FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

Witt article on that game:  http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics1/football/gamestories/wabash02.html

Believe this is Wabash's release:
http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2002/contrib/20120930d7jg8c

[Li'l Giant]

I remember being at a buddy's house watching the Texas/OU game and was on the phone with another friend while he held his phone next to his computer speakers so I could hear Server's kick. What a game. I'm definitely going to have to watch that game this week.

[Ryan Tipps]

Witt article on that game:  http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics1/football/gamestories/wabash02.html

Believe this is Wabash's release:
http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2002/contrib/20120930d7jg8c

I also remember that day as the first time I ever read the D3football.com site. No joke! Bash was big front-page news.

Pat, in the system, do we still have the celebration photo of Server being hoisted by his teammates?

[bashbrother]

Absolute credit where credit is due... This Wabash coaching staff did a masterful job in game planning for Saturdays game.    Their offensive game plan was tremendous.  Getting Chase into the game and the read-option, that we hadn't really seen this year,  worked perfectly.   The offensive line dominated.  Having the luxury of replay on the webcast allowed everyone viewing to see all of the great blocks that opened the running game up to the tune of close to 400 yards.  The running backs ran hard and focused. Wabash outscored CMU 47-7 in the final 3 quarters!!!

One of the biggest takeaways for me from Saturdays game was the fact that a very talented CMU team came out and punched us in the mouth.  Rarely have any of us ever seen an offense shred our defense like they did early. We didn't panic,  we didn't get excited and press.... we made the adjustments needed and took the game over.   BRAVO!

Lastly,  the game was a perfect example of how common opponent results need to be taken with a grain of salt.   CMU dominated Allegheny 37-7 on the road.   Allegheny upset Wabash 20-17.  Wabash then beast CMU 54-28.   

WAF!

[Pat Coleman]

Witt article on that game:  http://www4.wittenberg.edu/news/athletics1/football/gamestories/wabash02.html

Believe this is Wabash's release:
http://www.d3football.com/seasons/2002/contrib/20120930d7jg8c

I also remember that day as the first time I ever read the D3football.com site. No joke! Bash was big front-page news.

Pat, in the system, do we still have the celebration photo of Server being hoisted by his teammates?

http://www.d3football.com/images/2002/wabashserverbyvogel.jpg

[Ryan Tipps]

http://www.d3football.com/images/2002/wabashserverbyvogel.jpg

Many thanks!

[bashbrother]

The schedules listed on D3football.com have CMU's , Gheny, Denison and OWU games as in-region,  but the Wabash & Depauw contests being out of region.   Case and Chicago are both listed as North Region teams,  yet are considered In-region.

I am sure this has been discussed before and I admit I know very little as to the reasons.  Any help would be appreciated.

[smedindy]

CMU is in the South region but close enough for Alleghney, Denison and OWU to be considered in-region. I believe it's 200 miles.

[Wabash Hokie]

It was great to see the Wabash offense show up for the CMU game.  However, two patterns continue to be a concern:

1) Rotation of Holmes - it was apparent (at least to me) during the Allegheny game and again last weekend that Holmes is the best running back on the team. If he is kept off of the field for two-thirds of the offensive snaps against Witt, that will be a mistake.

2) Belton's passing - he was 13-23 on  Saturday and, yes, he threw 3 TDs.  However (this is a big however), he was like a lightswitch - either on or way off (combination of poor throws and bad routes?) - and several of his completions were to the credit of his receivers.  He did have some beautiful tosses but those were few and far between, unlike Hanover where he looked like he was throwing darts.  Lastly, I still see him throwing to his primary receiver (even if covered by three guys) instead of checking down.  I have seen no improvement in this area from last year.  However, he is something like 20-2 as a starter and he can run the like the wind.  In my opinion, the Wabash  passing game is the biggest variable going into the Witt game.

Regarding the CMU game, I was pleased that the Wabash defense was able to adjust to CMUs schemes and shut them down after the first quarter, something that they struggled with against Allegheny.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Yes, BB16, I'm still here.  I wasn't at the game, so take the following with a grain of salt - this is just what I've been able to gather from reviewing the box score and talking to folks who saw the game.

1) It's funny how deceiving a final score can be.  After reviewing the play-by-play, the game's key turning point seemed to be the Wabash TD to extend the lead to 38-28 followed by CMU's failed 4th-and-1 attempt at their own 30.  TD on the next play and suddenly it's out of hand in Wabash's favor.

One point worth noting: I still like the CMU staff's decision to go for it on 4th down there.  Maybe it hastened our demise, but the game was already on the verge of slipping away - 2e couldn't stop you guys any more and we had to keep scoring if we had any chance at winning.  Too many coaches will punt the ball away there and be content to lose 38-28 instead of taking a real chance at winning the game.  Rather than playing for a "close loss" our coaches took one last shot at staying in the game.  That deserves applause, IMO.

The CMU-DePauw score and the CMU-Wabash score look similar on paper, but one was a blowout from the beginning and the other was a battle for 46 minutes until things swung in Wabash's favor very quickly.  Well done by the LG's to capitalize there, though - that's what good teams do when they're presented such an opportunity.

2) CMU players to note:

Blanks is a terrific Division III player and appeared to have a great game.  If I remember correctly, Coach Lackner told me last year that he's a borderline Division I kid who fell through the cracks because of injuries (I think he has a serious back problem and actually sat out his whole freshman year).  Our other RB's are nice, but nothing special - they can produce well in the context of our system, but won't turn games by themselves.  He's one guy that can make things happen, though.

I'm very encouraged to see that Kalkstein was able to produce something against a much better secondary than we've seen to date.  He's really not supremely talented, but has a good feel for the game and can make you pay IF you give him a window somewhere.  His play & that of the WR's is what gives me hope that we might be explosive enough to win the rest of our games.

Our defense obviously struggled, but that wasn't a surprise to me - more on that in a minute.

3) Wabash's turn:

Re: Chase Belton's huge day, I figured that the Wabash coaches were holding back a little with him because they figured they could win games without running him a lot.  Once they lost a game, it was time to chuck that plan because you just can't afford another loss.  You probably don't need to unleash him against the dregs of the NCAC, but against a quality opponent he'll have to be in the game plan.

I'm not surprised that he went bonkers because, again, the dirty little secret of our 4-0 start was that our defense hadn't really played very well.  The offense is the strength of our team this year.  The DB's are scrappy, try-hard guys, but nothing special, and the LB's are very limited IMO.  Even though we got torched on the ground yesterday, I actually think our DL's are the best position group of the defense.  Privately, before the game I'd expressed concern that Belton was going to rip us to shreds, even with his mediocre start to this season.  We gave up a lot of yards in our first few games to some decent-but-not-great teams.

I do have a question because I've never seen you guys play before: has Hodges ever played any offense before, or was that new this weekend?  I know the Hodges brothers are defensive stalwarts, but I never remembered seeing their name show up in an offensive box score before.

4) Closing remarks on our respective teams:

CMU, I expect, does still have a chance at a 9-1 season as long as the coaching staff and players react the right way to this loss.  We had a great 4-0 start and played three very good quarters against the best opponent we'll see in the regular season.  There's no need to overhaul anything after one loss, especially offensively - just keep doing what you're doing.  Fortunately we have two winnable NCAC games before the UAA schedule, although the Ohio Wesleyan game gets more fascinating each week.  I've seen what can happen when a "decent" team gets off to a good start against so-so competition and the confidence builds if they keep winning.  If OWU enters that game undefeated with us at 5-1, I think that becomes a very fascinating regional matchup between "traditionally middling teams that are having very good seasons and need a signature win to prove that they're something more."

Wabash needed this rebound performance, especially with Belton asserting himself like Superman, and I expect the LG's to respond very well going forward.  I think you have to like your team's mental makeup right now, though - they took an unexpected loss last week AND got down early this week, and rallied like a winning team should (basically reiterating what bashbrother said above - they got down 21-7 against a good opponent, didn't panic, and just methodically worked back into the game until they were back in the driver's seat).  I really like your chances going forward, and the schedule gets much easier after Witt - WashU isn't any good this year, Wooster is somewhat uninspiring (how the hell has that program fallen into such mediocrity?).  I know Oberlin threw a little scare into you guys last year, but they just don't have the roster depth.  Never would have guessed it, but the toughest game in the second half of your schedule is probably Ohio Wesleyan.

Yes, I know I'm disregarding the Bell game effect a little bit, and perhaps I'd feel differently if I'd played in one of those traditional college rivalries...but if we're being honest, DePauw sucks right now, the win over WashU notwithstanding.  Maybe they'll beat OWU this coming week and launch into a better second half, but I'm not counting on it.

[wallyworld12]

I can hardly contain myself, because it's one of the best weeks of the year--WITT WEEK! What an outstanding rivalry this has become. Was very  pleased with Wabash on Saturday, for all the reasons mentioned above. They made plays when they needed to make them, and were able to slow down a strong Carnegie-Mellon team. Important win for this team as they mature.

Should be a dandy is Springfield on Saturday. Anxious to head up to E-M Field and see things on Saturday. Until then, TIGER DOWN, BEAT WITT!

[smedindy]

Tartan,

I'm a big believer in going for it on 4th and short. You gotta play for the win against the big dogs - and not play to lose. That was worth a gamble. And an out-of-region loss against Wabash won't hurt your "B" or "C" chances that much at 9-1.

Oh, and yes, after Witt the 'toughest' game is against OWU. The Bell is still the Bell, talent aside. But the best team will be the Bishops.

[wally_wabash]

ETP-

I believe Hodges, H. got some snaps at WR the previous week at Allegheny and maybe against Denison also, but had not caught a pass yet.  He may not have been targeted...I'd have to go back and watch the games again.  In any case, Saturday was the first time that he's caught passes in a game for Wabash. 

[wallyworld12]

Also, curious to hear if anyone has any information about the CMU kid who was taken away in the ambulance from Saturday's game???

[sigma one]

EsTartanPlyer:  For not being at the game, you are spot on in your analysis in my view.   CMU's first quarter was shockingly outstanding, culminating in the long punt return.  After that the Wabash defense adjusted, giving up a few long gains (eg, a long run by #5 ending in a fumble recovered by Wabash, and a shovel pass, again to #5, for a TD).  The long run would have flipped the field, at least, and was one big turning point.  And Blanks is a really, really versitile back--hard to tackle and powerful for his size.  The gang tackling by the W D took its toll as the game wore on.
     Belton was perhaps the best on the ground that we have ever seen him, aided by some mammoth holes to run through.  In a earlier post I noted that he had not been used much this year, and that the read option had been reduced as other teams caught on to the idea that he most likely would not be carrying the ball.  On Saturday from the beginning, it was apparent that the tactics had changed, both on the read and on just direct runs.  What a single-wing tailback Belton would have been in the old days.
     After the game, I heard tht CMU had sustained some significant injuries.  Losing the big fullback definitely hurt the threat in the middle.  In the second half, the burden fell mostly on Blanks.  I hope all those injured are OK soon, as it seemed to me the CMU lineup is a bit thin.  As a quick footnote:  Kalkstein has as quick a release as I can recall seeing, and above-average accuracy.  The W d would not let him get the ball far downfield, combination of good pressure and good coverage deep.