Mid-Season Thoughts

[MilSF]

Hey, it’s week 4, so not exactly “early” anymore.

OBU’s defense looks to be coming into its stride on time and target. A couple of deep balls over the top can be worked on, but those happen at every level to just about everyone. Running game still looks to be in idle for the most part Givens doesn’t look the same as the past. He will still get lots of YAC, but four games in and the explosive runs aren’t here. Let’s be honest here. “Maybe this will be a big gain” was a thought more often when our WR Flannigan had the handoff rather than Givens. If we have a hope at all against the likes of HU, our powerhouse will need to show the potential we all think he has.

It’s always nice to see the school across the street take an L, but that was shocking. Barring a real sleeper of a game, HU looks to already be on cruise control well into the playoffs, much less the rest of the conference schedule.

Any other real surprises after the first part of the season? OK schools are still struggling against AR. The haves are still pounding the have-nots, and we still have no real talk about out-of-conference play. Maybe if HU wins the Championship again this year the conversation will get lively around that idea.

[OldBison]

Yep. It’s setting up to look like a real show down in Arkadelphia in three weeks between the Bisons and Purple Tigers. I’ve been watching Ouachita the last few weeks. I think they have a defense as experienced and a little better than Henderson’s. I expect them to be the most challenging team the Bisons will face in the regular season. I think the game in Arkadelphia will have a real playoff feel to it. That said, based on what I’ve seen from the Ouachita offense so far, I don’t see them being able to move the ball very much against an incredibly talented Harding defense.

[Mulerider]

Yep. It’s setting up to look like a real show down in Arkadelphia in three weeks between the Bisons and Purple Tigers. I’ve been watching Ouachita the last few weeks. I think they have a defense as experienced and a little better than Henderson’s. I expect them to be the most challenging team the Bisons will face in the regular season. I think the game in Arkadelphia will have a real playoff feel to it. That said, based on what I’ve seen from the Ouachita offense so far, I don’t see them being able to move the ball very much against an incredibly talented Harding defense.

Showdown? OBU will be lucky to keep it within two touchdowns based on Harding's performance so far. It is at OBU which will help, but how much? I would be blown away if it's closer than two touchdowns by the time the 4th Q rolls around. They are just so far above everyone else. I think Harding might even beat UCA.

[Bisonfan from FLA]

Due to the success Henderson had last year in taking a halftime lead in the game with Harding and "only losing" by 11 points, I felt the HSU would more of a struggle in the game this year; I was a bit "concerned" about how the game might play out, though I did feel that in the end Harding would win. After attending the national championship game in December I thought Harding would win by a few touchdowns but a 66-0 result is well.... sorry to our HSU friends but that was a devastating takedown.

OBU may have the man power to provide some scoring to avoid a shutout but it does appear that Harding is a on a tear and is just prepping for the playoffs. If OBU, HSU and SAU ravage each other and create a two or three team tie for second, would they make the regional playoffs? The MIAA has quite a few teams in the their upper reaches of the standings and may have the ability to place three teams in the playoffs to the GAC's one team.

Oklahoma teams are a surprise yet again and should have a couple of 1 or 2 win teams with 2-3 sitting in the 3-4 win category.

Does Arkansas Tech stay in the hunt for a winning season of 7 or 8 wins?

What an interesting next few weeks for the GAC.

[Divisiontwo]

The DII football Power 10: Week 4

No. 1 Harding | Previous: 1
Okay, it may be time to ask if this version of the Harding Bisons is better than last year's. And let's remember, last year's team went 15-0, won the national championship and ran for more yards than any program in all college football history.

And yes, this year's team may be better.

This week, the Bisons trounced nationally-ranked Henderson State, one of two true programs they had to worry about for the GAC title. Braden Jay and Blake Delacruz combined for seven rushing touchdowns. The Bisons ran for 546 yards in winning 66-0 and have now opened the season outscoring its opponents 247-10. They have scored 34 touchdowns this season and have only allowed 29 first downs. We all know that the flexbone offense is run heavy, but when the Bisons do decide to pass it is more than efficient: Their opponents had thrown 72 more passes... for a grand total of nine more yards (358 for opponents versus 349 for Harding). This offense is clicking, this defense is clicking, Paul Simmons is one of DII's best head coaches and the Bisons look unstoppable right now.

[OldBison]

Showdown? OBU will be lucky to keep it within two touchdowns based on Harding's performance so far. It is at OBU which will help, but how much? I would be blown away if it's closer than two touchdowns by the time the 4th Q rolls around. They are just so far above everyone else. I think Harding might even beat UCA.

I know it’s a little too soon to be talking about this. My point was that Ouachita is going to be really up for the Harding game. It’s a home game. They’’ll have all the alumni and Baptist faithful there. They’re going to have all the hype they can muster. It’s not going to matter. Bisons are coming in prepared and are going to win but it’s going to feel like a playoff game.

[BisonBones]

I think Harding might even beat UCA.

Hmm, assuming the Bisons get the first round bye in the playoffs, maybe we could make that happen.

[LeftSider]

Hmm, assuming the Bisons get the first round bye in the playoffs, maybe we could make that happen.

They would never play the flexbone. HU could have beat UCA for the past 5 years haha.

[OldBison]

Region 3 is certainly going to be interesting this year with all the shake up in the MIAA. On their show this week Dystra has UCO finishing first in the MIAA with Pitt State as low as third and UCM finishing 4th. Of course that’s based on the way they’re playing now. If the Bisons end up getting the first round bye this year in POs, they could face UCO or NWMS in the second round.

[Divisiontwo]

What this bisons team is currently doing to opponents is, dare I say, historic. For reference. They’ve currently thrown for 100 more total yards than the opposition thru 5 games. One game against what most likely thought was best qb in the GAC.

[LeftSider]

What this bisons team is currently doing to opponents is, dare I say, historic. For reference. They’ve currently thrown for 100 more total yards than the opposition thru 5 games. One game against what most likely thought was best qb in the GAC.

Hahahahha coming for those air raid numbers now.

[OldBison]

What is going on with UAM? I know it was homecoming in Ada but did anyone see the Bolwevils loosing 42-17 to the Orange Tigers?

[UniBison]

What this bisons team is currently doing to opponents is, dare I say, historic. For reference. They’ve currently thrown for 100 more total yards than the opposition thru 5 games. One game against what most likely thought was best qb in the GAC.

When playing the Flexbone many teams love to play strange schemes. One week you’d see one front the next week something else. Some people like to stim and blitz and others just like to sit there and play you straight up. The most interesting scheme that seems to be somewhat unanimous was POP coverage. Or as Coach Wheaton called it Piss On Pass. Really hard for a team to prepare for the bone crushing run game all week just to get embarrassed by letting a guy get 20 yards of space on them in the secondary. At the same time what do you tell your safeties?? They have to play run support otherwise you have much bigger problems. I’m just so happy we are capitalizing on those opportunities and really developing a “mixed” approach (I know that is laughable but it is dang sure mixed for us). Historic is the perfect word for what we are seeing.

If you are a GAC defensive coordinator I know times are tough. Go ahead and get a head start for the offseason. Here’s my top recommendation:

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