FB: Region 4 fan poll

[Mr. Ypsi]

I, of course, am column 1 (immediately obvious by the Kazoo vote!)  I knew they wouldn't make it into the top ten, but I wanted to toss them a bone with their best start in 'forever'.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Sorry guys, I'm sure I'm the hold up on the poll.  Stupid tax deadlines need to be outside of football season only!  I am finalizing now and sending to Wally.

You should probably send your taxes to the IRS and not to Wally, but I'm no CPA so what do I know

I figure if Wally understands the pool C stuff then tax regs shouldn't be too difficult for him!  wally_wabash, paid preparer has a nice ring to it.

The IRS grades out pretty well in the primary criteria:
- win % (1.000)
- results vs. regionally ranked opponents (all wins, all monkey stomps)
- SOS ranks only 4th nationally, somehow trailing three WIAC schools

Maybe THIS year, but I got audited a number of years ago, did my homework, and ended up with them sending me a BIGGER refund!  (I've never been audited since. )

I sure hope the IRS doesn't monitor this website - There is probably a 15-audit penalty for taunting.

[thunderdog]

I'm column 5. Looks like I differ from the crowd on 3 teams: Denison, WashU, and Wheaton.

I remain the high vote for Denison at #6, yet survey says Unranked or #11. I'll admit that ranking the Big Red at #6 somewhat gives them a pass for their opening week loss at Soutwestern, but they're thru the heart of their NCAC schedule with a 2-1 record vs what I consider the top 3 opponents in Witt (66-68 loss), Wabash (34-10 win), and DePauw (20-12 win). I think they finish 8-2 and in sole possession of 2nd place in the NCAC. I'll stick to my guns on this one.

I'm low man for WashU at #10 while survey says #6. This is somewhat tied to where I have Wheaton, which is Unranked (they'd be my #11) while survey says #8. As a rather close follower of Wheaton football, I think this team has an incredibly high ceiling, but it also has a much lower floor normally associated with said high ceiling. The lack of consistency makes me feel as if I'm watching a completely different team from week-to week and it's also the reason why they don't make my ballot... currently, at least. Anyway, back to WashU. They played a heckuva game vs Wheaton. I was very impressed by QB Johnny Davidson. His escapability was frustrating (as a Wheaton fan) and reminiscent of Russell Wilson (WashU announcer appropriately said he looked like Fran Tarkenton). Their defense played lights out with the 10 sacks. All that said, I still feel the outcome was more a result of "Wheaton playing poorly and not making adjustments when needed, particularly on offense" as opposed to "WashU played great and earned the W". WashU still has IWU and Millikin on the schedule, if I'm wrong, they should be able to win both those games. IMHO, I don't see WashU beating IWU (you're welcome Titan fans, I always do what I can to provide your opponents with bulletin board material )

[Mr. Ypsi]

Looking ahead to Saturday, two games will definitely affect the voting:  (5-1) IWU @ (5-1) WashU, and (6-0) Marietta @ (5-1) JCU.

Three other games might be interesting:  (4-2) Wheaton @ (3-3) Augie, (5-1) NCC @ (2-4) Carthage, and (3-3) DePauw @ (6-0) Witt.  Any other games that affect voting would be HUGE upsets, or at least anomalously close games.

[HOPEful]

I'm row 7.

I still have Wheaton at 7. I don't really see how the two respectable losses of at IWU and at WashU have anyone thinking this team is unrankable. They beat North Central and crushed Millikin. How did 2 of you vote for Millikin at 10 over Wheaton?

I finished my 7-10 with Wheaton, Millikin, Trine, Marietta. My thought process it simple. Wheaton's 63-6 win head-to-head keeps them ahead of Millikin. I saw both Millikin and Trine in person against Hope, and neither stood out as impressively better than the other. I left both games thinking "Hope should have won that game..." I gave the tie-breaker to Millikin for their win over Carthage. Marietta was the undefeated team I chose to plop in the 10 spot. I could be easily swayed in the direction of BW or Denison.

I am uncertain what I'll do with Marietta next week if they lose to John Carroll in a relatively close contest.

[HScoach]

^ I'd be shocked if Marietta is within 20 points of JCU.  I'm happy to see Marietta off the mat, but I'm expecting them to end season 1-3.  Still, a great season for Marietta to build from, but they're not ready for prime time yet.

[HOPEful]

^ I'd be shocked if Marietta is within 20 points of JCU.  I'm happy to see Marietta off the mat, but I'm expecting them to end season 1-3.  Still, a great season for Marietta to build from, but they're not ready for prime time yet.

I agree.

I would also be shocked if in a hypothetical world, Trine or Milikin played JC and kept it close. The distance between 2 and 8 significant.

[wally_wabash]

^ I'd be shocked if Marietta is within 20 points of JCU.  I'm happy to see Marietta off the mat, but I'm expecting them to end season 1-3.  Still, a great season for Marietta to build from, but they're not ready for prime time yet.

I agree.

I would also be shocked if in a hypothetical world, Trine or Milikin played JC and kept it close. The distance between 2 and 8 significant.

The distance between 2 and 3 is huge, iyam. 

[HOPEful]

The distance between 2 and 3 is huge, iyam.

Agreed. That's why I'm thinking if Marietta somehow finds a way to keep the game close, I could envision a scenario where they lose and I move them up my rankings.

[USee]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt. 

[JCUStreaks70]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt.

Not that I completely disagree, Mount's offense showed no ability to score in that game either. Let's remember that JCU's offense did score more points than Mount's. Our defense only allowed 9 whereas Mount's allowed 10.. The difference is obviously 2 defensive touchdown's on the part of Mount.

[bluestreak66]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt.

If you will tell me who these gentlemen are.....

[HScoach]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt.

I disagree with this too.  JCU had the ball in Mount territory down 6 with over a minute to go.  Save a crazy strip-steal from a blitzing DB return for TD, that's a 6 point game.   Both offenses struggled to maintain anything.  Both defenses played very well, but the difference was Mount's D scored.  JCU's didn't.

Not saying either team is national championship caliber quite yet, but both will be a very tough out come playoff time.

[USee]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt.

I disagree with this too.  JCU had the ball in Mount territory down 6 with over a minute to go.  Save a crazy strip-steal from a blitzing DB return for TD, that's a 6 point game.   Both offenses struggled to maintain anything.  Both defenses played very well, but the difference was Mount's D scored.  JCU's didn't.

Not saying either team is national championship caliber quite yet, but both will be a very tough out come playoff time.

My original point was to refute  the notion that there is a huge chasm between JCU  at #2 and the rest of the North. I just don't think a 13 pt loss to Mt Union means JCU is leaps and bounds better than the other North teams. Their defense played Mt Union tough, no doubt. but their offense scored a TD on the opening drive in the first 3 minutes and managed 3 pts the rest of the way. The strip sack TD was not crazy at all. It was an unblocked blizter off the edge, AFTER a timeout by Mt Union with :44 seconds left. Great teams don't make that mistake down the stretch in a huge game. Different deal if a Mt Union player beat someone and made a strip sack. That was a mental error for an offense that didn't look to me like they belonged on the same field as Mt Union. And your right HSC, it was in Mounts territory, At the 43. The strip sack happened at the JCU 49.

I'll agree JCU's defense seems for real (21 pts to 2-5 UWSP notwithstanding) but their offense hasn't proven anything and wins against one team with a winning record and a collective record of 9-21 does not impress me as a team that has created a chasm with the rest of the North Region.  They pulled away nicely from ONU in the second half and play some solid OAC teams down the stretch. They are still ranked #2 in the North for me but they are much closer to #3 than they are to #1.

[JCUStreaks70]

I think the huge gap is between 1 and 2, both regionally and maybe even nationally (ok 2-3 nationally). Somehow people have become enamored with JCU because they stayed close to Mount for 59 minutes. JCU showed no ability to score in that game and I don't think Mt was ever in any real danger to lose that game. I think there are 1-2 other teams that could lose by 10-14 to Mt.

I disagree with this too.  JCU had the ball in Mount territory down 6 with over a minute to go.  Save a crazy strip-steal from a blitzing DB return for TD, that's a 6 point game.   Both offenses struggled to maintain anything.  Both defenses played very well, but the difference was Mount's D scored.  JCU's didn't.

Not saying either team is national championship caliber quite yet, but both will be a very tough out come playoff time.

My original point was to refute  the notion that there is a huge chasm between JCU  at #2 and the rest of the North. I just don't think a 13 pt loss to Mt Union means JCU is leaps and bounds better than the other North teams. Their defense played Mt Union tough, no doubt. but their offense scored a TD on the opening drive in the first 3 minutes and managed 3 pts the rest of the way. The strip sack TD was not crazy at all. It was an unblocked blizter off the edge, AFTER a timeout by Mt Union with :44 seconds left. Great teams don't make that mistake down the stretch in a huge game. Different deal if a Mt Union player beat someone and made a strip sack. That was a mental error for an offense that didn't look to me like they belonged on the same field as Mt Union. And your right HSC, it was in Mounts territory, At the 43. The strip sack happened at the JCU 49.

I'll agree JCU's defense seems for real (21 pts to 2-5 UWSP notwithstanding) but their offense hasn't proven anything and wins against one team with a winning record and a collective record of 9-21 does not impress me as a team that has created a chasm with the rest of the North Region.  They pulled away nicely from ONU in the second half and play some solid OAC teams down the stretch. They are still ranked #2 in the North for me but they are much closer to #3 than they are to #1.

Agree, unfortunately, about the offense. But this far into the season, my original theory of being "not a 1st quarter team" seems to be accurate. To be able to make a push in the playoffs will require our offense to be able to put points on the board early.