As usual, Mary Hardin-Baylor gets spurned
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For the third time in four years, it was Mary Hardin-Baylor that felt the committee’s wrath. The Crusaders were left at home despite only one loss (to a regionally ranked team) and two wins over other regionally ranked teams. The selection committee apparently decided that in THIS case, a slightly better SOS by Simpson was good enough to outweigh all the other primary and secondary criteria in UMHB’s favor. Besides going 9-1, Simpson’s main accomplishment was losing to Wartburg, as they played no other regionally ranked teams.
This marks the third time in four years the committee has somehow spurned the Crusaders. Last year, as you may remember, UMHB won the ASC and was seeded high enough to host a home game, only to be sent to Trinity in the first round so the NCAA could (allegedly) save paying for a plane trip along the way. Three years ago, the 9-1 Crusaders were also ignored in favor of other Pool C contenders.
This year, MHB did everything you’re supposed to do to be selected as a Pool C; they went out to Willamette and handled a very good Bearcat team on the road and defeated another regionally ranked team in Hardin-Simmons. They lost to their conference champion, just as Simpson did, but at least they took them to overtime. UMHB gets to sit home, just the same.
It’s time to get rid of the ludicrous Pool B/Pool C divide. So what if you’re in a conference with too few teams to get an automatic bid? You can join a conference that gets one, or fight for one of the available “at-large” spots just like everyone else. Every year, Pool B brings in multi-loss/less worthy teams while clearly superior one-loss teams in Pool C sit at home. More teams are joining conferences which will qualify for Pool As, reducing the number of Pool B slots, and the field will be expanded to 32 teams in 2005. Why not get rid of Pool B/C in the meantime?
Don’t even get me started on the 500-mile rule, which seems designed primarily to limit the number of teams that can come out of Texas by mandating they play each other regardless of seed. Quit penalizing teams just because of their geographic location. An extra plane trip or two won’t break your budget. Aren’t Division III sports supposed to be about fair play for all?
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
You’ve probably already figured that this refers to this weekend’s game between seventh-seeded Trinity (8-2) and fourth-seeded East Texas Baptist (8-2). There are plenty of twists that should make for an interesting game between the SCAC and ASC champions.
Something old, of course, is Trinity, which makes its seventh consecutive playoff appearance. The team has struggled at times due to a number of new faces in skill positions as well as injuries. When the team is on, it’s on; witness the 52-7 dismantling of SCAC “co-champion” Centre (8-2). At other times, however, the team has not displayed the level of play we’ve come to expect. The Centre game was preceded by two consecutive subpar efforts, including a loss to Pomona-Pitzer (5-4) and a narrow victory versus DePauw (5-5). And just when you thought the team had put it together, it turned around and lost to Rhodes (7-3). Which Trinity team will show up this Saturday?
“New” is the perfect term for the East Texas Baptist Tigers. In just their fourth season of organized football, they ascended to a three-way ASC co-championship. The last point scored in OT against Mary Hardin-Baylor gave them the ASC’s automatic entry into the playoffs. ETBU has a swarming defense which averages nearly 14 tackles for loss per game. Starting quarterback Brandon Nelson is one of the conference’s best; as MHB found out, should he struggle, the Tigers can plug in first-year Phil Van Cleave and not lose much if anything. ETBU did lose a 20-14 overtime contest to Hardin-Simmons (8-2), as well as 35-15 to Division II Southeastern Oklahoma, which received votes in the latest Division II poll. The team is playing on a high level of emotion and expects a rabid, record home crowd at Ornelas Stadium on Saturday. One trivia fact: this game will mark the first time ETBU has ever played a non-ASC Division III opponent. With nine conference games each year, and a location where there aren’t any non-ASC Division III schools within easy driving distance, the Tigers have opted to play NAIA or Division II schools each of the last four seasons for their sole non-conference game.
See Mark Simon’s Features column later in the day for more on East Texas Baptist.
Trinity isn’t used to traveling for the first round, and this will mark the first time they’ve faced an ASC opponent under those circumstances. So they will have to borrow a bus, instead of their usual modus operandi, a jet — to make the trip. It’s about a 7-8 hour drive; up I-35 to Dallas, then across on I-20, to get from San Antonio to Marshall. And that’s if you don’t get tied up in traffic in Austin, or Dallas, or the interminable construction on both interstates. Given the return of Trinity’s woes on the road this season, this is not welcome news.
Finally, ETBU’s leading tackler, Greg Washington, is a member of the Reserves and was recently notified that he may be called up at any time. As of this writing, Greg is still practicing with the team and hopes to play on Saturday. If he is called up before Saturday, the team will not only miss his 100 tackles (34 solo), 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles — they’ll be somewhat blue.
What awaits the winner
What the heck — let’s look at the rest of the South Region bracket and see what’s out there.
No. 1 Lycoming (8-1) (bye)
The Warriors haven’t played a team outside of their conference since 1999. For whatever reason, they don’t even try to play a 10th, non-conference game to round out their schedule. They lost to 8-2 Delaware Valley but got bailed out when 8-2 Wilkes defeated DVC, giving the Aggies their second conference loss.
Lycoming’s last playoff appearance, in 1999, resulted in a first-round loss to W&J. Their previous appearance, in 1998, also ended in a home loss (to Trinity, second round). Given this history, many observers, yours truly included, feel Lycoming will be vulnerable next week to whatever team makes it out of the ETBU-Trinity matchup.
No. 6 Muhlenberg (7-2) at No. 2 Christopher Newport (7-2)
This ends up being a replacement for a game scheduled early in the season that was cancelled due to Hurricane Isabel. The Captains are greatly improved, especially on defense, but have not shown an ability to move the ball well against better teams. Rowan (7-3) shut them out 21-0 in Week 1 and Bridgewater (9-1) held them under 300 yards (but lost). They face a Muhlenberg team which is about as good defensively, especially against the Captains’ strength, the run, and has performed better offensively, especially in the air. Still, CNU has played well at home and could get their first playoff win on Saturday.
No. 5 Waynesburg (9-1) at No. 3 Bridgewater (9-1)
Even though CNU lost to two non-playoff opponents (7-3 Rowan and 6-2 Ferrum), the Eagles ended up with the third seed. From their recent play, however, they are the class of the bracket. As usual, their offense is averaging more than 450 yards per game, and the defense is holding opponents to roughly half that. Waynesburg is a capable team making its first-ever trip to the playoffs. First-timers generally don’t win, though, especially on the road. Playing at BC makes this even more unlikely.
Elsewhere around the region
Wabash 37, at DePauw 20: The Tigers (5-5) couldn’t pull off an upset in coach Nick Mourouzis’ final game, as the Little Giants (7-3) dominated to win the 110th Monon Bell Classic. Mourouzis retires with a 138-87-4 record, tops ever by a DePauw coach and 11th among active Division III coaches.
at East Texas Baptist 45, Mississippi College 6: The Tigers (8-2, 8-1 ASC) secured their first-ever NCAA playoff bid with a dominating win against the Choctaws (3-7, 2-7 ASC). RoShawn Johnson ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and scored a third on a 34-yard reception as the team piled up a school-record 619 offensive yards while limiting MC to just 87 yards.
at Centre 21, Rose-Hulman 19: Rose-Hulman’s quest for its first winning season since 1995 fell just short as the Colonels (8-2, 5-1 SCAC) claimed the SCAC co-championship with the win. Charlie Key had 138 yards receiving and 81 yards rushing to account for the majority of the Engineers’ (5-5, 3-3 SCAC) offense; Lorenzo Engleman gained 117 yards on the ground. The outcome of this game could also determine who wins the SCAC’s Coach of the Year honor.
Around the ASC:
Offensive POW: Bobby Ufolla, QB, Jr., Howard Payne University: In his first college start, Ufolla scored five touchdowns to lead HPU to a 70-21 win against Louisiana College. He was 22-of-39 for 284 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions or sacks. He ran 15 yards to account for the fifth score.Co-Defensive POW: Elex Reed, DT, Soph., Mary Hardin-Baylor; Anthony Renfro, SS, Sr., Hardin-Simmons. Reed had 10 tackles (five solo), three for loss, one sack, and forced a fumble against McMurry. Renfro had 21 tackles (14 solo) to end his career at HSU on a high note. Special Teams POW: Chris George, PK, First Year, Texas Lutheran: Connected on a 34-yard field goal to give TLU its first lead of the game, 22-21, as the Bulldogs came from behind to defeat Sul Ross State. Around the SCAC:
Offensive POW: Dan DesPlaines, QB, Sr., Trinity: Completed 17 of 22 passes for 239 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception against Millsaps. His efficiency rating for the game was 234.4.Defensive POW: Jarrod Smith, DL, Sr., Trinity: Had seven tackles including three sacks against Millsaps, as well as a fumble recovery.Game of the week (time local):
Trinity (8-2) at #16 East Texas Baptist (8-2), Marshall, Texas, noon. Well, duh. Can Trinity figure a way to contain ETBU’s defense? Will RoShawn Johnson, the ASC’s leading rusher, have his way with Trinity’s defense? Can Brandon Nelson and/or Phil Van Cleave stay in the pocket long enough to find Jabori Jackson and Earl Morris? And what’s the over/under on the number of times the stadium announcer will refer to either team as the Tigers?
It’s Steve Mohr’s playoff experience against the enthusiasm of coach Ralph Harris’ young squad. You can listen on either Trinity’s KRTU-FM or the Texas Sports Radio Network — check D3football.com for the links.
Next week: Round one coverage and a look ahead.
Comments? Complaints? Praise? Have an interesting story idea for an upcoming column? Think your team isn’t getting enough coverage? If so, contact me: ron.boerger@d3football.com