.  He wouldn't have gone there anyway.  In fact he took official visits to Davidson, Campbell and Morehead State (same league) but chose HSC. There's not an endless supply of recruits. HSC had a LBer that transferred from Campbell that never started a game in 2012 and 2013. He went from starter at Campbell to being a back-up at HSC.

I don't think either team was any better than Wabash or UWP.  Maybe HSC playing top 15 ranked teams the past 3 of 4 years has not better prepared HSC for the competition they see in the ODAC. Maybe they're worst for it.  I don't know. I do know, I'd rather go on the road every year to play high-quality teams than play - TAS, Greensboro, or Methodist. So I say good for GC for playing a tougher schedule.  I just don't like hearing ANY excuses from anyone for the loss.

[hasanova]

To what excuses do you continue to refer?  I haven't seen any. 

[HSCTiger fan]

To what excuses do you continue to refer?  I haven't seen any.

Two years ago it was we are 9-1 and who we played OOC should not matter to make the playoffs. And our QB got hurt.

Last year it was our RB was hurt. 

This year it's because GC played 2 perceived better teams, or they played 4 on the road, or it's because they were bigger, faster and stronger. 

Generally teams play better teams in the hopes it makes them better and to prepare them for the rigors of conference. Now it's an excuse for having lost 2 ODAC games. Makes no sense to me.

[hasanova]

To what excuses do you continue to refer?  I haven't seen any.

Two years ago it was we are 9-1 and who we played OOC should not matter to make the playoffs. And our QB got hurt.

Last year it was our RB was hurt. 

This year it's because GC played 2 perceived better teams, or they played 4 on the road, or it's because they were bigger, faster and stronger. 

Generally teams play better teams in the hopes it makes them better and to prepare them for the rigors of conference. Now it's an excuse for having lost 2 ODAC games. Makes no sense to me.

This reminds me of an argument with a woman.  I'll be preemptive and say I'm sorry in advance for whatever I post for the next 5 to 10 years. 

I think you may be falsely attributing all posts about GC to me, but I never personally used DC and JU as any sort of excuse for losing two ODAC games.  We lost to W&L because the Generals were flat out better and to HSC because we couldn't stop the Tigers from controlling the clock.  The Tigers made big plays and we didn't.  Kudos to both teams.

Perhaps I read your earlier remarks incorrectly.  Your compliments of GC were so cleverly camouflaged as criticisms that I failed to see them as such.  Mea culpa.

Good luck to the Tigers the rest of the season.  I know HSC has two tough games to finish the season with SU and RMC.  ODAC fans will be watching with interest.

[HSCTiger fan]

To what excuses do you continue to refer?  I haven't seen any.

Two years ago it was we are 9-1 and who we played OOC should not matter to make the playoffs. And our QB got hurt.

Last year it was our RB was hurt. 

This year it's because GC played 2 perceived better teams, or they played 4 on the road, or it's because they were bigger, faster and stronger. 

Generally teams play better teams in the hopes it makes them better and to prepare them for the rigors of conference. Now it's an excuse for having lost 2 ODAC games. Makes no sense to me.

This reminds me of an argument with a woman.  I'll be preemptive and say I'm sorry in advance for whatever I post for the next 5 to 10 years. 

I think you may be falsely attributing all posts about GC to me, but I never personally used DC and JU as any sort of excuse for losing two ODAC games.  We lost to W&L because the Generals were flat out better and to HSC because we couldn't stop the Tigers from controlling the clock.  The Tigers made big plays and we didn't.  Kudos to both teams.

Perhaps I read your earlier remarks incorrectly.  Your compliments of GC were so cleverly camouflaged as criticisms that I failed to see them as such.  Mea culpa.

Good luck to the Tigers the rest of the season.  I know HSC has two tough games to finish the season with SU and RMC.  ODAC fans will be watching with interest.

I never meant any criticism of GC for playing the schedule they played this year or any year. I'm not trying to be clever. I'm just offering an opinion that disagrees with jk on this scheduling point. It's no big deal. I think we all love discussing ODAC football and pulling for our favorite teams. We obviously don't always agree. But to me at least, that's what makes reading these boards interesting.

[hasanova]

To what excuses do you continue to refer?  I haven't seen any.

Two years ago it was we are 9-1 and who we played OOC should not matter to make the playoffs. And our QB got hurt.

Last year it was our RB was hurt. 

This year it's because GC played 2 perceived better teams, or they played 4 on the road, or it's because they were bigger, faster and stronger. 

Generally teams play better teams in the hopes it makes them better and to prepare them for the rigors of conference. Now it's an excuse for having lost 2 ODAC games. Makes no sense to me.

This reminds me of an argument with a woman.  I'll be preemptive and say I'm sorry in advance for whatever I post for the next 5 to 10 years. 

I think you may be falsely attributing all posts about GC to me, but I never personally used DC and JU as any sort of excuse for losing two ODAC games.  We lost to W&L because the Generals were flat out better and to HSC because we couldn't stop the Tigers from controlling the clock.  The Tigers made big plays and we didn't.  Kudos to both teams.

Perhaps I read your earlier remarks incorrectly.  Your compliments of GC were so cleverly camouflaged as criticisms that I failed to see them as such.  Mea culpa.

Good luck to the Tigers the rest of the season.  I know HSC has two tough games to finish the season with SU and RMC.  ODAC fans will be watching with interest.

I never meant any criticism of GC for playing the schedule they played this year or any year. I'm not trying to be clever. I'm just offering an opinion that disagrees with jk on this scheduling point. It's no big deal. I think we all love discussing ODAC football and pulling for our favorite teams. We obviously don't always agree. But to me at least, that's what makes reading these boards interesting.

All good.  I was as surprised as anyone regarding GC's 2017 schedule.  I would personally prefer a full D3 schedule that gives the Quakers a decent chance to win and still face reasonably tough competition.  Unfortunately, that cannot include omitting HSC, who we do not seem to be able to beat often enough based on the past 18 seasons. 

[jknezek]

To be fair I'm not really looking for excuses, I'm looking for reasons. I'm looking for why a team that looked so good against Huntingdon and rolled Methodist didn't look good at all against H-SC and W&L and now looks really darned good again. The "why" of something isn't always an excuse, it's just an answer. Now whether the answer is the 2 out of division games or the 4 road games to start the year is certainly open to debate, but it does seem the obvious answer.

If Guilford had kept losing, I'd have said the win against Huntingdon was a fluke. But it's hard to say that with the way they've played the last 2 weeks.

[HSCTiger fan]

ODAC picks offensive WL RB Spence as player of week for his 199 yard rushing effort. The ODAC official the chooses this had tough choices this week.

The GC QB Miller throws for 429 and 4 TDs and the HSC QB Cobb throws for 448 and 3TDs.

But if I had a vote I would have given the recognition to both of the HSC WRs.  Johnson went 12 for 204 and Morgan 7 for 209 on the day. It's rare to see two receivers over 200 in one game.

Congrats to all for fantastic performances.