FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Not to put more pressure on the Little Giants but the Millikan game in week 2 will be a huge gauge for Bash and our conference.  Looks like Millikan was placed 4th (tie with Elmhurst) in the pre-season CCIW coaches poll.  I am guessing Wabash will be #1 or #2 (if CC can work it) in the NCAC poll.  A loss to the Big Blue at LITTLE GIANT STADIUM would be pretty hard to swallow.  It will be a huge test but one they (we) need to handle early in the year.

What date(s) do NCAC teams report for camp?

[ski]

Woo's 05 running game was a work in progress, but Sheppard, in starting six games, averaged 5 yds. per carry with a total of 817 for the year.  That's not bad for a freshman.  The word is that he is bigger and stronger for 06 and that there is some good talent coming in to push him a little.  When talking about running the ball though, you can't forget about the importance of the O-line.  05 saw some weakness in that area.  Drushal was solid as always, but consistency with the rest was not there.  Sutton, in 04, had a solid line in front of him, throw in the tight end and Sutton had six solid blockers in front of him.  If Woo is going to be successful running the ball in 06, the O-line gots to show up every game!

[seinfeld]

Just glancing through Wittenberg's roster for this year, and it no longer has Jaren Collins, who was the transfer quarterback from Tennesse-Martin that was supposed to compete for the starting QB job. I figured he, along with the Huffman kid from Newark that got a lot of scholarship looks, wouldn't last four years together, but I didn't expect it to happen before the first camp.

So I wonder if Wittenberg will be starting a true freshman when it opens a Capital?

[wally_wabash]

Probably either the freshman or Matt Brumfield who is the only qb on the roster who has even sniffed the field on Saturdays (he had a less than memorable relief appearance in the Cap game, played a decent game vs. Dayton, then got yanked for Stokes in the Alma game).  The QB situation is in bad, bad shape in Springfield. 

[HScoach]

Has the NCAC coaches published their pre-season poll yet?  Just looking forward to the Wooster / John Carroll game and noticed today that JCU is picked 4th by the OAC coaches and 5th by the media.  Was wondering where Wooster was picked to finish in the NCAC?  Should be a good opener for both teams.

[wally_wabash]

NCAC Media Day is set for August 8.  The polls (both coaches and media) should be released that afternoon. 

[Li'l Giant]

The QB situation is in bad, bad shape in Springfield.

Well, this guy is looking for team to play for. I'm sure there are auto dealerships in Springfield that could use a hand too. 

[wally_wabash]

Ha!  I figured you'd be loving that little news nugget, LG. 

[Superfoot Wallace]

The QB situation is in bad, bad shape in Springfield.

Well, this guy is looking for team to play for. I'm sure there are auto dealerships in Springfield that could use a hand too. 

Actually sat in the parking lot with Zimmer, the old guy from Witt (class of 59) that owns the car lots in Springfield, after the Formula One Grand Prix in Indianapolis.  Was helping some starving artist Hippie that my inebriated state endeared me to sell his Renault and Ferrari lithographs, when this old guy behind a fence in the BMW lot tells me I got that sales ability.  Cat had an 86 Vixen.  For those of you not in the know, a Vixen is a rare BMW RV.  What made this one even more rare was the black walnut on a left side drive during US-German auto black walnut prohibition.

While Big Zim might have an affinity for the cuban cigar of auto interiors, shouldnt expect a guy that so values being self made and blue collar to do such things.   

Something about that lithopgraphy class being my lowest Witt grade upset me, though I trumped that with a tax class later on.  Not that Im a bad salesman, but was more inspired by the medium.

Anyway,  Rhett Bomar should transfer to USC.  First, they dont boot people from school at USC for taking monies and free rent.  Most importnatly, it would be more than poetic considering the rivalry between USC and UCLA and Troy Aikmans Oklahoma tenure and subsequent UCLA transfer.

Think Witt will be just fine at QB.  The more important aspect of Witts offense will be finding an appropriate balance between Brazziel, the other tailback, and Murray.  Other thundercat alum are expecting more carries from the fullback, but expect the offense, even though Coach Fincham has publicly proclaimed his steadfastness to the I and movement away from pistol snap and spread option, to diversify the tailback runs as opposed to fullback blends as the scheme is better informed by the Muskingum respite.  Whole lot easier to pass when they fear the run.

Besides all this, Coach is more Parcells than Switzer.

signed,
Bud Wilkinson

PS - Only a few weeks til Big Tuna day

[BashBacker#16]

Anticipating the coaches poll next week, I bet we will be surprised where Wooster is predicted.  I predict they will be placed higher then we have them in our predictions.  I would think that neither Fincham nor CC would want their teams picked 1st with the target on their backs.  Knowing Woo has the large senior class...it should be interesting. 

I am not surprised about the absence of Collins on the Witt roster.  Hmmm, a true Frosh may start...  I hope that is the case.

Any other notables not returning?  Any other transfers that should make an impact?

[scotty]

BB#16, just curious...why are you not surprised with the absence of Collins...to quote Tony Reali, "inside information Woody Page" 

[Superfoot Wallace]

Still think Allegheny and OWU have something special in store for this season, but never can tell.  Lot to be said for a conservative offense and stout defense, not to mention three underdogs having the only returning quarterbacks (read:Rummel, Sanchez and Savage)

Dont know why I keep forgetting Schaeffer.  Have a creepy feeling that Wooster might just turn out to be the rock troll everybodys seeing on paper but the prognosticators on this board, including myself, keep neglecting.  Nothing like veteran play in the trenches.  There are less than traditional ways to put points on the board if a team can control the LOS.

signed,
Willie Roaf and Dante Hall

[lancer98]

I love the assumptions Wally makes on Woo's offense outside of Shaffer and his take on the Witt QB situation as if it is as clear as a crystal ball.

How do you know that Shepard and the O-Line haven't improved significantly or the Huffman kid can come in and be outstanding.  Sheperd was only a freshman last year.  You can never tell how much a player(s) can inmprove with a year under their belt.  And if Huffman is as good as adverstised and all indications are he is Witt will be just fine at QB. I expect him to struggle early on but I think he is more than capable of being ready to go by the time the conference season rolls around.  There are no guantees on anything

The bottom line is this is a new year and last year performance means absolutely NOTHING in regards to what will happen.  Of course, that is all we have to go off of.  For example, your own QB Harbaugh put together an outstanding year last year.  If in the preseason you based his perfromance off of what he did in '04 it wouldn't have come even close.  He wasn't even a full time starter in '04.....if I remeber correctly?  

Its ok to speculate.....that's what preseason is for, but when you begin making bold predictions that's when you get yourself in trouble.  If you want to make them fine, but when you are worng..like you have been in the past...don't run from what you said.

[wally_wabash]

Who's running? 

This street runs both ways, lancer.  How do you know Sheperd is going to be a stud this year?  How do you know Huffman is going to be Brett Elliot as a freshman?  How do you know Hiram isn't going to blitzkrieg the league this year?  How do you know?? 

When was the last time a team won the NCAC with a freshman quarterback?  Get back to me when you gather that nugget.  Freshman quarterbacks are freshman quarterbacks...period.  You can rattle off a handful of names of great quarterbacks that have come and gone through the NCAC who weren't very good as freshman.  It's just part of the deal.  I'm sure Huffman will be very good by the time he's done at Witt...but I wouldn't count on it this year. 

And when Sheperd runs for 2000 yards and 25 TDs this year, I'll hand deliver the Gregory Award to him.  He's going to need more than one year and one offseason to turn into Tony Sutton. 

I've not said anything about any team this preseason that is completely outlandish or not based on some sort of reasoning.  There's no need to blast me for having reasonable opinions.  Some may turn out to be completely wrong, but that's the nature of the gig.  Some people thought Tennessee was a top 5 team last year.  You never know what is going to happen in the future, but you can prognosticate based on what you know now....which is perfectly reasonable. 

[lancer98]

You run...at least you have in the past.  As I said, if you want to make bold predictions fine.  Just be willing to admit when you are wrong.  That's the problem I have with some of your posts.  You tell everybody what is going to happen but when your wrong you're not held accountable.  Pretty much like every journalist on ESPN.  You always hear them passionatly predict what is going to happen but when they are wrong..a good percentage of the time...do you hear them admit it.  NOPE.  They just keep predicting and keep being wrong.  They should keep score and fire the analysts if they reach a certain mark of failure.   

I don't know what will happen this year.  But the tone of the your posts that I take suggest you do and leave no room for for the contrary. 

I have taken up this issue before and you never seem to get my point so this is my last post on this.