D3boards.com

Division III football (Post Patterns) => Region 3 football (South Atlantic-ish) => Topic started by: Ryan Tipps on May 05, 2009, 09:32:23 PM

Title: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on May 05, 2009, 09:32:23 PM
Welcome to the new Post Patterns home for Around the Mid-Atlantic discussion.

My intent with starting a thread dedicated solely to the mid-Atlantic column is to broaden coverage in a variety of ways.
I plan to use this thread to:

Of course, as in the past, I will happily address any questions or concerns via email (ryan.tipps@d3football.com) -- but you'll just have to be prepared for my usual long and windbaggish response ;)

The only rule I'm going to throw at you is to keep this thread topical to teams in the Atlantic Central, Centennial, Old Dominion and USA South conferences.

Let's see if this works!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on May 06, 2009, 12:49:50 PM
Ryan,

I think this is a good idea.  It will let posters discuss regional topics as well as get feedback from other posters outside a specific conference.  One story idea may be Corey Sedlar at Hampden Sydney College.  He is working on a hall of fame career and he did not even start at quarterback in high school. 
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: hasanova on May 06, 2009, 07:16:37 PM
Ryan, what early plans (if any) do you have for Mid-Atlantic games to attend this fall?  It was great, for example, to see you at Guilford last fall for the "Souper" Bowl versus Greensboro.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on May 06, 2009, 08:26:40 PM
I'm definitely already kicking around some travel ideas. :) Some of the early games I'm interested in:

Sept. 5: F&H and W&L (If it happens. It's not on the sked yet, but I hope this matchup is extended beyond the past two seasons. It lets me see teams from two conferences, too.)

Sept. 26: Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (I'm disappointed to be missing the Mules in their prime, but I'd like to see the up-and-coming Bullets.)

Oct. 10: H-SC at E&H (I want to see the new field down in Emory, and I think both teams could compete well this season.)

Oct. 31: CNU at Ferrum (I haven't seen CNU in person since I moved to the Roanoke area, and it's worth getting a look at Tunde Ogun.)

Nov. 14: I'll be in Indiana for my own alma mater's rivalry matchup.

This is all tentative, of course, but it's what I've had cooking in the back of my mind for a few weeks now.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ralph Turner on May 06, 2009, 08:40:57 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on May 06, 2009, 08:26:40 PM
I'm definitely already kicking around some travel ideas. :) Some of the early games I'm interested in:

Sept. 5: F&H and W&L (If it happens. It's not on the sked yet, but I hope this matchup is extended beyond the past two seasons. It lets me see teams from two conferences, too.)

Sept. 26: Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (I'm disappointed to be missing the Mules in their prime, but I'd like to see the up-and-coming Bullets.)

Oct. 10: H-SC at E&H (I want to see the new field down in Emory, and I think both teams could compete well this season.)

Oct. 31: CNU at Ferrum (I haven't seen CNU in person since I moved to the Roanoke area, and it's worth getting a look at Tunde Ogun.)

Nov. 14: I'll be in Indiana for my own alma mater's rivalry matchup.

This is all tentative, of course, but it's what I've had cooking in the back of my mind for a few weeks now.
The sereis is tied again, isn't it.  ;)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on May 06, 2009, 09:37:11 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on May 06, 2009, 08:40:57 PMThe sereis is tied again, isn't it.

Ralph, why must you hurt me so. :'( :)

Yeah, the series is at 53-53-9.

Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: BTEXPRESS on May 07, 2009, 04:48:36 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on May 06, 2009, 08:26:40 PM
I'm definitely already kicking around some travel ideas. :) Some of the early games I'm interested in:

Sept. 5: F&H and W&L (If it happens. It's not on the sked yet, but I hope this matchup is extended beyond the past two seasons. It lets me see teams from two conferences, too.)

Sept. 26: Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (I'm disappointed to be missing the Mules in their prime, but I'd like to see the up-and-coming Bullets.)

Oct. 10: H-SC at E&H (I want to see the new field down in Emory, and I think both teams could compete well this season.)

Oct. 31: CNU at Ferrum (I haven't seen CNU in person since I moved to the Roanoke area, and it's worth getting a look at Tunde Ogun.)

Nov. 14: I'll be in Indiana for my own alma mater's rivalry matchup.

This is all tentative, of course, but it's what I've had cooking in the back of my mind for a few weeks now.
Ryan I think you meant F & M on September 5th. I kept looking for a team called F & H and couldn't find one.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on May 07, 2009, 06:00:35 PM
Quote from: BTEXPRESS on May 07, 2009, 04:48:36 PMRyan I think you meant F & M on September 5th. I kept looking for a team called F & H and couldn't find one.

Indeed, F&M is what I meant! :)  Thanks for the correx.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: hasanova on May 07, 2009, 06:49:46 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on May 06, 2009, 08:26:40 PM
I'm definitely already kicking around some travel ideas. :) Some of the early games I'm interested in:

Sept. 5: F&H and W&L (If it happens. It's not on the sked yet, but I hope this matchup is extended beyond the past two seasons. It lets me see teams from two conferences, too.)

Sept. 26: Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (I'm disappointed to be missing the Mules in their prime, but I'd like to see the up-and-coming Bullets.)

Oct. 10: H-SC at E&H (I want to see the new field down in Emory, and I think both teams could compete well this season.)

Oct. 31: CNU at Ferrum (I haven't seen CNU in person since I moved to the Roanoke area, and it's worth getting a look at Tunde Ogun.)

Nov. 14: I'll be in Indiana for my own alma mater's rivalry matchup.

This is all tentative, of course, but it's what I've had cooking in the back of my mind for a few weeks now.
Thanks ... sounds like a good mix.  Guilford and Methodist always put on a pretty good show as well ... I think it's in Fayetteville this fall on Sept. 12.  :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on May 07, 2009, 07:38:23 PM
Since you mentioned Methodist, I think they're the only USA South school that I haven't seen in person in the past 3-4 years. But Fayetteville is a long hike for me, so I've been looking for a good opportunity to see them play closer to home :)

But that segues into a list worth mentioning. I do try to spread out the teams I see, though geography doesn't make that goal very easy. Yet in recent years, I've seen in person:

ACFC: Salisbury, Wesley
CC: Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins, Ursinus
ODAC: Bridgewater, Emory & Henry, Guilford, Hampden-Sydney, Washington & Lee
USAC: Averett, Christopher Newport, Ferrum, Greensboro, Maryville, N.C. Wesleyan, Shenandoah

There's a good mix, but looking at the my post on my potential travel destinations for '09, there's only two new teams on there.  :-\
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: hasanova on May 07, 2009, 10:15:27 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on May 07, 2009, 07:38:23 PM
Since you mentioned Methodist, I think they're the only USA South school that I haven't seen in person in the past 3-4 years. But Fayetteville is a long hike for me, so I've been looking for a good opportunity to see them play closer to home :)

But that segues into a list worth mentioning. I do try to spread out the teams I see, though geography doesn't make that goal very easy. Yet in recent years, I've seen in person:

ACFC: Salisbury, Wesley
CC: Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins, Ursinus
ODAC: Bridgewater, Emory & Henry, Guilford, Hampden-Sydney, Washington & Lee
USAC: Averett, Christopher Newport, Ferrum, Greensboro, Maryville, N.C. Wesleyan, Shenandoah

There's a good mix, but looking at the my post on my potential travel destinations for '09, there's only two new teams on there.  :-\
Fayetteville is a long trip for you and, as you say, there are ample opportunities to see the Monarchs play in VA.  I'd argue, however, that it's almost as important to see all the venues as it is all the teams.  When you see a school's campus and the home stadium, it helps you understand their fan base and potential for recruiting, retention and winning.   Safe travels in '09!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: K-Mack on July 15, 2009, 01:39:11 PM
Quote from: hasanova on May 07, 2009, 10:15:27 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on May 07, 2009, 07:38:23 PM
Since you mentioned Methodist, I think they're the only USA South school that I haven't seen in person in the past 3-4 years. But Fayetteville is a long hike for me, so I've been looking for a good opportunity to see them play closer to home :)

But that segues into a list worth mentioning. I do try to spread out the teams I see, though geography doesn't make that goal very easy. Yet in recent years, I've seen in person:

ACFC: Salisbury, Wesley
CC: Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins, Ursinus
ODAC: Bridgewater, Emory & Henry, Guilford, Hampden-Sydney, Washington & Lee
USAC: Averett, Christopher Newport, Ferrum, Greensboro, Maryville, N.C. Wesleyan, Shenandoah

There's a good mix, but looking at the my post on my potential travel destinations for '09, there's only two new teams on there.  :-\
Fayetteville is a long trip for you and, as you say, there are ample opportunities to see the Monarchs play in VA.  I'd argue, however, that it's almost as important to see all the venues as it is all the teams.  When you see a school's campus and the home stadium, it helps you understand their fan base and potential for recruiting, retention and winning.   Safe travels in '09!

I agree with that.

I could not convince the wife to stop at Methodist and NCWC while we drove 15 hours from No. Va. to West Palm Beach a few years ago, even if they were both right off I-95!

(By the way, schools off I-95 rule)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on July 15, 2009, 09:24:13 PM
Unless there is a train track next to the school and they are in Ashland.    ;D ;)  Just kidding K-Mack. 
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on August 03, 2009, 09:26:19 PM
Quote from: HSC85 on May 06, 2009, 12:49:50 PM
One story idea may be Corey Sedlar at Hampden Sydney College.  He is working on a hall of fame career and he did not even start at quarterback in high school. 

I was waffling over what to do with this idea, because in each of the past two seasons, I've done a story on Hampden-Sydney. I make a pretty conscious effort to try to spread out my feature reporting, so something really big was going to have to happen this year for me to feature them when there are so many other teams out there I haven't had the opportunity to cover even once.

So, all that said, I found a place for this idea.....and I hope you'll spend just a couple bucks on Kickoff 2009 (http://www.d3football.com/kickoff/) to see how it turned out! :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 01, 2009, 11:42:40 PM
The year's first Around the Mid-Atlantic column (http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midatlantic/2009/Games+to+watch+for+2009) is published, running down the list of games that have potential to impress this year. So many to choose from!

I see a lot of top-to-bottom competitiveness, especially in the Centennial and the Old Dominion this year.

Good luck to all players, families and fans this season -- most importantly to stay healthy, as well as to remember the sportsmanship of Division III.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: old ends on September 07, 2009, 05:04:18 PM
As in the past the CC is going to come down to who stays healthy. The front runners will again be Dickinson and Muhlenberg. In the hunt will be Hopkins, F&M, and Gettysburg. McDaniel could surprise with some upset wins. It will be interesting to watch how the new coach works at Juniata.
Ursinus and Moravian could battle Juniata for the bottom this year.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 08, 2009, 11:51:00 AM
The game on Saturday between Gettysburg and Hampden Sydney has the potential of producing over 1000 yards of offense based on the performances during week one by both schools.  It could come down to who has the ball last.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 09, 2009, 09:51:15 AM
Ryan,

Great Around the Region article.  That piece provides great insight into how serious the head coaches and assistant coaches are at improving their respective programs.  It was also great to see some of the resources available to coaches in Division 3 that want to improve and learn. 

When can we expect your insight on a Mid-Atlanic top 5?
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 09, 2009, 02:13:23 PM
Thanks, HSC85!

I debated about whether to do a regional Top 5 this year, and maybe this is the format to do it in in order to open up some discussion, if people want.

I have four Mid-Atlantic teams on my Top 25 ballot, in order: Wesley, Salisbury, Hampden-Sydney and Dickinson. H-SC's Week 1 win surely put the team on the map in my mind.

The fifth spot for this region is more up the air. I was pretty high on E&H going into the season despite what they have to replace on defense. I'd feel better about them if the win over Ferrum was little more convincing, though. And if the point of a ranking system is to place teams where they are now (as opposed to where they might end up at the end of the season), I don't think it's right to have CNU as one of the region's Top 5 teams. If Ogun comes back, then sure, the Captains will be in the mix -- but they're not there at this moment.

Of course, there's always Johns Hopkins, which lost on the road against a DelVal team that I think very highly of, and JHU made it a close, tough game well into the third quarter.

If I had to go with my gut, I'd probably say JHU despite the loss. Maybe I'll see what you all think. I've added a poll to this thread for folks to weigh in. :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: muledaddy on September 10, 2009, 09:33:51 PM
Ryan et al,

                 I liked Hopkins big time until I saw what Del Val did to them first hand.Unless  Delval's defense is singularly impressive, I anticipate that other teams may follow the map and crowd Kase between the tackles, pressure the qb, and cover tight on 5-15 yard passes. The only real problem defending  JH was
their backup tailback, who is fast, has a great feel for the hole, and can get the corner. I liked the Delval
game plan and their balance puts them ahead of Hopkins in the eyes of this D3 nut.Isgro, the Delval
qb deserves credit as an athletic talented field general. Nice coaching also.
As my name implies, any bias which I carry is in favor of the CC, so it had to be an obviously superior
performance which allowed the MAC team to capitalize on a turnover, immediately put 6 on the board,
manage the clock, never let up defensively, and movethe ball well,making it look almost effortless.So help me God.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 15, 2009, 01:22:41 PM
Ryan,

Three games this week may shed some light on the relative strength of the USA South and ODAC.  Salisbury is at CNU and after the game with NCW we may get some idea of the strength of the top two picks in USA South.  NCW at Emory and Henry will give us more insight into the theory of the HSC - NCW game being an aberation.  The Bridgewater - Ferrum game can shed some light on how strong Bridgewater is. 
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 15, 2009, 10:38:20 PM
Ryan,

Great article in Around the Region on the Iraq veteran playing for Greensboro.  Stories like this really make me realize that football is just a game and the men and women fighting for our freedoms and way of life are the real heros.  Thank you for sharing the story with us.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 16, 2009, 11:11:31 AM
Quote from: HSC85 on September 15, 2009, 10:38:20 PM
Ryan,

Great article in Around the Region on the Iraq veteran playing for Greensboro.  Stories like this really make me realize that football is just a game and the men and women fighting for our freedoms and way of life are the real heros.  Thank you for sharing the story with us.

Thank you, HSC85!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: CNU85 on September 16, 2009, 04:21:21 PM
Ryan,

I agree that CNU is not a top 5 region team. At least, not until they decide to play some football. What I saw in Dover was not football. It was an old fashioned beating behind the woodshed!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 22, 2009, 01:18:27 PM
Ryan,

As the non- conference portion comes to an end, do you care to give an assessment of the relative strength of the conferences in the Mid-Atlantic?  I think that the ODAC is down this year in relative strength to the USA South.  Ferrum beating Bridgewater and the way Emory and Henry has had to have two late game combacks to win over USA South teams has shown that the USA South is gaining on the ODAC.  The ODAC is also losing games among the lower end of the preseason rankings as well like Greensboro over W&L and Averett over Guilford.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 22, 2009, 04:54:10 PM
**long post alert**  ;D

There has been an apparant decline this year in the toughness of the ODAC top to bottom. Few teams can lose players like Ricca, Vogelbach, Sitterson, Thornton or Simpson and still expect to remain as they were the previous year. Division III is especially difficult because without scholarships, coaches can have a hard time recruiting to fill the exact holes they have. Instead, at this level, coaches sometimes have to adapt their game plans to the players they have rather than work the players around a system that's already in place.

I can't say for certain if that's a factor here, but something like that can take time in some cases. I do suspect that the ODAC teams we see at the end of the year will be vastly improved from those that played in Week 1.

The ODAC, with only three of its seven teams with winning records, isn't the only Mid-Atlantic conference that's struggling this year. The nine-team Centennial has just four teams that are above .500 -- and only one that's undefeated. Likewise, the USA South has just one team, Greensboro, that has a winning record.

In the ACFC, the non-Wesley teams are a combined 2-7, while the Wolverines are carrying the banner undefeated.

Overall, the Mid-Atlantic (especially the Centennial) is taking a hit from the MAC, which is returning to glory it had a couple years back. Teams such as Wilkes, Delaware Valley and King's have notched good wins over Mid-Atlantic teams in games that our teams might have won last year.

Between the ODAC and the USAC, I'm not confident to say that USAC has gotten that much better. Instead, I think the USAC has held steady and the ODAC has dropped a bit. There's still a fair amount of trading wins and losses between the two conferences. USA South teams such as Greensboro, Shenandoah and Averett all have marks in the W and L columns against Old Dominion opponents.

Since it was an ODAC person who asked this question initially, I will say that my expectations for the ODAC in the preseason aren't too far off from reality. I thought that Bridgewater would be 3-0 and that E&H and H-SC would be 1-loss teams (against NCWC). That's pretty close to how they actually are. I also figured CUA and GC would be either winless or maybe having notched a lone victory in the first three weeks. There aren't too many surprises on this front.

For better or for worse, teams that have surprised me so far include N.C. Wesleyan, Salisbury, Greensboro and Gettysburg.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 22, 2009, 08:21:12 PM
Thanks for your thoughts.  I was just looking at the ODAC vs USA South games and in the past two years the ODAC was winning most of those games.  Now there seems to be more toss up games.  There was an awful lot of talent that did not return to the ODAC this season.  I am just glad that Cory Sedlar returned at HSC or the Tigers would be making some of the same adjustments that you talked about. 

Is your surprise with NCW the inconsistency or that they have not beaten an ODAC team?
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 22, 2009, 08:35:36 PM
Quote from: HSC85 on September 22, 2009, 08:21:12 PM
Thanks for your thoughts.  I was just looking at the ODAC vs USA South games and in the past two years the ODAC was winning most of those games.  Now there seems to be more toss up games.  There was an awful lot of talent that did not return to the ODAC this season.  I am just glad that Cory Sedlar returned at HSC or the Tigers would be making some of the same adjustments that you talked about. 

Is your surprise with NCW the inconsistency or that they have not beaten an ODAC team?

Last year, the ODAC went 8-5 against the USA South. This year, it's a 7-6 split again in favor of the ODAC. Not a whole lot of change when you look at the bare numbers. I think the difference is that a team that is logging wins (E&H) and those that are logging losses (CUA, GC) aren't the teams we're used to being in those positions. It's been the other way around before.

My surprise with N.C. Wesleyan isn't specifically that they haven't beaten an ODAC team, but I guess that is the conclusion that must be drawn. It's more simply that NCWC has been able to reload well over the recent years, and I'm surprised that the team has had so many ups and downs in their play this year -- ultimately contributing to two losses. Before the season started, I expected that they would beat the teams they lost to and lose to the team they beat :)

Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Allen C on September 22, 2009, 09:21:21 PM
Ryan
That is a great feature article on the FC/BC game...yes I am a little prejudiced, but its really great to see the black and gold highlighted.
Wish I could have been there. I am going to try to go to the NCW game, and still planning on going to the CNU game.

Again, great article.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 22, 2009, 09:42:05 PM
Quote from: Allen C on September 22, 2009, 09:21:21 PM
Ryan
That is a great feature article on the FC/BC game...yes I am a little prejudiced, but its really great to see the black and gold highlighted.
Wish I could have been there. I am going to try to go to the NCW game, and still planning on going to the CNU game.

Again, great article.

Thanks, Allen! I'll look for you at the CNU game, which I'm hoping to go to.

One offbeat thing that impressed me that I didn't mention in the article: Cool new uni's for Ferrum! Much better than their old duds  :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Swish3 on September 23, 2009, 12:57:12 PM
I just wanted to mention that you can't necessarily conclude that one conference is better than the other based solely on head to head results, since those results depend upon who's playing who (or is it whom?).  Anyway, the Massey Ratings currently rank the USA South and ODAC conferences as 14th and 16th respectively.

So, as I mentioned, the USA South is a slightly stronger conference, according to Massey, even if the ODAC has more head to head wins.  Actually, I believe this has been the case for a few years.

GO CAPS!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: brenpug on September 23, 2009, 08:16:34 PM
I have enjoyed your articles so far on the ODAC.  I hope you can make a Bridgewater College game and do a write up on them.  They have improved greatly since last year when they were mostly Freshman and Sophomores.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ralph Turner on September 23, 2009, 08:54:00 PM
Quote from: Swish3 on September 23, 2009, 12:57:12 PM
I just wanted to mention that you can't necessarily conclude that one conference is better than the other based solely on head to head results, since those results depend upon who's playing who (or is it whom?).  Anyway, the Massey Ratings currently rank the USA South and ODAC conferences as 14th and 16th respectively.

So, as I mentioned, the USA South is a slightly stronger conference, according to Massey, even if the ODAC has more head to head wins.  Actually, I believe this has been the case for a few years.

GO CAPS!
I think that the Massey ratings have some "legacy component" on 1-2 years that has not been "neutralized" by this years results.

Please correct me if I am mistakened.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 23, 2009, 09:38:44 PM
Quote from: brenpug on September 23, 2009, 08:16:34 PM
I have enjoyed your articles so far on the ODAC.  I hope you can make a Bridgewater College game and do a write up on them.  They have improved greatly since last year when they were mostly Freshman and Sophomores.

Thanks, brenpug. But I should point out that the current week's column (http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-region/midatlantic/2009/Every+second+counts+for+Ferrum%2C+Bridgewater) is on a Bridgewater game, though since Ferrum won in OT, I put the focus mostly on them.

Admittedly, I probably won't make another BC game this year unless it happens to be in the postseason. I'll be seeing the ODAC play once more, when E&H and H-SC line up in October.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: ProudFightingScot on September 23, 2009, 10:52:11 PM
Ryan,

Good around the region article.  I've got to say what a great performance by our USA-South teams winning 3 OT games this past weekend. 

However, I thought Maryville's win against LaGrange should have been mentioned in your article.  The heavily favored LaGrange was a 2008 playoff team, returned 19 starters, and was beaten by a young MC squad by 17 at LaGrange.  The week before MC lost to undefeated Centre 24-17 who is currently ranked #33 in the polls.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 23, 2009, 11:11:04 PM
Maryville's definitely had a good, competitive schedule to start the season.

I'm sorry that I didn't mention the Scots for their win; they have been flying a little under my radar after the 0-2 start. But as I was typing up the column and going through the press releases on Monday, this week became all about "fantastic finishes." I couldn't believe in the Mid-Atlantic that there were so many overtime games and games that were won in the final seconds.

Barring a flukey repeat of Saturday, I am hoping to give some ink to the teams that I haven't hit on much or at all yet this year.

Not to make excuses, but part of the reason that I wanted to add the Around the Mid-Atlantic message board this year is for things exactly like what you mentioned. Staffing has gotten smaller at my full-time job, and Sundays, which used to be my easiest day of the week have now become my longest and hardest, cutting down on the "extras" that I can fit in to my column by publication time on Tuesday. I had hoped that the message board format would reach some of those areas that I didn't have time to highlight in the column itself.

So, that's my long-winded way of saying thanks for mentioning Maryville's win! :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: ProudFightingScot on September 23, 2009, 11:21:58 PM
Thanks Ryan....   Keep up the good work and tell Pat to give you a raise!!!!!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on September 24, 2009, 09:02:45 PM
hey ryan, i will be making the trip to gettysburg this weekend also.  i sent you an email, or at least i think i did.  if you get it call me.  if not let me know and i will give you my cell so we can meet up at the game.  should be fun.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on September 27, 2009, 09:49:48 AM
Ryan, thanks for hanging with me before the mules - bullets game.  enjoy the rest of the season and if I dont see you before it, I will see you at the Stagg Bowl unless a graduation gets in the way.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 27, 2009, 10:28:19 AM
I saw two games yesterday and both had rain the whole game.  One game at Averett played on natural grass and the second at Guilford played on field turf.  I think the turf is a big improvement.  Not only was the game surface consistent the whole game but Guilford will also be able to use the field this morning if they choose.  Averett will be working all week to repair and recondition the field for the next use.  One other thought.  Saturday night game under the lights is cool.  Even with the weather really nice atmosphere at Guilford.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 27, 2009, 05:02:11 PM
Quote from: wesleydad on September 27, 2009, 09:49:48 AM
Ryan, thanks for hanging with me before the mules - bullets game.  enjoy the rest of the season and if I dont see you before it, I will see you at the Stagg Bowl unless a graduation gets in the way.

Wesleydad, it was a good time chatting with you -- and I'm happy that you opted to brave the weather and make it out there. See you in December!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: hasanova on September 27, 2009, 06:09:15 PM
Quote from: HSC85 on September 27, 2009, 10:28:19 AM
I saw two games yesterday and both had rain the whole game.  One game at Averett played on natural grass and the second at Guilford played on field turf.  I think the turf is a big improvement.  Not only was the game surface consistent the whole game but Guilford will also be able to use the field this morning if they choose.  Averett will be working all week to repair and recondition the field for the next use.  One other thought.  Saturday night game under the lights is cool.  Even with the weather really nice atmosphere at Guilford.
Not sure if you were at Guilford two years ago, HSC85, but the weather was perfect and it was a shoot-out.  It is nice when the weather cooperates!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 27, 2009, 07:12:03 PM
Hasa,

I was at that game and I think there were 15 combined touchdowns scored. 
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 28, 2009, 04:17:28 PM
Ryan,

He is someone else covering the story you wrote for Kickoff.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_football/article/SEDL28_20090927-223609/295995/

Once again D3football.com is ahead of the game.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 28, 2009, 10:23:28 PM
Quote from: HSC85 on September 28, 2009, 04:17:28 PM
Ryan,

He is someone else covering the story you wrote for Kickoff.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_football/article/SEDL28_20090927-223609/295995/

Once again D3football.com is ahead of the game.

It's a D3 community thing, HSC85. My thanks to you for suggesting the story way back in May  :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: hasanova on September 29, 2009, 10:32:02 AM
Quote from: HSC85 on September 27, 2009, 07:12:03 PM
Hasa,

I was at that game and I think there were 15 combined touchdowns scored. 
Correct, HSC85.  It was 56-49.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on September 29, 2009, 08:32:54 PM
Ryan,

Thanks for the article about Gettysburg and Coach Streeter.  In a bit of irony,  I played at HSC against Gettysburg in the early 80's and now my son is playing at HSC and he has played against a Gettysburg team coached by Coach Streeter the past 3 years.  Division III has many good stories of lifetime committments to schools, teaching and coaching.  Thank you for bringing us some of these stories. 
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 23, 2010, 08:05:44 PM
It's almost the end of September, and this is the year's first post in this thread. For that, I apologize. But now that I have the opportunity, I want to use this thread for the primary purpose it was intended -- to supplement elements and points raised in my Around the Mid-Atlantic column.

This week, I wrote about the Division III players who were nominated to one of the two Allstate ACFC Good Works Teams. The voting panel says that the purpose of the teams is to tell the stories of college football players who do good in their communities.

But I question whether they mean the stories of the most marketable players.

Division I-FBS is the smallest college division there is -- both in terms of number of teams and number of athletes competing. Of the 50,000 football players in the NCAA, most are in Divisions I-FCS, II and III.

So why then are the Good Works Teams divided into two final teams, one for those major FBS schools and one for everyone else?

Of the 112 players nominated this year, slightly less than half came from Division I-FBS. But they get their own team all to themselves. Has this been the way it was for the whole 19 years of the Good Works Team? If so, it sounds like a money/marketing-driven decision.

And, I haven't done the proper research on this next point, but I would wager a guess that students at the "lower" divisions are a lot more focused on community affairs than are the scholarship athletes whose "football lives" pretty much make up their entire lives. So, the typical Division III player who does good in his community has to compete not only against the other athletes in the largest division in college football, but he also has to go up against players from two other divisions.

Fairness, please show yourself if you're out there.

In a perfect world, there would be a separate team for athletes at each division. At the very least, though, I would like to see a team for the Division I-FBS and FCS athletes and then another for the Division II and III athletes.

This year, only one Division III athlete made the final team. In the past, we usually land four or five of the spots -- a disproportionately good showing by the high-caliber of students we have at this level.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into how the teams are divided. I do appreciate that there is an entity out there that honors players' off-field achievements. That is a great thing, so thank you Allstate and ACFC. I want to be absolutely sincere on that point.

But would it be so bad to tweak the system just a little?
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Pat Coleman on September 23, 2010, 08:29:27 PM
Todd Bell, longtime PR director at the AFCA, was a Division III grad and it seemed that D-III was always pretty well taken care of at the AFCA offices (poll accuracy issues aside). However, he left the job this past season. I fear that Division III doesn't have a good advocate on the AFCA staff anymore.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 23, 2010, 08:43:30 PM
That's unfortunate to hear, Pat. You'd think we'd get some love in part because of Kehres' role at the ACFC. (though I'll admit that I don't know how hands-on vs. ceremonial the ACFC presidency is)

I had actually contacted the Allstate rep for the Good Works Team to run my questions by him, but he never returned my call or email.

Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Pat Coleman on September 23, 2010, 09:09:12 PM
AFCA, remember, not ACFC. :)

I don't know how hands-on the role is but he's obviously not in the AFCA offices in Waco when those decisions are being made.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 23, 2010, 09:11:13 PM
Quote from: Pat Coleman on September 23, 2010, 09:09:12 PM
AFCA, remember, not ACFC. :)

Dang, screwed that up in my original post, too. This may not bode well for my night's editing at the newspaper....  :-[
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: PantherFan on September 24, 2010, 09:58:19 PM
It was a great article, Ryan, and nice that the two boys were at least recognized in your column.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 25, 2010, 06:36:28 AM
Quote from: PantherFan on September 24, 2010, 09:58:19 PM
It was a great article, Ryan, and nice that the two boys were at least recognized in your column.

Thanks, PF. :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 13, 2010, 06:59:47 PM
Toward the end of the regular season over the past two years, we start seeing Keith mention here and there in his Around the Nation (http://www.d3football.com/columns/around-the-nation/index) column about the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award.

What's interesting this season is that five of the top 15 vote-getters right now are Mid-Atlantic coaches. This group of 15 will be whittled down to five finalists that will be voted on by a committee, but kudos to the coaches (and the voters) who have lauded so many from this region for the national award.

So far, we're seeing:
John Troxell, Franklin and Marshall
Jim Sypult, Methodist
Mike Drass, Wesley
Mike Dunlevy, Averett
Marty Favret, Hampden-Sydney

Much like the Gagliardi Trophy, the Liberty Mutual award incorportates more than just on-field success. I applaud these coaches and all of those who go beyond the gridiron to improve their communities.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: SafetyGuy on October 21, 2010, 03:44:36 PM
Thought I share the response of my local paper to my request for press coverage of DIII.


"We struggle to provide a level of coverage of D-I (FBS and FCS) that readers tell us they want. In the past month, I have had requests for more coverage of the following: the SEC, the ACC, ECU, Virginia, James Madison, William and Mary, Navy ... those are the ones that come to mind. Heck, I get requests for CIAA coverage (DII) as well.  If nos. of local kids playing at a school were a prime coverage criteria, we would be covering Longwood field hockey; they have something like 9 players from here on the team. (I kid, of course, but you get the point.) One big thing working against us with DIII: The wire services that provide routine coverage of all FBS and some FCS schools do not provide anything on DIII. We have to go chasing web sites on Sat. just to get enough info. to put 2-3 sentences on games into the paper.
We also use a college notebook that runs every other Wednesday to catch up with locals playing DIII sports. Some schools are good about sending us info.; some are not.
I wish I could promise a dramatic shift in our coverage of DIII, knowing it would satisfy your interest, but I'm afraid that's not realistic in an environment of shrinking staff and news space.
Keep an eye out for the notebook, though, and you may see schools/names you recognize there. It's the best I can offer."
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 21, 2010, 04:32:19 PM
Safetyguy, Thanks for sharing that. Being that my full-time job is in the newspaper business (and has been for more than a decade), I am all too familiar with that mentality.

A counterpoint you could send their way would be to note how many locally generated stories the paper you mentioned puts on its front page. These days of the Internet, more and more newspapers are becoming driven by local content because that's the stuff that's not widely available online. National and international news are always a click away on Yahoo News, CNN.com, etc. Local council news or anything like that has to be generated by local papers.

Obviously, you're in Virginia. Unless the paper you mentioned is The Virginian-Pilot out of Norfolk, the Times-Dispatch from Richmond, or The Roanoke Times, I'd bet you have a pretty heavy local front page. The question then is: Why doesn't that local push translate to the sports sections? Why put these big SEC stories in a paper in this region when that information is so easily found online? To stay viable, newspapers needs to embrace local sports at the collegiate level and put their resources toward them. Many -- nay, most -- do not.

I could speak to the benefit that that gives us at D3football.com, since it helps keep us as the No. 1 source in the small-college market. :) But there is always a lot of great news out there (more than we can likely cover) , and the efforts we put into this are largely for the students and the coaches and to give them their due support and respect. It would be nice to see them get that kind of support from their own area media.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on November 09, 2010, 09:51:24 PM
About a month ago, I noted that five Mid-Atlantic coaches are high in the running for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (http://www.coachoftheyear.com/Vote-Leaders.aspx#fbid=4tW8L5lVex1). They were:

Quote from: Ryan Tipps on October 13, 2010, 06:59:47 PM
John Troxell, Franklin and Marshall
Jim Sypult, Methodist
Mike Drass, Wesley
Mike Dunlevy, Averett
Marty Favret, Hampden-Sydney

Well, now we're seeing those same names (in a slightly different order) in the Top 10 of vote-getters. And by the time next week rolls around, I will have interviewed everyone on this list in some fashion this season. Take a look back to see what they had to say about themselves and their teams.

There is a little more than three weeks left in the voting. And the Mid-Atlantic is represented well! Kudos to the coaches on this list!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:07:24 PM
The new season is right around the corner, and that means weekly updates from the Mid-Atlantic and other areas. I wanted to take this opportunity to put out a request for any story ideas you might like to see this year. Send them my way!

You all know your home teams and know the stories behind some of these kids and coaches. I've got a handful of ideas in the cooker, but more are always better :)

Post them here or email me by clicking here (ryan.tipps@d3sports.com).

Good luck to all teams for a healthy season!!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:14:39 PM
How NNA adjusted to the dissolution of the ACFC.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:25:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:14:39 PM
How NNA adjusted to the dissolution of the ACFC.

Interesting idea! But since NNA isn't actually a D3 school, they may not be considered part of our landscape anymore without the support structure of the ACFC.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:32:10 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:25:40 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:14:39 PM
How NNA adjusted to the dissolution of the ACFC.

Interesting idea! But since NNA isn't actually a D3 school, they may not be considered part of our landscape anymore without the support structure of the ACFC.
They play a heavily D3 schedule.

http://www.gobuilders.com/sports/fball/2011-12/schedule

Ten games, 7 full D-3's and a team in the exploratory year.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:56:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:32:10 PM
Ten games, 7 full D-3's and a team in the exploratory year.

I'm well aware! I've written about Apprentice before, and they're good people. But they have always been the odd duck out in terms of our coverage (even when they were in a D3 conference). They're current D3-heavy schedule is borne more out of geographic necessity than philisophical similarities.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ralph Turner on July 21, 2011, 12:53:56 AM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:56:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:32:10 PM
Ten games, 7 full D-3's and a team in the exploratory year.

I'm well aware! I've written about Apprentice before, and they're good people. But they have always been the odd duck out in terms of our coverage (even when they were in a D3 conference). They're current D3-heavy schedule is borne more out of geographic necessity than philosophical similarities.

+1!   ;)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Hampton U SID on August 01, 2011, 09:08:26 AM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 21, 2011, 12:53:56 AM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on July 20, 2011, 11:56:14 PM
Quote from: Ralph Turner on July 20, 2011, 11:32:10 PM
Ten games, 7 full D-3's and a team in the exploratory year.

I'm well aware! I've written about Apprentice before, and they're good people. But they have always been the odd duck out in terms of our coverage (even when they were in a D3 conference). They're current D3-heavy schedule is borne more out of geographic necessity than philosophical similarities.

+1!   ;)

true on your last statement Ryan-- but I would be curious what schools that play intercollegiate athletics would be philosophically similiar to us (not trying to be a smartalic -- just honest question)???  Only one I can think of honestly is Williamson Trade in PA.
odd duck -- probably the nicest way we've been described  ;D :D
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on August 01, 2011, 01:02:28 PM
Quote from: nnasid on August 01, 2011, 09:08:26 AM
true on your last statement Ryan-- but I would be curious what schools that play intercollegiate athletics would be philosophically similiar to us (not trying to be a smartalic -- just honest question)???  Only one I can think of honestly is Williamson Trade in PA.
odd duck -- probably the nicest way we've been described  ;D :D

There probably aren't many, but I'll admit that I'm so D-III focused that I wouldn't likely be familiar with any others similar to you that are out there. (Even my knowledge of D-II schools is kind of shaky.) :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Hampton U SID on August 01, 2011, 03:58:14 PM
Quote from: Ryan Tipps on August 01, 2011, 01:02:28 PM
Quote from: nnasid on August 01, 2011, 09:08:26 AM
true on your last statement Ryan-- but I would be curious what schools that play intercollegiate athletics would be philosophically similiar to us (not trying to be a smartalic -- just honest question)???  Only one I can think of honestly is Williamson Trade in PA.
odd duck -- probably the nicest way we've been described  ;D :D

There probably aren't many, but I'll admit that I'm so D-III focused that I wouldn't likely be familiar with any others similar to you that are out there. (Even my knowledge of D-II schools is kind of shaky.) :)

+1 ;)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Captain Bob on August 31, 2011, 10:44:25 AM
With football season gearing up again, I'm looking forward to your coverage of the USAC.  Its a shame more outlets don't cover D3.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on August 31, 2011, 01:43:36 PM
Quote from: Captain Bob on August 31, 2011, 10:44:25 AM
With football season gearing up again, I'm looking forward to your coverage of the USAC.  Its a shame more outlets don't cover D3.

Thanks, Bob!

As the plan is falling together right now, USAC team's will have a prominent spot in two of my first three columns :) Keep an eye out!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Allen C on September 28, 2011, 10:18:58 PM
Ryan-

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your article about Coach Harper. I think his efforts will pay high dividends to the players fans and the college. Thanks again for highlighting Coach Harper and Ferrum.


Allen Crowder
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on September 28, 2011, 10:42:38 PM
Thanks, Allen! Coach Harper was certainly fun to talk with!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: HSC85 on October 11, 2011, 09:42:11 PM
Great article in Around the Region today Ryan.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 12, 2011, 05:47:31 PM
Thank you, 85! I appreciate that.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on October 19, 2011, 07:52:52 PM
Ryan, always good to read your articles and this weeks is timely for me.  I am traveling to Gettysburg to see the game this week between Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg.  Still remember meeting you there a couple of years ago.  Hopefully I will get to see you again this year at the Stagg Bowl.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 19, 2011, 08:07:41 PM
wesleydad,
That one should be one of the best games in the Centennial this season! I'm sure you'll have a blast -- and hopefully have better weather than that rainy day we saw them play Muhlenberg.

I may or may not be at the Stagg Bowl this year. Baby Tipps No. 1 is due the Tuesday before the game! Few things in the world could make me miss the Stagg, but this is one of those things :) :)

Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: jknezek on October 20, 2011, 09:24:36 AM
Congrats on baby 1. I know how you feel as I won't be going anywhere since Babies 2 AND 3 are due a week or two after. I keep telling my wife about our poor planning! Fortunately she has given me leave, provided the babies don't come, to at least go see the College Cup here in Birmingham early in Dec since I won't have to go far.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 20, 2011, 10:45:39 AM
Thanks, jknezek! Congrats to you as well. I know what you mean about getting permission from the wife. My alma mater's rivalry game with DePauw is in about three weeks, and I had to get a special blessing from my better half to go to that! Haven't missed it since '96, so I got approval :)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: @d3jason on October 24, 2011, 02:05:38 PM
Ryan, I sent you a a FB message and emailed you. Please contact me this evening. Thanks--Jason
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: K-Mack on October 25, 2011, 02:16:15 AM
Quote from: wesleydad on October 19, 2011, 07:52:52 PM
Ryan, always good to read your articles and this weeks is timely for me.  I am traveling to Gettysburg to see the game this week between Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg.  Still remember meeting you there a couple of years ago.  Hopefully I will get to see you again this year at the Stagg Bowl.

We might as well just give you a column, you've seen more games this year than I have I think.

I will probably see you this week though ... just a guess.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: @d3jason on October 25, 2011, 07:47:12 AM
Don't tempt him, he's just there for the tailgate and the craft brews... ;D

I would like to read a Wesleydad travel log.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Pat Coleman on October 25, 2011, 11:32:44 AM
Me too.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on October 26, 2011, 10:03:34 PM
wesleydad travel log by request
week 1 St. vincent @ Bridgewater, great way to start off the year with my stone station friends
week 2 Wesley @ Kean, great facilities, bad loss for the wolverines
week 3 Leb Val @ Del Val, nice to see gordon, del val will be good, young, oops already are good
week 4 Cortland @ Rowan, saw keith and his daughter, cant believe that rowan has a shot at winning the njac
week 5 Pa Ren Faire with wife and friends, have to do the family thing occasionally
week 6 Frostburg @ Wesley, homecoming a lot of fun with some of jason's teammates
week 7 Connecticut for my son's wedding, the family thing again, great time
week 8 Johns Hopkins @ Gettysburg, left at half, game no contest and toured the battlefield with wife and friend, do the family thing and still get in a game, well half a game
week 9 Salisbury @ Wesley, makings of a great game, wesley post season on the line
week 10 St. John Fisher @ Salisbury, need to see fisher to see what the e8 talk is about
week 11 Kean @ Montclaire or Widener @ Del Val or Huntington @ Wesley, will decide which game means more, would like to go to Montclaire since i have never been there
week 12 hope for game in dover, will be somewhere
week 13 same as above
week 14 travel to closest game, will be somewhere
week 15 possible trip to mount if they are in semis and wesley is not or maybe for rematch
week 16 stagg bowl with stone station

think i have the weeks right after the season ends.  you watch your son play for 4 years and travel all over the place and you find something that you like.  had 2 choices when he was done playing, stop going to games or keep going to games.  not much for sitting around so the first choice was not an option.  nice to have an understanding wife who is sometimes glad that i am not sitting around the house bored and annoying her.  and yes conrad, a fan of the tailgate and microbrews, doing the both at the same time is priceless.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on October 26, 2011, 11:03:59 PM
Wow! Impressive list!
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Pat Coleman on October 26, 2011, 11:51:52 PM
Quote from: wesleydad on October 26, 2011, 10:03:34 PM
wesleydad travel log by request
week 1 St. vincent @ Bridgewater, great way to start off the year with my stone station friends
week 2 Wesley @ Kean, great facilities, bad loss for the wolverines
week 3 Leb Val @ Del Val, nice to see gordon, del val will be good, young, oops already are good
week 4 Cortland @ Rowan, saw keith and his daughter, cant believe that rowan has a shot at winning the njac
week 5 Pa Ren Faire with wife and friends, have to do the family thing occasionally
week 6 Frostburg @ Wesley, homecoming a lot of fun with some of jason's teammates
week 7 Connecticut for my son's wedding, the family thing again, great time
week 8 Johns Hopkins @ Gettysburg, left at half, game no contest and toured the battlefield with wife and friend, do the family thing and still get in a game, well half a game
week 9 Salisbury @ Wesley, makings of a great game, wesley post season on the line
week 10 St. John Fisher @ Salisbury, need to see fisher to see what the e8 talk is about
week 11 Kean @ Montclaire or Widener @ Del Val or Huntington @ Wesley, will decide which game means more, would like to go to Montclaire since i have never been there
week 12 hope for game in dover, will be somewhere
week 13 same as above
week 14 travel to closest game, will be somewhere
week 15 possible trip to mount if they are in semis and wesley is not or maybe for rematch
week 16 stagg bowl with stone station

think i have the weeks right after the season ends.  you watch your son play for 4 years and travel all over the place and you find something that you like.  had 2 choices when he was done playing, stop going to games or keep going to games.  not much for sitting around so the first choice was not an option.  nice to have an understanding wife who is sometimes glad that i am not sitting around the house bored and annoying her.  and yes conrad, a fan of the tailgate and microbrews, doing the both at the same time is priceless.

Fantastic list. Might even beat mine.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: K-Mack on November 03, 2011, 12:01:00 AM
Since you mentioned my daughter ... the funny part at Wesley-Salisbury was that she recognized WesleyDad.

"Hey, I remember you from the other game!"

And then she began to use that poor man's legs as a good place for hide and seek while Wesley was driving down the field.

She is 5.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Captain Bob on November 09, 2011, 04:10:24 PM
Column on CNU this week was superb; awesome job.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: muledaddy on November 11, 2011, 06:59:32 PM


Just sittin', wishin' and hopin' Mules catch a post season ECAC game....ain't like it used to be....runnin' the table and gettin' our brains beat in the ditch at Dover....where a little breeze means steady 25mph, with 35 gusts...
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on November 15, 2011, 04:33:38 PM
Quote from: Captain Bob on November 09, 2011, 04:10:24 PM
Column on CNU this week was superb; awesome job.

Just getting caught up on life and everything else after a few days out of town. Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.

Quote from: muledaddy on November 11, 2011, 06:59:32 PM
Just sittin', wishin' and hopin' Mules catch a post season ECAC game....ain't like it used to be....runnin' the table and gettin' our brains beat in the ditch at Dover....where a little breeze means steady 25mph, with 35 gusts...

Was a little surprised that the Mules didn't get to go to an ECAC game! Pat McDonough is the subject of my column this week, and I honestly though when I talked with him that he was going to have one more game to play after Moravian.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on November 16, 2011, 07:24:35 PM
decided to tally up my miles driven to see d3 football this year.  longest drive to bridgewater, 266 one way and the shortest drive to rowan, only 27.  i added the 2 games that i am sure to see, this week in dover and the championship game in salem, which will be the longest drive of the year.  i will have driven a minimum of 2726 miles this season.  i expect another game in dover, after that who knows, but i expect to go well over 3000.  as they say it has been a fun ride. :D
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on November 29, 2011, 07:32:53 PM
Quote from: wesleydad on October 26, 2011, 10:03:34 PM
wesleydad travel log by request
week 1 St. vincent @ Bridgewater, great way to start off the year with my stone station friends
week 2 Wesley @ Kean, great facilities, bad loss for the wolverines
week 3 Leb Val @ Del Val, nice to see gordon, del val will be good, young, oops already are good
week 4 Cortland @ Rowan, saw keith and his daughter, cant believe that rowan has a shot at winning the njac
week 5 Pa Ren Faire with wife and friends, have to do the family thing occasionally
week 6 Frostburg @ Wesley, homecoming a lot of fun with some of jason's teammates
week 7 Connecticut for my son's wedding, the family thing again, great time
week 8 Johns Hopkins @ Gettysburg, left at half, game no contest and toured the battlefield with wife and friend, do the family thing and still get in a game, well half a game
week 9 Salisbury @ Wesley, makings of a great game, wesley post season on the line
week 10 St. John Fisher @ Salisbury, need to see fisher to see what the e8 talk is about
week 11 Kean @ Montclaire or Widener @ Del Val or Huntington @ Wesley, will decide which game means more, would like to go to Montclaire since i have never been there
week 12 hope for game in dover, will be somewhere
week 13 same as above
week 14 travel to closest game, will be somewhere
week 15 possible trip to mount if they are in semis and wesley is not or maybe for rematch
week 16 stagg bowl with stone station

think i have the weeks right after the season ends.  you watch your son play for 4 years and travel all over the place and you find something that you like.  had 2 choices when he was done playing, stop going to games or keep going to games.  not much for sitting around so the first choice was not an option.  nice to have an understanding wife who is sometimes glad that i am not sitting around the house bored and annoying her.  and yes conrad, a fan of the tailgate and microbrews, doing the both at the same time is priceless.

Well, to update the travel log.  Got the 2 home games in Dover which was great.  Unfortunatly there is no game near enough for driving this week.  I could go to Alliance, but next week could well be a rematch with Mount, so I will hold off.  I will be going anyway, as I also like UMHB and would be fine watching them try to beat Mount if they take out Wesley this week.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on November 29, 2011, 09:46:14 PM
Quote from: wesleydad on November 29, 2011, 07:32:53 PM
Well, to update the travel log.  Got the 2 home games in Dover which was great.  Unfortunatly there is no game near enough for driving this week.  I could go to Alliance, but next week could well be a rematch with Mount, so I will hold off.  I will be going anyway, as I also like UMHB and would be fine watching them try to beat Mount if they take out Wesley this week.

Wait, are you automatically making the assumption that Wabash won't beat Mount this weekend!?

;)
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on November 29, 2011, 10:07:30 PM
ryan, ooopppsss. not really.  I watched the replay of the NCC and Wabash game and could not believe how well the QB played, but I dont think that Wabash can beat Mount if they fall behind like they did this week.  To come back like that takes many things to go your way, oh thats right I got to watch a comeback similar to theirs in person, so I should know by now anything is possible.  If I am wrong then I will not have a game to go to unless Salisbury beats UWW and Fisher beats St Thomas, then I would get to see that rematch.  Would not be against all 4 dogs winning, that would be fun.  good luck with the upcoming birth and too bad I wont get to see you at the stagg, maybe next year.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: Ryan Tipps on November 29, 2011, 10:28:34 PM
I'm with ya on the Wabash/Mount game. This is going to take a really special performance to win against the Purple Raiders -- basically 60 minutes mistake-free!

Still not sure about the Stagg Bowl this year. Wife is on bed rest now, and if she ends up having the baby early, I'll be game for Salem. Just got to play it by ear.
Title: Re: Around the Mid-Atlantic board
Post by: wesleydad on December 12, 2011, 11:00:12 PM
Quote from: wesleydad on October 26, 2011, 10:03:34 PM
wesleydad travel log by request
week 1 St. vincent @ Bridgewater, great way to start off the year with my stone station friends
week 2 Wesley @ Kean, great facilities, bad loss for the wolverines
week 3 Leb Val @ Del Val, nice to see gordon, del val will be good, young, oops already are good
week 4 Cortland @ Rowan, saw keith and his daughter, cant believe that rowan has a shot at winning the njac
week 5 Pa Ren Faire with wife and friends, have to do the family thing occasionally
week 6 Frostburg @ Wesley, homecoming a lot of fun with some of jason's teammates
week 7 Connecticut for my son's wedding, the family thing again, great time
week 8 Johns Hopkins @ Gettysburg, left at half, game no contest and toured the battlefield with wife and friend, do the family thing and still get in a game, well half a game
week 9 Salisbury @ Wesley, makings of a great game, wesley post season on the line
week 10 St. John Fisher @ Salisbury, need to see fisher to see what the e8 talk is about
week 11 Kean @ Montclaire or Widener @ Del Val or Huntington @ Wesley, will decide which game means more, would like to go to Montclaire since i have never been there
week 12 hope for game in dover, will be somewhere
week 13 same as above
week 14 travel to closest game, will be somewhere
week 15 possible trip to mount if they are in semis and wesley is not or maybe for rematch
week 16 stagg bowl with stone station

think i have the weeks right after the season ends.  you watch your son play for 4 years and travel all over the place and you find something that you like.  had 2 choices when he was done playing, stop going to games or keep going to games.  not much for sitting around so the first choice was not an option.  nice to have an understanding wife who is sometimes glad that i am not sitting around the house bored and annoying her.  and yes conrad, a fan of the tailgate and microbrews, doing the both at the same time is priceless.

Well, only missed week 14 on the list, no game close enough to get to.  One week left, the trip to Salem for the Stagg bowl and tailgating with Stone Station and others.  I have to see my Mount friends and find WarhawkDad somewhere to share a beer.  Believe I read the Ryan will be at the game so it will be nice to see him again and congratulate him in person for the new baby.  It has been a fun year and I look forward to checking out the schedules in August to plan my trips for next year.  Some are locked in, others will be winging it.  In the end it is fun, anyone want to join me, all you got to do is say so. :)