Quote from: Ron Boerger on Yesterday at 09:25:08 AMUnsurprisingly, Maryville's upset of Trinity is the second game featured in this week's D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Sorry for the tardy game-reaction. First game of the season I was unable to watch and sounds like I would have been yelling at the screen the majority of the game. From what I can glean from the box score, looks like the inconsistent offense finally caught up to them and the running game wasn't able to do anything, even though they outgained Maryville by almost 100 yards overall. This team reminds me of my senior 2011 team when we had a spectacular defense, but couldn't do anything consistently on offense.

As I've noted previously, special teams is another confusing problem area for this team and I do not understand why the staff has not figured out the holes that are leading to blocked/tipped FG/PATs. Urban needs to get this team reoriented, because if the same team shows up against Millsaps this week, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on Today at 11:27:16 AM

Quote from: scottiedoug on Today at 10:53:09 AMIt is a long trip from Maryville to San Antonio and there are many trips required over and above the huge football group....

Pat made a comment on the D3football ATN podcast yesterday about the football team not having returned by the time they recorded the podcast which makes me wonder if they bused, which certainly would cut down on the cost, if not the lost time for their students. 

Two (maybe three) busses over that distance in this economy might cost more than flying.  I know the numbers work out better for football than basketball, but a lot of basketball coaches tell me flying is cheaper than bussing at a surprisingly short distance.

They definitely flew -- it just took them a long time to get home on Sunday.

SFU is struggling in football as well.  The drop from D1 meant that most of their top scholarship jocks in every sport left, forcing them to build new D3 programs pretty much from scratch overnight.

It'll take a few years to make that transition.

Quote from: Ron Boerger on Today at 11:27:16 AM

Quote from: scottiedoug on Today at 10:53:09 AMIt is a long trip from Maryville to San Antonio and there are many trips required over and above the huge football group....

Pat made a comment on the D3football ATN podcast yesterday about the football team not having returned by the time they recorded the podcast which makes me wonder if they bused, which certainly would cut down on the cost, if not the lost time for their students. 

Not sure but it's a possibility. I will ask Saturday at the game if anybody knew how they travel. I do know last year for the game at Southwestern they flew.

For those of you that missed them, at the historical mid way point of the NESCAC season, here are the NESCACMAN midseason grades:

Wesleyan-Grade of "A": Offense has played well behind a much improved offensive line. Other than a hiccup against the HAM offense, which has some talent, the defense has been solid as well. Big games ahead.

Hartford State-Grade of "A": Probably has been the best all around team in the NESCAC through 5 games. Last game's turnovers are a bit concerning, but we will give them some wiggle room on an otherwise great start to their season. Leading the league in point differential doesn't hurt.

Amherst-Grade of "B+": 5-0 despite 2 near losses. Could easily be 3-2 at this point in the season. Still, compared to the past few years, we're sure the Lord Mammoths faithful are happy where they sit right now. As noted on the Boards, they have a tough back-end to their schedule.

Williams-Grade of "B+": Only blemish was to an undefeated Hartford State squad. Now that they have seemingly found their future at QB, they could make things interesting over the next 4 weeks. Still in the hunt for a NESCAC title and a play-off birth.

Tufts-Grade of "B": Inconsistent. They will beat the weaker teams in the conference but struggle against the upper echelon.

Middlebury-Grade of "C+": We feel like this team should be better. At the onset of the season, we were concerned about the QB and the passing game but that has been fine. Defense needs to be better.

Hamilton-Grade of "C": Oh, if only they had a defense. One of the best (and most exciting) offenses in the league. We're sure lots of teams wish they had Luke Kurzum and his cast of receivers.

Colby-Grade of "D+": After last season's 6-3 campaign, expectations were probably unrealistically high. Still trying to figure out how to play offense (that seems to be a theme in Maine).

Bowdoin-Grade of "D": A mess off the field (and on offense). Fortunately, their defense has stepped up. If only they could combine with Hamilton. What a team that would be!

UBates-Grade of "D": Almost an incomplete grade. Tons of injuries have hobbled the Kitties. Another team that has to figure out the QB position.   

St. Francis (PA) was until this year D1 to include its soccer team. They were a middle to lower tier D1 soccer team. They went from a .500 D1 team to 0-11 in D3. It is deep in farm country sometimes called Pennsyltucky.

Looking at the 2026 roster which now has only 14 (1 gk) with one or 2 seniors and the rest freshmen. Goals scored 5 while giving up 62. The gk has 84 saves. Corners 11 for SF and 118 for the opponents. 

2025 they had 28 or so players with plenty of guys from overseas. Also SF did not hire a head coach till late March this year who has some Mount Union connections (SC?)

More than just dropping from D1. Rather not even having a program in 2025. 

Quote from: ziggy on Today at 10:32:10 AM

Quote from: MCScots2013 on Today at 10:17:58 AMInteresting to note "affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized..."

To stay SAA or somewhere else?

I would think a decision driven by geography and travel costs means football would be the sport they most want to get out of the SAA.

I sort of see it the other way. It's only every-other year now and they can probably schedule non-conference games to be relatively proximate. If you're good with one big trip every two years, then football is fine to stay. The SAA probably would like them to stay for FB, and I don't see any big reason why the USAC, who has 8 FB members right now, would need them back.

Quote from: Jake Feldman on Yesterday at 03:00:56 PMThat's why I want to hire someone from Arena Football, any suggestions on who we can poach with a budget of $80K?

Frank Haege former Augsburg head coach and five years in the Arena Football League.

Centre more likely for NCAC than HCAC.