FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ExTartanPlayer]

In 06 i remember seeing both CMU and Millsaps play in the regular season and knew CMU would be in trouble.  Millsaps had some pretty good athletes that year especially on D (Their front 7 were pretty big and athletic).  The SCAC however ain't quite what it used to be.....

We rushed for 260 yards, held the ball for 40 minutes, and won by three touchdowns.  What "trouble" did we have?

Not trying to argue, I'm just a little puzzled what you mean when you say that you "knew CMU was in trouble"...my original point was that we were underdogs in that game as the weakling UAA champ, and we ultimately won, illustrating that sometimes the "on paper" underdog CAN win a game (a la Chicago vs. Wabash this upcoming week) - I just think it's silly to boldly predict a Chicago victory based on their "athletic defense that moves a lot" when they've given up 400+ yards and 25+ points in three straight games (all significantly lesser opponents than Bash, too)

[BashDad]

My Bold Prediction:

Wabash 42
Chicago 7

Belton 18-27 315 3TDs, Rushes for 80-100, ONE sack.

BASH comes alive.

[wally_wabash]

When I saw a LG TE get behind 2 OWU DB's

Holm is a small dude...easy to lose track of him going up the seam.   

But on a serious note, I don't have a coaches tape but there are any number of reasons why Holm is going to make big 3rd down grabs going up the hash this season. 
1) Wabash is running well enough that you've got to respect the play action
2) Horn/Chamblee/Krause/Young...a defense really has to commit a lot of resources to keeping any three of those guys covered.  Now leak a TE out there and you'll probably have a big play available somewhere. 

Brizzolara is a beast and I'm sure he'll get his.  Players that good generally don't just get shut down.  What I don't see is Brizzolara going bananas and being able to score enough to stay with Wabash.  There are other players on that offense, but the stats would seem to indicate that Chicago is reliant almost entirely on Brizz.  He's got over 50% of their receiving yards.  He's got over 50% of their TDs.  He's their primary special teamer.  In Brizz they trust...and against most teams, that's enough.  Against top 25 level teams, you usually need a little more variety. 

It'll be a fun game to watch.  Fun to see what Brizzolara can do this time around and fun to see how Coach Hammer plans to corral hiim (does he dare leave Houston on an island?  I think some help over the top is in order this weekend).  I'm in DC this weekend, so I won't be in attendance.  I'm sure there will be enough scarlet in the stands to pick up the slack.   

WAF!

[major tom]

should have explained myself a little better but watching a few CMU games that year I remember saying to myself "if someone stops the run, CMU will be in trouble".  The ball control definitely helped you guys out that year and had a really good defense. If I remember correctly there was a pretty amazing hit their strong safety had that resulted in a pick in F&M game that awed me. I don't think Chicago will win but I think they'll make a game out of it.

didn't think i'd be talking about that much UAA ball but oh well

[aueagle]

Hey yo.....WAY

[ExTartanPlayer]

Where's the trash-talk from all of the Kenyon fans leading up to this week's Pillow Fight with CMU?

On a serious note, what the heck happened to Kenyon?  In 2009 they were a relatively "competitive" 3-7 team (close losses to Chicago, CMU, Allegheny, Denison and wins against their NCAC 'peers' Oberlin, Hiram, OWU)...then a noncompetitive 0-10 last year (barely even "in" any games after week 2) and now off to a horrible start (blowout loss to Oberlin and second straight loss to perennial-lightweight Hiram)...

I understand that they've never had a prolonged stretch of really "good" teams, but it seems that they were much more competitive in the 2005*-2009 stretch than they have been in 2010-11.

*Kenyon's 2005 season is...well...fun to check out.  The Lords finished a remarkable second-place in the NCAC (6-1 in conference play) mostly because of the 'fluke' schedule that allowed them to miss Wabash and Witt.  The only "good" NCAC team they played was Ohio Wesleyan (how weird does that sound today?), who gave them a 41-14 thrashing.  Their six wins were a one-point win over 3-7 Oberlin, three-point win over 6-4 Wooster, seven-point win over 3-7 Allegheny, three-point wins over 1-9 Earlham and 1-9 Hiram, and a three-point win over 5-5 Denison.  The 2005 Lords could easily have been 2-8, but finished 6-4 thanks to a remarkable string of close victories...and with a W over Ohio Wesleyan, they could have technically finished as NCAC co-champs with Wabash.  I love finding little quirks like this.

[bashbrother]

On a serious note, what the heck happened to Kenyon? 

I will contribute to this.....

The question really should be "What happened to them in 2005?"  It truly is playing out to be the exception to the rule.  Since 1999 the Lord's Football Program has won 26 Games.... (avg of just over 2 games a year)...

Every once in awhile they put together an offense that can score points.... I have never known them to be able to stop anyone on defense.   Thus, in those years that they win a few, they have an offense that scores a few more than a few of the "bottom-half" NCAC squads or weak non-conference teams.

In 2005, they defeated Wooster, AC & Denison which was a great sign for the program.  That was the year their schedule did not have Witt or Wabash on it ..... all heck would have broken out if Wabash would have dropped a conference game and they would have received the AQ...

[DPU3619]

I've been off the grid for 4 or 5 days, but I'd still like to contribute to the things I missed.

I don't understand the Belton discussion at all.  Maybe he isn't Knott, Harbaugh, or Hudson. He's still pretty good at doing his job.  The thing is, an ER coached team doesn't need any of those guys at QB to win.  The offense moves the ball by being balanced, not by throwing it 40 times for 390 yards.  Get your 250 yards and a couple of TDs and get me to handshake time.  Run the ball for 165 and you're still moving the ball 400 yards.  Last year the numbers were almost identical - 245 passing and 153 rushing for 397 398 total.  I almost wonder if there's a degree of being spoiled over time by a prolific offense.  When it goes away, people start getting nervous.  It's a solid offensive scheme - run the ball, control the clock, don't turn it over, and get 7's instead of 3's when you get close.

Also, if Chicago is within a stone's throw of the LGs on Saturday, I'll be surprised.  Lost in the kerfluffle in these parts this week about the Wabash O is the fact that the Hard Hats have had a really nice couple of weeks.  They've given 2 touchdowns - one big play last week and one drive on a short field in a sudden change situation to Wooster.  That Woo TD was also the first defensive series of the year.  If Concordia can beat the Maroons by 3 scores, then Wabash won't have a problem if they get off the bus.

Saturday may be the cure for what is ailing DePauw, too.  Rhodes just gave 62 to Trinity.  DePauw has 7 more weeks to find a way to move the football.  I'll be patient with early season struggles due to a new QB, new WRs, and a new OC.  But they've been together for a month now.  Time to get it together and find a way to score points.

[joelmama]

Seems a strong vote by all or almost all Wabash fans that they will win in a romp.  I think the suspect protection of the QB could lead to a turnover or two and Brizzolara will score (maybe multiple times) and the game will be close.  It will not be low scoring but something like 31-24.  Chicago is better than the two teams Wabash has faced this year and though they have only given up two touchdowns last week the game could have been clsoe if their opponent had been able to convert inside the 20 (of course the D has a bit to do with that dont they).  Wabash is likely to win but I'll take Chicago and the points.  BTW if you read ER's comments I think he is a bit concerned about the Chicago D line and takes this game as a big one to keep Wabash rolling because it could be the prverbial "trap" game.  Also one of the D3.com's guys looks at this as a close game as well.

A note on last years game which ended 31-14.  it could have been much closer it also could have been a big blowout.  Lots of turnovers by both teams.  Briz was held in check as much as any other game almost in his career.  the biggest factor in someone making the statement "it could have abeen a lot closer" is that the UC QB was knocked out of the game early in the 2nd (I think) and then the passing game wasn't what it could have been and that is also a partial reason why Brizzolara didn't get loose.  A fumble that wasn't called on the Wabash QB because of a inadvertent whistle) could have made a big difference as well as the 10 early points handed to Wabash (don't really mean it that way they were eanred) due to turnovers.  That is why I said it could have been close or it could have been a blowout.  I hope all the guys stay healthy and we see a good game tomorrow.  BTW the yardage last year in total was something like 300 for Chicago to 400 for Wabash.

[Bash-Dad #84]

I was just reading Triple Take. Keith McMillan is picking Wabash to be upset by the Maroon's. I think it will be a good game, but I don't see the Little Giants getting beat.


Go Wabash beat Chicago!   Wabash Always Fights!

[BashBacker#16]

I saw Keith's take on the upset and noticed there is absolutely no basis for his prediction other than the UAA sending a surprise team to the playoffs every year (or something to that point).  Bash beat 2 quality Case teams (highly ranked and on their field) and the closest Chicago has gotten the last 3 years is 31-14.  I don't see this at all.

In fact, I'll go a step further and say Dee "Prime Time, All World" Brizzolara is the 2nd best returner in the game tomorrow.  Everyone is forgetting a guy named Wes Chamblee - I'd take Wes any day of the week.

We'll see tomorrow.

Wabash Always Fights!

[wally_wabash]

I think the bit is "top 25 team most likely to be upset". I'm not sure Keith is picking Wabash to lose, just saying that if he had to pick one that might lose, he'd pick Wabash. If you look at the top 25 schedule, there aren't a lot of good picks available.

I think we heard a lot of this last year too...Chicago can score, Brizzolara is dangerous, etc.  The concern last year, as it is this year, is that if you don't do your job on D, Chicago can pile up points.  Pile up enough points, and they will be there in the last quarter with a shot. Do your job on D, and you should be ok. Wabash has defended these players for two or three years now amd done it well. I'm confident that Wabash will take care of their business tomorrow, sing Old Wabash in victory, and fire down a couple slices of Giordanos on the way out. WAF!

[smedindy]

Yeah, he wasn't making a dying declaration that Wabash would lose. It was a slim pickings of Top 25 teams that had close matchups.

Keith is a good guy; what confounds many is his total objectivity EVEN WHEN talking about his beloved Randy Mac.

[BashDad]

the biggest factor in someone making the statement "it could have abeen a lot closer" is that the UC QB was knocked out of the game early in the 2nd (I think) and then the passing game wasn't what it could have been and that is also a partial reason why Brizzolara didn't get loose.

You mean the guy who couldn't get out of the first quarter of football without multiple interceptions?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/JJteJEWkI14

This is getting a little, well, stupid.

[BashDad]

In fact, I'll go a step further and say Dee "Prime Time, All World" Brizzolara is the 2nd best returner in the game tomorrow.

That's not a big step. Are we sure he's even 2nd? Looks like a poor man's Eric Summers to me, no more than that.