FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[scotty]

wally-wabash, again, no argument here on Tony Sutton but the cupboard isnt bare...again, no argument on the production needed at the QB position buts is nice to have a 2 year starter returning...i really think we did a good job in recruiting this year but we'll have to wait and see...

[gordonmann]

Scotty:

Check the front page.  It's up and running.

You'll need the password we (hopefully) emailed you.

We hope you enjoy...and tell your friends to check it out. 

[BashBacker#16]

Wally,

Just so we're clear...

THANK GOD Tony Sutton is no longer there!  Sutton is a once in a lifetime (or close to it) - he should have stayed at Findlay... 

I was impressed with Shafer last year, especially his running.  BUT, it's a bit different without #7 lining up behind him.  Time will tell but he is talented.

[gobash]

I will be happy as a puppy with two peters if we can actually get the damn ball through the uprights outside the 20 yard line this year.  I hope our kicking team is everything you think it will be BB90

And yeah, Schafer ran pretty well in that game last year when Wooster came over.  A little too well for my tastes...didn't he outgain Sutton in that one?  Or I remember it being close at least, because Schafer was more dismaying than Sutton that day...

[gobash]

Ah, I found the stats...Schafer ran for 77 yards, and Sutton for 150...so it wasn't all that close, but that's a crapton of yards for a QB, I'd say.

[wally_wabash]

Shafer is pretty good...but like you said, he earns his stripes this season when he has to do it without TS behind him. 

Shafer is the kind of shifty/scrambly qb that has historically given Wabash problems, particular the speed-rushing d-linemen that we've been pumping out the last few years.  When these nimble qbs can sidestep a tackle and get loose for a few seconds, it usually doesn't end well for Wabash.  Here's hoping that with Shafer as the focus, we can keep him contained a little better this year.  Weithoff is the same way down in Greendingle.  Both players will be challenging for Wabash this year. 

And before I forget...I'm going to plug the Kickoff.  I've only perused a small bit of it so far, and it's pretty awesome.  I won't even begin to imagine how much work went into it.  Kudos to Pat and his team for putting this thing together.  Register for the Kickoff people...well worth the price. 

[Ryan Tipps]

Since the cherry has been broken regarding talk of the Kickoff 2005, I gotta say that I think it's very well done and very fair. The rankings for the NCAC teams, I feel, are nearly right on, although many in the past few weeks (including Pat) have said they don't really agree with Wooster's placing. No disrespect Woo fans, but I think the team just needs to reprove itself this year, and I don't think they should've automatically been labeled a Top 25 team.

For the outsiders who have wanted to argue that the conference's lower-tier teams aren't as bad as we claim, one just has to look at the disparity in the 1-231 rankings between Allegheny (the NCAC's 5th team) and Denison (the NCAC's 6th team), which is far far far behind the top of the conference. And Denison even comes across as the clear "power" among the cellar-dwellars. Also, I am happy to see that the conference's top five teams are all ranked in about the top third of Division III. I like it!

(PS: It's tough to talk about the Kickoff too much without ruining all the details. I know the D3 staff still want to sell subscriptions.)

[scotty]

WCLegacy, must agree wholeheartedly on the placement of Wooster...it's not like the AP Poll vs the BCS...the same people pick them so sort of hard to figure...in my opinion, its going to be difficult to go undefeated in conference play this year but that makes it exciting...

[bashbrother]

Bashdad -

Woo, Witt & Monon for sure

Hopefully AC & OWU depending on my scheduling.

How far is OWU from Canton?

[Li'l Giant]

I think Wooster is getting far more respect for a defending champ than Gheny did as the defending champ last year.

[scotty]

Li'l Giant, your point being?...

[GoGheny]

Good to see some more gheny support on the board

[BashDad]

Bashbrother:

OWU (Delaware) is north & west of Columbus (close).  It is Wooster that is close to Canton--due west.

[Ryan Tipps]

Wooster is most certainly getting more respect than Allegheny did after their conference championship, but then again, Allegheny wasn't a 10-0 regular season team like this Wooster squad was. I think many voters were hesitant to peg the 2003 Gator team as the "real deal." Plus, Gheny edged out the other top conference teams by 8 points or less each game in '03. That doesn't exactly scream dynasty.

It much easier to give a better follow-up ranking to a recent 10-0 team.

[RetiredACLT75]

Saw a little 'Gheny camp today and they looked sharp.   The O-Line looks big with a few new faces in the mix, and the backfield is monstrous.  It's a little interesting seeing them back in the yellow helmets though.  Should be a fantastic season at the Swamp, which could quite possibly become the new Boulevard of Broken Dreams for a few NCAC hopefuls.