FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Bashbacker765]

I think it is very hard to compare defense's from year to year.  I think the NCAC upper tier is not as strong this year as it was in 2002.  So it would be very hard to compare.  The only thing I know is that Neal Neatherly is a defensive genius.

[BashLaw]

As much as it pains me to say, I think Creighton deserves more credit for our defensive scheme than Neathery.  Our approach to 4 or 3 vertical routes is genius.  As a quarterback playing against it, it drove me nuts because we were the only team that covered certain routes a certain way.  As a qb, you get used to certain coverages, but our Cover 3 is different than the normal Cover 3.  It drove me nuts in practice for the first few years.

[wally_wabash]

Some poll points...

d3football.com top 25 - Wooster slides into the on deck circle for the top 25 with 68 votes (up one spot from last week).  Wabash clings to their single vote. 

AFCA Coaches Poll - Wooster scoots up four spots to #17.  Wabash picks up 30 additional points and moves up to #31, up 11 spots from last week. 

[Vince McMahon]

I'm guessing we won't hear anything about Tarquinio until at least Thursday.

Elliot George has been injured but I don't know what the injury is. 

It would be very nice if both of them could be back on Saturday.

[BashBacker#16]

BashLaw,

Great post on Foster.  He's played OLB ranging from 160 (Frosh) to 180 (now).   He played a huge role in the '02 D because of his speed.  If you recall in the Bash/Witt playoff game, he went down with a knee injury.  After that, Grove began to get outside on some good runs.   That also hurt us with him missing the Mount Union game with that same injury.  You may have heard it but one of the best Coach Dick Dullaghan (Indiana high school coaching legend & Foster's H.S. coach) quotes I have heard pertained to Josh Foster and former Tennessee player - Mr. Football, James Banks QB - high school teammates), Coach D said, "Tennessee may have gotten the most talented player (Banks), but Wabash got the best football player (Foster)."  That says a lot. 

[wally_wabash]

NCAC teams in the national stats rankings...

Total offense - Wabash 26th
Total defense - Wabash 11th, Wooster 26th, OWU 27th
Rush defense - Wabash 6th
Pass offense - Wabash 20th, Earlham 26th
Pass efficiency defense - Denison 19th, Wooster 32nd, Wabash 35th
Scoring offense - Wabash 25th
Scoring defense - Wabash 5th, Wooster 19th
Turnover margin - Wabash 11th

Just for fun...Witt's total defense is ranked 220 out of 228 teams.

[wabco]

BB16 ... just checked the Pick-ems ....  you are blowing my confidence in you ... if it were not for "Tiger Down" Tigeralum and Scotsfan edged out  by Wabashcpa ................ you would be  ocean floor.  12 and 13 ... what are you doing?

[BashLaw]

Great post BB16.  His career at Wabash speaks for itself.  How incredible is it that he's Ben Davis' all-time leading tackler?  With all the players they've had go through there?

We need to keep that recruiting pipeline open.  Gilbert and Logan were instrumental in getting us great players from BD.  Hell, Boulais was BD's MVP and started on their basketball team.

About OWU, I keep hearing that Cisco Clervoix is a stud.  The Wabash o-lineman are already talking about how good he is, and how tough a task its going to be to keep him contained.  What are his strengths?  What "d" does Ohio Wesleyan run?

[bashbrother]

Selby holds 9,100.  This game will deserve 9,100 watching it.

The Bishops are averaging 2,380 at home.

So we need around 6,500 Bash fans to show up...

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[wooscot]

Since OSU is off this weekend, I'm thinking about attending the Bash - OWU game.  Anybody tailgating?   

[lancer98]

Wooscot,

Enough with the skinny jokes.  Acutally I weigh the same I did in college.

Looking forward to the Woo-Gheny game.  Should be a good test for both teams.  If the Scots can pull this off they should be 5-0 going into Wabash, which is a lot better than I would have expected at the beginning of the year.  Hopefully the younger players continue to step up.  Schaffer still needs to make more plays if the Scots are to compete against the better teams.  However, he has the capability.

[BashDad]

L'il Giant faithful:

Interesting that Ryan Briggs in this weeks Great Lakes contribution to "Around the Region" doesn't even mention the game this Saturday in Delaware between Wabash and OWU.  Hard to believe that the myopia is so shared on this site.  Oh, well, it's as Wally has said several times--after the Oct. 15 game at Wooster, maybe people will quit looking down their noses.  One game at a time...

Wabash Always Fights!! 

[wally_wabash]

I was a little surprised that Wabash/OWU didn't get a mention in ATR either.  I think the winner of Wabash/OWU immediately assumes the position of NCAC favorite, just ahead of the winner of Wooster/Gheny. 

I don't think the pollsters are looking down their noses at Wabash as much Wabash just hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt yet.  Some teams (MUC, Trinity, Linfield, Rowan are the first that come to mind) have been winning conference championships and have been in the playoffs for so long that they get the benefit of the doubt and they get ranked highly.  Wabash doesn't have that kind of extended excellence and the voters take more of a "wait-and-see" approach with us.  While it would be nice to share that kind of company, it takes time.  The first step in the process was to get people to notice anybody but Witt from this conference.  I think that's been accomplished.  The next step is to consistently be at the top of the conference.  Now is as good a time as any to start that trend. 

[smedindy]

Wabash's finish last year gives pause to those around the country, as it should. Beat OWU and Wooster on the road, and Witt at home,  then respect will follow.

[BashDad]

Wally:

Agree with everything you say.  The collapse last year after starting 5-0 tarnished Wabash's image, it will take time to repair that.