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Hornets on their way
Published Thursday, October 16, 2008
After a nail-biting 29-24 win over NCAA Division II opponent Miles College last week, Concordia returns to NAIA competition against Edward Waters — a South Eastern Athletic Conference rival.
A win will give the Hornets (5-3) their second overall SEAC title. They won it in 2005 and finished in a three-way tie in 2007.
As SEAC members, the Hornets and Warriors (0-6) are very familiar with each other. The Warriors took each of the first two meetings by 42 points, but the Hornets earned their first win in the series 38-27 last year.
“They remind me a lot of us,” said Concordia coach Shepherd Skanes. “They’re playing great football.”
The Warriors’ winless record is a bit misleading. They are 0-6, but Concordia will only be their second NAIA-caliber opponent this season.
The Warriors fell to two Football Championship Series teams (Citadel and Jacksonville University), two NCAA Division II teams (St. Paul’s College and Pembroke) and one NCAA Division III team (Wisconsin-Steven’s Point).
“When you play big teams and they pay you to come to them, the record is not indicative,” said Skanes. “I think we match up well with them.”
Though Saturday’s contest will determine the SEAC champion, the game could have bigger implications down the line.
“We’re 5-3 with one game (West Alabama) we just let get away,” said Skanes. “You can say we’re right where we should be, but we can get better. We have three tough games left, and its not going to be a cakewalk.”
Concordia only has two NAIA opponents — Webber and Texas College — left to play sandwiched around a matchup with Football Championship Series opponent Savannah State.
For a team still awaiting NAIA acceptance, every game counts if the Hornets are to receive an at-large bid for postseason play.
“We’re just going to do what we do and let the chips fall where they may,” said Skanes.
Another factor that may play into Saturday’s matchup is the presence of scouts on the Concordia campus.
Skanes and his staff spent a large part of Thursday away from the football offices as scouts for the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs commandeered Concordia’s gym to watch film.
Such a presence can tend to distract players — particularly those under the microscope.
“It means we’re playing quality football and have great talent here in Selma,” said Skanes. “But we’re not going to be distracted.”
The Hornets and Warriors kick off at 1 p.m. on Friday in Babson Park, Fla.
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Comments
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 17, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Concordia has "great" talent, it's because they have no academic requirements, otherwise they would not be at Concordia.
Extremely low High School GPA? No Problem! Miniscule ACT? No problem! Non-existence literacy skills? No problem! Concerned about a background check? No problem! If you can run a 4.5 forty, but barely can read or write, come on and be a Hornet! Concordia is the place for you!
Posted by Tonewah (anonymous) on October 20, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, red... Do West Alabama (Livingston) or Troy have very high academic standards? NO. Heck, even Bama and Auburn players wouldn't be considered 'academics' for the most part. They only require athletes to meet minimum requirements for the NCAA. MOST football programs only do the minimum to get into a division. Let's be honest, unless you're a Vandy or Duke, you're not shooting for a 32+ ACT score. I've never seen any evidence that Concordia's players are academically any less than the average football player, anyway.
I'm glad Selma has a college football program, even if they are only a provisional team for the time being.
Quit hatin'... lol.
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 20, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At those schools you mentioned, they DO HAVE STANDARDS, regardless of intensity.Concordia has NO standards, minimum or otherwise for anybody, athlete or non-athlete.. Concordia is one of those so-called institutions of higher learning that cheapens a college diploma. I never said anything about an athlete anywhere being highly regarded academically. You are completley dilusional if you think their athletes are there because they chose Concordia over Troy, UWA, Jax State, Alabama State, or anybody else. They are there more than likely because they could not meet academic standards anywhere else. You really think Concordia is going to police themselves? I am not "hatin' ", as you put it, but just being factual and honest. Anybody that doesn't believe what I have said is either ignorant or "just can't handle the truth'. Which are you?
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on October 20, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have you checked the Alabama State University status in the last year. They had more NCAA violations than any other school in history. Now that is a disgrace.
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 20, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A disgrace it is! If that had been any other school in this state, it would have been given the death penalty. I'm not sure the cause, either stupidity or arrogance. ASU has gotten away with administrative and fiscal incompetence for many years.
Posted by Tonewah (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Redbird, you obviously have a bias against Concordia. Concordia DOES have standards. They are an accredited 4 year baccalaureate school, accredited by the same Commission on Colleges that accredited Auburn and Alabama. You are asking people to draw conclusions from your narrow, erroneous and hackneyed observations. You aren't being factual and honest.
I'm afraid you are the one that can't handle the truth, redbird. If you have so much extra time on your hands that you have to make false accusations against Concordia, perhaps you should go to Concordia, get an education, and get a decent job, ya hippie.
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Erroneous, hackneyed"? I'm impressed! Obviously you did not attend Concordia. Concordia students wouldn't know the definitions of those words. "Standards?" What standards? Name some! To enroll, what's the minimum ACT or SAT score? What about a minimum High School GPA? Inquiring minds want to know! Walking and chewing gum at the same time, probably covers the entrance requirements. You are comparing Concordia to Alabama and Auburn? . Concordia doesn't compare to Alabama,Auburn or for that matter, ANY four year college or university in this state academically or otherwise.The only thing remotely connecting them is that they ARE ALL IN THE SAME STATE. Concordia-Selma doesn't comes close to comparing to the other Concordias in the Midwest, either. "False accusations"? I seriously doubt it. As far as SACS accreditation is concerned, many schools are accredited "on paper". That hardly means anything. The real litmus test of quality is simple. Ask employers, administrators, or anybody in leadership with a modicum of sense and sensibility, honesty and objectivity OUTSIDE of Selma, Alabama, about the reputation of Concordia. Ask them how many Concordia graduates do they have? How do they compare with those of AUM, TSU, UWA, USA, Bama, Auburn, etc.. or the denominational schools like Faulkner, Huntington, B'Southern, Mobile College and Spring Hill? See what you get. If they are candid, I already know the answer.
"Go to Concordia, and get a decent job..? " That comment has to be the "poster child' of oxymorons if there ever was one!
Posted by Tonewah (anonymous) on October 22, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bird, you're just spouting gossip, probably based a little on fact but a lot on misrepresentation. If this gossip keeps people from getting jobs, which I strongly doubt, it's the employer's loss, and in the Concordia Grads best interest not to work for someone who bases opinion on gossip. I won't argue the fact that there have been some administrative problems and infighting at Concordia. That happens everywhere, though. Maybe moreso at Concordia; I don't know.
If you honestly want to find out the truth about Concordia, which I also strongly doubt, give 'em a call and ask. They might not be able to get back to you immediately, as a lot of their time is taken up with after-hours programs, such as STARRS, to help educate young people that wouldn't normally have the opportunity. There is more personal attention given to students at Concordia by their instructors than you'll see at most colleges, according to what I've seen and heard.
As to the quality of education from other schools, I've met complete morons with 'papers' from Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi St, Troy, et al. I call them 'papers' because, even though they have the person's name, and the words 'Bachelor' or 'Master' on them, they became worthless paper the moment I heard the person speak.
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 23, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Concordia's web site is any indication of communication, you are probably right . I wouldn't be able to find anybody there! Go ahead, continue believing that Concordia is even of average quality for Alabama colleges and universities. Keep your head buried in the sand. You call it gossip. I call it intelligent discussion with learned people on the state of higher education in Alabama. I KNOW, and many others know what the general impression is of Concordia around Alabama. Do you? Obviously you don't. But that's o.k. A lot of people still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy and live a perfectly happy life!
Posted by Tonewah (anonymous) on October 24, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know a lot of people who still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy? Sounds like you need to get out more often. Talking to 5 year olds, your stuffed animals and to yourself doesn't count as 'intelligent discussion'.
Posted by redbird (anonymous) on October 26, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now there is an intelligent response! It's more in line with what one would expect from a Concordia person. Or maybe "Persona Non Grata" would be more accurate.
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