FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[SaintsFAN]

From Around the Nation: 

Steve Bell, the first-year Augustana coach, is hoping to break the team out of its three-season funk of ending at .500. He wants success because he has lived it before -- Bell joined the Vikings this year after more than a decade at Monmouth that included four conference titles.

During the hiring phase, Augustana school officials said they wanted an offensive-minded philosophy in their next leader, and Bell delivered. He brought change. He switched the team from a spread option offense to one based on traditional concepts: zone reads and power plays among them.

Though his approach is dramatically different than the past, he said his players were excited to switch things up.

"I don't think it was difficult at all," said Bell, whose team beat Mount St. Joseph last weekend. "I think they all coveted the change. The majority of it was because most of these kids came from traditional offenses in high school. So it's what they were used to."

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Interesting wording there.

I think the HCAC is just trying to get a better record in non-conference... MSJ playing Finlandia instead of Thomas More, Manchester only playing 1 nonconference game... Franklin playing Butler (which really doesn't count unless FC wins right?)

2011: 3-15
2012: 2-16
2013: 1-17
2014: 4-14
2015: 1-8
A combined 11-70 the past 5 years and probably not improving much this weekend.

[SaintsFAN]

probably not improving much this weekend.

Hanover at Thomas More:  Should be a hornet's nest.  They are honoring the youngster who passed away during preseason at this game and also bringing back us 1995'ers on the 20 year anniversary of the undefeated 1995 campaign where TMC got left out of the playoffs.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I'm disappointed in Defiance. When I saw they were up 20-0 late in the 1st half at MSJ I was all ready to hear what SaintsFAN would have to say. 

[cave2bens]

But they beat the spread.    A review of the box score kinda said it all - and agree with your expressed sentiment.

[Jackets Backer]

But they beat the spread.    A review of the box score kinda said it all - and agree with your expressed sentiment.

Curious as to what the spread was?

[SaintsFAN]

I'm disappointed in Defiance. When I saw they were up 20-0 late in the 1st half at MSJ I was all ready to hear what SaintsFAN would have to say. 

Don't worry, I'm sure Cincinnati's D3 JV Program will give me plenty of ammo through the rest of the season.

They've already lost to a very average Augustana team.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

But they beat the spread.    A review of the box score kinda said it all - and agree with your expressed sentiment.

Curious as to what the spread was?

He's referring to the pickem where I set Defiance as 20.5 point underdogs

[dc_has_been]

Happy to see my mighty Yellow Jackets win their first game this season in ugly fashion!  273 yards of total offense and with 8 total turnovers between the two teams, just awesome!  The true highlight to the game must have been Defiance's passing and Hanover's running game!  How the games amazing states didn't make d3football's front page is crazy!

On a serious note, big showdown coming up with Manchester and Franklin.  Both 2-0 in conference play, so far and RHIT faces of with Anderson.  Will this be the week where one or two teams sit at the top of the HCAC?

[GrizFan]

I agree, big showdown between Manchester and Franklin on Saturday.  Franklin barely pulled out a victory at MU last year by blocking a late field goal.  I noticed that Manchester's big stud Dakota Nelson was out against MSJ.  Any word on his status for Saturday?

[badgerwarhawk]

Two Rose-Hulman players making life easier to coaches.

http://footballscoop.com/news/dont-have-a-remote-to-use-for-watching-film-two-d-iii-players-have-developed-a-free-solution-for-coaches/

Way cool

[dc_has_been]

Well, the Fanklin/Manchester game was not much of a showdown, so RHIT and Franklin sit together at the top of the HCAC.  Without any slip ups, it could be a big game 10/24 at RHIT. 
On a positive note, both Franklin and RHIT are receiving top 25 votes!  It's a plus to see two teams getting some notice.  The last time this has happened was in 2008 I believe.  Franklin was ranked in the top 25 and MSJ received some votes. 

[SaintsFAN]

The last time this has happened was in 2008 I believe.  Franklin was ranked in the top 25 and MSJ received some votes.

That was before they opted out of Bridge Bowl after a coaches vote, I believe? 

[dc_has_been]

The last time this has happened was in 2008 I believe.  Franklin was ranked in the top 25 and MSJ received some votes.

That was before they opted out of Bridge Bowl after a coaches vote, I believe?

You don't say

[SaintsFAN]

Franklin and RHIT both win big today, setting up a showdown for the conference's two best teams.

Cincy's D3 JV Team couldn't get it done today.  They may need a vote to stop playing Franklin, too.