D3 vs. NAIA

Started by Ralph Turner, August 28, 2005, 10:32:37 PM

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Baldini

Quote from: hazzben on December 07, 2019, 11:36:35 PM
Quote from: Baldini on December 04, 2019, 11:31:35 PM
If a review of the past 10 seasons tells us anything it is that St. John's is careful about keeping the non-conference schedule on the easier side. Which is certainly their right to do so if they prefer it that way.

That's not a fair assessment. First, SJU has a hard time getting teams to pick up the phone for non-con games. Second, playing in a tough league also means you probably don't want to go out and schedule Top 15 teams for non-con from a sheer attrition standpoint. Case in point, they will be playing their 14th game of the season next week, which will have involved a ton a good to really good d3 football teams (Wheaton, Chapman, Aurora, two WIAC teams, UST, Concordia, St. Olaf, GAC, and Bethel).

First off I am not claiming I would do anything different than St. John's already does, but I don't think it is an unfair assessment at all. Secondly, I am not buying this narrative that they can't get teams to pick up the phone for non-conference games either. The teams in the UMAC and some other lesser talented teams in other conferences don't return their calls because they don't want a 98-0 St. Scholastica seal clubbing that St. John's wants to lay on someone. But UW-LC, UW-O, UW-WW and UW-P all need games every year and end up traveling great distances to play very good teams, you really believe they won't pick up the phone if St. John's calls? There is a bunch of good NAIA schools that are in dire need of games every year and are fairly good fits for St. John's. Dickinson St. played UW-LC this season (and beat them), Valley City would be a great game for them, UW-WW played St. Xavier in a very good game and they also played Morningside a few years back which was noted earlier. Those are just a few examples of pages I could type here.

Again, I don't blame them for doing things the way they do. I think their is some good reasons to schedule strong and good reasons not to, but don't be surprised if someone calls BS on claims that they can't get anyone to schedule them. Or like the person claiming on the MIAC board that they didn't want Macalester back because they didn't want another 'creampuff' on the schedule.

So which is it, they need to schedule softer because of the 'attrition standpoint' or the schedule has too many 'creampuffs'? Because when people are claiming both it is just a chronic bitching session.

hazzben

Quote from: Baldini on December 08, 2019, 10:15:06 AM
Quote from: hazzben on December 07, 2019, 11:36:35 PM
Quote from: Baldini on December 04, 2019, 11:31:35 PM
If a review of the past 10 seasons tells us anything it is that St. John's is careful about keeping the non-conference schedule on the easier side. Which is certainly their right to do so if they prefer it that way.

That's not a fair assessment. First, SJU has a hard time getting teams to pick up the phone for non-con games. Second, playing in a tough league also means you probably don't want to go out and schedule Top 15 teams for non-con from a sheer attrition standpoint. Case in point, they will be playing their 14th game of the season next week, which will have involved a ton a good to really good d3 football teams (Wheaton, Chapman, Aurora, two WIAC teams, UST, Concordia, St. Olaf, GAC, and Bethel).

First off I am not claiming I would do anything different than St. John's already does, but I don't think it is an unfair assessment at all. Secondly, I am not buying this narrative that they can't get teams to pick up the phone for non-conference games either. The teams in the UMAC and some other lesser talented teams in other conferences don't return their calls because they don't want a 98-0 St. Scholastica seal clubbing that St. John's wants to lay on someone. But UW-LC, UW-O, UW-WW and UW-P all need games every year and end up traveling great distances to play very good teams, you really believe they won't pick up the phone if St. John's calls? There is a bunch of good NAIA schools that are in dire need of games every year and are fairly good fits for St. John's. Dickinson St. played UW-LC this season (and beat them), Valley City would be a great game for them, UW-WW played St. Xavier in a very good game and they also played Morningside a few years back which was noted earlier. Those are just a few examples of pages I could type here.

Again, I don't blame them for doing things the way they do. I think their is some good reasons to schedule strong and good reasons not to, but don't be surprised if someone calls BS on claims that they can't get anyone to schedule them. Or like the person claiming on the MIAC board that they didn't want Macalester back because they didn't want another 'creampuff' on the schedule.

So which is it, they need to schedule softer because of the 'attrition standpoint' or the schedule has too many 'creampuffs'? Because when people are claiming both it is just a chronic bitching session.

::) ::)

Let me try again.

For a team like SJU, that has aspirations of playing deep into the postseason, it's wise to be cognizant of sheer the volume of Top 40ish caliber teams you'll play. Football is a brutally violent/physical sport and the potential of a 13+ game schedule is daunting. So again, look at the teams they played this year. Swapping out RH for UWP and UWS for UWO would be nonsensical given the teams they'll play in conference and in a post-season run.

Bearing that in mind, there are a number of teams that aren't picking up the phone when SJU calls (and they aren't the only ones that have this problem). This is just a fact. It's not "scheduling soft" to recognize a Top 15 opponent probably doesn't serve you given the quality of opponents you'll face in-conference. And then having a challenge when teams in the average to good category of D3 don't want to schedule you in return.

And yeah, the top teams in the MIAC don't want MAC back in. We are super annoyed at having to swap out UST for MAC. When/if MAC joins the conference, you'll probably see a shift in how teams schedule in the non-con.

It's not a "chronic bitch session." We were all super annoyed when MAC was allowed to weenie way out and dropped MIAC fb, but got to stay for their other sports. The schools with the will to compete are now doubly annoyed that weaker elements in the conference have conspired to boot UST, which will now mean we get stuck with MAC in their place. No top teams in the MIAC are ducking good competition. It's why we were all gnashing our teeth at the tossing of UST. 

Bottom line, in a MIAC that includes UST, you need to be mindful of the fact that the Top half of the MIAC will be a gauntlet and there are precious few Pool C bids, and a second loss is usually the kiss of death. In a Post-UST MIAC universe, there's more reason to schedule tougher. But we haven't been in that world to this point. So again, to your oblivious point in bold above, we'd rather have UST in the conference, and if they are, it will affect who you schedule in non-con. But now that we have to take the creampuff back, I'm sure playoff aspiring teams will adjust their non-con strategy.

sjujohnnie

Morningside just defeated Marian, 40-38 for their 2nd straight NAIA national championship title. Will be interesting to see if Ryan stays or leaves for Wheaton.

TheChucker

Quote from: Baldini on December 08, 2019, 10:15:06 AM
Quote from: hazzben on December 07, 2019, 11:36:35 PM
Quote from: Baldini on December 04, 2019, 11:31:35 PM
If a review of the past 10 seasons tells us anything it is that St. John's is careful about keeping the non-conference schedule on the easier side. Which is certainly their right to do so if they prefer it that way.

That's not a fair assessment. First, SJU has a hard time getting teams to pick up the phone for non-con games. Second, playing in a tough league also means you probably don't want to go out and schedule Top 15 teams for non-con from a sheer attrition standpoint. Case in point, they will be playing their 14th game of the season next week, which will have involved a ton a good to really good d3 football teams (Wheaton, Chapman, Aurora, two WIAC teams, UST, Concordia, St. Olaf, GAC, and Bethel).

First off I am not claiming I would do anything different than St. John's already does, but I don't think it is an unfair assessment at all. Secondly, I am not buying this narrative that they can't get teams to pick up the phone for non-conference games either. The teams in the UMAC and some other lesser talented teams in other conferences don't return their calls because they don't want a 98-0 St. Scholastica seal clubbing that St. John's wants to lay on someone. But UW-LC, UW-O, UW-WW and UW-P all need games every year and end up traveling great distances to play very good teams, you really believe they won't pick up the phone if St. John's calls? There is a bunch of good NAIA schools that are in dire need of games every year and are fairly good fits for St. John's. Dickinson St. played UW-LC this season (and beat them), Valley City would be a great game for them, UW-WW played St. Xavier in a very good game and they also played Morningside a few years back which was noted earlier. Those are just a few examples of pages I could type here.

Again, I don't blame them for doing things the way they do. I think their is some good reasons to schedule strong and good reasons not to, but don't be surprised if someone calls BS on claims that they can't get anyone to schedule them. Or like the person claiming on the MIAC board that they didn't want Macalester back because they didn't want another 'creampuff' on the schedule.

So which is it, they need to schedule softer because of the 'attrition standpoint' or the schedule has too many 'creampuffs'? Because when people are claiming both it is just a chronic bitching session.

With the MIAC not getting a Pool C bid this year with two very good nationally relevant teams left out (St. Thomas and Bethel), and a decent Concordia team going into conference play with two D3 losses on their schedule from playing a really tough non-con (Whitewater and La Crosse), I don't think the trend will be towards playing a tougher non-conference slate. Quite the opposite actually. I'm not sure how the NCAA selection committee views wins and losses vs. NAIA teams, so maybe that's an option for non-conference play if those losses don't hold much weight.

Ralph Turner

Quote from: TheChucker on December 23, 2019, 11:51:52 AM
... I'm not sure how the NCAA selection committee views wins and losses vs. NAIA teams, so maybe that's an option for non-conference play if those losses don't hold much weight.
My first thought is that you could end up with a record of 8-1 versus D3 teams instead of 9-1, having played an NAIA team in your 10th game.

hazzben

Quote from: Ralph Turner on December 23, 2019, 12:50:47 PM
Quote from: TheChucker on December 23, 2019, 11:51:52 AM
... I'm not sure how the NCAA selection committee views wins and losses vs. NAIA teams, so maybe that's an option for non-conference play if those losses don't hold much weight.
My first thought is that you could end up with a record of 8-1 versus D3 teams instead of 9-1, having played an NAIA team in your 10th game.

Didn't seem to effect UWW this year.

sjujohnnie

Morningside leads Northwestern 24-21 early in the 3rd quarter. Likely Morningside's only competitive game this year.

sjujohnnie

Knotted up at 31 to start the 4th. Would love to see Morningside & Northwestern in the MIAC & a couple bottom dwellers kicked to the curb! Would love to see how St John's would match up!

BLynn

Quote from: sjujohnnie on September 12, 2020, 09:36:43 PM
Morningside leads Northwestern 24-21 early in the 3rd quarter. Likely Morningside's only competitive game this year.

From your laptop to God's ear.  M'side won 45-31, but it was tied 31-all with 8 minutes left.  Seen my share of M'side-NWC games and this might be the best Northwestern team I've seen, (going back to 1977).  Their Qb got leg cramps thru out the game and missed a couple key plays (back-up fumbled at M'side 19). 

Loved the UWW-M'side series and would gladly see the Johnnies a time or two.

hazzben

Quote from: BLynn on September 21, 2020, 11:03:00 PM
Quote from: sjujohnnie on September 12, 2020, 09:36:43 PM
Morningside leads Northwestern 24-21 early in the 3rd quarter. Likely Morningside's only competitive game this year.

From your laptop to God's ear.  M'side won 45-31, but it was tied 31-all with 8 minutes left.  Seen my share of M'side-NWC games and this might be the best Northwestern team I've seen, (going back to 1977).  Their Qb got leg cramps thru out the game and missed a couple key plays (back-up fumbled at M'side 19). 

Loved the UWW-M'side series and would gladly see the Johnnies a time or two.

Hard to imagine it's better than the 81 and 83 NWC teams. 83 in particular.

BLynn

Quote from: hazzben on September 22, 2020, 05:04:56 PM
Quote from: BLynn on September 21, 2020, 11:03:00 PM
Quote from: sjujohnnie on September 12, 2020, 09:36:43 PM
Morningside leads Northwestern 24-21 early in the 3rd quarter. Likely Morningside's only competitive game this year.

From your laptop to God's ear.  M'side won 45-31, but it was tied 31-all with 8 minutes left.  Seen my share of M'side-NWC games and this might be the best Northwestern team I've seen, (going back to 1977).  Their Qb got leg cramps thru out the game and missed a couple key plays (back-up fumbled at M'side 19). 

Loved the UWW-M'side series and would gladly see the Johnnies a time or two.

Hard to imagine it's better than the 81 and 83 NWC teams. 83 in particular.

M'side and NWC didn't play those 2 seasons and yes, the 1983 NAIA D2 Champs had to be good, but the athleticism I've seen this year (against Morningside and Dordt this Saturday) impresses me more than the teams I saw back in the 70's and early this century.  The game has changed to involve speed so much more than before and Red Raiders have plenty.  btw freshman LB Parker Fryar is going to be, if not already, a great one at NWC

sjujohnnie

Watching the NAIA semifinal game between Morningside & Northwestern. 90 degrees in Sioux City. 2:03 remaining. Morningside leads 41-36. If they hold on they'll have won 40 straight games & will play Monday, May 10th for a shot at a 3-peat of national championships. Really wonder how St John's would fare against Morningside/Northwestern? Certainly would rather face them with Erdmann under center.

sjujohnnie

The WR for Northwestern has a school record with over 300 yards receiving. Both Morningside & Northwestern have high-powered offenses & put up 500+ yards regularly. Northwestern's QB put up a prayer & it was hauled in in the endzone to give Northwestern a 42-41 lead with 16 seconds left. 2 point conversion coming.

sjujohnnie

Northwestern's two-point conversion was good. 2 seconds remain & Morningside will have to throw up a Hail Mary. Northwestern hasn't beaten Morningside since 2013 or been to a national championship game since 1984 according to the announcers. And Morningside's Hail Mary was incomplete. That's Morningside's first loss since 2017.

hazzben

I was at the game, it was a classic...and stupid hot!

The NWC receiver had 300 yds because M-Side chose to double cover their best/AA WR the entire game. Kooima feasted on the openings it provided in other single coverage matchups. To the tune of 490 passing yards, 3 TD's, plus 2 rushing TD's. Morningside was incredible up front, especially on the OLine.

Sad update, Kooima tore his Achilles on the final TD with 16 seconds remaining. So NWC goes into the National Championship game without its AA QB. Really tough break for a team that's built around an explosive passing offense.