FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

I don't think MSJ has the finances to do it next year. They would be traveling there and they already have road trips to Augustana and Manchester. The week 2 opponent would have to be someone close enough to drive the morning of, unless they make make Manchester a one-day trip and that would be brutal. With it being a Week 2 slot, that makes opponents really limited. I think the OAC is out, TMC isn't coming back on the schedule for at least 4-5 years, if at all, and I doubt they would take on Wittenberg or Wabash at this point if they had an opening. Who's available?

maybe they can talk to Wilmington or maybe even talk St Rita's into fielding a football team in 2015 so they can have an opponent who doesn't scare them.

Wabash, Centre, Wittenburg are OUT.  NO WAY does Mount St Joe play them.  Even though the OAC is down and young for the most part, it would still be dangerous to schedule an OAC team.  They'll take any warm body -- remember they aren't trying to be competitive nationally so there's no limit to how bad a team they can schedule.

My guess is they'll go with a last place or 2nd to last MIAA team.  Especially if they have a coaches vote on it.

by the way -- did you see Ryan Tipps' take on the end of the Bridge Bowl?  They've lost some points nationally for ending it this time.  The only difference from last time is now there is a national audience through this website.  Rivalry games are good. 

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Franklin is headed to Wabash... Hoosier showdown in the first round. Winner gets to head to our well known friends UW-Whitewater

[SaintsFAN]

Will be very interesting to see what Franklin can do against that Wabash D, which is a legit top 5 defense.

[Dr. Acula]

With it being a Week 2 slot, that makes opponents really limited. I think the OAC is out

There are usually a couple of OAC teams that have their bye week 1 and play their OOC game week 2.  I know BW has played Bluffton week 2 the last couple of years and I think Capital played Earlham week 2 this year. 

[formerd3db]

Will be very interesting to see what Franklin can do against that Wabash D, which is a legit top 5 defense.

Franklin is headed to Wabash... Hoosier showdown in the first round. Winner gets to head to our well known friends UW-Whitewater

I would expect that there should be a huge crowd at the game since it is an "all Hoosier" first round-clash.  Could indeed be a very exciting game.  Good luck to both teams and you respective fans!

[SaintsFAN]

With it being a Week 2 slot, that makes opponents really limited. I think the OAC is out

There are usually a couple of OAC teams that have their bye week 1 and play their OOC game week 2.  I know BW has played Bluffton week 2 the last couple of years and I think Capital played Earlham week 2 this year.

They won't play anyone but Wilma from the OAC

[Dr. Acula]

Cap stinks too.  As long as they can defend the triple option they should be fine. 

[FishHack76]

Franklin and 'Bash ... I think someone at the NCAA was daydreaming about old TNT shows.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Will be very interesting to see what Franklin can do against that Wabash D, which is a legit top 5 defense.

D3 stats can be misleading.  I would say Bash is a 7 point home favorite if I had to wager but hard to say.  No common opponents and outside of Witt, Bash plays a similar lot of weaker teams.  Home field is the biggest factor IMO.  We shall see.  Whichever team emerges, UWW looms large.

[firstdown]

GRIZ-BACKER

Hampden Sydney won the ODAC conference and has likely the best wide receiver in all of D3 football in Mr. Walker.  Denison, DePauw, and OWU are not at the level of a Witt or a Wabash, but they would all beat up most of  the teams in the HCAC, meaning everyone but Franklin.  There were those who doubted Wabash's place as the top defense in D3 last year, including many H-S supporters that changed their tune in early September.

I expect a good game Saturday.  Franklin is a very good team.  Think about what UWW's defense did in your game early in the season and expect to see more of the same from the LG's.  48 sacks for -326 yards, number 1 in D3;  106 tackles for loss for -504 yards, number 4 in D3; and number 3 in D3 in total defense. 

Also remember the numbers 25 and 38.  With Franklin  ranked 95th in team rushing defense, you will likely think those are numbers of train locomotives next Saturday when they come running downhill with a full head of steam.

[MasterJedi]

GRIZ-BACKER

Hampden Sydney won the ODAC conference and has likely the best wide receiver in all of D3 football in Mr. Walker.  Denison, DePauw, and OWU are not at the level of a Witt or a Wabash, but they would all beat up most of  the teams in the HCAC, meaning everyone but Franklin.  There were those who doubted Wabash's place as the top defense in D3 last year, including many H-S supporters that changed their tune in early September.

I expect a good game Saturday.  Franklin is a very good team.  Think about what UWW's defense did in your game early in the season and expect to see more of the same from the LG's.  48 sacks for -326 yards, number 1 in D3;  106 tackles for loss for -504 yards, number 4 in D3; and number 3 in D3 in total defense. 

Also remember the numbers 25 and 38.  With Franklin  ranked 95th in team rushing defense, you will likely think those are numbers of train locomotives next Saturday when they come running downhill with a full head of steam.

The first bolded statement, if Wabash does get by Franklin (and it won't be easy, never take Franklin lightly) I'm assuming Kumerow will be back and you haven't seen any WR until you see him. The man is beast mode incarnate.

As for Wabash having the best defense in D3 LAST year, that was definitly UWW. THIS year, they may have the best defense, but that's still up for grabs.

[firstdown]

MasterJedi

Wabash was ranked statistically as number 1 in Total Defense in 2013 in Division 3.  This is a quantitative measure.  UWW had a great defense in 2013.  I didn't say that Wabash was the "best" defense last year, a qualitative measure.  The H-S folks wanted to get into the discussion of strength of the teams that UWW played versus  Wabash in 2013.  I have the greatest respect for UWW and their accomplishments on both sides of the ball so I won't get into a subjective discussion. H-S learned the hardway that Wabash's defense is the real deal.

Yes, I will stand by the statement that Holton Walker of Hampden-Sydney is the best wide receiver in Division 3.  He has speed, great hands, and height at 6'3" with a monster verticle jump.  There are many excellent wide receivers out there and Kumerow could well be on them, but I haven't seen one with all the tools like Walker.

[Adam Sayer]

I don't think MSJ has the finances to do it next year. They would be traveling there and they already have road trips to Augustana and Manchester. The week 2 opponent would have to be someone close enough to drive the morning of, unless they make make Manchester a one-day trip and that would be brutal. With it being a Week 2 slot, that makes opponents really limited. I think the OAC is out, TMC isn't coming back on the schedule for at least 4-5 years, if at all, and I doubt they would take on Wittenberg or Wabash at this point if they had an opening. Who's available?

maybe they can talk to Wilmington or maybe even talk St Rita's into fielding a football team in 2015 so they can have an opponent who doesn't scare them.

Wabash, Centre, Wittenburg are OUT.  NO WAY does Mount St Joe play them.  Even though the OAC is down and young for the most part, it would still be dangerous to schedule an OAC team.  They'll take any warm body -- remember they aren't trying to be competitive nationally so there's no limit to how bad a team they can schedule.

My guess is they'll go with a last place or 2nd to last MIAA team.  Especially if they have a coaches vote on it.

by the way -- did you see Ryan Tipps' take on the end of the Bridge Bowl?  They've lost some points nationally for ending it this time.  The only difference from last time is now there is a national audience through this website.  Rivalry games are good.

I did not see the article. The MIAA is out. Too far to drive. Unless MSJ increases the football budget, week 2 will have to be someone close.

The reason why I believe TMC was ultimately dropped wasn't the beat down, though that certainly didn't help. MSJ would have dropped them had they been 1 point loses IMO. Thomas More was dropped because if MSJ wins the HCAC and loses to TMC, they don't get a home playoff game. They want to win the HCAC first and host a playoff game second. TMC has cost them that 2 times. The first goal is within reach and next years team will return 8-9 starters on offense and 7-8 on defense......at least on paper   For the sake of argument, let's say they put Hiram, Kenyon, Oberlin, etc. on the schedule and they finish 10-0 next year. Will they play a home playoff game in your opinion? Try to take the bias out of the argument. I think there's a chance not, but a far better chance that they would.

The secondary reason reason TMC is no longer on the schedule can be seen this year. Both teams are 8-2 and though TMC can certainly look to the past 2 years and tell recruits they are the better team, MSJ has a better chance at those recruits who are on the fence....because both teams are 8-2 and MSJ looks like they are getting better every year.

[SaintsFAN]

I don't think MSJ has the finances to do it next year. They would be traveling there and they already have road trips to Augustana and Manchester. The week 2 opponent would have to be someone close enough to drive the morning of, unless they make make Manchester a one-day trip and that would be brutal. With it being a Week 2 slot, that makes opponents really limited. I think the OAC is out, TMC isn't coming back on the schedule for at least 4-5 years, if at all, and I doubt they would take on Wittenberg or Wabash at this point if they had an opening. Who's available?

maybe they can talk to Wilmington or maybe even talk St Rita's into fielding a football team in 2015 so they can have an opponent who doesn't scare them.

Wabash, Centre, Wittenburg are OUT.  NO WAY does Mount St Joe play them.  Even though the OAC is down and young for the most part, it would still be dangerous to schedule an OAC team.  They'll take any warm body -- remember they aren't trying to be competitive nationally so there's no limit to how bad a team they can schedule.

My guess is they'll go with a last place or 2nd to last MIAA team.  Especially if they have a coaches vote on it.

by the way -- did you see Ryan Tipps' take on the end of the Bridge Bowl?  They've lost some points nationally for ending it this time.  The only difference from last time is now there is a national audience through this website.  Rivalry games are good.

I did not see the article. The MIAA is out. Too far to drive. Unless MSJ increases the football budget, week 2 will have to be someone close.

The reason why I believe TMC was ultimately dropped wasn't the beat down, though that certainly didn't help. MSJ would have dropped them had they been 1 point loses IMO. Thomas More was dropped because if MSJ wins the HCAC and loses to TMC, they don't get a home playoff game. They want to win the HCAC first and host a playoff game second. TMC has cost them that 2 times. The first goal is within reach and next years team will return 8-9 starters on offense and 7-8 on defense......at least on paper   For the sake of argument, let's say they put Hiram, Kenyon, Oberlin, etc. on the schedule and they finish 10-0 next year. Will they play a home playoff game in your opinion? Try to take the bias out of the argument. I think there's a chance not, but a far better chance that they would.

The secondary reason reason TMC is no longer on the schedule can be seen this year. Both teams are 8-2 and though TMC can certainly look to the past 2 years and tell recruits they are the better team, MSJ has a better chance at those recruits who are on the fence....because both teams are 8-2 and MSJ looks like they are getting better every year.

All depends on what the North Region Committee thinks of them, I guess.  There is a 10-0 team on the road in this year's tournament.. and so there's that (yes I know they were Pool B).

My point is -- they dropped TMC because they cannot fathom how they would beat them.  Thats the major point here.  Forget the money from a home playoff game.  If you beat Thomas More, then you get a home game at 10-0. 

BTW, I believe the gate goes to the NCAA anyway from the playoff games.  I'm not sure how much profit there is to be made on hosting a playoff game.  Maybe someone smarter than me can weigh in on that.

[sigma one]

As far as I know, all money from ticket sales to NCAA DIII Playoff Games goes directly to the NCAA, which in turn sends back a check to the home team for game-related expenses.  The visiting team also sends receipts for expenses to the NCAA, and they are reimbursed for the total.  The NCAA tells the visiting  team how much they can spend per participant, including players and personnel, travel, meals, hotel accommodations, etc.  The number of players and other team persons on the sidelines--players eligible to play--is limited.  The number of players permitted to dress for both the home and visiting teams is limited and equal.