FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

LG -

My Dad, who taught at ISU for 15+ years, took me to almost every Sycamore home game at during Bird's time.   I remember that victory song and always appreciated it.  Especially in 1979.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'm with you old scot.  I don't like taunting on the field or from the stands for that matter.  I don't like the "Nah, Nah, Nah...goodbye" song being used at the end of games and heck I don't even like the guy running into the endzone without anyone within 15 yards of him and he still dives over the goal line.  I consider that showing off or showing up your opponent.  I know, I know, I'm an old fuddy duddy!

I don't know whether anyone else on this board ever got to see it but I always got a kick out of the way Indiana State celebrated victories during Larry Bird's time there.  When victory was achieved the band started in with the "Amen Chorus" and the students started singing and clapping along to the music.  It was a much more positive way to enjoy the victory without insulting the opponent.

Now, I have to go get my cane so I can chase those darned neighbor kids off my lawn. 

I'm with you guys ('course, I'm an old fart too! ).  One of the things I most liked about Barry Sanders (aside from the fact that on ANY given play he might lose 4 yards [I'm betting he LOST more yards than any other RB in history ] or score a TD) was that he just handed the football to the ref after each TD.  He'd been there before, and expected to be there again - what's the big deal?

If he had played 2-3 more years, he would have set a yardage record that would NEVER be broken.  On the other hand, he's still walking like a normal person, so who am I to threaten him with a walker?

[D3_DPUFan]

I've always beleaved the hand shake should be post game, showing respect and sportsmanship, win or lose.
Done properly, this shows the leadership and class of the program and needs to start with the coaching staff, team captians, upperclassmen, and on down the line.Coaches need to take it upon themselves with severe punishments if something breaks out. Afterall, your  representing your school, your family, and yourself.
Sport needs to get back to "respecting your opponent " and eliminate the "woofing" toward your opponent. Beat their tails between the lines and within the rules. That should be most satisfying.

Amen.

[wally_wabash]

I've always beleaved the hand shake should be post game, showing respect and sportsmanship, win or lose.
Done properly, this shows the leadership and class of the program and needs to start with the coaching staff, team captians, upperclassmen, and on down the line.Coaches need to take it upon themselves with severe punishments if something breaks out. Afterall, your  representing your school, your family, and yourself.
Sport needs to get back to "respecting your opponent " and eliminate the "woofing" toward your opponent. Beat their tails between the lines and within the rules. That should be most satisfying.

Couldn't agree more.  I know that these pregame "fights" happen in college football, particularly at rivalry games, but there isn't anything more stupid in my opinion.  One team walks on an area of the field that is supposedly off limits and then all hell breaks loose...it's ridiculous and embarrassing for all parties involved.  I'm not a believer that rivalry trumps sportsmanship.  I'm an avid baseball guy and it bugs me to no end that MLB is the only sport I see nowadays at the professional level where teams don't shake hands at the end of their playoff series.  I know Larry Walker had his team do this during a Cardinals/Dodgers series a few years ago and it was awesome...too bad it didn't catch on. 

[Li'l Giant]

I'm not a believer that rivalry trumps sportsmanship.  I'm an avid baseball guy and it bugs me to no end that MLB is the only sport I see nowadays at the professional level where teams don't shake hands at the end of their playoff series.  I know Larry Walker had his team do this during a Cardinals/Dodgers series a few years ago and it was awesome...too bad it didn't catch on.

Bill Simmons had a podcast a while back where he mentioned that because the younger NBA guys have been playing with and against each other since the 7th grade on AAU teams and the like that it's impossible for them to have bitter rivalries. They're too good friends. I don't think that's a bad thing. I fail to see how that kind of unsportsmanlike animosity adds anything at all to sport. Even on the professional level.

[smedindy]

It's telling that except for a few malcontents, even the pugilists and tough guys during the NHL playoffs shake hands. Heck, I remember working a few Indianapolis Ice games and seeing the goons from each team get into a vicious fight on ice, get tossed, and are sitting together in the media room with a couple of cold ones swapping stories.

I don't mind the "Na na na na hey hey goodbye" song that much because I'm a pop music freak.

[Gray Fox]

It's not football, but there was no place else to post this.

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/sports/local_story_224155045.html

[SaintsFAN]

I've always beleaved the hand shake should be post game, showing respect and sportsmanship, win or lose.
Done properly, this shows the leadership and class of the program and needs to start with the coaching staff, team captians, upperclassmen, and on down the line.Coaches need to take it upon themselves with severe punishments if something breaks out. Afterall, your  representing your school, your family, and yourself.
Sport needs to get back to "respecting your opponent " and eliminate the "woofing" toward your opponent. Beat their tails between the lines and within the rules. That should be most satisfying.

Couldn't agree more.  I know that these pregame "fights" happen in college football, particularly at rivalry games, but there isn't anything more stupid in my opinion.  One team walks on an area of the field that is supposedly off limits and then all hell breaks loose...it's ridiculous and embarrassing for all parties involved.  I'm not a believer that rivalry trumps sportsmanship.  I'm an avid baseball guy and it bugs me to no end that MLB is the only sport I see nowadays at the professional level where teams don't shake hands at the end of their playoff series.  I know Larry Walker had his team do this during a Cardinals/Dodgers series a few years ago and it was awesome...too bad it didn't catch on. 

Agreed.  I was watching The Express the other night and it got to the game between Syracuse and Texas in the Cotton Bowl... that brawl right before halftime had to be very embarrassing for all involved. 

My HS team was involved in one when I was a freshman and it wasn't good. 

[bashbrother]

It's that time of year again that I wish Wabash did not take it's bye week on week one.

I know it will probably not change in the next century, but I always wonder whether a bye week in the middle before the Witt or Woo games would serve the program better.

It looks like Witt and Wooster both have their bye weeks in week two.

Depauw, because of it's 9 game regular season schedule (is this because of the Colorado school dropping?) technically has two bye weeks... week one and week seven before the Trinity game.  Hopefully, that extra week to get ready for Trinity will help them.

[Schwami]

If I could change anything with the Wabash schedule, it would be to avoid having the home game against Witt during Fall Break.  Would it be too challenging for the NCAC to schedule road games during Fall Breaks?  Or will this always be a problem because of when the colleges have their Fall Breaks?

[wally_wabash]

It's that time of year again that I wish Wabash did not take it's bye week on week one.

I know it will probably not change in the next century, but I always wonder whether a bye week in the middle before the Witt or Woo games would serve the program better.

Wabash has won six conference titles in eight years and been to the playoffs four times over that same time...I don't think the week 1 bye is too damaging to the results.  The only game during this stretch where I think the bye killed Wabash was at Franklin in 2006.  Franklin played week 1, Wabash didn't and it was brutally obvious.  The other opening game loss for Wabash during this stretch was against Kalamazoo in 2003, but they didn't play in week 1 either, so the bye wasn't relevant there.  My issue with the week 1 bye is that I think Wabash has possibly/probably missed out on some interesting non-conference opportunities.  And of course now with the UAA agreement in place, it's really pretty moot.  

Depauw, because of it's 9 game regular season schedule (is this because of the Colorado school dropping?)

That it is.  It's too bad that they couldn't find a replacement for that game.  It is absolutely plausible that you could see DPU land at 7-2 and on the outside again a la 2005.  They may very well curse the day that they didn't/couldn't find a 10th game.  

[wally_wabash]

If I could change anything with the Wabash schedule, it would be to avoid having the home game against Witt during Fall Break.  Would it be too challenging for the NCAC to schedule road games during Fall Breaks?  Or will this always be a problem because of when the colleges have their Fall Breaks?

Witt is during fall break again this year...dammit all. I think when this came up two years ago, I did some digging around and between the slightly offset midsemester breaks amongst our schools and my belief that the schools we're doing a favor for in the UAA could shoulder the fall break load, I think the NCAC could all but avoid having home games at any NCAC campus during the host institution's midsemester break.  But short of that, I would also believe that the league office could bump the premiere games on the schedule off of fall breaks.  But that's just me. 

In any case, the College did a GREAT job in 2007 with getting the word out for that Witt game during a fall break and really brought the crowd in for that one.  I'd expect a similar push between Homecoming and 10/17 this time around. 

[SCOTSman]

After coming on strong at the end of last year, the scots have an oppurtunity to make a push towards an NCAC Championship this season.  Hopefully the classic saying "defense wins championships" will hold true as the Scots are going to be VERY strong defensively.  The linebacking core is going to be the difference maker on defense as the Scots boast one of the best groups in the conference, lead by Matt Degrand and Steve Custenboarder.  Both guys along with the rest of the backers have a good combination of speed, strength and athleticism.  The D line also brings back some players who showed promised last season.  Hopefully Chris Wade can stay healthy enough to contribute this season at D end on a consistent basis.  While Bryan Albani is a PLAY MAKER and versatile in the secondary he can't cover the whole field at once.  This means Brian Swan is going to have to stay healthy and make a larger contribution this season at safety, while the Scots will also have to find two other players to help guard the pass.
The big question is regarding the Scots offense and whether or not Austin Holter is going to be able to lead the team to the next level.  His decision making has been shaky at times over the past few seasons and he's committed a high number of turnovers.  On the other hand, he's also shown tremendous upside in both his throwing and running abilities at times.  All the pieces are in place for him as the Scots return every O linemen including 6'8 John O'bery who had a breakout year last year after being moved to the line.  There are numerous options at receiver.  I would expect big things from Luke Mcann who is returning from injury and is one of the teams best athletes.  John Mathis and Cam Daniels are both true tight ends who will pose red zone threats.  It will be interesting to see how the Running Back situation pans out as Orlando "Juice" Jones returns after missing last season, and will compete with several others including a couple talented freshmen.  The Scots will also be competing on an amazing new field this year, so hopefully they will break it in with a bunch of wins and a Championship!!!!! GO SCOTS!
   

[Black n Gold]

Sounds like the hopes are high in Wooster.....hopefully all the talk and expectation doesn't get to their heads and they get knocked off in the early part of the season. Woo needs Holter to start off hot and carry it straight through week 10. He does make some bad decisions, but he's not afraid to wing the darn thing. Watch Wooster's two losses from last year and tell me if he's the one to blame. The boy seems to be a competitor and revenge will be on the minds of all the Scots. Look for the season to come down to a battle between the 3 W's (Witt, Woo and Wabash). GO SCOTS!

[bashbrother]

Scotsman -

In my mind it is simple.   If Holter can throw the ball more and with more accuracy, that offense will move and keep the defense off the field in the big games.   His legs have proven themselves year after year, his arm and decision making need to step up for him to take this offense to the next level.

Good luck to the Scots this year.