FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[kcreds]

roadtrip: Thanks for the insight. Sounds like we have some things in common. Good luck to your son also and maybe I will see you in Crawfordsville. Goooooo Bishops!

[fijidoc]

Roadtrip,

Best hotel in Crawfordsville is probably the Comfort Inn.   There is also a Holiday Inn which is  ok but a little older.  Better get reservations early on home football weekends(if homecoming, monon bell, may be too late already).  Tailgating starts pretty early for some right behind the stadium in the parking lot.  It is a great atmosphere on campus on game day and glad to have you as part of the Wabash family.  Also Turkey Run State Park is not that far outside of crawfordsville and they have a lodge and cabins that you can rent which are pretty nice.  Food wise not a lot other than fast food type restaurants but there is an Applebee's.  Indy and Lafayette are not that far of a drive(45 and 30 min).  Also if you like steaks the Beef House is about 45 min away and worth the drive it is exceptional.

[herald79]

D 3 fans

Having gone to a D2 college, my motivation was a little different. But  I have followed D3 Football since I was a kid in the 60s.And I think other than the football as a priority schools, like MUC. Most kids going to NCAC colleges are first there for the academics, if not they won't last long! 2nd somekind of winning tradition or a program on the rise. And third a good coach and  nice digs, We sometimes forget in our lust for football, what a commitment to the books these men have to make! I going to D2 had all the advantages and help to remain eligible, and the fact of my parents being teachers didn't hurt either!

[SaintsFAN]

I know this is a little late, but I am playing catch up....

My thoughts and prayers are with the Harbaugh family.  BashDad's contributions on this board will be missed.

[roadtrip]

Thanks to fijidoc for the info.

God Bless America.......time for ribs and adult beverages

[wabco]

Roadtrip

Welcome.  The first roadtrip is the Franklin game.  If your son makes the travel squad for that game ... there may be some PT.  I believe it will be feeding time at the zoo, a positive message to future Indiana recruits,  and a chance for Little Giant supporters to watch the Hard Hat D teach a certain RB that it is better to be running behind our O line than facing our D line. 

There will be a tailgate behind/near the Wabash side.  Probably beginning an hour + before the game.  Just look for the flags.  Additionally, I suspect the Wabash Alumni Office will help organize one (to the extent any orginization is needed.)  The group is loose and welcoming ... so just barge in and within a few moments you will be a part ... especially if you have food and drinks (to be pillaged).  I expect to see more Wabashers than Frankliners (they call themselves Grizzlies ... why I am not sure) in the stands.  We will be positive, vocal, and supportive of the team and all things Wabash. 

It will be a beginnig "W" with at least 10+ more which should follow.  By the by ... sometime during your son's experience at Wabash, he will have the opportunity presented to participate in a trip such as the one a few weeks ago to Panama or the one 3 years ago to Germany/Austria.  Check the Panama blog player reporting info on the Wabash web site.  Another reason ... in addition to the ones you cited ... as why to be a Little Giant.

See you at Franklin.

[Superfoot Wallace]

Gorrell isnt the starter in the backfield, but part of a backfield by committee and a wing/receiver.

The starter at running back is much shorter and squats a ton. 

Wabash will be seeing a mirror image of themselves offensively as far as formations go, though more a double wing set than 4 wide in application.  Just more evidence of the chuck and duck ICAC point guard remnants.

Wouldnt go into this game too overconfident, the starting running back put the hammer down on Hanover last ear, not to mention Franklins last two recruiting classes have been touted as the best in school history.

All in all, the smart money would have to be on the Little Gaints in Franklin, but they did get the best of OWU two years ago and have really closed the gap on Millikin, by 35+ points in one season.

The Millikin sidebar speaks either to Wallicks injuries, Millikins offensive line hiatus or Franklins improvement.  Probably a combination of the three.

signed,
Jerry and his reserved table patron

[wally_wabash]

Are we talking about the same Hanover that gave up 250+ rushing yards per game last year???  That's the 207th ranked rush defense out of 228 ranked teams.  Can you really extrapolate success against a horrible rush d like that to a traditionally strong rush d like Wabash has with the ol' "watch out for this guy..he had a great game vs. Sieve U.".  Having a big game against that isn't exactly something to get all hot and bothered about.   

If there is anything that worries me about the Franklin game, it'll be their passing game.  Early in the season, the chance exists that the Wabash offense may not hit the ground running and Franklin's offense is one that on the right day can score quickly. 

I really can't see Franklin beating Wabash in September being anything other than a pretty big upset.  This isn't one of those upsets that maybe people saw coming.  It would be a pretty big deal. 

[wabco]

Macleod

Thanks for the post.  I was not trying to be overconfident.  I do believe Wabash will win and will do so by the end of the game by a goodly margin. 

I suspect the beginning will be enjoyable as Franklin will have some "special Wabash summer planned plays" and Wabash will have to work out its RB /FB kinks and getting Huff's sealegs under him.  I believe the D should be at relative mid-season form (perhaps suckered once or so by the "plays") ... the talent which graduated had good talent behind them. 

By the late 2nd/3rd ... look for all the cute plays to have played out, superior Wabash D to dominate, and Wabash O to get on track.  I do not see Wabash O doing anything "specially planned" for Franklin but rather working on their bread and butter. 

All in all an enjoyable start for Roadtrip and son.

Now Millikin ... that will be a fun contest.

[formerd3db]

This is terribly late as well - I've been on vacation, so have just now seen this and my apologies for the same.  My thoughts/prayers and sympathy go out to all the Harbaugh family and also to all of their Wabash family and friends and you colleagues here on the board on the all too early passing of BashDad.  Although I only had the opportunity to correspond with him for a short time via this board, I feel it a privilege and honor to have met him at the Wabash playoff game last Nov and sharing our MIAA background and other football aspects as well.  His contributions to this board, as others have already pointed out, will indeed be missed.  His balance, insight, forthrightness, and diplomacy with regard to his opinions and commentary on this board (even if one perhaps disagreed with him from time to time - which wasn't often as I recall) all were a stand-up measure and tribute to him.  I, like the rest of you, was glad to have met him and been a friend, even if it were a short time as I mentioned.

[scotty]

i to felt honored to converse with BashDad...i sincerely hope that his fellow Wabash alums could be a little more humble and a little more secure in their postings...

[SaintsFAN]

Scotty,

Lets not use a passing like this as a vehicle to take shots at fellow posters on here....I know you have more class than your last post.  Your two sentences belong nowhere near one another.

wabco,

you are right.....from my limited knowledge of Franklin...I'd bet the house on Steeler inspired "gadget plays" and Riverboat Casino Gambler mentality.  IMHO, a team that relies on thus already knows the odds are stacks against it should they play "conventional" football ie..kicking on 4th down.

That said, Wabash SHOULD be very comfortable as you said by the 3rd stanza...


Wally,

I don't have to tell you this...but you are right about Hanover.  The brand of football played in Madison, IN by the Panthers has and will always be under Coach Perry, a kind of finesse defense.....it has to be with the offense being a spread type offense.  Its a matter of survival for that defense...bend but not break if you will.

[wally_wabash]

I really can't see Franklin beating Wabash in September being anything other than a pretty big upset.  This isn't one of those upsets that maybe people saw coming.  It would be a pretty big deal. 

What exactly is insecure about that post? 

[BashBacker#16]

The Franklin game should be an interesting one.  Coach Leonard was the NCAA rep for both Wabash playoff games last year - you'd think that would be very helpful in preparing for the Little Giants.  To say that Franklin has had 2 of the best recruiting classes in school history...what does that mean?  How does it compare to the Wabash classes?  Tough call.  I think this year's Bash class blows them away.  I can say that I don't know of more then a few (maybe one or two) where we lost a kid to the Grizzlies and that includes a transfer.  Our D will be ready with Mr. Pynenberg in the middle.  Franklin has nothing to lose in this game - which is a bit of a concern.  Wabash will need to be ready.

Roadtrip - there are some other eating options in C-ville.  One "off the path" that is very good food is Country Affair west of town on Hwy 32 - 5 miles.  The Mexican place downtown is pretty good too.  The Pizza Hut is decent (and big) and although I have never eaten there, I have heard Woody's Landing (East side of town) is worth a try.  What position did you say your son plays?

[wally_wabash]

The best eating option on gameday in C'ville is right off a grill in the parking lot behind Byron P. a couple of hours before kickoff.  Doesn't get any better than that.