FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[ExTartanPlayer]

Lets hope we never have to find out. National Championship tourney's greatly enhance the D3 experience and I'd hate to see D3 without same, regardless of the fact the same 4 teams are going to play for the championship (in football) most every year.

I agree.  I don't mean to come off as anti-playoff, and even with the powerhouses dominating the last 10 years, I'm okay with it because those moments when someone has pushed them hard are so genuinely exciting (I was twitching with excitement as Wesley came from wayyyy down to put a scare in Mount Union).  Plus, the cross-regional matchups are fun and I think we would lose something.

With that said, if playoffs were no longer financially viable, it wouldn't be the end of the world.  Like I said, the conference title and maybe something like the ECAC bowl games or even Thanksgiving rivalries would become the "big thing" for D3 schools rather than playoff appearances.

FTR, I played for a very successful high-school coach in Eastern PA with a number of good playoff showings to his credit, and while he has enjoyed those, he's also told me that he longs for the days when the conference title and Thanksgiving game meant more to him than any playoffs ever could.  His playing and assistant-coaching days were prior to the inception of HS football playoffs in PA, although they'd just started the state championships when he took over as our head coach in the late 1980's.  He's tried, unsuccessfully, to get another local HS to start a Thanksgiving series, but most people seem against the idea due to the potential playoff conflict.

[tigerfanalso]

I'll age myself, when in HS we played on Thanksgiving Day and loved it. Not sure what that looks like at the D3 level with most of the student body not on campus. Not sure that is a good time to play the rival game. In HS it worked because the whole town was off work and the crowds were huge, probably not so much at this level.

[sigma one]

If it ever comes to pass that the big boys pull out of the NCAA and take all their money with them, what good is the NCAA to DIVISION III?  At  that point, which I hope doesn't come, why not just put together a "We play for the love of the game" association with a less bloated architecture and go from there.  I can't imagine what the details would be, but there are a lot of smart athletic minds out there to come up with a workable solution.  Maybe this arrangement would not include a national championship playoff, or maybe it would, depending upon the structure and expense to colleges and universities.  Of course, there are other considerations, like enforcement of whatever rules might be established, but again, smart minds . . .I hope though that we would not get into the Division IV debate of a few years ago, but such a rearrangement would beg for this discussion to resume.  And I suppose if the big schools pull out, that discussion may br renewed anyway.
       

[y_jack_lok]

With that said, if playoffs were no longer financially viable, it wouldn't be the end of the world.  Like I said, the conference title and maybe something like the ECAC bowl games or even Thanksgiving rivalries would become the "big thing" for D3 schools rather than playoff appearances.

FTR, I played for a very successful high-school coach in Eastern PA with a number of good playoff showings to his credit, and while he has enjoyed those, he's also told me that he longs for the days when the conference title and Thanksgiving game meant more to him than any playoffs ever could.  His playing and assistant-coaching days were prior to the inception of HS football playoffs in PA, although they'd just started the state championships when he took over as our head coach in the late 1980's.  He's tried, unsuccessfully, to get another local HS to start a Thanksgiving series, but most people seem against the idea due to the potential playoff conflict.

There is a VERY BIG (over 100 years old) Thanksgiving Day rivalry game (the Turkey Day Game) out here in Saint Louis between Webster Groves and Kirkwood. Sports Illustrated did a long article on it in 2002. For probably 8 or 9 of the 13 years I've lived here, one of those two schools has made it to the state championship game in their class, which always gets played the Saturday after Thanksgiving. When that happens the JV teams play the Turkey Day Game.

[wally_wabash]

Thanksgiving has a dramatic effect on attendance.  I'll use 2011 Wabash as an example because it's the most recent example, but previous years tell the same story.  Here are attendance figure for the five regular season games:
9/7 vs. OWU - 4371
10/1 vs. Kenyon - 5118
10/8 vs. WUStl - 4393
10/22 vs. Denison - 3941
11/5 vs. Wittenberg - 4723

That's a five game average of 4509. 

Now, with a 10-0 season, Wabash gets two home games in the playoffs sandwiched around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Attendance:
11/19 vs. Illinois College - 1359
11/26 vs. North Central - 1655

Now, the regular season attendance figures probably aren't as scientific as the postseason figures are (during the regular season, not everybody gets/needs a ticket...students and staff come and go with a flash of the ID, and there are other groups of people that also get admitted without tickets, so it's not as easy as just counting torn stubs during the regular season), but even taking into account those "estimates" during the regular season that may or may not bump that attendance up a little more than maybe it is, you're still looking at well under half of a normal crowd for a Wabash game during those two weekends.  And in my experience, that's pretty accurate- crowds for the first two weekends of the tournament are a noticeably lighter than they are during the regular season.  I can't imagine that you would do any better with a non-playoff game played on or around Thanksgiving.  For a high school game, your crowds are kind of baked in...that's where everybody lives.  The players, the parents, the student bodies...they're all right there for the most part over the holiday.  In college, most of your campus has gone home (home is usually not going to be in the same town) for the break.  I think it would be really tough to create a Thanksgiving game at this level and have it be something that could be self-sustaining.   

[jknezek]

An acquaintance of mine just washed up in Farmville after a long cross-country drive. For some reason he is staying in the area for a few days before heading back to Germany. He asked me for things to do in Farmville and I suggested a short drive to the HSC campus. I won't relay what I told him to do on campus, but he declined both my suggestion to visit and suggestion of activity upon visit... Just kidding (about the suggestion, anyway). Any thoughts on what to do in Farmville for a day or two? He is driving a motor home, no rental car, so he's not looking to go far...

[HSCTiger fan]

An acquaintance of mine just washed up in Farmville after a long cross-country drive. For some reason he is staying in the area for a few days before heading back to Germany. He asked me for things to do in Farmville and I suggested a short drive to the HSC campus. I won't relay what I told him to do on campus, but he declined both my suggestion to visit and suggestion of activity upon visit... Just kidding (about the suggestion, anyway). Any thoughts on what to do in Farmville for a day or two? He is driving a motor home, no rental car, so he's not looking to go far...

This is a great place 5 miles from town - www.theoutdooradventurepark.com

[tigerfanalso]

Hasa

You still with us ?

[HSCTiger74]

An acquaintance of mine just washed up in Farmville after a long cross-country drive. For some reason he is staying in the area for a few days before heading back to Germany. He asked me for things to do in Farmville and I suggested a short drive to the HSC campus. I won't relay what I told him to do on campus, but he declined both my suggestion to visit and suggestion of activity upon visit... Just kidding (about the suggestion, anyway). Any thoughts on what to do in Farmville for a day or two? He is driving a motor home, no rental car, so he's not looking to go far...

  Well, like many towns in Virginia there are Civil War battlefields nearby; Sailor's Creek is about ten miles east and Appomattox is about 20-25 miles west. If he doesn't want to drive at all, though, I'm pretty much stumped, since my focus is usually at the college when I do get back. When I was at HSC 40 years ago we always figured that the best thing you could do in Farmville was leave, but things have probably improved since then.

[tigerfanalso]

If he plays golf The Manor is a fairly nice course and is located half way between Farmville and HSC on Rt. 15.
Besides the Civil War history near by and the outdoors park already mentioned, buy some cold beer and turn up the AC.

[jknezek]

Hmm. I'll forward those over. I think golf is the most likely bet for him. Thanks.

[hscathletics]

There really isn't much to do around here, especially not at this time of the year. It's a good area if ne is in to nature type stuff. Other than the history stuff, slim pickings though. Luckily all I need is a TV and internet to keep me entertained most of the time.

High Bridge is pretty neat, a lot of walking involved with that, just a warning in case this person might would want to steer away from something like that.

For eateries, local establishments like Charley's Waterfront Cafe, Walker's Diner, Granny B's, Merk's Place, Fishin' Pig. Lots of good, local places. Walker's Diner is up for sale though, so if he doesn't go now he may never have another chance. I'm sure I am forgetting some, but those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

[hasanova]

Hasa

You still with us ?

Yeah, still here.  New boss is making life hectic.  I've been on the road a lot as well.  Not too much to report from Quaker Nation, although the guys did get 5 points in the Top 25.  When I see a practice, I'll check in again.  Lots of skill players returning (as well as 36 newcomers) from a 6-4, 5-2 squad.

[abnrgr]

Pardon my rudeness for stepping in. Has anyone graciously offered to run the ODAC Pick em's. Last year was totally squared away. Jknezek maybe?

I am not sharp like that...

[jknezek]

I will do it if necessary. HSCTiger74 did it last year and did a great job. If he would like to run it again I am more than happy to be his back up or anyone else's. However, if the alternative is me running it or it not happening, I will do it...

Bit premature though to worry about it. Teams haven't even reported yet, regardless of how excited we all are.