Pre-season Game of the Night
Previous GotN Prediction/Result: N/A
Intro/comments/match-up: We know the season is just about here when the calendar showing Tusculum and Hillsdale having their annual preseason match-up being showcased on the lowly acclaimed GotN feature. Luckily the ratings go up as the teams and games get better. Before we get to the match-up, just a reminder the Rockne Top Ten poll will start up following the fourth game of the season. Like last season, any coach can participate by submitting their top ten by a site mail to omcs1981 by 8PM central time. You can vote each day, just on weekends, or just when you have the time.
Team: Tusculum
Coach: Clememp # of Seasons: 59
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 3
Juniors: 16
Sophomores: 14
Freshmen: 17
Offensive Formations: I, Trips
Defensive Formations: 4-3, Nickel
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Coach Clememp and his team is out to prove last season was a fluke as Tusculum missed the postseason after an amazing 43 straight appearances. His schedule makes his path back to the playoffs possible with only two top-25 teams on it. With just three seniors on the roster, coach Clememp will need to stay on top of things to avoid a potential upset to those wily SIMs.
Team: Hillsdale
Coach: OMCS1981 # of Seasons: 8
Roster Breakdown:
Seniors: 8
Juniors: 17
Sophomores: 2
Freshmen: 23
Offensive Formations: I, Trips
Defensive Formations: 3-4
Key Wins: N/A
Losses: N/A
Comments: Hillsdale comes into this season hoping to build upon its success last season that saw Hillsdale make it to the third round for the first time in 111 seasons. It will also be a strange season as his two long time running mates for 38 seasons (spthibodeau and ojpick) have left the GLIAC.
Tonight's Prediction: Both teams are ranked 18th or 19th in both the Press and Coaches polls. Team rankings also finds them close with Hillsdale at 22 and Tusculum at 25. Preseason games are harder to predict since it is unknown how much teams will be playing their freshmen. Based upon last night's results, the prediction here is Hillsdale makes it two in a row over Tusculum with a 32-21 victory.