FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

Wabash transfer RB Austin Gorrell - Franklin College had some difficulties against the Bishops running D...here is his stat line in his first game for the Grizzlies...

Austin Gorrell:  4 carries,  3 yards,  ave. yds/carry  = 0.8; he did catch 2 passes for -3 yards.  UGLY. 

The Springfield News reported that Holmes will be out 4-6 weeks.  Will they stay with the Frosh or move someone else?  Was Brumfield a big recruit for them?  What a blow to the Tigers.  You could bet they have 10/22 circled on the calendar...

[diehardfan]

Bash dad, thanks for your thoughtful comments on the CCIW board concering our team and the game. Now if I could only get someone from my own school to post such helpful information! 

I know we really all appreaciate the good relationship our two schools have. Good luck this season!

[DarkSide-D]

valid point pat

[oldguy]

spliskin,

Did you not read the post right before yours?

[wally_wabash]

Let's do a little Tarrantino-ing and go back in time...to one year ago.  Remember if you will opening day 2004...the scoreboard lights up and Witt loses to Capital 49-14.  The dialogue right afterward went something like this (and I'm condensing this greatly):

Anonymous poster #1: "I can't believe Witt lost like that."
Anonymous poster #2: "I won't believe that Witt can actually be that bad.  Capital must be that good.  Capital could beat Mount this year!"

Flash forward five weeks....the scoreboard reads: Mount Union 49, Capital 7. 

Haven't we read this book before?  If we learned anything last year from the Witt-Cap game we learned that Mount is still the king, beating Witt soundly doesn't make you a national title contender anymore, and Witt just can't play defense against anybody with any sort of reasonable offense.  I'm done believing that Witt is scary good simply because they're Witt.  I've seen more than enough in the last three or four seasons to convince me otherwise.  The fact is that Witt will win games against the fodder 60-7 and then they'll have to hope and pray that they can outscore the rest of the teams on their schedule that are worth a damn.  That's the reality of Wittenberg football presently. 

More interesting Witt football trivia...I think we can all agree that Witt doesn't stand a snowball's chance on Saturday.  Then they travel to Alma where Alma's strength (passing and lots of it) plays right into that gaping wound that is Witt's pass defense.  It's a very real possibility that Witt starts 0-3 this year for the first time since 1953. 

[HScoach]

Wally:  Great analysis.  I agree 100%.  The "Old Witt" was a team to fear and respect.  The current Witt is just plain weak.  Hopefully for the NCAC's sake, somebody else wins the conference this year.  Because a 54-0 butt-kicking shouldn't happen to anybody's champion. 

[oldguy]

As much as it pains me, I have to actually agree with Wally.  Those teams that were feared and respected were defensively strong.  Although I believe they had the personnel to open it up on offense but a conservative gameplan didn't allow it.  But then again, there was no need to open it up.  I think the main reason Witt opened it up last year was by necessity.  They had to outscore teams...as Wally mentioned.  They have to do the same this year which will be difficult without Holmes. 

I'm not ready to abandon ship after only one game.  Perhaps they'll have a good showing this week(maybe forcing at least one punt), and use that momentum to get back on track and make some noise.  But man, I wish we had a defense.

[wabco]

Question:  How do you get the Witt players to "come back" and believe in one week after ths smashing they took (both O and D) and then get smashed again (unless "and then a miracle occurred") ... then get them back and regrouped for the next weeks game ... no slouch there either ... then after being 0-3 or even 0-2 (with 2 games being embarrasements) get them back.  NOW ... the Witt coaches will really earn their pay.

Pehaps now, Witt will no longer run the score on the likes of Hiram, Kenyon etc.  (I know, I know ...'Bash had one large score for which it received good criticism) ... but it is no fun to be on the receiving end ... hope that lesson sticks. 

[e_lee]

OWU fans,

I have searched for a boxk score but to know avail.  I know from reading hte article that Zach Dennis had at least one big reception, a 28 yarder on 3rd and 23, but did he do anything esle?  Also how did safety Brandon Beebe do, did he play defense or just get in on special teams?

I had the pleasure of coaching both of these young menin HS and in American Legion baseball. 

I only wish they had gone to my alma mater, Capital.

Also, like the many of you I hope that the Cap-Witt was so lopsided becasue Cap is that good. 

Good luck to the Battling Bishops this year.

[oldguy]

For the record, the starters only played the first quarter against the Hirams and Kenyons.  If they can't stop the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th team offense, what do you want Witt to do.  Down the ball the whole second half.  Fincham never ran up any score on anyone.

[BashBacker#16]

e lee,

Boxscore (Franklin vs. OWU) is available on Franklin's website.  www.franklincollege.edu

Oldguy - any insight on QB for Witt?  As I asked, is Brumfield the guy (for sure) now that Holmes is out for so long.  Was he a highly touted recruit?  He is not very big...6'0 180.  It also appeared Witt's O-line did not perform very well.  Murray only gained about 60 yards and it sounds like Holmes & Brumfield were running for their lives.  If you think about the most critical players to get injured (around the NCAC) its hard to come up with someone more valuable to a team then Holmes is to Witt - especially now that we have seen the results...

I am also not going to kick them while they are down but leading in to the season, there were many remarks on this board regarding Witt's D!!!  You can't just move a FB to LB (Harmon) and expect the D to suddenly win games.  Another huge red flag for Witt from Saturday's massacre... Fonseca led them in tackles with 18 - he's a safety!!!  I also noticed that Tiggs did not start???

[wally_wabash]

More Witt vs. Dayton discussion...

How should Witt approach this game?  The reality of the situation is that they have no chance at all to actually win.  Additionally, win or lose, the game doesn't count for anything but bragging rights (you can throw out the records, the stats, and the NCAA divisional classifications when these two rivals get together!).  Witt's already down a starting qb and maybe the key cog in their offensive engine (certainly one of the two key cogs).  How far should they push Murray and Glover and anybody else that might be important for them the rest of the way in a game that doesn't matter? 

[Vince McMahon]

I think people should be careful trashing Witt too much.  Yeah, they're probably going to get thrashed again this week, but that could ultimately work to their favor down the line.  A couple of lopsided losses and all of a sudden, NCAC teams might actually stop taking the Tigers seriously.  Big Mistake.  It's only been one week, though.  Sometimes the wheels just plain come off.  We'll have to wait and see if they can bounce back with a better effort. 

[BashBacker#16]

Vince,

Not speaking for others but I don't think you can say we are "trashing" Witt.  No doubt they will still be competitive (you'd think) but what happened Saturday was a real shocker.  54-0 is mind boggling when you think that is the conference favorite???  I also thought it was interesting that Pentello was still in the game to account for the 51st point.  I am surprised no one has brought that up.

You can bet any amount of money that Wabash will not play any differently on October 22 then they would if Witt were 6-0.  It is still Witt.  Bash posters can say all they want but as for the team & staff - that is all that matters on 10/22.

[BashDad]

More Witt discussion...

Witt's back-up to Holmes last year was sophomore, Chris Clark.  It would appear that he transferred after Homes (a fifth year) decided to return.  A look at their '05 roster does not show Clark--only frosh at the QB position.  Does not bode well for Witt unless someone grows up real fast.