FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[Outsider14]

my guess would be that favret and co. are more frustrated than you

[Menowannalickee U.]

Ok, it's been a few days since "the loss" now and I'm still trying to figure out...what really did go wrong?  Obviously GC played a great game and I don't want to take anything from them, but was BC ready to play?  Maybe someone closer to the program knows if they just looked past Guilford (at what I don't know), or if they've just lost the attitude that they need to prove something every week.  I know they played hard.  I wouldn't want to insult anyone by saying that they didn't, so any thoughts?

[pakownr97]

Menowanna,

I sincerely hope I am wrong, but here's what I think may have happened.    

Opening up against two weak opponents, our pass defense looked terrific.  The BCAC thought this might be another Stagg Bowl year.  I think Ferrum revealed a weakness in the BC defense, i.e. we cannot stop the run.

Our offense has not seemed to hit on all cylinders yet.  I, and I suspect all of Bridgewaterdom, patiently await the #7 and #8 cylinders in the Clarkmobile to send us to our usual heights.  That has not yet happened.  I suspect we may miss Coach Colbert even more than we realize.

Maybe "we" are just not as good this year.  In addition, the entire ODAC has gotten stronger, especially Guilford and Washington & Lee.

Maybe our beloved Eagles are not the best team in the mid-atlantic, or even the ODAC this year.

Not to offend any Waspers that may be lurking, but BC needs a blowout this weekend.  Follow that with a helluva week of preparation for W & L, a team that always seems to play their best game of the year against the Eagles.  Then on October 28, may the best team win.  I sincerely don't know who that is right now.  

And for the record WLU78, I am not conceding anything.  Let's duke it out in two weeks.  Should be another great game.

Also for the record, Coach Clark is still a football god in BC land.

Finally, to my buddy 'Nova, win or lose, will you have your team physically beat up on the Generals this Saturday?  That's all we ask of the GCAC.


BC Always!!

[Llamaguy]

Here is my simple explanation and its not due to lack of effort on anyone's part. Throughout this season BC has missed out on opportunities for easy scores. One overthrown ball for a sure TD then a three and out. It has happened in more than just the Guilford game but they were good enough offensively to make us pay. As kid said penalties (mental mistakes), and turnovers didn't help. If we convert on the easy scores it takes pressure off the whole team and there is much more room for error. The Oline didn't give alot of time all the time but we have to capitalize when they do and receivers are open. That being said, with a few corrections we can still be scary good. It will be interesting to see which path we take the rest of the way.

[hasanova]

Finally, to my buddy 'Nova, win or lose, will you have your team physically beat up on the Generals this Saturday?  That's all we ask of the GCAC.             BC Always!!

pak - I can assure you, the Quakers are hungry for respect and the ODAC championship.  It's going to be tough to play a very good Generals team at W&L's homecoming this Saturday with so much on the line, but I think Guilford has the will, the coaching, the athletic talent and, might I add, a great QB to weather such an environment.  Vogelbach is a big game QB and I think, win or lose, the Generals are going to know they were in a football game!

[WLU78]

Finally, to my buddy 'Nova, win or lose, will you have your team physically beat up on the Generals this Saturday?  That's all we ask of the GCAC.             BC Always!!

pak - I can assure you, the Quakers are hungry for respect and the ODAC championship.  It's going to be tough to play a very good Generals team at W&L's homecoming this Saturday with so much on the line, but I think Guilford has the will, the coaching, the athletic talent and, might I add, a great QB to weather such an environment.  Vogelbach is a big game QB and I think, win or lose, the Generals are going to know they were in a football game!

So that's the reason for all the transfers!!  And I had thought it was the anti-war movement.

[hasanova]

Finally, to my buddy 'Nova, win or lose, will you have your team physically beat up on the Generals this Saturday?  That's all we ask of the GCAC.             BC Always!!

pak - I can assure you, the Quakers are hungry for respect and the ODAC championship.  It's going to be tough to play a very good Generals team at W&L's homecoming this Saturday with so much on the line, but I think Guilford has the will, the coaching, the athletic talent and, might I add, a great QB to weather such an environment.  Vogelbach is a big game QB and I think, win or lose, the Generals are going to know they were in a football game!

So that's the reason for all the transfers!!  And I had thought it was the anti-war movement.

To what transfers are you referring?  Vogelbach?  He had never played a down in a college game until he came to Guilford.  Please don't get fooled into thinking all Quakers are pacifists.  Sometimes, even Quakers have a bad day or lose their patience and just literally stomp the crap out of an elitist or two.  Then we feel bad and ask for forgiveness.   We are usually forgiven during the ride over to the emergency room, but the whole episode makes us feel bad for days.   It's not pretty. 

[hasanova]

i want to apologize to Favrrett it was wrong of me to attack and be childish.  I am just frusterated for those guys.

Outsider14 is right.  I would imagine they are quite frustrated as well.  A player like Ricca is pretty rare, so it takes some time to readjust your team strategy.       

[Outsider14]

alright. enough is enough. i get tired of hearing year in and year out how after one or two games of imperfect games how bridgewater is "struggling" or not "hitting on all cylinders". let me go over some stats w/ you to bring some of the bridgewater faithful back down to earth.
36.3 points per game,
15.7 allowed.
419 yards of offense.
5.9 yards per rush.
6.9 yards per play.
top passing efficiency offense in the odac.
2nd in passing efficiency defense.
26/27 in the red zone w/ 22 TDs.

last i checked those are some pretty damn good stats. personally, i know a certain ivy league team that would do anything for those stats. yes, turnovers, penalties and not playing w/ emotion will challenge any great team playing a good team, especially not playing w/ emotion. but good lord people. I'm all for expecting my alma mater to win the odac year in and year out. but when the team isn't producing ungodly playstation-like numbers every single game, that doesn't mean its time to say "well we had a good run, maybe we just don't have it anymore"
if i know the BC staff (and i think i do), i would bet they are challenging the kids this week. challenging their toughness, challenging their work ethics, and challenging their hearts. sometimes young men need a wake-up call to realize that the jersey they wear doesn't win the games; its whats under the jersey that matters
craig winston thode and the other senior leaders it's up to y'all to make sure you don't end your season/careers against catholic

and it all starts right now

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Outsider14,

I'm assuming your last post was a pick-me-up for the current players and coaches from BC that read this message forum.  If that's the case, I understand (and ignore the rest of my post).

But I think most of us BC fans realize that because of (1) lack of depth, (2) injuries, and (3) bad opponents the first five games, we have a lot more growing we need to do to repeat what we've done the last six years.

To further explain the above statement;

(1) lack of depth - because of 30+ seniors graduating from last season, and a small 2005 recruiting class, BC has needed inexperienced players to step in and play considerable minutes.  I don't think we've ever had a year (since 1999) where we've had seven freshmen on the depth chart (1 FB, 1 TE, 1 OL, 3 DB, and 1 LB).  Doesn't matter how good they are or might be, it'll take them time to get used to the college game.

(2) injuries - Clark would be the first to admit (and I think he has in the past) that one of the main reasons we have been so successful is because of the lack of injuries.  But this season, that has certainly changed.  We've had too many players who have or would have been seeing the field, miss a game (or been out for the season): Young, Matthews, Warring, Cox, Sigmon, B. Carter, Campo, Kelley, Little, Wilkins, and Dicks.  That'll definitely stunt the growth of a team and keep them from being as good as they can be.

(3) bad opponents the first five games - our 5-0 start was against teams with a combined 7-23 record (2-4, 2-4, 1-5, 0-7, and 2-4).  Perhaps we got overconfident.  Perhaps we weren't able to identify our weaknesses and work on them.  Either way, that'll help an opponent actually above .500 find a way to beat us (a la Guilford).

Trust me, I'm certainly not writing the season off at all.  But for the first time in five years, we aren't in control of our own destiny.  Sure, we can still finish a fantastic 9-1, but there's a chance that won't win us the ODAC (we need someone to beat GC) or that it won't earn us a Pool C bid to the NCAA playoffs (there are too many other one-loss teams right now).  And I'm sure you'd agree with me that that scenario (us finishing 9-1 but not being ODAC champs or making the playoffs) is not considered successful to Bridgewater College, the coaches, the players or the fans.

So I don't care how nice our stats are.  All they mean is that we could be really good or that we should be really good.  Losing to Guilford means we couldn't and suggests we shouldn't.

[WLU78]

To what transfers are you referring?  Vogelbach?  He had never played a down in a college game until he came to Guilford.  Please don't get fooled into thinking all Quakers are pacifists.  Sometimes, even Quakers have a bad day or lose their patience and just literally stomp the crap out of an elitist or two.  Then we feel bad and ask for forgiveness.   We are usually forgiven during the ride over to the emergency room, but the whole episode makes us feel bad for days.   It's not pretty. 

To what transfers are you referring?
The nine on the roster posted on the GC site.  (and wasn't there a post earlier in the summer numbering the players not returning including several other transfers?)


just literally stomp the crap out of an elitist or two.

Spoken like a true anti-war pacifist protester!!

[hasanova]

WLU78 - Other than Vogelbach, there really haven't been too many "impact" players come from the transfer ranks.  Yes, there were a few players last year who came in as Juniors from a JC in Arizona.  They were following last year's Defensive Coordinator who is now gone and so are they.  As you know, there is always some attrition, especially at expensive private schools, partly because some players and their families simply can't afford the tuition just for the chance to play DIII football.  Guilford is no exception.  If a player is not starting, that exacerbates the problem.   Why pay to sit on the bench when you can get in-state tuition at the relatively inexpensive 16 schools of the UNC system?  Others transfer in, sometimes from higher classifications, for the same reason that some leave - the chance to play.  I know of one case where a player has transferred to Guilford from DII Catawba.  He was originally heavily recruited by Guilford, went to Catawba and sat on the bench, and now realizes his best chance to play is at Guilford.  Nine transfers (I trust your numbers) out of 90 potential players is only 10%.  Personally, I don't think that's too bad for a new coaching staff trying to create some credibility after a 1-9 season in 2004 and seven losing seasons in a row.  If they meet the NCAA, ODAC and Guilford entrance requirements, then I say OK.  As Kiesel and his staff have more of their own players and establish their own traditions, I think the number of transfers and level of turnover will become almost nil.  I hope so.  I want to see young men start - and finish - their 4-year careers all in a Quaker uniform.

Please understand also, I am not personally a Quaker.  I admire what they believe and was strongly shaped by attending a Friends college, but sadly I don't always live up to all their ideals.  Sometimes, I just want to (verbally) smack people.  The Quakers have greatly influenced me, however.  At least now I sometimes have remorse after I've done it - or thought about it!  lol    Peace

[wrighthall220]

Hasa,
Transfers are pretty common in D3 football.. don't sweat it!  Heck even Outsider was a  transfer, as was Brandon Wakefield for BC and let's not forget B.Elliot from Linfield.. sometimes the grass IS greener in D3 and it makes sense to leave a school that is overlooking you to play at a school where you'll PLAY and that will appreciate you! 

[miz]

Outsider14,

I'm assuming your last post was a pick-me-up for the current players and coaches from BC that read this message forum.  If that's the case, I understand (and ignore the rest of my post).

But I think most of us BC fans realize that because of (1) lack of depth, (2) injuries, and (3) bad opponents the first five games, we have a lot more growing we need to do to repeat what we've done the last six years.

To further explain the above statement;

(1) lack of depth - because of 30+ seniors graduating from last season, and a small 2005 recruiting class, BC has needed inexperienced players to step in and play considerable minutes.  I don't think we've ever had a year (since 1999) where we've had seven freshmen on the depth chart (1 FB, 1 TE, 1 OL, 3 DB, and 1 LB).  Doesn't matter how good they are or might be, it'll take them time to get used to the college game.

(2) injuries - Clark would be the first to admit (and I think he has in the past) that one of the main reasons we have been so successful is because of the lack of injuries.  But this season, that has certainly changed.  We've had too many players who have or would have been seeing the field, miss a game (or been out for the season): Young, Matthews, Warring, Cox, Sigmon, B. Carter, Campo, Kelley, Little, Wilkins, and Dicks.  That'll definitely stunt the growth of a team and keep them from being as good as they can be.

(3) bad opponents the first five games - our 5-0 start was against teams with a combined 7-23 record (2-4, 2-4, 1-5, 0-7, and 2-4).  Perhaps we got overconfident.  Perhaps we weren't able to identify our weaknesses and work on them.  Either way, that'll help an opponent actually above .500 find a way to beat us (a la Guilford).

Trust me, I'm certainly not writing the season off at all.  But for the first time in five years, we aren't in control of our own destiny.  Sure, we can still finish a fantastic 9-1, but there's a chance that won't win us the ODAC (we need someone to beat GC) or that it won't earn us a Pool C bid to the NCAA playoffs (there are too many other one-loss teams right now).  And I'm sure you'd agree with me that that scenario (us finishing 9-1 but not being ODAC champs or making the playoffs) is not considered successful to Bridgewater College, the coaches, the players or the fans.

So I don't care how nice our stats are.  All they mean is that we could be really good or that we should be really good.  Losing to Guilford means we couldn't and suggests we shouldn't.

In a perverse way, I think this loss has the potential to really help Bridgewater.  As you say, we haven't really played anybody good all year and outside of McDaniel we haven't really dominated the way our talent dictates we should, regardless of injuries and the like.  

We played like crap at Ferrum, but we still won and maybe didn't get corrected the things we needed to correct.  After the game we gave all our our verbal "hats off" to a bad, one-dimensional football team for making us basically look like a pop-warner team for 60 minuites.  The problem wasn't with us, we said.  Ferrum was just that good, we all said.

This time at Guilford, we did lose and hopefully there had been a lot of "looking in the mirror" this week to see what everyone can do to close the gap btw. where we are now and where this program (coaches, players, alumni, fans) wants to be.  Will we still win the ODAC if nothing changes?  Probably, in my opionion.  But for Bridgewater to take the step towards getting back to the truly elite level, in a word you just can't lose to teams like Guilford (and Ferrum, who should have beat us).  

[gone]

How bout them Tigers!!!!!!!  Marty Ball has hit a all new high.  The Star Quarteback is gone and Marty has to actually start coaching.  Maybe "flipping it out there" on gameday is not such a good strategy.  How bout take a look at the best team in the confrence.  Great Defense...superior running game and i believe i have actually seen them punt the ball.  How many fingers do you think Favrett will point before he realizes where the blame lies.  how bout stop crying and get in the office and start coaching.  Start spreading the talent around put a decent player on defense and special teams.  Take some pride in the program and pull this thing around.   

Stink Box,
Don't take it out on Favret because the tigers are not doing well. He is an excellent coach. Remember it was his aggressive style that got HSC back (if they ever were) on the map. He gave you and the rest of the tigers something to be proud of (even if you never beat BC, but hell nobody in the ODAC did, until last week, Congrats to Guilford).
He has coached alot of great D3 players and teams. Every coach and team has a rough season or two or three
Go Cards!!!!
Just one CUA and Gonzaga alum sticking up for another!!!