FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Seinfeld - obviously you fret over every last sentence that someone says, that's all. If I recall, you also led the charge complaining about Wabash posts last year too, and it got annoying and tiresome and took away from the discussion at hand. And, if you recall, as the season swirled down the drain, many of us were fretting and lamenting as well. Selective memory is a wonderful thing, though.

Pat - I understand what you're saying - but Lafitte didn't do much of anything in those losses and the offense was rather geared towards him when he was there.  It just wasn't a good year and the team looked better when Gorrell was in the game at RB than when Lafitte was.

Wittdaone - One poster did get a bit carried away, but his emergence in 2003 was a breath of fresh air. Last year was a bitter icy wind right in the face.

[oldguy]

I agree with wooscot.  If anything, everyone on here is happy Wabash joined the league to increase the strength of the NCAC.  That whole "the world is against us, and we will show them" argument doesn't work anymore. 

Its funny that when a Bash poster predicts anything against Wabash, they get attacked by their own...a la BashBacker and GoBash.  Funny.

Also, if I remember correctly from a previous post, one of you Bashers said that we don't understand the all-male situation at Wabash.  What is there to not understand?  It would suck.  One of the main things that got me through those long days in a boring class was the cute girl sitting near by.  Sugarcoat it all you want, there is a lot to be said about being able to look at something around campus other than a bunch of guys. 

[wally_wabash]

Nobody got attacked.  That's the problem here...you're too quick to label a point of debate as an "attack" or some such connotatively negative term.  GB83 says that he thinks Witt is the cream of the NCAC crop this year and should win the conference (the NCAC coaches and media happen to agree with him).  BB90 rebuts with a couple of good points about the matchups in the Wabash/Witt game.  How is that an attack? 

Lighten up...take a step back and think about the difference between launching an "attack" and engaging in spirited debate.  You're interpreting things as being far more vitriolic than they actually are and that's goes across the board and not just in this one instance. 

And you're completely ignorant and off base about student life at Wabash...but you already knew that. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to tiptoe back across the eggshells...

[scotty]

gator, agree with you wholeheartedly about Wooster's championship season helping recruiting...when an athlete has a choice from quality academic institutions, it is natural to be attracted...also, unlike the schools that bring in 75 to 100 freshman, note that Wooster had 32, Wabash 44, Depauw 34, Allegheny 42, Capital 46...not sure on Wittenberg or Ohio Wesleyan...

[gobash83]

I certainly do not feel that I was "attacked" by BB90.  He makes good points.  I will point out though that I didn't say that Wabash would lose to Witt at home or that Witt would go undefeated...rather, its just that at the end of the day I think Witt wins the conference. We have road games at 'Gheny, OWU and Wooster and, given recent history, who knows how those games will turn out. 

I also pointed out in my previous post that I think Wabash can indeed contend for the title IF it addresses the two areas of concern that I mentioned (QB and RB).  If we do not, then I am not sure that "holes" in Witt's defense are as big of a problem.  I might add that the same issue applys to the other contenders as well (they either have gaps in their returning offense or an offensive system that is not condusive to scoring points). 

I certainly will root for Wabash but am not confident sitting here today that we can do what needs to be done.  I hope to be proved wrong.

[scotty]

gobash83, in your opinion, is it unusual for Wabash to lose 2 rbs in a single year...is it symptomatic of raising the level of play in D3 or just a bump in the road...

[reality check]

Who is Barry Sander?

[BashDad]

Reality Check:

Barry who?.....Oh...., him.  You need to ask Wittdaone.

[ScotsFan]

I would like to get back to talking about just who has the best chance of winning this conference.  Personally, I think that any of the top five in the coaches and media polls could make an argument in their favor. 

I kind of agree with gobash83 with regards to Witt being the favorites.  Their offense is a scoring machine.  But BB90 also makes a valid point about the glaring weakness that is Witt's defense. 

Looking at the conference schedules for the top 5, one would have to favor Allegheny.  They have Witt, Wabash, Wooster and OWU all at the swamp!  That could prove to be a huge advantage.  Out of the top 5 Wabash only has one home date vs. Witt and they are on the road @ 'Gheny, Wooster and OWU.  The Bishops also only have one home date against one of the other 4 and that is Wabash.  Wooster and Witt both have 2 home and 2 away.  Witt has Wooster and OWU home, while the Scots have Wabash and OWU at home.  The conference winner will definately have to hold serve at home, especially in the cases of Wabash and OWU and in their cases they will have to pull out at least 2 big road wins along the way IMO if they want any chance of claiming the NCAC title.  The Gators really have things in place, at least as far as the schedule is concerned, to sneak up on some again this year.

GO SCOTS!!!     

[lancer98]

Just curiuos.  What is the the trip time from Wabash to 'Gheny.  That has be one long trip.

[oldguy]

I believe it will come down to the Wabash-Witt game.  Wabash may lose at Allegheny, but if they beat Witt, they will hold the tiebreaker if both finish with one conference loss.  I don't think OWU, Woo, or Gheny are strong enough to go undefeated in the conference.  Woo and OWU won't sneak up on Witt in Springfield.  At Meadville will be a good game, but I think the Tigers could pull it off.  If they don't, dare I say a 3 way tie.

The Witt defense does worry me.  I remember the days when Witt would win games based soley on their defense.  Those were good times.

[tiger_alum]

I remember the days when Witt would win games based soley on their defense.  Those were good times.

Yes old guy, those were the days. 

Hey,  I have an idea...is there any way to put a poll on here.  That way everyone could vote for who they really think will win the NCAC.   You know, just to see what people on the board think?  Just a thought.

[gobash83]

To answer your question Scotty, I do think the loss by Wabash of two high caliber backs at the same time is an anomaly.  As a general rule, Wabash men who get involved in sports teams and other (school-sanctioned) extracurricular activities are much more likely to stay.  This holds true for the football team as well.  I think you had someone in Laffite who wanted a shot at a bigger stage (D-I).  I don't know the reasons for Gorrell's decision, but since my observation was of the general rule, you are going to have exceptions and certainly Gorrell wasn't the first.  I think it was a coincidence to have both occur at the same time.

Lancer--I have not driven the trip, but have to think that Wabash to 'Gheny has to be 7+ hours (observing traffic laws, of course).  

On the broader point, I don't think the conference champ will be undefeated in the conference this season and that there could be a log jam at second.  'Gheny may have the scheduling advantage and, if the Gators seed the clouds and do a rain dance who knows what will happen (except that someone named Noah will be building an ark after four weeks of rain).  But I think the result will be:

Witt, with 1 conference loss (at Wabash);

Wabash, with 2 conference losses ( 2 from the Woo, 'Gheny & OWU trips);

Wooster with 2 conference losses (Witt and either 'Bash or 'Gheny);

'Gheny with 2 conference losses (Witt and either 'Bash, OWU or another conf. team);

OWU with 3 conference losses (Witt, Woo, and either 'Bash, Gheny or another conf. team).

Of course, I may be proved wrong (and, in the case of Wabash, hope to be in its favor).          

[wooscot]

Somebody please educate me on something.  What is with the Karma indicator and stars?  How does one gain or lose karma and stars?   

[oldguy]

Maybe Gorrell just wanted to have some ladies around.