October 1st, 2013 12:00am
The MIAA and GLVC announced this week what is called a "Strategic Conference Football Scheduling Alliance." Sounds interesting, right?
It is not. All that is really happening is that two MIAA members that are struggling in football-- Lincoln and Southwest Baptist-- will play in the less competitive GLVC for the next four years in football. This makes a lot of sense for the GLVC as it expands the football membership to 10 teams and gives these two programs a chance to be in a league where they can compete.
But let*s take this a step further and look at why the MIAA would agree to something like this. A few years ago the MIAA had decided to go a full 11-game conference schedule. Those plans were put on hold when Nebraska-Omaha dropped football and the league had an odd number of teams.
By taking Lincoln and SBU out of the MIAA, it leaves the conference with 12 teams, which is perfect for an 11-game round robin schedule. Of course this also means that the MIAA will no longer be playing non-conference games.
As I have stated many times in the past, a conference going to insular scheduling is a bad idea and hurts D2 football, especially when a league like the MIAA is involved. The MIAA sits right in the middle of the country, surrounded by leagues-- the GLVC ironically being one of them-- that need to schedule non-conference games to fill out their schedules.
As I stated in the column last week, I believe the MIAA is top to bottom the strongest league in the country. By going to conference-only scheduling, there is no longer a way (via a strength of schedule bolstered by winning non-league games) to prove this. So in the end, it will be the MIAA hurting itself by not putting its teams in the best position to qualify for high seeds in the playoffs… all because the athletic departments at the MIAA schools are basically unwilling to go out and schedule one non-conference per season.
Observations from Around the Country
-Indiana ended its six game losing streak to rival California with a 20-7 win in the Coal Bowl. De*Antwan Williams rushed for 178 yards and the Crimson Hawk defense limited the Vulcans to just 230 yards of total offense. I*m not sold that IUP is good enough offensively to make my preseason prediction of winning a national championship come to fruition, but the defense will carry this team a long way.
-The question I asked in last week*s column about whether Grand Valley was back among the nation*s elite was answered with a definitive no on Saturday: The Lakers were blown out by Ohio Dominican 57-14. ODU was able run and throw at will and also had several big special teams plays. It seems shocking to me that the Lakers have fallen so far off from where they were a few years ago, but that certainly seems to be the case.
-The GNAC finally qualifies for earned access this year as it now has six members. The problem is that no one in the conference appears to be good enough or consistent enough to make a push towards the postseason. Simon Fraser (2-1) is the only team in the league with less than two losses and The Clan were humbled by Western Oregon 30-9 last week.
-Catawba*s 25-22 win over Carson-Newman last weekend reminded me of some of the great battles these two programs had about a decade ago when both were powers in D2. There were three touchdowns scored in the final 4:41 of the game but it wasn*t decided until C-N kicker Curtis Duncan missed a 33-yard field goal in the final seconds. How many times over the years has the kicking game haunted C-N when it really counts?
-Another league that is beating up on itself is the Northeast 10. Defending champ New Haven and Stonehill are both 3-0 in the league but both have a loss in non-conference play. Every other team in the conference is 2-2 overall or worse. With so many teams in Super Region 1 and it being tough to secure playoff spots, the Northeast 10 had better hope that either UNH or Stonehill runs the table or the league may go without a playoff representative this year.
-West Texas A&M*s 69-7 dismantling of Texas A&M-Kingsville means that the Buffalos have to be the favorite in the LSC, if not all of Super Region 4. Dustin Vaughan may be the most talented quarterback in the country, but I*d like to see more of a rushing attack (WTAMU averages just 92 yards per game on the ground) and more consistent defensive play before I*m ready to say that this team could win a national championship.
Top Games this Week
Harding (2-1) at Southern Arkansas (3-1)
TV: CBS College Sports Thursday night 8 PM Eastern
These two teams were expected to be the favorites to compete with Henderson State for the GAC crown. But both suffered surprising losses in their season openers which make this game even more important. Harding averages nearly 400 yards per game on the ground while SAU relies on the arm of Tyler Sykora (312 passing yards per game, 13 touchdown passes). This should be an entertaining game with plenty of points scored.
Harding 35 Southern Arkansas 28
Delta State (3-1) at West Alabama (3-1)
DSU has some talent on both sides of the ball. But the Statesmen have also committed 13 turnovers so far this year and have been shaky in some phases of their special teams. That won*t cut it on the road against a UWA team that does everything pretty well.
West Alabama 35 Delta State 21
California (3-1) at West Chester (4-0)
This is a very interesting match up. Both teams have been outstanding defensively, but I have to go with the Rams in this game mainly due to the fact that the Vulcans have been rather inept offensively so far this year. WCU won*t have a huge day offensively, but should do just enough to win the game.
West Chester 24 California 20
Saginaw Valley (3-1) at Ferris State (3-1)
The scoreboard operator will be busy in this game. Both of these teams can put points on the board in hurry, although they do it in different ways (SVSU through the air, FSU on the ground). I will go with the home team in a tight one.
Ferris State 40 Saginaw Valley 38.
St. Cloud State (4-0) at Minnesota-Duluth (3-1)
This is the game of the year in the NSIC North Division. SCSU handed UMD its only regular season loss last season and will be salivating at the chance to potentially knock UMD out of playoff contention. This should be a great game but I just don*t see the Bulldogs losing two conference games at home in one season. Minnesota Duluth 27 St. Cloud State 20
Mailbag
[Q] In your opinion what are the chances that Valdosta State repeats as national champ?
Blazer Fan
[A] As I mentioned a few weeks ago it will be very tough to get a true read on this team until October 10th when they face West Alabama.
That said; my gut feeling is that VSU is probably at least as good as last season. The defense has played very well and is limiting opponents to just eight points per game this year and although the competition has been less that stellar, running backs Cedric O*Neal and Austin Scott are both averaging over eight yards per carry and quarterback Cayden Cochran is once again doing a fine job of directing the offense. Even if the offensive line isn*t quite as established as it was a year ago, the rest of the parts on this team are outstanding.
The other advantage that VSU has is the region that it plays in. Outside of possibly West Alabama, I don*t see another team in Super Region Two that I am ready to say is a true challenger to reach the semifinals. So if the Blazers can take care of business in the region, they are just two steps away from another national title. Right now I would give VSU as good of a chance as anyone to be holding the trophy in December in Florence.
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