FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Random comments from the Wabash/Wheaton scrimmage:

Setting/turf/tailgates/facilities:
- what a perfect day in C-ville today, slightly cool, sunny - perfect for college football
- I was impressed with tailgating - lots of the Bash parents had tents/grills set - along with a pretty good sized Wheaton group
- the new turf just looks amazing and adds so much to the overall setting.  They also painted the stripes on the track which is a nice touch.  The scoreboard is not yet finished but I noticed 2 large pieces behind the stadium that will be going up this week.  It is much beefier than I imagined and top notch.

Scrimmage:
- during pre-game, I walked to the bookstore (of course it was closed) and noticed a few Wheaton players in sweats...one looked like Rocky Gingg so I asked him if he was Rocky; he said "yes sir."  I asked him if he was hurt again and he smiled and said he was just laying out today but would have gone if it would have been game day.  I wished him luck on the season - very nice, classy kid!  He's listed at 6'0 216 but looks thicker than that - I expect a big year from #34.

- the game/scirmmage was run just like a game for the first 4 quarters.  The final score was Wabash 16, Wheaton 7.  Chase Belton ran the Bash O for the entire 1st half and I thought looked solid.  He made a couple over very nice throws (hit Horn on a seem that was a bullet on the money setting up Wabash's first TD early.  Yoder started at RB and looked very quick and shifty when he had some room to work.
- I thought the Bash D looked stout and forced several 3 and outs - especially early.
- Bash forced a couple of key turnovers to stop Wheaton drives (1 in the first half, 1 in the 2nd half.  McClinic caught a tipped pass in the first half that was a credit to the Bash front.  Ramsey, Kolisek, Clegg, Brock, and McClintic were the main 5.
- WHeaton did have some open receivers at times and they either had drops or the QBs misfired on the pass.  Pannell looked good coming off of the edge.
- Bash had some problems with protection in both the punting game and the FG unit.  We had a PAT blocked on the first TD and we had a punt blocked - badly.  Hopefully they can get this shored up.  Spencer Whitehead's leg looks very strong this year (very deep kickoffs) and he should be a nice weapon.
- I thought the Bash O front was serviceable and it looks like there are still several guys compteting.  Belton didn't have all day to throw but he wasn't running for his life either.  The O line is big and I think we'll be ok.
- starting safeties werre Jake Martin and Sam Smith - both looked pretty good and Martin has a ton of experience. 
- Austin Hodges seems to have won one of the corner spots and looks very quick in coverage - I'm hopeful he can give us a good cover guy when going to man.
- it was hard to see QBs in any sort of running game because they played "touch" on the QBs - I have to think Chase will be a big threat when he tucks it and runs, he gets up field very quickly.
- Bash went with Vince Kenney next (technically #2 assuming the order, than went with tranffer Tyler Burke, and finished the scrimmage with Josh Miracle.
- Yoder had the 1st TD on a run, Chamblee had the 2nd TD on a scooop fumble by Lemond.  Spencer connected on a 42 yarder to round out the Bash scoring.
- I believe Wheaton's score was on a pass down the middle of the field deep in Bash territory.
- Bash used a Frosh punter (Cam Sobleski) who had a couple of nice punts and Spencer.  The Frosh seemed to be the starter.
- Frosh that caught my attention:  Nate Scola was a beast and was the first Frosh I noticed.  He is getting work at 2 different LB spots and I have to assume he will play early and a lot of minutes.  He's instinctive and a big hitter - he's #42..  There are a couple of Frosh O-linemen competing.  2 WR's that are seeing some time include Krause (North Judson) who looks very quick and fast and a kid from Fishers named Hildebrand from Fishers.  Both are also in the return game.  Most of the Frosh went later in a segment after the "game" - they split the field and the Wheaton O faced the Bash D on one end, the Wheaton O faced the Bash D on the other end.  Ross Hendrickson was the 1st Frosh QB - he looked good and moved the team.  A D lineman looked good from Crown Point named Breukman (sp?) - had 2 sacks.

All in all, I was pleased with what we saw yesterday.  You have to wonder what Rocky would have done vs. our starting D.

I can't wait for the Scots this next Saturday!!!  GO Bash!  Wabash Always Fights!!!

BB16

[wab64]

BB #16-that was a Hall-of Fame performance in your resume' of the scrimmage from Sat!. Looks like good things,except for punting. It would have been interesting with Rocky in the mix.
      Sounds like good news in the linebacking department. How was Armbruster? Good things were said about him last year-including tearing apart DePauw on the Red Squad. Have to keep tradition at Lambda Chi--Adi,Watson,Kraft,Roomes etc

[ADL70]

If any LGs want to look in on Coach Creighton, Lehigh @ Drake is on FCA Central today at 4

[aueagle]

nike: Selby built in 1929 - Cost $160.000...Ohio Stadium in 1922 - cost $1.3 million
I could find no common factors between OSU & OWU stadiums.....
Is it the players or the coach?  Where does the buck stop?...I think we all know by now....
Bishops have a big problem starting out of the gate:
2009: 0-3
2008: 0-4
2007: 0-3
2006: 0-6
Youth Movement or Players Leaving?
3 of the 3 QB's from Bishop 2009 team are all gone.... Bashioum & Varner were both #1 and #2 in rushing & passing...Geo. Gompf was in reserve.....That's 2 freshman & a soph for those scoring at home.....
Bishop tend to go w/youth.....55 Frosh - 16 Sophs - 12 Jrs - 7 Sr's
One of the 4 OWU freshman QB's played at NAIA Webber International Univ. (Florida)... He was on the JV squad...Couldn't figure if he played WR or QB...he did catch some TD passes...

[aueagle]

Men of Wabash: Anyone remember Webber International coach Kelly Scott...
Played DB at Manchester College...coached at Speedway HS, Brebeuf Prep and Cathedral HS....
http://webberathletics.com/sports/2009/10/12/sidebar_378.aspx?path=football

[seventiesraider]

nike: Selby built in 1929 - Cost $160.000...Ohio Stadium in 1922 - cost $1.3 million
I could find no common factors between OSU & OWU stadiums.....
Is it the players or the coach?  Where does the buck stop?...I think we all know by now....
Bishops have a big problem starting out of the gate:
2009: 0-3
2008: 0-4
2007: 0-3
2006: 0-6
Youth Movement or Players Leaving?
3 of the 3 QB's from Bishop 2009 team are all gone.... Bashioum & Varner were both #1 and #2 in rushing & passing...Geo. Gompf was in reserve.....That's 2 freshman & a soph for those scoring at home.....
Bishop tend to go w/youth.....55 Frosh - 16 Sophs - 12 Jrs - 7 Sr's
One of the 4 OWU freshman QB's played at NAIA Webber International Univ. (Florida)... He was on the JV squad...Couldn't figure if he played WR or QB...he did catch some TD passes...

As a HS coach, I found that schools that made unrealistic claims or recruited kids sight unseen ended up without a lot of upperclassman.

[aueagle]

nike: Will "H" stay or retire? Sure he will stay....Who would fire him...The school...the AD...the alumni?
Do you think he would step-down?
At this point...the goal is to reach a full 25 yrs at OWU...Bishop coach George Gauthier had 26 yrs as head coach...At the end of season 2011...at that point, ego will/will not take over...
Will "H" want the title of most wins AND longest tenure at OWU....
Will "The Best Recruiting Class in 10 Years" turn the trend in Delaware and produce another NCAC co-championship or at least a run at the top tier and beat Wooster, Wittenberg and Wabash and new member DePauw?
Each week, brings another glimpse into Bishop football and where it is at and where it is going.....
I still think Wesleyan can be a winning program.....Waiting is the hard part........
seventiesraider:  You are right....could be part of the problem in Delaware

[aueagle]

Wabash men might want to check this out.....aueagle has no interest or affiliation in this site...I have purchased tees for my kids school with satisfaction...cool stuff & many choices.....

http://www.prepsportswear.com/college/us/Indiana/Wabash-College-Little-Giants-Crawfordsville/Men-T-Shirts-Short-Sleeve/productlist.aspx?schoolid=2063283&category=180

[D3 Guy]

First off as I recall the connection is between OWU's stadium and the old Yankee Stadium in that the were both designed by the same firm (from St. Louis I think). As for the bishop's having attended the game with the Big Red on Saturday I found OWU to seem to lack any confidence on offense and very flat overall. The OWU team seemed stunned as they left the field, and if you have ever been to Granville for a game you know you get a good look at the teams as the exit from Deeds-Piper. With Witt and Wabash coming up the team had to know how important this game was for them.

Denison looked much improved on both sides of the ball, and it was interesting to see the pistol offense run by the Big Red.

[nike]

aueagle,
Thanks.
Thought I read somewhere that Selby was modeled after the OSU stadium.  Oh well.
I guess Hollway will be allowed to call  his shots.  Just look at Wooster and there is more passion about the team here year in and year out.
I saw OWU three times in 2005 for some reason.  I remember three freshmen: a quick scat back, Willis and a big bruising fullback, who scored from in close and Adams, a slashing running back.  And there were other freshmen who were contributing.  And they were 7-3 that year.  Plus a transfer quarterback who was pretty good. They beat Wooster at Wooster and I thought for sure they would be tough the next couple years.  But only Adams was there in 2006 I think, and a number of freshmen who seemed to have great potential were gone.   Not good since then.
And of course, the wing-T.

[bashbrother]

aueagle -

Wish I could buy you a beer my friend.  Me thinks its going to be another long year.  I do respect the heck out of you for caring about the program.

Which leads me to Boise State.  When I was growing up out in the Northwest, Boise State was somewhat a joke.  Having had friends that I played with get full-rides to UW, WSU and Oregon State, the few team mates that I had that were offered by Boise State declined and played at Junior Colleges.  I did have a talented undersized friend who played safety, that accepted and played four years in Boise.  They didn't win back then like they do today.

Well that was then and this is now

Now to my point:   As #3 and I were talking pretty much throughout the entire game tonight.  The one thing that became very clear.  Boise State believed that they could win.  They believe they can and will win every game.   Over the past 5 or 6 years, what has made Boise State into the program they are today is a total acceptance of their underdog status and players, coaches and fans that were crazy enough to believe.  For the most part, you have one, two and three star players out of high school beating four and five star blue chipper filled teams consistently.  How does this happen?   Attitude and belief that they can win.

Until someone, whether it is the coaching staff or other, gets these kids believing they can win, the struggles will continue.

[WABCOL86]

From what was discussed inthe papers as well as here, Cooch still hasn't decided on a starter at QB.  Also, the injury to Kody could be a real blow.  I plan on being at 'Bash on Saturday.  Who all is going?

[wally world]

BB #16-that was a Hall-of Fame performance in your resume' of the scrimmage from Sat!. Looks like good things,except for punting. It would have been interesting with Rocky in the mix.
      Sounds like good news in the linebacking department. How was Armbruster? Good things were said about him last year-including tearing apart DePauw on the Red Squad. Have to keep tradition at Lambda Chi--Adi,Watson,Kraft,Roomes etc

Ha! How times have changed. When I was a Lamb Chop, all we were known for was having the highest GPA on campus. Good to see the boys have branched out and gotten involved in intercollegiate sports, too.

[wally_wabash]

Boise State is legit.  Rewind a few years ago to that memorable Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma...they were a bit of a novelty act.  Fake punts, hook and laterals, Statue of Liberty...OU should have been good enough to beat all of that, but they didn't.  Of course when you win a game in OT having done all of that, it seems a little fluky.  Back to last night...Boise State didn't gadget their way to a win.  They were just better.  They weren't overmatched physically or anything else that we normally associate with BCS team vs. non-BCS team.  They have a great coach and their past success has translated to better and better athletes...to the point where they can stand toe to toe with a team like Virginia Tech and just play football without all of the high-risk goofy stuff.  

[wally_wabash]

From what was discussed inthe papers as well as here, Cooch still hasn't decided on a starter at QB.  Also, the injury to Kody could be a real blow.  I plan on being at 'Bash on Saturday.  Who all is going?

Just read the article from The Paper...I noted that it points out that Wabash won 16-7 on Saturday.  Wabash's record is still 0-0 and they might be down a big time senior WR.  Not sure Wabash "won" much of anything on Saturday.  I'm trying really hard not to Monday morning quarterback this, but how important are those scrimmage reps for a senior who has started every game for the last two years?  Are they worth the risk?  Not criticizing...just wondering out loud here.