FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

I'd have to favor the track record of Pat's group on this one. Yes, Huff had a fantastic year, and one that he will be hard pressed to repeat. He had insane games against OWU and Denison last year, and never had a bad game.

The Wabash scheme allows for the QB to put up gaudy numbers if the QB is accurate and the receivers catch the ball, so their stats will pop out. Is that the same as being the best QB in the country? Not always.

Huff is a fine QB and worthy of some mention (he's in the team photo of elite D-3 QBs), but I never discount whoever Mt. Union has tabbed as their QB to be in the All-American hunt.

[Pat Coleman]

Good news is we have four spots on the postseason team, so we can honor twice as many people.

[wally_wabash]

Media day poll results!

Media Poll:
Wabash (29) 317
Wittenberg (3) 281
Wooster 228
Allegheny 222
OWU 185
Oberlin 154
Kenyon 141
Denison 125
Earlham 69
Hiram 38

Coaches Poll:

Wabash (7) 97
Witt (3) 91
Allegheny 76
Wooster 66
OWU 60
Oberlin 49
Kenyon 41
Denison 40
Earlham 18
Hiram 12

[BashBacker#16]

Dig this quote from CC:

"The last time we were ranked in all the preseason polls and publications, we lost our first game and ended the season 7-3 and were not ranked anywhere in the polls at the end of the season,"Head Coach Chris Creighton said after the rankings were announced. "We won't be worrying about the polls. There will be no problem with focus with this 2007 team."

[wabco]

I recall the 7-3 year.  Much preseason to-do.  Wabash played lowly K College first game.  However, not the normal to be expected K.  A relatively senior laiden team (a new experience for the Hornets ... and also ... as we were to see ... for the Little Giants).  The K coach was to ride this team that year to a pretty decent season in the MIAA and then off into the sunset to Dannieland ... later to fall from grace and be fired and to end up (after a brief interregnum period to provide time for suing the dastardly Dannies) as head coach of the Catholic Central HS Cougars (who by the way are just now coming off a senior laiden squad and will be feed this year for all who have champed at the bit for this time to come ... oh woe to the fallen coach ... but I digress).

Looking back ... you could see from the faces and walk of the Wabash players getting off the bus in K-land that they had read their press clippings and figured this to be a walk in the park against "who is it again"... and even thought this is the first game with Wabash having recent rep for slow first game starts.  K had some decent skilled players, a decent coach, an experienced team (for them)  and a summer to plan.  Wabash had new QB issues along with some new players in D and O and skill positions.  Good players ... soon to be great players but just a little new as a unit together.  They were to grow up this day (or at least start the process ... which I believe has left the positive imprint to which CC refers as is repeated by BB16 here ... no more trouble focusing upon who you are and what you are about.)

K played inspired and beyond their individual abilities ... Wabash was waiting for the inate superiority to prevail.  Through 3 quarters ... waiting.  Then they got their poop together ... but just a little shy at the end.  Another 2 minutes and a win ... but this day the game was not 4 quarters plus 2 minutes.

Lessons learned.  PLUS ... I believe also at present a different situation:  Wabash should be a team in being with experienced players individually and as a team ... in place.  There is history to draw upon ... when you think too highly of yourself.  There is a bite in your but from Franklin from last year which has not yet quite healed.  Will they do it to Franklin.  Yes, I believe so ... Franklin will come with weapons and coaching and spirit and a summer to plan.  But Wabash talent, experience (individually and as a team), coaching, game plan based upon knowledge of opponent, recent history, Franklin bite, home field and home fans and WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS ... should will out.  Will be one heck of a good game I think.

NOW ... NCAC rankings ... Gheny too low.  OWU ... always like their player spunk.  Like Woo as a school and coach/team ... but believe they are going to be picked upon by a Gheny who is hungry and tired of smelling the other dogs behinds ... as well as an OWU bite.  Witt will be there.  If (In my partisan heart and mind say "when") the Little Giants are to prevail ... it starts mentally with a post driven into the Bulldog's heart.  Then play your bottoms off because Witt, Gheny, OWU and then Woo have not read the press.

Go Little Giants!   

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Wabco...

I enjoyed getting that perspective on the past...Thank you for the post.

My glass is raised to all you Bash Men....On a "Poop Together" season...

No matter the outcome....

[wabco]

My bad ... I "overlooked" Franklin ... they are Grizzlies not Buldogs.  Still ... drive the stake Wabash, drive the stake.

[BashBacker#16]

Article in C-ville's Journal Review from NCAC Media Day:  http://www.journalreview.com/articles/2007/08/03/sports/01ncac.txt

[runyr]

Puppies in the news:
http://www.nd.edu/~ndmag/reflect/chema.html

[wooscot]

Curious to see Woo picked 3rd and 4th.  I know losing 27 or so seniors is big, but you would think after the successfull runs Wooster has had over the years, the proverbial cubbard cannot be that bare, can it?  Granted, Woo doesn't get the incoming Frosh numbers a la Witt or Mount, but Wooster's m.o. over the past 10 or so years is quality over quantity, so there must be some other playmakers aside from Sheppard. 

To be honest, losing Schafer is big from an experience stand point, but despite the kid's heart, I don't think he ever really lived up to the over-hyped expectations placed upon him by not only the fans, but the coaches.  I recall Coach Schmitz predicting he would go down as the "best QB in Wooster history" prior to last season.  Now, his record as a starter was excellent, but his numbers don't warrant the "best every" label.  Not criticizing the kid, just pointing out that Woo's overall depth and talent the last few years have been why they have merited success.  I would hope that "tradition" will continue this year with some new studs elevating their game.

[smedindy]

Cubbard??? You from the OAC originally?



(I KID! I KID!)

[BashBacker#16]

Wooscot,

Who would you have placed the Scots in front of?  There isn't much there and you lost some very good, experienced veterans (Watson, Drushal, Shafer-Elway, Mizak, etc.) that still didn't win the league without #7.  Didn't the media have them behind Wabash and Witt?

No disrespect but what do you see that we don't???

BB16

[wabco]

Here is some Franklin info for Little Giants to chew upon:

The Grizzlies led their conference in scoring, averaging 31.2 points per game last year and return junior quarterback Chad Rupp (Evansville, IN/Memorial) to lead the Grizzly attack. Rupp threw for 2,217 yards in 2006, including 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions. The Franklin quarterback ranked among the national leaders in passing efficiency (164.3) and total offense (232.4 ypg) as a sophomore. Also returning on the offensive side of the ball for Franklin is senior running back R.J Hartsfield (Salem, IN/H.S.). Hartsfield ranked second in the HCAC in rushing with 82.9 yards per game and nine touchdowns. Senior linebacker Lance Pickrell (Frankfort, IN/H.S.) returns to lead the Franklin defense. Pickrell recorded a team-high 74 tackles and added one sack last fall.

September 8 ... time to put a "L" in the Franklin column.  But Rupp and Hartsfield will make it interesting for Wabash D.

[ScotLass]

Wooster actually did pretty well with recruiting. There are 52 incoming freshmen.There are definitely some playmakers besides Sheppard. BUT, reality says that the losses will make a difference and I think a ranking at 3rd or 4th is pretty realistic......I am always open to the miraculous though.... The defensive line coach is new, they are heading into camp with no clear quarterback, and some of the potential standouts haven't had much playing time in previous seasons. Will be interesting to see how the players and coaches adjust and step up.

[bashbrother]

2007 – ALL NCAC (Predictions anyone?) 

There may be some crazy ones.... Just thought I would get some conversation started.  I hope everyone I listed is still playing    the All-NCAC list from last year had a few people listed as Juniors that were actually Seniors. 

Offense -

QB – Dustin Huff – Wabash
RB -  RV Carrol - Oberlin
RB -  Andy Vanover - Witt
WR – Mike Russell - Wabash
WR – Chris Schubert - Oberlin
TE -  Terrance Raeford - Owu
C – Dan Sommers - Wooster
OL – Erik Shaver  - Wabash
OL – Brian Hilts - Wabash
OL -  Brandon Johnson  - Witt
OL – Mark Miller - Oberlin


Defense -

DL – Bubba Lange - Wabash
DL – Chris Pasani - Oberlin
DL – Anthony Davis - Witt
DL -  Darryl Kennon  - Wabash
OLB – Torri Zaniol - Denison
OLB – Greg Schermbeck - Wooster
ILB – Adrian Pynenberg - Wabash
ILB – Mateo Villa - Gheny
DB – Curt Anderson - Gheny
DB – Chase Palmer - Oberlin
DB – Richard Roomes  - Wabash
DB – Jeff Geffert - Wooster

Mike Gregory Award - Dustin Huff - Wabash
Hank Critchfield Award - Adrian Pynenberg - Wabash
Newcomer of the Year - TBD.... their new
Coach of the Year - CC