D3 Top 25 Fan Poll

Started by usee, October 20, 2010, 04:26:33 PM

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usee

Coming soon. 20+ of the board regulars will be submitting their poll weekly and the results will be posted here for debate and pontification. Bleedpurple from the WIAC board is coordinating and results will be posted on his blog (www.uwwfootball.blogspot.com) as well as here on the message boards.

bleedpurple

The first D3 Top 25 Fan Poll is due to be released Thursday morning, October 21!

Old IC Voice

First poll is up, and I'll tell you, it was fun putting my ballot together.

The thing that sticks out to me is Linfield at #11. I had them, Pacific Lutheran, and Cal Lutheran much closer-together, and while I won't readily disclose where I put each unless other pollsters do the same, I think #11's a little high for a team that has a loss to a team lower in the top-25.

CardinalAlum

I was surprised at Wartburg, both in the D3football poll and especially this one. 
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02 Warhawk

D3 Top 25 Fan Poll


Team        Pts
1. UW-Whitewater (16)   400
2. Mount Union     381
3. Wesley       361
4. St. Thomas      346
5. North Central     332
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor    328
7. Delaware Valley     262
8. Wittenberg      261
9. Hardin-Simmons    252
10. Ohio Northern     240
11. Linfield       218
12. Thomas More     216
13. Wartburg      213
14. Wheaton      187
15. Montclair St.     183
16. Trine       171
17. St. John Fisher     164
18. Bethel       136
19. Coe        123
20. Central       99
21. Pacific Lutheran    88
22. Hampden-Sydney    85
23. Cal Lutheran     46
24. Ursinas       36
25. Case Western Reserve   17


Also Receiving Votes:
Wabash (15), Franklin (12), Rowan (12), Willamette (12), Illinois Wesleyan (6), Cortland State (6), Augustana (5), Depauw (4)

usee

Quote from: CardinalAlum on October 21, 2010, 09:25:38 AM
I was surprised at Wartburg, both in the D3football poll and especially this one. 

I will say Wartburg slid up my ballot simply because I couldn't find anyone to put ahead of them. I have them at #17. My poll is pretty close to what is posted here. Only 2 teams are in my poll that did not end up in the top 25. I have Franklin and Wabash instead of Central and Cal Lutheran.  The main outlier for me was I have Trine in my top ten. I think they get a bum rap for playing in the MIAA (which has been atrocious as a conference lateley) but I beleive they will breeze through that league and make some noise in the playoffs. I also have Bethel ranked higher in my poll (#10) than is listed here. I just can't justify much separation with St Thomas (my #6) and Bethel, which will sort itself out Saturday.  My other outliers (albeit by only 3-4 spots) are Montclair St (I have them 3 spots higher at #12) and Thomas More (I have them at #15)

I had a hard time with Linfield. I had them lower but as I looked at them vs other teams they kept getting better. I look at week 1 games on the road differently and their loss to Cal Lutheran in week 1 (the first game for both teams) doesn't mean as much to me if they had the same loss later in the season. I think it is really tough to go on a long road trip to start the season against good competition. The only thing tougher is playing on the road in your first game against a team that has 1 game under their belt already.

Teams that didnt' make my ballot but were next in line were Central and Depauw.

This is a fun excercise. I went through the kickoff preview of each team and created a spreadsheet with everyones results, def and off rankings as well as schedule. I am sure I will learn more each week, particularly about those teams not in my region (north).

HScoach

IMHO, once you get past #1, it's open for discussion.  Mount is a clear #2 in most people's mind (but not mine) because of history.  The last time they failed to reach the Semi-Finals was 1994 and even that year was a 34-33 loss on the road to the eventual champion (Albion).  So it's really hard to place MTU anywhere except immediately behind Whitewater, but this isn't your normal, dominant Mount team yet.

They start sophomores at QB, TB and at the #2 WR position, and the defensive line rotation consists of 1 senior (who was a back-up last year), 4 sophomores and 2 freshmen.  As a result they have been very inconsistent and not nearly as physical up front as we've been used to seeing the last decade.    With Shorts' injury their one true difference maker is removed from the field and it shows.  At this point in the season, I believe Mount is a really good team.  Not great, just really good.  Very capable of making a run to Salem if they play well and stay healthy, but hardly a lock to make the Stagg like they've been recently with Micheli & Kmic.

If there was ever a time for someone to beat Mount in the regional bracket, this is the year.



I find easily offended people rather offensive!

Statistics are like bikinis; what they reveal is interesting, what they hide is essential.

108Vincent

Quote from: HScoach on October 21, 2010, 11:11:36 AM
IMHO, once you get past #1, it's open for discussion.  Mount is a clear #2 in most people's mind (but not mine) because of history.  The last time they failed to reach the Semi-Finals was 1994 and even that year was a 34-33 loss on the road to the eventual champion (Albion).  So it's really hard to place MTU anywhere except immediately behind Whitewater, but this isn't your normal, dominant Mount team yet.

They start sophomores at QB, TB and at the #2 WR position, and the defensive line rotation consists of 1 senior (who was a back-up last year), 4 sophomores and 2 freshmen.  As a result they have been very inconsistent and not nearly as physical up front as we've been used to seeing the last decade.    With Shorts' injury their one true difference maker is removed from the field and it shows.  At this point in the season, I believe Mount is a really good team.  Not great, just really good.  Very capable of making a run to Salem if they play well and stay healthy, but hardly a lock to make the Stagg like they've been recently with Micheli & Kmic.

If there was ever a time for someone to beat Mount in the regional bracket, this is the year.


I would guess North Central/Wheaton to be the most likely candidates to step up to the challenge in Alliance, but there's still time to get the young Purple Raiders coached-up some more before we get to that point.


02 Warhawk

I agree about Trine, they look like a solid team this season. I put them at #12. Even though Linfield had that early loss, I still consider them one of the better teams in the country, I posted them at #8. they are a better team than Harden Simmon and D. Valley I believe.

I left Wabash out of the top 25...they lost to a very mediocre team two weeks ago. So I put Case Western at 25.

02 Warhawk

Quote from: 108Vincent on October 21, 2010, 11:44:37 AM
Quote from: HScoach on October 21, 2010, 11:11:36 AM
IMHO, once you get past #1, it's open for discussion.  Mount is a clear #2 in most people's mind (but not mine) because of history.  The last time they failed to reach the Semi-Finals was 1994 and even that year was a 34-33 loss on the road to the eventual champion (Albion).  So it's really hard to place MTU anywhere except immediately behind Whitewater, but this isn't your normal, dominant Mount team yet.

They start sophomores at QB, TB and at the #2 WR position, and the defensive line rotation consists of 1 senior (who was a back-up last year), 4 sophomores and 2 freshmen.  As a result they have been very inconsistent and not nearly as physical up front as we've been used to seeing the last decade.    With Shorts' injury their one true difference maker is removed from the field and it shows.  At this point in the season, I believe Mount is a really good team.  Not great, just really good.  Very capable of making a run to Salem if they play well and stay healthy, but hardly a lock to make the Stagg like they've been recently with Micheli & Kmic.

If there was ever a time for someone to beat Mount in the regional bracket, this is the year.


I would guess North Central/Wheaton to be the most likely candidates to step up to the challenge in Alliance, but there's still time to get the young Purple Raiders coached-up some more before we get to that point.


The only chance that they will lose in the region is if they end up in the North...no way they lose to anyone out east

usee

#10
Thanks HSC, subject to the ire of OAC poster's I'll admit I have Mt Union 3rd on my ballot behind Wesley. The reason is similar to the ones you cite but its much simpler for me. In their championship runs they have played dominant defense throughout the regular season and been very effective running the ball. I don't see them handling the LOS the same way they have in the past. Here is a run down of an interesting stat on Mt Union that I view as somewhat telling:

Yds per play average by Mt Union since 2001:

year          off          def          National Champ
2010          6.7          3.9          ?
2009          7.1          3.5          UWW
2008          8.2          3.5          Mt Union
2007          7.5          2.8          UWW
2006          7.5          3.2          Mt Union
2005          7.2          3.5          Mt Union
2004          6.7            3.4          Linfield
2003          7.4          3.8         St Johns
2002          7.4          3.5          Mt Union
2001          7.2          3.5          Mt Union


02 Warhawk

Quote from: USee on October 21, 2010, 11:55:37 AM
Thanks HSC, subject to the ire of OAC poster's I'll admit I have Mt Union 3rd on my ballot behind Wesley. The reason is similar to the ones you cite but its much simpler for me. In their championship runs they have played dominant defense throughout the regular season and been very effective running the ball. I don't see them handling the LOS the same way they have in the past. Here is a run down of an interesting stat on Mt Union that I view as somewhat telling:

Yds per play average by Mt Union since 2001:

year          off          def          National Champ
2010          6.7          3.9          ?
2009          7.1          3.5          UWW
2008          8.2          3.5          Mt Union
2007          7.5          2.8          UWW
2006          7.5          3.2          Mt Union
2005          7.2          3.5          Mt Union
2004          6.7             3.4          Linfield
2003          7.4          3.8         St Johns
2002          7.4          3.5          Mt Union
2001          7.2          3.5          Mt Union



Not sure if that means anything, b/c they also lost the championship game (2007) when they had the best defensive year (according to your chart), while their offense had their second best season since 2001.

No way UMU should be lower than two...they are closer to UWW than Wesley in my opinion.

usee

Being dominant on offenes and defense doesn't guarantee you a National Championship but it gives you the opportunity to compete for one. I think what we know is that in 2005-2010 Mount was dominant but not the ONLY dominant team. They lost 2 championships to UWW teams most would consider their equal. Prior to 2005 they were a category of 1. What I see is that Mt Union doesn't average less than 7 yds per play offensively or give up more than 3.5 yds per play defensively very often.

bleedpurple

Quote from: 02 Warhawk on October 21, 2010, 09:51:26 AM
D3 Top 25 Fan Poll


Team        Pts
1. UW-Whitewater (16)   400
2. Mount Union     381
3. Wesley       361
4. St. Thomas      346
5. North Central     332
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor    328
7. Delaware Valley     262
8. Wittenberg      261
9. Hardin-Simmons    252
10. Ohio Northern     240
11. Linfield       218
12. Thomas More     216
13. Wartburg      213
14. Wheaton      187
15. Montclair St.     183
16. Trine       171
17. St. John Fisher     164
18. Bethel       136
19. Coe        123
20. Central       99
21. Pacific Lutheran    88
22. Hampden-Sydney    85
23. Cal Lutheran     46
24. Ursinas       36
25. Case Western Reserve   17


Also Receiving Votes:
Wabash (15), Franklin (12), Rowan (12), Willamette (12), Illinois Wesleyan (6), Cortland State (6), Augustana (5), Depauw (4)


Due to the short week, we had 16 pollsters this week. With the other four ballots submitted next week, plus another weekend of data to draw from, there will likely be some shifts next week, maybe significant ones.  What strikes me is the narrow margin between some of the ranks. 

5. North Central     332
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor    328

7. Delaware Valley     262
8. Wittenberg      261

11. Linfield       218
12. Thomas More     216
13. Wartburg      213

14. Wheaton      187
15. Montclair St.     183

21. Pacific Lutheran    88
22. Hampden-Sydney    85







bleedpurple

Team        Pts
1. UW-Whitewater (16)   400
2. Mount Union     381
3. Wesley       361
4. St. Thomas      346
5. North Central     332
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor    328
7. Delaware Valley     262
8. Wittenberg      261
9. Hardin-Simmons    252
10. Ohio Northern     240
11. Linfield       218
12. Thomas More     216
13. Wartburg      213
14. Wheaton      187
15. Montclair St.     183
16. Trine       171
17. St. John Fisher     164
18. Bethel       136
19. Coe        123
20. Central       99
21. Pacific Lutheran    88
22. Hampden-Sydney    85
23. Cal Lutheran     46
24. Ursinas       36
25. Case Western Reserve   17

D3football.com poll

1   UW-Whitewater (23)   6-0   623   1
2   Mount Union (2)   6-0   602   2
3   Wesley   7-0   566   3
4   St. Thomas   7-0   548   4
5   Mary Hardin-Baylor   6-0   530   5
6   North Central (Ill.)   6-0   475   7
7   Wittenberg   7-0   438   8
8   Hardin-Simmons   6-1   401   10
9   Delaware Valley   5-1   358   12
10   Thomas More   6-0   352   11
11   Ohio Northern   5-1   345   13
12   Linfield   4-1   303   14
13   Wartburg   6-0   298   --
14   Montclair State   6-0   287   16
15   Trine   6-0   285   15
16   Coe   5-1   276   6
17   Wheaton (Ill.)   6-0   272   17
18   Central   6-1   233   9
19   St. John Fisher   7-0   215   18
20   Bethel   6-0   128   24
21   Hampden-Sydney   7-0   113   22
22   Pacific Lutheran   5-0   108   25
23   Cal Lutheran   4-1   95   21
24   Ursinus   6-0   39   --
25   Wabash   5-1   36   --
Dropped out: No. 19 Alfred, No. 20 Randolph-Macon, No. 23 Cortland State.

Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve 35, DePauw 31, Rowan 29, Illinois Wesleyan 28, Franklin 17, Willamette 14, Springfield 12, Randolph-Macon 9, Alfred 8, Amherst 7, Cortland State 3, UW-Stevens Point 2, Williams 2, Baldwin-Wallace 1, Lycoming 1.