2018 Football Non-Game Thread

[usc4valpo]

IndyValpo - quite honestly, I do not like when the big schools schedule ham and eggers. Who wants to see that? People want to see competition, not a warm fuzzy blowout. Alabama facing Mercer late in the season is ridiculas.

[VULB#62]

It's not ridiculous when you sell out your 101,800 capacity stadium (Bryant-Denny) for Mercer (read $$$$$$$$$$$$).  And then treat those attending fans to a massive blowout. Yeah, its a sham, but big time football is about the money. It also was a strategic step in prepping the team for the SEC playoffs. Remember that Mercer only lost to Auburn 24-10 (but, of course, they didn't realize that would happen when they put the schedule together).

[usc4valpo]

As a fan of footballl and for the love of competition, I believe scheduling ham and egged games like that is a joke. Alabama has at least 60 four or higher star athletes, and they have to schedule a bogus game against Mercer? I am also referring to other teams besides Alabama that does this. The game becomes an awful scrimmage with fans getting the shaft.

At least you would never see this from USC or Notre Dame - they have never scheduled a 1-AA opponent.

[VULB#62]

MIT either 

[usc4valpo]

MIT will take on anybody in H-infinity control showdown!!

anyway, is Valpo ready to complete for the Pioneer conference title and face NDSU in the first round?

[VULB#62]

MIT will take on anybody in H-infinity control showdown!!

anyway, is Valpo ready to complete for the Pioneer conference title and face NDSU in the first round?

And Valpo will kick any FBS school's butt in Robotics FB — just ask Notre Dame.

To answer your question..... Is any PFL champion ready to face NDSU?  I sincerely believe the PFL's realistic goal (given our non-scholarship status) is just to win the first round game (as the perennial 32 seed) and then at least be respectable in the next round against a top seed — #2 NDSU in 2017. USD did that this past season by first beating Northern Arizona from the Big Sky 41-10 (BTW, Montana beat NAU by a sounder score than they beat us). Then they lost by only 35 points in Fargo. Quite an accomplishment. If each PFL champion could do this fairly consistently, it would be worth some bragging rights and put us at the same respect level as the Patriot League or NEC which both offer scholarships.

[bbtds]

I can respect playing the body bag game to get the paycheck. But I would rather see similar opponents than play the ham and egged, for which a Valpo football goal is to not depend on that for success. A game against Trinity or College of Faith or Missouri Baptist has no value.

I disagree those games allow everyone to play which is valuable, removing College of Faith From the discussion. Big time schools do it, not sure why we shouldn't.

I also think that coaches at those Div. II & III and NAIA schools get hired by middle size Div. I schools and they remember who gave them a game when they were at the smaller school. This is future schedule seeding at it's finest. Homer Drew was very good at this. Wonder why he no longer is seen at Valpo after giving so much to Valpo? Oh yeah. Even Homer believed that you should get back for what is given.

[vu72]

I can respect playing the body bag game to get the paycheck. But I would rather see similar opponents than play the ham and egged, for which a Valpo football goal is to not depend on that for success. A game against Trinity or College of Faith or Missouri Baptist has no value.

I disagree those games allow everyone to play which is valuable, removing College of Faith From the discussion. Big time schools do it, not sure why we shouldn't.

I also think that coaches at those Div. II & III and NAIA schools get hired by middle size Div. I schools and they remember who gave them a game when they were at the smaller school. This is future schedule seeding at it's finest. Homer Drew was very good at this. Wonder why he no longer is seen at Valpo after giving so much to Valpo? Oh yeah. Even Homer believed that you should get back for what is given.

Totally lost me on this comment. 

[usc4valpo]

me too. Not sure where it is going. I guess for Valpo I can accept a true ham and egger, but certainly not major college programs.

[VUOR63]

Out of curiosity, could a PFL team schedule a PFL team as a non-conference game since I don't think any of the teams play all of of the teams in the league?

Also, is there any relationship between VU and Austin Peay?  Would an old PFL foe look at rekindling a rivalry?

[VULB#62]

That's an intriguing part 1 question OR63.  I suppose they could as long as it was clear that that particular game was not to count in the standings.  I'm wondering why you would do that, however.  Mostly, I think that the OOC games keep things fresh.  Admittedly it might be a more easily done deal.  For Valpo the only games of this nature that make sense to me would be bus trip games -- Butler, Morehead, Dayton, Drake -- because of cost.

Austin Peay is a scholarship OVC team.  They did schedule Morehead this past season and killed them 69-13.  They also had 3 FBS schools (Miami (O), Cincinnati, and UCF) on their schedule. Wound up 8-4 with their only FCS loss to Jacksonville State.  They beat EKU 31-24 along the way.  Don't know if their budget would provide for a "buy" game involving Valpo.

[IndyValpo]

Perhaps one of our OOC games for 2018?

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/meac/article_9c33ff0a-d703-568e-83ac-6fa037b8f417.html

[JD24]

San Diego's schedule is out and Valpo is not on it.

[VULB#62]

San Diego's schedule is out and Valpo is not on it.

YAY!  That means Davidson right?  We have some experience with a triple option (they have a  new coach who is bringing it in) — hope we get them early in the season

[bbtds]

Perhaps one of our OOC games for 2018?

https://pilotonline.com/sports/college/meac/article_9c33ff0a-d703-568e-83ac-6fa037b8f417.html

Of course the MEAC is not suing the Big South for "stealing" one of their members. That would be silly, right?

[JD24]

San Diego's schedule is out and Valpo is not on it.

YAY!  That means Davidson right?  We have some experience with a triple option (they have a  new coach who is bringing it in) — hope we get them early in the season

I'll guess Davidson is the Homecoming opponent. Both teams appear to have no scheduled games that weekend, it is within the conference schedule period and every other PFL team already has a known opponent for the weekend of 9-29

[VULB#62]

San Diego's schedule is out and Valpo is not on it.

YAY!  That means Davidson right?  We have some experience with a triple option (they have a  new coach who is bringing it in) — hope we get them early in the season

I'll guess Davidson is the Homecoming opponent. Both teams appear to have no scheduled games that weekend, it is within the conference schedule period and every other PFL team already has a known opponent for the weekend of 9-29

That's the 5th week of the season -- it's not the earliest, but better than near the end when their new offense will be much improved. If this stands, it will also be good to have a very competitive game for Homecoming.

All the PFL teams have their PFL schedules already.  Some have released their entire 2018 schedule.  Some have not.  It would be good if the PFL released the League Master Schedule to the public at the time it is approved.  Then let the schools release their completed schedules with OOC games when they finalize them.

[talksalot]

Just reiterating #62's post... taking out my erroneous mention of Campbell... and showing where else I looked...Too bad we don't have St. Joe's to kick around anymore...and I didn't bother to look up Grand Valley State.... adding a look at the OOC's for the opponents...

September 1:

September 8:

Valpo @Youngstown State 9/15 - http://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/schedule
'Guins are hosting Butler and Valpo; and play at West Virginia on 9/8

September 22: 

September 29 (Homecoming): 

Valpo @ Dayton on 10/6 - http://daytonflyers.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Flyers OOC:  Robert Morris (Home), @ Southeast Missouri, @ Duquesne

Butler @ Valpo on 10/13 - http://butlersports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
THEIR OOC:  @ Youngstown; @ Taylor (Upland) ; Hosting Princeton

October 20:

October 27:

Valpo @ Marist on 11/3   - http://www.goredfoxes.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Marist  OOC:   Georgetown (Home) @ Bryant (RI) and @ Columbia (on 10/6, after playing two PFL games on 9/22 and 9/29)

Jacksonville @ Valpo on 11/10 - http://www.judolphins.com/sports/fball/2018-19/schedule
Dolphins OOC:  St. Augustines (Home), @ Mercer, Walsh (Home)

Valpo @ Stetson on 11/17 - http://www.gohatters.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Hatters OOC:   Point Univ (Home); Waldorf (IA) Home; @ Presbyterian

San Diego Released... we're not on it
Torero's OOC:  Western New Mexico (Home); @ UC Davis; @ Harvard



Davidson:  Not Released
Drake:  Not Released 
Morehead State:  Not Released
Campbell:  Not Released
Presbyterian:  We're not on it
Duquesne:  Not Released
Sacred Heart:  Not Released
Dartmouth:  Not Released
St. Francis (IL):  Not Released
Wisconsin Lutheran:  We're not on it
Alabama:   We're not on it
Vanderbilt:  We're not on it

[VULB#62]

And we were THIS close to playing Alabama too!

Yeah, I got almost the same open dates.  My guess is that, if what JD24 says is correct, 9/29 Davison and either 9/22 or 9/27   10/27 for Drake.  I have Morehead in the 10/27 slot for some reason.

[talksalot]

and, #62, your long-time-ago posting says we are Duquesne in September... and NEXT year we'll pick up the pay-to-get-here game at Eastern Kentucky...before we get another crack at the Ivy League

[JD24]

I thought Valpo would choose from the conference St. Francis (IL) and Taylor are in. None of the teams has released a schedule although Butler already has Taylor. It's not a big conference so there's room for OOC games. They are also fairly local.

[VULB#62]

BTW, I meant to list Drake at either 9/22 or 10/27.

We ID St. Francis IL.  How about St. Francis IN?

[valpo64]

We do not want to play St. Francis of IN  (located in Ft.Wayne).   They have been National Champs the last 2 years in their Division.

[VULB#62]

So?     ...........  Many here have said kick it up a notch. Are they as good as YSU?  Can they compete in the NEC?  WTF, go for it.

[talksalot]

I checked St. Francis IN... we're not on the Cougar's schedule, either.

but Morehead State has released...

September 1:

September 8:

Valpo @Youngstown State 9/15 - http://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/2018-19/schedule
'Guins are hosting Butler and Valpo; and play at West Virginia on 9/8

September 22: 

September 29 (Homecoming): 

Valpo @ Dayton on 10/6 - http://daytonflyers.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Flyers OOC:  Robert Morris (Home), @ Southeast Missouri, @ Duquesne

Butler @ Valpo on 10/13 - http://butlersports.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
THEIR OOC:  @ Youngstown; @ Taylor (Upland) ; Hosting Princeton

October 20: Valpo @ Morehead State - https://www.msueagles.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=160
Eagles OOC:  @ Eastern Kentucky; Mount St. Joseph (Home); Austin Peay (Home)

October 27:

Valpo @ Marist on 11/3   - http://www.goredfoxes.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Marist  OOC:   Georgetown (Home) @ Bryant (RI) and @ Columbia (on 10/6, after playing two PFL games on 9/22 and 9/29)

Jacksonville @ Valpo on 11/10 - http://www.judolphins.com/sports/fball/2018-19/schedule
Dolphins OOC:  St. Augustines (Home), @ Mercer, Walsh (Home)

Valpo @ Stetson on 11/17 - http://www.gohatters.com/schedule.aspx?path=football
Hatters OOC:   Point Univ (Home); Waldorf (IA) Home; @ Presbyterian

San Diego Released... we're not on it
Torero's OOC:  Western New Mexico (Home); @ UC Davis; @ Harvard

Davidson:  Not Released
Drake:  Not Released 
Campbell:  Not Released
Presbyterian:  We're not on it
Duquesne:  Not Released
Sacred Heart:  Not Released
Dartmouth:  Not Released
St. Francis (IL):  Not Released
Wisconsin Lutheran:  We're not on it
Alabama:   We're not on it
Vanderbilt:  We're not on it