FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Jay Murry]

Hello All,

While I will be following from afar WashU's efforts against North Central Saturday, it won't be idle following.

I will be in the midst of my Rett Gets Rocked 2023 24-hour ultramarathon at WashU to raise awareness of Rett syndrome and research funds to find a cure.  I'm starting around 8:00 Friday night (after I provide the call for the WashU-Saint Louis U. swimming and diving meet), and ending at 8:00 Saturday night. 

Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by a gene mutation on the X chromosome.  It lays in the weeds until a child is between 6-18 months old, just when a child is learning to walk and talk.  Rett is like Lucy in the Peanuts comic strip when she pulls the ball away from Charlie Brown, as he tries to kick it.  Unlike Charlie Brown...when Rett pulls the ball away from children, they don't get a chance to get up and try again.  Children go into severe neurological regression; many end up in wheelchairs and most lose the ability to talk and to do sign language.  Those with Rett also are prone to seizures, extreme nerve pain, GI issues, breathing abnormalities, and eating difficulties that can all be life-threatening.

Researchers are relentless, providing hope on two fronts.  Back in March of this year, Daybue became the first FDA-approved drug to target the effects of Rett syndrome.  Daybue helps blunt some of the seizures and has helped improve some vocal and gross motor skills.  Gene replacement therapy clinical trials in two North American locations have helped one patient sit up independently for the first time in a decade, and to grasp objects for the first time since infancy.

It is this momentum of hope and progress that I am trying to assist and perpetuate.

If you would like to make a donation, click on this Rett Racers link:  https://rettracers.funraise.org/fundraiser/jaymurry

The families of children who have Rett and fight a tough fight every day, will be very grateful for your help.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and enjoy the games this weekend!

[dc_has_been]

It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

I don't have any additional input about what they will have to spend scholarship-wise in order to be competitive, but at the recent HCAC administrative meeting*, their AD summarized what they had considered in making the decision, and one expected benefit of the move is a considerably reduced travel budget: They will be near the geographic center of their new conference (the WHAC), with their maximum travel time in the neighborhood of three hours—so no overnight stays for conference play. (And as a side benefit, less missed class time.)

Regarding the NAIA being less prestigious, I don't disagree. I recall when Bluffton, Defiance, and other members of the old HBCC made the transition from NAIA to NCAA D3 thirty-plus years ago, and how not long after that, the NCAA had to put a pause on letting in NAIA schools.

*I cannot share everything that was said in that meeting, of course, but this particular item did not feel confidential.

they have stated the less travel expense as a key reason in the announcements they put out explaining the move.  Reality is only Hanover and Transylvania are the only 2 overnights that you have to do as MSJ is right at 3hrs. The new conference for football has Olivet Nazarene, Judson, St Francis IL all over in the Chicago Area which is about 4hrs.  Its not really a factor for football but all of the other sports I can see how this will be a lot better.   

When it comes to Scholarships, in one of the letter's they send out  I think it said they will be giving out close the same grant money as before but now it can be packaged up differently so their costs do not increase but they have a lot more flexibility on how to give it out.   if done correctly i can see how this can be leveraged to increase enrollment.  hand out a bunch of partial athletic scholarships to folks that may not have qualified for needs/merit grants before.  Spend the same amount but spread the wealth and get more to attend. 

Will be interesting to see how this all pans out.  I have no idea who I am supposed to hate now that its all new teams.  I am going with disliking Sienna Heights just cause they are in Adrian.  Either way that game for the Hammer this year with Bluffton will be huge and could determine who owns the hammer forever!

All in all, it is disappointing to see all the transition that DC has gone through since I attended (97-00).  Went from the MIAA to HCAC and now to NAIA.  I really hope this solves some of their issues moving forward and helps them from not shutting down. 

Regarding who to dislike, I will go with St. Francis due to their proximity, having a DC alum as a coach, and we scrimmage them when I played at DC.

[GrizFan]

Hey 70_dc_alum:

Speaking about owning a trophy forever - when I was a student at Franklin, we were in the "old" Heartland Conference in NCAA D2.  We did not play Hanover in football so the Victory Bell sat in the library and no one knew the history of the rivalry.  Our football rivals at the time were Butler and Indiana Central (now UIndy).  The bell literally sat in Franklin's Hamilton Library gathering dust from 1970-1989!       

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

MSJ gave Wheaton a heck of a game but fell 41-34.

The only playoff wins for the HCAC remains: 2000 (Hanover), 2008 x2(Franklin), 2011 (Franklin), 2012 (Franklin), 2013 (Franklin)

[formerd3db]

Somehow, I missed this. Thoughts anyone on the announcement earlier this year that Bluffton and University of Findlay will merge? Are Bluffton's athletic programs, including football going to be discontinued and/or what hapoens to the campus? the Or with Defiance returning to the NAIA, would Bluffton do the sane if athletics remain there? I haven't found any additional info after just learning about the announcement.

[SPECIAL TEAMS STARTER]

Let's face it. Bluffton University will be turned into a satelite campus of Findlay University within 5 years. With the departure of Defiance this is another blow to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. They desperately need to coax a transfer from one or more of the NCAC schools if they are going to make it. IMHO

[formerd3db]

Let's face it. Bluffton University will be turned into a satelite campus of Findlay University within 5 years. With the departure of Defiance this is another blow to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. They desperately need to coax a transfer from one or more of the NCAC schools if they are going to make it. IMHO

I think your scenario(s) are probably likely. Thanks for tour opinion.

[70_dc_alum]

I have not figured this one out either outside it allows Bluffton to take advantage of a larger resource pool which reduces their costs.  the whole the schools combine but keep their mascots and Bluffton stays D3 and Findlay stays D2 with no changes to athletic teams has me wondering what this is really.  is it still 2 separate schools but merged administration?  Agree this is likely the first step of a larger plan.  would imagine this hurts bluffton recruiting, why go where they may no longer exist in a short time frame...if not then why isn't their more info of what is happening

[70_dc_alum]

Defiance first year in the NAIA is still HCAC heavy with the 2024 schedule released.  love it still ends with Bluffton.  Wish it still had @MSJ but my kid goes to Rose so maybe i can go nuisance Sokol there.

2024 Defiance Football Schedule
Sept. 7 at Concordia (Mich.), 1 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Saint Francis (Ind.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Judson (Ill.), 1 p.m. (Home Opener)
Sept. 28 vs. Siena Heights, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Manchester, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 12 at Saint Xavier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Rose-Hulman, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Taylor (Ind.), 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Hanover, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Nov. 16 at Bluffton, 1:30 p.m.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

Schedule is week 1-4 non-conference with MIAA in week 3. Due to having an odd number of teams, they either take their bye week during conference play or take it week 4 and play Defiance during their scheduled week.


Anderson: @ Alfred St, @ Oberlin, vs Calvin, @ Luther, Bye Week 8
Bluffton: @ Kenyon, @ Albion, vs Trine, Bye Week 4, vs Defiance week 11
Franklin: @ Ohio Northern, @ Hope, vs Adrian, vs Ohio Wesleyan, Bye week 6
Hanover: vs Centre, @ Butler, vs Olivet, bye week 4, @ Defiance week 10
Manchester: @ Westminster (MO), @ Concordia-Chicago, vs Kalamazoo, Bye week 4, @ Defiance week 5
Mount St Joseph: vs Muskingum, @ Hiram, vs Albion, vs UW-Stevens Point, Bye week 9
Rose-Hulman: @ DePauw, vs Trine, vs Hope, Bye week 4, vs Defiance week 7


Week 1:
Anderson @ Alfred St (ECFC)
Bluffton @ Kenyon (NCAC)
Franklin @ Ohio Northern (OAC)
Hanover vs Centre (SAA)
Manchester @ Westminster (MO) (UMAC)
Mount St Joseph vs Muskingum (OAC)
Rose-Hulman @ DePauw (NCAC)

Week 2:
Anderson @ Oberlin (NCAC)
Bluffton @ Albion (MIAA)
Franklin @ Hope (MIAA)
Hanover @ Butler (FCS)
Manchester @ Concordia-Chicago (NACC)
Mount St Joseph @ Hiram (NCAC)
Rose-Hulman vs Trine (MIAA)

Week 3 (MIAA challenge):
Anderson vs Calvin
Bluffton vs Trine
Franklin vs Adrian
Hanover vs Olivet
Manchester vs Kalamazoo
Mount St Joseph vs Albion
Rose-Hulman vs Hope

Week 4:
Anderson @ Luther (ARC)
Bluffton BYE
Franklin vs Ohio Wesleyan (NCAC)
Hanover BYE
Manchester BYE
Mount St Joseph vs UW-Stevens Point (WIAC)
Rose-Hulman BYE

Week 5: Manchester @ Defiance
Week 6: Franklin BYE
Week 7: Rose-Hulman vs Defiance
Week 8: Anderson BYE
Week 9: Mount St Joseph BYE
Week 10: Hanover @ Defiance
Week 11: Bluffton vs Defiance


28 non-conference games. MIAA 10; NCAC 5; NAIA* 4; OAC 2; ARC 1; ECFC 1; FCS* 1; NACC 1; SAA 1; UMAC 1; WIAC 1

Regular season non-conference record
2006: 13-11 (Franklin, Rose 3-0; Defiance, MSJ 2-1; Anderson, Bluffton, Manchester 1-2)
2007: 12-12 (MSJ, Rose 3-0; Franklin, Manchester 2-1; Anderson, Defiance 1-2)
2008: 10-14 (Franklin, Manchester, MSJ, Rose 2-1; Anderson, Bluffton 1-2) Franklin quarterfinals
2009: 7-17 (Franklin, MSJ, Rose 2-1; Defiance 1-2)
Earlham joins HCAC
2010: 6-12 (Bluffton, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, MSJ, Rose 1-1)
2011: 3-15 (Franklin, Manchester, MSJ 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2012: 2-16 (Bluffton, MSJ 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2013: 1-17 (Earlham 1-1) Franklin 2nd round
2014: 4-14 (Rose 2-0; Manchester, MSJ 1-1)
2015: 4-14 (Rose 2-0; Bluffton, MSJ 1-1)
2016: 5-13 (Bluffton 2-0; Defiance, Franklin, Rose 1-1)
2017: 3-15 (Manchester, MSJ, Rose 1-1)
2018: 2-16 (Franklin, MSJ 1-1)
Earlham halts football program
2019: 6-12 (Anderson 2-0; MSJ 1-1; Hanover 2-1; Rose 1-2)
2020/21: 1-2 (Bluffton 1-0)
2021: 6-18 (Franklin 2-1; Bluffton, Hanover, MSJ, Rose 1-2)
2022: 4-20 (MSJ 3-0, Manchester 1-2)
2023: 8-16 (Hanover 3-0; MSJ 2-1; Bluffton, Defiance, Rose 1-2)
Defiance leaves for NAIA
2024: TBD

[GrizFan]

Defiance will play Concordia in their opener, but it will likely be the last game between these two as Concordia is cutting all but seven academic programs and all athletic programs in 2024-25.

d two

Defiance first year in the NAIA is still HCAC heavy with the 2024 schedule released.  love it still ends with Bluffton.  Wish it still had @MSJ but my kid goes to Rose so maybe i can go nuisance Sokol there.

2024 Defiance Football Schedule
Sept. 7 at Concordia (Mich.), 1 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Saint Francis (Ind.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Judson (Ill.), 1 p.m. (Home Opener)
Sept. 28 vs. Siena Heights, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Manchester, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 12 at Saint Xavier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Rose-Hulman, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Taylor (Ind.), 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Hanover, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Nov. 16 at Bluffton, 1:30 p.m.

[jayhawkdaddy]

I have a question about the Hanover schedule. Olivet has a bye on 9/21 but Hanover has Olivet on their schedule. Olivet has a game scheduled with Madonna but doesn't have Hanover on their schedule at all. Confusing!

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I have a question about the Hanover schedule. Olivet has a bye on 9/21 but Hanover has Olivet on their schedule. Olivet has a game scheduled with Madonna but doesn't have Hanover on their schedule at all. Confusing!

I checked Alma who is the one MIAA team not playing the HCAC that week and they're playing at Northern Michigan.
Madonna was awful last year in NAIA, going 0-11 and outscored 592-72. Don't know why Olivet would have them on and not Hanover.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

The season apparently doesn't start until Sept 14 according to the HCAC. A fantastic 0-7 to start the season, outscored 77-220.  This is the only conference to go winless in week 1. The HCAC was ranked ahead of 4 conference last season and two of those conferences (ECFC and UMAC) just picked up wins against the HCAC>


MSJ was tied until Muskingum scored with 7 minutes left to take it 42-35

Bluffton led 6-0 early but Kenyon scored all 13 of their points in the 2nd quarter and that's how it finished.

Hanover kept it close all game, was only down 17-12 late in the 4th, but Centre scored 10 points in the final three minutes to pull away.

Good news for Anderson is they only gave up 13 to Alfred St. The bad news is they only managed 126 yards of offense and were shutout.

Manchester was similar to Anderson in only putting up 134 yards of offense. They trailed 9-3 at halftime but Westminster (MO) scored twice in the second half to make it a 23-3 final.

Franklin put up 156 yards of offense and got a late TD to avoid being shutout, falling to Ohio Northern 45-7. Garrett Cora who was 3rd team All-American last year managed just 7 yards on 13 rushes and 3 catches for 2 yards.

Rose-Hulman trailed 50-0 heading into the 4th against DePauw, falling 57-14.


Massey had 4 teams as favorites: MSJ -16.5, Manchester -15.5, Bluffton -7.5, and Hanover -2.5. Rose was just a 6.5 point underdog while Franklin was +16.5. Anderson was the only team to cover being 19.5 point underdogs.
Hansen also had four teams as favorites: MSJ -23.9, Bluffton -8.6, Manchester -6.0, and Hanover -0.9. Franklin +17.4, RHIT +22.9, and Anderson again the only one to cover at +24.4

Defiance meanwhile lost their first game back in NAIA 31-10 at Concordia (MI).

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

We're on the board. Mount St Joseph beat Hiram 28-7 last night for the conference's first win of the season. Last year MSJ won 62-21 as the Terriers went 1-9.

What to look forward to today...
Anderson plays at Oberlin. Both teams are 2-29 since 2021 so someone will get a much needed win.
Manchester heads to Concordia-Chicago. Both teams coming off losses to UMAC teams after a 1-9 season last year.
Rose-Hulman hosts Trine with both teams coming off one sided losses last week.

Then there's the rest of the slate...
Franklin heads to Hope and probably won't do much better than their 45-7 loss last week.
Bluffton also facing tough MIAA competition at Albion. Will they be blown out by 49 like 2 years ago or just comfortably defeated by 22 like last year?
Hanover is headed to Indy to take on Butler. At least they'll have the excuse that they played an FCS team.