FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[seinfeld]

Since no one else has chimed in on the Wooster-Denison game (not much reason to do so, I suppose), I'll throw a few comments out (I can never help myself).

From a Wooster prospective, this was kind of a lost game. Very little to hang your hat on to say this has gotten better after three games. The only things were a better pass rush (3 sacks in just 13 pass attempts), but Denison's passing game is pretty inept, so I wouldn't get too excited about it. The other is the discovery that there is another Obery on the team that can play -- freshman punter Dana. He doesn't have a great punting average, but that's because almost all his punts have been from inside the opponents territory -- hence why four of his punts have ended up inside the 20 yard line. His seven punts have yet to yield a single return yard, thus a perfect net average.

Again, Wooster underperformed when in scoring position, attempting three field goals and turning the ball over on downs another time. Palm already has seven field goals, which is just three short of the school record, and Wooster has only played three games.

But the most perplexing part of the game for me was the lack of use of Robert Flagg. Flagg entered the game 18th in Div. III in all-purpose yards (173.5 ypg), yet touches the ball only four times the entire game -- two carries, one catch and one kickoff return. In the opener against Waynesburg Flagg catches 5 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, runs the ball seven times for 40 yards, and returns two kickoffs for 59 yards. The next game against Ohio Wesleyan he carries the ball 22 times for 97 yards and a touchdown against a pretty solid defense, yet inexplicably catches the ball only once for six yards. So Flagg goes from touching the ball 37 times in the first two games to just four times today. And he has now caught just two passes in the last two weeks despite possibly being the quickest guy in the league. Maybe there is a long term strategy that I'm not aware of.

More worrisome is the fact that Wabash beat this same Denison team (and Denison was apparently missing a couple of key defensive players today) 56-7 and outgained them 532-139 -- and this was Wabash's first game of the year. Wooster is going to have to get a lot better very quickly if they entertain any hopes of making a run, IMHO.

[Black n Gold]

Seinfeld, were you at the game or did you watch it on the pc and read the article? I don't know how you can compare this game to Denisons game against Wabash. The conditions were totally different. Yesterday I sat thorugh the down pours the whole game and watched a Wooster team only turn the ball over once in the horrible conditions while still sticking to their gameplan of spreading the ball out and still put up 400 yards. In games like these, with the down pours and lightening (game delays) you just hope you can still stick to your normal plan and get out with any major injuries and the win.....which they did. Early in the game they attempeted to get Flagg the ball, but with all the water it was tough to get any holes to open up, so I think thats why they kept the big back in and hoped to get a few yards by pounding it out with Murdock.

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4676907

http://wooster.edu/Athletics/Athletics-News/2009/September/Football-Recap-2009-Denison.aspx

[oldtiger]

I believe "Ye Old Skull" was unearthed from Selby Field and was believed to be of Native American descent. In the late '80s, to insure all is politically correct, the original skull was retired for proper interment and replaced w/ a rather poor, fabricated plastic/acrylic facsimile.

Thirty odd years ago the original looked like something the had, well ..., died, been dug up and roughly tied to a wood shop project. Do not think the Smithsonian was consulted for restoration and preservation techniques.

May the original RIP, as respectful handling was somewhat lacking prior to it's re-interment.

[wally_wabash]

This skull is seriously bad.  And by bad, I mean completely awesome.  We've got some awesome trophies in this league, and I hope that the information departments do more to promote them in the future.  I can sort of understand why the Baird Brothers Trophy is under the radar...it's relatively new.  But Ye Olde Skull has been around for 80 years!  I realize that it disappeared for a few years recently, but hopefully the prominence of the Skull makes a comeback...I'm talking a Travolta in the 90s type of comeback. 

[seinfeld]

Black n Gold,

I was at the game, thank you for asking. They didn't try to get Flagg the ball. His only catch came on a broken play at the end of the first half. I want Wooster to win just as much as you, but I'm not going to but my head in the sand and think everything is going well when it isn't. And if you go by what Schmitz said in the article today, Denison had 9 men in the box to stop the run (which is impossible since Wooster always has at least three receivers in the pattern, and more often four or five receivers). But if we are to accept the premise that Wooster's game plan was to throw the ball, how does the person that Schmitz calls "the most explosive player I've had in the last 10 years" (Sutton played five years ago) play almost no role in the passing game or at least some role on outside runs?

Weather was somewhat of a factor, but with the new turf it was nothing like in the past. Plus, it only rained hard for a short period of time, during which Wooster had the ball and threw almost the entire time, so they didn't seem too concerned about the weather.

[wally_wabash]

...the person that Schmitz calls "the most explosive player I've had in the last 10 years" (Sutton played five years ago)...

I think coach Schmitz has an extremely short memory.  Flagg is a nice player, but in no way, shape, form, or fashion is he #7. 

[D3 Guy]

I was at the Denison vs. Wooster game on Saturday which was my first trip to Wooster and here are a few of my thoughts........

The Good - Great and I mean great college band! Some really cool traditions with the badpipes and the team coming down the hill in the pregame. Nice well kept up stands and new field turf.

The Bad - No visitor stands, I always think the lack of stands for the away team is like inviting somebody over to your house and not having a chair for them to sit in. Rain and I mean rain made for a long game with the delay but do not think it was any factor in the outcome.

The ugly - Wooster up 19 - 7 in the final minute throwing the ball 3 times to tack on a meaningless TD instead of taking a knee which IMO might have been the classy move.


As to compare Wabash to Wooster (and I have now seen both) at this point of the season Wabash is much much better with far more weapons on offense, a bigger talented line on both sides of the ball, a stud for a QB and stronger D. The Scots will have their work cut out for them!

[seinfeld]

...the person that Schmitz calls "the most explosive player I've had in the last 10 years" (Sutton played five years ago)...

I think coach Schmitz has an extremely short memory.  Flagg is a nice player, but in no way, shape, form, or fashion is he #7. 

I completely agree with you, but he actually said it. My quote is slightly off, but captures the essence of my point. Plus Schmitz supports my thought on Flagg's touches without even knowing it 

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/4658358

[oldtiger]

Rain? We're talking about rain? In Wooster? In September? True Wooster rain is viscous, horizontal, in mid-November and falling on natural turf.

[BashBacker#16]

Some post-game comments on Wabash yesterday:

- a very nice crowd of 5,000 on what turned out to be great weather for football
- knock on wood but no significant injuries to note.  We actually got some guys back yesterday that should be major contributors in the upcoming stretch - CJ Gum was back and looked great alongside Watson and Kraft.  He plays very physical and can close on the ball in a hurry.  When we go to 4 LB's and Pannell is on the field...I really like our speed on the outside.  It reminds me of the days of Josh Foster.  Ramsey was back and should be effective opposite of Whyde.  Walters got some touches yesterday at RB and could be a nice compliment to Mambourg with a bigger frame.
- Horn and Young both get overshadowed by Chamblee and Lemond but both are extremely talented WR's.  Horn can create some mismatches with his size (6'3").
- Everyone pounces on our kicking game when we can't make extra points or field goals but when we have become consistent in this area, not a word.  Spencer Whitehead has been automatic and this includes some excellent kickoffs as well.  Pannell and Kraft are fun to watch on KO coverage.
- I hope we start to limit our substitutions on the D front at DT
- Hudson's ball this year seems to have more zip

[fantastic50]

The ugly - Wooster up 19 - 7 in the final minute throwing the ball 3 times to tack on a meaningless TD instead of taking a knee which IMO might have been the classy move.

I was irritated by this, as well.  It might have been excusable if the second unit was in, working on their timing against a "live" defense, but having the starters pass for a TD in that situation seemed tacky.  Furthermore, why risk an injury to your star player (as happened in Lexington last night) when the game is in hand?

[wally_wabash]

I don't think it's that terrible that Wooster punched that last one in.  If the Scots have been having as much red zone trouble as has been reported here, why not take the opportunity to work on it in a game situation?  And at 19-7, one more score is hardly rubbing it in.  They could have sat on it, sure, but I think this is forgivable. 

[wally_wabash]

New poll is posted...Wabash is up to #12 (up 31 points to 344).  Witt makes their first appearance on the page with 4 votes.

[aueagle]

Thanks wally for the mention on the Vegas....
I was kicking  myself on Saturday ...
Wasn't it Iceman in Top Gun that said, "Never leave your wingman"
Never go against the Bishop!!

[Black n Gold]

I see the Gators are off to a nice start. I don't know much about their early opponents but what's the fans take on the team, and what are the thoughts on Wabash making the long trip up this weekend?

The Scots page is finally back up from this weekend.....

http://wooster.edu/Athletics/Athletics-News/2009/September/Football-Recap-2009-Denison.aspx