FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

My Wabash homecoming will be complete if I hear that Wooster is beating Witt as well.

(A man can dream...)

[wally_wabash]

My Wabash homecoming will be complete if I hear that Wooster is beating Witt as well.

(A man can dream...)

And let's not forget about getting frequent updates on the beatdown DPU will be receiving tomorrow.  Always music to my ears.   

[smedindy]

Just our luck, Millsaps will be up 21-0 in the third and then put in the second string for the rest of the game.

"We needed to see who can play on the road in the conference," said Mike DuBose. "I have to know what I've got..."

Perish the thought...

[BashBacker#16]

Wally and 78,

My guess is we may see both QBs tomorrow.  Not sure of that but would not be surprised.  Personally, I hope one jumps out and CC settles in and rides him.  Agree that the OL play needs to get more consistent (which it was early in the season) and that should help open the running game and relieve pressure off the QBs.  Regarding the D last week vs. OWU - the D had never seen some of the sets they threw at us and it took time to adjust.  Thankfully they got it done in the second half.  I would love to see us run for over 200 tomorrow - even if EC has the weakest rush D in the conference.  I would also hope our WRs have good days AFTER the catch where they can make plays - plus its fun to watch.

Apparently Marks is out for DPU tomorrow.

Go Scots!
Go Majors!
Go Bash!

[ScotLass]

My Wabash homecoming will be complete if I hear that Wooster is beating Witt as well.

(A man can dream...)

Well, I've lit candles, made promises and pacts, and tortured my Witt voodoo doll relentlessly.

If Woo can pull this out they will have overcome a Goliath task.
Witt is at home. Witt is coming in with 2 wins while Woo is searching.
Woo's total offense is 10th in the conference versus Witt's total defense which is 1st.
Witt's total offense is 3rd to Woo's total defense at 9th.
Statistically, Woo's only seeming advantage is special teams. (Of course I would like to remain in a state of denial and believe these statistics are simply propaganda in Witt's game notes)

Others have overcome this kind of beginning. If the stars all align.....if adjustments have been made.....if minds have been prepared.....and if hard work has been done this week, Woo has the ability to change the course of their season.

We shall see come the morrow. 

[aueagle]

Bishops are behind the Eight Ball again this week...Rafael Sanchez and his quick feet are back... (last year at Selby & he gave the Bishop "D" fits)...Sanchez lit it up for 44 pts, but OWU had a 21 pt explosion in 4th. Lord "O" has put up 70, 21, & 49 pts in '07...Bishops need to keep RS and the Kenyon Spread in check until we can score in the Red Zone...The Lords are a decent club...4 All-NCACers back and an attitude that they can compete & win. Bishops are in the Meat Grinder of the schedule; LG's,Kenyon,COW, Big Red, Witt, Gheny...if there are to get on-track and make a run...NOW is the time...Regarding "VSE"...I was surprised to see the Gators throw the curve out of wack...Must have been all that $$$ they had to put into the drainage system...4.5 spread on the game is a good call wally....maybe I'll flip a coin....Go Bishops

[nike]

Wooster could give up 1000 yds a game if they held the other team scoreless, and we would not complain. And regarding Carthage, a backup quarterback wins that game. Schafer was hurt and Woo field position was lousy all day. And Carthage offense scored 0!
If Wabash or Witt records the next couple years mirror Wooster or OWU records the last couple years, conference titles, notwithstanding, how long would your respective coaches last? Are being great guys enough to keep their jobs even with consistently losing records?

[WAF78]

Nike,
Great question...however for many at Wabash...if we went 1-9 and that one win was over DePauw...I think the coach would be ok...lol. Not really...but for some that would be true.  Seriously, the previous coach at Wabash before Creighton had a great won loss record...but lost way too many times to DPU...and I think that was one LARGE factor in his firing.

[nike]

I would think that even d3 schools would insist on a winning program every now and then. It would be great if the new guy at Hiram could turn their football program around at least to the point of respectability over the next few years. Much as Kenyon has done, albeit without playing all the big boys recently. But, still it was fun to see the discussion simply because Kenyon was winning games and in the conference race the past couple years.
Maybe Wooster (and OWU for that matter) are OK with their guys. Have a feeling next week's Wooster-OWU game will have a lot more at stake than just bragging rights for a year.

[ScotLass]

Just a historical review of Woo:

Coach Bob Tucker 1985-1994 (29-66-1 overall in 10 seasons)
3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 1-9, 4-6, 3-7, 3-7, 3-6-1, 2-7, 1-9

Coach Jim Barnes (with Mike Schmitz as offensive coordinator) 1995-1999
(37-13 overall in 5 seasons)
5-5, 7-3, 9-1, 8-2, 8-2

Coach Mike Schmitz 2000-present (50-22 overall in 7 seasons)
6-4, 4-6, 8-2, 7-3, 11-1, 6-4, 8-2

The last 12 seasons have been pretty darn good under Barnes and Schmitz. In the past few, there have been some very outstanding and exceptional players recruited to the Scots - who are now gone. With those players maybe Bob Tucker would have done as well? Almost all of Woo's assistant coaches have come during the tenure of those players.

With significant player losses due to graduation, I would expect a little tougher year. New players adjusting, coaches making adjustments, maybe with a new college President a little more administrative support trickling down to the football program.

Conference play is just beginning, seven games are left. We shall see. IMO, while the beginning to the season has been terribly frustrating, it's too early to throw the baby out with the bath water......yet. 

[wally_wabash]

And regarding Carthage, a backup quarterback wins that game. Schafer was hurt and Woo field position was lousy all day.

Reiff played significant minutes in that game (the entire fourth quarter) and completed one pass in fourteen attempts.  That's one out of fourteen which by any measure is gawd awful.  Your backup did get a chance and did no better than Schafer had done, concussed or otherwise.  In fact, he did worse.  Again, I don't think you can skewer the coach for seven turnovers.  Even #7 lost a fumble in that game....in the fourth quarter with under 6 minutes to play.  That's a killer turnover.  Is that on the coach, too? 

[wooscot]

Interesting note on the Wooster coaching records.  To me, one thing sticks out - recruiting.  Consistency at the DIII level requires above all consistent good/great recruiting classes.  I think that is where Wooster under Schmitz has struggled, even though I think the institution as a whole has been the overwhelming contributing factor in the recruiting struggles.  One great class every three-four years with average classes surrounding them doesn't get it done and I think the school should take note of that and re-dedicate itself to the football program like it did when Barnes was coach.  Who knows...maybe Barnes saw the writing on the wall when he left that priorities were shifting. 

Look at the classes Mt. Union hauls every year.  Unbelievable. 

[BashBacker#16]

78,

Not trying to rub salt in the wounds (re:  Coach Carlson was right around .700 winning percentage) but I think its hard to compare the two.  I don't think its fair to "group" the two based on winning records.  In his 6 years at Wabash, CC has had 2 undefeated seasons (there have only been 3 the school's history), 3 NCAC championships, Elite 8 in '02, and his 55-13 record at Bash is pretty darn strong.  On top of that, then throw in the 5-1 record vs. DePauw...  Now take a look at the Program as a whole...recruiting, experience, impact on lives, etc.   Do I think he is a great coach (I think original question posed by Nike)?  YES.  

I am not jumping on your post just felt there is a bigger difference outside of Monon Bell losses.

[WAF78]

Bash,
No problem, man but I wasn't comparing Creighton and Carlson at all...the point was in responding to Nike's question "If Wabash or Witt records the next couple years mirror Wooster or OWU records the last couple years, conference titles, notwithstanding, how long would your respective coaches last? Are being great guys enough to keep their jobs even with consistently losing records?" I was simply stating that at Wabash, even with a .700 winning percentage and Carlson being a good guy...to lose to DePauw on a somewhat consistent basis is not a healthy thing.
Go Wabash, Wooster, and Trinity

[seinfeld]

wally_wabash,

Where you at the Wooster-Carthage game in 2004?