FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[scotty]

Bashbacker765, no one should make fun of your statement, loyalty is something to be treasured...i was just curious...

[wally_wabash]

seinfeld...you're thinking way too much about this stuff.  Wabash Always Fights...it's a school slogan that has been around forever at Wabash.  Let's parse it.  

Wabash - probably speaks of or about Wabash College
Always - I shouldn't have to tell you what the word "always" means
Fights - speaks toward the attitude that one will continue to strive for success regardless of the situation

Put it all together and you get a simple phrase saying that Wabash men aren't going to give up or quit or however else you want to say it.  What the phrase doesn't say is anything at all about any other institution.  Wabash Always Fights.  Not Wabash and Nobody Else Always Fights or No School With the Exception of Wabash Fights.  The phrase implies absolutely nothing about anybody else except Wabash.  There is no other way to rightfully read that statement unless you're sniffing around for a cyber-spar.  

Really, you're trying way too hard to make a point that isn't there.

It's important for you guys to go look up the Lafitte records for yourselves...if Smeds or anybody else associated with Wabash does it, accusations of spin and number-twisting will certainly fly from anybody and everybody regardless of how much said accusers know of the numbers in the first place.   

And for anybody who made it to the end of this rant I'd like to direct your attention to the North Region branch of our little directory tree.  In the North Region you'll find a new board that I launched for NCAC pick 'em which has been cleverly titled "NCAC Pick 'Em".  Please feel free to play along this season!  

[Vince McMahon]

I'm definitely not taking sides here, but I think we can all remember what happened to Wooster against Oberlin in '03 when Sutton DIDN'T play.  Or maybe he played hurt.  One or the other.  That being said, I think Wooster's playoff run will mean a lot in the next few years.  Most highschool kids don't know jack squat about D3 football until they actually start playing, so when a d3 recruiter can show them they'll be playing for a successful team, it means a lot.  I know when I was at AC (right after O'Keefe left) a lot of guys on the team were drawn by the logo at the bottom of the information packet that said NCAC Champions 1987,88, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, & 97.  NCAA DIII Champions 1990.  Wooster may regress a bit this year, but I don't think they're looking at the same situation AC did last year when they graduated almost every starting offensive specialist from their championship team.

[smedindy]

I was just trying to get those who post without the facts, and complain about the fact that we're not that concerned about losing Lafitte, to get the facts on their own.

3-0 without him.
3-4 with him.

Many of those losses, Lafitte was put into the game and it seemed to throw everything off a bit.

If he was back 100% and was fitting into the team then I'd welcome him back. After last season, I'm more disappointed in losing Gorrell and I've said that on the other boards.

Once again, Seinfeld is more concerned about others than his own business.

[Pat Coleman]

3-0 without him.

That's 3-0 in three games against teams a combined 8-22, and that's with Wash U holding making the numbers look good. Kalamazoo and Oberlin were a combined 2-18.

Just for the record, trying to avoid selective facting. If that's a word.

[seinfeld]

SmedIndy,

Is that last line supposed to be an insult at me? Are you saying only Wabash people can talk about Wabash?

OK, from now one, everyone must identify themselves as to what team they root for and only talk about that team. That will make for an interesting board.

And if my memory serves me correctly, there was mention made before last season how Lafitte, along with Sutton, would be among the best runners in Div. III, similar to Chuck Moore and I believe Jamal Robertson at ONU a few years ago. Now Gorrell is a bigger loss than Lafitte? I just don't get it.

[scotty]

are the 2 Wabash running backs playing at other schools?...

[wally_wabash]

Lafitte is on the roster at Arizona State University.  He has to sit out this year because of the transfer...he was the leading rusher in ASU's spring game earlier this year. 

I've heard where Gorrell went off to, but I don't see him listed on that school's roster so I won't say for sure where he ended up...I don't want to speculate. 

seinfeld, you'd be wise to just give up on trying to figure out the whole Gorrell/Lafitte thing and why Gorrell leaving was as important, if not more so, than Lafitte leaving.  It's been explained, ad nauseum, and since you dismiss everything Wabash posters say out of hand, you'll never get it.  Time to let this one go I think. 

[wittdaone]

I remember the comment from a Wabash supporter that their running back was the second coming of Barry Sander.  Not to say that other supporters have not exaggerated, but that one stands out.  




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[BashDad]

wittdaone:

Hopefully, you read the last several posts--at 50-70%, Lafitte was a liability, not the plus that we wanted--and needed.  Now that he is back to 100% at D1A Arizona State, we wish him the best.  It was no mistake that he was picked NCAC "newcomer of the year" in '02.  No-one at Wabash wanted a healthy Lafitte to go elsewhere.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!! 

[BashBacker#16]

Guys,

How many times has Wooster beaten Wabash in football?  Anyone have that stat handy?

Also, ditto on Smeds request to not bundle all Wabash posters together...here is a statement on Lafitte:

- Lafitte's injury last year was HUGE to the Bash offense - HUGE.  Still recall the play in the Red & White when he went down...  Many close to the team were thinking 2,000 yards was not out of reach.  He was an unbelievable talent but he is gone and basically was out all of last year.  On top of that, with the transfer of Austin Gorrell - yes there is concern for a RB stepping up.

[gobash83]

Well, its good to be back on the board.  For a variety of reasons, I can't engage in the continuous "my team is great and your team is miserable" debate that permeates this board until the season is actually upon us.  

I will readily concede that some of my Wabash compatriots (and even myself on occasion) wear blinders when it comes to our team.  And it shouldn't be a surprise if, from an outsider's perspective, it appears that supporters of Witt, Woo, 'Gheny, OWU, etc. do the same.  We wouldn't be fans (the shorten form of fanatics) if we didn't.  Besides, since this is really just the electronic version of talk radio, you have to recognize that the barriers of entry for the ignorant are low!

Now on to football.  For  the Little Giants to have a good season, they need to settle on a QB and stick with him.  While there are 4 pretty good ones on the roster, I think the real battle is between two.  I have a personal preference but really believe that we just need to pick a horse and ride it.

The other big issue is running back.  Lafitte was a talented back, without question, and the offense will miss his production and potential.  While some may have compared him to Sutton, I don't think he was at that level.  However his loss will be magnified by the absence of Gorrell.  As the statistics from the 2004 season show, the loss of Lafitte alone would have been manageable.  With both Lafitte and Gorrell gone, a large burden rests on Ogden.  While Chris is a strong back, I just don't know if he will be able to carry the load.

                          GP-GS  Att Gain Loss  Net   Avg  TD Long Avg/G
Chris Ogden         10-6   119  452   20  432   3.6   2   29  43.2
Aaron Lafitte         7-3    79  418   14  404   5.1   5   41  57.7
Austin Gorrell       10-1    62  395   11  384   6.2   1   23  38.4

If those two significant issues can be resolved, then Wabash competes for the title.  If not, it fights for a winning record.  

Overall, I think it is Witt's season, if it stays healthy.  Woo has big shoes to fill and I just don't think it is possible to repeat after such a significant loss (let's be honest, other than MU, most D-III schools re-stock not just re-load).  I am intrigued by OWU but feel that they may fall anywhere between 2nd and 4th in the conference.  I think 'Gheny will surprise some folks.  Overall, I suspect that Witt wins the conference and 'Bash, Woo, OWU and Gheny fight it out, with each drawing some blood from the other.  As for the remaining 5, I hope they play hard, have fun and that no one gets hurt.

[wooscot]

Wow, didn't think my last post would get that much attention.  Regardless, it was actually me who made the comment well before the new website was up about Schafer, but if you want to take credit and look smart come November, be my guest.  

Drivel or dribble....who cares!?  

[BashBacker#16]

GoBash83,

So you believe that Witt will beat Wabash IN CRAWFORDSVILLE on 10/22?

Question:  How does Witt shore up their defensive unit?  Do you realize the points (& yards) they gave up last year?  Now they report their FS (3rd leading tackler) is out for the year.  They also lost Tracewell - another standout D-back that had a very good year. 

From a matchup standpoint, I think Bash has the advantage.  Bash's strength is most definitely their D, that bodes well with Witt's strength - their O.  Remember the last time Witt came to Hollett Stadium ranked #8 in the country???

[wooscot]

One more thing, its crap my stars or conference standing or whatever it is has dropped to almost nothing due to the changeover (which is sweet).  I spent too much time slacking off at work to have it all thrown away, Patrick!  

Anyway, having now actually read all the posts, I offer a few commentsso:  Yes, it does appear the same topics re-occur every year, particularly the one about how awesome Wabash will be despite graduating 22 starters and 55 lettermen and how bad Wooster will be without Sutton...or Duerr....or whoever else was the SOLE reason for success the season before.  I've played against teams will one elite player (R.J. Bowers at Grove City) and we beat them everytime b/c we had a better TEAM.  The same thing happened last year with Wooster - better TEAM equals victories.  

Also, I don't think anybody has ever claimed the NCAC is mad or upset that Wabash is in the league.  In fact, I've never heard one person here or otherwise state the league would be better off without Wabash.  Personally, I think the Bash is a great, great addition to the conference.