Didn't see anyone talk about the YouTube account called Division 1 Rejects.  I think he played D3 in Michigan (I could be wrong), but his content is 100% D2, D3, and NAIA. I found him roughly a month ago,  I do not know when he started the channel or what his content is like during the season. 

It is nice to see another outlet that discuss D3 ball, even if it's not exclusively D3. I follow D2 PSAC also so I only skip over NAIA content.

He has showed the PAC some love in the past.  Here he is showing love to the GCC defense.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5KW-shGApI

Quote from: ADL70 on July 22, 2025, 10:12:50 AMHas Geneva been held back by continuing to run the triple-option? I recall a time when most of the WPIAL ran that offense. That no longer seems to be the case. Of course nationally, Springfield and Salisbury have still been quite successful with that offense.

The bottom of the PAC moves up one spot with the addition of Hiram, lowest NPI in D3. Will St Francis successfully transition to D3 and fill the void at the top left by CMU's departure?

I don't think the offense has held them back.  Look at D1, Army dominates similarly talented teams as them.  They put up good fight against superior talented teams, even in defeat.  I think Geneva issue is of their own doing, and I hope to leave it at that.

Quote from: HCAlum86 on August 13, 2025, 10:06:11 AM

Quote from: mikefln on August 10, 2025, 02:43:28 PMHow I see it going into the season.

Heading into the season this is how I see it.

Top of the class:
Grove City
W&J

Contender:
Case Western
Westminster

Dark Horses:
Geneva- can they send Demarco off on a high note.

Pretender:
Waynesburg

Hoping to see important:

Allegheny
Bethany
Hiram
St. Vincent
Theil

Hiram returns a LOT of its production from last season. However, given that production was typically low - I'm not sure yet if that's a good or bad thing.

Thanks for the input.  Don't take my take personally.   I don't know much about Hiram other than their record from last season.  Plus im just a dude on the internet, I have no connections or inside info.

How I see it going into the season.

Heading into the season this is how I see it.

Top of the class:
Grove City
W&J

Contender:
Case Western
Westminster

Dark Horses:
Geneva- can they send Demarco off on a high note.

Pretender:
Waynesburg

Hoping to see important:

Allegheny
Bethany
Hiram
St. Vincent
Theil

Just noticed that Demarco is retiring from Geneva after the season.  Good for him and the school.   He deserved to go out on his own terms, and that program is in desperate need of new blood.

That program is one of the most supported D3 programs around, and they have done nothing but struggled.   There is no reason why they shouldn't be competing for the conference championship  on a regular basis.

The PAC needs someone to step up and be competitive to fill in for CMUs departure.   Plus the bottom of the conference needs to step up to at least get respectable.

So what do we expect from St Francis?  Are thinking they are dropping down to compete for championships or just dropping down to save cost and whatever happens,  happens?

Well, it didn't go how I'd liked it to have gone, but the PAC has nothing to be ashamed of. 

CMU- Handled business with a win.  Good luck to them the rest of the way.  I'll be rooting for you eventhough you'll be leaving the PAC

GCC- Had too slow of a start.   Can't win against good teams, especially away, when you surrender the 1st half.  They still had their chance, and was a missed FG away from taking the game into OT. 

W&J- I tried to watch it, but that was a horrible video production, so I didn't watch this one.  Judging by the score box, they started strong, faded away, then tried to make a late rally but ran out of time. 

Looking to next year, it sucks to loose a great team like CMU and it is worse that they are being replaced by a winless team.  That leaves 2 top dogs in GCC and W&J, 2 teams trying to reach top tier in CWRU and Westminster. 

Then there is the albatross of the PAC, which is the bottom group.  I will say there are 2 groups in the bottom group.  Programs with a pulse, and teams without a pulse.  I guess it's nice every team got a win this year, but these teams need to step up their game.  To make it worse, the PAC is bringing a winless team into the fold.  I know there is more to conference affiliation than just football, but damn does this hurt.  How does the NCAC get John Carroll and we get Hiram?

Congratulations to Westminster for their win in the bowl game. 

Way to represent the PAC.

Quote from: XREDDRAGON77 on November 22, 2024, 11:24:38 AMThe success of SJF seemed to correlate with the Bills use of their facilities. Sounds like a marketing stunt with an NFL team should be looked into!

Cortland was already decent when the Jets rolled in. The addition of "Hard Knocks" on campus only amplified the schools profile at the time.

Best of luck moving forward, except when it's Cortland week!

The Steelers have been at St Vincent since before I was born in the late 70s.  In that time SVC dropped football for 40 years, brought it back in the mid 2000s, and I could be mistaken but never had a winning season since the revival.   There has to be more to it than the Bills training there.

Quote from: DevilsAdvocate on November 20, 2024, 08:25:06 AMLong time listener, first time caller.... if they want to bracket us (PAC) this way, love to see a all PAC Semi-Final!  Let's show them what we bring!  They are all highly skilled team in their own ways.  They can all go toe to toe with the best.  Anything can happen on a Saturday!  Just need them all to stay healthy for 5 weeks!

I love the thought process and I do believe that each team is capable,  but that Mount Union draw is a tough one to overcome for sure.  But first thing first, they all have tough round of 32 games they need to win.

Quote from: FisherFaithful03 on November 19, 2024, 05:57:57 PMI know I've been extremely critical of him but Vos was always a good man. He had a really good thing going from 2003-2016 so he deserves some credit. From what I've heard he got a raw deal with the support from the college in recent years. I just hope they conduct an exhaustive search and find someone that can recruit with the current restraints and bring some life into the program.

What are some of the restraints that SFJ put on the program?  Was there issues that the administration NEEDED to address?  A new Administration that wanted to be a new sheriff?  Or something else?  This type of stuff fascinates me, as I'm of belief that you try your best in everything.

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on November 19, 2024, 08:55:40 PMAlso, I can't believe you guys keep saying that it's only a 30-minute trip from Oakland (CMU) to W&J. It's at *least* 35 minutes. Probably 40 on a bus!

sho nuff

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on November 19, 2024, 03:59:40 PMOh man, tough question.

I really hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this, but CMU appears to have drawn the most winnable game in the round of 32 (playing at home and against an opponent probably considered the least intimidating of the three). Randolph-Macon made a deep playoff run last year and Johns Hopkins is a perennial power. So while I think Grove City and W&J are both very strong contenders, I don't think I'm taking it for granted that any of the three are locks to win in round one - just saying that all three *can* IMO.

Beyond that...it gets tricky to prognosticate too far...CMU would have a hypothetical round of 16 matchup at Mount Union, and I don't even want to start talking about that until it's on the board.

I'll just say that I think there are very few teams in the field who are *so* dominant that they seem out of reach for the PAC trio. Grove City dang near beat the national champs last year (and *did* beat the one team who beat the national champs in the regular season). The year before CMU was the only team to lead North Central at any point in the playoffs and went into the fourth quarter down just 14-7. I think the PAC teams have been showing they're in that second tier of D3 powers and maybe knocking on the door of having someone break through to the quarters or semifinals. Let's make it happen, fellas.

I like the train of thought here and think its fair.

To tagalong on your CMU comment  which I agree of them having the easiest game one but the hardest 2nd game.  GCC is the opposite.   GCC has the hardest 1st game but the easiest 2nd draw if they win.  W&J is in-between.

Quote from: jdpiv on November 19, 2024, 03:39:46 PMWhat exception are they receiving?

None.  My comment was in reference to someone suggesting that conferences with closed schedules NPI should be adjusted.  I don't believe that.

Quote from: ExTartanPlayer on November 19, 2024, 02:02:34 PM

Quote from: WashJeff68 on November 17, 2024, 05:52:18 PMEx Tartan, How does the CC stack up vs the PAC this uear?

On a different note than the recent airing of grievances...

I guess we'll find out. Gotta hope the Wolverines do the PAC proud at Johns Hopkins!

Overall this looks like a pretty nice set of matchups for the PAC. I think all three have winnable games in the round of 32. I'll stop short of "picking all three to win" - everyone left standing by the round of 32 is dangerous and I think winning all three may be a stretch - but I think the PAC has a chance to validate the impression that the league's top teams are legit top-20 caliber teams right now.

Also, let's not forget to root on Westminster in the Extra Points Bowl! If I didn't have some other commitments (namely, little kids) I'd consider making the drive...but anyone who is nearby should totally go! The guy who writes Extra Points is a lot of fun and worth a follow, and he seems genuinely excited at his foray into sponsoring a bowl game.

Great post.  Out of the 3, who  do you see making it the furthest?