FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[HCAlum86]

I think the Terriers have a better shot at the upset in a shoot out. I don't think our defense is mature enough as a whole just yet. Though Weaver and Lemuel had EXCEPTIONAL games, I still don't know if we are gap disciplined enough just yet. We most definitely show promise, however. Lemuel had two Int's a sack and 9 tackles from DE. Great player!

I watched start to finish last night.  Lemuel was awesome.  POTW for sure.

I hope so. He certainly deserves the recognition!!! My concern lies within our secondary. Not sure if the maturity and mental toughness are there yet to walk away from an altercation and avoid a flag. But, I have nothing to be sad about as we got a W over a VERY solid conference opponent. Some may recall a few years ago, Hiram had a large lead on Denison at half and was unable to close it out. Very happy we are 2-0 and walking into a very winnable Game 3

[wally_wabash]

We've got a full schedule of league play this week! 

Allegheny @ Hiram - Looks like a 3-0 Hiram is unavoidable.  The Gators have had an extra week to prepare.  For Allegheny, you've got to believe that if it isn't this week and it isn't against Kenyon, they aren't going to win this year.  And this game looks more and more out of reach with every Hiram series. 

Wooster @ Oberlin - Oberlin is opening up their remodeled stadium.  I'm interested to see if Oberlin can provide enough resistance on defense to give themselves a shot here. 

Wabash @ Denison - Well, the Big Red have some face to save and this probably isn't the best way to try and bounce back after an 8 giveaway game at Hiram. Here's the upcoming stretch for DU- Wabash, OWU, @DePauw, Witt, Wooster.  1-6 headed into November isn't out of the question. 

Kenyon @ OWU - OWU got stunned under their lights last year by Denison, but I'm not seeing it here.  Kenyon has been beaten by Marietta and then they got undressed at Homecoming by Oberlin.  I don't see a way Kenyon doesn't get handled here. 

DePauw @ Witt - My game of the week here.  DPU is headed to Witt for a night game.  Two years ago DPU made this trip for their first ever NCAC game, left with a 50-burger on the board and dumped their HC immediately afterward.  I think it'll go a little better this time around, but this game is a pretty good barometer to see how far along DePauw is in their rebuild. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Allegheny @ Hiram - Looks like a 3-0 Hiram is unavoidable.  The Gators have had an extra week to prepare.  For Allegheny, you've got to believe that if it isn't this week and it isn't against Kenyon, they aren't going to win this year.  And this game looks more and more out of reach with every Hiram series. 

I really, really hope the Terriers keep the momentum going.  Hiram at 3-0 would be a lot of fun.  I'll just caution that this looks a little bit like a trap game to me; as bad as Allegheny was last year, and might be this year...Hiram isn't good enough to start reading their press clippings just yet.  They should win.  Can they stand prosperity?  One of the steps in taking that program from bottom-feeder to "competitive NCAC mid-pack team" is going to be winning the game that it looks like they're supposed to win (because there have been so few games in the past decade when Hiram entered a game as a clear-cut favorite).

Wabash @ Denison - Well, the Big Red have some face to save and this probably isn't the best way to try and bounce back after an 8 giveaway game at Hiram. Here's the upcoming stretch for DU- Wabash, OWU, @DePauw, Witt, Wooster.  1-6 headed into November isn't out of the question. 

Boy, a loss to Hiram has a way of turning the mood sour, doesn't it?  Denison goes 7-3 last year, and now we're trying to figure out if they'll win a league game in the first two months (those are all "losable" games, but my money says they win at least one of those, perhaps two; Sklenar is too good to have another 6-INT nightmare like he just had).

[wally_wabash]

I really, really hope the Terriers keep the momentum going.  Hiram at 3-0 would be a lot of fun.  I'll just caution that this looks a little bit like a trap game to me; as bad as Allegheny was last year, and might be this year...Hiram isn't good enough to start reading their press clippings just yet.  They should win.  Can they stand prosperity?  One of the steps in taking that program from bottom-feeder to "competitive NCAC mid-pack team" is going to be winning the game that it looks like they're supposed to win (because there have been so few games in the past decade when Hiram entered a game as a clear-cut favorite).

Really good points here.  Programs building up from the way, way down can absolutely get ahead of themselves after getting a little taste of the winning.  North Park catching a thrashing at Alma on Saturday stands out.  But I still like the Terriers here.  I think having the senior quarterback helps a lot in keeping things grounded a bit for Hiram. 

Wabash @ Denison - Well, the Big Red have some face to save and this probably isn't the best way to try and bounce back after an 8 giveaway game at Hiram. Here's the upcoming stretch for DU- Wabash, OWU, @DePauw, Witt, Wooster.  1-6 headed into November isn't out of the question. 

Boy, a loss to Hiram has a way of turning the mood sour, doesn't it?  Denison goes 7-3 last year, and now we're trying to figure out if they'll win a league game in the first two months (those are all "losable" games, but my money says they win at least one of those, perhaps two; Sklenar is too good to have another 6-INT nightmare like he just had).

Well, I had predicted Denison at 5-4, 6-4 this year.  Obviously, I hadn't counted on the Hiram result.  But even with the tough stretch coming, if they win one of those games, they'll be on pace to land at 4-5, 5-5 so they aren't off schedule too much here.  Mostly I just thought it was interesting that they got all of those tougher games in succession without a Kenyon/Allegheny respite (they do have a bye week between Witt and Wooster though). 

[Pat Coleman]

I really, really hope the Terriers keep the momentum going.  Hiram at 3-0 would be a lot of fun.

Would almost certainly get them votes in the AFCA Top 25.

[wally_wabash]

I really, really hope the Terriers keep the momentum going.  Hiram at 3-0 would be a lot of fun.

Would almost certainly get them votes in the AFCA Top 25.

Shots fired! 

[Li'l Giant]

I really, really hope the Terriers keep the momentum going.  Hiram at 3-0 would be a lot of fun.

Would almost certainly get them votes in the AFCA Top 25.

Very nice. +k

[ohiofan1954]

We've got a full schedule of league play this week! 

Allegheny @ Hiram - Looks like a 3-0 Hiram is unavoidable.  The Gators have had an extra week to prepare.  For Allegheny, you've got to believe that if it isn't this week and it isn't against Kenyon, they aren't going to win this year.  And this game looks more and more out of reach with every Hiram series. 

Wooster @ Oberlin - Oberlin is opening up their remodeled stadium.  I'm interested to see if Oberlin can provide enough resistance on defense to give themselves a shot here. 

Wabash @ Denison - Well, the Big Red have some face to save and this probably isn't the best way to try and bounce back after an 8 giveaway game at Hiram. Here's the upcoming stretch for DU- Wabash, OWU, @DePauw, Witt, Wooster.  1-6 headed into November isn't out of the question. 

Kenyon @ OWU - OWU got stunned under their lights last year by Denison, but I'm not seeing it here.  Kenyon has been beaten by Marietta and then they got undressed at Homecoming by Oberlin.  I don't see a way Kenyon doesn't get handled here. 

DePauw @ Witt - My game of the week here.  DPU is headed to Witt for a night game.  Two years ago DPU made this trip for their first ever NCAC game, left with a 50-burger on the board and dumped their HC immediately afterward.  I think it'll go a little better this time around, but this game is a pretty good barometer to see how far along DePauw is in their rebuild.

I'm not how much stock you can put into Kenyon scoring 28 against Oberlin last week. 2 touchdowns were in garbage time. Oberlin defense was far from perfect but better then the final score looked.

[wally_wabash]

Wooster @ Oberlin - Oberlin is opening up their remodeled stadium.  I'm interested to see if Oberlin can provide enough resistance on defense to give themselves a shot here. 

I'm not how much stock you can put into Kenyon scoring 28 against Oberlin last week. 2 touchdowns were in garbage time. Oberlin defense was far from perfect but better then the final score looked.

No, I didn't mean to indicate that Oberlin's defense was poor on Saturday, ergo they'll be poor this week against Wooster.  They were fine against Kenyon.  Wooster is a different animal though.  They play fast, they play a lot of snaps, and they'll really test the depth of that Oberlin defense.  Barnes/Owens are about as explosive a duo as we have in the league.  I do think that Oberlin will be able to put up some points on Wooster's defense- the question is if they can play juuust enough defense of their own to have a shot late in the game. 

[ohiofan1954]

Wooster @ Oberlin - Oberlin is opening up their remodeled stadium.  I'm interested to see if Oberlin can provide enough resistance on defense to give themselves a shot here. 

I'm not how much stock you can put into Kenyon scoring 28 against Oberlin last week. 2 touchdowns were in garbage time. Oberlin defense was far from perfect but better then the final score looked.

No, I didn't mean to indicate that Oberlin's defense was poor on Saturday, ergo they'll be poor this week against Wooster.  They were fine against Kenyon.  Wooster is a different animal though.  They play fast, they play a lot of snaps, and they'll really test the depth of that Oberlin defense.  Barnes/Owens are about as explosive a duo as we have in the league.  I do think that Oberlin will be able to put up some points on Wooster's defense- the question is if they can play juuust enough defense of their own to have a shot late in the game.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I met a lot of great folks for Oberlin Saturday and naturally they felt good about the way the team played. Some of them were new though and I tried to explain that Kenyon is Kenyon and Wooster would be a good test to judge where the program was at. Oh by the way, Kenyon spent a lot improving McBride field but you would think you wouldn't have to walk so far to find modern rest room facilities, especially at a school like Kenyon.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Some of them were new though and I tried to explain that Kenyon is Kenyon and Wooster would be a good test to judge where the program was at.

I've been amazed by folks (most often in high school, but some exist at every level, I think) that don't seem to understand this basic principle: all opponents are not created equal.  I've seen HS fans think that their team is really good after blowing out a weak opponent or two to start the season, then get disappointed when they're shellacked by a good team (basically, imagine if HCAlum complained after last year's loss to Wittenberg that they should have played like they did against Allegheny, and they would have won).

[HCAlum86]

I really hope that the Terriers do not look past Allegheny. I do not think they will though, as each win is equally cherished, trust me. And historically, although the box score may not show it, Hiram plays well against Allegheny and is typically able to stifle their run game. With a more explosive offense this year, and God willing, a healthy quarterback, the Terriers should fare just fine!

We alumni may not be helping the cause, however. We already have a group of us from the '80s glory days planning a tailgate at Wooster!!

[ExTartanPlayer]

I really hope that the Terriers do not look past Allegheny. I do not think they will though, as each win is equally cherished, trust me. And historically, although the box score may not show it, Hiram plays well against Allegheny and is typically able to stifle their run game. With a more explosive offense this year, and God willing, a healthy quarterback, the Terriers should fare just fine!

I hope so.  I think it's safe to say most everyone (save fans of that week's opponent) will be pulling for Hiram all season as there's potential for a major feel-good story here.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hear!  Hear!  Puppies to the Stagg Bowl!

Well, I may be getting just a bit carried away.

[Desertraider]

I see Hiram is 2 and 0 for the first time since 2008! However, the last time they started 2 and 0 they lost the next 7 before beating Oberlin. The also started 2001 at 2-0 and finished 1-7. Before that your guess is as good as mine - but I know it wasn't very successful. D3football.com has records going back to 1999 - Hiram's website only has archives back to....2011. I know when I was at Hiram (yes I am an alum - so I will bash if I choose) they had a 5-5 year (maybe it was 4-6) but that was like 1995 or 1996. But it was sandwiched between an 0-10 and 1-9 if memory is still in tact.

Regardless - congrats on the 2-0 start but I would like to echo ExTarten "Hiram isn't good enough to start reading their press clippings just yet". That is a great point.