FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

Seems like things are on the up and up for many teams...good. Congrats to everyone who won.

Someone stated that FC's defense held their own...giving up 31 points in a game isn't holding your own. As Pat stated, BW was 5-4 last year, albeit in a solid conference. If FC wants to win playoff games or even win the HCAC, they will need to get an awful lot better on defense.

As you all know, MSJ won, and the surprising stat to me was the passing yards. The QB threw for 280ish. Its not very often a MSJ QB approaches the 300 yards passing number as they have always been a running team. If this kid ends up being a legit QB, and they are able to PTR like they have in the past, I agree with Kevin that they will be the favorite in the conference. They will play solid defense and this year it looks like they have an offense that is capable of competing in a shootout if the defense has a bad game.

One thing about MSJ and the Wilma game... Wilma is known for having a decent offense (you can check this with hscoach's preview of the OAC) but their defense isn't that good.  MSJ won't be tested until they play Defiance's defense or Franklin's "defense"....

I suspect this QB is pretty good but hasn't played in game action in a few years..... but their schedule lends itself well for him to get his feet wet against lesser competition and then be ready for a game against say, Thomas More... or even a playoff game.

If he's averaging 250 yards+ going into week 8 or 9, you have MSJ winning the HCAC and playoff-bound.  

Thats the ONE THING Mount St Joe has been missing the last 5 years.  



** on the Franklin front... I will have a chance to see Baldwin Wallace when they travel to Mount Union on October 3rd.  I'm doing color for D3.com and will dutifully report what the BW team looks like to the HCAC thread.

[Griz Fan]

I would say for Franklin's defense being as young as they are they definitely held their own against BW.  There is always room for improvement as a whole, however, I do believe the D deserves some props!

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Seems like things are on the up and up for many teams...good. Congrats to everyone who won.

Someone stated that FC's defense held their own...giving up 31 points in a game isn't holding your own. As Pat stated, BW was 5-4 last year, albeit in a solid conference. If FC wants to win playoff games or even win the HCAC, they will need to get an awful lot better on defense.

As you all know, MSJ won, and the surprising stat to me was the passing yards. The QB threw for 280ish. Its not very often a MSJ QB approaches the 300 yards passing number as they have always been a running team. If this kid ends up being a legit QB, and they are able to PTR like they have in the past, I agree with Kevin that they will be the favorite in the conference. They will play solid defense and this year it looks like they have an offense that is capable of competing in a shootout if the defense has a bad game.

One might also argue that to win the conference and playoff games a team could  require more than 21 points a game on offense.  FC won two playoff games last season giving up 42 and 28 points respectively and gave up 35  on the road in Cincy and won there as well.  10/24/09.   

[SaintsFAN]

Seems like things are on the up and up for many teams...good. Congrats to everyone who won.

Someone stated that FC's defense held their own...giving up 31 points in a game isn't holding your own. As Pat stated, BW was 5-4 last year, albeit in a solid conference. If FC wants to win playoff games or even win the HCAC, they will need to get an awful lot better on defense.

As you all know, MSJ won, and the surprising stat to me was the passing yards. The QB threw for 280ish. Its not very often a MSJ QB approaches the 300 yards passing number as they have always been a running team. If this kid ends up being a legit QB, and they are able to PTR like they have in the past, I agree with Kevin that they will be the favorite in the conference. They will play solid defense and this year it looks like they have an offense that is capable of competing in a shootout if the defense has a bad game.

One might also argue that to win the conference and playoff games a team could  require more than 21 points a game on offense.  FC won two playoff games last season giving up 42 and 28 points respectively and gave up 35  on the road in Cincy and won there as well.  10/24/09.   

are you suggesting that Franklin is better off without a defense?  BW is proud of their tradition of being mediocre... they are not close to a playoff team.  If what was wrong in week 1 isn't fixed by the MSJ game, MSJ will be back wearing the conference title slippers (because they are sissies)

and by the way.... nobody in here engages in pissing matches, this is a chat where most of us have met one another.  Adam wasn't ripping your team, he's saying what everyone else is thinking...  MSJ has ALOT better chance at winning games with ONLY scoring 21 points, than a Rupp-less Franklin does of giving up 28, 35 and 42... Yes your team did win this weekend but when you play a quality team, we'll see.

[SaintsFAN]

It was a great confidence booster and a hell of a game to watch.  i had the PC running with the Buckeyes on the big screen...not sure i should do that again it nearly gave me a heart attack as they both nearly blew the lead at the same time!!

if you talk to the folks who did the webcast let them know it came out great especially when you consider that they dont have hundreds of thousands in servers and IT infrastrucutre behind it.  I have no idea who the play by play guy was but he was really really good, well prepared, knowledgeable, and most important had a perfect flow and did not sound like a moron in the broadcast and the color guy did not sound like an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster (cough cough Bob Davie, Joe Thiesman).  all around great production and a great thing for us alums who can only make 1 game a year.

70,

I'm going to save you the trouble this week.... don't bother watching the game Saturday night.  Word around Columbus this game is ALREADY over.  Watch me get bragging rights over has_been at 3:30 at the Big House, though!

Whats wrong with an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster???

[70_dc_alum]

It was a great confidence booster and a hell of a game to watch.  i had the PC running with the Buckeyes on the big screen...not sure i should do that again it nearly gave me a heart attack as they both nearly blew the lead at the same time!!

if you talk to the folks who did the webcast let them know it came out great especially when you consider that they dont have hundreds of thousands in servers and IT infrastrucutre behind it.  I have no idea who the play by play guy was but he was really really good, well prepared, knowledgeable, and most important had a perfect flow and did not sound like a moron in the broadcast and the color guy did not sound like an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster (cough cough Bob Davie, Joe Thiesman).  all around great production and a great thing for us alums who can only make 1 game a year.

70,

I'm going to save you the trouble this week.... don't bother watching the game Saturday night.  Word around Columbus this game is ALREADY over.  Watch me get bragging rights over has_been at 3:30 at the Big House, though!

Whats wrong with an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster???

I heard USC was not even going to show-up this year becuase a freshman QB wont be able to take it

nothing wrong with a player/coach doing color as long as they dont talk like a douchebag...you know bob davie sounds like a moron!!

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I didn't take adam's reply as a rip on FC.  At face value 31 points against BW says some room for improvement.  BW is not a bad football team, certainly no worse than Wilmington.   But 21 points against a similar team to BW as a regular barometer for MSJ suggests more points will be needed to beat the FCs and TMs.  BW was  picked 3rd in the OAC and normally finish in the top 3 or 4.  FC is still loaded with good players 2 deep on both sides of the ball.  FC will be fine again this year.  

[SaintsFAN]

It was a great confidence booster and a hell of a game to watch.  i had the PC running with the Buckeyes on the big screen...not sure i should do that again it nearly gave me a heart attack as they both nearly blew the lead at the same time!!

if you talk to the folks who did the webcast let them know it came out great especially when you consider that they dont have hundreds of thousands in servers and IT infrastrucutre behind it.  I have no idea who the play by play guy was but he was really really good, well prepared, knowledgeable, and most important had a perfect flow and did not sound like a moron in the broadcast and the color guy did not sound like an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster (cough cough Bob Davie, Joe Thiesman).  all around great production and a great thing for us alums who can only make 1 game a year.

70,

I'm going to save you the trouble this week.... don't bother watching the game Saturday night.  Word around Columbus this game is ALREADY over.  Watch me get bragging rights over has_been at 3:30 at the Big House, though!

Whats wrong with an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster???

I heard USC was not even going to show-up this year becuase a freshman QB wont be able to take it

nothing wrong with a player/coach doing color as long as they dont talk like a douchebag...you know bob davie sounds like a moron!!

Bob Davie IS a moron

[cave2bens]

Davie is bad - and a cliche king, but...  Worst play by play of the weekend happened during the Notre Dame - Klein Oak match up at the Herbstreit Classic in Dallas.  8)  While the "microphone morons" and Dick Butkis were busy yapping about sponsorships for his anti-drug program, they totally missed a perfectly executed, "double pass" by the Californians which went for a 70+ yd TD.  Totally buggered - 

[Adam Sayer]

Didn't Bob Davie have a better record at Notre Dame than the two that took over for him? And were they not still playing the "Old Notre Dame Schedule" unlike the modern ND teams.

Getting back to defense, there is only one team that has consistently played solid defense year in and year out since 2002 and that is MSJ. Some other teams have stepped up for a year or two, but other than that, the quality of defense in the HCAC has been downright terrible. Almost like they think every game is meant to be 7 on 7 or routes vs air...which brings up the offense of choice for most HCAC teams...the only exception, again, being MSJ (historically). MSJ can win more games scoring 21 points than FC can win giving up 30 per game. Its a fact...MSJ went 37-3 from 2004-2007 and 48-12 betwen 2002-2007 using that concept. Young or not, giving up 30 in a game is terrible. The reason why I bring it up is if that offense has a bad day (turnovers, injuries, playing in poor weather, etc.) they have no defense to back them up. They could easily lose a game they shouldn't.

[SaintsFAN]

Didn't Bob Davie have a better record at Notre Dame than the two that took over for him? And were they not still playing the "Old Notre Dame Schedule" unlike the modern ND teams.

1.  They played the traditional Notre Dame schedule up until this year, when they filled it with more patsys.  USC, Michigan, Purdue, Mich St, Navy remain
2.  Bob Davie had a better record because he got off to a good start using Holtz's players.  Uncle Ty got stuck with the guys who were recruited by Davie and now Weis has been saddled with the guys Uncle Ty recruited.  Now that Weis has his players as juniors, we'll see what he can do.  


Its good to take off the scarlet and grey colored glasses every once in awhile, Sir.

[dc_has_been]

SaintsFan, We'll see if ND is the real deal this season for sure.  They have the schedule set up to be successful.  In regard to Saturday, I think it will be a good game to watch.  Both teams did well in week one against their lesser opponents & I like U of M's two qb system.  They'll have to pressure Clausen & control the clock to have a chance in this one though.  Go Blue! 
I also hate to say it, but I will be pulling for OSU to hammer USC.  There are too many band wagon fans out here as I've said before.  Be fall off & jump on constantly out here. 

[SaintsFAN]

SaintsFan, We'll see if ND is the real deal this season for sure.  They have the schedule set up to be successful.  In regard to Saturday, I think it will be a good game to watch.  Both teams did well in week one against their lesser opponents & I like U of M's two qb system.  They'll have to pressure Clausen & control the clock to have a chance in this one though.  Go Blue! 
I also hate to say it, but I will be pulling for OSU to hammer USC.  There are too many band wagon fans out here as I've said before.  Be fall off & jump on constantly out here. 

Agreed... but I thinks that Notre Dame's true test will come in early October when USC comes to South Bend.  Could they drop a game before then?  Yes... but I don't feel its likely. 

I believe Michigan is in for a surprise when they take the field Saturday.  They made Kaepernick from Nevada (and their entire offense) look ordinary... and not the dual threat QB he has been the last two seasons. 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Didn't Bob Davie have a better record at Notre Dame than the two that took over for him? And were they not still playing the "Old Notre Dame Schedule" unlike the modern ND teams.

Getting back to defense, there is only one team that has consistently played solid defense year in and year out since 2002 and that is MSJ. Some other teams have stepped up for a year or two, but other than that, the quality of defense in the HCAC has been downright terrible. Almost like they think every game is meant to be 7 on 7 or routes vs air...which brings up the offense of choice for most HCAC teams...the only exception, again, being MSJ (historically). MSJ can win more games scoring 21 points than FC can win giving up 30 per game. Its a fact...MSJ went 37-3 from 2004-2007 and 48-12 betwen 2002-2007 using that concept. Young or not, giving up 30 in a game is terrible. The reason why I bring it up is if that offense has a bad day (turnovers, injuries, playing in poor weather, etc.) they have no defense to back them up. They could easily lose a game they shouldn't.

I agree that MSJ has been better defensively in the past (FC has closed some of the gap in the last two years).  While the MSJ philosophy has been more run and more D, the conference is what it is.  Hanover won a lot of games with Leonard as the OC prior to the MSJ run.  I still think MSJ will need to adapt more (and it appears they are with the new QB  280 yards) because FC is most likely going to get 35 or so against MSJ on 10/24.  RHI is also  not as prolific on defense but can certainly put up some numbers.   But FC had to adapt and get better defensively and be able to run better to beat MSJ.  Both teams keep an eye on each other from my perspective.

[Jackets Backer]

I believe Michigan is in for a surprise when they take the field Saturday.  They made Kaepernick from Nevada (and their entire offense) look ordinary... and not the dual threat QB he has been the last two seasons. 

What, are the Irish going to parade Joe Montana, Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis and other past stars through the tunnel at the Big House?

Michigan's not going to be afraid of the Irish. Sure, Jon Tenuta will have something up his sleeve for Michigan's rookie quarterbacks and will test them 400% more than Western did. But, Michigan's best offensive player (Brandon Minor) is back this week and that will help.

Michigan also shutdown a highly-regarded offense last week.

It'll be a good game, not saying Michigan will win, but it will be close. Michigan's offense is a lot different than a year ago when Threet and Sheridan and the rest of the offense had butter fingers in South Bend.