I always thought ER going to Savannah was a poor choice and the "death valley" which, I believe, it was has played out to be.  I was not thrilled with the timing of ER leaving Wabash ... but that has worked out well for Wabash ... present Coach Morel has a more laid back demeaner (which in my estimation comes from a little seasoning and experience in the coaching world ... both as head and as very fine assistant).  Also Coach Morel has a fun play calling hand book.  The number of freshmen and size of team this year is a testament to his guidance and recognition of his leadership.  I look for Wabash to be faster, stronger, better next year ... and fun to watch.  I believe (from talking with Little Giant players) that they are comfortable with the era of Morel, and he is a "keeper" and "stayer".  Both Good.  I wish Reaburn well ... what happened to him should not happen ... but may turn out to be a blessing for him.  He will land on his feet.

Easy answer ... the best NCAC teams were/are respectively Wabash and Witt.  NCAC selection process is flawed and more directed toward ponies to pet and "can't we all just reason together" than sending the most qualified team to the tournament.  Denison was just a very large step down ... obviously demonstrated.

Great game Wabash.  Great coaching strategy and gutsy great play by the team. Couldn't happen to a more deserving group.

Sigma ... Wabash verses Kenyon ... Kenyon.  Not Oberlin.  Love you brother.  Any word on James knee situation?  If recoverable with tender loving care, lots of ice and whirlpool ... then he hurt it at the right time ... 3 weeks to rehab. And then Wooster ... when probably not needed ... so 4 weeks.  Then Denison ... where might be good to have a re-energized Ike.

Also Tony Neymeiyer is coaching with Reaburn.

More info ... Little Giant Scrimmages with: Ill. Wes.at Hollett on August 20 and Rose Hulman at Howlett on August 22.  All positive signs of "pull that wagon guys" !

Couple of observations from the bleachers on the Wabash OC position. 

1) Wabash Head Coach was THE Wabash OC under Raeburn.  Did a pretty good job of it there.  OC play calling under the now former OC who goes back to Chicagoland ... being nice ... was not all that great.  In DePauw game .... for example, the Wabash Head Coach called the offensive plays.  The present Wabash offence springs from the Reaburn era.  New QBs will be schooled in it with one being a junior transfer from a school where the Reaburn era playbook was written/influenced.  Wabash has p0lenty of depth in the coaching staff as to player personnel, training, guidance.  Face it ... former Wabash OC was a weak link and the Head Coach felt it and stepped in.  Ho hummm.  I for one, like what I see.  Head Coach taking charge, fixing the QB situation in one year, and ... with experience ... taking on the position with which he is familiar. Message out to all ... BE GOOD AT YOUR JOB and pull the wagon to an undefeated year and playoffs.  You heard it here first ... predict the Little Giants will come out firing on all cylinders.
 
2) 155+ footballers out. (Check Mount's numbers ... similar ... and ours read and write and obey the laws of the land).  75 freshmen ... I say it AGAIN ... 75 freshmen. 80 upper classmen ... most Div III teams kiss the ground to have 80 total out.  4 transfers on top of last years transfers.  I say it AGAIN ... Wabash will come out firing on all cylinders ... I like Wabash chances for another revival of an era of a couple of years back and still have my 7-0 and 47 to 0 tee shirts ready.

Sad Sad SAD.   Look at the lack of accomplishment and creativity exhibited in every phase of the coaching.  Rush 3 till .... till ... till ... game over?  Don't use RBs who demonstrate ability to get yards even against a front 7.  Launch passes intended for the stands over and over and over.  Work out special teams so having a kick blocked is becoming more normal.  Use up 2 of your 3 TOs in the second half because the sideline cant figure out what to do/call.  This is just the latest chapter in the ever spiraling downward of WAF and wins.  Look over the last 2 years. Steady decline ... discernable if you review the lack of dominating accomplishment. Look at the records of the teams we have crawled to a win over.  Now we go against the good teams. Heaven help us.  AND OUR STUDENTS ARE GOOD ... OUR ATHLETES ARE GOOD. The answer is 1) lack of ability on the part of our coaches  (look at their prior history ... it should not come as a surprise  ... there is no coach ability conversion of Saul on the horizon).

How did we get there?  Two years ago, ER jumped at another opportunity (and I use the word "opportunity " advisedly.  We needed a coach because of timing.  Morel was a comfort choice.  IT ALSO FIT IN A PLAN FROM THE TOP.  SPORTS IS A BOTHER.  (Doesn't go to the games.  Sports not important in the CA liberal arts world wide inclusion.)  So ... remove the athletic director who has lifetime real life coaching training, real lifetime experience as an AD, and IS a Wabash Man.  Replace him with a mid level bureaucrat who worked internally in the NCAA and taught a summer 1 week business course at Wabash in the Olab program.  Then let er rip!  Lets see.  Accomplishments in last 2 years:  ticket prices go up 60%, screw around with tailgating at Bell Game to institute lock step rules (where nothing was broken) and charge money to tailgate, and control control control, negotiate the end to national broadcasting in the name of saving money and now have a local Indiana company televise (do some PR lipstick on this pig of an idea), And have you tried to go from the football parking lot into the Allen Center ... no longer possible ... the gates to the football field are manned and guarder (if you can believe that ... guarded). At homecoming put up some tents in the fenced athletic field and move the students there for tailgate   (separate them from the general population? ... or just more regulation ...)  This football malaise comes from beyond the average ability coaches. (Coaches are really nice people but simply in Peter Principal.)  Plan ... excellence in athletics does not matter?

Let me suggest that it does.  At Wabash ... excellence in scholarship and ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT goes hand in hand with excellence on the excellence on the playing field. Student recruitment is integrally intertwined with athletics.  It is an all male and robust environment.  Mediocre in anything does not cut it.  (or at least should not cut it). Inane regulation and no comprehension of the special spirit of Wabash ... its fans ,,, its alumni ... its family does not cut it.  We have time to right the ship from this temporary sleep.  Will it happen before recruitment/enrollment falls off.  Before Alumni and family attendance and interest (which is renowned by those who play us) falls off in frustration. Before contribution enthusiasm fatigue follows.  Before it takes an "Act of Congress" to get the ship of state back to where it was and should be.  I hope so.  I hope so. I hope so.  I ask that we get back to demonstrated expertise in our AD and in our coaches. I ask that we request ... nay ... demand ... our alumni step up step up step up like they have in the past.  I want strength in our Admissions withy recruitment of ever better students with the special nature of Wabash as a mainstay.  We are (or at least were) on the threshold of faster, stronger, better.  Leadership gentlemen, leadership.  WAF

What is this with Wheaton?  I might expect something like this from some of the renegade out of control D 1 teams/schools ... but Wheaton?  And it occurred in 2016 and some of the players/miscreants are charged with felonies but played last weekend?  All the while Wheaton higher up/leadership are "investigating" ?  My personal view ... this is a smelly non-leader D 1 type cover ... not one expected from a school like Wheaton.  Have national rankings run amok as well in D 3 ... sad. 

I suspect I will receive chastisement for posting this but how could this go so wrong?

Just returned from Wabash vs. Albion.  Albion QB is the real deal.  Plus 2 receivers and one with good size.  That listing above showing Albion in the lower half of league should be very wrong if they can develop some D against the run.  (That said, maybe they have D against typical run game.  Wabash O line is not your typical D 3 O line.) While the game was not in doubt, the Albion QB kept it relatively close ... hats off to the kids and coaches of Albion.  Their QB/receiver game will make their running game work.  Lots of teams will rush 3/4 and drop the rest against them.  D backs need to be good or QB will have a field day.  As I said, D needs work ... but not sure as Wabash O line seemed like one of the best around for the rushing game, at least against the Albion D.

My take is a little more optimistic than Sigma One ... using basically the same facts.  Certainly the QB position is a ? mark.  But there are both very credible on roster [players PLUS a couple of adds in recruiting who could start another 2 or 4 year run.  Quality receivers return.  O line is fine.  There are TE and quality RBs in stable as well as on recruiting roster.  D needs to revamp its front ad a couple of LB positions.  OK.  A recruit named Buresh is added (best Buresh yet?)  PLUS others have waiting their time and there are recruits just starting out.  The coaches should have their feet set.  They should now know their talent, recruited their talent, and know ... with the horses in the barn, what will work and what may work.  The D III slighting the Little Giants in the preseason 25, is (my view) not only an error ... but provides just the "I'll show you" incentive to all concerned.  There will be mistakes and adjustments in playing Albion the first game ... but it is at home. Wabash IS Wabash.  Expect no less. Wabash students, Wabash footballers, Wabash coaches.  Don't shed tears for me Argentina.

And I look forward to a substantively improving and vibrant HC. 

HCAlum

We'll keep the light on for you

I have been out of pocket for a while after remarking about the Burresh family of 5 brothers coming to Wabash and Wabash football.  There was at least one other family (for you who are long in the tooth with memory) who accomplished the same feat at Wabash.  The Henry family.  5 Henry brothers ... last one Marc Henry (who now resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan) ... attended Wabash and were footballers.  They were from Da Region in northern Indiana.  All were fullbacks (or tailbacks in the single wing era), if memory serves.

Just a tickler as to Wabash recruiting.  There will be another Burish coming in as a freshman ... Seth Burish.  Can the last son be the best yet?  You go Seth!

 Great game with Denison.  Congrats to the Big Red on playing hard to the last play.  Now on to the Dannies.

We cannot control some things.  We can control the DePauw beat down. I believe Wabash is worthy of being granted the opportunity to play on after vanquishing the Dannies.  But, it is what it is.  We will be champs of the conference and will have done this with some real fine and class coaches and with a great group of players/Wabash Men.  WAF