FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[D3fanboy]

Agreed, thanks for the updates, FCGrizz!

I was disappointed with the call at the end of the DC game. Saw a still shot of catch and there was control and inbounds. Regardless, it's D3 with no reviews, so you go with what was called. Additionally, you can't lose the turnover battle as well as have 15-2 penalty disparity and expect to win.
Hopefully, they learn from it and rebound in conference play!

you aren't lying, I watched the replay and there's clearly a foot down.  Tough #D3Refs break for DC

[GrizFan]

The Grizzlies had momentum when tied with Trine 37-37.  They appeared to get an interception in the Trine end zone when the DB caught the ball and was tied up by the WR.  The official gave possession and a TD to Trine and the Grizzlies never seriously threatened again except scoring on the final play of the game.    

[70_dc_alum]

been away from the boards for a while but came back just to say DC got screwed on that last call.  he was in by a yard!

it's amazing what a little experience will do for a team and the Defiance offense finally has some seasoned vets playing.  looking forward to seeing them in the top half of the league standings.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Hanover led the whole way. Trine kept it close for three quarters but Hanover scored 21 in the 4th to pull away 38-14.

Final non-conference record
Hanover 3-0
MSJ 2-1
Bluffton 1-2
Defiance 1-2
Rose-Hulman 1-2
Anderson 0-3
Franklin 0-3
Manchester 0-3

As of now I'd say Hanover-MSJ week 8 will be for the title. Rose solidly in 3rd, could pull an upset to disrupt things. Franklin-Defiance week 7 to finish in the top half. Bluffton solidly in 6th, and the Bronze Ball week 11 for last place between Anderson and Manchester.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

It's time for conference action. Not much excitement in today's matchups. Rose should easily handle Anderson at home, same as MSJ hosting Manchester. Hanover should win comfortably against Defiance but I think the Yellow Jackets could put up a good fight in the first half. Finally there's Franklin hosting Bluffton. Franklin should win but it hasn't been easy. Five of the last six games have been within 2 scores and I could see them having a high scoring shootout. Possibly 'first to 40' wins?

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

3 games going as planned... MSJ and Rose winning comfortably, Franklin up 2 scores... but Defiance is less than a minute from upsetting Hanover.
Tied at 21, Yellow Jackets scored a TD but missed the extra point with 51 seconds left for a 27-21 lead. Hanover starts their drive from their own 42. A couple passes and down to the Defiance 20 with 17 seconds left. Hanover down to the 6 yard line with 6.7 seconds left. In and out of the receiver's hands in the end zone but a holding penalty. Hanover will have one play from the 16 yard line. And a sack ends it. Defiance pulls off the win 27-21.

While that was happening, Bluffton scored with under a minute left to get within 7, but Franklin recovered the onside kick and look like they'll hold on 31-24

[dc_has_been]

Big win for the Jackets!  Let's Gooooooo!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Looks like Defiance will be leaving us. https://www.naia.org/general/2023-24/releases/NAIA_NewMembersFall_10_2_2023

[dc_has_been]

It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

[GrizFan]

It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin has a lot of work to do. They made it 18 straight against Anderson in a 36-28 win but the Ravens had given up at least 60 in all four games this year and had yet to score 20. That is only the 2nd time in the last 17 meetings that Franklin failed to score at least 40.

Rose-Hulman cruises in Manchester 44-7.
Mount St Joseph puts a stop to the high flying Yellow Jackets 62-21
Hanover over Bluffton 21-0.

[Darryl Nester]

It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

I don't have any additional input about what they will have to spend scholarship-wise in order to be competitive, but at the recent HCAC administrative meeting*, their AD summarized what they had considered in making the decision, and one expected benefit of the move is a considerably reduced travel budget: They will be near the geographic center of their new conference (the WHAC), with their maximum travel time in the neighborhood of three hours—so no overnight stays for conference play. (And as a side benefit, less missed class time.)

Regarding the NAIA being less prestigious, I don't disagree. I recall when Bluffton, Defiance, and other members of the old HBCC made the transition from NAIA to NCAA D3 thirty-plus years ago, and how not long after that, the NCAA had to put a pause on letting in NAIA schools.

*I cannot share everything that was said in that meeting, of course, but this particular item did not feel confidential.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Big game today... Franklin is at Defiance. In the pickem most still think Franklin are going to win, but I feel that might be a product of how the teams have been in the past. I actually think Defiance is the favorite here. I think I'll say 42-28 Yellow Jackets win.

MSJ should have another easy day hosting Anderson.
Hanover hosts Manchester. A final chance to get everything in order before they head to MSJ next week.
Rose-Hulman hosts Bluffton. I expect the Engineers to have no problem here.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

If not for a few plays in the 1st half, the Franklin-Defiance game could have been much different. Twice Defiance had a receiver get a step on the defender but couldn't hit them. One was in the end zone and one was a deep ball that could have gone for a TD. The other play was when Franklin was pinned at the 1 they almost had a safety but just got out, a couple plays later the Grizzlies busted a long run for a TD.
The rainy weather made passing almost non-existent. Franklin just 5 of 9 for 16 yards, Defiance combined for 5 of 17 for 42 yards. The running backs had a field day though. Tyshaun Freeman had 19 carries for 235 yards and 3 TD for Defiance. Not to be outdone, Garrett Cora had 30 rushes for 318 yards and 4 TD for Franklin.

Rose beat Bluffton 52-28 in a game that never looked in doubt after mid 2nd quarter.
MSJ led 70-0 after 3 and picked off the Ravens 5 times in a 77-14 win.
Hanover pitches the shutout with a 34-0 win against Bluffton.

[70_dc_alum]

It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

I don't have any additional input about what they will have to spend scholarship-wise in order to be competitive, but at the recent HCAC administrative meeting*, their AD summarized what they had considered in making the decision, and one expected benefit of the move is a considerably reduced travel budget: They will be near the geographic center of their new conference (the WHAC), with their maximum travel time in the neighborhood of three hours—so no overnight stays for conference play. (And as a side benefit, less missed class time.)

Regarding the NAIA being less prestigious, I don't disagree. I recall when Bluffton, Defiance, and other members of the old HBCC made the transition from NAIA to NCAA D3 thirty-plus years ago, and how not long after that, the NCAA had to put a pause on letting in NAIA schools.

*I cannot share everything that was said in that meeting, of course, but this particular item did not feel confidential.

they have stated the less travel expense as a key reason in the announcements they put out explaining the move.  Reality is only Hanover and Transylvania are the only 2 overnights that you have to do as MSJ is right at 3hrs. The new conference for football has Olivet Nazarene, Judson, St Francis IL all over in the Chicago Area which is about 4hrs.  Its not really a factor for football but all of the other sports I can see how this will be a lot better.   

When it comes to Scholarships, in one of the letter's they send out  I think it said they will be giving out close the same grant money as before but now it can be packaged up differently so their costs do not increase but they have a lot more flexibility on how to give it out.   if done correctly i can see how this can be leveraged to increase enrollment.  hand out a bunch of partial athletic scholarships to folks that may not have qualified for needs/merit grants before.  Spend the same amount but spread the wealth and get more to attend. 

Will be interesting to see how this all pans out.  I have no idea who I am supposed to hate now that its all new teams.  I am going with disliking Sienna Heights just cause they are in Adrian.  Either way that game for the Hammer this year with Bluffton will be huge and could determine who owns the hammer forever!