D3 Top 25 Fan Poll

[Etchglow]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

I think that Muhlenberg is headed to 6-3 in the Centennial this year. That is no-slouch conference.
As for HSU's big win, I feel sorry for the Cowboys. The head coach called 160 schools for a game.
So, he goes to Platteville and does something no one else has done since 2005; shut out the Pioneers.

The Cowboy win over UW-P (41-0) was of Oshkoshian proportions (46-7).

I'm no HSU fan, but what Ralph said. Plus, Hardin Simmons HAS made a deep run or two into the playoffs before. It might have been 20+ years ago but pretty sure they made the semis in 2000...

[D3Navy]

What is the legitimate rationale for UMU ranked above NCC? I am flummoxed.  NCC 2 straight wins over them in Alliance and two straight Stagg Bowls.  NCC with 16 or so returning starters and a much bigger win so far.  This defies logic.

UMU opponents have a combined record of 5-12 while NCC's opponents are 6-11.
One of NCC's wins came against then #11 Wheaton.

I am the individual who has Mount ahead of North Central currently, standing in defiance of logic.

Here's why...

As pointed out, their strength of schedules are similar, with a game against Wheaton favoring NC. However, I stopped judging elite D3 teams based solely on their SOS years ago. If I didn't, UWW would just be permanently my number 1 and MHB number 2.

Giving North Central credit for anything they did last year seems like a silly leap for the next go-to criteria. By that logic, Mount has been in the Stagg Bowl 15 of the last 20 seasons. When I compare the elite teams, I go to the eye test before previous seasons. What jumps out? This season's Mount team just looks exceptionally fast on both sides of the ball, both compared to last season and other elite teams. So for now, I give them the edge. It's similar to D1 and Ohio State. They haven't beat anyone of note yet (Notre Dame was a fraud) and still national pundits seem to believe they're the only team out there capable of playing with Alabama and Georgia. Because their QB play, speed of their playmakers, etc. pass the eye test.

I have North Central number 2. Are you judging the best resume or simply who you think the best teams are? MHB lost at WW, but absolutely punished Muhlenberg and Hardin Simmons. Those two wins combine for the most impressive resume out of anyone, so how much do you punish them for a four point loss at Whitewater? Aren't we conditioned at this point to just assume the Stagg Bowl will be played by some combination of Mount, UWW, MHB, and NC? I prefer to think of the top four teams more like 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d... because you're really splitting hairs trying to figure out who "deserves" to be ranked higher.

1e might like a word: they gave UMHB their toughest challenge last year and return 21 starters this season.

[Ralph Turner]

Yeah, I am wondering what the committee will do with this scenario in Region 3. (Record against D-3; Pool A in bold.)

1) Trinity 10-0; RR 2-0
2) RMC 10-0; RR 1-0
3) UMHB 9-1; RR 1-1
4) Huntingdon 9-1; RR 1-1
5) HSU 8-1; RR 0-1
6) Bwater/Shen 9-1; RR 0-1
7) BSC 7-2; RR 0-2

Geographic proximity?  Does Trinity host UMHB in the 1st round? 

Only 5 Pool C bids. HSU might be on the bubble. Platteville may pick up 3 -4 losses. That doesn't look good for UWP getting in the RR for Region 5 for the sake of HSU.

[HOPEful]

might we be talking about how The Cru is building a dynasty?

Mary Hardin Baylor is already a dynasty. But it's difficult to talk about any of MHB, UWW, or Mount without mentioning the others... I'd suggest D3 football has created a different kind of dynasty. The top 1-2% dynasty.

Since 2000, St. John's, Linfield, and North Central are the only schools to win the Stagg Bowl not named Whitewater, Mount Union, or Mary Hardin Baylor. Add Oshkosh, St. Thomas, Trinity, and Bridgewater, and you have every team that's even played in the game since 2000. One of those isn't even a D3 school anymore.  We already have a dynasty, it's just a shared dynasty between 3 teams with North Central making a case to join them.

[Cowboy2]

If UMHB had held off UWW before 14,213 fans at the Perk, and considering the Muhlenberg and HSU scores, might we be talking about how The Cru is building a dynasty?

(LOL, 14,213 fans might be the over/under number of the number of fans to watch a regular season's worth of games for the average D3 player, i.e., the cumulative attendance for 10 games in a season!)

Obviously it's over! Wait isn't it?

240 programs...24 starters...2-3 (if fortunate) family members or peers watching every game...pretty close Ralph!

[Ralph Turner]

If UMHB had held off UWW before 14,213 fans at the Perk, and considering the Muhlenberg and HSU scores, might we be talking about how The Cru is building a dynasty?

(LOL, 14,213 fans might be the over/under number of the number of fans to watch a regular season's worth of games for the average D3 player, i.e., the cumulative attendance for 10 games in a season!)

Obviously it's over! Wait isn't it?

240 programs...24 starters...2-3 (if fortunate) family members or peers watching every game...pretty close Ralph!

Thanks Cowboy, actually I was thinking of an announced attendance at each game of 1,421 fans times 10 games.

[smedindy]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

[Ralph Turner]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

+1! Smed!
Yeah, some of the players were in pre-school that year.  LOL

[D3fanboy]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

big time brag.  I had no idea that you were a Baldwin Wallace guy

[smedindy]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

big time brag.  I had no idea that you were a Baldwin Wallace guy

BW? Nope. Try again.

[IC798891]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

One of the biggest problems when you have this handful of super dynasty teams is people lose sight of how good teams are outside of those programs, so everyone "stinks". Even the 8-9 win program they were before they started making these playoff runs...do people not realize how hard it is to be successful like that? And the number of D3 programs that would take it in a heartbeat?

[Captainred81]

So is Heidelberg tough or did Mount hiccup?  I think a little of both!!

[smedindy]

Heidelberg is good...John Carroll is better.

[HOPEful]

So is Heidelberg tough or did Mount hiccup?  I think a little of both!!

It makes me chuckle sometimes how much differently we judge the elite d3 teams from everyone else. A 22 point win against a team that was ranked #19 in the country just 3 weeks ago would be seen as an epic win for anyone else in region 4. For Mount, however, it's a hiccup.

[wally_wabash]

Muhlenberg stinks and aren't we all still waiting for HSU's first big win...ever

Oh, to stink like that, dude.

Muhlenberg's last losing season was 2009.

One of the biggest problems when you have this handful of super dynasty teams is people lose sight of how good teams are outside of those programs, so everyone "stinks". Even the 8-9 win program they were before they started making these playoff runs...do people not realize how hard it is to be successful like that? And the number of D3 programs that would take it in a heartbeat?

Shout it from the mountaintops, friend.  UMHB, UWW, UMU (maybe NCC creeping into the club)...these are outliers of outliers.