FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[fc_alum_84]

ThunderLB  "fluke" may be a bit strong but five turnovers and giving up 3 3rd and double digit situations (two on same drive) and still having several chances to win (and still only losing by 3 points) doesn't qualify as lining up and beating somebody straight-up.  FC played poorly and didnt take care of the ball and got beat by a team they should not have lost too but deserved to lose to that day.

I would rather play Trine any day on the road versus MSJ.  IMO MSJ would beat Trine more often than not.

Trine needs to take care of business with Adrian before they start any playoff talk.  36-35 over Kalamazoo is not  a statement win.

[fc_alum_84]

All the talk this week should be about Franklin vs. RHIT.  After this weekend there will only be 1 unbeaten team in conference action. 
I still think RHIT is overrated, but I could be proved wrong.  Still, they really haven't played anyone dominant (sorry MSJ) & haven't really been able to stop teams from scoring which Franklin does very well.  It doesn't help that the game in a Franklin too. 

I guess will talk a little about DC vs. Hanover too.  Both team picked up their first win last week against teams that were favored over them.  The question is, who can make it two in a row?  I think DC has the edge on defense, but ofcourse Hanover has the edge on offense.  All in all I think it will be an ugly game, & if DC can eliminate their mistakes they'll take this one.

FC needs to come out and play their game on both sides of the ball and the score will take care of itself.  Hats of to RHIT as they have had one of their best season's ever but I still think they will need to play extremely well to keep this one close.  FC has lost four games in the last 2 2/3 seasons and all were to ranked playoff teams except for Trine (who did make the top 25).  Not bad.

[GrizzlyBall]

Fluke just might be a little strong. But, what Trine did have was 2 more yards of offense on 24 more plays and no scoring drive over 40 yards. They can thank Franklins turnovers for that. Trine just beat Kalamazoo on a last second two point conversion and Kal got beat by Bluffton. I dont know if fluke is the word, FC gave up a lot of turnovers and they deserved to lose on that day, any other day would be different.

[extraflavor]

I haven't been on here in a long time but I want to congratulate the Grizzlies on their continuing success.  I played under Leonard there and he's a great head coach.  I think the game that changed the whole program around was when Rupp was a freshmen and started for the 1st time against Hanover.  We won 45-15.  It was the first time in school history that a player played offense, defense, and special teams.  It might be first time in D3 but anyway keep the ball rollin' Griz!!!

[Pat Coleman]

In Division III that happens fairly frequently. I saw Augsburg's Royce Winford do it earlier this year. Coe's Tommy Breitbach has done it frequently.

Seeing as those are just two examples of players doing it at a high level, I'm sure there are many more who do it but don't stand out as much.

[SaintsFAN]

Thanks, Pat..  Jesus. 

Some of you guys are like freaking media in here.  Slanted views of the world and won't convince neutral observers to drink your kool-aid. 

Fluke is way strong a word, as GrizzlyBall said.  Back when I played college football, if an opponent converted 3 3rd and LONGs against us.. we used to say we got outplayed... and so would our coaches.  5 Turnovers may have been a fluke last season or the year before, fc84...but I would venture to say (the stats aren't available from last year) that with 16 turnovers through 7 games... Franklin is turning the ball over more this year than last (and may have already surpassed last year's total).   

has_been,

I got you... but you should root for Thomas More this weekend anyhow as they take on the PAC's 600 lb Gorilla. 

Sayer,

Bridge Bowl drinking?  I know of a pre-party at a neighborhood bar... but you have to wear a TMC shirt.  Luckily, I have one for you.  We can talk as we get closer.  Answer your dam phone.

KYGrizz,

At least the freaking Lions are competitive.  The Bengals have ZERO chance in their games.  Everytime you look up at 2 1/2 minutes are gone in the first Quarter, they've already given up a TD.  I think even Manchester United (or Womanchester for losing to a terrible Hanover team) might be more competitive in the NFL.

[frank uible]

There was a time in memory (when men were men and football was football) that every or almost every starter in college football played offense, defense and special teams. A little before the commencement of my memory on the subject that condition also applied to pro football.

[fc_alum_84]

for the record I qualified the fluke comment as a bit strongas well.  My intent was that FC played very poorly and Trine played well.  FC is a better team than Trine week in and week out but on the week they played Trine deserved the win as they took advantage of several FC mistakes. 

A muffed punt and another punt whereby the punter didn't get out of the way on a short punt directly cost FC the game as Trine was given the ball twice in the red zone and scored. 

It doesn't matter now. A win against RHIT and FC should cruise to a road game in the playoffs (prob against Wabash or North Central).  Unless Womanchester or the Mighty Panthers rise up and smite the Grizzlies.

[Adam Sayer]

TMC shirt??? I'll sport the old black and blue #60. I'm never home and our home phone doesn't charge very well. I get about 5-10 minutes of talk time if I'm lucky. Call the Ol Lady's cell (the columbus #). You'll have better luck getting to me.

I think MSJ will finish 7-3. I'll take that for a down year considering days of old were 2-8 and 3-7 seasons.

[SaintsFAN]

I think MSJ will finish 7-3. I'll take that for a down year considering days of old were 2-8 and 3-7 seasons.

3 losses huh?

[KYGrizzly]

I think MSJ will finish 7-3. I'll take that for a down year considering days of old were 2-8 and 3-7 seasons.

3 losses huh?

I guess we already know by Sayer's prediction who is going to win the Bridge Bowl.

[SaintsFAN]

Yeah no kidding.  Hopefully MSJ's players think its a done deal also. 

I will say this... the team speed on TMC is going to be unlike anything they've seen on their schedule the previous 9 games.  It starts when teams kick to us/or we cover the opening kickoff.  The PAC schools have been overwhelmed by it and the big-play ability as a result. 

Stellman has not thrown an INT this season. 

[70_dc_alum]

Stellman has not thrown an INT this season. 

well that is a difference from the QB's of the 90's

[SaintsFAN]

no kidding.. .I was always good for 2-3 per game.  So was Dustin. 

[dc_has_been]

About the Franklin/Trine game, I really hate when people make excuses for losses.  Franklin loss fair & square & to a team that may just be underrated.  Trine is 7-0 who cares if they beat the Zoo by scoring a 2pt conversion at the end.  They were done by 14 w/ under 5 minutes left & came back & won.  That is what a good team can do when their backs are against the wall.

Franklin is still looking good based upon what they've done this season so far.  Their nonconference opponets record is 16-5 & their lone loss is to a team that is 7-0.  I am assuming they are going to win out the rest of their HCAC competition & depending on their seed they get in the north region they could possibly set-up to win in the playoffs.

SaintsFan- don't get drawn into the Bridge Bowl.  You have bigger fish to fry this weekend.

Sayer- You should just worry about Manchester before you make predictions about winning out.

Go Jackets!!! Win two in a row (awesome that I have to actually get excited about winning two games in a row)!