FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

It's too bad, since the addition of a new turf on the football field, along with the opening of a new recreation center in January, seems to have finally given Wooster a leg up in facilities. But so far it has not translated at all to recruiting.

Let us hope Wooster doesn't turn into OWU. I don't think they will though.

[wabco]

Wally World

Great recollection ... I had forgotten that one.  During that period we alsoi played Hope.  First two games of the year were Hope and Albion with DePauw playing the other way around.  Hope and Albion had good teams on a national level (what I mean is that their teams were generally pretty good).  It was a good measure of how good Wabash was going to be.  When we went to Alabama to play Widener in the Stag Bowl ... our only loss (until we ran out of time with Widener) was to Hope in our firstn game.  What I recall was something like the first two Wabash series the long snapper sailed the ball over our punter's head and after about 6 O plays, Wabash was behind by a TD, extra point and safety.  Hope was good enough that Wabash could not spot them 9 + points and then beat them.  The game ended with Hope ahead by less than the gift points.  But they were good.

I also recall that West Michigan local media liked to trumpet all that was Hope ... and they generally did have their way with the MIAA ... untill Witt-esk ... Wabash as the new sheriff came into town and the games between the two broke between Wabash and Hope something like 8-2 or the like.  The real value was the positive publicity Wabash received ... always putting in the sports coverage a positive comment not only to Wabash athletic but also Wabash academics.  I believe you can trace Wabash success in recruiting students and athletes from West Michigan area (examples:  Metzelaars - Portage, Brock Graham - Lowell, Kam Blake - Lowell, Wes Anderson - Holland, Kneyatta Brame - City High/Ottawa, Cody and Tyler Buresh - Hamilton, footballers from St. Joe ... all names from football ... but then there are another 30-40+ who are now Little Giant graduates from West Michigan area not footballers.)  It points up the importance of Wabash football to Wabash College "in spreading the fame of her honored name".

[Pat Coleman]

Agreed that one of the worst teams in the playoffs would be a nice first-round opponent but Wabash doesn't merit that, as far as I can tell.

Fair point.   We will see tomorrow if Albion moves East.  Seems like a stretch moving them that far, but you guys know a heck of a lot more about what the NCAA might do....  Will be interesting and Wabash will be ready for whomever travels to C-Ville

It's not far at all. It's to Mount Union and back. I suspect they'd play Mount Union no matter who the other teams around them in the bracket are.

Other option is to send Albion to UWW and Benedictine to Mount Union but that would probably quintuple both teams' drive times. Doesn't make much sense.

[smedindy]

The worst part about the playoffs is when the NCAA has to play travel agent. It would be nice if they would use some of that D-1 hoops money to finance a more complete roster for D3 teams and make the brackets somewhat logical, centering around the top 8 teams and going from there.

Alas...

[wabndy]

Albion would be an fun rematch - but I agree it probably won't happen.  Back in the 90s and before (when you had to have an undefeated season AND know where the selection committee's skeletons were buried to have a chance at the 16 team playoff), Albion was always a huge stumbling block for Wabash.  I think Carlson eventually vetoed them from the schedule after too many complaints about home cookin' from the MIAA officials.

It seems like most every bell game ends up having at least one entire section of bleachers be empty. I get that "both schools want every fan to have a seat" and all but with general admission seating, seems like you could make somewhat of an educated guess on how many no-shows there are going to be and oversell accordingly.  Lets face it, both schools market the heck out of this game to prospective students and alumni.  For prospective players, both schools trot out the line about "there is nothing else like the monon bell game day experience in D3 football."  The 2001 Knott/Casper/Short catch makes great TV footage as much for the fact that Knott threw it to the endzone corner near the Wabash student section and you get to see the immediate fan response along with an amazing play.  Having camera angles that shoot into entirely empty bleacher sections takes some serious wind out of the game hype to most any casual observer watching on TV or prospective student in the stands.

[smedindy]

The big problem was that Wabash had nine-game schedules many years, and when they started with Albion or Hope they were playing a team that had two games under their belts.

The MIAA refs couldn't have been worse than the old HCAC refs, though.

[smedindy]

Looking to next year, adding DPU will definitely help the NCAC. I do not think they will have these same offensive problems next year - it was the perfect storm of suck.

I can see Wabash and Witt being 1-2, but the fight for third will be quite intriguing, and only Kenyon and Hiram struggling again. But Kenyon's non-conference, non-UAA games are Bluffton and Earlham, and two early wins can and should help them.

[LGHistorian]

Wabco,

     You have two different games confused with Hope.  The one you are referring to happened a couple of years later.  The Wabash team in 1977 (Stagg Bowl team) opened at Albion and won, 19-17.  Hope was the second game of the year.  We had scored a TD and at that time Mick Martin was our starting TE and PK.  He was late getting on the field (changing his right shoe to his kicking shoe) and the first XP was botched.  I remember Coach Bowman getting upset and telling Mick to wear the kicking shoe all of the time.  Wabash was forced to go for 2 points on their other 2 TD's that day.  Hope ultimately won on a tipped pass from one receiver to another who was standing in the endzone, 20-18.  This is what I remember from both of the games that I attended.  I believe formerd3db can back up or add to what happened that day in 1977.

[bashbrother]

Anyone know if HDNet has the Bell Game scheduled for Re-broadcast?   The only thing about telecast parties is that you don't watch the game as closely sometimes.

[Li'l Giant]

Anyone know if HDNet has the Bell Game scheduled for Re-broadcast?   The only thing about telecast parties is that you don't watch the game as closely sometimes.

Yeah, like an idiot I forgot that I hadn't set the DVR until it was over. And at our party we couldn't hear the audio at all. Had to listen to Texas get held to 5 points instead of hearing our Beatemdown of Depauw.

[wabco]

LG Historian

Maybe I am confusing games .... but the one I saw (perhaps I am reallyt melting) was at Hope.  Wabash received, went three and out about the 20-30 yard line.  The center snap was over the head of the Wabash kicker.  I do not believe Bowman was the Coach ... I think it was Navaro.  I could be wrong ... but man it see it.  The next offensive series the same thing happenef for Wabash ... one was recovered by Hope for a TD and the other sailed out of the endzone for a safety.  I might be confusing the Stag Bowl game year with a year before or even after.  It just seems to me they were all the same year and Wabash only lost 1 ... to Hope.

Perhaps someone can find the late 70s / early 80s results.  We played Hope home and home perhaps 8 years in there.  Same time we played Albion the same way ... one year first game Albion at home and Hope away and the next year the reverse.  My interest is up to find out where I went wrong .

And back to the present:  Smed ... the Dannies will not be bak next year ... perhaps better ... but we will smoke them again.  Home, Wabash reloads, Dannies have significant vacant spots on the shelves that not enough supermen frosh can be recruited to fill (what with Wabash getting first choice, then Trine and Franklin poaching as well.)  Just my take ... but again ... maybe I am wrong ... as wrong as I appear to be above.

[smedindy]

If I learned one thing in C & T, it's about the perils of hubris!

I'm not saying Wabash wouldn't be favorites over DPU, especially at home, but moving to the NCAC, having a more reasonable road schedule, and fewer injuries DPU could definitely be in the mix...for third or fourth or fifth!  I'm thinking 6-4, 3-3 for DPU.

[smedindy]

Wabash still ninth in latest Top 25.

http://www.d3football.com/top25/2011/week11

Wittenberg ORV.

[wallyworld12]

So, we get the Blue Boys of Illinois College in the first round and a possible matchup with North Central in the second...thoughts?

[smedindy]

Better gird our lions for that second round matchup. Even at home, the LGs will be in for a whale of a fight. After losing in Week 1 to Redlands North Central has basically eviscerated everyone in their wake. They gave up just 34 points in seven CCIW games.