I know that these are later than everyone expected, but I
have other things to do and frankly it was nice to let these power rankings
marinate for a little bit before throwing them out there. I can’t stress enough
that the season was a good season for the UMAC. However, the quality of competition
was down starkly from the past couple of years. Nobody had a quality win
outside of the conference or even played a close game with a good team from
another conference. The loss of marquee players such as QB Alex Thiry, WR Carl
Givens, LB Sean Graskey, as well as many others really hurt the conference as
far as the quality of play. That won’t really matter in the long run because the
nation already perceives, correctly I might add, that the UMAC is the worst
conference in all of college football. Why do I mention all of this? I think this
simply means that everyone has to get better and improve to make the UMAC a respectable
conference. Facilities, recruiting, coaching, and athletes have to improve. It’s
hard to do with limited budgets, but if the UMAC wants to make some noise on
the national level in football in the future there is going to have to be commitment
by the entire school to put in the resources and hard work. On a brighter note,
the season was good and a lot of fun because the mediocrity of the conference resulted
in a lot of close games and exciting finishes. Congratulations to all of the
teams and players that contributed to another great year in UMAC football.
Without further ado, here are the season’s final power rankings.
1. Greenville. Everyone, including myself,
considered Greenville to be out of the race after that 45-3 loss to St.
Scholastica. After two consecutive victories over Northwestern, I really
believe if St. Scholastica and Greenville played again it would be a very
different game that the Panthers would win. Co-conference champions and Victory
Bowl champions is quite the accomplishment for this team that was predicted to
finish as the top team. I know people will say that they all finished in a tie
in the conference, but let’s be honest; this team was the best team in the
conference by the end of the year. They really shored it up on defense and for
the most part stifled a powerful Northwestern offense twice. It only gets
better for Greenville with QB Brendan Chambers and RB Manny Gamble coming back
for their senior season. Next year, they should be primed to finish as outright
champions and get their first trip to the NCAA playoffs, which by the way, I
believe they deserved this year.
2.
St. Scholastica might not have played like the
number two team in the conference at times though the latter part of the
season, but besides the hiccup against Northwestern ended up winning the rest
of their conference games and representing the UMAC in the D3 playoffs. I want to clarify my statement about them not playing like the number two team in the conference. Going to OT against Presentation? Beating Morris by 7? Not the signs of a dominant team. They did have a top ten defense in the nation for a while, but in the UMAC. Come on people...wake up to reality. I promise you that they wouldn't have been in the top 30 if they had played in a good conference. Do you want more proof? A true top ten defense would not have given up 55 points to anyone. But this was still a good season for the Saints. Heck,
they even were up 10-0 over UW-Oshkosh before getting “sloshed” 55-10. This
team weathered the loss of a lot of pivotal seniors and had a good season even
though they were nowhere close to as good as last year. They could return to
dominance if they can get more out of the QB position by either more
development from Tyler Harper or (and this is what I would want to happen if I
were the head coach) hopefully another guy can step up and then you can move
Harper to WR or RB. Overall, this year’s team can’t complain too much. After
all, this team was one lucky/spectacular play away from winning the conference
outright.......
*The Saints finished 28th in total defense and 25th in scoring defense...just in case anyone got confused*
*The Saints finished 28th in total defense and 25th in scoring defense...just in case anyone got confused*
3. Northwestern. Yeah I know, can you believe that
you lost twice to Greenville? What is that, 5 or 6 in a row? Oh and about the
St. Scholastica win…I don’t know that you could beat them again. It really was
a spectacular/lucky play that QB Josh Balzer somehow connected with RB Josh
Sinnen who decided to turn on the inner Rambo and do everything except score on
the play. The question I faced when doing these power rankings is realistically
how good were you this year? The conference was a dump this year compared to
other years and that’s saying something. The competition really took a tumble
this year, and I’m not sure this year’s Eagle’s team was much better than last
years. Obviously an 8-3 record is better than a 6-4 record, but still you have
to wonder if this year’s team could have done much better facing last year’s
competition. Greenville and St. Scholastica, in my humble opinion, were much
better last year as was Westminster. What am I getting at here? Well, I guess
what I am saying is that we at the UMAC Central really shouldn’t have been too
surprised that Northwestern lost twice to Greenville. What’s next for
Northwestern? I have to say that it’s not looking very promising mainly because
they have to replace QB Josh Balzer as well as WR Brian Lecheler and DE Josh
Swore. The two losses against Greenville might be the start of some tough
seasons upcoming for the Eagles.
4.
Minnesota Morris had a pretty decent season all
things considering. Despite the 2-QB system, the Cougars managed a 6-4 season
and played especially well down the stretch even pushing St. Scholastica to the
limit in their season finale. This team is losing both of its starting QB’s which
leaves a lot up in the air for this team. WR Brendon Foss is returning but it
might not matter if he doesn’t have anyone to give him the football. By the
way, Foss could have had an amazing statistical season if he had played every
game. On defense, this team should be better with returning LB’s Cody Hickman
and Zeke Miller. Overall, I see this team struggling next year probably because
they try a 3-QB system.
5.
Martin Luther really improved as the season
progressed. QB Luke Rothe and RB/WR Matt Olson should provide the offensive
firepower next season and that defense should improve which is scary. I stand
by my way too early prediction that Martin Luther will finish as the 3rd
best team in the conference next season, and since I won the pick-em challenge this
year my predictions carry a lot of weight—mostly dead weight. For example, I
was high on Eureka to start the season, so what the heck do I know. Still, I
like the makeup of this team going into 2013. Oh and by the way, there are
these things called wristbands that can be used instead of the ever faithful “index
card in the pants” method of play calling. Just a friendly heads up.
6.
Eureka. This could be titled the QB Sam Durley
rant. I think he is a solid QB and is probably a nice guy, but for all of the
all-star game invitations and scouts he has had as a result of the record
setting day, he has tossed so many more interceptions and lost four straight
games to end the season. Obviously, some of Durley’s problems are the result of
an atrocious offensive line but still I can’t let Durley off the hook. Durley
is deserving of his 2nd team all-conference award and nothing more.
He couldn’t will his team to victories over good competition and threw very
untimely interceptions. In conference play, he was a very average QB throwing
13 td’s to 10 interceptions. While throwing 700+ yards is impressive, Knox
finished 237th both in
passing defense and in total defense. Out of 239 teams. It’s about as
impressive as the guy from Grinnel shooting 100 times in basketball and getting
138 points a while back. It’s impressive, but you shot 100 times and let’s just
say he probably wasn’t being guarded by the D3’s equivalent of Scottie Pippen
or Ron Artest. Ok enough ranting about bad teams setting records. Good luck to
you Mr. Durley, and I hope that someday I will be famous as this power ranking will
be aired on 60 minutes as the reason that you have such a chip on your shoulder
and also the primary reason that your career took off in the NFL.
7.
Westminster was the season’s greatest
disappointment. I had no idea that WR Carl Givens meant so much to this team.
Actually, they started to fall apart last year towards the season’s end and
haven’t really recovered. Here’s a stat for ya. Westminster averaged 24.3
rushing yards a game. Awesome job. Ineptitude at its finest. Shout out to DL
Rodney Lyles for dominating the trenches, but that is the only bright spot I
see and that bright spot is graduating.
8.
Crown. Let me begin by saying that I really did
enjoy the way that this team battled week in and week out. And then I noticed
the jerseys…very nice. But then I figured out that they only have one set of
jerseys. Listen, I understand you can’t afford to be like Oregon and play with
a different set every Saturday but seriously? You don’t even have the old
jerseys? What did you do with them? Sell those so you could buy the new ones?
Anyway, 35 of the 53 guys on the team are freshmen or sophomores this year and
it showed. This is a very young team that returns QB Wes Safford and RB Amos
Schmidt and on defense DB Cheepheng Her. By the way, Mr. Her (that’s ironic) is
listed at 5-9. If that’s true, then I am 8 feet tall and I’m going to be
getting a huge bonus from UMAC Central. Things could be looking up for myself as well
as the Storm.
9.
MacMurray. There can only be one Highlander…and
there can only be one last place team in my power rankings. Coincidentally, the
Highlanders will be keeping last place pretty snug for the winter. Really, I
think MacMurray probably was missing last place just a little bit. On a serious
note, QB Cody Hussey played pretty well down the stretch of the season. If
MacMurray doesn’t turn the ball over as much, they could have really put
together a string of wins. The program itself needs to be overhauled with a
different pattern of thinking that promotes a winning attitude. It’s tough to
turn it around when all these players have known is losing. It’s really easy to
get into a tough game and get the feeling of “here it goes again” and let a
game slip away. MacMurray has let itself get mired into a pattern of losing
behaviors and they just need to snap out of it. Also, they need to get all four
legs of the visiting bleachers on solid ground, put real grass on the field,
put a net behind the field goal post near the road so kids don’t die trying to
catch footballs that are kicked, and finally extend the field so that people
don’t fall out of the endzone. If they can do all that and get someone sober to
paint the field lines, then at least the field will be safer for both players
and fans alike and MacMurray will be headed in the right direction.
Finally, here is my way too early predictions for how the
teams in the UMAC will finish next year:
1. Greenville- You thought they were explosive on
offense this year? Just wait…
2.
St. Scholastica- QB situation needs to be resolved,
but they just reload.
3.
Martin Luther- Young studs on offense make them
huge players in the conference.
4.
Westminster- QB Plassmeyer will make huge
strides this offseason.
5. Northwestern- Losing the QB. Enough said
6. M innesota Morris- All depends on how many kids are playing QB next season. 2? 3?
7.
Crown- Young guns make it interesting, but I
think they are still two years away.
8.
Eureka- The fighting Durley’s are replacing Mr.
Durley.
9. MacMurray- Field improvements not enough.
