Ben DeSaulnier

Details on the men’s and women’s rankings for SOU can be found here.

I take back my comments from last week about how computer rankings and the coaches’ poll are fairly close. This week they aren’t close at all. Carroll College doesn’t seem to be keeping a history of the computer rankings, but while last week’s were similar, this week’s are not. Sagarin has Corban at #6, Northwest Christian at #7, and SOU at #8. This may seem odd given that SOU just beat Corban and Northwest Christian, but it actually makes sense given how close the games were and the fact that the Raiders were at home.

The coaches have SOU at #10 and Corban and NCU not even in the top 25.

Posted on December 9th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: basketball, Ben DeSaulnier, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on New NAIA Men’s Basketball Rankings

Isiah Carter puts a stop to likely 2015 NAIA Player of the Year Ryan Kasdorf

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @CarterTheGr8_

Those following along have noticed that I’ve been a fan of Massey Ratings. I mean, the results speak for themselves. Massey is 6-0 in the last two rounds of the 2015 NAIA FCS. What about the coaches? The coaches are 2-4. Obviously, Massey does a better job with rankings than the coaches. Let’s hope the NAIA switches its playoff selection and playoff home field choosing to an objective ranking system at some point in the near future.

That said, I don’t know what Massey has been smoking in coming up with its prediction for the championship in Daytona on 12/19/15. Marian by 13.5? Sure, I expected Massey to pick Marian given that Massey has Marian at #1 and SOU barely beat Morningside, but 13.5 points??? I’m guessing that Massey is using the transitive property and computing that since Montana Tech beat SOU, St. Francis beat Montana Tech, and Marian beat St. Francis, then it follows that Marian will easily beat SOU. But one of several plays could have gone differently in the Montana Tech game resulting in an SOU win. In addition, without the turnovers in the Morningside game, the Raiders would have blown out the Mustangs. Massey also isn’t considering last year’s drubbing SOU gave Marian in Daytona. Maybe Massey has “revenge” as a factor in the rankings.

13.5 points though??? SOU has lost by 13.5 points or more exactly one time (more than 2 years ago!) in its last 49 games. One time! And that was to a #3 ranked, six-time national champion Carroll College team on the road.

In any event, if any Marian fans want to place a wager on the game and are willing to give me SOU and 13.5 points, please contact me at your earliest convenience. I predict Massey will go 6-1 for the final three rounds.

P.S. Massey was, once again, correct. Marian won by 17, pretty close to Massey’s prediction.

Posted on December 8th, 2015 under only in ashland. Tags: football, isiah carter, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Massey predicts what???

Joel Spear scored a combined 50 points in SOU’s wins

@SOURaiders @joelspear

The Cascade Collegiate Conference announced today that the Southern Oregon University men’s basketball team has been named the “Adidas Team of the Week” for November 30 – December 6.

Details of the victories can be found here and here.

SOU’s next home game (at Ashland High School–a much better venue for photography than old McNeal I might add) will be on 12/30/15.

Posted on December 7th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland high school, basketball, joel spear, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments: 1

#31 Mylz Blake putting the hit on Morningside’s Tyler Kavan for a loss of several yards on the play

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football @RunForMylz

TO: Fans, Families and Supporters of SOU Football
FROM: Matt Sayre, Director of Athletics
DATE: December 5, 2015 (4:30 pm CST – on the plane after defeating Morningside)

The Raiders are heading back to Daytona, Florida to play for our second NAIA National Football Championship! We’ve been fortunate to have outstanding young men and dedicated coaches take our program to this elite level.

I believe last year’s national championship won by the football team was one of the best things Southern Oregon University has ever accomplished. Behind Coach Howard and his fine staff of coaches we have seen a program go from the chopping block to SOU’s premier and most recognizable program. This has brought our university prestige, attention and enrollment growth we had never known before. We owe them so much.

National travel on this scale is expensive. Charter planes can cost up to $200,000 each. So far, the flights alone for this season’s playoff run have totaled $300,000. There is hope the NAIA will reimburse some of our costs but even so, with hotel and food, this run has tapped our post season travel budget.

We need help from you to get our boys back to Daytona as they pursue another National Championship. Our goal is to raise $200,000 to cover the cost of the charter and other expenses.

Please help us get them back to Daytona so they can represent us again on ESPN3 and the national stage.

Sid and Karen DeBoer have generously donated $10,000 to kick this effort off and get the Raiders back to Daytona2.

Thank you for your support. And if you’re heading to Daytona2 with us, bring sunblock.

Respectfully,

Matt

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Option 1:

Online via the SOU Foundation Athletics Giving Page

http://giving.soufoundation.org/raiders

Option 2:

Mail a check payable to the SOU Foundation Raider Club

SOU Athletics
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520

Option 3:

Make a pledge

Contact Natasha Ford fordn1@sou.edu or 541-552-6773

DAYTONA CHARTER INTEREST

If you are interested in traveling with our Raider Team to Florida please go to the below link, and complete the interest form.

Right now we still don’t have a charter lined up. Information will be passed out when we do get one locked down, which will hopefully be early in the week. Right now, tentative plans if we get a charter would be leaving on Tuesday, Dec. 15 and returning Sunday, Dec. 20.

Charter seat minimum donation request $500 per person. Any amount donated exceeding the $500 seat value is tax deductible.

Raider Daytona Flight 2015 Interest Form

For questions on the charter, email Bobby Heiken at heikenb@sou.edu

Posted on December 7th, 2015 under people. Tags: football, mylz blake, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Daytona fundraiser and charter info

Raiders take the field before their 30-27 victory over Morningside. Details here.

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football #RaceToDaytona #NAIAFootball #RoadToDaytona

I was reminded on the plane back from Iowa, where the Raiders beat #1 Morningside to earn another trip to Daytona for the national championship, that I should do another “Countdown to Daytona” like I did last year.

So here goes…

14 days and counting…

Expect a photo a day here between now and the game on December 19, 2015.

Posted on December 5th, 2015 under people. Tags: football, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Countdown to Daytona – 2015 edition

@SOURaiders @RaiderVB @emmagassy

Details here.

Posted on December 1st, 2015 under people. Tags: Emma Gasman, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography, volleyball. Comments Off on Gameday

Jesse Needles eyes the end zone on his way to a TD against KWU

@SOURaiders @SOU_Football #RaceToDaytona #NAIAFootball #RoadToDaytona

As mentioned yesterday, Massey went a perfect 4-0 in forecasting the quarterfinal results. I don’t understand how or why, but Massey is predicting a rematch of last year’s national championship game (even though Massey has Marian ranked lower and St. Francis is at home). Note that St. Francis already beat Marian (on the road no less) earlier this season.

Posted on November 29th, 2015 under people. Tags: football, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, Raider Athletics, sports photography. Comments Off on Massey predicts 2015 NAIA FCS semis

2015 AHS football team – 2nd place in 5A for state of Oregon

@CoachHall_Griz @dowfordays

Congratulations to the Grizzlies!

Posted on November 28th, 2015 under only in ashland, people. Tags: ashland high school, football, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, sports photography. Comments Off on Ashland High School football finishes 2nd in state

@AshlandAnimals

Posted on November 26th, 2015 under nature, only in ashland. Tags: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon D750, wildlife. Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving!