Quote from: FCGrizzliesGrad on October 10, 2026, 04:38:03 PMFranklin took the lead 36-35 on 4th down with 1:34 left on a pass that was deflected up and caught between 4 defenders. Mount St Joseph then returned the kickoff 95 yards to retake the lead 42-36. Franklin had enough time to drive back down the field but with under 10 seconds left, Kmiecik got crunched at the goalline and fumbled recovered by MSJ. Maybe I'm slightly biased but I think the ball made it in before the fumble. Of course it's super hard to tell from the replay.

I didn't think the game would be particularly close but coming within a few inches is crushing. If only we could get some semblance of a running game going.

It is a shame that D3 doesn't have video reviews.  Franklin got hosed on a couple of calls that might have been overturned. First was the fumble by the MSJ RB in the first half and the second was the final FC play at the goal line.  Franklin offense has looked good the last six quarters, but the GRIZ defense is still really bad!  Oh yeah, who thought kicking off deep to the best returner in the league with the lead and less than 2 minutes to go is a good idea!     

Quote from: maripp2002 on September 08, 2025, 12:05:08 PM

Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on September 08, 2025, 08:42:38 AMor is it not unusual for a D3 school to beat an FCS school??

I not only think it's unusual to win, I think it's generally just unusual to even have them play. With that said, I also forgot that Hanover played Butler last year, and will be playing them this year.

Hanover 0 - Butler 53
Wabash 21 - Butler 47 (in 2023)
Depauw 24- Butler 49 (in 2021)

I think the Pioneer remains one of the only non-scholarship conferences in d1 (the Ivy being the other) but for OOC they're mostly scheduling d2 or NAIA teams in the Pioneer, while the Ivy generally schedules other local FCS teams.

When I was at Franklin in the 1980's, we were NCAA D2 and members of the old Heartland Collegiate Conference with Butler, Indiana Central (UIndy), Valpo, Evansville, St. Joseph, Ashland (OH), and Georgetown (KY).  Butler and Indiana Central were our biggest football rivals.  Franklin continued to play Butler after the Grizzlies moved down to D3 and Butler stopped offering football scholarships.  The last time Franklin beat Butler was in 2008 when the Grizzlies finished 11-2 and advanced to the third round of the D3 playoffs.  Valpo has been horrible for many years.  Franklin owned them when they were both D2 and beat Valpo badly twice after Franklin dropped down and Valpo moved to the Pioneer League.

Quote from: 70_dc_alum on September 11, 2025, 03:44:37 PMI was shocked at the Franklin ONU game.  Does Leonard have them back or did ONU have a bad day letting up a fast start?  will be fun to see over the next few weeks.  Ill be at the ONU vs Hiedelberg game on Sat so will have an in person view.  ONU QB I have know for years and has one of the best arms I have ever seen and he got them back into it before they ran out of time

Franklin looked much improved, and they played with enthusiasm which has been lacking for 5 years.  I don't think that they can keep up with Hope, but they should be a much more competitive team this season.  The ONU QB may have a strong arm, but he has horrible accuracy.  He missed a lot of open receivers. As a former Springboro Panther coach, I was secretly rooting for him.     

Defiance will play Concordia in their opener, but it will likely be the last game between these two as Concordia is cutting all but seven academic programs and all athletic programs in 2024-25.

d two

Quote from: 70_dc_alum on June 12, 2024, 07:37:06 PMDefiance first year in the NAIA is still HCAC heavy with the 2024 schedule released.  love it still ends with Bluffton.  Wish it still had @MSJ but my kid goes to Rose so maybe i can go nuisance Sokol there.

2024 Defiance Football Schedule
Sept. 7 at Concordia (Mich.), 1 p.m.
Sept. 14 at Saint Francis (Ind.), 6 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Judson (Ill.), 1 p.m. (Home Opener)
Sept. 28 vs. Siena Heights, 1 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Manchester, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 12 at Saint Xavier, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Rose-Hulman, 1:30 p.m.
Nov. 2 at Taylor (Ind.), 1 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Hanover, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Nov. 16 at Bluffton, 1:30 p.m.

Hey 70_dc_alum:

Speaking about owning a trophy forever - when I was a student at Franklin, we were in the "old" Heartland Conference in NCAA D2.  We did not play Hanover in football so the Victory Bell sat in the library and no one knew the history of the rivalry.  Our football rivals at the time were Butler and Indiana Central (now UIndy).  The bell literally sat in Franklin's Hamilton Library gathering dust from 1970-1989!       

Quote from: dc_has_been on October 05, 2023, 10:48:43 AM
It seems to be the right move for Defiance due to all the current issues they are dealing with (i.e., accreditation, enrollment, and so on).  Hopefully, this changes their trajectory as an academic institution.

Schools with enrollment and financial issues do NOT makes moves which drastically increase their costs.  Schools tend to move from D2 or NAIA to D3 when they need to cut costs or if they have financial issues.  Defiance has accreditation, enrollment and financial issues.  Now they have to find a way to fund 36 full ride football scholarships plus hundreds of other scholarships just to be competitive.  Moving to D2 may gain prestige but NOT a move to a less prestigious NAIA.  Just ask Thomas More!  Big mistake!

The Grizzlies had momentum when tied with Trine 37-37.  They appeared to get an interception in the Trine end zone when the DB caught the ball and was tied up by the WR.  The official gave possession and a TD to Trine and the Grizzlies never seriously threatened again except scoring on the final play of the game.    

I think that Spalding would be a logical target.

Franklin had the last place defense last season and this season's defense looked even worse today.  The GRIZ gave up a late TD to lose to Olivet 35-31.  Olivet had at least two other TDs called back due to penalties.  The bright spot was the FC offense which looked very promising.

Rose graduated their QB, leading RB and leading WR.  They return their #2 and #3 receivers from last season.  Not sure about defense.

I have been watching Franklin games for over 40 years and that is the most embarrassing and pathetic loss that I have ever seen!  The defense gives up less than 150 yards in total offense yet Manchester scores 27 points and tacks a loss on the Grizzlies!  A total lack of effort, focus, and discipline by the GRIZ!  FC had almost more yards in penalties than Manchester had on offense.  This type of effort will lead to losing all conference games.  No way we could've beaten Defiance or Anderson today, much less others in the HCAC.     

We need a change at QB for sure, no QB is slower at the RPO mesh than Andrews.  He is way too slow in the RPO, is no threat to run and how many bad INTs can you throw before you set the bench?  Last year, Spencer Wright showed some wheels and he is much quicker at making decisions.  I know Andrews has a better arm but who cares if he continues to make bad decision!

Let's go GRIZ, we are better than this!

Quote from: WAF-WDE on July 16, 2020, 08:05:55 PM
Thought you might be interested in one way that an SEC school is attempting to make it safe to hold on-site classes this fall:

http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2020/07/161653-covid19-screening-tests.php

Similar program in place at the University of Alabama.  Alabama requires a negative COVID test result within 14 days prior to reporting to campus.  Alabama is unique among public universities in that almost 70% of undergrads are from out of state (Auburn is 70% in-state).  UA will be relying heavily on home testing kits which will be sent to all students and returned via mail to Alabama for analysis.

Again, just like the Manchester game, the FC coaching staff with horrible play calling.  They don't appear to want to win this game.

Most embarrassing loss in school history!  I have been attending GRIZ games for 40 years and this is the first game (home or away) that I have left early.  Worst play calling that I have ever seen at any level!  I love Coach Leonard but whoever calls the plays never gave the players a chance to win today.  We could have run the ball and won by 21 points today.  Why are we throwing the ball 40 yards down the field and never looking short, why are we throwing (and getting sacked) on 2nd and 2 when we had success every time we ran the ball.  I know we have always been known as a passing team but give me a break.  We don't appear to care if we lose as long as we try to score in the air.  I am done for this season, no more GRIZ games for me this season and maybe many years to come!

Smith comes back early from injury and leads FC to the big comeback victory at Rose-Hulman!  Surprising win for the GRIZ and a big blow to the Engineers.  Last second win for the second year in a row!