FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[frank uible]

kcreds: We aim to please.

[wooscot]

TU2698

I was a Barnes guy.  He recruited me and I always had a great relationship with him.  No wing-T; we ran the same offense that Wooster runs now - its Schmitz's (he was our o-coordinator) version of the single set spread.  When I played, we had much more balance on offense, but then again, we didn't have a Tony Sutton either.  I was sad the day Barnes decided to leave, but I was senior that year, so it didn't directly impact me.  He was a great, great recruiter and had a very insightful defensive mind.  The only knock is that he had a hard time relating to or communicating with some of the players, which I guess happens at every school.  Without his tenure at Wooster, I have a feeling they would still be battling Oberlin every year for the worst record in the conference, not to mention I would have went somewhere else to play...like maybe OWU!

[BashBacker#16]

General/vague Bash recruiting update for #41 Boo -

Deposits are coming in, final packages went out this week, and we have some big dogs to lock up.

We did get one from a big OL (6'3" 280) from Cincinnati that had it down to Witt or Wabash...gotta love that!

[kcreds]

Keep the recruiting updates coming. I am very interested about the players coming to DIII.

[Pat Coleman]

Earlier today I posted our first recruiting recap on the Daily Dose:
http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/?p=192

[evacuee]

Yet another idiot high school senior embarrasses himself, but at least this one had the support of his parents and school administrators. 

[e_lee]

The young man going to Hiram listed in Pat's Daily Dose, Drew Stainfield is a steal for Hiram.  I had the pleasure of coaching him as a freshman  at Jefferson Area High School(Go Falcons!), which Pat correctly surmised as being near Ashtabula.

He is very physically gifted and could have probably contributed at least by his sophomore year at a school like Cap, MUC, ONU, WITT, WOO.  He also has a very strong work ethic.  He should play alot early.

[wally_wabash]

More than just a good player or two, Hiram needs numbers.  But this is a start...hopefully this is a sign that Hiram will bring in solid numbers this season. 

[lancer98]

You will be hard pressed to convince me Hiram will ever compete with the schools in the NCAC unless they do something to upgrade all aspects of there college.

Compared to ther schools in the conference they don't even come close to matching what the others have to offer in many aspects of a student's college experience IMO.

[wally_wabash]

I'm not sure I'd say ever.  I think any school in the conference can be competitive...it just takes a commitment from the institution to do so.  Facilities, full time assistants, etc.  Hiram certainly has a long way to go and there certainly isn't an overnight fix, but it's not impossible. 

[WallyFS4]

I would agree with Wally.  It is hard to say never, but I think the hardest thing for Hiram to get top players, is where Hiram is located.  Pretty hard to get kids to go out to the middle of nowhere.  How do you sell that?  As always.

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

[aueagle]

Hiram is located in Portage county, which borders (by a county or 2) some of the hottest HS football in the state . Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Stark & Geauga just to name a few. These are the same that MUC, John Carroll, Baldwin Wallace pull from. Facilities and coaching is what the "Puppy Problem" needs address first. Academics is solid enough. Maybe, having free bus trips to Kent (home of the Golden Flashes of Kent State) would solve the social problem. Hard to get to? Maybe but not really. Middle of nowwhere - yes.

[formerd3db]

I have to agree with you guys re: Hiram.  It is indeed a difficult challenge, but not impossible.  Olivet (MI) has done it and they are [were] basically the same situation as Hiram (although they had lowered their academic standards somewhat in past years, that is on the upswing).  They are indeed a small school and "in the middle of nowhere" so to speak, albeit close to Lansing. Battle Creek.  Again, as you all have said, it can be done.

[lancer98]

Just to be clear  I didn't say it couldn't be done.  I did make the point that things have to change in regards to their current situation which everyone alludes to in their posts.  However, I do not see it happening.  One, because of location and two, their facilities, not just athletic either.  I just don't remember anything attractive about the school when I was there.

[formerd3db]

lancer:
I don't think anyone meant that your intent was that it couldn't be done.  You know more about the Hiram situation than I.  But all I was sharing was that the exact same aspects you are relating about Hiram were said for years and years about Olivet, from facilities, academics, to the very small town (smallest of all in the MIAA and which still is not that great, except for those of us who like the old "victorian" towns, but it is vastly improved with some "good atmosphere" new restaurants, minor shopping, cinema, general store, etc., etc.).

People were not impressed at all; however, alot of that has changed dramtically with a new administration, new facilities athletically (and even new renovations, additions planned for other campus buildings - they have preserved most of their old buildings (some from the 1880's/1890's) which does provide a neat campus atmosphere.  Bottom line is that, you are right - those type of changes you see as necessary for Hiram are indeed very very difficult to change.  It takes a very long time, alot of $ and the right attitude from all parties involved.