FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

From as best as I can tell - Hiram has never been the opponent at Wabash's homecoming before.  I sure hope somebody warns the Terrier fans what they are in for at halftime.

Wally - thank you for resisting the temptation to make the winner of the homecoming "queen" contest the tiebreaker.

Nah, that's too easy.  I think Phi Psi is generally about a -300 on the money line for that contest despite very rarely being the most, shall we say, entertaining queen. 

All boys schools have some interesting traditions (glad W&L went coed 10 years before I arrived!)...

[Li'l Giant]

From as best as I can tell - Hiram has never been the opponent at Wabash's homecoming before.  I sure hope somebody warns the Terrier fans what they are in for at halftime.

Wally - thank you for resisting the temptation to make the winner of the homecoming "queen" contest the tiebreaker.

Nah, that's too easy.  I think Phi Psi is generally about a -300 on the money line for that contest despite very rarely being the most, shall we say, entertaining queen. 

Aside from halftime, this is probably a good time to make the annual announcement that Wabash has never lost a Homecoming game since I was rung in in 1996.  Hiram is about to make an even 20 on the ol' Homecoming weekend win streak.

I think my freshman year is the last time we lost. That sucks.

I think it's great that Jim Amidon and Steve Hoffman also announce the halftime festivities. Fun times.

[oldtiger]

We still don't know the ceiling on this team.

Fincham seems to feel it could be pretty high:

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/sports/college-football/turnovers-big-plays-sacks-hurt-tigers-in-loss-to-w/nnrTj/

[bashbrother]

First of all great article...

Coach Joe Fincham Quote from Article -

"In terms of their defensive front and their run game, they're as good as any team I've seen in our league in the 25 years I've been here," Fincham said. "We've had really good teams. Allegheny has had really good teams. The question for them long term is how well will they be able to throw the ball. At the end of the day, to be able to play at the highest level, when you start talking the Mount Unions, the Whitewaters, if you're one dimensional, it's going to be hard for you."

[wabashcpa]

So, Joe, seeing as how Rice threw for 3 TD's, if you still aren't sold on the passing game, does that mean you think your pass D stinks out loud?  Way to give credit, but not TOO much credit.  Hope you enjoyed the beat down.  I was at the 41-10 game as well that went the other way, so I can assure you I enjoyed it.

[BashDad]

So, Joe, seeing as how Rice threw for 3 TD's, if you still aren't sold on the passing game, does that mean you think your pass D stinks out loud?  Way to give credit, but not TOO much credit.

He's not wrong, though. I think even with Rice, Wabash is still one offensive piece away from being a legitimate contender for Walnut and Bronze. If Rice continues to reveal talent elsewhere in the passing game, then we have a shot. But it's definitely the place on the team to plant your binoculars. How the LGs progress on offense -- and through the air -- is absolutely what will determine how deep they go in 2015.

[sigma one]

And how is Zurek, as well(?)

[wabashcpa]

So, Joe, seeing as how Rice threw for 3 TD's, if you still aren't sold on the passing game, does that mean you think your pass D stinks out loud?  Way to give credit, but not TOO much credit.

He's not wrong, though. I think even with Rice, Wabash is still one offensive piece away from being a legitimate contender for Walnut and Bronze. If Rice continues to reveal talent elsewhere in the passing game, then we have a shot. But it's definitely the place on the team to plant your binoculars. How the LGs progress on offense -- and through the air -- is absolutely what will determine how deep they go in 2015.

I agree with all of that, my point is more that he is implying that Wabash is one-dimensional after giving up 3 TD's in the air.  Was Rice perfect?  Not even close, which actually gives me a lot of hope.  He will only get better.  Not ready to change our uniform color to purple yet, though.

[wally_wabash]

So, Joe, seeing as how Rice threw for 3 TD's, if you still aren't sold on the passing game, does that mean you think your pass D stinks out loud?  Way to give credit, but not TOO much credit.

He's not wrong, though. I think even with Rice, Wabash is still one offensive piece away from being a legitimate contender for Walnut and Bronze. If Rice continues to reveal talent elsewhere in the passing game, then we have a shot. But it's definitely the place on the team to plant your binoculars. How the LGs progress on offense -- and through the air -- is absolutely what will determine how deep they go in 2015.

I agree with all of that, my point is more that he is implying that Wabash is one-dimensional after giving up 3 TD's in the air.  Was Rice perfect?  Not even close, which actually gives me a lot of hope.  He will only get better.  Not ready to change our uniform color to purple yet, though.

Purple, no, but I'm hoping the guys break out the grays on Saturday.  I dig the grays. 

[Li'l Giant]

I agree with all of that, my point is more that he is implying that Wabash is one-dimensional after giving up 3 TD's in the air.  Was Rice perfect?  Not even close, which actually gives me a lot of hope.  He will only get better.  Not ready to change our uniform color to purple yet, though.

I didn't read it that way because he said long-term. He knows 3 TDs and 218 yards against the upper echelon will be tougher than it was against them. There's nothing wrong with that. I agree with BashDad. It's definitely going to draw focus.

*edited to correct terrible grammar

[wabndy]

This week's presser.

[wabashcpa]

Zurek on 2 deep a good sign?

[USee]

So, Joe, seeing as how Rice threw for 3 TD's, if you still aren't sold on the passing game, does that mean you think your pass D stinks out loud?  Way to give credit, but not TOO much credit.

He's not wrong, though. I think even with Rice, Wabash is still one offensive piece away from being a legitimate contender for Walnut and Bronze. If Rice continues to reveal talent elsewhere in the passing game, then we have a shot. But it's definitely the place on the team to plant your binoculars. How the LGs progress on offense -- and through the air -- is absolutely what will determine how deep they go in 2015.

I agree with all of that, my point is more that he is implying that Wabash is one-dimensional after giving up 3 TD's in the air.  Was Rice perfect?  Not even close, which actually gives me a lot of hope.  He will only get better.  Not ready to change our uniform color to purple yet, though.

So Fincham gives a pretty legitimate compliment (....best I have seen in 25 years) and you get hung up on comment about your passing game? That's interesting.

As BashDad says, however, he IS right. Wabash is a 70% run 30% pass team this season. Last season they were 65/35. In the Witt game, despite 3 passing TD's, the LG's were exactly 70/30. So if you are going to be 70% run you better be really dominant up front because most good teams (read UWW/UMU) will make you do the 30% and stop your 70%. And when you do pass, you have to be very efficient. 11-19 is not so efficient but the 3 TD's passing is an improvement. With Rice the guy, hopefully that continues to develop.

Up at UWW last year the LG's ran it 60% and passed it 40%. But their runs averaged 2.9 ypc vs their season average of 4.9. UWW ran it last year 60/40, but their runs averaged 5.3 ypc against pretty much everybody (Wabash held them to their smallest ypc of the season at 3.8). If you are going to say "we run it" as your identity, you better be able to do it against everybody otherwise you have to have more balance so teams have to stop both.

[Li'l Giant]

I would assume that's good. I can't imagine we'll see too much of Zurek. Or need to see too much of him.

[BashDad]

Personally, Fincham's comment made me giddy.