FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

It's about tradition, and building a tradition of winning AND of attendance.

Wittenberg is number one in all-time wins in Division III , Wabash is number six and Ohio Wesleyan is 13th and Denison is 23rd. . Interesting!  Four teams in the top four all-time wins in Division III. In most wins in the 2000's Wabash is 12th and Wittenberg is 19th. Wittenberg was 8th in total wins in the the 1990's. Allegheny was 4th.  It seems all the programs have slid some nationally over the past twenty years.

Well, except Wabash. They weren't regarded as a national power until the aughts. Witt has always been solid and a threat, but there are some better teams in the neighborhood now! Gheny's receded a bit, but they have made the playoffs recently.

This leaves OWU...again...

Historically, they've been good, not great. Their winning percentage is the second lowest among the 25 D-3 programs with the most wins. (Denison is the lowest).

With all those Wiitenberg wins, I wonder why they have not tried to schedule Mount Union in the past 20 years? 

Maybe Mt. Union hasn't tried to schedule Witt? Remember the OAC has just one slot for non-conference games. And now, with the UAA / NCAC agreement, Witt has just one slot too. So fans can't complain about Wooster, Witt, Wabash or anyone not scheduling Mt. Union with those restrictions.

[Black n Gold]

Any new news on the Denison search?

[Raider 68]

Mount may have tried in the past to schedule with Wiitenberg, but you are right only one open game available really does restrict what you can do. My guess is the Raiders have wanted to go outside Ohio for their one non-conference game.

[D3 Guy]

Word is that Denison just ended taking applications and it may be mid March before a coach is named, the rest of the staff is still in place at least until a new coach is announced.

[wally_wabash]

Wow...that's a long time to have that search hang out there.  That has to crush their recruiting season, doesn't it?  Fall applications have to be due either before they get around to naming a coach or soon enough afterward that the new coach won't have any time to go after players, right? 

[D3 Guy]

As I understand it the most if not all the assistants coaches are under contract and have been asked to stay on for next year as strange as that may seem. The question at Denison over the last few years has not been finding players interested in the the big red its been getting them accepted into the school!

[smedindy]

Coaches need to work together with admissions to be sure the recruits get accepted. And no, not in an underhanded way. In a way like, "Can he get in with this GPA, this SAT/ ACT, and these activities?"

[formerd3db]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Wally on that - seems a long time for getting the new head coach in place, even at DIII.  On the other hand, I'm glad that the assistant coaches have the opportunity to remain if they desired.  In addition, perhaps that is what might help this transition period in that they are permanent status at the school and familiar with Denison's policies, etc. in the course of conducting their recruiting under the current circumstances/situation.  I will say, though, that IMO, and were it my decision, I would think it best to make the selection of the head coach before mid-March.

[aueagle]

Denison has a lot going for it....Selective admission's....great campus...an updated Deeds Field
and night games at Piper rock...What coach wouldn't want to add their name with Keith Piper and
Woody Hayes....Sure, the window will start to close on recruiting if the administration drags this out...
I am not a fan of retaining assistants, but with time getting short for the Big Red..it might be the only
way for the transition to take place. How many have had  their photo with the Woody Rock at The Piper!!!

[formerd3db]

Denison has a lot going for it....Selective admission's....great campus...an updated Deeds Field
and night games at Piper rock...What coach wouldn't want to add their name with Keith Piper and
Woody Hayes....Sure, the window will start to close on recruiting if the administration drags this out...
I am not a fan of retaining assistants, but with time getting short for the Big Red..it might be the only
way for the transition to take place. How many have had  their photo with the Woody Rock at The Piper!!!

Regarding retaining assistants; while I would agree with you that any new head coach wants to have a staff of his own choosing, I have no problem with retaining assistants.  It all depends on the situation.  In some of those, throwing someone out just for the sake of it i.e. just because a new head man comes in is not the always the best route for a variety of reasons.  On the other hand, sometimes it is the more appropriate option.  Obviously, it is easier perhaps for some of the younger, single assistants to move on if that situation dictates/presents, yet for someone who has a family, is committed to the school and has done a good job, IMO, the head man should consider retaining them.  Again, every situation is different.  In the case at Denison, as you say, I think that with having the current assistant staff in place, this may very well be extremely helpful.  Just MO.  

[aueagle]

The Big Red media guide lists 7 assistants....I saw only one with a Denison job description, outside of the football duties. The other key to consider, would be the high school connection that the other's might have. The other bio's on the assistants did not contain any HS duties.
As the folks in Granville ponder the next move...I am reminded of the line in Apocalypse Now......
"Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger"
Every day Denison delays the decision, they get weaker....The other schools (in the bush) get stronger by taking the student-athletes......Stronger-Weaker-Stronger-Weaker.............

[wittdad]

Witt played the Raiders regularly in the late 80's while still in the OAC. Actually have a winning all time record of 19-9 vs. Mt. Union but most wins coming many years back. Easy look up on either Witt or the Mounts websites.

[wally_wabash]

Witt played the Raiders regularly in the late 80's while still in the OAC. Actually have a winning all time record of 19-9 vs. Mt. Union but most wins coming many years back. Easy look up on either Witt or the Mounts websites.

But that was before Raider fans could bite their thumb at everyone and insinuate that your team is cowardly because you don't put MUC on your schedule...even if doing so 1) makes no sense and 2) isn't logistically feasible. 

[Raider 68]

Witt played the Raiders regularly in the late 80's while still in the OAC. Actually have a winning all time record of 19-9 vs. Mt. Union but most wins coming many years back. Easy look up on either Witt or the Mounts websites.

But that was before Raider fans could bite their thumb at everyone and insinuate that your team is cowardly because you don't put MUC on your schedule...even if doing so 1) makes no sense and 2) isn't logistically feasible. 

I do not think Mount would view Wiitenberg that way, but it takes both schools willing to schedule. The biggest issue is having only one game available.

[Joe Wally]

According to the Hammond Times, Gary Andrean wide out Mike Skinner will head to the Bash this fall.

Always good to see another Niner in the fold.