FB: Region 3 fan poll

[jknezek]

I'm not sure on HSC. Wabash is really, really good, but HSC looked really, really bad in that game. They looked better against CNU, but I'm not sure CNU is all that good. Beating a mid-pack NJAC team week one just didn't really fire me up. F&M has a good win, M'Ville I don't know what to do with the ETSU game, but it's still a neat win for them. E&H brought a lot back from a good team last year. Muhlenberg just got pipped by F&M on the road. I think any of those teams plus H-SC and maybe even Gettysburg and Rhodes could all be thrown into a lump. Not enough separation.

It's funny how syntax changes all kinds of perceptions.  You can say "mid-pack NJAC team", somebody else can say "perennial USASC champion and playoff participant" and you're both talking about the same team.  Yet, the perception of that HSC result changes dramatically depending on which angle you take.

Wally, CNU beat a mid-pack NJAC team. Not that they are one. Although that might be a slightly generous description of TCNJ last year. I don't really know where CNU will fall in the NJAC anymore than I know where this CNU team would fall in the USASC this year. I suspect M'Ville and Huntingdon would both give them a run for their money, but I don't know that.

My perception of HSC is primarily that they lost a lot, got hammered by a really good team at home, and went on the road and beat a team that I'm not sure about. At this point I'm just not willing to say they are a top 10 South team, but I think they could be. I just think Maryville, E&H, and Guilford are more likely to be better based on what they brought back and how they have performed so far. But it is really a lot of apples and oranges right now.

[wally_wabash]

My bad there...misread on my part.  I thought you were talking about HSC with CNU being the mid-pack NJAC team.  Definitely a fair assessment of CNU re: TCNJ on your part. 

[hasanova]

The last 3 spots in the South Poll are tough ... about 7 teams to choose from.  Maryville certainly got a nice win at ETSU, but start-up teams (even at FCS) are not fully in sync yet.  We'll know more when the Bucs play E&H.  Speaking of E&H, I know they beat Ferrum handily, but I saw Ferrum scrimmage at Guilford and think the Panthers have a ways to go.  Same is true of Guilford's win over Greensboro ... the Pride and Ferrum are about equal.  Was a bit shocked by the size of Methodist's loss to Guilford in Fayetteville ... thought it would be a closer game, even without graduated QB Max Reber.  I still voted for Muhlenberg dispite the loss to F&M on the road ... Muhlenberg was 2nd to JHU last season and one loss in the tough CC has not yet changed my mind.  Same with TLU's loss to HSU.  A few more weeks and things will begin to sort out.

[Ralph Turner]

I'm not sure on HSC. Wabash is really, really good, but HSC looked really, really bad in that game. They looked better against CNU, but I'm not sure CNU is all that good. Beating a mid-pack NJAC team week one just didn't really fire me up. F&M has a good win, M'Ville I don't know what to do with the ETSU game, but it's still a neat win for them. E&H brought a lot back from a good team last year. Muhlenberg just got pipped by F&M on the road. I think any of those teams plus H-SC and maybe even Gettysburg and Rhodes could all be thrown into a lump. Not enough separation.

It's funny how syntax changes all kinds of perceptions.  You can say "mid-pack NJAC team", somebody else can say "perennial USASC champion and playoff participant" and you're both talking about the same team.  Yet, the perception of that HSC result changes dramatically depending on which angle you take.

Precisely my perception of the top ODAC teams since the decline of Bridgewater...

I am glad the USASAC has continued to grow and expand as a conference, but losing CNU in football has hurt.

We never see the ODAC teams in the ASC.

[Ralph Turner]

Week #3

1)  UMHB   50            1,1,1,1,1
2)  TMC      42            2,2,3,3,3
3)   JHU      41            2,2,3,3,4
4)   W&J      33           2,4,4,5,7
5)   HSU       30          4,5,5,5,6

6)   Centre     25        4,6,6,7,7
7)   Guilford    21       5,6,7,8,8
8)    TLU         17       6,7,8,8,9
9)    Maryville  9         8,9,9,10,10
10T)  HS-C       3        9,10,x,x,x
10T)  F&M        3         9,10,x,x,x

RV  Muhlenberg 1       10,x,x,x,x

[Ralph Turner]

Wow!  The top 9 appeared on every ballot.

[Scots13]

TMC finally moves up. I see them doing big things this year.

W&J with a 2 vote and a 7 vote. We definitely have differing views on the Presidents!

[ExTartanPlayer]

W&J with a 2 vote and a 7 vote. We definitely have differing views on the Presidents!

I'll cop to being the #2 vote for W & J, although I'm far from certain.   I can actually see an argument for ranking them much lower - the Westminster win was not impressive and I just watched them give up 303 rushing yards to a 5'8" and 175-pound sophomore running back on a team with no other way to hurt them offensively.  Thomas More has been much more impressive in the first couple of games.  However, W & J has a history of showing up when it matters and has beaten TMC the last couple seasons when I really expected the Saints to win.  If/when Thomas More beats W & J, they will move up to #2 on my ballot, and depending on how the game goes, W & J actually could fall quite a bit.  The next handful of teams are really bunched quite closely in my opinion.

W & J does have a very, very good offense.  QB is a veteran and quite productive, ditto RB, and they have two very impressive WR's.

[Scots13]

W&J with a 2 vote and a 7 vote. We definitely have differing views on the Presidents!

I'll cop to being the #2 vote for W & J, although I'm far from certain.   I can actually see an argument for ranking them much lower - the Westminster win was not impressive and I just watched them give up 303 rushing yards to a 5'8" and 175-pound sophomore running back on a team with no other way to hurt them offensively.  Thomas More has been much more impressive in the first couple of games.  However, W & J has a history of showing up when it matters and has beaten TMC the last couple seasons when I really expected the Saints to win.  If/when Thomas More beats W & J, they will move up to #2 on my ballot, and depending on how the game goes, W & J actually could fall quite a bit.  The next handful of teams are really bunched quite closely in my opinion.

W & J does have a very, very good offense.  QB is a veteran and quite productive, ditto RB, and they have two very impressive WR's.

We're about to head into conference play, so I think over the next couple of weeks we'll see how everything will play out from midseason on.
Guilford has its tougher conference games later in the year. Maryville has Huntingdon game 9 I believe.  The USAC/ODAC teams will play out at that time. Don't really know about the other conference's schedules. Maybe I should take a look.

[Ralph Turner]

Week #3

1)  UMHB   50            1,1,1,1,1    ASC  Pool B
2)  TMC      42            2,2,3,3,3       Pres AC
3)   JHU      41            2,2,3,3,4          Centennial
4)   W&J      33           2,4,4,5,7             Pres AC
5)   HSU       30          4,5,5,5,6              ASC    Pool B

6)   Centre     25        4,6,6,7,7               SAA
7)   Guilford    21       5,6,7,8,8                 ODAC
8)    TLU         17       6,7,8,8,9                SCAC Pool B
9)    Maryville  9         8,9,9,10,10             USASAC
10T)  HS-C       3        9,10,x,x,x                  ODAC
10T)  F&M        3         9,10,x,x,x                 Centennial

RV  Muhlenberg 1       10,x,x,x,x                    Centennial

I have assigned Pool A status to the "conference leaders".  Everyone else is fighting for an at-large bid.  (I  have given the Pool B bid to UMHB.  HSU has a win over TLU.)

[wally_wabash]

Are you guys claiming Chicago down here?  Asking for a friend. 

[Ralph Turner]

Are you guys claiming Chicago down here?  Asking for a friend.

Pat Coleman still has Chicago as a North Region team.  I think that that is the ruling on the question.

(I like Chicago. They may win it all in the SAA!  That would be exciting for them.  I hope they go undefeated and get a 1st round #4 seed and a home game.)

[ExTartanPlayer]

Are you guys claiming Chicago down here?  Asking for a friend.

Lol.  I think there's at least one prior case of a team appearing in ballots on two regional fan polls when it was a little unclear who belonged where.

Chicago probably does deserve a ranking somewhere.  8-1 last year, three straight to start this year and just won handily against a then-ranked Centre team coming off an undefeated season.  That game was 49-16 at the end of the 3rd quarter and Centre literally scored on the last play of the game to make it 49-30.  Burke Moser has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 0 INT's.

[Scots13]

Yea or nay on UChicago in South Region?  Someone make an executive decision. I need to redo my poll if it's a yea.

[jknezek]

I think it is a yes. I can't think of too many cases where AQ conferences have been split recently. But we won't get official word until the handbook comes out. I think. Maybe Pat will chime in...