FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

Speaking about iffy penalties, I got the skinny on Koeneman's Personal Foul.

While a play was still underway and before the whistle had blown, Koeneman hit someone pretty good.  Legal block and all.  But then a flag comes sailing in.

Personal Foul - The ref's explanation:  It was away from the play and was not needed.  Hmmmm.   Are referees out there to interpret rules or enforce rules? It was a legal block during the play.

I didn't see it...so I don't know how out of the way it was.  But does it matter?

[LGHistorian]

It kind of looked like to me the ref felt sorry for the 2 Earlham players that were being blocked by 1 Little Giant 

[BashFan74]

As a former member of the zebra fraternity, the white hat should have been seen and not heard.  His proportion of calls was way too high for any sort of competitive game.  Some crews develop a certain 'social consciousness.' 

While the Big Hit was behind the play, it was during a live ball and legal. 

The Longest Drive seemed to put the fork in Earlham -- with the heat/humidity it was just too long a stretch for their D. 

BTW hats off to Earlham's Wide Receiver cum QB -- a gutsy performance to fill in.

Pleased to see such a balanced performance by Wabash.  Hope for more capability from the running game.  It's hard to predict too much from an unbalanced game.

Go Wabash -- let's beat OWU.

[SaintsFAN]

bashbrother,

Remember Warren Sapp's hit on Chad Clifton two years ago in Tampa Bay?  Now I am not saying the NCAA is cracking down on that kind of play too---but the NFL has included some rules to discourage that type of play (away from the ball)....

Perhaps the zebra somehow had that in mind....yeah, I know I could be fishing here...

[wabco]

I saw it.  It was behind the play but in the general area of the "mix".  It was worth the 15 yards.  A piece of work that was worthy of the best even Ben could deliver.

[aueagle]

Word that I have out of Delaware is: 1) Everyone is healthy 2) After the week off, everyone is chomping at the bit for the LG's 3) It's Homecoming 4) It's the 1st step to the Championship 5) It's WABASH.........GO BISHOPS

[kcreds]

I am sooooooooo looking forward to the Wabash/OWU matchup. I don't feel that OWU is getting the credit they deserve and after this game they should. This game, IMO, could very well be the conference championship. I don't want to dismiss Wooster, Allegheny, and Witt because they have good teams too, anyone of them could win it also. This is an early season opinion and maybe I just got caught up in all the Wabash poster's opinions and hoopla. Just some thoughts of why I think OWU deserves respect: (1) They came together last year at the right time but fell short to a very good Wooster team, (2) Pretty much everyone is back, (3) They started stronger this year even though the teams they played may have been a little down, they just didn't barely beat those teams either, and (4) my son is playing for OWU this year, very little, but just kidding anyway  .  The winner of this game will have the upperhand to winning the conference.

Just because this is going to be my only post this week, limiting myself for personal reasons, I will go ahead and address the issue of Witt because some of you are going to question the fact I consider them a contender. History of a winning program does matter, it shows good coaching, good recruiting, and it leads to confidence. Everyone said that Witt's schedule to start the season was murderous before they started, yes they got pounded but they got progressively better too. Does everyone have short memories, OWU started 0-4 and still had a shot at the championship. I wasn't around but didn't Allegheny start slow one year then win the conference? What matters most is winning the conference and playing your best ball late. Witt is beatable, OWU did it last year for the first time in 13 years, but they will be a contender.

Bishop fans, I look forward to seeing all of you this Saturday at the tailgate party! GO BISHOPS!
(hopefully our announcer from the first game will be back and the band doesn't play when the Bishops have the ball)     

[seinfeld]

Do any Gator fans know the status of Taraquino for this week's game. If he plays, I give the slight advantage to Allegheny. If not, I think it swings to Wooster. Taraquino brings a physical element to the running game that could be decisive in a low-scoring game. Also, where is Elliott George this year? He was their leading tackler last year, but I don't see him in any box scores.

As for the OWU-Wabash game, it is a must win for the Bishops. Lose this, and the other three tough conference games are all on the road, which spells trouble. I think Wabash will be able to shut down the OWU running game because of its speed on the edges. So Sir Louis will have to win it through the air, which I'm a little skeptical of. OWU has a good secondary, so Wabash will have to earn its yards through the air, but in the end, they are too balanced on offense for the Bishops.

[wabco]

Kcreds .... "my son is playing for OWU this year" ... Hmmmmm rose colored glasses.

Yes Wabash will be tested ... BUT THE LITTLE GIANTS WILL WIN.

Early on there will be some back and forth as the D settles in on the offense by trick.  However, OWU is facing the best D in the NCAC ... which will adjust and will dominate. 

The Wabash pass will be the killer.  The 8 yard pass to a plethora of very capable receivers is not stopable.

DJ will come of age as OWU trys to shore up its pass D.

THE END


You like apples ... Kcreds?

How do you like them apples.........

[BashBacker#16]

Some basic reasons (less KoolAid) why Bash has the edge:

-Everyone is healthy on both sides of the ball
-Obvious size advantage on both sides of the line
-Harbaugh is a different player this year.  It started from day 1 at camp and continues.  Experience, confidence, weapons around him, 9 TDs 1 INT.
-Bash is +6 in turnovers
-Creighton vs. Hollway
-Bash D will pressure Sir Louis ALL DAY from all fronts, Lange's coming out party in NCAC play
-Strong senior class will remain focused in hostile environment; they'll actually play better in a big game

Bottom line...I can't see OWU scoring enough points to win and it will certainly not be a shootout.

[evacuee]

Isn't that game being played at Selby?  Doesn't matter.  As I spent most of the summer trying to say, home field is not enough of a factor to determine the outcome.  I know it was SEC, but did anyone watch the game last night.  LSU had homefield in high gear last night, and what did it do?  It sure didn't help them win. 

[bashbrother]

It's Tuesday morning and it's already building.....

The fact is, usually the better team will prevail regardless of where the game is played.  I wouldn't look for this experienced Bash team to care if it's at home or on the road.

With the way Wabash fans travel, every game is almost a home game.

[wally_wabash]

On the Koeneman play...it may have been a little bit of frustration and he was called for holding on the play before (and we were all getting frustrated with the holding by that point).  He did roll that kid pretty good.  He got his 15 yards worth. 

On to OWU.  Homecoming, shmomecoming.  It was homecoming at Selby two years ago when Wabash (who played pretty poorly on the road all season I might add) beat OWU 21-0.  There was more noise coming from the soccer complex than there was from the OWU homecoming football crowd.  I'm aware of OWU's soccer tradition, but come on.  Fortunately for the Bishops, there is no soccer scheduled for Saturday. 

The Wabash defense has had very little problem stopping OWU's offense.  And this is the best defense Wabash has had since these schools resumed their series in 2002 (point of debate for Wabashers:  is this year's D better than the 2002 D...I'm thinking yes). 

The OWU defense is a concern, but as has been pointed out, there's no way to stop Wabash's short to intermediate passing game.  Unless OWU's d-line is living in the Wabash backfield, it's only a matter of time before one of Wabash's wide receivers gets loose either deep or running wild after the catch.  It's up to OWU to decide which Wabash receiver will have the big day...they can cover one or two of them, but not all three or four. 

If you're counting on Wabash looking past OWU or some other form of inferred disrespect, you can probably forget it.  While Wabash has defeated OWU each of the last three years, the Bishops haven't been such a pushover as to warrant looking ahead.  OWU's defense is formidable and Wabash will have to be executing well in order to get the job done.  It's going to be a helluva game on Saturday.  I can't wait for the trip to Selby to see this one. 

[BashLaw]

I'd still say 2002 defense was better.  I can still be proved wrong, but its going to take more than three games.  The linebackers are good, but none of them are Boulais.  The d-lineman are good, but none of them are Hammer.  The dbs are not in the leaque of Stujo, Montes, etc..  However, its a team sport, and this "d" plays well together.  I hope they prove me wrong, but I don't see this defense comparing.

On a side note, Foster's got to be one of the most underrated football players to come through Wabash.  The kid has played all 4 years at 185-190 pounds, and he's played at linebacker.  He's a natural safety, but has played where the team has needed him.  The kid is the all-time leading tackler at Ben Davis and is always around the ball.  Seeing him without pads on, you'd never guess he was any good, but the kid's a player.

[oldguy]

TU2698,

How do you know it didn't help LSU?  The score could have been 31-13 if the game was played in Tennessee.  Perhaps the home field advantage helped make the game close. 

My point being, the home field advantage argument is a dumb one because it cannot be answered, and that is why we ended it months ago.  So lets not bring it up anymore.  Its a dead horse that we need to stop beating.