FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

So, what happened in the final 2:45 of the R-MC game? BC, up 28-13, had just intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it back to somewhere around the 20. I switched over to watching R-MC basketball, ate some lunch while watching several other sports online, did some yard work, came in to check the final score and was surprised to see that the Jackets had scored again. Guess I should know better than to assume a game is over. Congrats to BC.

[HSCTiger fan]

RMC made an incredible comeback in the second half. Expected after being shutdown in the first. The 70+ yard BC rushing touchdown (making it 28-13) made the difference. Until the the last part of the 4th quarter, a pretty clean game (penalties, turnovers) by both teams. That's what you want out of the conferences two best teams.

I was close guessing 30-24, BC winning on the last possession. ... with a minute left, RMC had to go for an onside kick but BC recovered -- then took a knee to win 28-21. Heck of a game!

Congrats to the Eagles on their first ODAC title in 14 years! Impressive 13-game winning streak (longest in program history) in Coach Clark's 25th season! Win next week, finish 10-0, and host a first round playoff game. I plan to make the trip to Bridgewater in two weeks! Dusting off the 15-year old BC fan jersey and ready to tailgate.

    I hope you're right but I wouldn't count on it. I think that nationally the conference is regarded as only slightly above the likes of the UMAC or some of the New England conferences, so the Eagles might end up getting hosed like W&L did a couple of years ago.

I think if BC is 10-0 they deserve the home game. First they are ranked nationally and secondly the ODAC representatives have done well the last 2 years.

[Jeremybozz]

 I kept looking for QB  Burke Estes to enter in the 2nd quarter and he did a great job when he came in. Glad the 3rd quarter expired before the Jackets converted the punt fake for a 1st Down.
  Good game by both teams, if Estes had come in a bit earlier then who knows? So happy for Coach Clark and the Eagles.

[wally_wabash]

RMC made an incredible comeback in the second half. Expected after being shutdown in the first. The 70+ yard BC rushing touchdown (making it 28-13) made the difference. Until the the last part of the 4th quarter, a pretty clean game (penalties, turnovers) by both teams. That's what you want out of the conferences two best teams.

I was close guessing 30-24, BC winning on the last possession. ... with a minute left, RMC had to go for an onside kick but BC recovered -- then took a knee to win 28-21. Heck of a game!

Congrats to the Eagles on their first ODAC title in 14 years! Impressive 13-game winning streak (longest in program history) in Coach Clark's 25th season! Win next week, finish 10-0, and host a first round playoff game. I plan to make the trip to Bridgewater in two weeks! Dusting off the 15-year old BC fan jersey and ready to tailgate.

    I hope you're right but I wouldn't count on it. I think that nationally the conference is regarded as only slightly above the likes of the UMAC or some of the New England conferences, so the Eagles might end up getting hosed like W&L did a couple of years ago.

That was a tough decision for WL, but they were ranked 5th in the South (two other undefeated in the region that year, plus UMHB and HSU) region so a road game was always possible.  Bridgewater appears likely headed for #3 in the South region which should be plenty high to get them a Round 1 game at home. 

Around the Nation ranked the ODAC as the 14th best conference at its midseason update, wedged between the ARC and the NWC- so really nowhere near the UMAC or some of the New England conferences that ranked at the very bottom of the list. 

[HSCTiger74]

RMC made an incredible comeback in the second half. Expected after being shutdown in the first. The 70+ yard BC rushing touchdown (making it 28-13) made the difference. Until the the last part of the 4th quarter, a pretty clean game (penalties, turnovers) by both teams. That's what you want out of the conferences two best teams.

I was close guessing 30-24, BC winning on the last possession. ... with a minute left, RMC had to go for an onside kick but BC recovered -- then took a knee to win 28-21. Heck of a game!

Congrats to the Eagles on their first ODAC title in 14 years! Impressive 13-game winning streak (longest in program history) in Coach Clark's 25th season! Win next week, finish 10-0, and host a first round playoff game. I plan to make the trip to Bridgewater in two weeks! Dusting off the 15-year old BC fan jersey and ready to tailgate.

    I hope you're right but I wouldn't count on it. I think that nationally the conference is regarded as only slightly above the likes of the UMAC or some of the New England conferences, so the Eagles might end up getting hosed like W&L did a couple of years ago.

That was a tough decision for WL, but they were ranked 5th in the South (two other undefeated in the region that year, plus UMHB and HSU) region so a road game was always possible.  Bridgewater appears likely headed for #3 in the South region which should be plenty high to get them a Round 1 game at home. 

Around the Nation ranked the ODAC as the 14th best conference at its midseason update, wedged between the ARC and the NWC- so really nowhere near the UMAC or some of the New England conferences that ranked at the very bottom of the list.

    You are way more attuned to this than I am, Wally, so I will be happy to be proved wrong. Either way I certainly wish them well.

[Jeremybozz]

So, what happened in the final 2:45 of the R-MC game? BC, up 28-13, had just intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it back to somewhere around the 20. I switched over to watching R-MC basketball, ate some lunch while watching several other sports online, did some yard work, came in to check the final score and was surprised to see that the Jackets had scored again. Guess I should know better than to assume a game is over. Congrats to BC.

Ran it back to the 32 yard line and promptly fumbled it back to Macon. A Macon WR forced the fumble.

[Jeremybozz]

Stevenson's win over Wilkes (who was #10 in the East ) will help Bridgewater a bit.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Stevenson's win over Wilkes (who was #10 in the East ) will help Bridgewater a bit.

Also, Bridgewater's SOS jumped to .539 (top 50). Mulenberg's dropped to .516. Maybe a chance BC jumps to #2 in the South? Since Stevenson may move up in the East, and if RMC remains ranked in the South. 🤷‍♂️

On a random, but interesting note... Bridgewater has the third highest SOS in the country of remaining undefeated teams... the other two:

#3 UW-Whitewater
#4 Wheaton

[y_jack_lok]

So, what happened in the final 2:45 of the R-MC game? BC, up 28-13, had just intercepted a pass in the end zone and ran it back to somewhere around the 20. I switched over to watching R-MC basketball, ate some lunch while watching several other sports online, did some yard work, came in to check the final score and was surprised to see that the Jackets had scored again. Guess I should know better than to assume a game is over. Congrats to BC.

Ran it back to the 32 yard line and promptly fumbled it back to Macon. A Macon WR forced the fumble.

Thanks.

[Macon]

Congrats to BC.  Obviously, Estes should have been in the game earlier.  Onto The Game, HSC will be hungry, can salvage some of their season with a win.  Huge disappointment that RMC will play the Neptune Bowl, totally unnecessary.

[Pat Coleman]

Stevenson's win over Wilkes (who was #10 in the East ) will help Bridgewater a bit.

Also, Bridgewater's SOS jumped to .539 (top 50). Mulenberg's dropped to .516. Maybe a chance BC jumps to #2 in the South? Since Stevenson may move up in the East, and if RMC remains ranked in the South. 🤷‍♂️

Don't think so. The unbeaten-team provision in the regional rankings heavily favors Muhlenberg.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Stevenson's win over Wilkes (who was #10 in the East ) will help Bridgewater a bit.

Also, Bridgewater's SOS jumped to .539 (top 50). Mulenberg's dropped to .516. Maybe a chance BC jumps to #2 in the South? Since Stevenson may move up in the East, and if RMC remains ranked in the South. 🤷‍♂️

Don't think so. The unbeaten-team provision in the regional rankings heavily favors Muhlenberg.

You will have to excuse me -- I have been (14 years) away from the NCAA regional ranking lingo. What is the "unbeaten-team provision"?

[wally_wabash]

Stevenson's win over Wilkes (who was #10 in the East ) will help Bridgewater a bit.

Also, Bridgewater's SOS jumped to .539 (top 50). Mulenberg's dropped to .516. Maybe a chance BC jumps to #2 in the South? Since Stevenson may move up in the East, and if RMC remains ranked in the South. 🤷‍♂️

Don't think so. The unbeaten-team provision in the regional rankings heavily favors Muhlenberg.

You will have to excuse me -- I have been (14 years) away from the NCAA regional ranking lingo. What is the "unbeaten-team provision"?

From the handbook:

When all criteria are equal among teams with undefeated records in the primary criteria, the NCAA Division III Football Committee can use a team's performance in the previous championship season as criterion.

They added this after the 2010 season when undefeated and defending national champion UW-Whitewater got sent on the road in the tournament for the QF and SF rounds. 

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Thanks, Wally! Very helpful.

Safe to then assume that Pat (and the committee) feel a 0.23 difference in SOS is statistically insignificant, in which case that provision will be used? I'm thinking the answer is yes because that's why UMHB is currently #1 over both Muhlenberg and Bridgewater (previous season performance).

Totally makes sense, but doesn't that mean SOS criteria is used arbitrarily?

Based on national rankings alone (which I know aren't used by the committee), UMHB and Mulenberg should be ranked #1 and #2 in the south — I'm just questioning the relevance of SOS. 🤷‍♂️

[tigerFanAlso2]

Congrats to BC on the victory and the ODAC championship.

I guess The Game is absolutely meaningless this year ... first time in a long time ..... not sure I can ride over to Ashland to witness what I think will happen .... good luck to all this coming Saturday ..... I hope RMC refuses to play NNA .... what a waste of time and shame on the ODAC for inflicting this pain to the 2nd place team .... cannot imagine a worse career ending game for the seniors