FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

Former player.

Thanks for being a "stand-up" guy.  You're accepted!

[bishopowu]

Look at this past saturdays game OWU vs Allegheny...Allegheny has 21 Seniors, OWU 7. The senior class im sure had about 40-50 players come into the program as freshman and only 6 technically are still around because one of them (don't exactly remember who) was a transfer student. This program always loses players, and not only just average to below average talent but above average players. I remember the last couple of years players that were starting and playing a lot of plays a game and are no longer around and have quit. AUEAGLE, all the seniors of this class contribute to this squad in someway right? I just don't get it 12 wins since 2005, Wittenberg already has 8 on the year.

[bashbrother]

This thing isn't going to get figured out on this board.   There is a problem, there is difference of opinion on a solution.  Hope OWU gets it figured out.

And Down the stretch they come:

Witt -  4-0  -  Bye,  Wabash, @Wooster
(They should win easily against a depleted BYE squad, Wabash visits "The Game", up to road to Wooster)

Wabash - 4-0  - Gheny, @ Witt
(Senior led Gheny teams visits,  the game in Springfield most have had circled all year.)

Allegheny - 3-1  - @ Wabash,@ Hiram
(Almost a must win @ Wabash.....Hiram) (Oberlin is a non-conference game...again... applause!)

Wooster - 2-1 - Hiram, Kenyon, Witt
(Witt not playing well on the road, could Wooster catch them?....)

[OWUapologist]

And I might add The Bishop was a fine RB back in his day.  However, while I see and respect his allegiance to H and the coaching staff, he cannot be happy with how OUR alma matter has performed in the years since we left.  It's not the OWU we grew to know and if he is not upset with the current status of the program, well, then something is wrong.  TU is correct along with others, you just have to read the post game write ups and see how many frosh are starting year after year.  While I would like to say this is great recruiting, it is cause for concern and has been happening for a long time.  I don't want to pile on but it is past time for something to happen.  As a wise man once said, the numbers don't lie and while I appreciate the aspect of D3 football being more than wins and losses, I am just not sure I can accept that.  12 wins in 5 years is unacceptable.

[Ryder16]

So, maybe I have missed something, but is this an issue of a slow start (0-2) and coach H giving underclassmen a chance to play in an effort to build 3rd and 4th year experienced players ? and just neglecting the more talented upper class men ? Or are the upperclassmen leaving the program in the off season for other reasons, thus leaving coach H forced to use younger players? If they are leaving, I am curious as to the reasons why ( ineledgibility, transfer.. ect) or is this a chicken and egg discussion ?

[nike]

From people I know who have kids that either played at OWU or had high school teammates who went there, the deal is that loyalty to the individual players is selective.  Again, this is third person, but I have seen OWU a lot over the last 15 or so years and it seems as if good, quality players who stay with the program all four years and should expect to start at some point, because they are good AND because they have put in their time, are quickly replaced by younger players, especially after several losses in the beginning of the season.
I can remember  in 2004 or 2005, I think, a senior quarterback, Sir Louis, a good player, but they ran that wing T.  He gets hurt, then Hymes, a transfer, takes over.  An underclassman.  Sir Louis gets well, but plays very little the rest of the season.
Flash forward--I remember some underclassman replacing Hymes eventually and I do not think Hymes played football his last year, but was at school.  I remember them because they were quarterbacks, but evidently that happens a lot.  So I think that some players stay at OWU and do not play, while others who want to continue to play ball transfer.  We looked at all the NCAC schools in Ohio for two of our children and the academic requirements were fairly close.  Kenyon and Denison I remember were very selective.  So I do not see more kids at OWU being ineligible than anywhere else.
Bottom line, whatever the reason, 12 wins in 5 years would not be acceptable at most schools in the NCAC, or anywhere else for that matter.  Heck, didn't Hiram fire a coach after just one winless season a couple years ago?
What I do know is that at Wooster, you see players' careers progress steadily all four years.  The really good players will start right away, as they should.  But they all stick around.

[bishopowu]

NIKE, you are correct. Steve Hymes transferred into OWU from another school and took over for QB Sir Louis. Hymes got hurt in the first game of the 2007 season. When he got hurt Freshman QB at the time (Fisher) replaced him and played the rest of the year. When Hymes returned he did not start or play so he called it quits. FYI Fisher should be a Senior i believe this year and is no longer with the program.

[smedindy]

Let us hope the LGs play at their top level against the Gators. I don't think they'll be looking ahead, but you never know...

[wabashcpa]

Let us hope the LGs play at their top level against the Gators. I don't think they'll be looking ahead, but you never know...

I believe the Washington wake-up call will be enough to keep them from looking past anybody.  They will need their "A" game to beat the Gators.  I hope to make it to this game - should be a great one!

[bashbrother]

Again, I was so impressed by the Little Giants ability to come into last weekends game missing many of their leaders on the d-line and play a solid game.  This is a great sign.  Gotta love depth.

Let's hope that those injured Wabash players are able to contribute on the field this weekend.  Allegheny is a well coached team that will always come to play.

Big game for both teams.

WAF!

[sflzman]

D3 Top 25 Fan Poll

1. UW-Whitewater (20) 500
2. Mt. Union     479
3. Wesley    453
4. North Central   435
5. St. Thomas   417
6. UMHB    394
7. Delaware Valley  336
8. Hardin-Simmons  318
9. Ohio Northern   305
10. Linfield    300
11. Wartburg    288
12. Wittenberg   269
13. Thomas More   264
14 Wheaton    242
15. Montclair St.   233
16. Trine    210
17. Coe     169
18. Bethel    167
19. Central 134
20. Hampden-Sydney  133
21. California Lutheran  90
22. Ursinas     84
23. St. John Fisher   56
24. Alfred     46
25. Pacific Lutheran 46

Dropped Out: Case Western Reserve

Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve (36), Depauw (21), Rowan (17), Wabash (17), Franklin (16), Cortland St. (12), Willamette (8), Augustana (4)

[wally_wabash]

Thoughts from Saturday...

...honestly, I've got nothing.  I didn't see the game or listen to the game and was able to only very occasionally check the score (believe I caught Wabash up 10-0 and then up by a whole bunch later in the game).  Obviously I was pleased with the result, particularly on the heels of Allegheny's 17-16 game just seven days prior.  Going to Granville and winning wasn't the point...the point was going to Granville and leaving no doubt, which they did.  It shows me that the LGs are playing with a level of focus that maybe wasn't quite there prior to St. Louis. 

Which brings us, finally, to week 9 and the tootsie roll center of Wabash's 2010 schedule.  IF Wabash is going to get to the playoffs via AQ they must beat Wittenberg.  The whole process is easier if they beat Allegheny and Wittenberg, but Wittenberg is the absolute must-have (I'll have more on why the LGs have a mulligan if things go sideways on Saturday should that discussion be necessary...hoping that we don't have to hash out tiebreaks this year).  As for this weekend's game...Allegheny will be the best team that Wabash has seen so far in 2010 and they have the best quarterback Wabash has seen so far in 2010.  The secondary will be tested, but this group has performed well all year.  It will be critical for Wabash's DL to get pressure and force Salopek into some uncomfortable situations (side note: Wabash's DL has been a lot better this year, especially in the last few weeks, than I think most people would have thought).  It will also be critical for Wabash to be able to get the offense clicking early.  The first seven gmes have all been a ramp up to these last three games.  Wabash seems to be playing some of their best football right now...we shall see if the solid games vs. Oberlin and Denison build into a solid game against Allegheny. 

[aueagle]

nike & bishopowu: All the Bishop QB's mentioned were very solid...
Mike Fisher, an outstanding athlete, was a medical, as far as I know.
I know the guy that recruited him...and he speaks w/the parents,
I should ask him.

[ADL70]

I chose administration focus, because I think that would result in coaching change as well as other benficial changes. 

[aueagle]

This board needs Big Red, Puppy, Yeoman people...
What happened to The Lass?