FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Mmmmm...the disrespect card has been played!  Who had 7:59 p.m. on 11/19 in the pool?   

Similar schedules...sort of.  Some common NCAC opponents, but the difference is that while CWRU was busy toying with St. Vincent, Gallaudet, and Chicago, Wabash was off beating teams like Franklin and Wittenberg.  That's the difference.  But like I said earlier, the win over Widener validates CWRU's regular season and the Spartans will not be overlooked or underestimated or disrespected or anything of the sort.

[ADL70]

 

[ScotLass]

cwru70,

The video worked fine for me, only had to restart it 2 times when it kind of stalled.....as far as respect.....I respect and am actually kinda PO'd at Case.....temporarily you've got our stringer of fish.......

[ExTartanPlayer]

Wally,

While I agree that Case's schedule was not the strongest this year, it's unfair to mention the weakest teams on Case's schedule and then the strongest on Wabash's schedule.  For amusement's sake, I'm actually going to rank the respective opponents on each team's schedule (based on season record and accomplishments), and list the score of each game.  The playoff games are not included.

Case               Wabash

CMU (7-4)       W 20-17 OT             Franklin (9-1)       W 35-33
Wash U (7-3)      W 35-27      DePauw (8-2)       L 24-21
Oberlin (5-5)       W 37-16      Wittenberg (8-2)                   W 24-17
Wooster (4-6)                    W 30-17       Oberlin (5-5)      W 45-14
Ohio Wesleyan (4-6)    W 20-17      Allegheny (5-5)                   W 28-20
Chicago (4-5)      W 35-3      Wooster (4-6)      W 21-10
Denison (4-6)       W 45-6      Ohio Wesleyan (4-6)   W 15-0
Kenyon (2-8)       W 49-26      Denison (4-6)      W 42-0
Gallaudet (2-6)                    W 52-13      Earlham (3-7)      W 54-20
St. Vincent (0-10)                    W 42-0      Milikin (2-8)      W 28-6

Total Opponents Records:  Case 39-59, Wabash 52-48

Comments:

First, the obvious.  Wabash did play a harder schedule than Case.  No doubt about it.  In fact, I think that Case's schedule was one of the weakest in Division III this year, because they played Gallaudet and St. Vincent along with five of the weaker NCAC teams (although Oberlin, Wooster, and Ohio Wesleyan did finish above .500 in NCAC play).

Best wins - Wabash has a clear advantage with a victory over Franklin, a playoff team, albeit one from a weaker conference (HCAC).  They lost the Monon Bell game; that is a terrific rivalry and I'm almost willing to count that as a "win" because playing tough competition like that in a rivalry game prepares teams well for playoffs.  And they get a bonus point for playing Wittenberg as well (who beat MIAA champ Olivet).

Best wins - Case defeated defending conference champ CMU on the road (who did win a playoff game last year), and that CMU team reeled off five straight wins to finish 7-4, including an ECAC bowl victory.  They also defeated a Wash U team that owned impressive victories over Rhodes and playoff team North Central (who beat Franklin last week in round one).  So I'd call those two wins probably about the same as beating Wittenberg, IMHO.

The middle portions of the schedule are more or less a wash.  4 of the opponents are common, Chicago and Allegheny are probably pretty similar, and we'll call Kenyon and Earlham similar as well.  Case does get a black mark for playing two start-up programs, but Milikin isn't anything special either.

So my final scorecard shows that Case played 2 "good" teams, 5 "mediocre" teams, and 3 "bad" teams.
Similarly, my highly suspect system says Bash had 3 "good" teams, 6 "mediocre" teams, and 1 "bad" team.

Not really as great of a difference as some might think.

None of this is meant in a harsh tone - this is all just a purely informative/fun exercise in comparison.  As you've acknowledged, the game will be won on the field Saturday.  To your credit, you said "But like I said earlier, the win over Widener validates CWRU's regular season and the Spartans will not be overlooked or underestimated or disrespected or anything of the sort."  Sign of a true, respectful fan.  Should be an interesting second round matchup!

[ExTartanPlayer]

Sorry didn't line up the way I had hoped.

Case               Wabash

CMU (7-4)                 W 20-17 OT       Franklin (9-1)           W 35-33
Wash U (7-3)            W 35-27            DePauw (8-2)           L 24-21
Oberlin (5-5)             W 37-16            Wittenberg (8-2)      W 24-17
Wooster (4-6)           W 30-17           Oberlin (5-5)             W 45-14
Ohio Wesleyan (4-6) W 20-17           Allegheny (5-5)         W 28-20
Chicago (4-5)            W 35-3             Wooster (4-6)           W 21-10
Denison (4-6)            W 45-6             Ohio Wesleyan (4-6) W 15-0
Kenyon (2-8)             W 49-26           Denison (4-6)           W 42-0
Gallaudet (2-6)          W 52-13           Earlham (3-7)           W 54-20
St. Vincent (0-10)      W 42-0             Milikin (2-8)               W 28-6

[bashbrother]

Both Wabash and Case are good football teams. 

Who is better?  We shall see on Saturday.  Personally, I believe that Case will need some turnovers or big plays on special teams to keep it close.  I don't believe it will necessarily be a blow out, but I do believe that it will be the best team that Case will have lined about against all year and they will have to play their best game of the season to have a shot.

Wabash showed me something last week.  After the Bell Game I didn't really know what to think about this team.  Was the NCAC really that weak this year?  Was this Wabash team average?  What I saw was, that aside from some turnovers and a emerging star at QB that had a rough day, Wabash for the most part dominated MSJ (a good football team)

Case has had a Great Season and will be ready to play.  Will it be enough? 

We will find out on Saturday.

[ADL70]

Amen

Thanx

[joepieters]

I especially like the presidential suite/skybox at the Case stadium.

http://www.case.edu/athletics/varsity/Facilities/north_side.htm

I always thought someone might build something similar at LG stadium (a new pressbox would be a welcome addition, too).  I figured if you could erect a skybox outside the physcial boundaries of the stadium and legally serve liquor - it would pay for itself in one bell game.

A skybox at Little Giant Stadium??

There's only one person whose ever been associated with Wabash who would sit in that skybox, and Sheldon hasn't been in Crawfordsville since '93

[WAF78]

CWRU,
I sure wouldn't disrespect any team that went undefeated. The players on the team didn't make the schedule...they simply played the games and they have beaten everyone they have faced. To me, as a former player, that demands respect. So, CWRU has my respect and I'm looking forward to a great game on Saturday.

Joe,
I laughed out loud when I read your post...With the great presidents we have had at Wabash, Sheldon was sure forgetable...hadn't thought of him in years...like since '93.

[wally_wabash]

Wow...an F. Sheldon Wettack reference.  That was #37 on the list of things I never thought I'd see discussed here.   

[ADL70]

I just saw that CWRU is making provisions for students who want to return to campus during Thanksgiving break.  I still don't think tix will be a problem.

[BashDad]

Bash wins by 15 touchdowns.

[WAF78]

Hmmm....though we were ranked 18th out of 25 as far as conference schedule this year...the NCAC is 6th in winning percentage all time in the playoffs. Not bad. Yes, this was a down  year for the NCAC with only 4 teams having a record .500 or better. So, Go Wabash...represent the NCAC well. Beat CWRU

[Li'l Giant]

What?!?  No stadium lot?  This deal gets worse all the time....

Perhaps you'd prefer to be listening online in Texas?

[BashBacker#16]

BashDad,

That is awesome you guys will make the trip.  You giving CC a heads up?  BashBro needs to step up and just make it happen.

Making the trip Friday, will check out practice on Friday, and get there by 10 am on game day.  Sounds like the top level of the parking garage is the ideal spot ().

Great quotes from the MSJ QB regarding Kennon last week.  I hope DK is on his game Saturday.  He, Bubba, Gangloff, and Co. need to get after it!