FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

It's also too early to see who returns. This is D-3 and some players just vanish after one or two years.

[wooscot]

Smed, good point.  D3 is kind of funny like that.  Sometimes kids just realize they don't want to play anymore, some kids transfer for a variety of reasons, and others are sometimes "recruited past" by the coaching staff. 

Also, what's up with the karma, bro?  -10 seems awfully harsh...I would give you positive karma if i could, but apparently my "seniority" was lost during the changeover. 

[smedindy]

I made some enemies for telling it like it is, I fear. Or at least rankling some feathers. Ah, well.

[scotty]

smed, i always find your posts to be "fair and balanced"...good insight...

[wooscot]

Are we talking Fox News "Fair and Balanced" or fair and balanced in the normal sense of the phrase?

[smedindy]

I hope the latter! 

[scotty]

definitely the latter...

[BashBacker#16]

Saw the Wabash/Wooster hoops game this past Saturday...wow is Wooster loaded!  I would be shocked if they did not go very far in the NCAA tournament - they could win it all.  They looked much more impressive then Illinois Wesleyan who was ranked #1 and played Bash earlier in the year.  --sorry this is hoops but wanted to make the comment.

On the football front - any good recruiting updates?

Lastly, Wabash finally planted pine trees along the fence on the east end of the stadium - that will be very cool as they get bigger.  They look great.  Now if we can upgrade the press box!

[witt4ever]

Wittenberg officially announced that Tristan Murray is returning this year. He has another year of eligibility because he was redshirted in his freshman year at Brown.

Other players returning are Will Block, redshirted at Findlay and  Adam Hewitt, sat out last year because of injury.

Also of some importance is that Geron Stokes, backup QB to Holmes last year has left the university.

Jaren Collins, 6'1" 170#, a transfer from DI-AA Tennessee Martin, may be in the running for QB. He left UT Martin before the school started last year. He is a 2005 graduate of Columbus West.


Derrick Braziel's twin brother, Desmond has transferred from Findlay and will be a cornerback at Witt.

w4e

[wally_wabash]

Not really a huge surprise that Murray is coming back.  His returning probably makes Witt the frontrunner for the NCAC title in '06.  Of course, we saw how well that whole frontrunner thing worked for Witt last year. 

Holmes is gone.  Witt was largely lost without him last year.  Now the presumed starter for '06 is gone as well.  Witt's starting fresh at qb again...never a positive.  Ivery is gone...the other main option for Witt when they weren't pounding it with Murray.  Somebody has to replace him as a legitimate threat, otherwise Murray is going to be running into stacked boxes all year. 

Even with all that, Witt probably has the talent to win the NCAC.  They get Wabash at home...that's become an intense grudge match and it's getting increasingly difficult to win that game on the road.  They also get a chance to avenge their other NCAC '05 loss against Allegheny at home.  Like it or not, Witt's the favorite. 

Witt also opens with the Capital/Dayton/Alma gauntlet again this season.  Anything better than 1-2 out of that would be impressive. 

[BashBacker#16]

Wally,

I disagree on Witt as the favorite.  Why?  You said Ivory(WR) but I believe you meant to say Glover (WR).  They will be in the hunt but how can you say they will be the favorite?  Another comment, I am amazed how many transfers Witt gets every year!  How do they do that?  Can you imagine their team if Murray would not have transferred!  I think Bash will be the favorite, even if CC doesn't want it.

There is a rumor that Indiana State is hiring Blair Hrovat as their OC, any comments from the Gheny guys?  I never realized the whole issue with his resume and falling short of a degree from Edinboro!  That is crazy.

[wally_wabash]

Well, Witt seems to be the preseason favorite just about every year unless there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary.  That's just the way the NCAC voters think.  Wabash got a hefty number of votes the year after the '02 season and I'll expect the voters to be a bit more cautious this time around.  With the NCAC preseason polls the rule seems to be when in doubt, vote Witt.  And then even if you  have some reservation about Witt, you should still strongly consider Witt.  I don't necessarily agree that Witt is the team to beat in '06, but that's what it will look like when the preseason polls pop up in August. 

You're right.  I confused Ivory and Glover.  Either way, Witt still has to find a receiving threat from somebody who is unproven to take some heat off of Murray.

I agree that Wabash will be right there next year.  The schedule sets up favorably (Wooster, Allegheny, and OWU at home) for the Little Giants.  Wabash loses quite a bit from the '05 team, but I think the talent is deeper and more developed than the guys who stepped in after the '02 guys graduated...that is to say I think Wabash has more guys ready to step in and be big time players right away than the guys that picked up starting roles in '03 (remember, those guys in '03 were this year's seniors).  The biggest holes, obviously will be replacing three first team linebackers and then Russ.  At linebacker, Dieg is ready to step in and start and Greisl and Knez both played very well filling for Selby last year.  Whoever plays QB next year can't be expected to duplicate Russ's season, but if whoever plays QB does so with reasonable efficiency, Wabash will be just fine and playing in Springfield on Oct. 14 for the NCAC title.

[smedindy]

I agree that Witt and Wabash should be 1 and 2 - and whoever the media and coaches want to annoint is fine by me.

Right now, the way the schedule sets up, Wooster, Kenyon, OWU and 'Gheny are there for 3-6 and I wouldn't count Denison out of winning some games. Kenyon will have some players back, and while they won't catch anyone napping they still avoid Witt and Wabash next season.

Oberlin will be better, if they can get some depth. Can Earlham get back on track? Can Hiram win a game? Tune in, sports fans!

[oldguy]

Another comment, I am amazed how many transfers Witt gets every year!  How do they do that?  Can you imagine their team if Murray would not have transferred! 

As I mentioned before, many of the transfers are from the area around Springfield and they usually have a connection to Witt.  Murray is a good example.  I believe he is from Clark County, and his brother played on the D-line for Witt a year or two before Tristan transferred there.  When things don't work out at the higher levels, they come back home or go to a school where their family attended or many of their friends attended, in order to make it an easier transition.

[BashBacker#16]

You guys ever heard of a D1 offering a Gray Shirt??? 

Here's an article... http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A59811-2003Nov3?language=printer

Curious for your thoughts...pro & con?

...Bash recently lost a stud to Purdue because of this.  I had never heard of it.