FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

dc_has_been · September 05, 2010, 11:28:30 PM

Hanover did surprise me, but they have been rebuilding and it looks they are turning the corner a littler earlier than I anticipated.
I will not give Franklin a plus for scheduling Valpo. Just because they are DIAA doesn't mean squat unless they are an actual good DIAA school. Butler has had one good season so far, but they are still playing DIII schools at the mid level of DIII. Play a UWWhitewater or Mount Union and I would bet they'd get waxed.

maripp2002 · September 06, 2010, 12:17:33 AM

That is true, but in all fairness I might take UWW or MUC against my latest alma-mater WKU. I have watched all three play and for goodness sake UWW and MUC are great football teams regardless of division. Western just didn't look poised at anything, they didn't "look like they've been there". I think confidence is a dangerous thing in a football team, and MUC and UWW should have it.

Which leads to the next point, hopefully Hanover can gain a little from this win, it would be nice to see three good teams in the HCAC. I think MSJ and Franklin are there and I think there are about four programs sitting behind them to take the next step.

Oh, also, did the NCAC pay the HCAC to take Earlham? From a purely football standpoint, it seems the NCAC made out like a bandit and the HCAC just took another cellar dweller. DePauw > Earlham in virtually all sports, and on the academic side of things. In fact it doesn't bode well at all when a team switches conferences just to save money. That would seem to be ill omened to me.

cave2bens · September 06, 2010, 06:19:28 AM

Quote from: maripp2002 on September 06, 2010, 12:17:33 AM

Oh, also, did the NCAC pay the HCAC to take Earlham? From a purely football standpoint, it seems the NCAC made out like a bandit and the HCAC just took another cellar dweller. DePauw > Earlham in virtually all sports, and on the academic side of things. In fact it doesn't bode well at all when a team switches conferences just to save money. That would seem to be ill omened to me.

Don't know that I'd read so much into a change in conference affiliation.

The HCAC gained an additional member, and while Earlham's athletics aren't stellar, the conference averages in endowment levels and academic cred are definitely raised - Hanover, Rose, and Transy have been carrying that burden for quite a while. This is DIII, afterall, and not the SEC.

wabashcpa · September 06, 2010, 09:29:24 AM

Another surprising result from this past weekend - Bluffton beating Kalamazoo. Not that Kalamazoo is formidable, but generally any win for Bluffton is a good win. Could Bluffton be a surprise team this year and finish with a .500 record or better?

Also, very good win for Hanover - Centre, while not playoff caliber, has been a consistent middle-tier team in the SCAC, which has some pretty good teams. They don't appear to be a gimme for Franklin or MSJ anymore.

BUBeaverFan · September 06, 2010, 10:14:34 AM

The Beavers snapped a 17 game losing streak with their win over K-Zoo on Saturday.

(Next up for the Beavers is Trine... YIKES!)

dc_has_been · September 06, 2010, 01:57:09 PM

I agree about Bluffton, a big win for their program. They could very well go 5-5 this season. Aside from Franklin & MSJ & possible Hanover the bottom is up for grabs!
I would like to add DC to the list, but until they get their offense going they will really struggle.

maripp2002 · September 06, 2010, 11:32:36 PM

Right now the HCAC looks like it could have one or two front runners and a big pack of "good" teams. I look for it to be a really exciting season with the kind of depth there is in the conference this year. And of course let's just sit and see how the season progresses, you never know who gets a little momentum and who fizzles.

SaintsFAN · September 07, 2010, 10:56:19 AM

Quote from: GRIZ_BACKER on September 05, 2010, 09:06:53 PM
Quote from: maripp2002 on September 05, 2010, 04:45:35 PM
I don't know, Hanover had, although not a particularly strong showing, a win over Centre on Saturday. They were predicted to be the SCAC's second best team according to the coaches. And the SCAC has some good power at the top. I was a little surprised by the scoreline, but maybe the Panthers will surprise some people in the HCAC and finish near the top. I still think they're a year or two away from competing for the championship.

I for one will be glad to see Hanover competitive again While it was fun to pound them after being on the short end for a long time, it would be a lot more fun to have a full scale war the last week of the season. Five wins in a row and non really in doubt gets boring after a while. Plus Hanover might be able to snag some recruits away from MSJ.

MSJ doesn't own Cincy anymore... thats Thomas More territory now. Check out the sophomore Pre-Season All American DB, who started as a freshman. They loaded up on recruits again this off season. Because of Hanover's offense, I'm a little nervous that TMC didn't get to play someone before they play Hanover, but it will be ok. The TMC defense is very very fast and will be fine after 10 minutes of play in Madison.

SaintsFAN · September 07, 2010, 11:08:56 AM

Quote from: GRIZ_BACKER on September 05, 2010, 02:38:53 PM
Quote from: dc_has_been on September 03, 2010, 12:46:29 AM
Hate to say it, but those games were mulligans. Trine is top 25 team and Taylor is a much improved program as our beloved HCAC schools that played tonight aren't there. With that said, how does everyone feel the HCAC will fare against nonconference teams this year? Myself am worried about the strength of the conference. We had the year where Franklin and MSJ were very respectable teams, but I'm not seeing this year.

I would say that Franklin and MSJ are still considered respectable out of conference. Franklin typically schedules strong non conference opponents and has been successful and/pr competitive most of the time. (Butler, Wabash, Baldwin Wallace, Carthage, Trine the last 3 years, and Butler and Mount Union in 2012 and 2013) Carthage is a a solid team in one of the top 3-4 conferences and Valporaiso while a bottom feeder in its conference is in the 1A non-scholarship conference with Butler, Dayton, etc.

MSJ plays Thomas More every season (typically a strong team).

Yeah, I get on Sayer about MSJ's OOC schedule to start the season.. Wilma HAS to go if they want to get better. Look at Hanover.. used to be W&J and TMC to start, now in 2010 its Centre and TMC. They stepped up.

I'm hearing rumblings that if W&J leaves the PAC, TMC will probably look to the HCAC again. That should help the profile of the HCAC more than anything possible at this point.

GRIZ_BACKER · September 08, 2010, 08:25:49 PM

Yeah, I get on Sayer about MSJ's OOC schedule to start the season.. Wilma HAS to go if they want to get better. Look at Hanover.. used to be W&J and TMC to start, now in 2010 its Centre and TMC. They stepped up.

I'm hearing rumblings that if W&J leaves the PAC, TMC will probably look to the HCAC again. That should help the profile of the HCAC more than anything possible at this point.
[/quote]

I agree it is time for MSJ to step up and take a chance. If TMC were to ultimately join the conference that would be good for all. While FC and MSJ wouldnt have an easy path like they have lately, an improved and competitive Hanover along with TMC would certainly make for more interesting saturdays. A more balanced conference like the CCIW is the way to go IMO.

maripp2002 · September 10, 2010, 04:45:57 PM

Good luck to all the HCAC teams playing out of conference this weekend. It would be nice to see Hanover play a good game, and maybe help old TMC realize what they've been missing in the HCAC.

SaintsFAN · September 11, 2010, 04:24:16 PM

Quote from: maripp2002 on September 10, 2010, 04:45:57 PM
Good luck to all the HCAC teams playing out of conference this weekend. It would be nice to see Hanover play a good game, and maybe help old TMC realize what they've been missing in the HCAC.

TMC reloaded for 2010... sophomore QB Kues and freshman RB Haydon were each over 85 yards on the ground (110 and 5 TDs for the RB and 85 and 1 TD for Kues).. if they get Kendall Owens going, the offense will be very hard to defend.

Defensively, the name of the game is speed... I'm impressed because TMC was playing their opener and Hanover beat a decent Centre squad last week in Danville.

56-12

maripp2002 · September 11, 2010, 04:44:37 PM

I agree that TMC dominated that game, but while I was following the game it seemed like Hanover just kept turning it over. Undoubtedly TMC capitalized, the sign of a good team, but when they just keep giving you the ball you really should. Ugh, I guess we learned a lot about how far HC has to go.

dc_has_been · September 11, 2010, 04:47:44 PM

Ouch! 56-12 is a beating! Still, Hanover is will still have a good season and they are getting better each year trying to get back to where they were. TMC has been a very good team over the years and especially this year considering they are ranked 15th too.

SaintsFAN · September 11, 2010, 08:15:01 PM

I thought the same, MARipp... but TMC was causing them to turn it over (interceptions) through their pressure and making those plays. Hanover still passed for 233 yards but Hanover only managed 43 total yards through 3 quarters against the 1st team defense.

The offense was a machine today.. Haydon is going to be a star... all in all, they had two freshman RB's get TD's today in addition to Kendall Owens their Junior TB... the recruiting is really paying off .

Next week they get tested @ Geneva.. who has a good team.