FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Schwami]

I also agree 100%.  I would chime in that what CC did with the program was outstanding.  ER has been able to make significant, albeit seemingly incremental, improvement --- it just gets a lot harder to notice the improvement as you get closer to the top echelon.  But the improvement is real.  The playoff games against Mount Union and Whitewater have been much more competitive with ER's system.

While  CC had better success against Witt, I sense that the Witt teams in recent years have also been stronger.  Witt had a bit of a slip after the 2002 season, and did not really begin to recover until about 2007-2008.  Thoughts?  What is the perception about where the Witt program fits in the overall landscape?

[smedindy]

We're on the precipice, I think. Wabash needs to routinely advance in the playoffs to the round of 16 and 8 without missing a beat to become solidly considered by the masses as in  the elite. I think they're very close to being a perennial contender to make some noise in the post season, which is strides above where they were a few years ago. I think they could be easily pre-season Top 15 next year with the only national question on how they'll fill in some defensive holes. But they definitely will be ranked and considered a favorite to be playoff team even if they go 9-1 as this year.

It's not an excuse, the Mt. Union thing clouds over the rest of the North. Everyone is in their shadow until someone in the North beats them in the playoffs. Witt, Wabash, North Central, Wheaton, we're all stuck in that "really good programs that aren't Mt. Union and thus will fall out in the round of 8" mode.

I'd say John Carroll may move up to that group, but in 2012 they were 6-4 and in the OAC it's easy to fall right back to that level even though they were most likely the second best team in the North this season. Not touching Heidelberg, either.   

[Li'l Giant]

While  CC had better success against Witt, I sense that the Witt teams in recent years have also been stronger.  Witt had a bit of a slip after the 2002 season, and did not really begin to recover until about 2007-2008.  Thoughts?  What is the perception about where the Witt program fits in the overall landscape?

Witt had, by their standards, a rough patch in 2004-2008.

They had a total of 18 losses and only 1 conference title in that 5 years.

Starting with the 2009 season they've only had 10 losses and 5 titles.

[sigma one]

Wabash loses several outstanding defensive players--C. Buresh, of course; then Akinrabade (who, I believe, was not forgotten exactly, but not in the limelight the way a player voted to the NCAC all-decade team after his sophomore season might have been expected to be (opponents knew about him big time); also, Wilkins, and a couple of effective dlinemen who were under the radar.  On the positive side, they bring back E. Buresh (who just might be as good as his brother even now), McCullen, and potentially the entire defensive backfield, depending on what happens with Woods after his late-season injury. A. Brown led the team in tackles as a safety.  Several potentially outstanding freshmen, who made the travel squad, but whose names are not yet very public, will be expected to step up next year.  And they are capable of that.  I don't think the defensive will be quite as powerful, but not far from it.
     Offensively, the LGs lose Holmes, Hodges, and that's about it:  two tight ends, but Wabash doesn't pay much attention to them in the passing game, and one could list Adams (at 6'3 and 220+) as a TE,  although he was way more often than not split out wide, and there are more than capable replacements.  The entire offensive line returns!  The leading wide receive and return man come back.  The running back who split time with Holmes--Zurek--and who was the other 1st-team all-NCAC running back will keep the running game going, along with two other backs who saw occasional time this year, and who were plenty effective.
     QB will continue to be the biggest spot to watch.  Much room for discussion here as next season nears.
     All the kickers, punters return.
     As for Wit, they have back all their leading skill people, and some solid defensive stars.  They do lose several all-NCAC players.  More on them at a later time.
     The Wabash NCAC schedule next year flips a bit.  There's the opening game at Hampden-Sydney; H-SC loses their biggest contributors, including Nance, Walker, and Macko on offense, and 5 or 6 defensive starters.  An important note:  Wabash and Wittenberg meet in the season's third game, after playing one another in the ninth game for several years.  That game is in C'ville.
     Barring injuries, one could say that Wabash is primed for a another good run, and Witt might be as well; restating that, Finchem will have them ready, and the playoff loss to W&J has to provide some continuing motivation.

[firstdown]

Congrats to Coach Hammer of Wabash for being nominated as a finalist for  Division 3 Coordinator of the Year - http://footballscoop.com/news/2014-division-iii-coordinators-year-finalist/

[smedindy]

So just who among the 'leftover' schools could compete with this Mt. Union team. #steamroller

[formerd3db]

So just who among the 'leftover' schools could compete with this Mt. Union team. #steamroller

Right now, that obviously is either going to be UW-W or Linfield.  UW-W might have a slight edge in that regard, although perhaps not.  We'll just have to wait and see next week.

[smedindy]

So just who among the 'leftover' schools could compete with this Mt. Union team. #steamroller

Right now, that obviously is either going to be UW-W or Linfield.  UW-W might have a slight edge in that regard, although perhaps not.  We'll just have to wait and see next week.

I actually meant those not selected for the tournament...you know, for competitiveness.

/needle

[formerd3db]

So just who among the 'leftover' schools could compete with this Mt. Union team. #steamroller

Right now, that obviously is either going to be UW-W or Linfield.  UW-W might have a slight edge in that regard, although perhaps not.  We'll just have to wait and see next week.

I actually meant those not selected for the tournament...you know, for competitiveness.

/needle

Got it now.  I know what you mean.  Right now, I am not sure who of those others would even come close.  Quite an amazing performance.  Can you imagine a dogfight next week again if UW-W and Mount Union match up again (no disrespect meant towards Linfield).

[aueagle]

Here we go again...
Mount looked impressive...

[bashbrother]

RE:  Wabash closing the gap.   

It's all about key players.   I believe Wabash was about 5 or 6 stud players at specific positions away this year.   Not necessarily away from winning the whole thing,  but from having a better chance of giving Mount or UWW a solid game for four quarters with the chance of winning.   In my mind, playing a team close in the 1st half, only to get manhandled in the 2nd half; does not mean we are getting that much closer.

So,  the answer of whether or not Wabash will ever be able to bridge the gap lies in our ability to recruit and land the players needed.  Easier said than done.    Admissions,  Financial Aid & Other Factors are all complex parts of the Div III recruiting puzzle.

Congrats to Wabash on a successful season and good luck during this recruiting cycle.   

[wally_wabash]

I think that's a pretty harsh assessment, bashbro.  The thing kind of detonated in the second half against Whitewater, but the game plan had to change a little when they went down two scores.  More passing, less Zurek on offense...more risk taking and 1-on-1 exposure on defense.  Whitewater took advantage.  Different story here if Wabash converts that early 3rd Q possession into a lead. 

There are areas where Wabash certainly can improve (if there weren't, they'd be #1, right?), but to say that Wabash isn't closer because that second half got away buries the lede a little bit. 

[Li'l Giant]

When we played UWW in 2007 we got manhandled from the start. If we had lost 47-7 this year I would be in agreement that we made no progress.

I also don't remember in 2007 anyone from UWW's side coming over here and saying:

Must say, the Giants were probably one of the hardest hitting teams UWW has faced all year.

In fact, I remember quite the opposite. I remember UWW fans (I don't recall who) saying that our best defensive player (Adi Pynenberg) wouldn't have gotten playing time at any WIAC school.

I think we've made progress. Maybe not at the rate we would like. But I think it's there.

[firstdown]

I tend to agree with Wally.  First, the injuries to Justin Wood and Tyler Holmes had a key impact on the game.  Justin adds flair to the pass coverage and makes things happen.  Houston Hodges stepped in and went both ways, but going both ways meant that he would be a bit more fatigued than only going one way.  Tyler getting hurt early meant that Mason, who was himself nicked up, had to shoulder all of the burden against a big UWW defensive line without rotating with Tyler to keep the legs fresh.

Now with Justin and Tyler healthy, I still think UWW wins, but Wabash keeps it close  into the 4th.  UWW is the defending national champion afterall  and knows how to win big games.  If you look at the progress between 2007 and this year with UWW, and 2002 and 2011 with Mount Union, Wabash isn't at that level, but you can see progress.  I would be far more concerned if UWW had manhandled the LG's the way Mount Union did with Wesley this past Saturday.
All that having been said, the LG's have a lot of players who got plenty of experience this year returning next year.  With the right mix of recruiting, the prospects for next year look to be exciting.

[Joe Wally]

In fact, I remember quite the opposite. I remember UWW fans (I don't recall who) saying that our best defensive player (Adi Pynenberg) wouldn't have gotten playing time at any WIAC school.

I think we've made progress. Maybe not at the rate we would like. But I think it's there.

As we have been advised ad nauseam in the past month, no one plays football as well as they do in Wisconsin.