FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Ryan Tipps]

I suppose I'll toss my hat into the ring....

1) Wittenberg -- There, I said it. Last year, Wabash had a banner year and represented the conference well. But Witt, during an off year, still almost put an "L" on the Little Giants' record. There's something about Witt that shows they step it up during NCAC play....especially against Wabash. Record: 7-0, 8-2.

2) Wabash -- There's lots of strength coming back, but Wabash lost a lot, too. I think they'll be impressive against Millikin, but lose that key game against Witt. I smell a Pool C bid this year after the LGs go 6-1, 9-1. And Bash tends to do well in the playoffs, so they might make it further than the conference champs.

3) Wesleyan -- The Battling Bishops have every chance to go 8-2 this year, though the game against Wooster will be a tough one on them. In conference, they'll be 5-2.

4) Kenyon -- I have faith now. I like what Kenyon has coming back, and this could be the start of the classic progression of how teams turn themselves around. Remember, Capital and Thiel were pretty crummy teams in the not-so-distance past, too. Kenyon will go 5-2, 7-3, but this is skewed because of their schedule.

5) Wooster -- The Scots' season depends on how much punishment they take from JC on opening day. Win or lose (please, please, please win!), the game will not be easy, and Wooster will walk away bruised up. It could, however, be a nice springboard in which to replace the memories of last season. We're looking at 4-3, 6-4....but they'll be better than the record shows.

6) Denison -- Never that bad, but never all that good either. They'll stick to the pattern that they've set for themselves. Expect a 3-4, 4-6 season, though the record would look even uglier if Wooster and Wittenberg were on the sked.

7) Allegheny -- It pains me to put the Gators this low in the rankings. I'm a fan, I really am. As long as they're not playing Wabash, you can count on the fact that I'm cheering for the Meadville bunch. But there's a lot that concerns me with this team. We're looking at 2-5, 4-6. And for the record, Gheny is definitely a better team than Denison, but the Big Red just have a schedule that favors them more, hence the higher ranking in the long run.

8 ) Earlham -- I agree with the other posts regarding Rummel. They're looking at 2-5, 4-6.

9) Oberlin -- They actually have a shot at a nonconference win this year! The record will go something like 1-6, 2-8.

10) Hiram -- The losing streak is broken, and I hope that they can continue to keep that monkey off their back. I think they'll get the win over Bethany. We're looking at 0-7, 1-9.

[seinfeld]

I don't want to be too critical, but there must be something in the water with at least a couple of NCAC SIDs.

First, Hiram's season outlook says Hiram will "look to become a contender for a possible North Coast Athletic Conference title in 2006."

http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/news/article.xsp?id=948

Then at Allegheny, the outlook opens with the Gators returning 24 starters, which is basically the maximum amount of starters you can have. But as you read the outlook, you see that they have graduated five offensive starters (two OL, one TE, two WR), and on defense, they only return four starters. That appears to add up to 10 starters returning, not 24.

http://www.allegheny.edu/cgi-bin/mt/mt-view.cgi/5/entry/5888/football_entry

[wally_wabash]

Welcome to the wonderful world of preseason spin...anybody who started as much as a single game is a returning starter, everybody's losing record is just a stepping stone or an unfortunate hiccup on the way to greatness.  Unbridled optimism is the signature of 99% of all preview articles.

[Pat Coleman]

Yep. We had a good laugh at these last year on the blog as well.

http://www.d3football.com/dailydose/?p=48

[Pat Coleman]

Actually, that's one of the reasons we started doing Kickoff -- to cut through the spin.

[herald79]

          Wally_Wabash, Your points are good ones, remember the last time that I saw the Bash play. Kenyon looked like a average Ohio Division 3 team, that is high school team. Wabash is a great place, and my Love of school tradition, draws me to that little school in Indiana. I meant the average D3 defender, and we both know there are very few of those on the Wabash D. And about your coach, he almost single handily beat a good Allegheny team the year before there national championship. Chris is a class guy and he knows the game. The ace in the hole right now for Kenyon, is the new facility, it will rival any in Ohio, including D1. Times are different, I wante'd a chance to win,   and a good education, now kids are awstruck by material things. (new stadium turf ,new 260 thousand sq ft athletic center. Kenyon still has a ways to go, they have alot to prove, to all of you, and even me. Just remember they lost a 1st team RB Alby Coombs in the first half of the OWU game. And Kenyon likes to control the ball on Alby's back. Goodluck Wabash,I can't wait to see that neat little school again. were  the old Kenyon QB has made quite a name for himself! 

[wabashcpa]

Congratulations to the NCAC representatives on the preseason All-American team (D3):

LB Adrian Pynenberg - Wabash - 1st team
T   Rick Drushal - Wooster - 2nd team

[smedindy]

Congrats to Adi and to Drushal.

[aueagle]

My summer is now OVER and Iam starting my personal "Training Camp" to get ready for another great D3 season. I've been reading NCAC Posts over the past couple of months & need to comment on: 1) Bashbrother/Harbaugh/Wabash - my condolences & prayers have been with all of you...2) Facilities Warfare - it's been going on in Texas H.S. football for years (Sports Illustratyed did a bit on it  last yr?) & at the D1 level.  I think it's great. Helps the programs/students/school/alums. 3) kcreds; Do we have a pipeline to WVa? This WR that you listed has great height & blazing speed, but, let's bulk him up to 190lbs!!! GO BISHOPS

[aueagle]

1)  Witt - Tigers are back
2)  Bash - Loaded-BUT
3)  OWU - Tired of 5-2
4)  COW -  Scottie blows hot air
5)  Gheny - New turf is high-lite
6)   Lords - Swimming STILL better
7)   Big Red - No more Piper
8)   Earlham - Please
9)   Oberlin - Got Nutin'
10) Hiram - Puppies have cool uniforms.
I will not be surprised if the champion has at least one loss...If the Bishops grow up early in the season - it could be a 3 dog race.....

[wally_wabash]

Sorry I wasn't clear.  I meant if the 2005 schedule would have been any different if Kenyon had played 'Bash and Witt in '03.

I had to check on this cwru70...I think it would have mattered.  Only the tenth ranked team in the NCAC gets away from playing both the top two ranked teams in the conference (currently those teams are Wabash and Witt).  Hiram was 0 for the NCAC during this stretch (they did beat Kenyon in '03).  I think that Hiram would have been rated 10th and Kenyon 9th which means that Kenyon would probably have had Witt on the schedule in '05 and '06.  

[wally_wabash]

Keep in mind...in 20+ years of NCAC football, our conference champion has only lost a conference game twice (1997 and 1989).  Is this the year we get a multiple one-loss champions?  Perhaps...but I wouldn't bet on it.  9 out of 10 times somebody runs the table.  I like those odds.   

[aueagle]

Powerball is $100 million tonight & I got $4 bucks on it...and I like my chances...it might be a long-shot, but the timing might be right wally....

[wally_wabash]

You win the powerball and I'll sign on to the notion that our conference champ will have "at least one loss."   

[aueagle]

...and I'll provide the keg for the Bash/OWU game...you're on!!!!