FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

I didn't even know 144p video was a thing.

[MRMIKESMITH]

I found the video I watched and the two pictures to give you a still shot. A little better view. IN or OUT? Again a tough job but the two refs in the picture differed to a ref not in the video but behind that ref and further away under the goal post. You can see in the video the closest ref pointing to the ref under the middle of the goal post which makes the call. The one ref on the white line does not say a thing. Again tough job and no replay but it looks obvious to me. Again not the only thing that cost WL the game but it sure didn't help.

https://www.facebook.com/richard.tinsley.7/posts/10206235638606245?notif_id=1572975644326362&notif_t=video_processed

Regarding the catch in the corner of the end zone. In this tweet

https://mobile.twitter.com/KirkNawrotzky/status/1190809843600412672

is a 54 second video of R-MC highlights from the game. The play in question begins at about the 40 second mark. Pretty hard to tell where the receiver's rjght foot lands. The left foot clearly lands out of bounds, but the right foot seems to come down first -- just can't tell where. Judge for yourselves.

You can't see the right foot, but, in my view, I'd say that right foot is more likely in than out.

Wow...He was clearly out and he looked at the wrong line judge as well. In the famous words of Boobey Miles (Friday Night Lights), you (refs) from Midland (R-MC).

[Wild Horse Rider]

It has been about 6 years since I was on the sideline but I still enjoy watching football games at all levels.  The biggest issue I had with officiating was when an official was not watching his/her responsibility.  I would see a lot of "ball watching" which you could tell by where they were looking and at times throwing penalty flags when it is not their flag to throw.  I understand the logic that if you see it call it but to me it has always been 100% an issue with training an officials eyes.  I looked at the clip a few times and at about the 8sec mark neither officials eyes appear to be looking toward the receiver's feet.  Both officials are guilty of ball watching but I believe that is the line judges (near official) call to make as far as in or out.  I can't say I watched the rest of game but I'm sure there were other missed calls.  All that being said I don't think I would ever wish to be an official at any level except in the NFL or the FBS.  The officials we typically got in USAC/ODAC games typically worked a HS game on Friday night (sometimes a JV game on Thursday) and drove at times a few hours to get to the stadium.  I remember their game checks weren't anything to write home about either.  I also cannot remember anyone telling an official they did a good job unless they blew a call that hurt the opposing team.

[y_jack_lok]

I've tried multiple times to freeze that video at the point the receiver's right foot lands. Very hard to do and I don't think I ever got it precisely. Plus, the defender's leg blocks the view a bit. However, to the extent I can tell, it appears to me the receiver's foot is out of bounds.

[Macon]

Agreed, he's out.  But, if we reviewed ever close call, how many of those would be reversed, such as the phantom RMC fumble when driving for a TD.  We've been spoiled by instant replay in higher divisions and NFL.  For good or bad, officiating has been, is, and will always be part of the game.  Sometimes you're the dog and sometime you're the fire hydrant.   Sure, I feel for WLU and I'd be mad as heck too.  I know we all agree that we want good officiating.

[Generals98]

I agree that it is part of the game and yes I am upset but for the players. My issue is WLU has lost two games this year directly due to officiating. The EH game was a bad call terrible call that gave them 15 yards and one more chance to throw a hail mary that with the 15 yards added made it to the goal line without the penalty the pass would have not made it. Then the RM game the oblivious TD that the receiver was out. We had a TD called back on a very questionable call. The Int at the end of the game that would have iced the game was overturned on a very late flag for offsides which should have been thrown as soon as it happened not when the Int was made. Several fans had left the game and didn't realize they got the ball back and had to return from parking lot. Yes, bad calls happen to both sides and holding could be called all the time. Got it but both of those games were taken out of the players and coaches hands and decided directly by bad calls and for that I feel for WL because if they would have won those two games and RM takes care of Bridgewater, WL would not be looking fourth place right now. I also agree that they could of done things to win those games without the referees having a saying and should have done it. I just hate seeing them lose one game with no time on the clock and the other with 7 seconds on the clock due to bad officiating. Well, just going to have to tight up and take it back in their own hands and not the hands of others. Rant over thanks for indulging me. 

Agreed, he's out.  But, if we reviewed ever close call, how many of those would be reversed, such as the phantom RMC fumble when driving for a TD.  We've been spoiled by instant replay in higher divisions and NFL.  For good or bad, officiating has been, is, and will always be part of the game.  Sometimes you're the dog and sometime you're the fire hydrant.   Sure, I feel for WLU and I'd be mad as heck too.  I know we all agree that we want good officiating.

[wally_wabash]

Yeah, that's out and not close.  Like not even toe on the line- that's full foot on the line out of bounds.  Really tough break for the Generals there. 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

I thought I would kick off the discussion about the upcoming defacto ODAC championship game between the Eagles and Yellow Jackets. To be fair with a statistical comparison, I compiled the stats from their five common 2019 opponents (Emory & Henry, Ferrum, Shenandoah, Southern Virginia, and Washington & Lee). The team with the better stat is in red:

Bridgewater	|	OFFENSE	|	Randolph-Macon
38.8	|	Points Per Game	|	33.8
377.4	|	Total Yards Per Game	|	417.8
5.518	|	Total Yards Per Attempt	|	5.512
243.6	|	Passing Yards Per Game	|	178.8
8.0	|	Passing Yards Per Attempt	|	6.9
133.8	|	Rushing Yards Per Game	|	239.0
3.5	|	Rushing Yards Per Attempt	|	4.8
32:31	|	Time of Possession Per Game	|	35:43
		DEFENSE
10.0	|	Points Per Game	|	20.6
257.4	|	Total Yards Per Game	|	320.0
4.0	|	Total Yards Per Attempt	|	5.5
143.6	|	Passing Yards Per Game	|	180.0
4.9	|	Passing Yards Per Attempt	|	6.1
113.8	|	Rushing Yards Per Game	|	140.0
3.2	|	Rushing Yards Per Attempt	|	4.9
2.6	|	Sacks Per Game	|	1.2
+4	|	Turnover Margin	|	+12

As you can see, both teams VERY close on the offensive side of the ball. RMC gains 40 more yards a game, but BC scores 5 more points per game. What I think is most interesting is that the two teams "Total Yards Per Attempt" is so close I had to extend that stat out to the thousandths (X.XXX) to break the tie. Otherwise, BC is better passing, while RMC is better rushing. Coin flip on the offenses.

Defensive wise, the Eagles have the edge: half as many points given up per game, twice as many sacks, and better defending the pass and run (per game and per attempt). The Yellow Jackets have a massive edge with turnover margin... +12 versus the Eagles at +4.

This is going to be one heck of a game between two proud programs. I give BC the edge with home field advantage and their defense -- but if RMC forces more turnovers, and they can remain productive with their rushing attack -- then this game could come down to the last possession. If the Eagles continue to play like they have the last two weeks against quality opponents (W&L and E&H), my prediction is Bridgewater 30, Randolph-Macon 24.

What say you?

[Ralph Turner]

It surely is good to have "The Kid" back on the boards!  +1!

[hasanova]

It's been a while since I've seen a team robbed as bad by the refs as W&L was today. RMC gets FOUR pieces of home cooking in the late 2.5 minutes that were so bad their own radio team was shocked and appalled.

The refs should never work an ODAC game again. You know it's bad when the defense gets an interception and after the play is over the ref throws a flag and decides the defense was offside. A pass interference that didn't exist. And the QB throwing twice after being flushed from the pocket, over the LOS by 2+ yards for completions.

Oh well. Not the Generals' year between the E&H game and this one. But that was truly embarrassing for the refs and the ODAC.

You obviously didn't see the first half of GC's game at SVU ... especially the 1st Quarter.  It was pretty bad.

[tigerFanAlso2]

like anything else; you get what you pay for. odac officiating has always been a problem. the worse I've seen goes back to the BC vs. HSC game around 2003-05; HSC leading.... 26 seconds on clock.... BC has a 4th down and about 8yds. for a first down from about the 20 yard line ... incomplete pass; game over, right ? wrong ..... several seconds after the pass fell incomplete an official comes running over from the far side and calls roughing the passer ... QB never got touched/never fell down and admitted in an interview with Richmond paper that he was not hit on the play. BC scored two plays later to win the game.

I feel for W&L for  what happened in Ashland BUT it does not surprise me at all. I've been watching odac football since 1976 and am still amazed how often  officials get it wrong .... understanding it is not an easy job but odac officials need to learn to stay out of the game and let the players determine the outcome     

[Pat Coleman]

The regional rankings are here: https://d3football.com/playoffs/2019/first-regional-ranking

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

It surely is good to have "The Kid" back on the boards!  +1!

Thanks, Ralph! Good to be back — and see folks like yourself still going strong!

A little sad discussion isn't as fruitful as it once was. I feel like when Bridgewater was king, other schools fans came out of the woodwork to enjoy in lighthearted discourse before and after BC games.

Maybe as we get closer to Saturday, more Jackets and Eagles will chime in with prognostications! 🤞

One question for everyone (maybe only Pat can answer this)...

With Bridgewater being #3 in the first regional rankings, what is the likelihood in the following scenarios:

1) BC hosts a first round game (if they finish 10-0)?
2) BC earns an at-large (if they fall to RMC, finishes 9-1)?

[MRMIKESMITH]

It surely is good to have "The Kid" back on the boards!  +1!

Thanks, Ralph! Good to be back — and see folks like yourself still going strong!

A little sad discussion isn't as fruitful as it once was. I feel like when Bridgewater was king, other schools fans came out of the woodwork to enjoy in lighthearted discourse before and after BC games.

Maybe as we get closer to Saturday, more Jackets and Eagles will chime in with prognostications! 🤞

One question for everyone (maybe only Pat can answer this)...

With Bridgewater being #3 in the first regional rankings, what is the likelihood in the following scenarios:

1) BC hosts a first round game (if they finish 10-0)?
2) BC earns an at-large (if they fall to RMC, finishes 9-1)?

If BC were to lose, their best case would be for Stevenson to somehow jump into the final ER rankings giving you all RR win. Otherwise, you'd be stuck behind Susquehanna that has a good SOS.

[wally_wabash]

One question for everyone (maybe only Pat can answer this)...

With Bridgewater being #3 in the first regional rankings, what is the likelihood in the following scenarios:

1) BC hosts a first round game (if they finish 10-0)?

Seems likely.  I'd have to go back and confirm, but I think the only times we wind up with teams ranked that high and not hosting first round games are when geography forces the issue- generally in Texas, sometimes in the northeast when we get a team from Maine in the field. 

2) BC earns an at-large (if they fall to RMC, finishes 9-1)?

I would say unlikely.  The best case scenario there is Bridgewater landing below Susquehanna, but above Berry (or Berry getting the help they need to qualify automatically).  Then you'd have Bridgewater in the conversation for at least one round of Pool C selection.  MANDGSU adds that Stevenson could maybe possibly be ranked in the East, which would help.  I'm not sure it gets Bridgewater over the hump as an at-large.