FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Bmore BC]

Coach Colbert will definately be missed. I know I can't express how much he helped me off of the field nevermind the football part.

The classic Coach Colbert memory I have is in 2001 in the OT game at W&L after we stopped W&L in OT. Coach was running the option all day, with below average success I would say figuring who we had in our backfield. Coach called the option pass and as soon as W&L lined up Coach called game over and left the booth. On the way down from the booth Van was cathing the ball for a TD.  Classic.

Oh and do not forget about the invention of the "22 Sky" play.

[hasanova]

So ... we have eight months until ODAC football kicks off again.  Since the "other" college football is now officially over for this season, I'm not sure I can wait.  I say we petition the league office to allow all ODAC schools (SBC, HU and RMWC also!) to start spring Arena Football.  Purely an idea born of ennui and the need for cheap thrills, but, hey, how do you think bungee jumping got started?! 

[muchacho]

Purely an idea born of ennui and the need for cheap thrills, but, hey, how do you think bungee jumping got started?!

ennui...Impressive.

[hasanova]

Purely an idea born of ennui and the need for cheap thrills, but, hey, how do you think bungee jumping got started?!

ennui...Impressive.

Hey, I told you I was bored.  I did this on purpose just to see if anyone would say "what in the heck is ennui?"  lol

[muchacho]

I remember ennui from my 11th grade vocab. I wonder if other readers of post patterns decided to grab a dictionary, or just assumed you were drunk when posting.

[hasanova]

I remember ennui from my 11th grade vocab. I wonder if other readers of post patterns decided to grab a dictionary, or just assumed you were drunk when posting.

I'm impressed you remembered that word from 11th grade vocabulary!  Let's see, "readers of Post Patterns":  grab a dictionary or assume I was drunk when posting?  Okay, I've made a decision, I pick Door #2.  lol

So, on another note, what's CUA football going to look like next year with a new coach and without Bublavi?

[Outsider14]

i just tried to pronounce it out loud, failed, and moved on... reading post patterns is like taking the SATs; if you don't know what they're talking about you skip it, know you're not missing anything, and move on

[muchacho]

So, on another note, what's CUA football going to look like next year with a new coach and without Bublavi?

The State of Catholic Football

Well that will depend a lot on who the new coach is obviously, on which I have heard nothing.
The one coaching move that was shared here on post patterns is John Ricca becoming an assistant at Catholic. Ricca raised 3 qb's, and had Keith in an offense at Prospect Hall that allowed him to set the Maryland state passing record in high school. Along with former All American receiver Mike Hunter coaching the offense, I think the O will still be pass happy.

Bublavi leaving hurts, because he was obviously such a large portion of Catholic's offense. Also leaving at receiver was Chris Whitehead. Nobody probably heard of him besides Catholic followers, but he was a big time player. He didn't catch any TD's his senior year, but he was a go to guy on 3rd down. However, there are plenty of other receivers to throw the ball to. Although none will be as dynamic as Bublavi, they are capable. I think people will see a lot more offensive balance on next year's team.
Hopefully Ryan Bowman will be able to handle being the #1 target. He had a good year with over 700 yards and 7 TDs, but that did come with other teams paying a lot of attention to Bublavi.
Greg Brown is the most talented player at Catholic, and had over 1,000 all purpose yards in 2005, while also playing some at linebacker. He could play on either side of the ball next year and maybe both. If he sees time on offense, he could become the go to guy to follow Bublavi. He only had 171 yards rushing, but averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Freshman Jorge Rios also averaged 4.0 yards per carry, and he would likely get a lot of touches if CUA is able to manage more of a running game.
The big issue for Catholic offensively will be on the O-line. They lose second team All ODAC Sean Howe at left tackle, and while everybody else returns, they will still be very young in 2006. I think only 1 or 2 guys on the O'line have shown themselves to be legitimate starters, and hopefully a good freshman recruiting class in the trenches will give the other some needed competition.
There are some question marks for Catholic defensively. Bobby Stutz is gone, and while there appears to be guys ready to fill his middle linebacker spot, they will probably not be game changers like Stutz could be.
Catholic lost three senior d-lineman, and will only have 2 juniors, 1 a starter at nose, on the D-line. Their is not much experience, so younger guys will have to step up.
If Greg Brown plays outside backer(1.5 sacks in nickel situations in 2005, and 27 tackles, 9.5 TFL in 5 games in 2004), which would allow Freshman Avatus Stone to move to D-End. Stone had 5.5 sacks in '05, and played some D-End in nickel packages.
In the secondary, Catholic will have to replace the leadership of John Bowes, but returns everybody else. Nick Olivero had 5 picks for 108 yards as a freshman, and should light things up for the next 3 years. There is solid depth at the corners, but those guys need to become playmakers.
Last but not least, Catholic needs to replace Pete Welsh, who was a hell of a punter and holder last year.

[muchacho]

Obviously a slow day at work.
A big thing to think about Catholic this year is that they will only have 3 seniors, of which only Ryan Bowman is a major contributor. With that small of a class, Catholic is pretty much like a school in just its 3rd year in existence. I wouldn't be shocked if Catholic won more games in 2006, but 2007 will really be the year that Catholic explodes, with 4 full recruiting class hopefully. Tom Clark already ensured that 2 great recruiting classes are on campus.

[hasanova]

Obviously a slow day at work.
A big thing to think about Catholic this year is that they will only have 3 seniors, of which only Ryan Bowman is a major contributor. With that small of a class, Catholic is pretty much like a school in just its 3rd year in existence. I wouldn't be shocked if Catholic won more games in 2006, but 2007 will really be the year that Catholic explodes, with 4 full recruiting class hopefully. Tom Clark already ensured that 2 great recruiting classes are on campus.

Thanks for your good analysis of CUA football - and your sense of humor.  I appreciate both of them.  As you described, CUA scares me the next few years.  Even without Bublavi, I also see the Cardinals as a very pass-happy team.  I bet Ricca will be even better in 2006 than in 2005, especially with his Dad on the sidelines.  I very much look forward to Catholic's trip to Greensboro late in the season.   Thanks again.

[muchacho]

As you described, CUA scares me the next few years.  Even without Bublavi, I also see the Cardinals as a very pass-happy team. I bet Ricca will be even better in 2006 than in 2005, especially with his Dad on the sidelines.

3,7,3,7,20      Those were the point differentials in Catholic's 5 ODAC losses. If Ricca learns to make smarter decisions with some of his throws, and decreases his interceptions from the 23 they were this past year, than things could be very scary and Ricca could be very good.

[hasanova]

As you described, CUA scares me the next few years.  Even without Bublavi, I also see the Cardinals as a very pass-happy team. I bet Ricca will be even better in 2006 than in 2005, especially with his Dad on the sidelines.

3,7,3,7,20      Those were the point differentials in Catholic's 5 ODAC losses. If Ricca learns to make smarter decisions with some of his throws, and decreases his interceptions from the 23 they were this past year, than things could be very scary and Ricca could be very good.

Yeah, I knew they had a lot of close ODAC losses.  You're right, cut out a turnover here and there and several of those games could have gone the other way (I know that was the case versus E&H.  I also believe Guilford got a late interception as CUA was driving to tie the game).  Hopefully, from my point of view, Vogelbach and the Guilford receivers will get even better in 2006 as well.  Should be interesting!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

3,7,3,7,20      Those were the point differentials in Catholic's 5 ODAC losses. If Ricca learns to make smarter decisions with some of his throws, and decreases his interceptions from the 23 they were this past year, than things could be very scary and Ricca could be very good.

Let's look at the five losses by only 3, 7, 3, 7, 20, more closely:

• 3-point loss to W&L -- CUA had a 17-3 lead in the 3rd quarter
• 7-point loss to H-SC -- H-SC was up 28-7 (21 pts) in the 4th quarter
• 3-point loss to E&H -- CUA had a 21-10 lead in the 4th quarter
• 7-point loss to GC -- GC was up 49-28 (21 pts) in the 4th quarter
• 20-point loss to BC -- BC was up 44-16 (28 pts) in the 4th quarter

It's not like Catholic kept it close in those five games and just made a couple mistakes to lose them ... they either had a healthy lead that they blew or they were getting it handed to them and got some freebie TDs in the closing quarter likely versus 2nd and 3rd teamers.

[hasanova]

3,7,3,7,20      Those were the point differentials in Catholic's 5 ODAC losses. If Ricca learns to make smarter decisions with some of his throws, and decreases his interceptions from the 23 they were this past year, than things could be very scary and Ricca could be very good.

Let's look at the five losses by only 3, 7, 3, 7, 20, more closely:

• 3-point loss to W&L -- CUA had a 17-3 lead in the 3rd quarter
• 7-point loss to H-SC -- H-SC was up 28-7 (21 pts) in the 4th quarter
• 3-point loss to E&H -- CUA had a 21-10 lead in the 4th quarter
• 7-point loss to GC -- GC was up 49-28 (21 pts) in the 4th quarter
• 20-point loss to BC -- BC was up 44-16 (28 pts) in the 4th quarter

It's not like Catholic kept it close in those five games and just made a couple mistakes to lose them ... they either had a healthy lead that they blew or they were getting it handed to them and got some freebie TDs in the closing quarter likely versus 2nd and 3rd teamers.

Good point, kid.  I distinctly remember that a late interception changed the course of the E&H game, but in several other contests CUA was playing catch-up.   

[muchacho]

It's not like Catholic kept it close in those five games and just made a couple mistakes to lose them ... they either had a healthy lead that they blew or they were getting it handed to them and got some freebie TDs in the closing quarter likely versus 2nd and 3rd teamers.

Now I'm pretty sure that you only saw Catholic/Bridgewater kid, so you are just assuming what happened based on stats.
The BC game was the only one were Catholic was playing against backups. Catholic was scoring against Guilford's top D and HSC's.
Catholic had the ball at Guilford's 26 with over a minute remaining and threw an interception. Against HSC, Catholic had the ball at the 21 yard line when time ran out.
Those two instances look like situations that came down to the wire.
The Guilford example really shows my point, that Catholic would have been a lot better, if they could have controlled their turnovers.