FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[sigma one]

Today drove me crazy; could not log in until after 8 pm.   Wow!  Double Wow!!  Congratulations to all who contributed.

[waf56]

First time I have bought kickoff, and I am not disappointed. I was talking to my brother about the Wabash portion and he noted that they know the Wabash team about as good as he does. So impressive, especially when you consider the huge number of teams in DIII. Thanks so much for all your hard work guys!!

[ExTartanPlayer]

NCAC rankings:

1) Wittenberg (#10)
2) Wabash (#25)
3) Ohio Wesleyan (#70)
4) Allegheny (#107)
5) DePauw (#113)
6) Denison (#163)
7) Wooster (#179)
8) Kenyon (#207)
9) Oberlin (#212)
10) Hiram (#234)

Hard to argue with any of these rankings.  OWU seems a little low at first glance, but I thought some about it (see the North Region fan poll thread) and I'm okay with it.  Everyone else is so muddled.  Hard to believe Wooster has fallen so far but they've been so blithely mediocre the last few years, it seems about right to start them low.  Even Allegheny, despite their upset of Bash last year, has been pretty "blah" (especially on offense), and it's hard to feel really GOOD about any team beyond the top three.  Someone will have to emerge and finish with 6 or 7 wins, though.  Perhaps it will be DPU.

[wally_wabash]

NCAC rankings:

1) Wittenberg (#10)
2) Wabash (#25)
3) Ohio Wesleyan (#70)
4) Allegheny (#107)
5) DePauw (#113)
6) Denison (#163)
7) Wooster (#179)
8) Kenyon (#207)
9) Oberlin (#212)
10) Hiram (#234)

Hard to argue with any of these rankings.  OWU seems a little low at first glance, but I thought some about it (see the North Region fan poll thread) and I'm okay with it.  Everyone else is so muddled.  Hard to believe Wooster has fallen so far but they've been so blithely mediocre the last few years, it seems about right to start them low.  Even Allegheny, despite their upset of Bash last year, has been pretty "blah" (especially on offense), and it's hard to feel really GOOD about any team beyond the top three.  Someone will have to emerge and finish with 6 or 7 wins, though.  Perhaps it will be DPU.

You know, a couple of years ago I did some looking back at Wooster athletics and really, aside from men's hoops and baseball and 2002-2004 football, Wooster's athletics are really very mediocre (at best).  I found that really surprising.  I guess I just assumed that they were better at sports in general mostly from the juice they get from men's hoops, but that team's success really isn't contagious over there. 

[smedindy]

And while we bemoan Denison's mediocrity in the 'marquee' sports, they are the dominant All-Sports force in the NCAC, winning their 13th last season.

[BashBacker#16]

Wabashcpa,

Hilarious on Toks Akinribade!  I would have to work some sick magic to get him to Bash!  He may be SEC worthy by the time he is a senior.  He is a freak!  Can you imagine watching him for 3 more seasons at Brownsburg!

BB16

[wabashcpa]

Holy bleep - he is just a sophomore!  I don't care - work it!  Bring in the heavy artillery!  Give him an honorary pair of candy striped overalls!

In all seriousness, I spaced that he was that young.  I thought there was a chance he and AJ could play together.  With that out the window, you're right - he will be a D-1 talent (if he isn't already).

[wally_wabash]

I would strongly encourage Toks to apply for a Lilly Fellowship.   

[sigma one]

Just fumbling around in some NCAC-team information and saw that DePauw has posted the 2013 football roster.  A note says that the personal numbers have not been updated.  Looks like 40 freshmen for the Tigers in Lynch's first go 'round.  Two observations:  7 of the 40 are listed as QBs. Might be a battle over that spot with Murray and Seaman returning, if not immediately, then over a year or so.  I thought Murray was a fine addition last year--solid looking, athletic--and was surprised he did not get more time in the Bell Game, evan though the answer probably is that he was a freshman and Wabash had that defense.. QBs from New Trier, Carmel, Perry Meridian, Glenbrook South, Heritage Christian, Ritter, Brownsburg, Amos Alonzo Stagg (gotta love that one),   Prides of lions; gaggles of geese; bosses of CE0s (I made that one up), and  ----------  of QBs.  What?  Passes, Thrills, Callers, Arms?  Someone.  Someone.  Of the 40, 15 are listed as being from Indiana; 3 from Park Tudor.  Three from New Trier among the out of staters.
     DePauw has always been heavy on players from outside Indiana (e.g. Chicago area and St Louis),  but this year seems especially so. Because of Lynch's first year?  Some good schools represented  though

[bashbrother]

Just heard that the Wabash -Wheaton Scrimmage might be this Saturday.    Anyone going?

[sigma one]

Well, I went back to do some checking.  It looks like 42/3 freshmen, with 18 from Indiana.  And on the roster 50 from outside Indiana of about 105 total.  I don't know if that's a much different ratio from past years, but it seems so. 
   This is a half-baked theory; many of mine are.  Does the geograhy of the roster have anything to do with recent Bell Game results?  I'm not saying caused the results.  I know that the Wabash players from outdside Indiana quickly buy into the importance and emotion of the Game.  Wabash students have always emphatically supported the team win or lose.  In recent years the DPU stands have filled late and emptied early.  Last year they did't fill at all.  Just a thought.
     I wrote 42/3 above because a name that popped up on the DPU roster is Michael Misch.  He went to IU last year from Cathedral.  He was recognized as their scout team player of the year.  Nice size (not yet listed, but he is about 270); I'm betting he starts this year on the DL.  He is listed as a freshman, so he probably has 4 years of eligibility remaining.  Too bad he did not end up at Wabash.  He was recruited hard.     

[BashBacker#16]

...and he desperately wanted to be a Little Giant!  Badly.  Never even visited Greendingle. 

That one stings.

Now we have to face him.  Remember the name and know he should be in the red & white.

[bashbrother]

...and he desperately wanted to be a Little Giant!  Badly.  Never even visited Greendingle. 

That one stings.

Now we have to face him.  Remember the name and know he should be in the red & white.

Did he visit Wabash?  or was he a Lynch direct connect?

[BashBacker#16]

Don't ask.  Crazy.  Lots behind this story...

[sigma one]

Yes,  lots behind this.  Nothing that the Wabash coaches did to lose him.  He was not initially a DPU recruit.