FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

wab64:

Thanks for sharing your memories.  Those sound great.  Also, Pat has related the update on Franklin Field.  I've been there also, although a few years before the renovation when I helped out covering a University of Chicago game there against WashU.  Even then, the old stadium was great - it and the field has that great nostalgic feel and look.  WashU teams were in the "big time" way back in the 1920's and 1930's (and before), although then St. Louis U had teams also.  Anyway, the only disappointing aspect today (IMO) and one which some people here have discussed a while back on this and similar topics (i.e. old stadiums and attendance) is that WashU doesn't get great attendance at their fb games as compared to your Wabash and other of our fellow DIII teams.  Too bad as it is, indeed, a great place to watch a college fb game.  Anyway, after playing on your old field (actually it was Hollett by then i.e. about 13-14 years later than yours ) and the last time I visited.,being there for my former college roommate's son's Albion NCAA playoff game against 'bash about 4-5 years ago, I still like the atmosphere - the somewhat closed in cozy feel, with the buildings around as has been noted here.  Not having ever been to a Monon Bell game, however, (since we're still playing on that same weekend also ), I can only imagine what that atmosphere is like from your and other people's descriptions and the photos, of course.

[aueagle]

wab64: Wabash & Ohio Wesleyan had a nice run from
1953 to 1973....Bishops 12 - LG's 9
1960 - 1963 OWU 4 - Bash 0
It would be painful to look from
2010 back to the 14-14 game in 1985.

[wabco]

Cave
Ah ... but you forget Phys-Chem 8 am saturday mornings.

On another subject as this is the "quiet" part of the football season... but still a NCAC subject ...  swimming:  As I suspect you may know, Wabash finished 3rd in NCAC men's swimming.  What perhaps is less known is that 2 NCAC teams were designated by the College Swimming Coaches Assn to the American Scholar All-American Team:  (the top 40 academic average teams in Div III)   Oberlin at #6 with a team GPA of 3.4 and Wabash at #13 with a GPA of 3.29.

[wally_wabash]

Current Wabash players probably have slightly less favorable memories of playing at Francis Field.  I still shake my head thinking about that game. 

[Joe Wally]

Cave
Ah ... but you forget Phys-Chem 8 am saturday mornings.

On another subject as this is the "quiet" part of the football season... but still a NCAC subject ...  swimming:  As I suspect you may know, Wabash finished 3rd in NCAC men's swimming.  What perhaps is less known is that 2 NCAC teams were designated by the College Swimming Coaches Assn to the American Scholar All-American Team:  (the top 40 academic average teams in Div III)   Oberlin at #6 with a team GPA of 3.4 and Wabash at #13 with a GPA of 3.29.

Excellent!  My cousin's daughter swam for the Yeomen (Yeowomen?).  This was her senior season.  Great program!

[formerd3db]

aueagle:  another great history lesson/story for us - thanks!

wabco and Joe Wally: maybe 'Bash and Oberlin will be challenging Kenyon's swimming program more regualarly?? Congrates to you Joe Wally on your daughter's fine career.  Great memories, I'm sure.

wally wabash:  ouch, indeed, I'm sure you are right on that one and it still "stings".

[cave2bens]

Thanks for pointing out the swimming performances, Wabco.  Birrer and Rhinesmith had great finals, and hopefully the program will continue to escalate as comparisons in the prelims and overall squad depth for Denison and Kenyon were impressive (as were the times in the 100/200 fly and IM events compared to those four decades back  ).

Cave
Ah ... but you forget Phys-Chem 8 am saturday mornings.

I was down the mall in "Yandes" on Saturday mornings, a captive of Herr Doktor Karl Heinz Planitz, before grabbing the red sweater and heading for Hollett as one of Fred Eisenbach's Merry Bandsmen.

[wabco]

More academic congrats and honors for NCAC.  This time in Cross:

While the Wabash Cross team finished 13th nationally athletically; it was 18th academically, behind Kenyon.

Of the top 125 Div III Cross teams academically, the NCAC should be proud:

Kenyon  GPA       3.49
Wabash GPA       3.46
OWU      GPA       3.32
Oberlin   GPA       3.29
Wooster GPA       3.29
Dannies  GPA       3.26
Witt        GPA        3.19
Denison  GPA        3.18

[wab64]

wab64: Wabash & Ohio Wesleyan had a nice run from
1953 to 1973....Bishops 12 - LG's 9
1960 - 1963 OWU 4 - Bash 0
It would be painful to look from
2010 back to the 14-14 game in 1985.
[/quote----  Eagle- thanks for refreshing my recollection about 60-63. However 0-4 against OWU doesn't carry the same sting as 0-4 against DePauw. Another 4 game series was with Bradley (2-2).They were a basketball powerhouse in those days, but interesting to play in fb. Most of their line were rejects who had eaten their way off the hoops roster and made to play fb to get some value out of them for their scholarships. Some pretty titanic guys for small college ball, but minimal quickness

[formerd3db]

aueagle:

Hey, OWU had decent home avg. attendance at Selby with 2,405 which outdrew Hope's 2335 avg.  I know you want 5,000 at Selby though!   If some of the schools below can do it, I think that OWU can eventually do it.

Also, congrats to Wabash for their attendance.  Otterbein had a fantastic 4,200 home avg and even B-W had 4,327, even though they are from "that other league"!   Both those schools outdrew Mount Union - surprising! In addition, it was wild to see that Amherst (the Lord Jeffs for you history buffs!) had over 5,000 for avg. home attendance as well as Grove City College (PA) which had 3,420 - not bad for such schools; not bad at all! 

[aueagle]

Thanks formerd3db!! We did ok at Selby this year...the first night game bumped-up the average and having Wabash at home didn't hurt.  I really think 5k can be done...but everyone has to be on-board.
Congrats to the LG's....great fans turn out...and you guys are #4!
Kudos to the Gators as well...outstanding effort & support by the WPa program.
Thanks to D3 for putting this info up...always good stuff to see and study...

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Still has a nice ring to it...47-0

[formerd3db]

You are welcome, aueagle.  I "hope" to see Hope's attendance increase next year as well.  I trust you are doing well and surviving this latest blast of snow and cold weather.  I am really ready for spring (and spring practice!)

[BashBacker#16]

formerD3db,

You fail to mention another interesting fact about the attendance rankings!  DePauw averaged 1,586 fans in Greendingle.  Gross and sad.  Especially considering this year's team was arguably one of the best in school history.  At least until 47-0.  47 zip.  47 to notta, zilch, blank.

This shirt is being sold on campus...  I love them.  Ordered 9 of them.  HAHA.
view here - https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xnWwAhQ2wljmgeZ_cUnJwA?feat=directlink

Wabash Always Fights!

[wabco]

I know this is a football board ... but the attached about Mac Petty transends.  I think it is what Div III is about and I know it is what Wabash is about.

http://www.wthr.com/story/14078938/legendary-wabash-hoops-coach-retiring