LGHistorian,

No doubt about the fact that the loss of Evan had impacted this season.  I was also sick and saddened to hear the news as I think we are all part of the Wabash football family.  It is impossible to not let such a tragic loss impact the team, the coaches, the parents, the alums, and all of the fans.  Evan was, without a doubt, once of the best players on that side of the ball and he sounded like an amazing person on and off the field.  My prayers and thoughts certainly remain with his family and our guys.  People never know how teams will react with tragedies.  Some teams rally, other teams struggle.  I even made the exact comment after the Denison loss that maybe our guys had held it together just long enough and couldn't do it any longer.  I definitely cannot blame them either and I am not.

I agree with SigmaOne that generally speaking, this has been a trend and it has been a gradual decline.  To my points earlier, Wabash football today is in a MUCH different place than it was in 2015.  It's really not even close if I am being honest.  The whole mindset seems to have changed and that shows on the field in all types of ways.  The farther we get from the 2002-2015 type program...the harder it will be to get back to that.  A lot of us would do anything to get back to that but I am not sure that is the plan.

Here is a random question or thought.  How many of the current starters would be starters on the 2015 team?  The 2002 team?  The 2005 team?  Any of ER's playoff teams?  I don't know the answer but it is an interesting thought.

*beat Witt 2x in the same season.

Gents -

I've tried to stay off of here but I can't.  SigmaOne is so spot on in so many ways.  I hope we won't be referring to Wabash football from 2002-2015 as the glory years but the changes are glaring.  We absolutely are missing the standouts like a lot of the names already mentioned.  Kennon, McCullen, Hodges, Scola, Gum, Hammer, Buresh, Short, Knott, Harbaugh, Austin Brown, Chamblee, Zurek, and I could go on and on.  The type of players that you kind of wonder - man, how did we end up getting that guy?

Watching the games and especially the last 2, the team just looks uninspired.  Ugh.  Can I use the word boring?  Beating OWU 7-0 - spin it however you like but that was yuck on all fronts.  We miss Ike big time but thank God St. Joe shut down their football program.  Every single game left will be a dog fight and a couple of those could be ugly if we don't start playing better.  The special teams are so bad.  Again, what is our identity from a scheme standpoint?  Offensively, we don't run well, we don't throw it well, and it certainly doesn't seem like we are utilizing some of our should-be play makers.  Defensively, look at the big plays we give up?  Again, are we a blitzing/attack D?  Are we a bend but don't break D? 

It's so different than it used to be and it bums me out so bad.  There had to be reasons why ER left, especially for that job, and I think we are all seeing those before our eyes.  I am extremely hopeful that the new AD will be able to get things back on the tracks.  Thank God he's an actual AD who cares about our success and "gets" what makes Wabash a special place.

Wabash Always Fights is such a good motto when we roll teams and win championships.  Grasping to the motto week in and week out when we are squeeking by the bottom half of our league or getting throttled by a good Denison team... it just isn't as good.

#2002-2015 - remember when 9-1 was a disappointing year?  Remember when we used to beat Witt?  Remember when we used to be accused of running up the score and scoring 80?  Remember when we had classes graduate with 40+ wins?  Remember when the only times we would have tough games was when we played Witt, Depauw in the Bell game, or our playoff opponents?  Remember when we listened/watched to the ER show and enjoyed it?  Remember when we had press conferences after NCAA playoff games?  Remember beating Witt twice in 2 years?  Remember playing the Purples in the Elite 8?  Remember when the Bell rival got so lopsided it didn't seem fair?

WAF
BB16