FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

That's a heck of a comeback by the Grizzlies.  Now comes the hard part...hanging on to that lead.  Am I right, UMHB?

[wally_wabash]

Sewanee is about to kneel out for a 10-7 win over DePauw.

[DPU3619]

Sewanee is about to kneel out for a 10-7 win over DePauw.

Blargh.

[firstdown]

Some interesting games today.  First, congrats to both Mount Union and Franklin for a great game today.  Second, Wash U took UWW pretty deep in the game.  Finally, the Lords of Kenyon sent notice that last year wasn't a fluke.  It is going to be a fun, and perhaps more wide open season this year.

[BashBacker#16]

Anyone else having issues with the Witt video?  Ugh.  Hate that...

[wally_wabash]

I've got it going without much trouble, 16. Witt looks like they are over their skis early on in this one.

[wally_wabash]

42-3 at the half at the Butler Bowl.  This game is every bit as pointless as I thought it would be. 

Elsewhere...OWU is up on Bluffton 23-13 in the 2nd quarter, it's taken Wooster all of five minutes to get down 14-0 to W&J, and Denison is up 14-0 with the ball with 12:37 left in the first quarter.  Wacky stuff going on. 

Also, there was a Bluffton player that got taken off by ambulance in Delaware...hope that kid will be alright. 

[The_Bishop]

OWU now up 37-13.  Great to see a ton of guys on their sideline.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

OWU wins 37-20
330 yrds passing
190 yards rushing

Go Bishops....

I must say I could actually listen to the announcer and color guy. Much better than last year.

[Bishopleftiesdad]

news flash:
Hiram beating Westminster 23-13 12:05 on the fourth quarter.
Hold on Hiram

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Hiram starts the season 1-0 defeating Westminster 23-19. Yeah terriers.

[Desertraider]

Hiram starts the season 1-0 defeating Westminster 23-19. Yeah terriers.

The mighty, mighty, Hiram Terriers have won a game! I may have to give the alumni office my address so I can get the magazine again! Well, win 2 in a row and I will do it. In all seriousness though it is nice to see Hiram get one in the win column.

[wally_wabash]

Hiram starts the season 1-0 defeating Westminster 23-19. Yeah terriers.

The mighty, mighty, Hiram Terriers have won a game! I may have to give the alumni office my address so I can get the magazine again! Well, win 2 in a row and I will do it. In all seriousness though it is nice to see Hiram get one in the win column.

Upcoming schedule for Hiram....
@ Denison...maybe
@ Allegheny...really maybe.  Allegheny was absolutely terrible today.
vs. Wooster...the Scots are sorting through some things on defense currently

Maybe Hiram hosts Wittenberg on 10/5 with a better record than the Tigers.  Maybe.   

[Dr. Acula]

Partridge was 15/28 for 292 including a 48 yd TD. Also had a 30 yd TD run.  At least he may give them a puncher's chance against a couple more teams.

[sigma one]

Just arrived home from the Butler Bowl.  Not the bowl of old; now a pretty good place to watch a game.  I left with about 10 minutes remaining and Witt trailing 49-10.  They must have scored two late TDs to make it look a little better.  Butler much superior in a phases:  speed, skill, rushing, passing.  They scored in three plays at the beginning, the first a long run, and generally had their way all half.  Witt was successful at times in the middle of the field, but shot themselves in the foot on several occasions.  A couple of INTs, one returned for a TD, and a fumble after a good gain.  Anyway, 42-3 by halftime.  The Butler QB did not play in the second half:  he's really good.  Witt started the second half with a nice long drive, leading to a TD. 
     One note of interest.  Dehnke did not start, and played briefly in the first half.  He had just come back into the game for the second time as I was leaving.  He was injured at the end of last year, so could they be being careful with him?  That doesn't seem like the Tiger style (?)  Could the other back have the edge right now as Dehnke continues to recover.  The other guy ran hard, but the Butler front was stingy.  Butler rotated in its front four on almost every snap, sometimes the entire four at the same time. 
       Lastly, a dustup before the game even began, and not between the teams.  The stands behind the visiting team's bench are, well, modest.  Witt travels well.  When I arrived, I decided to sit with the Tiger fans:  NCAC loyalty.  Well about one quarter of the stands had been reserved for the Butler Band!  Some Witt fans had to go to the other side of the field.  Several Witt male, and one or two female, supporters were engaged in a heated exchange with Butler security, who were guarding the Band's seating.  I sat next to where the band would sit after their pre-game playing on the field.  And had a nice conversation with a Witt fan; his sons had played for the Tigers.  Eventually, a uniformed officer showed up, but the tension didn't lessen much.  The band entered the stands--about 100 members.  And the Tuba players were placed right next to the Witt crowd!   
      At that point, Witt fans packed in, and the Tubas too near, I departed for the shade of the other side of the field.  I don't know what happened as the game progressed.   At first, I thought it was a tempest in a teapot, but I quicly changed my mind.  At the least Butler was being inconsiderate.  (In their league, I'm guessing, not many visiting fans show up, given the spread of the conference, so saving home seats might make sense.  Even that's lousy.)  The band was playing between every snap.  I can't begin to imagine--well, I can; it's not pretty--how the Wabash fans would have reacted.  Congrats to the Witt fans for finally tolerating (it didn't appear they had much choice), and #%**#@ to the Butler folks for not thinking through the situation.  One of the Butler band directors (I think that's who he was; he was certainly not a college-age student, and he was with the band) even got into it briefly.   At the least Butler was being inconsiderate.  Will two national title games do that to you?  Their responses and behavior during the tense moments smacked of way tooo much arrogance. 
   As I go, Witt will wipe the Bulldog's paw marks off their face.  The sting will lesssen.  And this type of beating just might even make them more determined to show their stuff.