FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

Smeds - you are hilarious.  Is the top 25 based on the strength of the NCAC?  St.Olaf's jump a few weeks back from #18 to #13 raised question marks.  Then they get blasted by an UNRANKED Bethel team...but you still say, ya their ranking is justified....whatever........

You know, you may want to do some critical thinking there BB16. It raised question marks by people who didn't stop to look all of the machinations that went behind the jump (as in - quite a few other teams got beat and a lot of voters went and did some re-thinking). And then they get beat by a Bethel team that has traditionally been strong - and is currently only unranked because of a week 1 hiccup.

BTW -

Massey Rating using MOV (i. e. the REAL ONE) before this week:

Bethel - 16
Wabash - 27

So, St. Olaf was beaten by the 6th and 16th best teams according to Massey and you want to denigrate them?

BB16 - we taught you better than that...

[DadofBashWarrior..]

Smed...you are spot on about Bethel.....extremely well Coached up team by Johnson....and been very strong since he has been there....

Similar to the OAC with Mount...MIAC has St John to deal with....or Bethel would have a longer string of Championships...

and...last year was one of the years that Bethel beat St John...

The real question was...the hiccup...that blew me away...

[BashBacker#16]

How about Wabash QB Matt Hudson not being named NCAC POW after throwing for 417 yards and 4 TDs in a game matching unbeatens???  (hopefully this will not trigger BashBro...) 

Also, I am not sure the POY award should go to a team in the middle of the pack...a Shubert, RV Carroll, Sanchez...etc.  Kenyon loss to EC has to hurt Sanchez.  Especially when those guys have huge games vs. lesser opponents.  Offense POY is a toss up more then any year I can remember.  Thoughts???

[wally_wabash]

OPOY...your guess is as good as mine.  I think you'll see Carroll's averages come back to the pack (games left against Witt and Allegheny), Sanchez has nice numbers, but what good are they when his team isn't winning (seriously..Earlham?  Really?)?  I said last week after the Witt game that Hudson could sneak in there if he finished up the conference season strong...400+ and 5 tuddies (4 passing, 1 rushing) was a nice start on Saturday.  Hudson leads the conference in PER at 173.8 (apologies to Kenyon's backup QB, but 30 attempts doesn't qualify)...noteworthy that this PER is better than the PER Huff set last year to lead the nation.  Hudson's passing yardage numbers are skewed because they're being averaged against all 7 games even though he took two knees in the Franklin game, and played about 6 minutes in the Millikin game.  I think two more stat-heavy games from Hudson and he could step in and win the Gregory Award, particularly since nobody else seems like a really good choice. 

[smedindy]

I looked at conference game only stats:

Carroll is the only RB really in contention.

Huffman, Hudson, and Sanchez would be good QBs to look at.

Shubert is probably the best all-around offensive player with his return capability (though, to be honest, Williams at Witt and a lot of the Wabash receivers would also be excellent return men).

Any one of those five, probably, and I bet the votes will be split. I'd say Sanchez may be the favorite simply because he's a senior and is a big reason Kenyon has improved from totally awful to mediocre (but decent in the NCAC). He's not who I'd vote for (Huffman, Carroll or Hudson) but he may get it.

[smedindy]

The real question was...the hiccup...that blew me away...

The IIAC is always tough, but Buena Vista not so much...

That was about as odd as Augsburg beating Wartburg (that'd be akin to Denison beating Baldwin-Wallace). There have been a few "say what??" games around D-3 this year. And because of that Pool B and C are a mess.

In our region, I think the biggest "say what?" is the mediocrity in the CCIW. Maybe not mediocrity, more like, "We beat up on each other like the Big 10". When was the last time Augustana lost 4 games in a season? With Capital having two losses (when the lose to Mt. Union), will the OAC be a one-bid league?

It could happen that both Case and Wash U. get bids if Wash U. beats case and both have one loss. The HCAC could get two if Mt. St. Joe's win out.

So yeah, the UAA and HCAC with two bids while the OAC and CCIW have one.

Strange things afoot at the Circle K.

[wally_wabash]

Maybe not mediocrity, more like, "We beat up on each other like the Big 10".

So in other words, mediocrity.   

Selection Sunday is going to be very, very interesting this year. 

[bashbrother]

How about Wabash QB Matt Hudson not being named NCAC POW after throwing for 417 yards and 4 TDs in a game matching unbeatens???  (hopefully this will not trigger BashBro...) 

Counseling is going well,  have my first group session tonight, but so far so good.   

[smedindy]

Gah, the NCAC's POW is rather ridiculous. It is in hoops too.

[wally_wabash]

How about some Wabash/Oberlin thoughts....

- Wabash put to bed in a hurry any worry that they might come out a little flat after the big win vs. Witt.  20 points in the first 15:12 of the game while allowing Oberlin to move the ball just 19 yards in the same time...could not have had a better start. 

- I am really amazed at how comfortable and confident Hudson looks.  The offense took a few weeks to start going with the new qb, but right now the offense is really clicking and the big play ability that we thought we'd see from Wabash all year is back.  Hudson isn't done having monster games this year. 

- Note to R.V. Carroll...I understand that you're excited about ripping off a 45 yard run, but when you're on the road and down 20 points, you don't get to flip the ball and run your yap.  Cost your team 15 yards and made you look really, really foolish.  You're too good of a back to be pulling that crapola. 

- Dig the necktie look Coach Ramsey was sporting on the sideline. 

- That Wabash defense is really starting to click as well.  They're getting off the field a little better on third down and that front four is really wrecking people. 

- Three PATs gone awry...I think it's time to put the leather slipper on somebody else's foot.  On the bright side, Finley's directional punting was awesome again on Saturday. 

Unless I'm seeing something wrong, Wabash goes to Wooster with a chance to clinch a share of the conference championship and a chance to clinch the NCAC's bid to the playoffs (all of the other teams that can finish with one loss have all lost to Wabash).  Should be a fun one at Papp on Saturday...I can't wait to see it. 

[uknowme22]

Tigers barely got by OWU on Saturday.  The Tigers looked to be a little sluggish.  But to come away with a win after such a tough lose last week is good enough for me.  The youth of the team really shined again on Saturday.  I'll retract my previous statements about McKinley.  He is a stud.  He must have made 15-20 tackles on Saturday.  He is all over the place.  Great motor.  Coach Waddle has to love this kid, and the fact that he'll be around for awhile. 

Nice job last week Little Giants, and good luck this week. 

Go Tigers!!!

[bashbrother]

Unless I'm seeing something wrong, Wabash goes to Wooster with a chance to clinch a share of the conference championship and a chance to clinch the NCAC's bid to the playoffs (all of the other teams that can finish with one loss have all lost to Wabash).  Should be a fun one at Papp on Saturday...I can't wait to see it. 

That is correct Wally.  I was thinking about the same thing.  Do you think the Conference Championship Trophy will be in attendance or do you think they will wait until the next week in Crawfordsville?

We better be on our game.  Woo will be ready to play; this game could right some of the wrong in the Scots season and build nice momentum heading into next year.

[wally_wabash]

Unless I'm seeing something wrong, Wabash goes to Wooster with a chance to clinch a share of the conference championship and a chance to clinch the NCAC's bid to the playoffs (all of the other teams that can finish with one loss have all lost to Wabash).  Should be a fun one at Papp on Saturday...I can't wait to see it. 

That is correct Wally.  I was thinking about the same thing.  Do you think the Conference Championship Trophy will be in attendance or do you think they will wait until the next week in Crawfordsville?

We better be on our game.  Woo will be ready to play; this game could right some of the wrong in the Scots season and build nice momentum heading into next year.

I'm not sure.  If I had my choice, I'd rather they wait and bust out the hardware on Senior Day at Hollett.  In 2002 and 2006, Wabash clinched the title on the road and there weren't a lot of fans there to enjoy it.  In 2005 they clinched at home and it was a pretty awesome scene at Hollett.  So I'm hoping they hold off on the trophy presentation until 11/3 and celebrate the championship in front thousands of home fans and blast some Queen over the PA system (sorry LG...I don't make the rules for championship celebrations ). 

[aueagle]

"We look to create scoring opportunities and, for the most part, we did that against a very good Wittenberg football team today," Hollway said. "But when we create those opportunities, we need to take advantage by scoring ... we did not consistently do that today."

Faber College
Knowledge is good

OWU Football
Scoring is good

[aueagle]

Wittenberg's victory was the Tigers' 42nd against 35 losses and 6 ties in the series that dates back to 1894. In NCAC play, Wittenberg holds a 14-5 advantage. Ohio Wesleyan has not won in Springfield since 1990 .

Ohio Wesleyan returns to NCAC action Saturday on Homecoming Weekend, entertaining Allegheny at 1 p.m. at Selby Field.