First of, let’s get this out of the way right away: Though they are DIII, their home stadium blows Brown Field out the door. But that’s about it. Now to the game.
Adrian is a reputable, established, middle of the pack MIAA DIII program. This is their season opener on the road. Last year they went 6-4 and were 4-3 in their conference. They are picked for third in 2025 conference play. Waddle is familiar with them and their level of competitiveness. This team will be well prepared, more talented, experienced and better disciplined than VUL. It is the next baby step in preparing for the bigger show ahead.
I don’t expect a blowout win, but a comfortable winning margin (2 TDs?) should be expected. What I am looking for is coming out of the gate like the team we saw in the 3rd quarter v. VUL.
As I wrote the first post I thought back to the Carlson era. Back then we only hoped to beat a DIII. Three coaches later, it’s nice to be confident enough to expect a win. Thanks Dave. Thanks Landon. Now it’s up to Andy to take us to the next level — from PFL competitor to PFL contender.
Agreed with your comments 62. Thanks for the memories of the clown sharing Joel Osteen quotes on his blog. Valpo football has very very slowly progressed since those days and that final 72-12 loss to Butler. I win over Adrian is no gimme but is expected.
Adrian No. 737 Massey. I agree with the more discipline but I think for the most part these will be worse athletes than VUL. VUL had bounce backs from Western Carolina, Presbyterian, Hampton and the 6A POY in Houston at QB. They play primarily FCS comp and smoked their same level comp about 90-6 last year.
Adrian’s RB is former VU redshirt Carson Shrader. They will not see a Mansaray/McNeeley combo all year long. The portal has completely changed the talent level in the PFL as a whole. Valpo should handle these guys pretty easily.
Adrian’s 6 wins were against teams a combined 15-46 in D3 mid level competition
Valpo 35 - Adrian 7
This number just popped into my head:
VU 42
Adrian 6
I just checked the Adrian College website. The charge $15 for Reserved seating and $12 for general admission. Valpo is at $14 for all seating except the premium tent. We are D1 , they are…whatever. That is embarrassing or at least indicative of our value to the community.
I just checked the Adrian College website. The charge $15 for Reserved seating and $12 for general admission. Valpo is at $14 for all seating except the premium tent. We are D1 , they are…whatever. That is embarrassing or at least indicative of our value to the community.
I dont understand this sentiment. Shouldnt we be happy that the tickets to games are cheap? Tons of FCS schools sell cheap tickets to games
I dont understand this sentiment.
Seems pretty obvious to me. Why would a school like Adrian command a ticket price higher than Valpo. It says a lot about the desirability of the product or at least the value perceived by the public. Not good.
Don’t know if it is relevant to this discussion, but the Adrian FB stadium is so much better and more inviting than Brown Field — 2500 chairbacks, suites, nicer concession stations and a first class press box. That, to me, would justify higher prices than 18” of aluminum.
Don’t know if it is relevant to this discussion, but the Adrian FB stadium is so much better and more inviting than Brown Field — 2500 chairbacks, suites, nicer concession stations and a first class press box. That, to me, would justify higher prices than 18” of aluminum.
my point exactly. Valpo is still presenting a package worthy of 1970. Thus, though we desperately need ticket revenue, we can’t provide an environment better than Adrian.
Apparently the fine admin, students, and alumni of the Butler and Dayton football programs should also be embarrassed.
Apparently the fine admin, students, and alumni of the Butler and Dayton football programs should also be embarrassed.
Drake should also be similarly embarrassed for charging 17 for single game tickets. That's under 20 dollars!
d3 programs have more money because it’s a flagship revenue generator for many D3 programs. Their players also probably have fonder memories due to competing at a more realistic competitive level level to the conference / national championships.
Between MVC revenue sharing, multiple hundred thousand “buy games” and 110 tuitions at some level. It’s a different type of profit center for the University.
They have added a track, alumni tent, and now beer to Brown field. A new (now 10 year old locker room), and new (see above) weight room. Cecchini was laser focused on funding to upgrade facilities within the program. I think Fox came in at a horrible time with Covid, state of private universities, and the economy to make many changes. He did get two sets of new uniforms and helmet padding.
Waddle has seemed to partner up with popcorn fest, and has things like 219 day and kids entertainment at the venue. Baby steps, it’s night and day from 2013 in a lot of ways. Obviously grand stands would be nice but grand stands with no product leads to a lot of empty seats (see Ball State, Indiana State, and IU pre cignetti).
Wabash, DePauw, and looking like Uindy (for different reasons) have seemed to crack the formula. Only show in town, build up a rivalry (Bell game was on ESPN), have success turn into satisfied alumni. Then add bells and whistles but don’t overbuild an empty stadium.
I am on board with all of what Valparaiso is trying to accomplish football wise within reason. Obviously scholarships and 15k sell outs in grand stands aren’t on the way. But easy home wins with people in attendance will help.
i also bet their entire administration would drop ticket prices by $1 for Michael Mansaray tomorrow
Valpo high school seems to be able to get damn near sell out crowds each Friday night with their 18'' of aluminum. In my opinion that's the thing that is more embarrassing. The fact that the local high school is able to put up a better show than the D1 university. I also wouldn't say ticket prices are all that indicative of anything. Multiple MVFC and even FBS schools sell tickets for the same, if not cheaper, prices than general admission to Brown Field. That doesn't mean they should be embarrassed because their prices are lower
I agree with fb16 here though. D3 schools usually get a lot more support because a large number of them are not in or near large metro areas to steal fans. I would also like to add that there is also a major stigma surrounding having multiple D1 affiliations. One recent example is the ND Football fans and the IU basketball fans being made fun of during the CFP game last season. Could this be a factor as to why VU doesn't get a lot of support, probably not, but the stigma exists nonetheless. I would wager that VU is stunted by being in such close proximity to 2 power 5 schools. One of them being a power 5 football powerhouse. THose schools have the ability to draw upon the surrounding areas a lot more than little old Valpo does.
I think it is also important to add that the PFL itself is a D3 league that puts on a D1 hat. Heck, as many people have outline here before, the only reason the PFL exists in the first place is because the NCAA said that D1 basketball schools had to have D1 football or not sponsor football in the 1990s.
For all the bad about brown field. It still isnt even the worst field in the entire PFL. That would probably have to be Stetson or Marist. Old Davidson also isnt too pretty either
@vu72 - a little bit pompous in your statement. Valpo is D1 non scholarship, which really refers to that they are D1 in name only. There are many D3 schools that would destroy Valpo.
