FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[KYGrizzly]

Was browsing Franklins web site today and noticed that they will be playing Mount Union in 2012 and 2013 as part of their non-conference schedule.

They are also updating their sports facilities and it looks like the renovation of the football stadium will be done for the 2011 season. Hope they are putting sports turf in.

[70_dc_alum]

nice...that's a tough way to start out the season.  Having done that my freshman and sophmore seasons i can look back and say it was a good experience even though we only hung with Mount Union for 1 quarter out of 8!!  It made watching the National Championship game a lot more interesting when you could say hey i kicked his butt...well maybe for a play or 2!!

[75 bucks]

Does Defiance make their move this year? I think Bluffton will be the surprise team in HCAC. They seem to be doing a great job recruiting.

[D3_DPUFan]

Wow...I saw news of the Mount Union deal the other day. And news of some additional adds as well...

2010 - at Carthage (WI) and home versus Valpo
2011 - at Valpo and open home date
2012 - home versus Mt. Union and at Butler
2013 - at Mt. Union and home versus Butler

Valpo is probably the weakest of the group...but quite an impressive step up for the Grizzlies...good luck to Coach Leonard!

[formerd3db]

Wow...I saw news of the Mount Union deal the other day. And news of some additional adds as well...

2010 - at Carthage (WI) and home versus Valpo
2011 - at Valpo and open home date
2012 - home versus Mt. Union and at Butler
2013 - at Mt. Union and home versus Butler

Valpo is probably the weakest of the group...but quite an impressive step up for the Grizzlies...good luck to Coach Leonard!

A couple of years ago, everyone would have said Butler was the weakest of the group   Although Valpo's program has been down of recent, I do not doubt they will improve, just like Butler.  Although non-scholarship, it is a step up for Franklin.  By adding those teams to its schedule, I agree with you guys that it can potentially be a big step and help to Franklin in the long term, even if they lose those games.  Time will tell.  Nonetheless, I like and applaud that type of challenge.

[dc_has_been]

Maybe Franklin is thinking of making the jump from DIII to DII or DI FCS with all their improvements to their athletic department and tougher schedule for football?  If they are doing the same for bball too I would actually take the statement seriously.

[Raider 68]

Maybe Franklin is thinking of making the jump from DIII to DII or DI FCS with all their improvements to their athletic department and tougher schedule for football?  If they are doing the same for bball too I would actually take the statement seriously.

Franklin has had winning seasons for 4 of the last 11 year (winning '06-'09). With only 1000 or so students, making the leap to D2 or D1 FCS seems to be a real stretch. I would think the school needs to grow more and maybe add additional educational  degree programs (university status) in order to complete with a larger student population before considering scholarship sports programs not only in football but other sports as well. Playing a more competitive football schedule is good place to start!

[cave2bens]

Maybe Franklin is thinking of making the jump from DIII to DII or DI FCS with all their improvements to their athletic department and tougher schedule for football?  If they are doing the same for bball too I would actually take the statement seriously.

Franklin has had winning seasons for 4 of the last 11 year (winning '06-'09). With only 1000 or so students, making the leap to D2 or D1 FCS seems to be a real stretch. I would think the school needs to grow more and maybe add additional educational  degree programs (university status) in order to complete with a larger student population before considering scholarship sports programs not only in football but other sports as well. Playing a more competitive football schedule is good place to start!

Perhaps they're following the path of Hillsdale?  Did my heart good to see the Chargers get a draft choice (3rd rd) before either Ohio State or the local trolls at UGa + two free agent signees to boot (no Chester Marcol inference intended).   

[70_dc_alum]

MSJ Player got tryout with the Bengals this week at rookie mini camp

Mount St. Joseph pass rusher Alex Harbin literally came off the edge to get a shot in the tryouts. He got the call at the last minute Thursday afternoon when a linebacker the Bengals had lined up for a tryout signed elsewhere. The 6-2, 247-pound Harbin had some big-time numbers at the Division III Cincinnati school after playing in the city at Elder High School.

[SaintsFAN]

Mark it down on your calendars (AND take note Defiance AD):

Thomas More AT Hanover September 11, 2010 1:30pm.

[Adam Sayer]

He was at UC's pro day back in March. I don't know if he worked out, but he was present.

[dc_has_been]

Mark it down on your calendars (AND take note Defiance AD):

Thomas More AT Hanover September 11, 2010 1:30pm.

I like it!  Working your way back into the HCAC rivalries.  When is your contract up with the PAC?   

[SaintsFAN]

Mark it down on your calendars (AND take note Defiance AD):

Thomas More AT Hanover September 11, 2010 1:30pm.

I like it!  Working your way back into the HCAC rivalries.  When is your contract up with the PAC?   

maybe sooner than anyone thought??  W&J is rumored to be leaving for the NCAC...

[dc_has_been]

Mark it down on your calendars (AND take note Defiance AD):

Thomas More AT Hanover September 11, 2010 1:30pm.

I like it!  Working your way back into the HCAC rivalries.  When is your contract up with the PAC?   

maybe sooner than anyone thought??  W&J is rumored to be leaving for the NCAC...

What!?!?  Who's leaving then?  Are they going to have a 10 team conference with 1 nonconf game like the OAC? 

[cave2bens]

maybe sooner than anyone thought??  W&J is rumored to be leaving for the NCAC...

What!?!?  Who's leaving then?  Are they going to have a 10 team conference with 1 nonconf game like the OAC? 

The HCAC adopted the athletic powerhouse from Richmond, IN, opening up a vacancy.    The NCAC doesn't play a full round-robin in football, Has Been - particularly since they started swapping spit with the four UAA gridiron participants a few years ago.  That contract ends in 2011, I believe, and either opens two games on the schedule, or adds another league game.  It seems really ludicrous, for example, that Kenyon plays Wabash this year and it doesn't count in the NCAC standings...

There have been rumors swirling about W&J making said move for nearly a year, along with the Crawfordsville crowd rooting (against hope, it appears  ) for DePauw to consider staying closer to home.  Given W&J's broad-based, athletic program (swimming, etc.) and the competitive offerings of Kenyon, Denison, Wooster, and Allegheny within a couple of hours, it may make sense.