FB: Region 4 fan poll

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I've submitted my ballot but I have 0 confidence in it. Probably a lot of changes after week 1.

I think that is just SOP for a preseason ballot!

Didn't even have to wait until week 1... I forgot to put on John Carroll and had to add them in

[JCUStreaks70]

I've submitted my ballot but I have 0 confidence in it. Probably a lot of changes after week 1.

I think that is just SOP for a preseason ballot!

Didn't even have to wait until week 1... I forgot to put on John Carroll and had to add them in

That's what we're banking will happen this season... every team will forgot to prep for us as we causally go 10-0! lol

[MUC57]

JCUStreaks70

Never fear. Mount Union won't forget! Go Raiders! Go Streaks! ☠🏈

[Captain_Joe08]

I nearly missed the deadline as I was leaving for high school football tonight.

Also a Streak died in Fond Du Lac tonight.

[Li'l Giant]

Sorry for holding everyone up. I had a big deadline at work and hadn't had time to come up for air.

Got my ballot sent in today.

[wally_wabash]

At long last, the 2018 preseason NRFP:


click to enlarge

The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, HOPEful, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF,  smedindy, USee, and wally wabash.

[New Tradition]

At long last, the 2018 preseason NRFP:


click to enlarge

The NRFP is voted on by: Captain_Joe08, CollegeGolf18, Dr. Acula, FCGrizzliesGrad, HOPEful, Li'l Giant, Mr Ypsi, NCF,  smedindy, USee, and wally wabash.

With the exception of that last column, there's a pretty fair amount of consensus given the fact that we only have potential and historical data to go off of.  Impressive.  Looking forward to hearing all of your opinions this year!

[JCUStreaks70]

JCUStreaks70

Never fear. Mount Union won't forget! Go Raiders! Go Streaks! ☠🏈

Damn! I was hoping we'd go unnoticed until we beat you on 9/22! LOL Well in the words of a wise man: Go Streaks! Go Raiders! Go Everybody!

[wally_wabash]

I'll start!  I'm the first column.  Mount Union is #1 across the board and they are the best team in the region with plenty of distance.  I think they've got a significant gap the entire D3 field and not just the region this year if I'm being honest.   After that I had to revisit my end of season rankings and see how I felt about some teams.  I was high on Franklin and Trine at the end of last year, but I've got significant questions about them coming into 2018.  Franklin slotted in at 10 for me, Trine was just off.  For Trine, I don't know that they are in a place where they can lose a player of Wyse's caliber and get back to the tournament.  They haven't had that kind of consistency.  Franklin certainly has been able to lose a star QB and keep on going, but they lost a lot in addition to Burton.  So I'm a little cautious about those squads.  I like what North Central (2) and Wheaton (3) have coming back and I'm sure Wheaton is in a better place than they were at this time last year.  Wittenberg (4) really drifted up for me because they have a 3-year starting QB who is really unheralded, but has been rock solid and they have a handful of fifth year guys that I wasn't anticipating being back.  They're going to be really good.  JCU is my fifth team and could definitely rise if they really dominate their non-UMU schedule.  Then I went Millikin at 6- I'm a sucker for talented, experienced QBs.  No doubt though, Millikin is sneaking up on nobody this year, so they'll really have to be sharp to not drift back into the middle of the CCIW.  IWU (7) is my fourth CCIW team- such a rugged league right now.  Five different CCIW teams were recognized on this poll which is pretty incredible.  Then I went with Hope at 8.  I like what Stuursma is doing there and it feels like he's really building a strong, consistent team.  I think Hope is the team to beat in the MIAA and getting Trine at home certainly influenced that call.  Lastly I've got Wabash at 9.  I think Wabash is loaded with offensive talent, IF they can get QB play good enough to unlock it.  There's been a change at OC which I think is really helpful.  The Little Giants are going to get a year younger on defense, which might be trouble in a league where offenses are exploding.  It'll be interesting to see how that works out.  Anyway, for me, there's not much difference at all right now between teams 8-10 on my ballot and then the next 4 or so that just missed for me (Trine, Denison, DePauw, B-W).  Also keeping a close eye on Allegheny this year.  They've got an interesting game coming in week 1 vs. RPI.  A result there might get them top 10 consideration. 

[MUC57]

JCUStreaks70

Ah, you're my kind of guy! You make me almost want to root for Tha Bluestreaks. Well, anyway, best to you guys on the season (until you play UMU). You have a good program going. Keep it moving along. "A wise man"? You're too kind! OK! Go Bluestreaks! Beat the other 8 teams in the OAC! ☠🏈🍺

Let me know if you're coming to Alliance. Would love to meet you. Behind the west stands, with my two friends, Guido and Nunzio. They' re Raider fans. That is, The Palermo Raiders. See you there?

[JCUStreaks70]

JCUStreaks70

Ah, you're my kind of guy! You make me almost want to root for Tha Bluestreaks. Well, anyway, best to you guys on the season (until you play UMU). You have a good program going. Keep it moving along. "A wise man"? You're too kind! OK! Go Bluestreaks! Beat the other 8 teams in the OAC! ☠🏈🍺

Let me know if you're coming to Alliance. Would love to meet you. Behind the west stands, with my two friends, Guido and Nunzio. They' re Raider fans. That is, The Palermo Raiders. See you there?

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend. Being in Chicago, I can only make the trek back to CLE once a year, so I always do a home game... That and I in a wedding that day.. It's myself and a bunch of Illini fans (at least one of those teams knows how to win!) lol

My trip back to Cleveland this year is Week 11 for the Storied "Cuyahoga Gold Bowl".

Best of luck to you guys this year though! Thanks for the kind words about our program, if only that was the case when I was playing there!

[USee]

Column 2 for me. My thoughts on the CCIW teams are well published on the CCIW board. I picked Wheaton ahead of NCC because of the experience in the trenches the Thunder have and the Cardinals don't. I picked Carthage ahead of Millikin because the Redmen return 17 starters, had the #2 defense in the CCIW for a 7-3 team and its hard not to see how they will be better(I originally had them 3rd in the CCIW but their fall roster indicated 3 key guys aren't returning so I dropped them below IWU). Millikin will be fantastic on offense but will rely on freshman at about 4-5 key spots and couldn't stop anyone last year. I slotted Trine high because they surprised me last year getting to round 2 of the playoffs, have 20 returning starters though losing Wyse will hurt I anticipate them having an even better year. Witt has a great QB, awesome depth at WR but their defense is in serious question with the losses and a first round no show last year doesn't give me great confidence at this point and puts them in IWU territory on my list. I really like Wabash Offense and if Reid is the real deal at QB I like them to win the league. Young Defense I'll be watching early. ONU got my 10 spot over Franklin/Depauw/Millikin and BW in that order.

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

I believe I'm column 9. I really have no idea until we see some action so I went with a basic and safe ballot.
Mount Union on top, CCIW 1 at #2 which I gave to NCC,
Then at 3-4-5 go in some order NCAC 1, OAC 2, and CCIW 2. I ended up Witt, Wheaton, JCU.
Beyond that it's a mix of somebody has to be there and these are the usual suspects. IWU slots in at 6, Wabash at 7.
Franklin at 8 (with the potential to actually win both non-conference games for once).
MIAA placeholder at 9 I used Trine (the top MIAA team is usually worthy of being ranked it's just a matter of who that will be. 4 different teams have gone to the playoffs the last 4 years... maybe it's Hope's turn this year?).
Finally to finish off the ballot is RHIT who are following the Franklin blueprint and head to Alliance to start the season. Can't wait for the end of September when the Engineers head to Franklin.

[Dr. Acula]

I was the voter joining Wally ranking Millikin.  Looks like I played it pretty much down the middle otherwise since my other 9 spots were dead on the final tally of the group.  The spots I spent the most time on were NCC vs. Wheaton and IL Wesleyan vs. JCU.  As the resident OAC homer I did not give any consideration to a 3rd OAC team in my bottom spot(s).  I would have considered ONU, but the Williams ACL injury has me in wait and see mode with them now.

[smedindy]

I didn't rank Illinois Wesleyan. I think Kickoff scared me off of them.