FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[cave2bens]

/quote]

That is really cold, ETP.  Haven't lived until talcum on the sheets was the only way to keep them from sticking... 

[wally_wabash]

Cross the streams there a little bit, BLD? 

[Bishopleftiesdad]

OOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Li'l Giant]

Something I've been thinking about since the season ended.

Erik Raeburn has completed 7 seasons, the same number of seasons Chris Creighton was at Wabash. How do those 7 seasons compare?

                                         Raeburn                      Creighton

Record                                66-12                            63-15
Win Pct.                               0.846                            0.808
NCAC Champs                            2                                  4
Playoff Appearances                   4                                   3
Playoff Record                        4-4                                5-3
Monon Bell Record                 6-1                                5-2


In the exact same number of games ER has the edge in overall record, win pct, playoff appearances, and Monon Bell record. CC gets the edge in playoff record and NCAC titles (Yes, I know one is a shared title; it still counts).

Overall, I would give ER the edge here. I think the program is getting closer to the top tier than it was when ER got to campus.

These are pretty good numbers for ER. He's currently 3rd on Wabash's all-time wins list behind Pete Vaughan (113) and Greg Carlson (112).  Assuming ER can keep Wabash winning at the same percentage he should get to 114 in about 5 seasons or so. He would be pretty young to be our top all-time winning coach. Kind of feel like the final number could be ridiculous.

[BashDad]

I see 4 championships to 2 and 5 playoff wins to 4.

[BashDad]

I see 4 championships to 2 and 5 playoff wins to 4.

Actually, I think you're attributing 2008 to CC. ER has 5 playoff wins.

[Li'l Giant]

I see 4 championships to 2 and 5 playoff wins to 4.

Actually, I think you're attributing 2008 to CC. ER has 5 playoff wins.

I think you were right the first time, BashDad.

2002 2-1
2005 1-1
2007 2-1
Total 5-3


2008 1-1
2009 0-1
2011 2-1
2014 1-1
Total 4-4

[BashDad]

You're right! Excuse me.

Also, against Witt:

CC - 4-3
ER - 3-4

The program is better now than it was at the end of CC's tenure. I'm just pushing back a little.

[Li'l Giant]

I see 4 championships to 2 and 5 playoff wins to 4.

I realize CC has the edge in two important categories. But it's not like the differences are stark. If there's an edge (for either coach) it's not a huge gap (Like when I originally compared ER and CC to Greg Carlson's first 7 seasons. Woof).

Their best seasons were equal (12-1 in '11; 12-1 2002) but their worst seasons were not. (8-2 in '12; 6-4 in '04).

No shade on CC. The program ER took over in 2008 was miles away from what CC took over in 2001. And that's because of CC. But since ER took over I think he didn't just keep up what CC started, he's improved on it.

We've been lucky to have both of them. That's 14 years of some really good football.

[Li'l Giant]

Also, against Witt:

CC - 4-3
ER - 3-4

And in hindsight I should have included a row for the Witt records.

[smedindy]

We've been lucky to have both of them. That's 14 years of some really good football.

This! A million times this!

[wabashcpa]

I would venture to say the program that ER inherited was in better shape than the program CC inherited, for what that is worth in the analysis.  CC did a lot of the heavy lifting, and ER has kept the program at a high level (not easy to do), so major kudos to both.

Now we need to figure out how to get from a top 15 program to a top 5.  Is this a reasonable goal or just too much wishful thinking?

[jknezek]

I would venture to say the program that ER inherited was in better shape than the program CC inherited, for what that is worth in the analysis.  CC did a lot of the heavy lifting, and ER has kept the program at a high level (not easy to do), so major kudos to both.

Now we need to figure out how to get from a top 15 program to a top 5.  Is this a reasonable goal or just too much wishful thinking?

It requires a lot of institutional will. There isn't an elite football team in DIII that doesn't have football success as a core driver of the university marketing and differentiation strategies. Although I would say in UWW's case it's not football success so much as overall athletic success.

[BashDad]

I would venture to say the program that ER inherited was in better shape than the program CC inherited, for what that is worth in the analysis.  CC did a lot of the heavy lifting, and ER has kept the program at a high level (not easy to do), so major kudos to both.

Now we need to figure out how to get from a top 15 program to a top 5.  Is this a reasonable goal or just too much wishful thinking?

Totally reasonable. And they are very close.

[Li'l Giant]

I agree with BashDad