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Scots await playoff pairings, move up national polls Release Date:
Nov. 12, 2008
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
As the Monmouth
College football team awaits Sunday’s announcement of their first
round playoff opponent, the pollsters have rewarded the Scots with a
move up the rankings.
The 10-0 Scots
climbed to No. 15 on the American Football Coaches Association
(AFCA) poll – their highest ranking since reaching No. 16 in 2005 –
and to No. 22 on the D3football.com rankings. Regionally, they’re
ranked third in the West behind Willamette and Occidental. Two UW
schools – Stevens Point and Whitewater – are ranked fourth and fifth
in the region and could leapfrog the Scots with wins this weekend,
diminishing hopes of a first round home game.
All that adds
up to two burning questions: 1) Who will be the Scots’ first round
opponent in the NCAA playoffs next Saturday, and 2) will the Scots
get a home game?
Coach Steve
Bell has taken a wait-and-see attitude.
“You can figure
all the scenarios you want to,” said Bell. “You can try to figure it
out by regional rankings, but I honestly have no idea who we’ll
play. We’re just anxious to play.”
Speculation
runs rampant in the week prior to Selection Sunday. Some message
boards lobby the Scots should get a home game because of their 10-0
record. Others suggest a home game to balance the long trip the
Scots took to St. John’s in ’05.
“Past history
has nothing to do whether you play home or away,” said Bell,
dispelling the argument the Scots travelled in ’05 and therefore
should receive a home bid this season. “The selection committee will
decide that based on what they believe is best for the playoffs.
What everyone needs to remember is that it’s not like a usual
tournament bracket. No. 1 doesn’t necessarily play No. 8 and 2 won’t
play 7.”
By virtue of
their conference title, the Scots are one of only 32 teams that will
receive bids. Opponents and locations are typically based on a
variety of issues including geographic location and, to some degree,
regional rankings. The quality of the facilities also comes into
play in determining the home field. The wildcard may be the at-large
teams.
“It might come
down to what conference gets two reps,” said Bell of the Scots’
opponent and location. “It’s doubtful any conference in the Midwest
will get two berths. My guess is it may go out west.”
While the
waiting may be causing anxiety among the fans, Bell is glad his team
has a weekend off.
“The good news
is we get two weeks off to let everyone heal,” said Bell. “We’ll use
this time to get rest and get healthy. We’re like any other team at
this time of year. We have some guys that are hurt.”
The banged-up
Scots have outscored their opponents by an average of 63-10 over the
last third of the season, but that might be a bit misleading.
Monmouth needed three come-from-behind wins in the first seven
games, including back-to-back wins against perennial power St.
Norbert and league runner-up Ripon in Weeks 6 and 7. Their offensive
surge has them listed as the top scoring offense in Division III for
the second straight week and the defense is ranked fifth.
“We faced some
tough competition this year,” said Bell. “We had some tough games
late in the season unlike ’05 when our toughest game was early in
the season. We had seven games after that before the playoff game. I
feel better this year that the quality of games we’ve played late in
the season has us better prepared for the level of competition we’ll
face. The guys have put a lot of work in to get to this point and
they’re pretty excited to see who we’ll play.”
Comparisons of
the 2005 team and the current edition of the Scots was inevitable.
Both teams reeled off 10-0 seasons, both won conference titles, each
team was quarterbacked by a Tanney – Mitch in ’05, Alex in ’08 – and
this year’s seniors were freshman in ’05.
“I don’t think
you can compare the two teams,” said Bell. “They’re different teams
with different strengths and weaknesses. This year’s seniors weren’t
really that involved in ’05. Most of them didn’t dress for the
playoff game and of the few that did, most were in a backup role.”
While the
previous trip to the playoffs might not be that much of a factor for
the players, the coaching staff is reaping the benefits of that
experience four years ago.
“It’s not the
football part that’s tough to deal with,” said Bell of the selection
process. “It’s the logistical part of it – setting up hotel rooms,
meals, practice facilities and travel. During the regular season all
the accommodations are made well in advance. In the post-season, we
only have a week lead time. Until you’ve actually been through it as
a coaching staff, you just don’t understand how it affects you.”
Fans can get
the Scots’ playoff information first-hand Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. The
selections will be announced on ESPNews, which is available on
DirecTV channel 207 and Dish Network channel 142. The information
will also be posted on the Monmouth College Web site at
www.monm.edu/sportsinfo.
Complete brackets will be available at
www.ncaa.com.
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