FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[dc_has_been]

70_dc_alum:

Coastal Carolina is a FCS (formerly D1AA) school, not a DII program.  They are in the Big South Conference which is all DI (FCS) schools, although a couple were small college programs until the last two years (Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian) - VMI is in the conference also.  While I agree with you that it was a "mismatch" against Penn State, on the other hand the game was not so much extreme scheduling because as you know, this is common place now where many FCS play FBS (or DII vs DIII) for the early non-conference games.  Certainly, an occasion upset occurs - Appal. State last year against Michgan (although no way was that going to happen this year vs. LSU!) and look at Western Michigan upseting Pittsburgh yesterday.  However, most of the time that doesn't occur.  Anyway, just thought I'd mention my thoughts on that.

Not to be picky, but Bowling Green beat Pitt yesterday.  Plus I don't really see that as too big of an upset.  The MAC has been a decent conference for the past couple of years doing alright against the larger schools. 

[70_dc_alum]

at 1 time when i was watching the announcers kept calling them d2 when they were saying jopa had grandchildren older than their program.  that is also where the Bengals 2nd round pick came from and i could swear the talking heads on ESPN were cracking we wasted a pick on a D2 school WR.

running clock is a fairly common rule outside of ohio.  it is the same in IL as your heard for Mizzu.  while soem is the fact they dont want anyone getting beat 77-0, it keeps the time down becuase it is a very long game when the clock stops every 2 min for a TD.  less time reduces risk for injury blah blah blah.  young kids play in the reserve game so you dont need to get reps.  in IL the reserve game starts at 6pm and the varsity game start 20min after the reserve game so you really dont put the reserves in for varsity mop up time and if both games should have running clock it could be 11pm before they get finished if they did not have it.

[formerd3db]

70_dc_alum:

Coastal Carolina is a FCS (formerly D1AA) school, not a DII program.  They are in the Big South Conference which is all DI (FCS) schools, although a couple were small college programs until the last two years (Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian) - VMI is in the conference also.  While I agree with you that it was a "mismatch" against Penn State, on the other hand the game was not so much extreme scheduling because as you know, this is common place now where many FCS play FBS (or DII vs DIII) for the early non-conference games.  Certainly, an occasion upset occurs - Appal. State last year against Michgan (although no way was that going to happen this year vs. LSU!) and look at Western Michigan upseting Pittsburgh yesterday.  However, most of the time that doesn't occur.  Anyway, just thought I'd mention my thoughts on that.

Not to be picky, but Bowling Green beat Pitt yesterday.  Plus I don't really see that as too big of an upset.  The MAC has been a decent conference for the past couple of years doing alright against the larger schools. 

dc_:

You're not picky at all,  - my bad.  Indeed, it was Bowling Green that beat Pitt, not Western Michigan; not sure why I typed in Western because Western lost out west as I recall.  Must be that that I'm getting old .

Anyway, while Pitt is not a powerhouse obviously, they are no slouch team and I would agree with many of the announcers and college football pundits that it was an upset as Pitt was ranked #25 coupled with the fact that no MAC team had won at Pitt before in several tries.  Regardless, I do agree with you that for the most part, the MAC teams are getting better, although others of them lost on Sat.  Northern Ill had a close one as I recall.

Additional random thoughts:

1)  I'm not disputing your relating what the announcers had said about Coastal Carolina as I did not watch/catch any of that.  I'd have to go back and look at the history of CC's program - I know it is relatively new, like FLA Atlantic and FLA International and even Central FLA and South FLA.  It could be that they indeed started out as a DII program, although I know they have been DIAA for recent years because they played DIAA teams (now FCS as you know) such as Western Carolina, Appalachian State, Furman, etc. I believe.  Even Central FLA and South FLA started their programs out at the DIII level for a few years, then progressed to DII, then DIAA and now DI, however that was always the "game plan" from the beginning for those schools.  I do remember the times when they were playing DIII schools - kind of strange to see how much the programs have changed. 

2)  Anyway, wouldn't you agree that the "talking heads" even at ESPN don't know it all sometimes - their remark a "wasting a pick on a D2 school WR" might not always fly - look at Mt. Union's Garcon - another DIII guy making the big time.  I love to see our DIII (and DII) players occasionally prove those guys wrong.

[Adam Sayer]

Smaller DI schools are more able to compete now because the NCAA cut down the number of scholarships available. The big time schools have to share the wealth with some of the smaller ones now. You're starting to see, the last 3 years, some of the smaller schools reaping the benefits and I thin here within the next 5 years the BCS is going to be outdated due to the parity of college football. More teams will be finishing 11-1/10-2 and fewer will be undefeated at the end of the year.

Wherever I'm a head coach, we're going to come out of the locker room to Enter Sandman like Va Tech does. Right at the 1 minute mark where the Tempo and the drumps increase. Bad-A$$.

[LionsDen]

How about we talk about some HCAC football now. since week 1 is now here. Predictions for opening week? any upsets on the prowl? here are mine:
MSJ over Wilmington 35-6
Manchester over Trine- 21-17
Franklin over BW 28-10
Centre over Hanover 24-13
Defiance over Musk 31-21
Rose-Hulman over Earlham 14-10
Alma over Bluffton
Anderson over Taylor

Thoughts? Look for MSJ defense to rock the HCAC this season. they have the 2 best corners along with future all american Alex Harbin at DE. Linebackers are solid as well as the rest of the Dline. MSJ Offense should be led by returning QB vinny palmer again as well as a solid group of wideouts and 3 deep at running back. Look for Frankin to have a loss to Butler after week 2 and MSJ will take the HCAC crown with a victory over them on homecoming! GO LIONS!!!

[70_dc_alum]

Trine lost some but think they will beat Manchester United.  the upset on the board is BW at Franklin...this will be a close game if not look out becuase Franklin is even better than advertised.  BW is solid but more important they are well coached.

i am tired this AM but i stayed up to watch the UCLA game last night...great game.  only thing that is a pet peeve of mine.  why when coaches take the late led they pooch/squib kick it.  i know Tenn had some good returns but just play percentages.  what is the percent that a deep high kickoff is returned close to mid field, 2 or 3 out of 10.  the pooch/squib kick has to be something closer to 50%...when the announcer started saying they need to squib i wanted to yell at the TV.  all they needed was 3 pts to tie and there was 30 seconds left.  sure enough the up-back snags the ball at the 30 and is to the 40 before the first wave ever gets to him.  2 quick out routes and they tie it up.  kick it deep you have the momentum you should be able to make a play, if not you dont deserve to win but dont give it away.

[SaintsFAN]

great game...you're right..but I think Tennessee is in deep doo-doo if they don't get Crompton to play better in the 1st halves of the games.  He did this last year in his one start too..  btw, they are my 3rd favorite college team behind ND, TMC...  I get sick to my stomach when Fulmer loses games like this.. 

[SaintsFAN]

Look for Frankin to have a loss to Butler after week 2 and MSJ will take the HCAC crown with a victory over them on homecoming! GO LIONS!!!

homie, you're smoking rock on this one.. basically Butler would be a garbage D3 team...even when they were good... they were very beatable by D3 teams.  I speak from experience...we played at the Butler Bowl in 1995 (no fan presence), they had a TB named Arnold Mickens who was being mentioned as a Heisman darkhouse(far-fetched).Franklin will win this one...and against BW. 

I think MSJ is one year away from regaining the HCAC crown (Rupp is gone after this year).

[wabashcpa]

Pick 'ems are up - we'll try spreads this year to make picks like Bluffton/Alma more interesting (hopefully).

[Superfoot Wallace]

Saints,

When Mickens was there Butler had already transitioned to "One Double-A non-Scholly" ball.

When Butler played GVSU year in and year out they would've throttled MUC going away.  They were an elite D2 team.  Elite.  The rest of the D2 nation hoped for Butler to keep GVSU from the playoffs because they were indomitable.  Those aren't new comings and goings up there with Martin.

Was strange to see WKU playing Indiana as this past weekend had former Butler coach, Bill Lynch, facing off against WKU's coach, a former Butler player.

Give an idea how good Butler was, many and several of Lynch's Butler players followed him to Ball State upon Butler's recategorization, wherein they took the field as starters and won a pair of bowl games.

Don't know whether the WKU coach played for Lynch, LaRose or Bartolomeo.  But remember Mickens was cast as a linebacker at IU and felt he was a tailback.  He was the average player on the Butler D2 teams and the crown jewel on the double-A non-Scholly.  Mickens was briefly, very briefly the head coach at my high school.

signed,
Lambeau Fields

[SaintsFAN]

Was your HS the school where he got into trouble for his dealings with his players??

[Superfoot Wallace]

Saints, really I don't know.

I do question whether his understanding of football met with the school's vision of a student athlete.  But then again, that could simply be boilerplate material.  They kept me around to graduate and I know mine was pretty polar.

I think the issue had more to do with choosing his own coaching staff and less to do with direct player dealings.

When I was there, at times Secret Service would run the scout team offense from under center in suits and ties.  Seriously.  We had so few players they would sub in and out.

signed,
Ceteris Paribus

[fc_alum_84]

Look for Frankin to have a loss to Butler after week 2 and MSJ will take the HCAC crown with a victory over them on homecoming! GO LIONS!!!

homie, you're smoking rock on this one.. basically Butler would be a garbage D3 team...even when they were good... they were very beatable by D3 teams.  I speak from experience...we played at the Butler Bowl in 1995 (no fan presence), they had a TB named Arnold Mickens who was being mentioned as a Heisman darkhouse(far-fetched).Franklin will win this one...and against BW. 

I think MSJ is one year away from regaining the HCAC crown (Rupp is gone after this year).

[fc_alum_84]

some FC love from Saints fan at the expense of the MSJ inner circle.  Hope your right.  FC will need to play well regardless to win the next two weekends.

[formerd3db]

Thought I would chime in here a bit friends.  Saintsfan, MacLeod is right.  When Butler was DII, they were very good.  Funny how long ago that seems, but then again, I'm getting old .  We've had discussions along this line many a time in the past on here re: DII non-scholarship Pioneer.  Granted, Butler has been very down the past decade, having been beaten by Albion.  I will say, however, that it is very possible that they can ressurect their program.  Despite being DII non-scholarship, those Pioneer programs are not all like DIII programs like some people routinely suggest.  When Harbaugh was at San Diego, they were smashing people including beating Yale, and when Dayton has had their better teams in years, unlikely that teams other than perhaps say Mount or a Whitewater would beat them.  Heck, even when Valpo had one of their better years of recent (I believe they won the Pioneer Championship about 5 years ago or so - don't have the records right in front of me at present), they were no slouch team and would have kicked any DIII teams tail (except perhaps for our top elite DIII's as mentioned). 

I will admit, however, that it will take Butler (and Drake although CC will do well there most likely) a while to get back to that level.  The Bucknells, Fordhams, Davidsons, etc. are still a step up on DIII as far as talent in the majority of situations, IMO.  Just my 0.02 worth