Pool C 2023

[ExTartanPlayer]

FWIW, I agree that NCC and Susquehanna are overwhelming favorites to win, but guys, the point of the exercise is to ID the games that matter this week and what different results mean.

Logan made this all very concise on Twitter:

https://x.com/loghanratings/status/1721577557491912974?s=46&t=vqSgX_T0AGAPfUWEdoeq9A

[MediaGuy]

After listening to the interview with the playoff committee chair, it seems like he is committed to sticking to the strict interpretation of the criteria when selecting the playoff field.  That being said, wouldn't it make sense to have blind selections for Pool C. 

It seems like you would have the best overall field as well as be able to say that they arent playing favorites or selecting a team based on previous seasons, if when the 6 teams were up for pool C consideration, there were no team names assigned, just W/L, SOS and RvRRO.

Does this happen now and if not, what does everyone think about doing it that way in the future?

[USee]

As a reference down the stretch, the RAC are made up this year as follows (the groups that pick who is regionally ranked and, starting today, what order they are in). The chair of each RAC makes up the national committee:

Region I:
John Davis (Chair) Misericordia University
Dino Pollock, Western NE
Scott Lynn, Alfred State College
Carey Eggen, Framingham State
Brian Bubna, MIT
Ed Hottle, Stevenson Univeristy

Region II:
Blaise Faggiano (Chair), Utica
Curt Fitzpatrick, Morrisville State
Devin DeWall, Hobart
Amanda DeMartino, TCNJ
Brad Fordyce, Dickinson
Geno Demarco, Geneva

Region III:
Hunter Sims (Chair), Howard Payne
Ryan Erwin, ETBU
Scott Yoder, Shenandoah
Jerheme Urban, Trinity Univ
Mike Gutelius, Catholic

Region IV:
John Snell (Chair), Baldwin Wallace
Matthew Theobald, Hanover
Jason Couch, Alma
Justin Newell, Kenyon
Scott Donaldson, Heidelberg

Region V:
Jason Imperati (Chair), Lawrence University
Jeff McMartin, Central College
Jesse Scott, Wheaton
Ben Cooprider, Grinnell
Jim Hamad, Aurora

Region VI:
Matt Moore (National Chair), Univ of NW-St Paul
Gary Fasching, St Johns
Keith Buckley, Pacific
Chris Krich, LaVerne
Robbie Schomaker, Greenville
Jace Rindahl, UWW

[jknezek]

As a reference down the stretch, the RAC are made up this year as follows (the groups that pick who is regionally ranked and, starting today, what order they are in). The chair of each RAC makes up the national committee:

Region I:
John Davis (Chair) Misericordia University
Dino Pollock, Western NE
Scott Lynn, Alfred State College
Carey Eggen, Framingham State
Brian Bubna, MIT
Ed Hottle, Stevenson Univeristy

Region II:
Blaise Faggiano (Chair), Utica
Curt Fitzpatrick, Morrisville State
Devin DeWall, Hobart
Amanda DeMartino, TCNJ
Brad Fordyce, Dickinson
Geno Demarco, Geneva

Region III:
Hunter Sims (Chair), Howard Payne
Ryan Erwin, ETBU
Scott Yoder, Shenandoah
Jerheme Urban, Trinity Univ
Mike Gutelius, Catholic

Region IV:
John Snell (Chair), Baldwin Wallace
Matthew Theobald, Hanover
Jason Couch, Alma
Justin Newell, Kenyon
Scott Donaldson, Heidelberg

Region V:
Jason Imperati (Chair), Lawrence University
Jeff McMartin, Central College
Jesse Scott, Wheaton
Ben Cooprider, Grinnell
Jim Hamad, Aurora

Region VI:
Matt Moore (National Chair), Univ of NW-St Paul
Gary Fasching, St Johns
Keith Buckley, Pacific
Chris Krich, LaVerne
Robbie Schomaker, Greenville
Jace Rindahl, UWW

What the heck??? Catholic is in the Landmark, that's Region 2?? I've not seen that before.

[lmitzel]

After listening to the interview with the playoff committee chair, it seems like he is committed to sticking to the strict interpretation of the criteria when selecting the playoff field.  That being said, wouldn't it make sense to have blind selections for Pool C. 

It seems like you would have the best overall field as well as be able to say that they arent playing favorites or selecting a team based on previous seasons, if when the 6 teams were up for pool C consideration, there were no team names assigned, just W/L, SOS and RvRRO.

Does this happen now and if not, what does everyone think about doing it that way in the future?

It's not quite that simple. I almost missed it and wondered if they'd taken it out, but there is a little nugget in the selection criteria after all the primary and secondary ones that are listed.

When all criteria are equal among teams with undefeated records in the primary criteria, the NCAA Division III Football
Committee can use a team's performance in the previous championship season as a criterion.

-Championship handbook

I kinda doubt we'd get to that point but it is something to keep in mind.

[lmitzel]

Second set of regional rankings dropped.

[smedindy]

Wartburg top ranked in Region 5 with no games left! Bolstered by Coe's ranking.

Surprised Del Val is ahead of Endicott with a worse SOS.

I wonder if Ithaca will have the record SOS after the Cortaga Jug?

[BSCpanthers]

The only Pool C option out of Region 3 is Berry.  Without going through all the other conferences and teams and rankings, who else is Pool C favorites??? 

But the way, Berry should get a Pool C and probably host Belhaven.  Trinity should host Hardin Simmons.  Those are my votes, for what that's worth. 

[Ron Boerger]

The only Pool C option out of Region 3 is Berry.  Without going through all the other conferences and teams and rankings, who else is Pool C favorites??? 

But the way, Berry should get a Pool C and probably host Belhaven.  Trinity should host Hardin Simmons.  Those are my votes, for what that's worth.

Berry's very poor SOS and lack of regional results make them a very difficult pick, especially if the region 2 RAC pulls their collective heads out of their asses and next week elevates Union (which has a win vs RRO) over Muhlenberg (which does not and has almost the exact same SoS).   A 9-1 Union will get picked before a 9-1 Berry but they have to come to the table.   UW-W, Wheaton, St. John's are likely earlier picks. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

After listening to the interview with the playoff committee chair, it seems like he is committed to sticking to the strict interpretation of the criteria when selecting the playoff field.  That being said, wouldn't it make sense to have blind selections for Pool C. 

It seems like you would have the best overall field as well as be able to say that they arent playing favorites or selecting a team based on previous seasons, if when the 6 teams were up for pool C consideration, there were no team names assigned, just W/L, SOS and RvRRO.

Does this happen now and if not, what does everyone think about doing it that way in the future?

I think this would be just about impossible to implement for a couple reasons.

The only way to do it without giving away who the teams are is just showing the W/L, SOS, and RvRRO.  But the RvRRO has to be just a record and not include scores or even who the "RRO" are, otherwise it would be unmasking as to who the team(s) are.  And I find that problematic because not all "W" and "L" vs. RRO are equal.  If John Carroll is on the board, for example, there's a difference between them losing 49-14 to Mount Union vs. if they had lost 31-28.  Depending on who else was on the table I might be going to bat for an 8-2 team with a 27-23 and 31-28 loss against teams ranked first and second in their respective regions.  But without the scores / rankings of the opponents - if I'm just told "8-2, .550 SoS, 0-2 vs RRO" then I don't know if that "0-2" is "two close ones against two teams at the top of their respective regions" or two blowout losses or one close and one blowout nor do I know how highly those teams are ranked.  I think it matters to think not just of "record" vs RRO but "results" vs RRO and that means you need to know who they were and what the score was. 

My 2 cents, anyway.

[Ron Boerger]

NCAA just updated Region 2 and now Union is ranked above Susquehanna.

https://twitter.com/FrankRossi/status/1722630039739719721

[FCGrizzliesGrad]

UW-Whitewater 42 vs Bethel 14
Union 24 @ Delaware Valley 16
Wheaton 41 vs Mount St Joseph 34
Coe 7 @ Aurora 20

3-1 for the Pool C teams in round 1

[Ralph Turner]

UW-Whitewater 42 vs Bethel 14
Union 24 @ Delaware Valley 16
Wheaton 41 vs Mount St Joseph 34
Coe 7 @ Aurora 20

3-1 for the Pool C teams in round 1

Would SJU have beaten Aurora?

[MRMIKESMITH]

Is there somewhere to watch the replay of the bracket blitz? Teams already removed videos or have restrictions on replay (although I though that was not allowed, since it was a NCAA sponsored event). Not like teams are sign stealing 

[UfanBill]

Is there somewhere to watch the replay of the bracket blitz? Teams already removed videos or have restrictions on replay (although I though that was not allowed, since it was a NCAA sponsored event). Not like teams are sign stealing 

https://www.d3football.com/videolink/bracket-blitz-2023