FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Thunder44]

Fresh off the wire -

Earlham College (D-III - IN): We learned tonight that Marian University (NAIA - IN) defensive backs coach Neil Kazmierczak has accepted the head coaching position at Earlham.

Was at Butler before Marian. Spent a few years as the Defensive Coordinator at DePauw under Nick Mourouzis & Bill Lynch. I worked with him personally at DePauw. Great guy. Good coach. I wish him the best, because I think we all know what kind of battle he has ahead of him.

It will be difficult to get a good read on his efforts this season, as he essentially missed the entire recruiting season.  I am sure he hit it hard when he got on board, but with the search for an AD and then the HC announcement, Earlham was behind the 8 ball.

[formerd3db]

I agree.  I'm not sure I understand why Earlham did it this way.  Understandably, the administration wanted to take the appropriate time in the selection process to choose the right people for these two positions (AD and Head Football Coach) rather than "rush through" this as some colleges seem to do. However, unless these open positions just occurred - and from what I understood from the article, that was not the situation- it seems to me it would have been better to have this decision made much sooner as you mention.  Although we all know that any coach and his staff are essentially at the "mercy" of what the admissions staff eventually "gives" them in regards to those recruits they submit for consideration, on the other hand, it is obviously a better situation when a coach has his own list of those who they are submitting for consideration as student-athletes to be accepted for admission to the college. For sure, those holdover coaches from the previous staff (if there are and/or will be any) have had a part in the recruiting process, howeve, it just isn't the same.

So Kazmierczak will have to work with what he gets, although there is still the opportunity to get some late additions.  Being that he played at a DI school and even though this is his first HC job, being involved at the DIII level for a long time as he has certainly should be a plus for him compared to others who have not had as many years of experience.  We'll see what happens.  I wish him all the best as he starts this new era of the program at Earlham.  Of the numerous coaching changes in DIII that have been made, most were completed quite some time ago, although obviously there have been some recent late additions.  Yet, at the same time, again I'm puzzled as why they did it this way, especially after they had announced high commitment for improvements to the overall program as reasons being partly involved for the decision to move to the HCAC.   Strange and as has been mentioned, this may make Earlham still "behind the 8 ball" for awhile yet.

[Pat Coleman]

Our coaching carousel story on Earlham's hiring notes the position had been open since November.

http://www.d3football.com/notables/coaching-carousel

[formerd3db]

Pat:
Yeah, after making my post, I had checked your "Coaching Carousel" (and Earlham's athletic website too) and indeed what you reported is longer than what I recalled.  Again, which makes it puzzling it took them essentially 5 months to complete the process.  That is the complete "other side of the spectrum" in comparing how Olivet College (MI) made their selection in less than a month -a little over two weeks, which is, IMO, a little too fast.   Then again, "to each his own" as that saying goes!

BTW, what do you think about the news of us (Hope) finally getting the new synthetic turf?

[Pat Coleman]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

[formerd3db]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

[Pat Coleman]

I guess that's kind of the answer you got.

[70_dc_alum]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

D3db...it's about freaking time!  Better

Although any school that north probably should have turf

[cave2bens]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

D3db...it's about freaking time!  Better

Although any school that north probably should have turf

Or at least "north of the Toledo Strip."    - If not for "Phillips Corners," woulda been born a Michigander...

Any word (or possible Hope), pray tell, when DC might retire their carbon sponge/bovine pasture and succumb to the synthetic syndrome?   

[BUBeaverFan]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

D3db...it's about freaking time!  Better

Although any school that north probably should have turf

Defiance will likely have turf before Bluffton. Maybe they can battle to see who plays on natural grass last in the nation.

[gofor7pitt]

My son committed to Franklin on Sunday and sent in his deposit. We can't wait to be a part of the Franklin football family! He chose the Griz over Wabash, Mount Union, and Trine. From the start, Franklin felt like the best fit. He is a wr/pr/kr/rb. With 4.5 "40", 36" vertical, 5'8" 165 lbs.

We had a great time at Franklin's "Griz Showcase" last Saturday. My son got to know several of his future teammates and he is very excited he chose Franklin.  There were some very talented HS FB players there, 28 having already committed.

Being that slow, it will be tough for him to see the field for the Griz!  (Just Kidding!)

Congrats to him and you.  With the decision in the rear view mirror, he can enjoy the rest of his senior year of high school.

That is so true! It is a huge relief to make that commitment and finally have some fun(at least until camp starts)

It was a great game for Wabash-not so much for NC. And to add insult to injury, on the way home, I slow down for a deer that ran in front of my car. A second one slammed into my door and took out the mirror. 

A relief for sure! Coach Leonard made such a good impression on us right from the start. We have heard nothing but great things about him from everyone.

Good luck to your son!! it seems like only yesterday, we visited North Central and my son made his committment. Enjoy-- the four years fly-we have one left and hoping for a very good one. Keep us posted on his progress.

Thank You.  We were actually at the Wabash vs North Central playoff game on a Wabash visit. What a game that was!!! Good luck to you guys during your sons senior season.

[formerd3db]

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

D3db...it's about freaking time!  Better

Although any school that north probably should have turf

Defiance will likely have turf before Bluffton. Maybe they can battle to see who plays on natural grass last in the nation.

The mockup looks nice but at this point, a significant majority of D-III schools have turf already so it's not as noteworthy as it used to be.

Pat:

You are absolutely right since Hope is/was woefully "behind the times" with most DIII schools in regards to obtaining synthetic turf for football (even though we've had it now for 2 1/2 years for soccer and lacrosse).  I wasn't asking the question to you in regards to it being "noteworthy" (because it is only really noteworthy to Hope football people, our alumni and our MIAA), but rather I posed it to you more for your own opinion for something somewhere along the lines of..."well, it's about time".

D3db...it's about freaking time!  Better

Although any school that north probably should have turf

70_dc_alum:

Yeah, I know!   Also, indeed, it will be nice to see when DC and Bluffton eventually get the synthetic turf.  It is nice at Franklin and, overall, IMO, I think that most of the DIII schools will have to eventually do it in future years for simply trying to compete in recruiting of student-athletes with their peer schools (and, of course, for all the other benefits that a synthetic turf brings to a school).  On the other hand, perhaps some of the smallest DIII schools might just not be able to afford it - I don't know.  I would think, however, that if one's conference has the majority of its schools with the new turf, that it would be in the best interests of those member schools who don't have it to get it i.e. all the schools of a conference having the turf.  But, as we all know, it comes down to the $.    

[BUBeaverFan]

70_dc_alum:

Yeah, I know!   Also, indeed, it will be nice to see when DC and Bluffton eventually get the synthetic turf.  It is nice at Franklin and, overall, IMO, I think that most of the DIII schools will have to eventually do it in future years for simply trying to compete in recruiting of student-athletes with their peer schools (and, of course, for all the other benefits that a synthetic turf brings to a school).  On the other hand, perhaps some of the smallest DIII schools might just not be able to afford it - I don't know.  I would think, however, that if one's conference has the majority of its schools with the new turf, that it would be in the best interests of those member schools who don't have it to get it i.e. all the schools of a conference having the turf.  But, as we all know, it comes down to the $.

Maybe someone like Pat has a list of who still plays on natural grass. I think Earlham, Bluffton, Defiance and Manchester in the HCAC still play on grass. I think a couple of teams in the OAC still play on grass.

[dc_has_been]

Isn't having field turf like having solar power, saves money in the long run?  Plus, if DC can build a field house they should be able to put out some field turf for the stadium as well as baseball, softball, and soccer.  Pipe dream I guess.

[gofor7pitt]

According to Nick Driskill's twitter post, Lindy's has Mount Union preseason #1. With Franklin #8.

https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/NDriskill21/status/214015452073037824?photo=1