FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotLass]

Okay....here's the premise: you have a line with no mega standouts as starters.
Prior to this year when substitutions were made, it was usually individuals coming in for individual starters who were standouts. Theoretically this year, your starters would be maybe a bit better then the substitutes, but maybe they are all pretty close to one another. This year, instead of individual substitutions, I see the whole line changing out when there is a change, especially on D. And of course, they don't change up in practice either now. So, not understanding many things, here's my question:

Wouldn't it make some sense to change up individuals a little more, since further into the season as folks have developed, we might not yet have the best combo possible? Without doing that, how would you know? Thoughts?

[wabco]

JB49

From talking with Brent ... it is my understanding that it is a server issue.  To adequately stream video of the game it would require a much larger server than Wabash presently has committed to the tasks.  I suspect this will be overcome in the not to distant future ... along with new press box, better football stadium rest rooms, elevator to take those who need assistance in reaching the top areas of the stadium along with an accomodation area there, and ... trumpets up ... artifical turf.

All you baseballers and soccer-ers should become more vocal and help push the College this way ... as the new baseball stadium and soccer facility will in all probability occur in the same development spasm.  It is my understanding that the ship is now in the harbor for these improvements but not quite docked yet ... the question being delt with is not whether but when and what will be a part.

[Li'l Giant]

and ... trumpets up ...

We'd have trumpets, but apparently our Pep Band is no more.

[WAF78]

LG,
I know...it was so weird trying to sing Old Wabash without our totally outstanding Pep Band...I've been going to Wabash a long time...and the first time they haven't had a pep band. Anyone have a clue why not? Apathy? No Musicians?

[WAF78]

ScotLass...just so I'm understanding...they are platooning on the defensive line? In other words...one defensive line comes off...and another comes on?

[ScotLass]

Here ya go LG.......

WAF78.....yep, that would often be the case.

[BashJB49]

Ahhhh artificial turf, that would be sweet.  I hope this happens soon as the field, during my 4 years, always was a disaster at the end of the season.  Tom does a good job on it during good weather conditions, but when a storm hits (i.e. Bell 2006), even his magic won't work.

[WAF78]

ScotLass,
Well...I guess I would agree with your inquiry. The coaches get a look at each player individually in practice and I'm sure they're running different combinations in practice. However, some guys are not practice players and play qualitatively better in games. So, your idea of different combinations would be smart. I don't think I've ever seen anyone platoon on the D line. Well, at least they should be fresh for pass rushes.

[ScotLass]

WAF78

I've only seen a couple of practices lately, but they don't have different combinations there either. The starters run through a few series and then the backups. I noticed in games primarily because a couple of times the switch came in tough situations and I wondered why you would do that then especially. Not much substituting happens at any rate. Just wondered if different combinations in games might ferret out the possibility of a better combination.  Thanks....

[wally_wabash]

ScotLass,
Well...I guess I would agree with your inquiry. The coaches get a look at each player individually in practice and I'm sure they're running different combinations in practice. However, some guys are not practice players and play qualitatively better in games. So, your idea of different combinations would be smart. I don't think I've ever seen anyone platoon on the D line. Well, at least they should be fresh for pass rushes.

BB16 can help me here, but Wabash has platooned on the D-Line in the recent past.  I think in '03 Wabash was running Blair Hammer, Kennon, Lange, Tamarco White, Reggie Foley(?), and a couple of others in and out on nearly every down.  It was really pretty cool...that's a pretty amazing who's who of Wabash D-linemen now that I think about it.  I digress...the point is that it can work if you've got interchangeable parts.  By the time you get to the fourth quarter of games, your DL will be fresh and will control the game.  The fourth quarter of the '03 Bell game was owned by the Wabash defensive line for exactly this reason. 

[ScotLass]

That would make sense....thanks wally. Am not sure that's the case here though as it only happens a couple or three times a game and sometimes not at all. I even thought maybe it would be something you did in specific situations, like goal line defense or something, but I haven't noticed a pattern to it.

[wally_wabash]

Finally...regional rankings.  Here are the North Region rankings:

1) MUC
2) Wheaton
3) Wabash
4) CWRU
5) Capital
6) Franklin
7) MSJ
8 ) Witt
9) ONU
10) IWU

I haven't had time to chew on this yet...analysis coming later.   

[cave2bens]

Li'l Giant
   Re: North Coast Athletic Conference
« Reply #9242 on: Today at 03:06:38 pm »  

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Quote from: wabco on Today at 02:53:51 pm
and ... trumpets up ...

We'd have trumpets, but apparently our Pep Band is no more.  

ScotLass' "one-person" band insert aside, there may be a platoon answer to alleviate acappella (and sometimes tone-deaf) singing of "Old Wabash". Either bring back the Class of '57 (Big Bash '07 redux) or Sphinxers have Rhynies learn the rudiments of kazoo intonation, along with biomechanical structure of pyramids.  

Thanks for the regional update, Wally!

[Schwami]

Thanks Wally.

I was not surprised to see Witt ranked in the top 10, but I was a bit surprised to see that they were the top ranked 2 loss team overall.  I expected Ohio Northern to have that distinction.

I'm also mildly surprised that North Central was not ranked, but it was probably a toss up between them and Illinois Wesleyan.

[aueagle]

Does anyone have the trick to get on the Allegheny site?
Just read the Utica story on mid-season coaching changes....Part of me hopes that sends a message to the sub-performing programs....just because it's D3, doesn't mean we don't want to WIN. Just Win Baby!!
Then, I remember why the NCAC was set-up....and how I remember years ago the New York Times story on NCAC football.....makes me shutter.