FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[sflzman]

Anybody know when/where the Bluffton/Heidelberg scrimmage is supposed to take place? I'd be interested to check out the new pieces Heidelberg has in place before they take on my Scots!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Anybody know when/where the Bluffton/Heidelberg scrimmage is supposed to take place? I'd be interested to check out the new pieces Heidelberg has in place before they take on my Scots!

I couldn't seem to find any information about it. Your best bet is to email one of the schools.

[grizgater]

Did anyone watch the griz Saturday? If you saw them what did you think? I know the 2 players that led the team with most TD's didn't participate.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Did anyone watch the griz Saturday? If you saw them what did you think? I know the 2 players that led the team with most TD's didn't participate.

I saw the scrimmage.  Cook and Linville have slight injuries and will be ready for opener.  No worries is what I heard.  Hard to tell anything from my observation.  We should know better next week over in Greencastle.

[GrizFan]

Did anyone watch the griz Saturday? If you saw them what did you think? I know the 2 players that led the team with most TD's didn't participate.

I saw the scrimmage.  Cook and Linville have slight injuries and will be ready for opener.  No worries is what I heard.  Hard to tell anything from my observation.  We should know better next week over in Greencastle.

I am curious about Robert Ortiz.  A kid from Arizona with big return numbers at NAIA Dakota State last season.

[gofor7pitt]

Did anyone watch the griz Saturday? If you saw them what did you think? I know the 2 players that led the team with most TD's didn't participate.

I saw the scrimmage.  Cook and Linville have slight injuries and will be ready for opener.  No worries is what I heard.  Hard to tell anything from my observation.  We should know better next week over in Greencastle.

Heard he left the team and is back in Arizona.

I am curious about Robert Ortiz.  A kid from Arizona with big return numbers at NAIA Dakota State last season.

[grizgater]

Yes Ortiz is gone.

[GrizFan]

Yes Ortiz is gone.

Bummer, the dude led the nation in kickoff return yards and had over 1500 yards in returns and receptions last season at Dakota State.

Bigger roster loss is Zach Ruark!  Two year starter who led team in INTs and returns (after loss of Corpe).

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

It's now exactly 1 week till the season officially starts with Manchester. Is anyone else tired of waiting for the season to get going?

I've got two housekeeping announcements to make...
1) I've only gotten 2 ballots (including my own) for the HCAC preseason fan poll. PM me your rankings and I'll compile the rankings by Thursday. It's just a one time thing, no need to do it every week.

2) Also don't forget to play the HCAC Pick 'em game which is in my signature.

[dc_has_been]

http://defianceathletics.com/football/news/2012-13/2232/new-look-jackets-poised-to-tackle-2012-season/

Preseason preview for the Jackets!

[panthersfan]

http://defianceathletics.com/football/news/2012-13/2232/new-look-jackets-poised-to-tackle-2012-season/

Preseason preview for the Jackets!

Nice preview

And you guys have updated roster...  Must be nice - Been waiting on Hanover to get theirs updated.

[dc_has_been]

Thanks panthersfan!  We have something going for us

[grizgater]

7 days till kick off. Good luck all HCAC programs next weekend.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE 2012 TOP 25 FAN POLL:
Please send me a PM with your ballot. I'd like to get a preseason poll up by Thursday night.

During the season ballots shall be due by Tuesdays so I can get them up Tuesday night.

Remember, this is just fun and we aren't part of the BCS Formula... yet

[panthersfan]

Using D3Football's preseason rankings I took a general stab at classifying the HCAC's non conf schedule in terms of whether the team will be an underdog, even or favored.  I know some match ups can be argued here but clearly we have our work cut-out for us.  Especially considering that there are two games I wanted to mark as underdogs and didn't (Franklin vs Butler and Hanover vs Ill College).  Butler may be a mediocre FCS school at best but still FCS (and not Valpo for sure).  I think Ill College is a clear favorite as well but Hanover fell within 50 spots to them in the preseason Div III rankings.  Within 50 spots is the general marker I used in determining if a matchup was even except for teams in the top 20 (i.e., Frankin vs Mount Union).

Only being favored in 2 of 18 non conference games is an eye opener.


HCAC Non Conf   D3 ranking   Favored/Even/Underdog
-------------   ----------      ---------------------
Anderson          211
Taylor      n/a      U
Grove City          164      E

Bluffton            142
Kenyon               232           F
Baldwin-Wal    19      U


Defiance           203
Albion               51      U
Adrian       67      U

Earlham      233
Oberlin      196      E
Kenyon      232      E

Franklin             13
Mount Union      2      U
Butler              n/a      E

Hanover       73
Ill College            39      E
Wabash       10      U

Manchester          184      
Trine               88      U
Kalamazoo          194      E

MSJ              121
Wilmington           194      F
Thomas More    20      U

Rose Hulman   150
Kalamazoo           194      E
Centre        40      U


Underdog   = 9
Even       = 7
Favored    = 2