FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

73 incoming freshmen.  That's a really nice sized class DC brought in!  And that's really handy having those write ups in that format for the incoming kids.  Makes it much easier to browse who's coming.  I wish the OAC schools would do that too.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The HCAC Coaches poll has been released. Not really a shock at who's the favorite. Quite close in the middle of the pack though... http://www.heartlandconf.org/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/8_7_preseason_poll

Franklin (7)           79
Hanover (2)           67
Manchester           54
Mount St. Joseph  45
Rose-Hulman        44
Bluffton                 43
Defiance               40
Earlham                19
Anderson              14

[Thunder44]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. The HCAC Coaches poll has been released. Not really a shock at who's the favorite. Quite close in the middle of the pack though... http://www.heartlandconf.org/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/8_7_preseason_poll

Franklin (7)           79
Hanover (2)           67
Manchester           54
Mount St. Joseph  45
Rose-Hulman        44
Bluffton                 43
Defiance               40
Earlham                19
Anderson              14

I was surprised that Hanover got 2 votes for first.  I would expect Coach Baud voting for his own team, but looks like someone else among the coaches think the Panthers have a chance.  A lot of football to be played between now and the Victory Bell game in November, in case it comes down to that game being for the conference championship.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

For some reason I recall that coaches don't vote for their own team. Hanover prob got FC vote and MSJ.  Just my two cents

[dc_has_been]

Disappointed, but not surprised my Yellow Jackets were picked seventh.  They did a great job recruiting and will now be going on Coach Sheenan's second year, so I expect great things to come in the near future for the Jackets!

The poll looks pretty similar to how last season ended too. 

[cave2bens]

Disappointed, but not surprised my Yellow Jackets were picked seventh.  They did a great job recruiting and will now be going on Coach Sheenan's second year, so I expect great things to come in the near future for the Jackets!

The poll looks pretty similar to how last season ended too. 

I cannot really share your disappointment on this one given upperclassmen only make up 39% (n=49) of the 125 man roster and then betting blind on a collective gaggle of 76 young'ns (according to roster). With only 33 juniors and sophomores, Coach S will need large classes. The attrition rate for Class of 2016, particularly, is painful. I will admit to a bit of remorse DC was unable to nab the do-everything utility back from Bryan - saw his name on the Morehead State roster @ TE. Hope to see a DIII club grab the Bryan QB this year but suspect he'll go DII at very least given his size and ability.

[dc_has_been]

Since Coach Kline's wife is a DC alum, maybe he could throw DC a few players!!!

[Jackets Backer]

I believe the Bryan QB is getting some DI looks. He's a stud ... at very least a DII guy. Preseason polls don't mean anything to me, just get rid of them. Mostly a reflection of what happened last season.

[cave2bens]

I believe the Bryan QB is getting some DI looks. He's a stud ... at very least a DII guy. Preseason polls don't mean anything to me, just get rid of them. Mostly a reflection of what happened last season.

Well "Lowdy Me!"  Look who has emerged from self-imposed exile in the Black Swamp.  Haven't seen or heard a peep since before the big city juggernaut from C'bus got punched in the snout by some corn-fed, farm boys up Williams' way.  Must be a crescent rise post Ramadan. 

Agree wholly regarding the QB - wonder if he'd get the playing time, though, on a MAC roster or similar.  Do wish Bacon would have gone DIII rather than be buried as a TE in a Kentucky backwater but hey - who knows?  Not me.  Will fire ya a PM and catch up.  Cheers

@ Has_Been - well, they got the Bear kicker at least and he had lots of practice last couple of seasons.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Just looking at the non-conference records of the conference lately (with additional playoff record in parentheses)... not a good trend. The HCAC has gotten worse every year since 2006

2006: 13-11 (0-1)
2007: 12-12 (0-2)
2008: 10-13 (2-1)
2009: 7-17 (0-1)
2010: 6-12 (0-1)
2011: 3-15 (1-1)
2012: 2-16 (1-1)

Looking at predictions on Massey somehow that trend could continue... I wonder if a conference has ever gone 0fer before. Out of 18 games, HCAC teams are favored just once... Manchester by 1.5 over Kalamazoo in week 2. Not only that, but only two other games are teams single digit underdogs (Hanover 2.5 to Illinois College and Rose 3.5 @ Kalamazoo). 12 games the team is at least 20 point underdogs and 3 are at least 30.

Is the conference that absurdly bad (5-31 without playoffs the last 2 years) or are teams simply scheduling far outside of their ability? Franklin is obviously in the latter currently.

[Jackets Backer]

Just looking at the non-conference records of the conference lately (with additional playoff record in parentheses)... not a good trend. The HCAC has gotten worse every year since 2006

2006: 13-11 (0-1)
2007: 12-12 (0-2)
2008: 10-13 (2-1)
2009: 7-17 (0-1)
2010: 6-12 (0-1)
2011: 3-15 (1-1)
2012: 2-16 (1-1)

Looking at predictions on Massey somehow that trend could continue... I wonder if a conference has ever gone 0fer before. Out of 18 games, HCAC teams are favored just once... Manchester by 1.5 over Kalamazoo in week 2. Not only that, but only two other games are teams single digit underdogs (Hanover 2.5 to Illinois College and Rose 3.5 @ Kalamazoo). 12 games the team is at least 20 point underdogs and 3 are at least 30.

Is the conference that absurdly bad (5-31 without playoffs the last 2 years) or are teams simply scheduling far outside of their ability? Franklin is obviously in the latter currently.

Outside of Franklin, yes the conference is that absurdly bad. They're in another class compared to the rest of the HCAC and the results lately prove that.

[Pat Coleman]

Kickoff 2013 is live!

I feel like this is our best Kickoff yet: We made a nice transition to the PrestoSports platform for Kickoff last year and this year we've taken that knowledge and tweaked it. Plus we got some new writers involved and really made sure our continuing writers elevated their game. And ours.

In addition to the previews and features of national interest, Franklin's Matt Walker talks about his injury and how he's battled back from it to get back on the field this year. It's a really inspiring story.

This is the only time we ask you guys for money for anything, as I'm sure you realize. It's more than 300 pages of Division III preseason football knowledge and it's the only place you can get all this stuff: Our previews, our rankings, Keith's analysis, the whole 10 yards. http://www.d3football.com/notables/2013/08/get-kickoff-2013

$11, or $7 if you still have access to a .edu email address. (Meant for active players/students and coaches but hey, we know you guys on this board are loyal to D3football.com and we appreciate it.)

[panthersfan]

Kickoff 2013 is live!

I feel like this is our best Kickoff yet: We made a nice transition to the PrestoSports platform for Kickoff last year and this year we've taken that knowledge and tweaked it. Plus we got some new writers involved and really made sure our continuing writers elevated their game. And ours.

In addition to the previews and features of national interest, Franklin's Matt Walker talks about his injury and how he's battled back from it to get back on the field this year. It's a really inspiring story.

This is the only time we ask you guys for money for anything, as I'm sure you realize. It's more than 300 pages of Division III preseason football knowledge and it's the only place you can get all this stuff: Our previews, our rankings, Keith's analysis, the whole 10 yards. http://www.d3football.com/notables/2013/08/get-kickoff-2013

$11, or $7 if you still have access to a .edu email address. (Meant for active players/students and coaches but hey, we know you guys on this board are loyal to D3football.com and we appreciate it.)

Ordered today.  Haven't gone through a lot yet but looks very good.

[GrizFan]

As always, The Kickoff is very well done!  I enjoy reading it each season.  GO GRIZ!

[formerd3db]

As always, The Kickoff is very well done!  I enjoy reading it each season.  GO GRIZ!

GrizFan:

Forgive me for this probably stupid question, which is also probably a more appropriate "off season" question (and I, admittedly, have not checked the Franklin website and usually know this kind of DIII historical trivia), but what is the history as to how/why Franklin College athletic teams became known as the Grizzlies for the team nickname?  Thanks.