FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[dc_has_been]

It is really too bad that the HCAC does not have more to offer so that Franklin could receive more respect.  Not many outside the HCAC really gave Franklin a chance of beating Adrain today.  I guess it sometimes good being underestimated just like they will be again vs. UMHB. 

[Pat Coleman]

Guess this a note for the d3football.com staff for a bit more love...  3 or 4 teams in the HCAC could play with MIAA champ.  One of them can crush them as it seems.

Thanks for the 20-20 hindsight.

[gofor7pitt]

I thought this would be the scenario all along as Franklin has been so good vs the run all season. The great thing about coach Leonard's team is almost entire roster is made up of Indiana kids. He is getting almost all the states top prospects that slip through the cracks to D3 and also a few sleepers. Next season they have almost everyone back and that includes a couple very quick and talented freshman that had their seasons end early due to injury.

Honestly, I thought it was a little disrespectful that so many had Adrian favored especially since it was their first playoff game in 24 years! Plus Adrian won their conference but did not blow anyone out in a league not much better than the HCAC.

2 other teams won on the road today. Witt by 14, and Elmhurst by 3. Griz won by 32, while piling up 370 yard of offense the first half alone. Hope Franklin can get some more respect next year, as in 2012 the Griz have to go through the #2 and #1 team on the road to make it out of their bracket.

[crimsonace]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

It's somewhat like Butler or Gonzaga in basketball. It's difficult for them to get national respect because the conference is seen as below-caliber. Much like those schools, FC played top teams (Mt. Union, Butler) in the non-conference, giving it a good look. Those losses paid off today.

To say Franklin beating Adrian means Hanover or Manchester would've beaten/played with Adrian is a bit of a stretch, because this is a good matchup. But I hope this does bring a bit more respect regionally to the HCAC, as Hanover was an excellent offensive team this season and an up-and-comer, Manchester was solid, and I liked what I saw out of Defiance & Bluffton at the end of the year.

[gofor7pitt]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

True, but Franklin's out of conf schedule was the #1 team in the country and Adrian. Nobody else beat Mount Union and nobody else blew out Adrian as Franklin just did. Well know a lot more next Saturday. I'm just saying I hope next year they don't put Franklin in the same bracket with #1 and #2.

[SaintsFAN]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

It's not tough, it's impossible. Let's face it guys: Franklin isn't like the rest of the HCAC and Conference wins will be taken with a grain of salt. For 10 weeks Franklin did what was expected of them. They got a chance to change perception today and get another one next week.

The reason Franklin is ranked and has the respect of the pollsters is because they've won playoff games. They have been able to step out of the HCAC shadows. No way does Pat, et all not respect them. They just didn't celebrate them for getting through the Heartland schedule.

[SaintsFAN]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

True, but Franklin's out of conf schedule was the #1 team in the country and Adrian. Nobody else beat Mount Union and nobody else blew out Adrian as Franklin just did. Well know a lot more next Saturday. I'm just saying I hope next year they don't put Franklin in the same bracket with #1 and #2.

Adrian isn't an OOC team. They played in the playoffs. They played Mount, but lost to them as many thought they would. Franklin is fine.. They are winning playoff games

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

True, but Franklin's out of conf schedule was the #1 team in the country and Adrian. Nobody else beat Mount Union and nobody else blew out Adrian as Franklin just did. Well know a lot more next Saturday. I'm just saying I hope next year they don't put Franklin in the same bracket with #1 and #2.

You just beat #4; next week you face #1 - IF you pull the upset, you will then play #2 (or #3).  If you are not #1 or #2, you will ALWAYS be in a bracket with a #1 and #2!  D'oh!

[crimsonace]

It's tough to play the "respect" card when the HCAC did not do very well OOC.

It's not tough, it's impossible. Let's face it guys: Franklin isn't like the rest of the HCAC and Conference wins will be taken with a grain of salt. For 10 weeks Franklin did what was expected of them. They got a chance to change perception today and get another one next week.

The reason Franklin is ranked and has the respect of the pollsters is because they've won playoff games. They have been able to step out of the HCAC shadows. No way does Pat, et all not respect them. They just didn't celebrate them for getting through the Heartland schedule.

That's the point I was making. Franklin, right now, isn't a typical HCAC team, but the perception of the conference gets them lumped in with them. It scheduled as such OOC and I think we in the HCAC all knew how good this team was (and, I'm a bit biased, but there are years you know a team is pretty special and has a chance to go deep ... and this one is it). It's still difficult to run the table without a slipup, and FC has done it three straight years.

Pregame, it's hard to get the "respect," but I've never cared much what prognosticators think. That's for discussion. Franklin has proven itself on the field week-in and week-out, and did so again today. Even the UMU & Butler losses weren't bad -- the Mt. Union game was significantly closer than the score might have indicated, and could easily have been a 28-14 game, and Butler would have gotten an AQ into the DI FCS tourney if next year's rules were in place.

[gofor7pitt]

You just beat #4; next week you face #1 - IF you pull the upset, you will then play #2 (or #3).  If you are not #1 or #2, you will ALWAYS be in a bracket with a #1 and #2!  D'oh!




I meant #1 and #2 in the nation are both on Franklin's side of the bracket.

[Mr. Ypsi]

You just beat #4; next week you face #1 - IF you pull the upset, you will then play #2 (or #3).  If you are not #1 or #2, you will ALWAYS be in a bracket with a #1 and #2!  D'oh!




I meant #1 and #2 in the nation are both on Franklin's side of the bracket.

After I posted I wondered if that is what you were getting at.  Don't forget that the d3football.com poll has nothing to do with selection or seeding.  According to the NCAA committee, Linfield (or perhaps St. Thomas) was apparently #1, with UMU and UMHB as 2 and 3.

But if you (and presumably the fans of 13 other schools) felt that way, imagine how UMU and UMHB felt!

Before the selections, I too would have anticipated a UMU-UMHB Stagg, but I have confidence that a UMU/UMHB/whoever Stagg against whoever emerges on the othe side is still gonna be a game well worth watching!

[Stagg Again!!]

It's official. Franklin is headed north to take on Adrian. Should be a good game in what appears to be a 4 vs 5 matchup. Going to be a long trip for the winner to most likely Mary Hardin-Baylor

I wouldn't bet against the Griz next week.  Congratulations on a great win this afternoon.

[Joe Wally]

Congrats on the "W" Grizz!

[GRIZ_BACKER]

You just beat #4; next week you face #1 - IF you pull the upset, you will then play #2 (or #3).  If you are not #1 or #2, you will ALWAYS be in a bracket with a #1 and #2!  D'oh!




I meant #1 and #2 in the nation are both on Franklin's side of the bracket.

After I posted I wondered if that is what you were getting at.  Don't forget that the d3football.com poll has nothing to do with selection or seeding.  According to the NCAA committee, Linfield (or perhaps St. Thomas) was apparently #1, with UMU and UMHB as 2 and 3.

But if you (and presumably the fans of 13 other schools) felt that way, imagine how UMU and UMHB felt!

Before the selections, I too would have anticipated a UMU-UMHB Stagg, but I have confidence that a UMU/UMHB/whoever Stagg against whoever emerges on the othe side is still gonna be a game well worth watching!

Good to see the GRIZ prove the "experts" at d3football.com wrong as well.  It was pretty unanimous that Adrian was going to win pre-game if you read this site.  the 42-10 was even that close as FC called off the dogs early in the 4th.

The GRIZ have made the playoffs 5 of the last 6 years and have won a first round game in 3 of those years. The first round losses were to North Central on last play of the game and UWW.  The other losses were to UWW, and Wheaton.  Mary Hardin Baylor awaits. No one has played as many of the powers the last 24 months or so than FC.

[gofor7pitt]

You just beat #4; next week you face #1 - IF you pull the upset, you will then play #2 (or #3).  If you are not #1 or #2, you will ALWAYS be in a bracket with a #1 and #2!  D'oh!




I meant #1 and #2 in the nation are both on Franklin's side of the bracket.

After I posted I wondered if that is what you were getting at.  Don't forget that the d3football.com poll has nothing to do with selection or seeding.  According to the NCAA committee, Linfield (or perhaps St. Thomas) was apparently #1, with UMU and UMHB as 2 and 3.

But if you (and presumably the fans of 13 other schools) felt that way, imagine how UMU and UMHB felt!

Before the selections, I too would have anticipated a UMU-UMHB Stagg, but I have confidence that a UMU/UMHB/whoever Stagg against whoever emerges on the othe side is still gonna be a game well worth watching!

Good to see the GRIZ prove the "experts" at d3football.com wrong as well.  It was pretty unanimous that Adrian was going to win pre-game if you read this site.  the 42-10 was even that close as FC called off the dogs early in the 4th.

The GRIZ have made the playoffs 5 of the last 6 years and have won a first round game in 3 of those years. The first round losses were to North Central on last play of the game and UWW.  The other losses were to UWW, and Wheaton.  Mary Hardin Baylor awaits. No one has played as many of the powers the last 24 months or so than FC.

The Griz face UMHB this week, and win or lose they will play Mount Union next, either next sat or when they open up the 2013 season. After that a tough Butler team again. Tough road for sure.