FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[bashbrother]

Word from Mexico is that things are going well.

I guess the ball is really flying in the high altitude.  The hotel they all are staying at is very nice and the practice facilities are excellent.  (field turf) 

[wally_wabash]

How many of MUC's key players were on the 52-man roster that went to Salem in '03?  My guess would be not many.  I don't think the "first time there" factor is as big a deal as we might think.  My guess is that most of these Mount players will be playing in their first Stagg Bowl, if not making their first trip to Salem.

It's hard to argue with what Whitewater has done.  Demolishing their first and second round opponents, traveling to McMinnville to beat the nation's top team, and then breezing through the semis.  I don't expect much of the deer-in-headlights syndrome from the Warhawks.   

I'm looking forward to watching a great game on Saturday.  I think it could go either way, but the game will be decided by who makes plays and NOT who freezes up on the big stage.  Both of these teams are too good and too well coached for us to expect that to happen. 

[Ric]

Wally Mount Union has one guy that started in that game and that's cornerback Ross Watson.  I agree I don't put much into the experience factor as far as players go.  I do think the Raiders have a slight advantage in that the coaches have been there and know the routine and basically have their own now.  So they know about the trip, the practice situation, the practice field, the locker room, pregame activities, etc.  What does this mean in the long run? Not much once you kickoff I'd think.  The best team will win.  Thats how it should be.

[smedindy]

For all those in Indiana - tomorrow Marian will announce it's adding football.

They hired a Wabash man as AD - Joe Haklin '73 - who was formerly the head hoops coach at K-Zoo.

Will they stay NAIA or try to move to D-3??

[wabashcpa]

Ski,

Beyond the usual slackers who eventually drop from the roster, Wooster is losing Andrew O'Connell.  O'Connell saw some significant PT this past season at DB and I personally was impressed with him at punt returner.  I have recieved word that he has decided to try his hand at Indiana.  Who knows, perhaps after next season we may be seeing him on TV.

IU needs all the help they can get.

[wabashcpa]

Word from Mexico is that things are going well.

I guess the ball is really flying in the high altitude.  The hotel they all are staying at is very nice and the practice facilities are excellent.  (field turf) 

Just don't drink the water.

[reality check]

I have recieved word that he has decided to try his hand at Indiana.

Indiana???  Isn't that a step backwards?   

[WallyFS4]

Word from Mexico is that things are going well.

I guess the ball is really flying in the high altitude.  The hotel they all are staying at is very nice and the practice facilities are excellent.  (field turf)

Give my best to Russ.  Wish him luck for me.  Happy holidays to you and all of your family.

Sounds like all the coaches are hard on the recruiting trail trying to reload for next year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS![/size][/font]

[bashbrother]

Thanks FS4 - 

Same to you.

I'm sure Russ is really missing having his teamates around him.  Must be weird to play 4 years with a group and then have to all of a sudden play football with new people.

[LGHistorian]

A new topic has crossed my mind since seeing the current picture at Salem VA.

Should the Stagg Bowl be held at a warmer site but possibly not a location that has a great deal of outside interest for fans or a very good area for tourist attraction but sometimes less than ideal weather.

I have seen several Stagg Bowls on TV where Salem has been cold, rainy and/or windy. I just remember Phenix City AL being sunny and 70 on Dec 3, 1977.

This is no complaint about Salem as obviously they must do a great job to keep the Stagg Bowl. I also know the Stagg Bowl average attendance did start to decline at Phenix City over time. The Stagg Bowl also has been held at the former Hall of Fame near King's Island OH and in FL as well (Bradenton?) with rather lackluster attendance figures. Just food for thought.

[bashbrother]

Interesting the Stagg Bowl will have replay officials.

Wouldn't have minded them for the last offensive play of our season.

[BashDad]

bashbrother:

Yes, in spite of the fact that some might call it "sour grapes" to bring the subject up now, the path TO the championship game should enjoy the same.  There were several games during the playoffs around the country that might have benefited by the use of replay.  Are you listening NCAA?   Why should the technology only be available to those in the championship game?

[Ryan Tipps]

A new topic has crossed my mind since seeing the current picture at Salem VA.

Should the Stagg Bowl be held at a warmer site but possibly not a location that has a great deal of outside interest for fans or a very good area for tourist attraction but sometimes less than ideal weather.

Well, I know that Salem is not only a neutral site, but it's also a neutral site that is relatively centrally located among Div-III teams. Yes, for the boys way out on the West Coast, Salem is pretty far away, but they make up only a handfull of the 220+ teams in Div-III. Considering that the bulk of teams are east of Iowa, I think the location is a pretty good choice.

OK, I know that didn't exactly answer your question, but I thought that point was worth mentioning.

To even more directly answer the question at hand, I also am in favor of Salem because the weather can fluctuate, but never really to extremes. That way, there's no guarantee that a "cold weather" or "warm weather" team will be favored. If you'd pair St. John's and UHMB in a deeper southern setting, I have to imagine that would automatically give the ASC powerhouse an advantage -- however slight. That just seems to open the door for the losing team to cry foul.

And, most of the time, you can bank on pretty moderate weather (i.e. great football weather!). Last year it was in the 50s, and I didn't even need a hat or gloves. Even the low 40s (as predicted for Saturday) is still better than some Monon Bell games I've been to.

[smedindy]

You know, one year it snowed at the Sun Bowl. Which, by the way, is in El Paso.

So, in the immortal word of Joaquin Andujar, "youneverknow."

[Li'l Giant]

One of the many reasons I love the College World Series is that it's always been and always will be in Omaha. I've never been to the Stagg Bowl but I've never heard anything but good things about the Salem experience. I think it should stay there.