FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

formerd3db · February 16, 2009, 08:17:46 AM

frank, cwru70:

Swarthmore who?

They can be happy all they want with regards to their "fixing/nixing" their so-called "athletic football problem" - they're off the map now as far as many of us are concerned with regards to football. They don't offer the "full package" anymore.

aueagle:

I believe you are right. Olivet's (MI) president did exactly just that and it was because of him that they have had a long-overdue resurgance and interest in their football program (and the other sports as well). Realistically, it was necessary for that school, IMO, to survive and it would have been a shame had football been dropped like the Swarthmore debacle (although I will say that Olivet never considered dropping football, despite their being the small school version of the old Kansas State and/or Northwestern teams - Olivet has been playing football since 1884). Also, I'm sure that some of our colleagues here from Mount Union can post in relating how much their former president "K" was instrumental in promoting the football program to where it is today. BTW, that pres after "retiring" from Mount Union returned to Michigan and served as interim president at Alma College, the latter's president is now Sandra Tracy, also a former high administrator from Mount Union. Anyway, hopefully, OWU will move in the right direction as you all have been discussing.

wabco · February 16, 2009, 09:46:10 AM

Just heard that Patrick Clegg, Illinois All State nose guard from Class 8A Hinsdale Central will be a Little Giant next year. Runners up in his choices for college were reported to be the US Naval Academy and St. Johns (MN). Great choice by Pat and welcome to the Little Giant family. I have a feeling you will hear his name with some frequency during the next four years.

Any news on other Wabash recruits or other recruits in the NCAC?

aueagle · February 16, 2009, 10:07:08 AM

former3db: Thanks....BTW, Nice pipeline from Alliance to Alma...
Note: Bishops lead series vs Olivet Comets..6-4-0...(Since 2000 OWU has 4-2 advantage)....I am still having nightmares from the '04 game...Comets lit Bishop "D" up for 78 points....
No big word out of Delaware re: Incoming Frosh.....should know more by mid/end March

smedindy · February 16, 2009, 11:41:35 AM

Hey, I'm trying to start my own business and am off on the road a lot as well. So that's why. Plus a 3 1/2 and 7 year old tend to chew up a lot of posting time...

nike · February 16, 2009, 03:15:31 PM

Quote from: aueagle on February 15, 2009, 06:30:53 PM
smedindy: Because IF things are going to change at OWU....and I mean change as to actually commit & be a top tier program...then I think it starts at the top of the university. The support, financials & other tangibles/intangibles must come from or through the prez. Doesn't matter if it's Oklahoma, OWU or Hiram....when you undertake a project of this caliber, it demands the chain of command - to by-pass the top office would be detrimental to the scope of the objective. No stones at the prez...I just think for this thing to be done & done right , the prez needs to be on board. When the Bishops start winning national championships starting in 2015, then Rock can take some of the credit. I would be shocked if MUC didn't have more than just football coaches involved in the rise to dominance, which began in the 1980's. Football is the most visible sport on most campuses.....not only in the physical plant of the field & stadium...but, Homecoming is THE attraction for schools, alumnae, fans, prospective students, etc....all based around football...the football spinoff can be a huge multiplier for many aspects of the university community. Again, see MUC in terms of enrollment, campus expansion...monies generated since the rise of Purple Raider football. IF everything is going well at OWU except football...then, that tells me football needs to be fixed and needs the special attention from the top.

So can this be done with Hollway there, or does it necessarily mean a new head coach? I think that is what this boils down to, no matter how you look at it.

seventiesraider · February 16, 2009, 04:31:28 PM

Two of Mount's retired Presidents later served at Ohio Northern U. Mount REALLY screwed up by passing over over Dean Tracey for some schmuck that lasted four years and didn't get his contract renewed. I"m amazed at how many places Dr Kollenbrander worked after he "retired."

aueagle · February 16, 2009, 06:06:02 PM

smedindy: Looks like Team 3.5/7 is using a motion offense on you. Try a zone to intercept their crossing patterns...you can't be everywhere at once....if they go spread on you, your dead. Good luck and have plenty of Maxwell House on hand.

nike: I looked up how many NCAC championships in the last 20 plus years....ONE co-championship and ZERO NCAA playoff appearances. Why it is nice to think OWU graduates nice young men that will impact our communities is noble...almost any small private, highly thought of academic school can lay that claim...I think the bar can be raised in Delaware. Can it be done with the current staff in place? See the past 20 plus years.....What it boils down to, I think is this; Does Ohio Wesleyan want to make the COMMITMENT to CHAMPIONSHIPS...if they do...then do it right & get people from the staff to the players that will get the job done. If they don't...then the program is on the right course...plod along every year...win a few play tough when ya gotta and then go home in November. Football...like war is a ground acquisition game...you seize it..not relinquish it...I want to see attack football in Delaware...I want championships...Lead, Follow or Get The #*% Out Of The Way.........

formerd3db · February 16, 2009, 06:48:43 PM

aueagle:
Thanks for sharing. Keep us posted later on re: OWU recruiting. Will try to share some info regarding the same "up here" when we find out more.

smeds:
Totally understandable your new business as well as having to do the Michael Keaton "Mr. Mom" thing! We do, however, enjoy your posting at those times when you can do so on the board(s). All the best.

seventies:
I wondered about that too i.e. passing over Dean Tracey. She seems to be a good fit for Alma so far. That same situation happened at Hope back when they passed over current Pres Dr. James Bultman - he was Dean of Education (third in line behind Pres and Provost at that time), Head Baseball Coach and Assist Football Coach. He should have had the job in the late '80's, but they passed him over. When that Pres retired about 7 years ago, Dr. B was an obvious choice. Thankfully, he wanted to come back. In the interim before then, he only saved Northwestern, IA (one of Hope's "sister" schools along with Central, IA) from "defunctness" (if I may use that made-up word

), lead the crusade for increasing that schools endowment (something like from 22 million to 122 million), improved the facilities, built up the athletic programs including football which won an NAIA national championship - all this and they named the new athletic center after he and his wife before they left to return to Hope. So the point is, sometimes, you don't have go too far to find a "right fit" OR "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" as that old saying goes.

aueagle · February 23, 2009, 06:41:18 PM

Good job by the LG's for packing them in.......
I still think Selby Stadium should average 5-7k....
But, promotion has to be developed for the Bishops.

ADL70 · February 24, 2009, 09:37:17 AM

eagle Even 5k is a lofty goal. Mount Union doesn't average that. Otterbein was under 4k average despite its success (high was 4500 for Mt Union). The folks in Columbus have buck eyes. They aren't going to Bexley or Westerville let alone Delaware.

formerd3db · February 24, 2009, 09:31:34 PM

Yeah, it's tough trying to get to the 4,000+ range. Most schools, like Hope only do that when they have a huge championship game or homecoming. I remember when Dayton dropped down to DIII (before they went to DIAA) they averaged anywhere from 8,000 -11,000 for a few years stretch there, but that has even dropped. I agree though, that it would be great to see Selby and some of the other places get 5,000. A tough challenge, although not totally impossible. Just get the product!

P.S. Remember about 3 years ago, Michigan Tech played Grand Valley at U of Mich stadium and had about 51,000 people (they outdrew EMU/CMU that same day which was just a couple of miles away). However, that was just one game.

DagarmanSpartan · February 25, 2009, 05:34:11 AM

Gee.

I'd say that at Case, we'd probably be HAPPY to average about 2,000 in a 2,400 seat stadium.

I can remember averaging about 500 per game back when I was in school in the early 90s.

fantastic50 · February 25, 2009, 09:14:01 AM

Wooster's 2009 schedule is out...

Sept. 5 WAYNESBURG 1:00
Sept. 12 open
Sept. 19 at Ohio Wesleyan 1:00
Sept. 26 DENISON 1:00
Oct. 3 at Earlham 1:00
Oct. 10 CASE WESTERN RESERVE 7:00
Oct. 17 at Wash. U. (St. Louis) 1:00
Oct. 24 WABASH 1:00
Oct. 31 at Allegheny 1:00
Nov. 7 OBERLIN 1:00
Nov. 14 at Wittenberg 1:00

The home contest with Case on October 10 will be the first-ever night game at Wooster, following off-season renovations to add lights and field turf at Papp stadium.

smedindy · February 25, 2009, 12:03:15 PM

Many programs build up attendance over a long period of time. At Wabash, for instance, it's an event and it's treated as such. Almost all of the students show up, parents, alumni, and people from the community. That kind of atmosphere takes time to grow.

nike · March 02, 2009, 06:25:44 PM

Is anyone familiar with NAIA athletics? How does it compare with D3? Have situation close to home where a great kid that could walk on and maybe play at MAC schools in D1, cannot afford best D3 offers, but can get just about everything paid for at several NAIA schools. Am reading up on NAIA, but does anyone have any first hand experience?