FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

I think you'll find the Wabash talk pretty quiet this week...because the Monon Bell game is an interregional matchup, we create a thread over in the General Football area for Monon Bell discussion, taunting, etc.  I recommend perusing the thread if you're unfamiliar with the rivalry...you'll get s small taste for it there.  

Regarding OWU vs. Wooster....I think OWU really should win this game....IF they mix in a significant amount of vertical passing.  OWU abandoned the pass vs. Wabash and Witt and when they do that OWU's offense gets really easy to stop.  Wooster can defend the run....the pass is where you can get them.  The Bishops will need to throw the ball downfield to win.  

[usee]

wally- thats good info. again, my perspective is extremely limited so i defer to those of you who follow regularly on the wabash running game. my point was that i remembered morris as being a really good back and i don't even know who the wabash rb is this year.

[wally_wabash]

Wabash is using a three-pronged running game this year.  Brandon Roop, Chris Ogden, and Don Juan Brown have split the carries almost equally this season (they have 91, 79, and 85 carries, respectively).  Between the three of them, they have run for an average of 4.9  yards per carry, 139 yards per game, and have scored 14 touchdowns...which is what you'd get from one pretty good back. 

They've been effective early on in ball games in keeping defenses from coming right after Harbaugh from the get go, and then (paricularly in the OWU and Denison games) have just broken some backs in the second halves of games.  The pass is definitely the key, but without the solid running game, Wabash wouldn't be passing nearly as well.

[nike]

It would be great to see Wabash get farther than Wooster did last year. I think they will, because their defense is much better than Wooster's was last year and the offense is more diverse.
Wabash simply manhandled Wooster this year. And last year when we lost to Carthage, the defense played their best ever and the offense did nothing but turn the ball over. Don't think Wabash offense will be completely shut down.
Also think Wooster's qb did not have as good a year. Not just because Sutton is gone.
Ran into someone who has been to Wabash Depaw games.
She said Wabash men are real gentlemen and very well mannered.

[joelmama]

Hypothetical question for any Wabash fans.  If you could only pick one of the two whcih would pick

A.  Go 9-1 and make playoffs as a #1 seed with homefield advantage throughout and lose to Depauw in the Bell game.  (i know that 9-1 and #1 seed really don't go together but humor me here.)

or

B. Beat Depauw in the bell game go 9-1 and get stiffed by not making the playoffs at all.

[BashLaw]

Option B.

[Mr. Ypsi]

If they were 9-1, with the only loss being DePauw, why weren't they the AQ?

But I dare say all 'bash posters will pick B (gives 'em somthing the complain about for DECADES)

But, actually, I think the bell game is so sacred, they'd pick B even if you had said 1-9!

[fijidoc]

B. no question.  Even if was to not go to playoffs.   Beating Depauw is always number one.   I stated before 10 years from now nobody asks if you won your conference, what your record was, did you go to the playoffs,  all anybody wants to know is did you beat Depauw your senior year and what was your four year record.  Proud to say played in four bell games and never lost.  3-0-1 and with the tie we got to keep the bell but it is the worst I have ever felt after a game.

[oldguy]

Congrats to Witt on the solid win this weekend.  I definitely didn't think it would be THAT one-sided.  Its good to see the defense playing well.  If we can beat Allegheny and finish 6-4, I will be very happy considering how dire it looked in the beginning. 

On a side note, I'm glad the Witt-Allegheny game has been that last game of the year recently.  Its always good to end the season against a major conference rival, especially if you aren't going to the playoffs.  It sucks to finish off a disappointing season by playing Hiram or Earlham.

Good luck Tigers, its going to be a tough grind it out game. 

Tiger Up!!!!!!!!

[wally_wabash]

The answer, universally, is B.  Winning the Bell is priority number 1 every year...by far. 

[Kicker9]

KC,
  All is forgiven.  To be honest, the similarities that you pointed out are pretty funny and true (especially the Minnesota girl comment).  We should focus on Denison.  It is a great rivalry, and has been down as of late because Kenyon hasn't really given them a game.  I think this week the rivalry is renewed in a close game, but a Kenyon win.

[smedindy]

B, B, a thousand times B.

[BashDad]

Pat:

You just don't understand about the "Bell" Game, wish you were going to be there Saturday, hopefully, Keith will explain.  It's more than a very special day.  I am so glad that d3 football will have some representation.  Thanks.


Get the bell!-- WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS!!

[buffettfan1963]

I know the Bell game is a big deal. No doubt about it.  But would all of you Wabash fans really rather win the Bell than the National Championship? Seriously? Come on now. All you guys talk about is wanting respect in the National Polls, talking about Nat'l Championships...

And it is a VERY BIG GAME. But until "we", and I count myself in the "we", experience some of these other rivalry games, and not just going to the game but really understanding them it's not totally fair to say this is the "best" one.

Just FYI, we'll be on the air at noon on Saturday and have a lot of interviews, both coaches, a player or two, and some other guests.

Terry

[joelmama]

He beat me to it.  The last one was easy.  I pretty much knew what you were going to say.

Now the new poll for Wabash is:

A. Win National Championship with a 13-1 record.  However the one loss comes next week to Depauw.  or

B. Go 10-1 with a perfect regular season (beating Depauw of course) but losing inthe first round of the playoffs.